3 | DIANA PAVEL AND LUKE CASTELLAN (TORN)

HEADCANNON: #44, "What if I told you I've been in love with you since we were kids?"

REQUESTED BY : pseudonym-lux

DIANA PAVEL LIKED TO THINK that the universe had something planned for her.  She thought it was fate that she met her best friend at age thirteen, and that she fell in love with him by age fifteen.  It had to be destiny that her path had collided with the sandy haired son of Hermes' when they were young.

She knew that no matter what was going on at camp, he would be there for her.  He may not have felt the same way she did, but first and foremost, he was her best friend.  Diana would never risk losing him by revealing how she truly felt about him.

Her hazel eyes were focused on the clouds above her, and her thoughts focused on the boy next to her.  She could feel the dew from the grass wetting her neon orange shirt, which clung to her skin.  On her right laid Luke Castellan, head counselor of the Hermes cabin.  His hand was on top of hers, and a carefree look was in his eyes.

The two teens were on the grass behind Cabin Eleven, which was shockingly a spot most campers never visited.  However the two teens were unaware that Silena Beauregard had threatened that if anyone interrupted Luke or Diana while they were hanging out behind their cabin, they would face her wrath.  

Luke smiled as he watched Diana point out different shapes in the clouds.  She let out a laugh as she gestured toward a cloud shaped like Cerberus, and another shaped like a Pegasus.  The unclaimed demigod's eyes were filled with joy as she was able to point out the different creatures that were shown to her by Chiron in her youth.

Diana remembered when she was approached by Chiron to teach Luke and Annabeth about their history.  She had been nervous because they were two demigods who were claimed within a week of arriving at camp, and she was an unclaimed demigod.  Luke had been fourteen at the time, and Annabeth was just seven.  It must have been two months before Diana would turn fourteen when she started teaching them about the gods and monsters.

It had been four years since those lessons began, and over time, Diana realized that she loved Luke as more than a friend.  She was confused at first, but after talking to a daughter of Aphrodite who had left camp the summer before, she was able to label those feelings.  A quick poke to her side brought Diana back to reality, and she turned on her side to face Luke, who mirrored her actions.

"Why don't we go and get a canoe.  We haven't been out on the water in days." Luke suggested with a smile.  Diana simply nodded in response, and the son of Hermes could practically see the gears turning in her mind.  He stood up before helping Diana get up, and then tossing her over his shoulder, causing the brunette to let out a cry of surprise.

"Luke!"

"Diana!" Luke mimicked the pitch of the girl's voice as he laughed.

He carried her through the pavilion, not caring that the other campers were staring at them.  Silena Beauregard was sitting with two new campers, who were both sons of Hermes.  They had arrived the other day and were full siblings rather than half siblings like the majority of the campers.

"Why is he carrying her around?" Travis, the older of the two boys asked with a confused look on his face.

"They're in love with each other," Silena explained while filing her nails, "but neither of them realize that the other feels the same way."

The younger of the brothers, Connor, looked to the twelve year old girl with a strange look.

"That's gross." Connor pretended to gag.

"It's cute," Silena watched as Luke placed Diana on her feet, causing the girl to almost topple over, and she would have if the blond hadn't wrapped his arms around her smaller figure.

Luke whispered something in the girl's ear, causing her cheeks to redden before dragging her with him to the canoes.

"Come on Ana," Luke flashed her a smile, and Diana felt her heart flutter.  He pushed it into the water and placed two oars into the canoe before helping Diana into it, not noticing the rosy color on her cheeks.

He rowed them about ten yards from the shore, and couldn't stop staring at Diana, who was looking out at camp.

"Ana?" 

The brunette brought her gaze back to his, a small blush on her cheeks.

"What's up?"

"What if," Luke started before mumbling something under his breath, his nerves getting the best of him.

"What if what?" Diana gave him a playful smile as she poked his chest, unaware that her touch made him even more nervous.

"What if I told you I've been in love with you since we were kids?"

Fifteen words.  That's what it took to make Diana Pavel lose her ability to speak as her eyes met the floor.  How was she supposed to respond to that?

I love you too?

No that was too cheesy.

And you waited until now?

No, that wouldn't do either.

Luke was shocked that he was able to say that, and his heart sunk to the bottom of the Long Island Sound when Diana didn't respond.

"Ana?" His voice was soft as he looked at her, not knowing if he destroyed their friendship.

"Luke," Diana brought her gaze to meet his, and when she saw his crystal blue eyes, she knew what to do.

She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his, hoping that he would understand what she meant by the action.  The instant they connected, Luke stayed still, in shock that she kissed him.  That stillness only lasted for a few seconds before Diana pulled away.

"Since we were kids?" She asked, subtly pushing a curl of her hair behind her ear.  

"Since we were kids."  With excitement, Luke kissed her again, this time realizing that not only did he love his best friend, but she loved him back.

So maybe this was her fate.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

so that happened...

happy april from Lukana and myself!!