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as we sat in that stupid truck I began to notice things; Percy was a fidgeter, Grover would not stop talking for the life of him, the sky was as blue as my eyes, the new mexico heat was blaring but most importantly, I noticed her. Her skin was like caramel and her hair tumbled down her back in dark waves. She’s annoying, she’s brilliant, she’s brave, she’s cunning and naïve, and she’s a hunter and I hate her. stupid Zoë and her beautiful eyes. I have been described as many things by many people, brave, daring most notably Percy would call me a live wire, alert, active and aggressive. I wouldn’t say he’s wrong. I’ve always been like that my whole life. I guess it’s a demigod thing; being a child of the big three thing. I’ve always been ready to take on the world but when I’m with her I just stop. I get to enjoy the moment. I’m free to just be with her. I don’t have to worry about being a demigod, I can just be me.
“Hey Thalia” Zoë’s voice brought me back to reality.
“yea zo” I replied looking over at her, noticing that she had re-braided her hair.
“Do you remember it?” she asked, looking at the road ahead and it seemed as if she was biting her cheek.
“Remember what?”
“being a tree, almost dying” her voice was quiet, it sounded as though she were tearing up
“every moment of it”
she was quiet for a while
“I’m so-“
“don’t, please, I don’t need your pity”
“it’s not pity, thalia I’m genuinely sorry that that happened to you” she looked at me, tears brimming in her eyes
“thanks” I smiled back at her. No one has ever once said that they are sorry for what I’ve gone through. what I’ve been put through because of my bastard father.
“Do you think Bianca felt it?” she said blankly, bringing back memories of a certain skeleton killing hunter.
“I hope not, no one deserves to go like that” I managed to say after a while.
“it should have been me” Zoë whispered so quietly I almost missed it.
“Are you kidding me! This whole stupid prophecy revolves around you we need you to live!” I need you to live I exclaim once again taking my eyes off the road to look at this stupidly cute girl.
“but she was so young, so new. she has a brother waiting for her for God’s sake!” Zoë brought her knees up to her chest clutching them for dear life.
“Loss hurts us all I’m not going to lie to you Zo, yes Bianca was taken from us and she had so much life left to live, and Nico will be devastated but- I gripped the wheel tighter, staring off into the horizon where the new mexico road met the sky. “we’re still here, that's the thing. the only thing we can keep doing is live, live for Bianca she would have wanted that”, I finally managed to say, noticing tears forming in the sides of my eyes. I haven't been this emotional with a person since Luke. God’s I hope she doesn’t betray me too.
“Thanks T” she said, gripping my right hand which currently wasn’t on the wheel “I- I don’t know if it’s the right time to say this but I think you’re the closest thing I’ve got to best friend right now” Zoë utters.
I laced my fingers between hers “well Annie is my number one bff but I’d say your a close second” I reply rubbing my thumb across the back of her hand “a lot closer than seaweed brain back there” I added nodding my head in the direction of percy in the backseat. she let out a soft giggle and squeezed my hand gently.
Was she always this cute when she giggled, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her giggle, did I just make her giggle? Her nose scrunched up in this super cute way, her eyes closed and she let out the cutest sound. Is my heart speaking up? my face is starting to feel a lot warmer, my ears too. Oh gods could she notice, could she feel my skin burn and my pulse speeding through my hand and-
I smoothly let go of her hand and returned it to the wheel acting like I needed two hands to drive down a fucking empty road that goes on forever.
“So why’d you join the hunters?” I asked not to try to cause an awkward silence, and we’ll just because I enjoy the sound of her voice.
“I had nowhere else to go, Artiemis offered me sanction and I took it” she liked to fiddle with her shirt a lot. I don’t think it’s a nervous habit because nothing about her posture or demeanour said she was nervous. I think she just likes to do it; does it subconsciously. she looks down and whispers “you should too” but it was too quiet to hear.
“Why did you choose to fight” now she’s looking at me intent to know the answer desperately spread across her face.
I’m confused “what do you mean?”
“You could have run to half blood hill and made it, why’d you stay back and fight?” it was a genuine question from Zoë not just saying something to fill the tension in the air.
I gripped the wheel again, a lot tighter this time and closed my eyes. not this question, not yet. I don’t even know why I fought, I could have made it.
You know why you stayed.
That stupid voice again. I feel like it’s my subconscious, but I don’t sound like that. The voice sounds like what I imagine my dad would sound like. He knows my every thought in my every decision. He’s always there to prove me wrong, to be a taunting voice reminding me of everything I wish I could forget. I know why I stayed, deep down I knew that I wanted to die. I wanted it to be over. I didn’t want to be a fucking demigod anymore. I wanted it to be over and I saw my out I wanted to die bravely for my friends doing something meaningful. Dear old dad had turned me into a fucking tree, but I could’ve been fine like that. I would’ve been content with that little tree for eternity until Percy and Annie healed me.
Zoe doesn’t need to know that though, I like her too much to tell her all my ugly truths, not yet at least. so I lied.
“I was the strongest if anyone could have killed all those monsters it would’ve been me, and ofcourse I’m daring and brave and a child of Zeus so I kinda had to take the opportunity” I say the last bit with a cocky grin and send a wink her way.
She rolls her eyes but I think I can see the faintest red tinge to her cheeks and that sets off the butterflies. Before either of us can say anymore, there’s a distinct beeping sound, and I realized we have run out of gas.