Hello,

Here is the sixteenth chapter.

I neither own PJO nor Harry Potter.

Enjoy Reading!

**********

That night after dinner we talk and decide to train in Forbidden Forest.
Nearly at 11pm that night Nico shadow travels himself and Thalia to Forest, I vapor travel away. Hermione and Neville were already there. I guess sneaking away for seven years makes it easy, but not safe. Anastasia said she had something to do, so none of us forced her to come.

"Hey guys." I greet.

"Hello." The other two return.

"Anastasia didn't come?" Hermione / Mira asks.

"Uh, she said she had some work." Thalia tells her. Mira curses under her breathe.

"Not your fault." Neville/ Rowan whispers to her. She hums in response. 

I wonder what is it about? Why did she feel it was her fault? What happened between the two? When did it happen?  Anastasia was smiling when she saw Mira, then?

We start our spar. Me with Neville and Nico while Thalia and Mira go on one -to- one. I was quite enjoying the three- way fight. It was a new experience. 

I was aware of how Nico strikes but not Rowan, similar was the case with Nico. I was surprised with how focused and concise Rowan's strikes were. Even though, he was unaware of our fighting style he was not lacking behind much.
Never before had I seen such a cool and nice fighting Demeter/ Ceres. Not that I mean in a wrong way, it was wonderful to see him fight. 

I liked the way he tried to use our weak points to his benefit. He was able to read us very fast. Nice skills he has. Wonder how he learned to fight like this?

***

We laughed as we walked back to our common room. Everybody dispersed towards their room.
I groaned, my back was hurting like hell, walking towards my room.

"What happened?" Anastasia asks from behind. I whirl towards her, I didn't knew she was there.

"Uh... nothing." I answer nervous of lying to her.

"Oh Really?" she raises an eyebrow.

"I... um..." I trailed off not knowing what to say.

"Come on, let's go to your swimming pool." she drags me too, my room.

We settle down in the swimming pool of my room with clothes and all of training.

"So?" she questions.

"I had a severe pain in my back." I said sighing, no point in lying to her.

"How is it now?" she asks.

"Better, now that I am in water." I tell her and she smiles.
"You should smile more, you look beautiful."

She raises an eyebrow in question and I blush. "I... I didn't mean.... l-like th-that."

"I get it Percy; nobody can resist my charm." she tells me "Only my father has resisted."

"What about your brother?"

"Never slept with him."

"Oh." What does that mean? Did she kiss him or something? That would be disgusting. Ewe!

"Where is he?"

"Somewhere in here."

"Clears everything up." I let sarcasm drip every word.

"Great for you." she shrugs. She can be irritating when she wants.

"You are infuriating." I say as I flick her nose. She narrows her eyes and hits my head with hers.

"Hey somebody help, there is a bloody bull in my room." I mock yell. And we fall into a small, sweet laughter.

She hits me lightly, "Shut up, people are sleeping."

"What about me?" I stage-whisper.

"You are to the mercy of bull." she says faking sympathy.

"Oh no." I mimic fainting, my back against her arms and head on her shoulder. She laughs. And I join her.

My eyes land on the window and I sigh.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asks.

"The night sky isn't so nice in NYC." I tell her.

"Come on." she says, pulling me up with her.

"What?" I ask.

"Dry me." I follow her request.

"We can't go outside." I tell her. She doesn't reply, instead takes me to her room. Its neat and cool. And there is a glass door, leading to a balcony. And we step in it.

It was a long big balcony, most probably hid with help of mist. She snapped her fingers and one end of the balcony lit in light. It was in the corner, there was a small bed like thing there. Along with pillows and candles decorating around it.

It looked perfect. She snapped her fingers again and two glasses of wine appeared. I turned to look at her in surprise.

"Come on, don't tell me you want to back off from drinking." she questions.

"Of course, not. Never. I was just remembering the last time."

"It was a disaster."

"You think?" I ask laughing. And we sit down on the make-shift bed.

"It's like Leo and skittles." she says. And I snort.

"What is this it tastes awfully nice." She frowns at the way of using words most probably.

"Muscat Blanc." She tells me. "A type of light and sweet, white wine."

"Oh." I take another sip. It's quite wonderful, at least as compared to others I have drunk up till now.

She lies down, having finished her drink, she stares at the sky. She such an intelligent and beautiful lady. Always read beat somebody's ass and have fun. A very good friend and supporter. She tries to understand, she won't pull on her inference immediately. A listener and when required a very good talker.

"Such a beautiful night." Anastasia sighs.

"Hmm, I have never done this before." I tell her.

"What did you do with her, on dates?"

"We went to beach or a library."

"Neither is a bad place but siriusly?"

"Umm... yes."

"Pardon me Percy, but that is ridiculous. I mean it's nice to have those kinds of date but only those?" she asks.

"I don't know how to respond do that." I mumble.

"Don't do, she was your first. You learn with time." she says, her voice apologetic. "Such a bitch." she curses. And I chuckle.

"As also, NYC sky isn't so nice." I tell her.

"You know, you can use this balcony whenever you like, right?"

"Now that you said, cool." I grin and lie down.

"That is Zoe, did you know?" I ask pointing at the stars.

"Zoe Nightshade?" she asks.

"Yes."

"Extravagant."

"I have a question."

"Pray, do tell." she says in a lofty British accent.

"Why do you girls like such heavy words?" I as and she laughs. Downright laughs at my question. "Hey, it's not funny."

"Your tone made it." I pout at her.

She calms herself down, "Girls aren't as complicated as the boys make them. We just love something different from others, something unique. Many times, if the girl seriously knows you, she will understand your feelings and what you are expressing even if you use the simplest of words and not the heavy and complicated ones."

"Really?"

"Yep, mostly. It's the sentiment that matters and the thought counts."

"Nice to know." I muse on what she said. "So, what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Which type of comments do you like?" I ask. I myself wondered why I asked.

"The one that come from one's heart, good or bad." She tells me.

"Hmm..."

*******

What do you say?

They kinda had a date 🙈 🙈 

Sweet, right?

Vote and Comment, people.

(1275 words.)

Until next time. Byeee! 😉