I ducked under a tree branch and headed farther into the forest. I tried not to think about all the monsters that might be there. Maybe I should have brought some sort of weapon, or at least a flashlight. I had just ran off into the forest without thinking it through. The twilight darkened. It was only about twenty minutes after sunset, but it would be dark soon.

I was just considering giving up and heading back to camp when I saw the person I'd been looking for. He was standing by the river, staring into the darkness. I ran over to him, nearly tripping over a root.

"Hey, Death Boy," I called.

He didn't turn around. "Don't call me that," he said.

I walked over and stood next to him. "What are you doing in the woods at this time of day?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same question," he said. He was quiet for a moment before adding, "It's easier to think out here."

I glanced around at the dark trees, trying to understand why he would come here to think. I liked to think at midday under the brilliant sun. We were polar opposites.

"Why are you here?" he asked. He turned to me and looked me in the eye. I stared into his dark brown eyes and lost the ability to think clearly.

I blurted out the truth on accident. "I was following you."

He looked a bit puzzled. "Why?" he asked. "I've been behaving myself, so you can't want to drag me back to the infirmary."

My usual excuse for when I panicked talking to him was to drag him to the infirmary. He was so weak, and so careless of his own health. Normally that excuse worked. But this time he was right. He'd been following my instructions, and he was the healthiest he'd been in months. So I couldn't bring him to the infirmary.

"I wanted to talk to you," I said.

"What about?" he asked. He looked at me neutrally. We'd been friends for weeks now, and I still couldn't read his facial expressions at all. He always looked calm and collected, no matter what he was thinking. It was hopeless, trying to figure him out.

"I wanted to…" I trailed off. How was I supposed to say that I'd had a massive crush on him since the Titan War, and it had only gotten worse over the past few weeks as I learned more about him? He would probably think I was an idiot. He was a war hero, and the son of Hades. Strong, intimidating, feared. I was just a child of Apollo with a pathetic, unrequited crush. I'd never even killed a monster in my life.

My crush waved his hand in front of my face. "Solace?" he asked.

My cheeks burned. I hoped he couldn't see them in the dark, but he probably could. He was a son of Hades, after all. The darkness was his territory.

"Sorry," I said. "I zoned out."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" he asked. His dark eyes scanned my face. "You're really nervous about this."

I winced. Was it really that obvious? I looked down and realized my hands were shaking. This conversation was a disaster.

"I-I-" I stammered. I couldn't say it.

Without thinking it through, I leaned over and pressed my lips gently against his. He froze. After a moment, I pulled back.

"I'm sorry," I gasped. "I shouldn't've done that. You don't like me. I'm sorry. I'll- I'll just go." I turned and ran. I couldn't see past the tears in my eyes, so I tripped several times. By the time I reached the edge of the forest I was bruised, bleeding, and covered in mud.