Equilibrium

Chapter 27: Jackie's POV

"Hell yeah! I think that was the fastest one yet! I just snatched the relic and we were outta there!" I grin backwards over my shoulder at Luka, who's scowling for some reason. "What is it you grump?"
"I just think it's funny- uh, you know what never mind." His expression goes blank and he breaks eye contact with me. Strange.
"Uhh... You gonna elaborate? Or...?"
"No, forget it, I was just being a, as you would say, a dumbass. But good job getting the relic so fast, you did great"
"Oh- uh- thank... you?" I squint at him like he's grown two heads or something. Now he's complimenting me? Okaaaaay then??
"It's kind of a Hermes kid thing... pickpocketing, stealing, all that fun stuff- uh- not that I do that all the time or anything." I shoot him an evil smile and he just blinks before sticking his hands in his pockets to check that I haven't taken anything. "Oh don't worry, I haven't stolen from you. No reason to." I laugh and he rolls his eyes but smiles.
"Okay well don't be getting any ideas."
"Yeah yeah whatever, we've got plenty of other things to go after anyways. Seven relics to be exact."
Luka raises an eyebrow. "Were you planning on telling me where and what they are? Or is that still a secret?" Oh look, the sass is back. This dude is all over the place.
"Hmmm... I guess I could tell you." I pull a tattered slip of paper out of my pocket and unfold it, then hand it to Luka. "There ya go. The full list of relics, half-assed descriptions, and locations."
His eyes widen at me in surprise when I hand it to him, like he thought I never would, before he looks through the list. We carry on in silence for a while and eventually I find myself thinking about the prophecy again. One word from it, in particular. Equilibrium. Equilibrium equilibrium equilibrium. I still don't really get it. It means like equal or something? Equality? Find equality? The hell is that supposed to mean?! Luka's annoying voice interrupts my thought process.
"So... awhile back... when we met Maple? What was that about?"
My throat closes up at the mention of her name, but I swallow and push down the emotions boiling up inside me.
"Uh... what do you mean?"
"Like- were you- flirting with her?"
Oh. He still doesn't realize. Right. I bite my lip. I can feel the tears coming, so I do the only logical thing possible. Put up my facade. Act like the funny, flirty bitch I sometimes am. Luka falls for it every time.
"DUH! She was like, gorgeous! Are you kidding?!" I force a laugh. "And she was totally digging it!"
Luka narrows his eyes at me like he's trying to figure something out. Shit. There's no way he could've figured it out. Right...?
"So... You're gay then?"
Oh. Right. Good. He doesn't know she's gone. I don't have to deal with that yet. I can feel a frown forming on my face so roll my eyes to cover it up.
"Uh, no," I snort, "I mean, yes and no. A little!"
"Excuse me, what?"
"I'm bi, dumbass!" I laugh, and this time it's genuine. "Girls and guys, the whole shebang."
"Oh." Is all he says and he blinks, then his expression changes. Like he's seeing me for the first time. I don't know if I like that.
"What's wrong?" I ask, smile slipping away.
"I just... I didn't know. It's kind of weird-"
"Um excUse me?" Suddenly I'm angry. I've never dealt with homophobic or biphobic people since I never leave camp, and everyone there is extremely accepting. But what Luka just said kinda sets me off, and I'm not down for that shit. First he brings up Maple and now this?!
"Listen up you lil shit. Bisexuality isn't weird, it's completely normal! I'm the same person I was two minutes ago! It's fine to like whoever I want. Being bi just means my heart is big enough to like more than one gender and if you think that's weird, then maybe you should take a look at yourself and rethink some life choices. I'm sorry that you're so small minded. Really. Cuz treating others like they're lesser than you because they are attracted to people of multiple genders is going to get you nowhere in life."
I finish my spiel and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down a little. Luka is sitting there looking dumbfounded, his mouth gaping. He looks like he's been slapped. Then he shakes his head like he's clearing it and smiles at me. Smiles.
Okay WHAT?!
"Jackie. Oh my gods. I wasn't being biphobic or homophobic or any of that shit. Liking girls and guys and whoever else is totally cool with me."
"You- I- What?" Now it's my turn to be shocked.
"Yeah," he laughs, "I wasn't saying being bi was weird. You didn't even let me finish my sentence! I was saying it's weird that I hadn't even thought of that. The possibility of you being bi. That's all I was going to say."
"Oh." I blink, and then I feel my face flushing. "Uh... Sorry for going off at you like that then. You're not small minded and whatever else I said..."
"Pshh it's all good." He smiles at me again. I can't even help it. I feel myself smiling back.
"Thanks," I grin, "But you're still a lil shit."
"Hey!" He shouts, frowning at me, but it's just for show. "Shortie!"
"That was uncalled for!" I gasp. "Godzilla!"
"Hey, that one's new." Then we're laughing. Like really laughing. Tears are streaming out of my eyes and I can barely even catch my breath. I honestly don't know what's so funny but it's nice to be getting along with Luka for a change. Even if he called me short. Suddenly the prospect of finding seven more relics with this dumbass doesn't seem so bad. Maybe Luka isn't half bad after all.
Huh. Who knew?