Remember when I said that I like to practice my abilities when no one was around? Well, it just so happened that no one else was around, and I took it upon myself to get in some practice. Coop made a fantastic target.
I lifted my right hand and vines sprouted up from the grass, wrapping themselves around Cooper's muscular arm. Thorns emerged, embedding themselves in the soft tissue.
"Oakley, I am serious. Stop with the vines!" I could tell he was losing the last bit of patience he had with me, but I didn't care.
I kept covering his arm in vines until he finally let go of my wrist. I lifted my hand, retracting the vines, and his other hand reached up to rub the spots where the vines had tugged at his skin. Blood trickled out of the thorn shaped wounds, and I held my breath. My crippling anxiety forced me to attack a demigod, and his wrath was now aimed at me in full force.
"Shit, Oakley. What is your problem?" His voice wasn't cold, or angry, it was hurt.
My heart dropped. I was expecting a fight of the physical variety, not an emotionally wounded demigod. My brain was clouded.
"I can't sleep in that dorm. I just can't, it's suffocating Coop." I said, unable to stop the desperation from seeping in. My arms stretched out to my sides, and I felt my knees wobble.
When I was brave enough to look at him again, I saw concern, and worry coat his features. His brow creased, forming misshapen wrinkles between them.
"Hey, look, I'm sorry, we don't have to go to your dorm, but can we at least go somewhere with lights, like the courtyard? There's a fountain, and you like playing with water. C'mon." Coop's voice wobbled, desperate.
I sighed as he reached out to me again. He wasn't grabbing at me, but holding his hand out, patiently waiting for me to take it.
I pondered the consequences for a few moments, but ultimately decided that taking his hand, and going to the fountain would result in less fighting for the rest of the night.
I stayed silent as we trekked over to it. The air was crisp, and smelled of pure autumn. I couldn't get enough of it, I craved it, like a small piece of me craved him at that moment. His heartbeat was the only thing helping me focus on my breathing; I knew where this conversation was heading.
When we reached the fountain, he placed both of his hands inside of his jean pockets, and took a seat on the edge. After a few minutes his eyes shot up to mine, and a lazy smile appeared on his face.
"So, as much as I would love to take the time to get to know your favorite color, snack, and song, I think the proper question to ask right now is how long have you been sleeping in the forest's cave systems?" The humor in his voice didn't deter the hardness of his eyes.
I kept myself at a safe enough distance, and crossed my arms over my chest, maintaining eye contact. There was no easy way to talk to anyone about it, so I had to push, and hard.
"I don't think that's a proper question at all." I spoke, my lips formed a tight line as my eyes narrowed further.
I truly wanted to try the friendship thing with him, but tonight proved that to be impossible. I needed to hold it together just long enough for me to get away.
His eyes flashed with anger for a brief moment before frustration settled in.
"Listen, Oakley, I'm not just gonna let go of the fact that you don't sleep in a safe dorm on campus. So, cut the crap, and just be honest with me. You're my friend." He threw his hands up in exasperation.
I flinched at his emphasis on friend, but he didn't notice, he was pacing by now, and I had trouble gauging the direction this conversation was going in.
I kept a blank look on my face, trying my best to cover the overwhelming amount of emotions threatening to spill out.
"No, Cooper, I don't think we are friends." It hurt to say it, but it had to be done.
I would leave him here at the fountain and make my way to the dorm, stay there until I was sure he was gone, and then venture back out. I just needed to get away from him.
His eyes were glued on me. I knew it wouldn't be that easy to walk away, but I had to think of something fast. I had no clue how much longer I could keep my emotions at bay.
"Oakley, you don't mean that, please, don't shut me out. I just want to know how long you've been sleeping in the caves." His eyes were pleading, and I couldn't control the words that came out of my mouth.
"The entire time I've been enrolled..." I trailed off, and my eyes widened in shock as I let my biggest secret slide from my lips. The safeness of the caves dwindling in my naiveness.
His eyes mimicked mine, but suddenly darkened with anger. Arms above his head, his eyes shaded a deep pink.
"Oakley! What the hell! You're a small girl. This forest is the most dangerous at night, especially for you. You're not alone. You have to know you aren't alone out here." Coop had started pacing again, and I kept my feet cemented to the ground.
"Coop, I think you should go. Please? I just want to sleep." I was cracking, I felt it.
My exhaustion had won, not allowing me to concentrate on my emotions. I needed to use my energy to stay awake right now, but the lull of his heartbeat was soothing.
There was a moment of silence, then the sound of his footsteps approaching me. I kept my head down, tears were starting to form from the lack of decent sleep, and I would be damned to let him see me cry.
"Oakley, hey. Look at me. I want you to sleep, but not in those caves. Please? My room is bigger, if that is what this is about. Let me take you to my room so you can sleep. I don't like seeing you like this." His hand lifted my chin and my eyes met his.
He wiped a tear from my eye and rested his palm on my cheek. I felt them heat up instantly, and it took everything in me to pull away. I really didn't have the energy to fight so I just took his hand and gave him a soft smile.
"Okay, I'll let you, just tonight, and then tomorrow, I'm done being friends with you." I wanted to mean that I truly did, but when he smiled back at me and brushed some hair behind my pointed ears, I knew I would want to keep him in my life a little longer.
"You, don't mean that, little nymph," was the last thing I remembered coming from his lips before I woke up in his bed the next morning.