This is based during the period of time when Leo is building the Argo ll, before they leave for Camp Jupiter, so Jason and Piper are dating.
For once, Piper wished she had the Aphrodite blessing/curse. It made her impossible not to gawk at, and it took away all of her flaws.
She could use it just about now.
Not that she cared about that sort of thing. She did her best to make her hair choppy and uneven, and her clothes were something you'd see in a camping magazine.
She'd rather be in the corner, hiding behind her safety-scissor-cut hair, than be the center of attention. Not that she had much choice.
Her natural look was much more comfortable, much more…her.
So, anyways, she wished she had the Aphrodite blessing/curse back because there was something on her that she had to hide. She couldn't let anyone know about it, even Jason and Leo. Especially Jason and Leo. They'd team up and go all crazy-overprotective.
She hated using make-up. It made her face itchy and uncomfortable. But she didn't see any other way. Besides, it wasn't like she was putting on mascara or lipstick or anything like that. It was just a dab of foundation. She hoped Drew wouldn't notice Piper sneaking it from her, but knowing make-up-obsessed-Drew, she probably would.
Oh well. That was a risk she was going to have to take.
As it turned out, the make-up didn't make her feel itchy or uncomfortable. In fact, she could hardly notice there was anything on at all.
Thankfully, everyone else was asleep, so she walked out of her cabin without notice.
Aphrodite kids were the soundest sleepers she knew, next to the Hypnos kids. Piper was able to shower, get dressed, dab on foundation, and walk out of her cabin, while her siblings continued to snore softly.
She approached the beach, and ran her toes between the sand before sitting down near the water. She stared straight ahead, admiring the beautiful waves and the sun, just beginning to rise, behind them.
Her mind started to drift off, and she began thinking about the large bruises she now had…
Her thoughts practically brought her to tears, but they were interrupted as a familiar voice behind her said, "Couldn't sleep?"
Oh no, she thought to herself. He can't see me like this.
Piper quickly rubbed her eyes. "What? I, um, yeah. Couldn't sleep."
Jason nodded and sat down next to her. "Me neither. I've been having a lot of bad dreams lately."
"Yeah," Piper said, careful not to look him in the eye. "I know the feeling."
Not that much Jasper in this chapter, but there will be more in chapters to come.