Mount Olympus

Rayah

I sigh, impatient, and make it hotter, my clothes drying slowly. I watch the waves, seeing as my dad had calmed down.

Jace

I watch her as she dries off, finishing what I can of the fish before setting it down and being in some serious need of water.

"Be right back," I tell her, throwing the towel off and diving in the water.

Rayah

He dives back in and I watch slowly, sighing. I lay back and play with my hair, wondering what I would look like when I dye my hair black.

Jace

I surface after I'm set and head to the shore, wrapping the towel around me again and sitting beside Rayah.

Rayah

I smile at Jace but don't dare to touch him, knowing I could burn his hand off. I keep my eyes cold and my skin glowing red, taking a deep breath.

Jace

I flash a smile at her and sigh, looking at the faded burns on my arms and knowing not to touch her right now to prevent more.

Rayah

My clothes dry and my skin turns back to tan. I keep my eyes closed, sighing.

Jace

Rayah returns to normal and I take a deep breath, looking out at the ocean.

Rayah

"Sometimes I feel like I don't exist," I finally say, "I mean, It's like...In my family, they always use me. Sometimes I don't want to exist. It just makes life easier on me," I say in a quiet voice, my eyes still closed.

Jace

...Where the hell did that come from?

I look at her, drawing my knees up to my chest.

"Everyone has that feeling, one day or the next," I say, "But if you didn't exist, this life wouldn't be the way it is. Two more wouldn't have started inside you, and I'm sure I wouldn't be where I am today, if at all."

Rayah

I nod, setting my hands atop my stomach, "But I'm tired of being used. Every guy at school I've dated, ending up using me. To either be more popular, or for...another thing. I dont just want to be another pretty face. It annoys me. I just want to run off and hide sometimes, you know?" I sigh.

Jace

I nod, "I know. The only reason I run is to get away from something, to try and outrun my thoughts or something that happened."

I pause and glance back at her.

"You can rest assured, I'm not using you. And you're not just another pretty face to me. You're everything," I add.

Rayah

I flash a smile and open one eye to look at him, "Thanks," I say. I think for a minute. "I need to show you something. It's where I go when I need to get away. Besides here," I say, standing, "It's really cool."

Jace

I smile and nod, standing and dressing again, "Then I want to show you mine. My brothers don't even know where it is."

Rayah

I nod and smile, taking his hand leading him off. We climb over the rocks, getting to a pathway with flowers and greens. A stream from the lake leads into the woods and to a tavern sort of thing, a mini waterfall inside it. I step inside and take a deep breath, sliding my hands in my pocket, "Here it is."