#drew tanaka x reader

[girlkisser13]

riordanverse masterlist

pjo & hoo

annabeth chase

clarisse la rue

drew tanaka

frank zhang

hazel levesque

jason grace

leo valdez

luke castellan

nico di angelo

perseus "percy" jackson

piper mclean

rachel elizabeth dare

reyna ramírez-arellano

thalia grace

william "will" solace

multiple

cabin headcanons

taking the hoo girls to prom

taking the pjo & hoo characters to the eras tour

the kane chronicles

carter kane

sadie kane

zia rashid

walt stone

magnus chase and the gods of asgard

alex fierro

blitzen

halfborn gunderson

hearthstone

magnus chase

mallory keen

samirah al abbas

thomas jefferson jr.

[nockstormbringer]

Percy Jackson: Extended Universe

↳ Characters Im writing for!

Requests are opened; headcanons only

Camp Half Blood

Percy Jackson || Cabin 3

Annabeth Chase || Cabin 6

Grover Underwood || Stayr

Thalia Grace || Cabin 8 [Platonic Only]

Leo Valdez || Cabin 9

Piper McLean || Cabin 10

Luke Castellan || Cabin 11

Nico Di Angelo || Cabin 13

Clarisse La Rue || Cabin 5

Will Solace || Cabin 7

Silena Beauregard || Cabin 10

Drew Tanaka || Cabin 10

Conner Stoll || Cabin 11

Travis Stoll || Cabin 11

Ethan Nakamura || Cabin 16

Camp Jupiter

Frank Zhang || Praetor

Hazel Levesque || Praetor

Jason Grace || Praetor

Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano || Huntress of Diana

Gods

Apollo || Lestor Papadopulous

Aphrodite || Venus

Ares || Mars

Hephaestus || Fulcan

Hades || Pluto

Persephone || Perserpina

Hermes || Mercury

Dionysus || Bacchus

Extra

Lityerses || Son of Midas & Demeter

Rachel Elizabeth Dare || Oracle of Delphi

[kekaki-cupcakes]

Hi! Idk if you’re still doing the 250 followers event (congrats btw ;D), but I’d like to request a wildflower for a daughter Hermes x drew Tanaka or a daughter of Tyche x Luke Castellan (idk what’s your opinion of him, and I saw no mention, so yeah…). Have an enjoyable day!

drew tanaka my fav bitch this is the first x female character I think I've ever gotten <3 also luke is me and me is luke if we're being honest I would've joined him in like four seconds and I'm not even a simp

-you guys watch trashy movies together. she's a chronic end of movie crier and you've been sworn to secrecy.

-Drew would be so fucking done with you sometimes. the Hermes kid habit of doing dumb shit just makes her roll her eyes at you. and then you grin at her and then she's grinning too. she finds it very annoying.

-what is not annoying, though, is when you just happen to slip her favourite lipgloss into the pocket of the jacket you borrowed [stole] from her when walking through the store. you're just such a good girlfriend. and it never goes on sale.

-you help her untangle her hair from her big hoop earrings.

-the spinny chair by her vanity is yours now. you love watching her do her make up. and then ruining her lipstick, of course.

-Connor and Travis planned to give her a 'if you hurt our sister they'll never find the body' talk but they chickened out when she glared at them.

-she's always invited over for game night. and wins celebrity heads every time.

[aphroditeshearts]

𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

𝖱𝗂𝗈𝗋𝖽𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾 ★

• 𝖯𝖾𝗋𝖼𝗒 𝖩𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗌𝗈𝗇

• 𝖠𝗇𝗇𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗁 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗌𝖾

• 𝖦𝗋𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖴𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗐𝗈𝗈𝖽

• 𝖩𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝖦𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾

• 𝖯𝗂𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝖬𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗇

• 𝖫𝖾𝗈 𝖵𝖺𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗓

• 𝖥𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝖹𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀

• 𝖧𝖺𝗓𝖾𝗅 𝖫𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗊𝗎𝖾

• 𝖭𝗂𝖼𝗈 𝖣𝗂 𝖠𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗅𝗈 (𝖬𝖺𝗅𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒)

• 𝖢𝗅𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗌𝖾 𝖫𝖺 𝖱𝗎𝖾

• 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗋 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗅𝗅

• 𝖳𝗋𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗌 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗅𝗅

• 𝖲𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗇𝖺 𝖡𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗀𝖺𝗋𝖽

• 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝖡𝖾𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗋𝖿

• 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌 𝖱𝗈𝖽𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗎𝖾𝗓

• 𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖲𝗈𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾

• 𝖣𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝖳𝖺𝗇𝖺𝗄𝖺

𝖳𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗅 𝖣𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖺 ☼︎

• 𝖢𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗒

• 𝖦𝗐𝖾𝗇

• 𝖣𝗎𝗇𝖼𝖺𝗇

• 𝖳𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍

• 𝖫𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗌𝖺𝗒

• 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋

• 𝖳𝗒𝗅𝖾𝗋

• 𝖡𝖾𝗍𝗁

• 𝖭𝗈𝖺𝗁

• 𝖫𝖾𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗐𝗇𝖺

• 𝖡𝗋𝗂𝖽𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾

• 𝖣𝗃

• 𝖨𝗓𝗓𝗒

• 𝖦𝖾𝗈𝖿𝖿

• 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗅𝖽

• 𝖤𝗏𝖺

• 𝖲𝖺𝖽𝗂𝖾

• 𝖪𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾

(𝖬𝗈𝗋𝖾, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝖽𝖽. 𝖲𝗈 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍, 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈.)

𝖬𝗂𝗌𝗌 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗀𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖾'𝗌 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗇

• 𝖩𝖺𝖼𝗈𝖻 𝖯𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇

• 𝖠𝗅𝗆𝖺 𝖯𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗀𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖾

• 𝖤𝗆𝗆𝖺 𝖡𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗆

• 𝖡𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗐𝗒𝗇 𝖡𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗒

• 𝖵𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝖡𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗒

• 𝖬𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝖭𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌

• 𝖧𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖺𝗉𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗇

• 𝖥𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺 𝖥𝗋𝖺𝗎𝗇𝖿𝗂𝖾𝗅𝖽

[aphroditeinthesea]

cabin 10 characters

⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

[alluringwaves]

OMG i love the OC so much and summer is the best character ever.

If you want you could do something where she plans something really nice to show them that she's not all that shallow and she's actually really nice and cares and knows a lot about them.

This is if you want otherwise love the work 💋🐬

👙 °❀* 𓍼:･ summer!roberts!reader plans a nice evening for her friends to surprise them (and definitely not because she wants to prove that she’s not that shallow)

(slight) summer!roberts!reader x percy jackson

a/n: tysm💞💞 hope u like it!

You had a reputation.

You were the princess of Camp Half-Blood—dramatic, high-maintenance, and completely untouchable. You liked pretty things, hated getting dirty, and had zero patience for people who couldn’t keep up. To most, you were the girl who cared more about her tan than a prophecy, who could kill a monster but would complain about breaking a nail while doing it.

And fine. Maybe you were a little shallow. Maybe you did throw a fit when someone used your body mist without asking. But that didn’t mean you didn’t care.

You just didn’t show it the way people expected.

Which is exactly why you were currently bribing an entire army of Hermes kids with Sephora gift cards and high-end snacks to pull off what you had planned.

“I don’t get it,” one of them—Connor, maybe?—said as he adjusted a set of fairy lights in the trees. “Why are you even doing this?”

You crossed your arms. “Because I want to.”

That wasn’t entirely true.

You were doing this because no one ever expected you to care. And that pissed you off.

No one ever assumed Annabeth was too focused on architecture to be thoughtful. No one ever questioned why Percy was always late to cabin meetings but still considered him a great leader.

But you? One dramatic sigh, one eye roll, and suddenly, you were selfish.

You were going to prove them wrong

By the time everything was set up, the entire campfire area looked like something out of a dream.

Twinkling lights hung from tree branches, soft pillows were scattered around, and a long table was filled with everyone’s favorite snacks—things no one even realized she noticed. The extra-cheesy popcorn that Will always stole from the dining pavilion, the ridiculous blue food Percy was obsessed with, the very specific type of marshmallows that Annabeth liked in her hot chocolate.

It was perfect.

Now you just had to get them here.

Which, obviously, was where Drew came in.

“You’re lucky I love you,” Drew said, flipping her hair as she strolled back toward you. “They’re coming.”

You pretended to inspect your nails. “Obviously. No one can say no to me.”

Drew smirked. “Except that one time—”

“Shut up.”

Before she could argue, voices rang through the trees.

“What the—?”

“Did Chiron plan this?”

“Wait, is that—?“

You turned, watching as Annabeth, Percy, Will, and a handful of others stepped into the clearing, all of them looking around in shock.

Percy’s brows furrowed. “What’s all this?”

You crossed your arms. “Do you not have eyes?”

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. “You did this?”

“Wow, Chase, say it with less judgment next time.” You huffed, tossing her hair. “Yes, I did this. For you. All of you. Because for some reason, you people never stop running around doing things for everyone else, and it’s exhausting to watch. So sit down, eat some snacks, and chill.”

For a moment, no one said anything.

Then Will grinned, grabbing a handful of cheesy popcorn. “Okay, this is actually kind of amazing.”

Annabeth inspected her hot chocolate, eyes widening slightly when she saw the exact marshmallows she liked.

Percy smirked. “Didn’t know you were capable of being nice.”

You scowled. “I’m not. I’m just bored. And I needed a fun project.”

“Uh-huh.” Percy flopped onto a pillow, grabbing a blue cookie. “Well, thanks, Princess.”

You rolled your eyes but didn’t correct him.

Because even though you’d never admit it, you did care.

You just showed it your own way.

[erexart]

Try again?

Anything you want it to be.

Lovers to exes to lovers kind of thing

Inspired mostly by this fic from my friend T

[demi-goshdamnit]

Claiming

[this was supposed to be a silly little headcanon, but now it's a semi-story wtf]

When you arrived to camp, you stayed in Hermes' cabin for a while where Luke took care of helping you settle down. The days grew longer as you waited for your godly parent to claim you, and yet to no avail. Luke did his best to cheer you up, and after wallowing in your emotions for too long, you accepted his help and lived a semi-normal life in the camp.

You would train with Luke in the arena, first with swords, but when you realised that daggers were more your style, Luke brought in his little sister, Annabeth, to help you. She was a tiny girl, but she took your training very seriously, as expected by a Child of Athena. By the end of your third week in camp, you had mastered all you can wielding a dagger.

Throughout the days, you and Luke have gotten into shenanigans— he mostly pulls you in when he's planning pranks on the other kids, or even Chiron— and you honestly forget that you're still an unclaimed child.

That was until Drew, the daughter of Aphrodite, accidentally did more damage than anticipated with her charmspeak on an unlucky daughter of Hephaestus.

Silena dealt with Drew in their own Aphrodite-like way, but Charles had trouble consoling his little sister from the manipulation she went through. Luke had brought you to visit Charles and his sister at the infirmary, to see how she was doing, when you got the urge to sit next to the poor girl and ask the boys to leave the room. Although Charles was hesitant about leaving you alone with his sister, Luke put a hand on his shoulder and convinced him to go outside.

Once you and the little girl, Sarah, we're alone, you started talking about your day, telling her all about strawberry picking with Luke and Annabeth for her to enjoy. She seemed to enjoy the sweet fruit you brought for her, and it gave you the opening you were looking for.

After a gentle prod with your words, Sarah opened up about what happened to her. How Drew and some of the meaner Aphrodite kids used their charmspeak on her to make her do whatever they wanted. At first it would be small things like cleaning their room or getting them drinks, but it soon turned into more and more humiliating orders until Drew took it a step too far.

You grew angry at what happened to Sarah and wanted to storm into that garishly pink cabin and give Drew a piece of your mind. Yet, as you stared into Sarah's teary eyes, you couldn't help but give her the warmest hug you have and let her cry her pain into you. There was a soft, golden glow coming from your chest, but neither you nor Sarah noticed, too caught up in the comforting hug.

Sarah looked tremendously better than earlier, her small smile brightening her adorable face and her giggle melodious as you pinch her cheeks. At the sound of her laughter, Charles and Luke, with Will by their side, barged into the room and were dumbfounded to see you tickle Sarah's sides.

While Charles was happy that his little sister was feeling a lot better, Luke and Will were gobsmacked at the sight of Apollo's Lyre hovering above your head.

Luke felt a sharp sting of jealousy when Will exclaimed and hugged you tightly, and resisted the urge to drag the blond off of you since you looked so happy to finally have a place in the camp. After you and Will talk about moving your stuff into the Apollo Cabin— Luke frowned at that— you jumped at him and hugged him with all your might, you happiness quite literally making you glow from the inside and simultaneously making Luke warm and relaxed.

[Later down the line, Luke asks you to join him to get revenge on the gods and use your powers to emotionally manipulate convince the gods to change. When you refuse, Kronos kills you with Luke's hand, leaving Luke to live with the emotional pain you would've gladly taken away for him.]

[redroses07]

I loved your mood board for daughter of Hecate! Could you possibly do one with daughter of Aphrodite? 💖

Of course! Here you go lovely!

♡ 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝐼𝓈 𝒜 𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒪𝒻 𝒜𝓅𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒹𝒾𝓉𝑒 ♡

[f4riedimples]

PJO FANS I HAVE A CONTROVERSIAL OPINION AND IM GONNA SAY HALF OF IT: Drew isn't necessarily wrong about silena. Is Drew a bitch?

Yes. Is a broken clock right twice a day? Hell yeah. Don't attack me, if you want me to go more in depth I will.

[blessedbyahuntress]

I Love it When you go Crazy

A/N: I have so many Random Leo Valdez moments in my drafts that it's actually concerning. Take a look at my masterlist!

Pairing: Leo Valdez x Fem!Reader

Warnings: None!

Requested?: Nope!

It was your first campfire at Camp-Half Blood. Earlier in the day, Piper had taken you on a tour of Camp. You had immediately clicked with her as she told you about her quest with Jason Grace and Leo Valdez. She explained that they were staying here for the summer, then sailing off to New Rome once Leo finished building the Argo ll. 

The flames of the campfire flickered a warm golden color, reflecting the mood of all the campers. The Apollo cabin began playing some modern songs, which was rare because nobody usually heard about any new songs. Yet the Apollo cabin was playing ‘there’s nothing holding me back.’

Your head bobbed up and down to the beat of the music as you made your way toward Piper. “Hey,” you said, reaching her. “Great music, huh?” “I feel like I should dance,” Piper agreed. “I just can’t do it in public!” You didn’t know what you were saying, but you blurted out, “you can if I lead!”

You hadn’t had the chance to tell anyone yet, but you’d been taking dance classes since you were five. This was the perfect opportunity to show off.

So you grabbed Piper's hand and led her to where other people were dancing.

You didn’t really think about what you were doing. You just danced. Piper watched you for a moment then started to mime you. 

Then of course during the bridge, Drew Tanaka had to trip you from behind. “Oops! Sorry!” She said as you started to fall. 

As fast as lightning, a hand grabbed yours before you could hit the ground. A Latino boy’s face was hovering over yours, and you realized that Leo Valdez had grabbed you before you could fall. You had noticed that most of the time he was always grinning, but right now, his face was etched with concern. It took a while for you to realize it was concern for you. 

He helped bring you fully to your feet, his hand still in your grasp when you were standing. Leo stared at you for a moment before leaning in. “I love it when you go crazy,” he whispered in your ear in time with the song. Then he spun you around. When you turned back to look for him, you saw that he had vanished into the crowd.

You waited until your racing heart had calmed down before rushing off to where Piper was still dancing.

[girlkisser13]

sparks fly

"i’m on my guard with the rest of the world, but with you" "i know it’s no good"

pairings: drew tanaka x zeus fem!reader

warnings/tags: none. mean lesbian drew.

summary: drew hates everyone but you.

in the quiet corners of camp half-blood, drew tanaka, known for her sharp tongue and intimidating aura, found herself in a predicament. she had a crush.

unlike others, you seemed unfazed by her cold demeanor, and instead, you saw through the tough exterior to her vulnerable heart within. drew found herself stumbling over her words whenever you flashed her your electrifying smile, a sight that never failed to leave her a flustered mess.

despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, she couldn't shake the feeling of being completely flustered whenever you were around. she found herself going out of her way to spend time with you, seeking solace in your calming presence.

as the two you grew closer, drew found herself drawn to your gentle nature, a stark contrast to her own fiery demeanor. but it wasn't just drew who noticed the change— her siblings couldn't help but tease her mercilessly.

"looks like drew's gone soft for y/n!" one of her siblings snorted as they caught drew stealing glances at you during training.

drew rolled her eyes, but she could feel her cheeks heating up at the statement.

one evening, under the stars and with the soft glow of campfires flickering in the distance, drew finally mustered the courage to express her feelings for you. taking a deep breath, she looked into your eyes, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.

"i-i know i may not be the best at this whole relationship thing," she began, her cheeks flushing pink.

"but i want you to know that every stumble, every awkward moment, it's all because... because i really like you, more than i've ever liked anyone before."

as she awaited your response, drew's heart felt like it was about to burst with anticipation.

you probably heard rumors about the children of aphrodite and their tendency to break people's hearts. would you be able to see her as more than just a daughter of aphrodite, as someone worthy of love?

your smile was as radiant as the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm. "you don't have to be anyone other than yourself with me, drew," you said softly, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. "i like you for who you are— bitchy attitude and all. in fact, i like it when you're mean to me."

drew laughed as she hit you lightly on the arm. she felt a weight lift off her shoulders, replaced by a warmth that spread through her chest like wildfire. she leaned in, capturing your lips in a tender kiss, sealing your love beneath the watchful gaze of the stars.

[kekaki-cupcakes]

drew tanaka

daughter of hermes x drew tanaka headcanons

drew tanaka headcanons

[shitakimooshrooms]

I decided to go through my 262 tabs of fanfic on my phone + computer

I went through and bookmarked each fanfic. There are some that are labeled as misc. while there are groups with less that are individual. This is because I thought I had more of those ones. Here’s the numbers:

Star Wars - 72 bookmarks

Miscellaneous - 32 bookmarks

Riordanverse - 30 bookmarks

Harry Potter (mainly Percy Weasley) - 27 bookmarks

Avatar The Last Airbender - 20 bookmarks

Merlin - 15 bookmarks

Marvel - 12 bookmarks

Supernatural - 11 bookmarks

Doctor Who - 9 bookmarks

Good Omens - 8 bookmarks

DC - 5 bookmarks

ORV - 4 bookmarks

Psych - 3 bookmarks

Bones - 3 bookmarks

Spiderverse - 2 bookmarks

Top Gun - 2 bookmarks

Taking Over The Asylum - 2 bookmarks

TMNT - 2 bookmarks

X-Files - 2 bookmarks

TMA - 1 bookmark

[love-that-we-were-in]

lighting the fuse might result in a bang

pairing: frat!luke castellan x reader summary: Silena thinks you need to start blowing off some steam. You think you just need a fresh victory and Luke Castellan is the perfect opponent. word count: 5.3k warnings: smoking, drinking, usual college party stuff.

author's note: brought to you by my personal deep dark history with boys in hats. also i haven't gotten drunk in like 4/5 years so i don't remember what it's like so this was interesting. also i don't know anything about frats OR smoking. have the most fun <3

When Silena mentions a party you could go to, you jump at the offer, brain fuzzing at the edges where you’ve been locked in on flashcards all afternoon. It’s something you’ve started to navigate better this year, remembering to have fun after a year of non-stop focus. Silena makes it easier - a social butterfly with no qualms about dragging you out of the library when she thinks you’re pushing yourself too hard - and there’s no harm in listening to her without protest sometimes. 

“Do you even know who’s throwing this one?” You ask as she’s leading you through campus, rubbing at your arms to fight the fall chill. “I do not want a repeat of March.” 

“Have some faith in me. I’ve started vetting my sources.” 

Both of you shiver, the memory of a night spent outside the Stolls’ cramped dorm still haunting you six months later. You’re not overly familiar with this side of campus, turning away from the usual halls and towards the sorority housing, but Silena walks the path with ease, arm looped through yours.

The walk seems to have cleared your head, the music as you approach shaking off the last of the static. You’ve been here before, borrowing notes from a teammate, but it’s different like this, all pumping bass and cheers from the kitchen. Clarisse waves at you from across the room, beer in hand, and you mutter to Silena that you’re going to grab a drink. She nods, making a beeline for Drew Tanaka. You assume that’s who the invitation came from originally.

There’s a different energy to the kitchen, not quieter by any means but less noisy. Less concentrated, maybe, with twenty different conversations happening at once and nothing you have to pay attention to. Most people you don’t recognise, a group from your first year stats class huddled together near the sink, and the Stolls off to the side pointing at every new person they see. 

Mixing your drink is an easy fix, the kitchen island covered in more choices than you’ve seen in a while, and you savor the first few sips. Between class and swimming, you’ve barely drank since the semester began and the burn of vodka isn’t as numbed as you wish it was. Still, a drink is a drink so you refill it before returning to the thick of the party. 

Clarisse takes it upon herself to drag you away from the conversation you end up trapped in with Lee Fletcher, quite literally taking hold of your elbow. You mutter an apology, however disingenuous, rolling your eyes in mock exasperation as he smiles grimly. 

“I have no idea how you talk to that lot,” she says when you’re far enough away. “They’re all boring.” 

“Lee’s great. He always lends me notes from the lectures I miss.”

She laughs, pushing you into another room. “He’s trying to swindle a date out of you and you’re using him for lecture notes.” 

You shrug. There’s nothing wrong with Lee, except that Clarisse is a little right when she says most of your classmates are boring. It’s probably not intentional, and they definitely don’t realize it, but there’s this way they carry themselves around campus - half-nervous and half-haughty. It’s not a great combination and it’s why you gravitate towards the people Silena meets. 

“We were wondering when we were going to see you next,” Chris says as he throws an arm over Clarisse’s shoulder. You still don’t quite know the story there, how Chris Rodriguez managed to sweet talk your stoic teammate. One day, you’ll find out - a drunken vow you made with Silena on your dorm room floor when Clarisse mentioned a boyfriend - but you’re content to let them enjoy their romance in peace for now. “Almost thought you’d succumbed to the dark side.”

“You’re not getting rid of me yet.”

“And thank god,” he knocks his cup against yours before gesturing to the far corner of the room. “Because we need someone to kick Castellan’s ass at beer pong.” 

“Whose?”

Turns out, Luke Castellan is the newest brother to ksig. There’s not much to know about Chris’ fraternity in your eyes, just the basics of all frats, and you know from last year that there’s always bound to be a hotshot that needs someone to pump the brakes on their ego. Usually, they’re on the younger side, with more money than sense and they don’t expect anything from your approach. Luke Castellan isn’t quite that, but he’s not far from it either.

While Chris talks to the boy who was about to play, you take the opportunity to size up your opponent. It comes naturally, a part of constantly competing, and it comes in handy in moments like this, when the element of surprise is a key factor to the situation going ahead. 

Fitted jeans, branded polo and a stupid snapback cap worn backwards to show how cool he is. Nothing you haven’t seen before, really, except there’s this focused glint in his eyes with each plastic ball he throws like he has to prove his worth here. It’s a simple practice, unnecessary for a silly party game, but there’s this serious set to strong shoulders that you’re curious about.

The same way you want to know about Clarisse’s relationship, you want to know what makes Luke Castellan, whoever he is, tick. 

“Are you trying to get alcohol poisoning, Rodriguez?” 

“I’m not playing you, Luke,” Chris says and you watch closely as the other boy tilts his head slightly to the left. “I just had to go and get the current undefeated champion on campus.”

There’s this moment that happens every time you play - those awkward seconds where everyone looks completely past you to anyone else, anyone more noticeable. You count on it, occasionally, so it takes you a moment to process the way Luke’s gaze slides to you, drinks you in before he nods towards the other end of the table. 

Chris mutters a quiet “you got this,” as you brush past him, handing him your drink. You’re not delusional enough to think you can get away with mixing your drinks this early in the game. 

It takes two of Luke’s shots for you to land your first, his last hour of playing an advantage you accounted for. He’s not getting sloppy, not in the slightest, but he’s at the point where he’s a little worse for wear - a tired arm and hazy mind - and you take the chance you have at a false sense of security, taking your losses on the chin before playing the game to win. 

Within seven shots between you, you can see Luke start to get restless. How he reevaluates the table in front of him, his three empty cups to your four. Part of you really wants to knock that hat off his head, as if it’ll give you more of an insight into his mind. Instead, you wait for what you know is coming, a slight miscalculation that has the plastic ball rolling off the table to land at someone’s feet. 

Chris hands you a fresh one and you take in the way Luke swallows, jaw clenching as you line up your next shot. Whether he knows it or not, you’ve just been handed your win.

Clarisse cheers, handing you one of the cups from in front of you as everyone yells. You both chug what’s left of them, the bitter taste of cheap beer drowned out by victory, and as soon as that’s done, she throws herself back into Chris’ arms. Laughing, you turn around to find another drink, only to be met by Luke standing beside you.

“Are you about to be a sore loser?” 

He chuckles and it’s different like this. His eyes are brown, which you didn’t know five minutes ago, and his hair is dark from the little wisps of it you can see peeking out underneath his hat. You consider telling him that the hat makes him look lame, but then he’s leaning down to whisper anyway. “I expect a rematch.” 

It’s quiet and heavy and you wonder if anyone can tell that your blood feels like it’s on fire. It’s nothing, really, and it takes more effort than you want to respond. 

“Then expect to lose.”

The only saving grace to the exchange is that Luke looks a whole lot more affected by it, a blush crawling up his neck as you take the drink nearest to you and leave to find your roommate once more. 

*

Losing never used to get to you. Not like this, at least, where everything sort of feels like a precipice and you’re waiting for the next loss to fall on your shoulders alone. It was meant to be an easy game, a warm-up, for when the season started in earnest and you couldn’t afford to be incohesive. There’s always a learning curve, new starters and new competition, but in no world should it have caused this. 

Silena tells you to let it go, throwing yet another outfit on her bed as she gets ready. When you saw her at lunch, Clarisse told you to just push harder during practice. Sometimes you’re not even sure how you can be friends with both of them, how they can be friends with each other either. Unfortunately, it becomes very clear when Clarisse knocks on the door that night. 

“Why aren’t you ready?” 

“I’m not going anywhere.” 

She tuts at you, digging through the pile of clothing on Silena’s bed before throwing a dress at you. “Get dressed.” 

“You can’t make me,” you protest, the black fabric scrunching in your fist. You’ve borrowed it before, for a party last year you don’t remember very well, and you don’t even want to consider why it’s the one Clarisse selected. You turn to your roommate, looking for backup, only to find her with a pair of your shoes in her hands. “Are you seriously going to make me?” 

In unison, they raise a singular eyebrow each and it’s unsettling enough that you let go of all will to fight them. Today may as well just be full of losses that you can mourn tomorrow.

It’s only when you arrive at the party that you realize you have no idea who’s throwing it. Or who’s going to be there. Distantly, you really hope it’s a stranger Silena met on her way around campus - full of people you’ve ever met and will never see again. You could find someone nice enough to blow off some steam with before going on your merry way. 

When Clarisse yells at her boyfriend, you let out a huff as both he and Luke Castellan turn around. 

Since your first meeting, you’ve learned a few more things about Luke. He’s from Connecticut. He was responsible for half of Drew’s sorority coming down with the flu during freshers week. He’s in pre-med. He’s the reason Professor Chase introduced a ban on energy drinks in his lectures (one hundred students simultaneously opening a can of Redbull each was, apparently, mildly disconcerting). Most importantly, he’s always wearing that stupid cap. 

You try to equate the things you know with the Luke standing in front of you. Some of it makes perfect sense - Professor Chase and Connecticut - and some of it unsettles you, but it’s all true. Freshers and pre-med and track meets. Focusing on the distracted way he taps on his beer bottle instead of Clarisse greeting Chris, you kind of want to find out a whole lot more. 

“Fancy a rematch?” 

It’s the first thing he’s said to you all night, twisting the cap off a fresh beer before handing it to you. Then doing the same with his own. You pretend not to notice the movement of it, the few short seconds where you can get away with staring at the shine of silver rings in low light. Taking a sip, you crinkle your nose. 

“I’m not really in the mood,” you mutter and, at the very least, the beer is cold and you chug half of it before you even notice you’ve done it. “Don’t you have someone else you can bother?” 

There’s seconds before you notice it, how his eyes shift from slightly curious to intense. They don’t change much but standing in front of him, you can tell when they go from relaxed to focused. How his back straightens and shoulders roll back just so. You should go and find something stronger to drink. Maybe even see if Lee Fletcher is nearby.

You stay put.

“It’s just a bit of friendly competition,” Luke shrugs, unknowing of how it echoes in your skull. How that’s all today was ever meant to be. Leave it to him to dig the knife in again just as the tightness in your chest was starting to ease. “But I guess you just can’t handle it.” 

“I’d kick your ass in a rematch. I’m doing you a favor.” 

It’s obviously the wrong thing to say, Luke’s eyes brightening as the words push past your lips. The beer you drank way too fast is forming words before you even know what they are.

“You can always choose something else for me to beat you in,” he says, like it’s an offer, something gracious that you should be grateful for. “I’m easy.” 

“How many beers have you had?” 

“Three, I think?” 

Silena would tell you it’s a stupid idea - you have a coaching session at 9am and you haven’t gotten drunk since the party where you met Luke - and she would be right. But you need a win tonight, something guaranteed, and there’s this itch that crawls under your skin the longer you stare at the boy in front of you. 

So you say it anyway. 

“I bet I could outdrink you.” 

“I’d like to see you try.”

He waits as you down two more beers in quick succession, nursing his own as you do. A clink of your bottles against one another, followed by the final sip you each take and it’s finally a competition. 

The night continues, you and Luke almost joined at the hip. It’s to keep track, you tell yourself, talking to a kid that might be in your organic chem class. If the kid looks at you weird for pouring two drinks, only to hand one to Luke in silence, that’s probably just the alcohol misreading things. Only once, when you’re deep in conversation with Lee does Luke pass you a beer, eyebrow raised when Lee gives him a glare. You think that might’ve been drink eight. 

By the time Chris finds you both again, you’ve thrown yourselves onto the couch on the outskirts of the room. Someone’s abandoned coat is thrown over your legs in a mediocre attempt to preserve some dignity in the dress you’re wearing and Luke’s hat has twisted to the side. You’re sure neither of you has drunk a sip in ten minutes.

“You guys doing okay?” 

“We’re drunk,” you say and you can’t tell if it’s a whisper or a shout. “I’m winning.” 

“You’re not winning,” Luke turns his head to glare and you blame the alcohol on the attention you pay to the slope of his nose. “Neither of us have finished these drinks.” 

“Are you going to?” 

He glances down at the cup in his hand, half empty. You can see it, the hesitation, before he places it on the floor by his feet, shaking his head. “Are you?” 

The nice thing to do would be to give up, call it a draw and appreciate that you managed to have fun despite the bad day that had preceded it. However, you like to win. So you grit your teeth before drinking the final three sips, tilting the empty cup towards him so he can see the proof. It takes you a second to remember you have to actually swallow in order to drink, but you do and Luke scrunches his nose. You kind of want to kiss it as a way to smooth the skin back out.

“That’s two wins to me, Castellan.” 

Chris shakes his head at you both. “I’m not calling either of you to make sure you’re alive in the morning.” 

*

It’s an almost unconscious action when you walk into Drew’s sorority house, how you wave Silena off in favor of scanning the crowd, searching for the one reason you agreed to show up in the first place. It takes a moment, pinks and blues and silvers all merging together in your eyeline until you spot him near the staircase, familiar black cap resting on his head. 

You’re already a little buzzed, the thrill of your final project this semester finally being handed in just hours ago, and it’s why you let yourself actually look at Luke for once. 

By this point, you’ve seen him in a polo and a flannel, always with jeans. Laidback. That’s what party Luke was. Tonight, though, it’s like he’s trying harder - baggy pants, like they’re resting a little too low on his hips, a white t-shirt, white trainers that you know are going to stain before the night ends and a slightly oversized leather jacket that doesn’t quite go with the hat you used to identify him. Maybe it’s something he does on purpose, ruining a good thing over comforting familiarity. Maybe you’ll ask him.

Luke looks up then, as if he has a sixth sense, and you kind of don’t know what to do with the slight wave he sends in your direction. You wouldn’t call him a friend, that’s for sure, but you nod in response before weaving through your classmates to the kitchen.

It takes two vodka cranberries for Silena to find you. And it takes four shots with people you’ve never met for Chris to ask if you’ve seen Luke anywhere. You tell him where you last saw him, maybe an hour ago, and he shakes his head like he’s already checked the entire house.

“Do you think you can let him know I’m heading out?” Chris asks, one arm looped around Clarisse’s waist, more for support than anything else. She was already unsteady when you arrived and you know by the flush in her cheeks that it’ll only take a couple more drinks for her to start throwing up. You nod at Chris, cradling your drink to your chest, and he mumbles a thanks while steering his girlfriend towards the door.

With both of them gone, it leaves you with little to do except go hunting for Luke. So that’s what you do, waving Lee off as he attempts to grab your attention from the couch. 

Focusing is a lot harder now, squinting over everyone’s heads in search of that damn hat. Nothing. You know he’s not in the kitchen, that’s definite, and you learn that he’s not in the garden either, Katie from your anatomy class staring at you bewildered as you explain your quest. 

There’s only one place left to check for Luke and you consider if it’ll be a worthwhile risk. It’s entirely possible that he’s already left, whoever he was locked in conversation with earlier with him maybe, and you’re searching an entire sorority house on the off-chance he’s still in the building. 

But you promised Chris. More than that, you refuse to let Luke Castellan beat you.

So you commit to the staircase, pushing past the line for the restroom upstairs. It’s quieter up here, not by much, but you can hear yourself think clearer. There’s three doors on your left, all closed, and you drain the remnants of your drink so it warms your blood and erases the small part of your brain still protesting. 

There’s two yells when you knock on the first door, both hurried and pitching higher as the words fade so you move on quickly. No one answers to the second door, so you crack it open enough to see inside. It’s dark and neat and completely untouched by whatever is happening below, so you let it click shut again. 

Luke is in the third room, you learn, pressing it open when there’s no response to your knock. The room itself is still orderly, but you find the boy you’ve been searching for sitting on the floor at the base of the bed, hat turned to the side and the sleeves of his jacket bunching carelessly where they’ve been pushed higher on his forearms. 

“Chris wanted me to tell you he took Clarisse home,” you blurt when it feels like you need to say something. “He couldn’t find you so…”

Luke waits. When it becomes clear that’s all you’re here for, he says, “Well, thanks for letting me know.” 

You’ve done your job. You can go back and enjoy the party downstairs, maybe make use of the empty room next door instead of remaining awkwardly in the doorway. 

You think about how Chris mentioned that Luke can recite pi to seventeen places while drunk. How you’re still beating him by two points. How there’s an ashtray on the floor beside Luke’s knee and it’s sort of considerate of him to use one when no one else would.

“Mind if I join you?” 

Being in an empty bedroom with a guy at a party isn’t unusual. You’ve had your fair share of them, rushed and quiet and mostly on a bed. Sitting on the floor with Luke is different, you find, a gravity to it than you can’t quite wrap your head around after so many drinks. It’s slow and languid and you don’t really say much of anything as your knee bumps against his thigh in an effort to get comfortable in the space.

No one told you Luke smokes. 

You tell him as much.

“It’s a bad habit,” he shakes his head, twisting a cigarette between his fingers and you both act like you’re not paying rapt attention to it. “I try to avoid making it one.” 

“I used to. Back in high school. Gave it up when I got accepted here.” 

He turns to face you then, head tilted so the visor of his slanted hat brushes his shoulder. “I would never have guessed you were a smoker.” 

It’s not said with judgment, just as an observation from the limited interactions you’ve had since the semester began. The focus in Luke’s gaze crawls up your spine and mingles with the alcohol you’ve yet to flush from your system. 

“You ever blown a smoke ring?” 

If you’re not challenging him, you don’t quite know what to make of Luke. It’s the thing you know most about him, the way his face shifts from victory into loss. The way it matches yours, stretches from his eyes to his jaw and into clenched hands. If you’re not challenging him, you can’t read him - you want to be able to read him in the low light of right now. 

“I bet I’m better at it than you,” you say after he answers. A short laugh escapes him, almost a huff, and it raises the skin on your arms when it meets the top of your ear. “Wanna see?” 

“I’ve only got one.” He waves the cigarette he’s been holding in front of your eyes. 

“We can share.” 

It’s a bad, terrible, absolutely stupid idea. 

“You’re on, Castellan.” 

As he lights the end of it, you wonder if he knows what the brief flame does for his cheekbones, for his jawline. Paints them in small, defined shadows that you might still see if you close your eyes. You almost want to mention it to him. You settle for watching his lips settle around it, the sinking of his cheeks on the inhale and the noise as he exhales. There’s an almost complete ring of smoke in the air.

Luke hands you the cigarette and you repeat his motions, a little quicker. A little smoother. The ring that leaves your lips is full, but less circular. 

Both of you pretend not to notice the other one staring.

You agree to best of three. You agree and you win by the tiniest margin and you hand Luke the little that remains as a consolation prize. He indulges in the last few drags and you watch him do it, looking nothing like the pre-med student you know he is. You think he could be dangerous like this, based on the way your stomach twists as he puts the cigarette out, how his head tilts back and the final wisps of smoke escape his mouth.

You aren’t as drunk anymore. 

You really wish you were.

It takes Luke a second to notice that you’ve moved at all, eyes still closed but he does, and the run of his gaze across your face is enough for you to seize the last of the alcohol in your bloodstream, pushing forward so you’re actually face to face with him, knees digging into the rough carpet beneath you. 

“Can I help you?” It’s low and a little ragged and this is the first time you’ve really noticed the thin, pale scar that stretches down the skin of his right cheek. It’s actually a little insane how pretty he is up close. 

“I think I want a little more than the glory of winning this time,” and half of your whisper is lost to Luke Castellan’s lips but it’s not that important anyway.

What is important is the warmth of his hand through your shirt, pressed into the skin that exposes itself as you shift even closer. It’s the slightly rough texture of his jaw underneath your palm, the way his breath hitches in tandem with yours and you both push through it anyway. It’s the unexpected catch of your finger on his cap and the way you give up on it entirely, finally snatching it off his head so it lands somewhere nearby. 

You’re not sure what you expected Luke’s hair to look like. Horrible, probably, with odd patches that lie weirdly flat and should be covered from view. It’s not this, wild dark curls that deserve to be seen. 

“You have curly hair?” You say it before you can think not to, so caught up in the discovery you’ve just made, and Luke squints at you, unsure. “I can’t believe you have curly hair.” 

He’s preparing a smart-ass comment, you know it by the way his teeth dig into his bottom lip, and that’s really just not going to work this time - not when he’s been lying for months behind a hat. So you do what any sane person would, twist your fingers into the curls at the nape of his neck and trail your lips across his jaw like you’ll die if you don’t.

His hand hooks underneath your thigh and, when you bracket his waist between your legs, cool leather brushing against your knees, you think this might be the best victory you’ve experienced yet.

*

Silena knows something is up when you refuse to speak to her about the party. There’s few secrets you’ve kept from each other since meeting, and even less since Clarisse got involved. It’s pointless to try, mostly, since they all spill out of you when the lights go out and you’re left with each other's company. You almost forgot how annoying she could be when she’s pushing for information.

“Don’t think I’m going to tell you either,” you say when Clarisse joins you in the library a week after the party. “I am a fortress of secrets.” 

“I know you hooked up with Luke.” 

“Seriously?” 

She rolls her eyes, passing you the book you’d asked her for during practice last night. “Calm down. Chris told me. I’m down ten bucks now.” 

“You bet on it?”

“Of course we did, it’s our brand.” 

“I’m not telling Silena,” you whisper again, frowning at your notes. You wonder if Clarisse is aware you haven’t actually spoken to Luke since that night. “She’ll make it a big deal for nothing.” 

“I won’t tell but you should probably figure out what happens next. There’s a party at ksig tomorrow night before everyone goes home for the holidays.” You tap your pen against the textbook. Clarisse pushes a slip of paper towards you. Someone’s phone buzzes to your left. “Think about it.”

When she’s long gone, you grab the paper she left from the table. It’s wrinkled and you smooth it as best you can beneath your fingertips. Blue ink, messily scrawled, and you commit it to memory. Closing your textbook, you leave it pressed between chapters seven and eight. 

The party is loud, louder than you’re prepared for after flaking out on so many since your first one last year. Silena brushes past you once you arrive, shoving your shoulder just enough that it twinges and you frown. You didn’t speak a word on the way here and the silent treatment is starting to drive a little crazy. 

It feels silly now, in a place so crowded, and you breathe deeply. Someone points you in the direction of the kitchen after multiple attempts at asking and you miss the light chaos of throwing up outside the Stolls’ dorm with your best friend. 

You grab a beer, using the table edge to pop the cap off, and it helps to ease the tightness in your chest at how unfamiliar this all is. You’re not sure you could even find the restroom, let alone a singular person.

Pushing back into the bulk of the party, you vow to leave if you don’t find him before you finish your beer. There’s a project you have to start looking into for next semester that could be a good use of time tonight. 

If anyone tried to convince you that most of campus was here, you’d be willing to believe them. A drink raised in Lee’s direction, a nod to Ethan from last years’ stats class, a half-hearted smile at Rachel, who raises an eyebrow at you like she knows something no one else does. 

And maybe she does, because you turn away from her to find Luke just feet away, gesturing animatedly to the guy next to him. There’s a beer in his hand and a hat on his head and his phone number so deeply etched in your mind since last night that you hardly think about it until you’re standing next to him again, drink placed on a table somewhere along the way.

“Hi,” he smiles and his scar shifts with it. He turns to the guy from before. “We’ll catch up later, man.”

“Have I ever told you that I hate that fucking hat?” 

“I sort of got that when you threw it across the room.” His lips wrap around the rim of his bottle and you think you can be normal about it, go back to the way things were, until he smirks just slightly and you know you can’t. 

“You’re such a sore loser, Castellan,” you mutter as you push yourself up to snatch it from his head. He doesn’t comment, lets your fingers brush through his curls until they’re a complete mess instead of compacted. He glances down at the cap in your hand and mutters, “And what is your genius plan for my hat?”

It’s a really fucking good question. Short of getting it off his head, you didn’t know what you were going to do. It’s one thing to throw it across an empty room in the dark, another thing entirely to abandon it to a frat party. So you choose the next best thing - placing it on your own head and daring him to question it. 

“I guess that can work,” Luke says and it sounds like a promise soaked in laughter. 

Neither of you find it as funny when he has to tip the visor upwards to kiss you.

[alluringwaves]

tough love! leo valdez ೃ࿔*:

leo valdez x fem!aphrodite!reader (platonic drew tanaka x fem!aphrodite!reader)

“no chance i waste my twenties on random men / not one of them is smarter than all my friends / and i hate to leave him bleedin' / but i know now what i'm leavin' for”

‘the secret of us’ m. list

song: tough love – gracie abrams

You’d been back at Camp Half-Blood for a few weeks now, but it still stung. Leo.

You hadn’t expected to feel anything after the breakup, but now, sitting at the edge of the Aphrodite cabin with the warm night breeze brushing your hair, you couldn’t help but think of him. His goofy grin, his messy hair, the way he always knew how to make you laugh when things were hard.

But now, it felt like you were looking at someone you barely recognized.

It wasn’t that you hadn’t known it was coming. You’d seen the cracks for a while—Leo’s endless charm, his inability to stick with anything serious, and the way he treated relationships like they were just something to pass the time until the next big adventure came along.

You tried to ignore it, tried to make it work, but in the end, you couldn’t change who he was.

And now, you were sitting in the cabin, surrounded by the girls who had always known you, who didn’t need explanations when you were down.

Drew noticed first, perching herself on the arm of the couch next to you, her sharp eyes studying you.

“Alright, spill. What’s going on?” Drew asked, her tone half-amused, half-concerned. “You’ve been quiet lately, and you know we don’t do quiet.”

You took a deep breath and set your glass down on the table. “It’s Leo,” you muttered. “I guess I’ve been thinking about it more than I should.”

Drew raised an eyebrow. “You mean the guy you left? The guy who made you feel like an afterthought while he chased the next big thrill?” Her voice was light, but there was an edge to it.

You gave a short laugh, shaking your head. “Yeah, I guess that’s the one.” You shifted uncomfortably, pulling your knees to your chest. “I thought I’d be fine, you know? I thought I’d be happy the second I got away from him. But… now, I don’t know. I hate feeling like this.”

“I get it,” Drew said softly, sitting down beside you. “It sucks when it’s someone you cared about, and it feels like it ended before it even started. But I’m telling you—you’re better off. You know this wasn’t meant to last.”

“I know,” you sighed, looking out at the moonlit camp. “It’s just… I thought it would feel different. When I left him, it felt like a joke. Like it didn’t matter. But now… it’s like there’s this gap inside me. And every time I see him—” You stopped yourself, clenching your fists. “I know it’s over, but… I don’t know. Does he miss us? Does he even think about what we had?”

Drew studied you for a moment, then leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. “Sweetheart, do you really think he does? Because I can tell you something—I know Leo. And he doesn’t do the long-term thing. He’s not built for it. And he’s definitely not someone who’ll sit around and regret it, no matter how much you might.”

You felt a strange mix of frustration and relief at Drew’s words.

She was right. It had always been casual for him, always about the next thrill, the next fix. You had put your heart into something that was never meant to be stable.

“Yeah… I guess I just wanted him to care,” you muttered.

“Well, now you know what you don’t need,” Drew replied, her voice soft but firm. “You don’t need anyone who doesn’t see you for everything you are. You don’t need someone who doesn’t give you the respect you deserve. And you sure as hell don’t need someone who can’t handle the truth about love. That’s tough love right there.”

You glanced over at her. “It doesn’t feel like love.”

“It’s because it isn’t,” Drew said with a slight smile. “It’s something else. Something temporary. And you, babe, you’re not here for temporary.”

You leaned back against the couch, trying to calm the ache that had settled in your chest.

Leo had always been impulsive, the type to dive into things headfirst and then bail when it got too real. That was never your style.

It wasn’t even just the breakup. It was all the things you had tried to ignore—the way he made you feel like you were always second to whatever or whoever he was chasing.

You didn’t need to waste time on someone like that. Not when you had a whole future ahead of you, full of people who would value you. And the ones who truly loved you, like Drew, who would tell you the hard truths even when it hurt.

“Okay,” you said, straightening up and taking a deep breath. “I’m done feeling sorry for myself. You’re right. It’s tough love, and I can handle it. I can walk away from this and move on.”

“Hell yeah, you can,” Drew said, throwing her arm around your shoulder. “And you will. Leo? He’s just another guy. But you? You’re better than that. You’re going places, and he’s stuck in his own mess.”

You laughed, the weight in your chest starting to lift. “Thanks, Drew. I needed that.”

Drew grinned and stood up, extending her hand to you. “Anytime, sis. We’re all here for you. And trust me, you’re going to be just fine.”

As you took her hand and stood up, you felt the familiar strength of your cabin and your friends wrap around you. The camp felt a little more like home again, like the space where you could heal, grow, and build your own path.

The past few weeks had been a hard lesson in learning to let go, but as you walked back into the warmth of the Aphrodite cabin, you knew one thing for sure: you weren’t alone. And no matter how much it hurt, you’d come out stronger for it.