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It was just a normal morning for Drew, she got up at the crack of dawn, did her make-up, and chose a pretty, pink outfit.
Yeah, Drew fit most of the Aphrodite kids stereotypes, except one.
Drew was once one of those Aphrodite kids, a hopeless romantic and a romance centered person. But after Silena's betrayal, Drew began to wonder...
Wonder if true love was real, after all, the camp says Charles and Silena truly loved each other yet they both died.
Yet Silena still betrayed the camp, betrayed Charles.
Drew started to think that love was foolish and fake and for that she got punished.
Cursed to only be able to love and never be loved.
Her own mother punished her for thinking such unromantic thoughts.
She cursed Drew with the worst curse a child of Aphrodite can get, a curse of never having true love, never having any kind of romantic love.
So, when Rachel Dare confessed to Drew about her crush, she knew something was up.
Drew only wanted to go out and eat breakfast, she did not expect the most beautiful girl in camp to say she was in love with her!
Drew opened the cabin door and saw Rachel waiting outside anxiously, the ginger played with her hands as she looked at the ground like she wished it would just swallow her whole right then and there.
"Is everything okay carrot face?" Drew said hands on her hips, she cussed herself in her mind, why would she insult Rachel when she looked like she was going to explode! "Um...yeah I just need to talk to you... I have something you tell you- it's not like bad news or something! It's just hard to say and I'm just I need to say it already but.... I just-" Rachel rambled and Drew could not keep up with her mumbling! Drew placed her finger on Rachel's lips to shush her "Rachel, dear calm down and talk, it can't be that serious"
Rachel tensed Drew's touch; she looked at Drew's deep brown eyes and bluntly said "I'm in love with you"
Drew's hand dropped to her side and her eyes widened "what?!" she yelled.
How can Rachel like her? Be in love with her? How is that possible?
Even without the curse Drew is said to be a horrible person.
She is a horrible person.
She is mean and obnoxious; she is selfish and manipulative.
That’s what everyone always says.
But they failed to mention she was also betrayed and lonely.
She idolized Silena, Drew thought she was perfect.
But nobody is perfect and after what Silena did Drew grew bitter and mean.
She just couldn’t look in her siblings' eyes and not feel rage and upset.
When Piper showed up Drew was mad, she was so different than Silena yet they both had their perfect boyfriend, and perfect friends and Piper had everything Drew wanted.
But most importantly, Piper had a loving dad. Piper was loved.
Drew was never loved.
Sure, boys thought she looked pretty and the old guy near her house who lived in the alley was also very handsy with her.
But she was never loved.
Drew deep down just wanted peace.She just wanted to be left alone in her room and cry and not have to worry if her mascara will be ruined.
Because if no one was going to love her for her, won't being pretty and appealing for boys will make her feel loved just enough?
Apparently not.
Because the warmth and fuzzy feeling she felt when Rachel confessed was better than any steamy kiss a guy gave her.
It was better than anything.
"You are not…pranking me, are you? Because I swear on all the gods name, I will kill you if you I find out you are pranking me" she finally said and Rachel immediately replied "no no no!! I really do love you!"
"Okay um..." Drew didn’t know what to say.
Should she tell Rachel to fuck off and lie somewhere else? After all no way Aphrodite cancelled the curse!
Should she tell Rachel she feels the same (perhaps like Rachel more than love her though) and give in to the fantasy?
"I think I like you too" Drew told her, suddenly she felt something she never felt for a long time.
Drew felt shy, embarrassed, flustered and so on.
"Really?" Rachel's eyes beamed with surprise and excitement.
She looked relieved.
More alive.
"But my mother has so explained to do"
When Rachel asked what Drew meant by that, Drew told her everything.
From the day she came to camp till she was cursed.
And Rachel listened, and asked questions and comforted Drew.
And now Drew felt like maybe love was the right word.
--
Drew walked into Chiron's office "um Chiron? I umm I need help" she said, her confidence vanishing.
"Is everything okay Drew? What do you need?" Chiron asked, he looked concerned after all it not everyday that the most arrogant girl in camp was stuttering over her words and asking for help.
"I'm fine it just" she ran her hand through her silky black hair "I wish to speak with my mother, but I don’t have any drachmas" she answered him.
"Of course, here I have a few take them and try to contact her, I wish you luck" Chiron gave her the drachmas, they felt cold in her sweaty hands.
She politely said, "Thank you" and left.
At lunch time she met Rachel once again, and they found a small puddle "Iris goddess of messages please receive my gift and contact my mother, Aphrodite" Drew said and threw the golden coins.
It took a few minutes but at last she saw her mother, looking a lot more like Rachel than Drew wanted to admit.
"Mother, I must ask you something" Drew said
"Well? What is it dear?" the goddess asked.
Drew felt awkward, "as you know you cursed me to not be able to love so how come Rachel confessed to me this morning about her feelings for me?"
Aphrodite seemed pleased "aww that adorable!! so cute!!" Rachel blushed and laughed nervously "answer the question mom"
"oh, oh right, I cursed you to not be able to be loved until you learn the importance of love! And now that you have a crush and possibly a girlfriend you learned about love!!! I'm so proud darling!!"
Drew was flabbergasted.
"That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard mom, what am I? A Disney princess? A hallmark Christmas movie female main character?" Drew said sarcastically but Rachel hit her with the ginger's elbow "be nice" and to that Drew rolled her eyes.
"Well bye mom thanks I guess"
--
The girls were in Apollo cabin (they let Rachel sleep there) just talking and cuddling when Drew asked "why do you love me? I mean it's easy to love you. You are nice, funny, and cheery. You are gorgeous and have a beautiful soul. Why would you want someone like me?"
Rachel took a long breath and looked at Drew's eyes "I like you because you are pretty, you can be witty and smart. And I know that deep down you are human like the rest of us. I think you have a beautiful soul as well, it might be damaged, but I think it's magical. You can be kind Drew, and nice and liked, if you try and I can help you. I want to be there for you, let me be there for you"
Drew again didn’t know what to say to her, instead she put her hand on Rachel's blushing cheek and closed the small gap between their lips.
In that kiss Drew told Rachel all she needed to say but didn't know the words.
Drew showed her how much she appreciated and loved her; how thankful she was to Rachel and how much she wanted to be there for Rachel as well.
Drew could feel Rachel's chapped yet soft lips, and Rache could taste Drew's strawberry flavored lip gloss.
Rachel's hand rose to hold Drew's waist meanwhile Drew only tangled her hand more in Rachel's hair.
When they broke apart Rachel's face was redder than her hair and a big smile was on her face "wipe that smile off carrot face it's ridiculous" Drew said but Rachel knew she was just messing around and didn't know how to say 'I enjoyed the kiss too! My insides feel all mushy now' so instead Rachel moved closer to Drew and kissed her nose. Drew rolled her eyes and smiled at that act.
"So, are you now like my girlfriend?" Rachel asked shyly "I would be honored to"
Rachel somehow managed to smile a smile bigger than the one before "we should go to bed" she said and rested her head on Drew's shoulder.
"I love you" Drew whispered but Rachel was already snoring, so Drew closed off her eyes too, and they both fell asleep, cuddling.