The Violin That Started it Again

Part 3) Chapter Thirteen

Turns out I managed to make Part 3 longer than 20 chapters.

...

Percy Jackson

I reached Caly and she gave me a warm smile as she stood up from her seat on the planter and threw her arms around my neck. I froze, and my shoulders tensed once again. Her embrace didn't feel right to me at all. I didn't know whether to push her off or just let her do what she wants until I burned her heart and stomped all over the ashes.

Before I could snap out of my stunned state, Caly let me go and set her palms upon my shoulders. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concern as her eyes scanned my face.

"What's wrong Percy?" She asked with a worried frown upon her lips. It would've looked cute to me if my mind wasn't imagining someone else.

"What do you mean?" I flashed her a fake smile, forcing my tense shoulders to relax.

She eyes me suspiciously, but to my relief, she sighed, letting it go. "Never mind. If you don't want to tell me, then you don't have to." Caly offered me a small, reassuring smile and I couldn't help but relax at the sight.

My teeth grounded together. I had to tell her some time if I wanted Nico back. I couldn't stall around and beat around the bush anymore. I just had to go in a burn the bush along with stepping on its ashes, according to Leo.

A pair of lips pecked the corner of my mouth and my body seemed to have become absolutely frozen. I blinked blankly at nothing in particular until my gaze fell upon Caly, who seemed to be giggling to herself.

"Sorry, sorry," Caly managed in between giggles. "I called your name a few times but you wouldn't say anything." Her eyebrows furrowed together in worry. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me what's wrong?"

I cleared my throat and looked straight into her hazel eyes. "Look, I have to tell you something Caly."

One of her eyebrows rose. "Like what? Oh, wait, I just remembered something! Well, actually, do you want to talk first? I can wait."

I smiled nervously. I really wanted to get straight to the point, but I wasn't really ready yet. I mean, with Annabeth, it was easier because Annabeth was more...reasonable. Annabeth knew whenever things were going wrong, and she always had a rational mind.

But Caly? Caly insulted Nico to have a chance with me. Why did I even go to her? Didn't I love Nico? Was I just confused that day or what?

Why did I fucking kiss her that day?!

My head contained so many unanswered questions that it felt like the world was spinning. I started to lose balance, and I felt horrible. I felt sick, and my stomach was in knots. Was this how girls felt when they were on that thing they called "periods?" God, I'm starting to feel very empathetic to them.

"Percy?" Caly called to me as I took a step back.

I managed a weak smile. "I'm...I'm fine. You can talk first."

She placed her hands upon my cheeks, and it looked as if she was about to cry. My heart twisted in guilt when she had that expression. If she had that expression when I was in pain, what expression would she have if I inflicted pain upon her by breaking up with her?

I should've really gotten straight to the point. I hope by the end of the day, I would have to get gay to the point.

Her hands on my cheeks felt like fire, and not the warming and loving kind of fire like before when Nico wrapped his arms around my neck and pushed his body against mine. That fire warm and comforting. It made me feel safe, and it felt as great as home.

This fire--the fire that Caly emitted--it was fierce. It burned and stung as it left scars. It was a violent and wild burn that waved in the wind and was hard to blow out. It was destructive and just...horrid.

Caly's hands slid down to my neck, and I almost flinched violently at the stinging feeling.

"If you want me to," she muttered. "Are you sure you don't want to talk first?"

I managed a nod. I just wanted to rip her hands right off my skin and soothe the burns with Nico's smooth, pale ones. He could wipe these scars in my skin and in my life away, can't he?

Caly nodded. "Okay. Well, I was wondering...Would you, I mean," she cleared her throat. I could tell she was nervous to tell me something. I narrowed my eyes at her, but my silence urged her to continue.

"Do you...want to come with me on a...d-date?" Her voice faded by the end of the sentence, and I had to strain my ears to listen to her last words.

My eyes slightly widened, and the cramp in my stomach intensified. Well, wasn't that just fucking dandy?

"Where to?" I hesitantly asked. I didn't know why I decided to question her even though I knew my answer already.

"It's a restaurant," she answered. "My dad is paying for it. It's a really nice restaurant,  and it's huge! They've got nice food there and fancy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling."

I frowned a bit--not enough to actually attract her attention. "What...What's the name of this restaurant?"

"It's a weird name," Caly stated. "It's called Olympus Rebuilt. Weird name for a restaurant, huh?"

My head pounded harshly and my heart ached. Gravity felt as if it suddenly increased on only me. That...That place. I couldn't go there. No. No. I couldn't go back there. That was the restaurant that I took Nico to on his birthday at the end of January. January 29th...I still remembered his birthday.

Memories of that day flashed right before my eyes as if it only happened yesterday. I honestly wish it happened just yesterday.

A massive headache stormed throughout my head, and I couldn't stop the pounding. Damn, didn't girls have periods every month? How the fuck did girls get used to this? We need more feminists like god damn they deserve rights in this world. They produce babies and endure this pain for babies, yet there were still sexist asses out there. From this day forward, call me a feminist.

Jeez, how many times did I curse just now? I felt more like Nico with each passing day. Couldn't the gods just give him to me again? Why did I have to go through this stupud trial? Where was Nico now when I need him?

"I..." I forced a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. I can't go there."

Caly's expression looked so crestfallen. "Oh, okay. If I may ask, why not?"

"I took Nico there in January for his birthday," I explained briefly. I felt like I would break down like before if I explained any further.

"Oh," Caly's eyes looked sad, yet there held a sort of furious look. "Nico, huh?" She heavily sighed. "You seem to defend Nico a lot. You mention him a lot too."

I really wanted to respond with You're the one that asked me why I can't go there in the first place little girl. But, I didn't, unfortunately. I may be sassy, but I wasn't that sassy, right? Please say "yes." Why aren't you saying "yes?"

"Is there a problem with me mentioning Nico a lot?" I blurted out. "Is it wrong to mention the guy that I love? What are you, a jealous little brat?!"

And, that was when I realized how much I fucked up the situation.