For the love of Aphrodite (a Percy Jackson story)

love problems

Chiara's POV

There was a time when I worried I'd never find love, right now, my problem was that two guys loved me.

If someone had told me that would be an issue of mine in the future I'd probably laugh. Then cry thinking that I was hopeless and would die alone in the world.

You see, to me who I loved was not an issue. I had no doubts it was Percy. What I felt for him was so intense yet so calming. I was so confident and being around him I felt even more at ease on my own skin but whenever he complimented me or whenever anyone talked about me and him as an item, I'd blush as a little girl. I care about he perceived me. I had butterflies and little shocks whenever he touched me and it hurt so much to be away from him.

That is love.

Then there is Jason. Jason was different. With him it was just banter, some flirting. Obviously I thought he was cute but anyone with eyes could tell you that. I felt comfortable around him but that was that. Basically we were Italian-straight-opposite-sex-friends. To others this might seem weird but to us it's normal. Italians are flirtatious by blood, we give a wink before we cry when we are born. That's what me and Jason had. Or so I had thought.

After what happened at the coffee shop I wasn't sure anymore.

"Percy, Annabeth, do you guys have made a reservation somewhere already?"I asked and they shook their heads. "Then we should get another room. I'll call the concierge..."

"Do you mean two rooms?" Annabeth asked.

"Uhm, it's just... Me and Percy have some catching up to do, I thought maybe we can get a double and just talk about whatever it is we have to talk at once..." I confessed as if I was guilty of something bad.

"I'd love to do this!" Percy said. Annabeth just shrugged.

Percy's POV

We got to the hotel and up to our room.

"Oh this is not a double, I'll call reception." I said.

"I might not have asked for a double..." Chi said and I arched my brows.

"So, can we start talking about Jason?" I asked and she nodded.

"Me and Jason were never a thing. To be fair I hadn't really realized he liked me more than a friend until earlier today... Uhm we did kiss but just for show. I thought if I made you give up on me the charm would break and you would go back to Annabeth. It pained me to thing there was never going to be an us but I loved you too much to deprive you from living love as you should... I'm sorry Percy, if I knew... I guess I hoped tho. That message I sent you. Jason started kissing my neck and he took his top and I tried charming us, maybe we could be a couple if only I wasn't so in love with you. It didn't work and nothing happened I told him to stop went back to my room and cried, I pretty much just cried ever since we grew distant, to be fair..."she said.

"I hate it when you cry." I said.

"Is that all you have to say? No matter how there was no feelings it must have hurt to see me kissing someone and sit on his lap and learn that he kissed my neck. I saw Annabeth kiss you twice and if hurt deeply..."

"It wasn't easy, no. Do I like the situation, no I don't. But I guess the fact that you did all that because you loved me so much that you wanted me to be happy even if it was away from you kind of makes me think I don't have the right to be mad about it... Do I like the idea of Jason on top of you and kissing your neck? No, I don't. But I feel better to know that despite this one occasion nothing ever happened. Also, I was pretty shit myself. I had a girlfriend and I kept hitting on you. I did have feelings for you, and still do, and knew that me and her weren't meant to be, but still, it was a pretty shit thing to do. We all do silly things when love is blinding us, I guess. Can we start over?" I asked

"I'd like nothing better!" I said "Will you call reception?" she asked me blushing "I've missed you so much, I guess I just want to spend the night in your arms..."

I hugged her and gave her a kiss in her forehead.

"Oh, Percy. Unlike Jason, you mean so much to me. everything we do I feel like is an important chapter in our story. I just... Can our first kiss be special? I feel like we'll know when the right time is once it presents itself..."I smiled.

"We'll wait." I said smiling at her. Our eyes met and it was like the first time all over again and I sank deep.