My Dark Past

Chapter Seventeen

Piper

Oh my Gods.

Leo cuts himself?

How did I not notice?

I have tears in my eyes.

"See you, bitches." Aspen mocks us, and walks away with Leo.

Leo is acting so weird.

He is usually so happy, and funny. He's always just.. so.. Leo.

How could he cut himself?

And I guess it means Leo WAS broken.

Oh Gods, our friend was depressed and suicidal, and we didn't even NOTICE.

"Piper, Jason, Hazel, Frank, Percy, Annabeth, Will, and Nico, follow me to the big house. We need to talk. The rest of you, go back to your activities." Chiron demanded, though he did it in a calm and collective manner.

We all follow him, and none of us speak.

After we enter the room, Chiron turns to face us.

"Is the new camper a threat?" Chiron asked.

"I don't think so. But he could be trouble. And I am really worried about Leo." Jason said.

"Me too.." Everyone else mumbled. 

"Gods, our friend was depressed and we didn't even notice." Hazel started crying.

"Calm down, dear. Leo will be fine. You may take shifts watching him, secretly, if you wish. I just have a bad feeling about this Aspen fellow. And, about what he might do to Leo."

Leo

I walk away from the dining pavilion, in silence, next to Aspen.

We wordlessly go to the beach, and find a wall of rocks, forming what almost looks like a cave. It's on the very far side of camp, and I don't think anyone will find us.

"So," Aspen begins. "Tell me everything. And I mean EVERYTHING."

I start to speak.

"Aspen, I never wanted to leave you."

Aspen's breathing becomes sharp. He looks away.

"It was Tiles." I try to get him to look at me.

Aspen jerks his head towards me.

"What do you mean?" Aspen hesitantly asks.

"After... Sophie. He had killed her Aspen, and it was my fault. He had said to leave, and I wouldn't. So he killed her. He burned her alive. He thought it was ironic." I'm crying now. 

We both are.

"So, when me and you found her, that night, as you remember, we went after him. And then, you turned on me. I know you were drugged and you didn't mean it, but I HURT you, Aspen. I burned you."

Aspen looked down a his side. 

I knew beneath his shirt, there was a scar. I scar the size of my hand. 

A burn mark.

Aspen sees my gaze, and he speaks.

"But after we killed Tiles men, and went home, why did you leave. Especially that night?" He asks, so hurt.

"Aspen..." I whisper.

"Why? Why did you leave? Why did you leave ME?" He asks, getting to his feet.

"Because Tile was going to kill you, too." It hurts to even think about Aspen dying. It burns.

"I could have handled myself, Leo. It wasn't your decision. It was OUR decision." He looks at me.

"Aspen, I-"

"No. We fucking SLEPT together. And then you left the very next day. So I guess I wasn't enough. I guess I was wrong about you, Leo."

"No you weren't. I had feelings for you. I still do. But even if you could have handled yourself, I don't want you to HAVE to handle yourself. So I left. And I left you as the leader. To protect the kids." I speak, as quickly as I can.

Aspen is silent.

I sit in silence.

Aspen finally looks at me.

"You still do?" He asks, quietly.

I look down and nod.

I prepare myself for rejection. Instead he comes over, and kisses me. 

And then we're all over each other.

My hands under his shirt.

His hands running through my hair.

And I feel the passion I felt that night, so long ago.

And I just wish that I could disappear into this moment forever.

And never see my friends again.

My friends.

This thought jerks me back to reality.

I pull back, in a bolt, away from in.

He looks so hurt.

"It's not you. My friends... They don't know ANYTHING. They don't even know I'm..." I stare at him, helplessly.

He manages a weak smile.

"Leo, it's okay. I've been wait years to do that again. I can surely wait a while longer."

"What do you mean? I just wanted to let you know. We can still kiss. Just not in public." I smile, devilishly.

This draws a wry smile to his face.

"Well alright then, let's continue where we left off." He smirks, and strides towards me.

I grin, and kiss him again.

And again.

We don't get any farther than making out, but I think that the fact my friends don't know about us is the only thing stopping us.

I know we both want each other.

Soon, my love. Soon.