The Aftermath [private]

Anna took a deep breath and tried to prevent herself from hyperventilating. Today was the Sadie Hawkins Dance, and she was supposed to meet up with the son of Zeus. She ended up as a loser on their challenge. But Luca had been kind and not made her do the dare. She blushed as she thought of this, and she bit her lip.

Not a good move. The lipstick tasted ew. Daryl had been especially gleeful as she fixed Anna's face. The blush-on was only mild, but as Anna blushed, it became redder. Ugh. Daryl had that sense of perfection that everything comes fabulous. Anna wasn't used to this. She was used to just jeans, T-shirts, and that stuff. Now that she'd asked Luca to dance--as a token of his kindness at the dare--she beginning to regret it.

No backing out now. She bowed her head and fidgeted with her fresh blond curls. "Totally... embarrassing. I hope this turns out well," she said. It took all of her willpower to be patient of sitting and waiting for her dance.

Anna glanced at the door of the Dance Hall, and saw Luca coming. She dropped her hand from her hair and blushed fiercely. He was looking handsome, with his outfit and all. She brought her eyes away and... "Looking pretty as always, Miss Sanzenin," a voice said. Anna slowly looked up, her green eyes looking baffled.

She managed a smile. She didn't know what to say to that. "Oh. Thanks," she replied, a little awkwardly. She accepted the cup gingerly, and took a sip. Then she clutched it. After a silence, Anna murmured, enough for him, and only him, to hear it: "Actually, you look very nice, too." Blush, then sigh. His grey eyes were really mesmerizing.

Anna took another sip from her cup--one, long sip as she thought of an answer. In the mention of the dare, Anna's mind played a replay of the scene. The lava had gotten her vines, and she had to struggle to grow another. It wasn't easy, considering that she was panicking. Because of that, she arrived a minute after Luca at the top. She gritted her teeth after, and prepared for the real challenge--the dares. But Luca didn't made her do that. She liked him since then.

"I'm pretty fine. It took some time for me to get over my loss." She swung her feet, careful of her high heels. I have liked you ever since, she wanted to say, but she can't. "Can I just ask, why didn't you made me do the dare?" she asked jokingly. "I was ready to walk around camp with the make-up." A quiet chuckle.

She glanced sideways. "How about you?"

Anna looked at Luca all the moment he was speaking, searching something in his face. She kept a calm mask on. When he said he didn't want to be mean, Anna accepted that. She knew dares are supposed to be taken seriously, and Luca's doing really shook her, marking him as the kindest guy around. She took a sip from her cup again, and this time she finished the drink. She put the empty cup beside her.

She beamed when Luca said he liked her. Seriously? Anna's heart warmed. However, her face fell on the following comment. "Oh," she said. "Thanks. It just surprised me." She glanced at his drink. "Let's get to the dance?" she asked. The warm feeling still hadn't faded.

Anna looked away awkwardly. Oh gods of Olympus, he said it. He said what Anna wanted him to say. But he phrased it the way that all the burden had gone to her. She swallowed nervously. "I'll say..." she began. Without thinking, she began to smile, the warm of her heart rising. "It's very nice of you." Anna wasn't about to be like the Aphrodites, saying, oh gods I love you too! Anna wasn't just like that kind.

She stood up, tearing her gaze from Luca. "Let's go," taking a few steps forward and then turning. It was time to put what Daryl told her. Allure him now. She put on a sweet smile, but she didn't have to pretend. Anna liked Luca. The end.