Act Two, Scene Six

ReynaOh no. No, no, no.

"Act two, scene six, everyone!" Leo shouted over the commotion, but his voice was drowned.

Reyna Ramirez-Arellano stood frozen there in the middle, absolutely terrified. She could not do this. She could face a big army of monsters wearing only a meat suit, but not this. She could not kiss Nico in front of bajillions of people, she just couldn't.

Her palms became sweaty and slippery as she clutched the folds of her ball gown. Piper McLean's words came back to her in a rush.

Reyna had been sitting in the arena, watching Nico and Jason as they slashed with their swords. Piper had been there too, settled beside her. Reyna had been focused on Nico, noticing everything from the scars on his biceps to how graceful his movements had been.

"Nico has changed a lot, hasn't he?" Piper had said all of a sudden.

Reyna had felt herself getting red. Surely Piper had caught her staring like an idiot. "Yeah. Yeah, he has."

Piper had smiled. She had looked so breathtakingly beautiful in the setting sun, and not only that, she was kind too. Reyna could totally see why Jason had fallen for her, and she was happy for them. "You know what I think, Reyna? I think Nico hasn't really changed."

"Why?" Reyna asked.

"Because all those good things had been locked up inside him. And now they are out."

It had been Reyna's turn to smile. "I agree with that."

"And you'll also agree that it was all because of you, right?" Piper had turned to her, her expression tender. "You freed him from his own personal prison, Reyna. You're the reason he stayed, the reason why he's having a great time. You're the reason behind those smiles."

As if on cue, Nico had stopped jabbing Jason with his Stygian sword to smile at Reyna. Jason had taken the opportunity and disarmed Nico. "Ha! That's one point for me, di Angelo!"

"You are the reason behind those smiles. . ."

Nico had picked up his sword and glanced at Reyna. "Well, I got distracted."

Reyna shook her head to stop the stream of memories, but it all came crashing back.

Their journey to transport the Athena Parthenos. Nico fading so badly when he protected her from Bryce Lawrence. Reyna embracing him, in front of all those people, telling him that they have two homes. Reyna coming back to Camp Half Blood with Leo and Calypso four months since the war. Nico hugging her and saying how much he worried about her. Nico staying by her side during the Camp sing-along, when she was hopelessly alone. Nico asking her to dance in the winter solstice council in Olympus, telling her that she was beautiful no matter what. . .

She always had a soft spot for Nico. But was it turning to something more?

Around Reyna, Clarisse and the two guys were still unsettled. Leo turned his megaphone into full volume. "HEY, YOU TWO! GET OUT OF HERE AND GO FIGHT SOMEWHERE ELSE!"

Reyna and Nico blocked the sound with both of their hands. Clarisse released Percy and Connor to cover her ears. The two boys stopped brawling and scrambled backstage, their fingers in their ears as well.

"A little warning next time, Leo," Nico said, shaking his head.

"I HAD TO STOP THOSE TWO—OOPS!" Leo smiled and turned the volume back to normal. "Yeah, well let's get started! Romeo and Friar, enter first. Reyna, you could wait for your cue there."

Cold dread rose in Reyna's chest. The scene was starting. There's no backing out.

With her ears still ringing, she limped her way behind the curtains. Those high heels Piper had forced on her were slowly killing her toenails. She was glad to be out of the spotlight, but her heart was still bouncing off her ribs. She clutched at the curtain, wringing it so that she could have something to do with her shaking hands. Her nerves got even more jangled as she watched Clarisse and Nico prepare for their poetic lines.

Again, Reyna wondered why of all the plays, they came up with Romeo and Juliet. It could have been King Lear or Macbeth. Those two would have been more fun. At least they had some action. Romeo and Juliet however. . . Well, she suspected that Leo, aside from being the self-appointed director, had been the one who chose the play as well.

Geez, that kid sure was a great pain in the gluteus maximus.

"So smile the heavens upon this holy act," Clarisse declared in a gravelly voice. "That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!"

Clarisse sounded like a real stage performer, which didn't match her look at all. Reyna would have laughed, but she was too nervous to do so.

Nico looked impressed. "Woah, Clarisse. That was actually good."

She huffed and cracked her knuckles. "I like Shakespearean plays. Got a problem with that?"

"Er, no." He turned to Leo. "Let's carry on!"

"Your turn, man," Leo said, lounging on his chair.

"Oh, okay." Nico cleared his throat. "Amen, amen! But come what sorrow can. It cannot counterveil the exchange of joy. That one short minute gives me in her sight. Do thou close our hands with holy words, then love-devouring death do what he dare. It is enough I may but call her mine."

Clarisse sniggered before saying, "These violent delights have violent ends. And in their triumph die. . ."

Reyna's head floated away from her body. Nico's last line played in her mind like a song. It is enough I may but call her mine.

She didn't want to admit it, but she liked that very much. . .

"Juliet! Yo, Juliet! What the Hades?! Oh gods. Cover your ears, Captain Leo's going loud!"

It sounded really good coming from Nico, especially now that he's getting the hang of those lines. It felt like a—

"JULIET RA-RA! YOU'RE WAY TOO OVERDUE!"

Reyna's ears almost exploded. She jumped in her spot and with her brain in panic mode, she staggered to the stage. Flailing her arms, she yelled, "I'm here!"

Yeah, it was not her best moment.

She glanced at Nico, who was staring at her with his brows knit together. His eyes asked the question, Are you okay?

She tried to give him a smile with shaky lips. It probably looked like a facial muscle spasm.

"Right," Leo said, obviously annoyed. "Now that our Juliet decided to grace our stage, let's continue. Friar, you're up."

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot will ne'er wear out everlasting flint. A lover may bestride the gossamers that idles in the wanton summer air. And yet not fall, so light is vanity."

Reyna froze in horror. The scene was about to come. . .

"Reyna? Hello?" Leo called out irritably.

"Oh! S-sorry!" She flinched, stepped forward and almost tripped. Great poise, she said to herself. "G-good even to my g-ghostly confessor," she said, sounding flat and monotonous.

"Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us—"

"Wait up, Clarisse." Leo held up his palm and addressed Nico. "After that, you're going to step forward and kiss our robotic Juliet here."

Oh gods. This was the end of her.

Nico's face turned bright red. "Um, okay."

"Alright, Clarisse, say that again."

"Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both." Clarisse smiled slyly.

Nico stepped forward. He took both of Reyna's trembling hands and looked her in the eyes. The world seemed to have gone silent around them. Nico leaned closer until his nose touched her hairline.

For a moment both of them did not move, then Nico gave her a quick kiss — in the forehead.

"WHAT?!" Leo and Clarisse blurted out at the same time. Leo stood up and raked his hair. "What was that supposed to be? It's supposed to be a real kiss!"

Reyna's face burned, but that particular spot where Nico's lips landed was exceptionally scorching. You'd think the Ghost King would have cold lips, but that wasn't the case at all. For a moment she felt at ease, a bit happy even. But it was short-lived.

"Let's do that again!" Leo shouted. He sounded really angry. "On three! Three, two, one!"

Nico bit his lip. He looked just as nervous as she was, but it was obvious that he's making it work. He held her back with one hand and cupped her face with the other. His touch was reassuring, but Reyna still found herself shaking. He tilted his head until they were just an inch apart. A chill went up her spine as she felt his warm breath on her lips.

But she shut her eyes in fear. She was close to a breakdown. She couldn't. She just couldn't. . .

Reyna pushed Nico not so gently, tears brimming her eyes. She didn't dare look at any of their faces when she turned away and ran.

[Photo: Adelaide Kane as Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano]