invisible string | f. zhang

xvii. once a traitor . . .

sixteen. once a traitor . . .

FRANK REFUSED TO LET MARIBELLE leave the table until she'd at least drank something. She stares at the uneaten burger on her plate and takes a large gulp of her water. Percy and Hazel were having a hushed conversation, because the boy was moping due to Reyna stealing his girlfriend. Jason had left with Piper not too long ago, which settled Maribelle's nerves a little bit.

She takes another long sip.

The string Jason and Maribelle had had since she came to camp was completely gone. She wonders if that means he truly doesn't remember her, or maybe his forgiveness has been revoked—now that he has time to reflect on his "new" memories. It had been fading, it'd been that way since he found out she was the traitor—but she never thought it would truly fizzle out.

Another long sip.

Frank seemed pleased that she had drank all of the water when she sets the cup down.

"And you're sure you're not hungry?"

Maribelle glares at him. She was tired, and exhausted, and angry. Angry at Jason. Angry at herself. Angry at the burger on her plate.

"Sorry."

Maribelle slumps over, resting her forehead against her knees. Franks hand moves up and down her back soothingly.

"Want to take a walk?"

Maribelle nods and rises to her feet. She mutters goodbye to Percy and Hazel, kissing the tops of their heads as she goes. Frank takes her hand in his and they head towards New Rome.

Frank babbles about nothing as they go, filling the silence. He tells stories about his mother and grandmother, talks about his time coming to the Wolf House. Maribelle listens intently, even though her thoughts were determined to stray back to Jason. He was here with Piper, showing her around. What if they ran into him?

"Tell me something about you," Frank says, "Before you came to Camp."

Maribelle thinks for a moment. She'd lived in New Rome for a bit, before her dad wanted to leave and experience the actual world (despite the dangers). Her dad wasn't a demigod himself, but both of his parents were. Her halmeoni was a daughter of Iris and her harabeoji was a son of Vulcan. And then, her dad had fallen for Venus (because who could resist her) and thus Maribelle was born. She shares that with Frank and he nods, watching her with focus. She tells him of her dad learning to make her clothes because they didn't have a lot of money, but most of the time the clothes were horrendous and would mysteriously get ruined before she could leave the house in them. That's when Maribelle began learning to make clothes on her own. And she was really good at it.

"Did your dad know?" Frank asks.

Maribelle shrugs, "Oh, yes. I always knew who my mom was having grown up in New Rome. We only lived outside of New Rome for about a year and a half and my dad hated it. So, we moved back. My dad teaches at the University."

"Oh."

"Some type of advanced math. He's good at that stuff, probably because of harabeoji."

"Cool."

"So you were young when you joined the legion?"

Maribelle nods, they were creeping into territory she didn't want to. They stop at a park bench, falling onto the seat side by side, hands still intertwined.

"So . . . when did you meet — mmph!"

Maribelle cuts him off before he can say his name, lips pressing to his hurriedly. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him down closer to her. His hands stay put in his lap and if she could roll her eyes she would.