A Frozen Heart - Leo Valdez

17- My Frozen Heart

Piper’s head tilts to the side as if she didn’t hear me at all. “What?”

“I-I kissed Jason.”  

Her face crosses a series of emotions. Confusion, Anger, Hurt. “What do you mean?”

“Piper,” I start, my voice shaking. “We’re friends, right?”

She stares at me, her mouth slightly open. It takes her a few seconds, but she finally responds, “Yes.”

Closing my eyes tightly, I brace myself for her reaction. You can do this. You have to do this. “I’m the daughter of-“

The door to the cabin slams open and Hazel emerges. “Annabeth is awake! Annabeth is awake!”

“Oh my gods!” Piper exclaims and jumps up from the bed. I follow her out the door and into the infirmary, silently thanking for the interruption.

Campers have already gathered in the ICU, all hovered around Annabeth’s bed. Piper, Hazel, and I make our way through the crowd, shoving kids down as we go. When we finally see Annabeth, I can’t help but smile.

She looks better, so much better. The color has returned to her face and she is actually sitting up in bed, silently talking to Percy. When she see’s us, she grins and waves. I inch my way closer to her bed and throw my arms around her neck, ignoring the protest from Percy.

“Chase, she needs her spa-“

I talk over him. “Oh gods, Annabeth! I was so worried!”

She hugs me back and soon, Piper and Hazel joins us and all four of us have one of those corny group hugs, that is much more heartwarming than in those movies.

“Good to see you not looking green,” Piper comments.

Annabeth chuckles. “I feel good. Still a little shaken and a bit weak, but I feel good.”

“That’s great!” I beam. “So I guess we are a coma buddies now, huh?”

She laughs but then grimaces. “Anyway you can get all these people out of here? As much as I appreciate them coming, they are giving me a headache.”

Percy nods then faces the crowd. “Hey!” He yells. “Get out!”

Nobody listens of course.

Piper cups her hands around her lips and hollers, “Everybody leave! Now!” She puts so much charmspeak in her voice, I find myself standing up and beginning to walk away, but Percy grabs my wrist to stop me.

In an instant, the room is empty besides us five. I wonder where the rest of the seven are, considering they probably all heard the news.

“How long have you been awake?” Piper asks, leaning against the footboard of Annabeth’s bed.

Annabeth’s mouth twist up, in thought. A strand of unwashed hair falls into her face, she looks at Percy, unsure. “About an hour,” He confirms.

Annabeth pulls her legs out from the bed and dares to try and stand up. Instantly, everyone is by her side aiding her. Percy looks frustrated and tries to make her sit back down, she refuses.

“I want to stand,” She insist. Percy nods reluctantly. I take her arm and she leans against me, her wobbly legs stretching out after a week of being forced unused. “I’m okay,” She informs and I slowly take my hands away.

She smiles in thanks and asks Percy to get her some water. Once he leaves, Annabeth turns on me in question. “So what happened?”

“I have no idea,” I lie. “The ice just… cracked.”