All Grown Up

The clock ticked on through the small hours of the night, yet Reede's eyes would not remain shut.  He lied in his bed staring at the ceiling.  Finally he threw off his comforter and quietly lowered himself into his chair.  Throwing on a hoodie he wheeled himself out of the cabin making sure the door did not slam behind him.  The night was quiet, peaceful as he had never seen the camp.  He made his way toward the lake, wondering if the naiads were as restless as he was.  As he passed the showers he heard a faint noise.  Reede paused to listen a moment.  The sound seemed to be coming from beside the stalls.  It was a low inconsistent sound, fading in and out.  Reede cautiously approached, feeling no threat present yet not willing to be caught unprepared.  Approaching the corner he took a wide turn, giving him time to evaluate and react appropriately.  Rounding the corner he found a blonde sitting against the wall with her face buried in her hands, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders creating a curtain over her face.  The girl jumped, startled to see someone out at this hour.  Reede pushed himself closer as the girl hurriedly wiped her eyes, avoiding his gaze as Reede climbed off his chair and planted himself beside the distressed blonde.

"I'm fine." The young girl stated before Reede could ask.

"Are you saying that to me or to yourself?  Not that it matters, neither one of us believe you." Retorted Reede.   He watched the girl brush a tear off her cheek and take in a deep breath, waiting for her to explain in her own time.

"Its just stupid girl stuff Reede, its okay I know you don't want to hear me whine."

"C'mon I'm not that insensitive, I do care when people are hurting.  Crying by the bathrooms in the middle of the night, I'm pretty sure its not something stupid."  Reede reassured the girl.  "Seirian, I know I act like a pompous fool during the day, I'm just enjoying my youth, but it doesn't mean I don't care about anything or I'll go spill everyone's secrets once I hear them.  I do have integrity."  

Seirian hesitated before responding, "I'm just not sure I can tell you." She admitted, looking down at her shirt.  "And could you please not look at me I look gross!"

Reede chuckled.  "Spoken like a true Aphroditette.  You don't look gross, you look really good actually.  Healthy than usually.  And you're boobs look bigger." He paused, looking around then back at Seirian as if piecing together a puzzle.  "Oh."

"Oh?  No, no oh! Don't say oh!"  Seirian panicked.

"Please tell me you're not." Reede's voice was soft and controlled, desperate for his realization to be false.

A lump formed in the daughter of Aphrodite's throat as she tried to answer the son of Hephaestus.  "I can't."  Was all she managed to squeeze out as her eyes welled up with tears.

Reede shook his head and began pushing away from her.  "You knew how I felt about you."

Seirian looked up at Reede as anger rose inside her, destroying the lump pushing against her voice box.  "Don't even go there!  You only 'cared' about me when it was convenient for you.  Not when I needed you, not when we had a chance, only when you had nothing else to do, no one else to go to, then you'd show up and keep it superficial so- what I didn't get too attached?  So don't you dare try to guilt trip me.  Like I don't have enough to worry about now."  

"So that makes everything ok?"

"Of course not!   How is any of this ok?"

"Then why would you do it?"

"Don't judge me.  You of all people wouldn't understand."

"Me of all people?"  Reede sighed, attempting to gain control of his emotions.  "Please, elaborate."

"You have no idea what its like to feel so unloved.  I'm a daughter of Love and my own mother doesn't love me-"

"Oh please don't be such a drama queen."

"Drama queen!  Reede just because you supposedly have a crush on me doesn't mean everyone loves me!  I don't have a family to take care of me!  I was thrown away time and time again.  I don't even have a best friend to share my worries with.  You on the other hand are surrounded by people who love you.  I get its depressing that you lost your sister and your mother, but that doesn't mean we are all as strong as you and we-I should be judged for my weakness.  Not only did you have a loving mother-"

"-who didn't love me enough to stay alive for me-" Reede interrupted.

"-and a sister who loved you so much she gave her life for you."  Seirian continued without a pause.  "You also had relatives that loved you so much they took you in and treated you as their own even knowing what you are.  I don't have anyone that would die for me, take me in to even feed me as a pet.  So how would you understand that?"  Reede didn't respond, just sat and looked down at the ground.  "Is it so crazy to think I might find love by making it?  Especially when I haven't found it any other way?"

"No.  It's not."  He responded without taking his eyes off the rock he was trying to burn through the ground.  "And what does the father have to say about all this?"

"'I've moved on to fresher meadows, deal with your problems on your own.'"  Recited the teary eyed blonde.  

Reede clenched his fists at hearing those words.  He wanted to start yelling at her, but he knew the outcome.  Through clenched teeth he asked "What will you do?"

"I know you think I'm stupid, sleeping with someone who could say that.  And I guess I am.  But you have no idea what its like to be desperate for love."

"I get it.  The desperation makes you believe in all the lies he tells you and ignore all the signs that he's a giant douche."  Reede remembered his cousin Anna as she brought guy after guy home, zoning out when he said nasty things and fawning over them when they said even slightly nice things about her.  He tried to see Anna's point of view, but still couldn't understand why she made such stupid decisions.  She was surrounded with support from the people who love her.  Looking at Seirian's face he knew she wasn't dumb, she just drew the short stick and was trying to make it longer.  Suddenly, through the silence, Reede leaned in and kissed Seirian.  

Though startled, Seirian welcomed Reede's lips upon hers and reciprocated.

Reede broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers, barely leaving space between their lips.  "Now you probably think I'm just taking advantage of your vulnerability."

"Its ok."  Seirian breathed into his mouth.  "At least until the hormones kick in."