That Awkward Moment When

                                    

                                          
A/N  Stupid 80-character max on the title. It was supposed to be, "That Awkward Moment When the Person who has a Crush on you is Sitting Right Next to you and They Don't Know it's you so They Spill All of Their Secrets." Awesome title, right?
                          
They didn't find me.
                          
I'm guessing it was because I'm still a cat.
                          
I'm also guessing they haven't connected the pink sparkles in the Hades cabin to Aphrodite yet.
                          
UGH.
                          
Will had skipped the campfire that night, tired from looking for me all day, and we went right into the empty Apollo cabin. He got dressed in his pajamas and climbed onto his bunk, petting me as I snuggled into his side.
                          
"I'm so worried about Nico," he said quietly, and I wasn't sure if it was to me or to himself, or maybe even to the blackness of the empty cabin.
                          
"I . . . I know I shouldn't be, because he can take care of himself. He's so strong, and an amazing fighter. He can do anything he sets his mind to. I'd know; he carried a statue on his back halfway around the world. He's, strong, resourceful, independent, unique, kind when he wants to be, and just absolutely beautiful and gorgeous in every way. . ."
                          
I jumped up, startling Will, and started to hyperventilate. Did he just call me gorgeous and beautiful?
                          
"Whoa, Blacky, calm down there, boy," Will soothed and pulled me gently back to his side. My heart beat slowed a little, but it wasn't really normal yet. Will seemed to fall back into a trance, staring at the ceiling again.
                          
"I'm worried about him. Nico, I mean. He disappears all the time, it's normal. But. . . Well I was just hoping. . . He promised me once that he'd never disappear without telling me he was going first, and for how long. And if he uses too much of those Underworld-y powers of his. . ." A warm drop hit the top of my head.
                          
Oh, Will. . , I thought. Don't cry over me. I'm not worth that. . .
                          
I crawled onto his chest and licked the tears from his cheeks, causing him to choke out a chuckle. He patted my head and held on to me as he sat up a bit so I wouldn't slide off of his chest.
                          
He set me next to him, blew his nose, wiped his eyes, and mumbled out, "I like him, Blackberry. I really, really like him. I think the whole camp knows. Except him. . . Percy and Jason keep saying that he likes me too, but. . . I don't think so. I mean, he's the amazing, admired badass that everyone wants to be, and I'm the clumsy camp healer that can't to anything but stay cooped up in the infirmary all day."
                          
But you're a wonderful healer, Will, I wanted to tell him. Sure I'm a hella good fighter, but I couldn't save a person's life. I think that's so much more important. This camp wouldn't be half the size it is right now if it weren't for you. I like you too, Will. A lot. You're so much better overall than I am.
                          
But I couldn't say any of that. Because I was a cat. And I hate Aphrodite. Why couldn't she just change me back? I didn't want Will to worry about me for no reason. Or cry about me for no reason.
                          
All I could do right now was curl up on his chest, since he was once again laying down, and let him know that even if he doesn't know it's me, he's not alone.
                          
So that's what I did.
                          
I fell asleep with a warm hand on my small kitten tummy, sprawled out across his torso, and inhaled the air he exhaled, hoping that it would all be okay when we woke up.