Seeking Happiness

Percy, Jason, and Nico left three months ago today. No one exactly knew why, well maybe Piper or Annabeth did but they hadn't told anyone. They kept to themselves most days. Piper was usually with Annabeth, who was usually with Luke, who was usually with Thalia. And then every once in a while you would throw Calypso into the mix. I didn't really blame them for not wanting us around. They were all basically halves to a whole. Their significant other was either A. on a quest. B. Dying of a supernatural disease. or C. Tragically deceased. Hazel and I were the only couple in the group who were together and happy.

Hazel and I had tried to move into one of the new apartments in Elysium, but our application was denied because we weren't married. I love Hazel, and I would love to live with her, but there was no way I was getting married right now. I understand Percy and Annabeth did it and they're happy and all that. But they've been together a lot longer than we have. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that they love each other more. Because I'm confident in our love, I just would like to wait for a more appropriate age to start the next chapter of our lives. I think Hazel more than agreed when I told her how I felt. She was very old fashioned. She was getting more accustomed to modern times, but it didn't mean her roots weren't stuck in her time period.

Today she was practicing working with the mist. She said she's meet me for dinner, but I was honestly just too bored to wait that long. I strolled over to her usual spot. But before she could see me I shifted into a chipmunk. I scampered over and sat in the shadow of a nearby tree. I watched as her face scrunched up in concentration. Her hands held at, her fingers twitching this way and that way as she attempted to manipulate the mist. She was beautiful, she really was. But it wasn't only her physical attractiveness but the way she was, the way she carried herself. I couldn't help but marvel at it.

All the sudden I heard her voice next to me. I looked but nothing was there just air. She was still standing a few feet away in her little trance. But then I heard it again, "Did you really think I didn't see you come over here?" I was picked up by my tail, I squirmed as I hung upside down by an invisible force. The Hazel that was standing a few feet away had started to disintegrate as the one holding me came into view. "I've been sitting here the whole time. I used the mist to make you think I was over there. Cool huh?"

I really hope she wasn't waiting for me to answer, because I was currently a chipmunk. I shifted back into a human, which was a huge mistake. I landed face first in her lap. It was incredibly uncomfortable. She laughed even though I knew it had to hurt. I mean I'm not exactly a small guy. I didn't get up but instead just rolled over and looked up at her. The sun was peeking through the limbs of the trees, casting a glow around her face. She really did look like she had a halo. She ran her hand through my hair, "I'm so happy you're here. I would be miserable if you had left with the others."

I was secretly a little upset I didn't get asked. I was really upset that they didn't even let me know they were gong. I felt like I had earned my place here. I felt as if I was part of the "in crowd". I know I probably sound like a teenage girl, but I was just a little hurt that I wasn't included. Most of the theories floating around said that they were off on a mission from the gods. What with them being sons of the big three, the campers assumed it had to be something huge and secretive. I tried to act like it I believed that, like they would have told me if they could.

I shook of the childish feelings and returned my attention to my girlfriend. I took her hand in mine, softly drawing circles with my thumb. "There's no place I'd rather be than right here with you." She bent over and kissed my forehead. Sometimes I wished we could be more adventurous. You know trade a peck on the lips for a good healthy make out session. But she had her morals, and I had my awkwardness. If either of us were ready to take this relationship to the next level we wouldn't say it out loud. We were just one of those couples who were destined to hold hands forever until one day that hand slips and BAM... Now were a couple having sex.

She brought her hand down to cup my face, her thumb rubbing across my cheek. She had a look in her eye. A look that said I want to ask you something but I don't know how. I opened my mouth to ask her what was wrong when she covered it with hers. Now this wasn't one of our routine safe kisses. This kiss had fire and passion, and it was amazing. I sat up and by some instinct placed my hand on the back of her neck. She leaned forward and moved to be basically right in my lap. We continued kissing like this. For what felt like hours but it was probably more like minutes. Then my embarrassing little friend made an appearance. I knew she could feel it, because she jumped back and looked at me with big eyes. "Okay that was nice... But we should... um... slow it down a pace or two." I was so embarrassed I hadn't meant to do that, but it wasn't like I had much experience keeping all of that in check.

I could see the blush starting to spread over her cheeks as she fixed her hair and straightened her shirt. She sighed deeply and looked at me. It wasn't a look of disapproval, or irritation. But more like a look of achievement and happiness. She scooted over and sat next to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "I've wanted to do that for a long time." I don't know what came over me because instead of responding with something witty or cute I just... turned into a baby goat. Don't ask me why, because I had no idea. But she seemed to think it was pretty funny. She kissed my little goat forehead, "I love you my little goat!"

Notes