Mount Olympus

Jace

Rayah takes my hand and leads me down a stream by the lake, leading into the woods and to a tavern. A waterfall graces the middle of it. I flash a smile and look around, "This is awesome, Ray."

Rayah

I nod, "Yeah. I've been coming here since I was ten," I watch him, "But your the only one that knows about it. 'Cause I can trust you more than anyone else."

Jace

I smile and wrap my arms around her, quickly kissing her, "I trust you the same, Ray. If Nic wasn't so nosy, you'd be the only one to ever know about my poetry and stuff. And you'll be the only one to know about my secret spot."

I remember Alyx having found me that night and pause.

"Well...Alyx is freaking nosy too," I say, "But you're the only one I've chosen to tell and show."

Rayah

I smile and nod, "Yeah..." I glance around, childhood memories flooding me, "This is the only place I actually feel I can be myself."

Jace

I study her before kissing her forehead and hugging her, "Do me a favor, Ray? The next time you feel like that...or how you said you sometimes felt at the beach, tell me or drag me around until you feel better. I don't want you feeling like that at all."

Rayah

I hug him back, smiling, "I will, promise."

Jace

I smile and kiss the side of her face, "Thank you."

Rayah

I pull back and look at him, "You wanted to show me you're secret place?"

Jace

I smile and nod, kissing her forehead, "When you're ready though."

Rayah

I nod, taking a deep breath, and plop down in my usuall spot, playing with the grass sprouting from in-between cracks in the stone. I bring my knees to my face and breathe, trying to get all this stress of my shoulders as I listen to the waterfall.

Love can be a pain in the a*s, Rayah. So can life. Don't let that hold you back.

I close my eyes for a second and run my fingers over the stone, more memories flashing back.

Jace

She plops down before the waterfall and I flash a smile, leaning against the wall, not wanting to disturb her.

Rayah

My powers start to act up again and I swear, standing, "We Uh, need to go," I said, my eyes slowly turning red again, I cough and cross my arms over my stomach, walking out, hoping Jesse was around here somewhere.

Jace

Rayah stands and swears, saying we need to go. I nod and watch her closely, worried.

"Wanna go back to the lake?" I ask, "Calm down in a swim?"

Rayah

I grab his wrist, pulling him out, and my stomach turns, "Uh yeah, but I don't think it's a good idea if I'm near my little sisters right now. Can't run home--" I double over. Oh sh*t.

"Yeah....a-a swim sounds good," I muttered, and kept walking -or sprinting-, trying to get near water before I explode.

Jace

She pulls me out and doubles over. I scoop her up and sprint to the water, wading in and taking her with me, "Just relax, baby."