There's no love without pain // Jeyna

4. The Day She Let Me In

Jason's POV 

It was decided, Jason would be going to Camp Jupiter for Christmas. Jason didn't want to wait that long. But he had no choice. There seemed to be no other way to get to Camp Jupiter faster. 

There were still four months till December and Jason's insides were eating him alive every moment that he was away from Reyna. His memories still kept coming back to him in his dreams and each one made him regret everything he'd ever said to her, during the time when he was with Piper, even more. He couldn't help but wonder what he was going to say when he did meet her. He didn't have any clue as to what she would want to hear from him. What could he say to win her back? Jason just kept reliving his memories whenever he could because that was the only thing that seemed to calm his nerves. It was either that or die of anticipation so. . .

***

He remembered the first time he'd broken through her shields. He'd had much trouble breaking through her shields once. Jason thought he had a knack for it, sometimes when he saw the small smiles that she tried to hide as Jason made cheesy, corny jokes and, also, those smirks that she gave him. She didn't even try to hide those, though, they only saw the light of day when Jason was pinned underneath her after sparring, the ones that Jason had, clearly, said he would be winning. 

Coincidentally, the first time he'd broken through her shields had been when he had won a sparring match for the first time in his life against Reyna (That was also the last time but that's not the point).

 While sparring, they were having a conversation as they usually did. But this time Reyna had just come back from a visit to her sister, Hylla, and she had been a bit distracted since returning. She hadn't told him what it was, even after much pestering and prying from his side. Not that he could do that much but he'd tried his best until she shut him out. Now as they were talking between practice, Jason decided to ask her about it. 

"So. . . What were you upset about in the morning?" He asked as he parried her strike. 

"I wasn't upset about anything." She said, her eyes narrowing with either suspicion or concentration, as she put more force against Jason. 

"Did you get in a fight with your sister?" Said Jason, blatantly ignoring her statement. He put all his strength against his own sword, gaining himself the upper hand. 

"I told you it's nothing Jason." Reyna neatly side stepped Jason's strike. 

"I heard you said something she didn't like." 

Jason thought he'd done it. He never went this far, he usually kept his space and respected her boundaries but this time he felt as though he'd crossed one of those imaginary lines. Reyna was completely taken aback by this question. Before she could react, Jason made a sharp blow against her sword making it skid across the practise arena floor. Jason tackled her and had her pinned underneath him before you could say Jupiter's Lightning Bolt. Reyna's eyes went wide as she realized what happened. 

Jason had tricked her, distracted her, manipulated her and all so that he could win a bloody sparring match. She was furious with herself for being so stupid. Why else would he risk saying something like that to her? 

"I win" said Jason with her signature winning smirk now plastered all over his face. They just stayed in that postion for a while. Their bodies were very close to one anothers' but neither of them cared becasue right now they were too caught up in their own heads. Reyna, frustrated at herself for letting Jason get to her and Jason, revelling with awe at the fact that he actually won.

 "Get off me then." Said Reyna, annoyed.

 "No" Said Jason, smirking, if possible, wider. 

"What do you mean, 'no'?" Asked Reyna. 

"It means that I'm not gonna get off of you until you admit that I've won." Said Jason, triumphantly. 

"Grace-" started Reyna, but she cut off as she saw the look on his face. She knew how stubborn the Son of Jupiter could be. "Fine! I admit it." 

 "Admit what, exactly?" Said Jason, amused.

  She seemed furious but ultimately gave in, "Fine, you win." 

"What was that? I didn't quite hear you." Said Jason. He was milking the situation for all it was worth, honestly. 

"I SAID, YOU WIN! Alright, there! Now just get off!" She shouted, obviously frustrated. Jason got off. He was still smiriking and he started to think his face might just become stuck that way if he didn't stop. 

Reyna got up, gracefully, though her face didn't seem nearly as composed as she usually was. Jason should have realized then that she had been a little more vulnerable than usual. He might not have needed to wait for a time when he was being ridiculed to break through her walls. But that was what happened. 

Jason was gloating all day. He couldn't stop bringing it up every one minute. Jason had been talking to her whilst walking backwards in the streets of New Rome. They had some free time and they liked hanging out in New Rome and observing all the people and the children and things. But, today, Jason was gloating, high and loud and no matter what Reyna said or no matter how much she didn't even respond at all, he just wouldn't stop talking about it. 

That was when it happened. 

As Jason was walking backwards he tripped on a stone sticking out in the pathway and he landed hard on his podex. Suddenly, Reyna burst out laughing. It was a rare sight, seeing the daughter of Bellona laugh a real, genuine laugh. Jason didn't even care about his sore podex, he was mesmerized by her laugh. He had never heard her laugh like this, so openly, ever before. She laughed to heart's content, for a good two minutes. She then held her hand out to Jason and helped him up.

 Jason was smiling, his eyes alight with admiration for this girl, pride at being able to bring out this side of her, and determination to make sure that the world got see this side of her more often. Or, atleast, be open enough around him to let him hear that wonderful laugh of hers or to let him see the beautiful, easy-going sort of smile that was gracing her lips at this very moment. 

They didn't talk much after that. They walked in silence back to camp. It was one of those comfortable silences, they were just content with each other's presence. Jason walked her to the Second Cohort barracks and as he was leaving he said, "Thanks." He didn't elaborate, he just waved and left her to ponder on what that meant. In reality he was thanking her for letting him in. He had a feeling that they might just be good friends from now on.

*** 

A/N : OK so this is definitely longer. There will probably be like, 4 or 5 more chapters of just memories. And after that the REAL story will begin. This is gonna be pretty long. Let's see how it turns out.

Yours Truly 

ReynaLovegood2 :)