They had been sitting for hours, both silent and talking. Annabeth kept finding herself starting at Reyna's eyes. The way she watched Reyna crack a smile over a story about a horse riding lesson.

"I grew up out here, this is the closest I go to the city. Once I accidentally called Bianca my mom." Annabeth laughed to herself, setting her eyes on the horizon. The sun was setting, the Sky turning a golden pink. Reyna laughed a little bit .

"They sound like they really care about you." Reyna nudged her, their feet tapping against each other as they both looked out into the sunset.

"They really do- Oh no. I need to get home." Annabeth scrambled to stand, putting her cloak back on, "I should have gone home already."

Reyna stood to, but Annabeth had already begun to run back. She hopped over a log and almost fell, too frantic to be elegant.

"Wait!" Reyna called from behind, trying to catch up, "I'll be back here tomorrow, noon. Please meet me."

Annabeth stopped, turning around. The glint in Reyna's eyes and her slumped shoulders showed a sense of begging. She really wanted Annabeth to come back the next day.

"Noon?" Annabeth confirmed, and Reyna's face brightened.

"Yes. Noon." Reyna nodded, clasping her hands together. Annabeth felt a smile spread onto her face.

"I'll sneak out if needed. Till tomorrow, Reyna." Annabeth walked backwards a few steps before turning around, running off.

---

Annabeth hung up her cloak, Bianca turned her head from the stove. Her shoulders dropped and Bianca charges Annabeth in a hug.

"Oh thank my stars you're alright!" Bianca held her at shoulder distance, looking at her. "Are you hurt? You were gone for hours, I was worried sick." Bianca them looked at Annabeth's eyes.

"I took a walk." Annabeth said shortly, barely hiding her smiling eyes. Bianca's face dropped, shaking her head.

"You met someone." She said quietly, "Oh no, oh no." Bianca them began pacing around the room, green skirt fluttering. Annabeth followed her.

"Bianca, it was wonderful. Her name is Reyna and she's from the neighboring kingdom. She's smart and funny, she's so pretty. Her smile is warm, and she was telling me about her hose. His name is-" Annabeth broke into a new smile, a blush rising o her cheeks.

"No, Annabeth. I've told you before that you are not to speak to strangers! You cannot go around talking to people you don't know!" Bianca scolded. Annabeth felt her heart sink into her stomach.

"But, she-"

"You will not talk to her again." Bianca shook her head, "I'm sorry, but you musnt." Bianca took Annabeth's hands.

"It's not fair. Not even one friend besides you? I have no stories to tell, how do you expect me to get married one day ?!" Annabeth raised her voice, harshly pulling her hands away. She stomped to the stairs, climbing up them. "It's not fair, Bianca!" Annabeth shouted.

She stomped to her room, slamming the door. She had made a promise to Reyna, Annabeth intended to keep it.

Notes

So someone is going to comment something Extra and honestly don't


~Nova~