Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Rick Riordan's PJO or anything (of course i don't)

''I still don't get why you can't just come live with me'' Annabeth whined, following her best friend down the narrow like hallway with shopping bag in her hands. ''Instead of three random guys.''

Piper smirked, as they both stopped in front of her new apartment.

She placed down her own shopping bags, pulling out some keys from her purse.

''Come on. I already told you, you've done so much for me already. Plus, they're not so bad''

The twenty one year old chuckled. ''That's what I said about Ryan, and then I took it back a month later'' she said referring to her ex-boyfriend from two years ago.

Apparently, at nineteen, Ryan was a slob and refused to clean after himself; who knew?

Piper hesitantly opened the door to the apartment, not knowing how Annabeth would react.

After all, the beauty had been her best friend for years now and she wanted her approval of her new place. Her roommates, not really, but the apartment, yes.

They both gradually walked in, Annabeth's eyes wondering around the clean, colorful living room (''Percy, pick up the mess you made with the popcorn!" ''Fine, mom!'') While slowly placing Piper put her bags down on the wooden floor.

closed the door behind them, a weak smile plastered on her face as she walked to the curly blond haired girl.

Annabeth bit her glossy lips and managed to grin. ''It's not too bad…for three men''

Piper couldn't help but sigh in relief, seeing that it could've gone much, much worst.

''I'm glad you like it,'' she teased, both women crashing onto the brown couch.

It had only been a day since she had moved in, and already Piper was treated like one of the guys. Percy and Jason had helped her move in some boxes into her new bedroom, while Nico help unpack her belongings.

In return, Piper had made them lasagna with her own family recipe. They had liked it very much, and Piper was surprised to discover that they hadn't had a home cooked meal in some time.

''Why not?'' by now, she was picking up their plates from the table with the help of Jason.

Jason simply shrugged, placing the plates into the sink. ''I guess we just never have time. I mean we all work during the week and in the weekends we're too busy with hockey and what not.''

Percy and Nico nodded, as Nico fixed the chairs and Percy simply leaned on the kitchen counter.

''Yeah, but we've come to terms with frozen food and take out'' Percy laughed.

Piper shook her head, clearly disapproving. ''Well, lucky for you I happen to be a decent cook. You'll have to say goodbye to frozen dinners and McDonald's from now on''

Jason and Nico grinned widely, Percy letting out a loud groan but a smile also appearing on his face. The rest of the night, they spend watching The Conjuring.

Piper smiled to herself, remembering how Jason chuckled every time she hid behind a pillow.

And now here she was on a Sunday evening with Annabeth at the apartment, after having gone shopping for more decorations for her new bedroom. Needless to say, they were both exhausted.

''This place is awfully quiet,'' Annabeth pulled down her tight, black dress and cross her legs. ''shouldn't there be screaming and chaos everywhere?''

Piper had to laugh at that. ''Nah, it's just us two. The boys are playing in a hockey game.''

They had offered her to join them, but she declined. Annabeth and her had already agreed to go to the mall together, anyway.

And almost on cue, the door burst open and in came her three roommates looking quite pleased.

Each guy had a bag slouched over their shoulders as the bickered happily among themselves. They weren't wearing their equipment, though, only some shorts and hoodies like Jason had been when they first met.

Jason's eyes rapidly connected with hers, their gaze meeting for a tad too long.

''Guess who won?'' Nico shouted, running his fingers through his dark hair.

Piper giggled. ''The other team, I'm guessing'' She scooted from the couch as Jason landed in defeat next to her.

Sweat was evident on his face, but she had to admit it brought a glow to him, and his eyes were absolutely shinning.

Sure Nico and Percy were radiant themselves, but something about Jason's smile made him stand out.

Piper felt a nudge from Annabeth beside her, and her cheeks burned as she realized she had been staring.

And worst, Jason had noticed.

''Ha- Ha! Very funny'' Percy proudly crossed his arms across his chest. ''But nobody can defeat the dolphins!''

A light, feminine laugh erupted the room, all eyes turning to a sneering blond.

Piper could've sworn she saw Percy's jaw hid the floor and his eyes bulge from his head.

''Dolphins, really? That can't possibly be the team's name''

The three guys turned to Piper, confused at the sight of a beautiful woman in their home.

''Um, Piper'' Percy rose an eyebrow. ''Who's that hot girl sitting next to you''

''Guys, this is my best friend, Annabeth. Annabeth, this is Jason, Nico and Percy.'' Piper made sure to point at each of them, and she soon noticed her best friend's grey eyes glimpsing onto Percy in curiosity.

There weren't many men that had Annabeth's attention, she was a model and men crawled on their feet for her anyway, but when they did she usually had no difficulty getting them.

Piper was beginning to wonder if this would be the case with her roommate.

''The name's Jackson,'' he sat closely to her, smirking. ''Percy Jackson''

''Pulling a James Bond on me, are you? Haven't heard that one before'' Annabeth replied back, casually staring down at her perfect manicure.

The raven haired guy's face twisted to surprise for a moment, before returning back to his usual smug face. ''Feisty, that's extremely hot''

Rolling his eyes, Nico sat on the other smaller, yet comfortable couch. ''So, what have you two been up to?''

Piper's eyes landed down on the several shopping bags about a foot away. ''Not much, just shopping for some stuff I needed for my room''

''Stuff you needed for your room?'' Jason, repeated.

She didn't want to explain, but before she could say anything, Annabeth had already spoken for her. ''She left a lot of her stuff back with her ex fiancée''

Piper suddenly felt the atmosphere shift entirely through the room, mentally slapping her friend in the arm for being so blunt.

She felt her heart slightly tug at the word Fiancée.

She hadn't told them why she had been looking for an apartment, and she was planning on doing so later on. It seemed that now, she would have no choice but to deal with what had occurred only a few days ago.

She didn't want to, if she was being honest, but the past had to come up eventually.

''Fiancée?'' the three boys screamed out in union.

Piper flinched again. ''Yes, yes, I had a fiancée.''

''and a horrible one at that'' Annabeth huffed.

Piper turned to her in disbelief. ''Annabeth!"

''What? It's the least I can say to describe him''

She knew she was right, but she had loved the man and that couldn't and wouldn't change overnight. She would have to get used to the idea that she no longer had to defend him.

''Wait, so you were going to get married?'' Nico's eyes were wide as he leaned in closer. ''What happened- I mean if you don't mind me asking''

''She caught that bastard sleeping with another woman'' Annabeth growled, Piper hiding her own face into her hands in both irritation and embarrassment.

She felt Jason's hand on her shoulder. ''Wait, he seriously did that to you?''

She nodded, as she felt the urge to cry again.

She simply swallowed it, her eyes narrowed down at the floor. ''Yeah, he didn't even try to apologize. He kinda just… let me leave''

The room felt too silent for her liking, so she let out a dry laugh. ''But, yeah. I didn't bother grabbing a lot of things. I just stormed out and I didn't want to go back for obvious reasons''

If she hadn't felt pitiful ever before in her life, she sure did now.

Percy shook his head. ''Man, that's messed up. We should egg his house''

Annabeth turned to him in amusement. ''We're not twelve''

''We were once though, blondie'' he winked.

''Well, I think you should get your stuff back anyway'' Jason said, now completely facing her.

Piper sighed. ''I wish, but it's too painful. I can't''

She rose from the couch and headed for the kitchen, where the rest followed behind. He really didn't want to keep talking about it, but she knew they would press on.

Piper was just completely drained every time she talked about the man who betrayed her; how could she not be?

''How about we go with you?'' Nico offered, staring at her as she pulled out a pan and placed it on the stove.

Piper bit her lip, straightening her dress. ''I appreciate it, Nic. I really do, but I'm fine''

She pulled up her lips into a small smile. ''Now, let's celebrate the triumph of the dolphins. Spaghetti anyone?''

The dull mood that filled the air was now gone, and Piper was relieved. Yet. She couldn't help but notice Jason's gaze upon her, as if not truly convinced by her words. She was confused as in why he hadn't, everybody else seemed to; well, except for herself, of course.

She knew she was still trying to find herself after everything that had happened, but Piper remembered it all too well when it came to him. Still, she knew she would eventually had to go on with life.

''there was this girl named Reyna,'' Jason had approached her while she brushed her teeth.

It had been an hour since they had finished eating dinner and since Annabeth had left (leaving a broken hearted Flynn behind), and now they were all getting ready for bed. She was now changed into some simple sweatpants and an oversized shirt.

She hadn't expect Jason to come talking to her out of nowhere.

He grabbed ahold of his own toothbrush, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ''We had been together since junior year''

She spit out, washing her mouth and drying it on a towel. ''Really? What happened?''

She clenched her jaw, feeling she was being too nosy, but he didn't seem to care or notice. ''about a few months ago, she decided she didn't want to be with me anymore. Said she needed Excitement and that I was too dull for her''

A frown appeared on Piper's face, as she watched him with sympathy. ''Jason, I'm so sorry''

He chuckled, his eyes meeting the toothbrush still in his hand. ''The worst part was that she left me for some poetic hippy named Finely. Who names their kid Finley, Pipes? Who in their right minds would do that?''

Piper snickered. ''Hippy parents?''

That seemed to bring out a sincere laugh, and soon he was staring directly at her. ''I guess I'm just trying to let you know that I know how you feel. It's hard to get over someone who you had handed you heart to''

''Yeah,'' she took a deep breath. ''You really loved her?''

''Did you love-''

''Dylan,'' she stated, the name tasting bitter on her tongue.

''Jason?''

He put some toothpaste on his toothbrush. ''Yeah?''

''Do you think maybe you can come with me tomorrow to get my stuff? Just you. Everyone else just makes me more nervous'' she admitted, and it was true.

He made her feel comfortable the little time they actually got to spend together.

''Sure thing,'' he spit out and whipped his mouth with his towel too. ''Although, I do think Dylan is an idiot. I mean he threw away a diamond for a rock''

Piper hugged her herself in her arms, blushing slightly. ''you don't know the girl''

''don't have to. If she knew he was taken, she should've walked away'' Jason walked closer to her. ''It'll get better over time, I promise''

''I know,'' she smiled a little. ''and I also know that Reyna will regret leaving you. She'll eventually realize what a loser that Finley is''

Jason sneered, shrugging his shoulders. ''Eh, even if she did come back, I wouldn't go back to her. There's so much more to see''

And for a moment, Piper could've sworn he was eying her up and down. But she ignored it, beginning to walk back to her room.

''Our love lives are pretty messed up, huh?'' she teased.

He nodded, chuckling. ''That's an understatement''

Piper went to sleep smiling that night.

A/N so chapter 2 yay! Total credits to maranoismylife this is a story that I think is gonna be really good :) anyway happy thanksgiving to those who celebrate it