The Hunt for His Heart

Gabby: Part three

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                                                        Gabby

        Gabby tied up her brown hair in a high ponytail, making sure no hairs were out of place. If she was going to impress Leo, she might as well start with the hair. She knew Leo was searching endlessly for his beloved Calypso, but maybe, just maybe, he would look her way and they would just stare... Oh what can Ana or even that goddess (that will still be alive after Leo dies) can possibly offer? Gabby pinched herself, hard. Ana is her friend! More like a sister, and she was considering rivalry over...some guy they met recently. What was so amazing about him anyway? It's not like he's funny, cute, and perfect... Gabby shook her head. Get a hold of yourself Gabby! she screamed at herself.

        “Gabby, are you ok?” asked one of Gabby’s half siblings, Alexa. Gabby didn’t know. Was she okay? Was it normal to declare rivalry over someone she barely knew at all? Not only that, but declaring rivalry with someone she knew, virtually, her entire life. It just seemed too cruel.

        “Yeah, I’m fine,” Gabby lied. She put on a fake smile and went out to breakfast.

        “Hi Gabbs,” said Ana. She was smiling like there’s no tomorrow and Gabby couldn’t help but feel guilty for her thought.

        “Hey Ana,” Gabby replied, solemnly. “What’s up? How was your first night with the Hunters?”

        “It was great, I have amazing news!” She said, obviously trying to contain herself.

        “Spill.”

        “I was promoted to lieutenant!”  squealed Ana, jumping up and pushing her hair out of her face to show the silver circlet. Gabby’s face fell.

        “What’s wrong?” asked Ana.

        “Nothing…” Gabby replied. Before Ana could ask what she meant by nothing, Leo showed up.

        “Hey, I heard someone is lieutenant of the Hunters!” Leo exclaimed with mirth, but something in his expression suggested... sadness?

        “Well, I’d love to stay, but some people want my autographs for saving the world. You know how famous I am these days, right?” Ana chuckled, and Leo left to hang out with his other half siblings. Gabby sighed. Why couldn’t he see that she was meant for him? Heck, she even dressed up nicely for him, which she never did, except in desperate situations… Then Ana asked what was up again and Gabby tried to wave the question away, but her anger merely rose.

        “Nothing you’d understand, being all perfect and all…” Gabby sniffed.

        “What-”

        “Just leave me alone, okay?!” Gabby screamed and rushed back to the Apollo cabin, so that no one could notice the tears welling up in her eyes.

 

                                                                      …

 

        “It’s ok, Gabby,” said Piper, a demigod from the Aphrodite cabin, who was now patting her back, reassuringly. It wasn’t working, and Piper knew it. Why does Ana have to be so perfect?! Why can’t she get a chance?! It just wasn’t fair! She was just another Apollo girl, who has normal friends, normal looks, normal everything. While Ana is mysterious, funny, and just plain perfect. Sure, Gabby can make friends and shoot an arrow; Ana just needs the spotlight, doesn’t she? Gabby was always slightly jealous of her friend, but she always shoved it off. Now that there were more than just the two of them, Gabby couldn’t contain her jealousy.

        “Are you okay?” asked Piper in a cautious but soothing voice.

        “I guess,” said Gabby, trying to stop crying with no avail.

        “Okay, when you need any help at all, you know where to find me,” she said, giving her one last tap on the back and left Gabby to herself. She looked out of the window next to her bed and saw Ms. Perfect shooting perfect arrows. Ana looked her way, sadly and Gabby closed the curtain. Gabby looked solemnly at herself in the mirror. This person can write music, shoot arrows as if she’s been doing archery all her life, make beautiful poems, but can’t make that guy at least notice her. Piper walked back into the room.

        “You know, actually, you can always talk to him. It won’t hurt to try,” suggested Piper.

        “I’ll try that, I guess…” Gabby said, and Piper grinned.

        “Make sure you do, because I don’t want to use Charmspeak on a friend like you,” she added. Gabby smiled, thankful for having a friend like Piper, and yet wished for the reassurance of her ol’ friend by her side.

 

                                                                …

 

        “Hey, Leo, can I talk to you for a moment?” asked Gabby, leaving the cabin as Leo passed by it.

        “If you want to know my heroic tale about how I got the Celestial Bronze from Narcissus, you may. Also, I have a form if you want to join Team Leo,” he said, grinning. Gabby giggled, but then remembered the task at hand.

        “No, I just wanted to talk to you about Ana.”

        “What about her? Do you want to be a Hunter too?” asked Leo.

        “Never in my mortal life! But anyway, I was wondering...uh, if y-you...like her?” Gabby stammered.

        “Sure, she’s a good friend. Did you know she can fix an electric screwdriver? Man, I’m starting to wonder if she’s my half sibling or something…” he said, looking out into the distance, dreamily.

        “Right, but I kinda meant...if you had a crush on her or something.” Gabby regretted saying it as soon as she said it. Leo, surprisingly looked shocked as if she had revealed his biggest secret, but hid his expression just as quickly as it appeared.

        “Nah, she’s just a friend. I couldn’t do that to Calypso, now can I?” Leo asked nonchalantly. Gabby shook my head, grinning.

        “My form for Team Leo is still open though, and I’m selling my new Valdezinator for ten drachmas, in case you want one,” he said and with that, he left towards Bunker Nine to build...oh who knows what he’s building these days? At the corner of Gabby’s eye, she noticed Ana shooting some arrows with strikingly perfect aim from 100 yards away at the target’s middle. A few Hunters cheered. Oh please, I could do that, Gabby thought to herself. Her thoughts turned bitter as she looked at Ana pick up a sword and stab a dummy to nothing but a pile of straw. Ok, so she could sword fight. So what? It’s not like she can throw knives. At that precise moment,  Ana grabbed a knife and hit a target with again, perfect aim. Gabby facepalmed and took out a piece of paper to write some music. It calmed her, so she did it whenever she was stressed.

        “Hi,” said a familiar voice. Gabby didn’t answer, and kept making the notes dance on the staff. She didn’t want to talk to Ana right now, she wanted to sit in peace and make her music in solitude. “Gabby?” She just wouldn’t leave her alone, Ana does get persistent, especially when it came to Gabby’s feelings. She realized she had never gotten angry at Ana before now. A wave of guilt rushed over her and her eyes started to tear up. She tried to blink them away, but they just kept coming. Her page of notes got all wet with tears and she let them take over her body, sick and tired of hiding.

        “Gabby! Are you okay?! What’s going on?” said Ana, kneeling down to Gabby and embracing her in a hug. Gabby hated this feeling. She was happy that her friend forgives her and yet, wants to be angry at her more so.

        “Please leave me alone,” Gabby sniffed. Instead of protesting, Ana granted her wish and let her have some space to herself. As soon as she left, Gabby burst into tears.