𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓! [pjo]

XXVI; strawberry stains

━━━strawberry stains

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

Callahan knew it was stupid to follow Percy, but her body moved on her own accord and she was jumping in after him with no way to get back out. It didn't hit her how stupid that was until she was submerged in gross and thick sludge. But by then, she couldn't get out and suddenly, she was on the dock of the canoe lake.

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

    She watched as another her sat laughing with Annabelle as Percy yelled about something. Their fingers were stained red with strawberry juice, sugar, and whipped cream and Percy had a spot of whipped cream on the tip of his nose. Callahan, Memory Callahan, couldn't stop laughing, and Annabelle's shoulders were shaking as Percy yelled at them. He was talking animatedly about something, something that made his eyes light up and his mouth stretch into a grin.

Callahan rested her hands on Percy's shoulders, steadying him. She leaned forward and stared deep into his eyes, watched them glimmer and sparkle before she licked the whipped cream clean off his nose. Annabeth dissolved into giggles. She wrapped her arms around Callahan's shoulders and tugged her into her body, wrapping her legs around her torso like a monkey. Percy blinked owlishly. Callahan grinned at him before tipping her head back and yelling, cheering into the bright blue sky with child-like exuberance. Annabeth shrieked behind her, then tucked her head into Callahan's neck. She kissed the junction of her shoulder and neck, and Callahan shivered.

    "You two are so fucking weird," Percy muttered, shaking his head at the two of them. Callahan smiled and grabbed his hand, yanking him toward them. He laughed and wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist, grinning into Callahan's forehead. The sun was warm on Callahan's back. Her heart was fluttering, surrounded by Annabeth and Percy's scent.

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

    A hand grabbed Callahan's ankle and she snapped out of her memory. Above her, another hand grabbed her arms. She wiggled her arms frantically, something yanked on her, and all of a sudden she was shivering and coughing up mud on a bank of solid grass Percy and Hazel beside her.

     Frank was above them, frantically digging through his backpack. "Oh my god, oh my god!"

    He took a t-shirt to Hazel's face. Callahan took a shuddering breath, and beside her Percy turned himself over, coughing up mud and muck. The sunlight was harsh on Cal's eyes.

    "Percy?" She whispered, her voice rough and scratching against her throat.

    Percy turned and stared at her, eyes wide. "Callahan? What did you--?"

    She smiled tiredly. "I jumped in after you. Wherever you go, I go, remember?"

    He shook his head and moved to sit next to her. "You're so fucking dumb"

    Callahan threw her head back and laughed. They must be a picture, four teenagers sitting together on a green grass bank, three of them covered in mud, one of them laughing uncontrollably, and another fussing over them like a mother hen.

    Her giggling didn't stop, and she shrugged at Percy.

    Frank managed to move the three of them to the side of the road, and they sat there shivering and coughing up mud clots. Hazel started to explain what she had seen, about Gaea and Nico and the goddess's claim of a fake life. Callahan listened to Hazel with one ear, the other one paying attention to nothing at all. Beside her, Percy wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He leaned into her and whispered against her mud-stained temple.

    "I remember that day"

    Callahan shivered against him, and she leaned into him, pushing her temple against his lips.

    "I miss her" She whispered back. Percy leaned back and looked at her, nodding.

    "I do too."

    Callahan couldn't stop shivering. They were walking along the road toward Seward and Callahan was shaking like a leaf. Percy's arms were wrapped tightly around her, his chest against her back, and they walked along like a clumsy four-legged thing.

    "Percy?" She whispered, and he hummed in reply. "Are you okay?"

    "I don't know, Cal," he whispered back. She stopped and Percy stumbled into her. She turned and stared at him, pulling on his hands until he looked her in the eye.

    "What's wrong?"

    He turned away and looked at Frank and Hazel, both of whom had stopped and waited for them a little bit away.

    "I--" His shoulders slumped. "Being submerged in the mud and not being able to breathe, I--I was terrified."

    Her heart felt heavy, staring at this shrunken and small version of the man she loved. She pulled him into her and kissed him, soft and light and pouring everything she felt for him into her lips. I truly am sorry, Percy. You don't deserve this.

    She pulled away and smiled at him. "두려움은 당신을 통제하지 않는 한 나쁜 것이 아닙니다."

    Percy blinked. "What?"

    "I love you, dumbass."

    Percy hummed. "I love you too."

━━━strawberry stains

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

A//N: wassup, y'all. Here to apologize for my horrible google translated Korean. Someone let me know if I fucked up.

두려움은 당신을 통제하지 않는 한 나쁜 것이 아닙니다.= Fear isn't a bad thing, as long as it doesn't control you.