Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HOO, Rick Riordan does.


On most days Leo could control the easy-going image he put up in front of everyone like he has no care in the world. He never passed up an opportunity to make a joke, even when the situation didn't call for one. When he would see someone down he'd go up to them, give them one of his trademark smiles and tell them to take that grumpy expression off their face! Everyone has bad days, it's just the way the world works. So instead of moping around about something that's completely out of your hands, get up, get your hands dirty and make a change!

Sometimes his advice actually make a huge difference in people's lives. Like the last guy he told that to. Yeah, he ended up robbing a bank. Leo felt bad, he really did, but hey, people interpret things the way they wanted to and if his speech made that guy want to rob a bank, that's definitely on his shoulders, not Leo's.

But not every day was a blessing. He tried to make every second count, to make it more memorable than the last, but it was easier said than done and Leo had honestly tried. Some days it was harder to put on that facade of the good-natured Leo Valdez, and he honestly wondered if anyone noticed just how hard he tried to be that guy that everyone thought he was.

There were nights he would wake up covered in sweat, the smell of smoke suffocating. Nights where the smoke engulfed his whole existence, nights where he lay in bed unable to fall asleep, afraid of the dreams that were sure to come.

Nothing good ever seemed to come his way. Not only did he despise himself, everyone else did too. Jason, his best friend, had turned out as an imaginary best friend (although Leo would do anything for the guy). He was always with Piper nowadays and although Leo had absolutely no problem with them being a thing, because hell yeah! Young love!, he couldn't help but feel a little left out at times.

The more he thought about the more it made sense—he really was the 7th wheel. Everyone else seemed to have paired off; Jason with Piper, Annabeth and Percy, and Frank with Hazel. It was like during gym class when everyone picked their friends to join their team and then had no choice but to take the last kid in. He was the odd man out and Leo told himself countless of times that he was in fact apart of this group not separate, and curse him if he wasn't important.

He couldn't say he didn't expect this to happen though. A tiny part of him knew it would one day because no one ever stayed. He was always the one that was left behind.

Some days, Leo wished he could evaporate like his problems used to when he talked to his mother. But his mother wasn't around anymore and he wouldn't run away this time, not when they all depended on him, and besides, everyone has bad days.

It's just the way the world works.


A/N: Well, this is my first one shot on here, let me know what you guys think! Reviews are love!