Audentis Fortuna Iuvat

I stared out the window of the small car as a corny pop song played in the background.

"Are you okay?" Dakota asked as he pulled smoothly around a corner.

"I guess so." I sighed, looking longingly at the passing mortals, smiling so innocently as they went about normal activities

"So that's a no then?"

I gave him a sideways glance out of the corner of my eye and he gave me one right back. I laughed before turning back to my window.

"Keep your eyes on the road." I muttered.

"That's not exactly an answer." He prompted.

"I don't think I'll ever be fine." I sighed again. "It's just like- like everything came down on me at once when Octavian..."

"When he what?" Dakota asked, casting me a nervous glance.

"He found a- a prophecy about me. It was talking about- about how I would bring peace or war between us and an ancient enemy. He said that he found it..." I took a shaky breath, gathering up the strength to continue. "Where my dad and I used to live... in the ruins of the burnt house." For once no tears rolled down my cheeks, I had left my emotions behind long ago- or perhaps too many lurked within me, I could never determine the difference.

Dakota pulled over to the side of the road before turning to study me properly.

"Don't look at me like I'm broken." I told him, finally turning away from the window.

"But you are." He said.

"No I'm-"

"You are." He repeated. "Maybe your body is whole but there are many other ways to be broken."

I studied his face carefully before replying. "How did I ever deserve a friend like you?"

He shrugged and leaned across the gear stick to fold me in his arms. "I'm not quite sure." He mumbled into my copper hair.

I closed my eyes. "Me neither." I responded.

"How are we going to fix you, Kerri Davis?" He asked, keeping his arms locked tight around me.

"I'm not sure, yet. I'll let you know when I have an idea."

He laughed and we sat there for a long time awkwardly embracing with seatbelts still buckled.

"We need to get going." Dakota said finally.

"Probably." I slipped out of his embrace reluctantly and he restarted the engine, turning the radio up loud.

"How's your singing?" He yelled over the noise.

"Honestly? Terrible!" I yelled back.

"Great, 'cos so's mine!" He yelled before breaking out terribly in song.

'You've carried on so long
You couldn't stop if you tried it
You built your walls so high
That no one could climb it
But I'm gonna try.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now, girl Take it off now, girl
I wanna see inside
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?'

"Your turn!" He yelled over the music.

I shook my head and he shook my arm until I finally began to sing even more terribly than him. Which I assure you is quite the feat.

'You let all the girls go
Make you feel good, don't it?
Behind your Broadway show
I heard a boy say "Please don't hurt me."'

"You're right!" Dakota said over the music.

"About what?"

"You really are terrible."

I slapped him hard in the arm and we continued to sing like drowning cats as we neared closer to Camp.

I could already feel my soul stitching itself together. Maybe broken was fixable after all...

Notes