When We Were 'Us'

Sometimes Decisions Are Hard- Rachel POV

"Hey sweetheart, where's Haley?"

I wrung the bottom of my t-shirt between my hands, shrugging. "I walked back by myself."

Carmen frowned, untying her apron. "Is something wrong, Rachel?"

I sighed. "I don't- I don't know."

"C'mere, lets go in the back and talk about it." She motioned for me to follow her and then shouted across the building. "Freddie, I'm leaving the counter!"

We heard a faint response, then Carmen held one of the swinging doors into the kitchen open for me.

There was a tiny office in the back of the deli, and she let me take the chair, leaning against the desk. "Okay, what's going on?"

"Do you know about the... conditions, of my being the Oracle?" I asked hesitantly.

Carmen paused, tipping her head. "I think I do... it's pretty much just a vow of maidenhood, isn't it?"

I nodded, sighing. "Yeah, that's it."

She looked at me for a moment, then her eyes sparked understanding. "And that's your issue, isn't it?"

"Yep." I popped the 'p' loudly. "That would be the problem."

Carmen nodded, shifting. "Want to tell me what happened?"

"Percy kissed me."

She looked confused for a moment, then snapped two fingers. "Oh! Haley, right. I forget he has a different name."

I smiled a little. "Sorry, I'm so used to calling him Percy. I think I managed to go almost the whole day without calling him that."

"No worries, girl, don't apologize. So Haley kissed you. And this is a problem?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because I-" I stopped, frowning. "I don't know. I can't date, because I'm the Oracle."

Carmen nodded slowly. "It was just a kiss, kiddo. You don't have to date him...."

I chewed my lip and she raised her eyebrows. "Unless you want to?"

"Would that be so bad?"

"Depends. Lots of circumstances."

I groaned, leaning back in the chair. "Too many. He just got out of a long-term relationship. Rather painfully, too. I have to be a maiden forever. And on top of it I promised myself years ago that I would get over my crush on Percy freakin' Jackson, and I keep my promises to myself!"

"Well there's two things you can do." Carmen leaned forward. "You can keep your promise to yourself, go back home, forget this happened, and accept that you might not be able to talk to him again because of it."

I grimaced. I didn't want to lose the friendship I had with Percy.

"Or-" She held up a finger, chuckling at my reaction to her first suggestion. "If you want it, you can try to figure out how you'd be able to have a relationship with him. The gods run on loopholes and technicalities, if you make a good enough case they'll have to give in."

"Hey Carmen?" Someone called from the front. I chewed my lip as I realized it was Percy. "You back there?"

"Give me a moment, Haley!" She shouted back, then looked at me. "You want me to turn him away?"

I thought about it for a moment. "I don't know yet. Can you see what he wants?"

She nodded and got up, leaving the office and closing the door most of the way. I sat up in the chair and leaned towards the little opening, listening.

"What's up, kiddo?" Carmen asked. I could see her hip resting against one of the kitchen counters.

"Did Rachel come back here?" Percy asked. He sounded like he'd been yelling or something, his voice was all scratchy.

"Yep! She said you were still by the beach."

"Is she still here? I wanted to apologize."

Carmen was silent for a moment, then I saw her stand up fully. 

"Let me check."

I leaned back in the chair as she walked back to the office.

"What do you say, sweetheart? Have you made your decision?" She asked me softly.

I took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah. I know what I want."

I got up slowly and stepped out of the office. Carmen let me lead the way as I walked over to Percy.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, looking down. "Hey, Rach...."

"Hi... Haley."

"You can call me Percy." I got a half of that trademark crooked grin. "Coming from you I don't mind it."

"Percy." I nodded once, playing with one of my bracelets. "What happened to your voice?"

"Um... I may or may not have called Apollo out. Loudly. To his face."

I laughed a little. "Bet that went over well."

He smiled, shaking his head. For a moment, we were silent, and I fiddled with my bracelets more, feeling awkward.

"I uh," he cleared his throat and looked at his hands. "I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" 

He looked confused, but before he could answer I kept talking. "Percy, I... I didn't mind. I actually really liked it."

"Oh-"

"But if I want to pursue this, I have to do some research first. Give me a couple weeks?"

Percy shoved his hands in his pockets, grinning shyly. "Take all the time you need."