PIPER

"Piper!" Jason was jogging up to me. "Listen, I'm really sorry for saying those things."

"No, don't be sorry. I'm the one who was mad. I just...do you miss him?"

"Leo?" Jason asked. "Of course - he's like my best friend." Sitting beside me, his blue eyes gazed into mine. The same ones when I would stare into dumbly, transfixed. "Remember the kiss?"

"Under the stars," I whispered. "How could I forget? That was a week ago."

"We said that we'll have a fresh start. But maybe, that's exactly what we're looking for. But not with each other."

Jason was right. We both had fun with each other, but our relationship was more of a sister-and-brother type.

Hugging my knees to my chest, I asked, "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow night. Percy said he'll throw a party. Will you be there?"

"I wouldn't miss it," I promised. "Sparky."

Jason laughed at his nickname. "Great, Beauty Queen."

My heart sunk. Beauty Queen was what Leo mostly called me. Before I could start at my name, I heard screaming voices.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Staring up, I could make out two figures and a lumpy shape. "Gods, who are they?" I asked.

Jason squinted. "Their gonna crash!"

I quickly yelled for help, and immediately two demigods came over to my charmspeaking voice. As they held out a huge trampoline, I recognized one as Will.

"You might want to judge where they're going to fall," Jason said.

The second guy scowled. "You know how heavy this is?"

Jason and I helped move it, just in time.

"Whoa!" I heard a familiar voice.

"Dude, that was FUN! Can we do it again?"

"Leo!" I shouted. "Oh, gods, is that you?"

LEO

I grinned like mad. "Hey, Beauty Queen, missed me?"

Jason looked dumbfounded. "Hey, man, where did you come from?"

"Oh, somewhere in the sky." I was about to go out, but was crushed underneath Calypso and Fetus. "Mind getting off?" I grunted.

"Sorry!" Calypso stood up, wobbling. "What is this?"

"A trampoline," Will replied. "Helps your fall, or else you'll be flatten to the ground."

Calypso nodded her head. "Thank the gods for hamper-cleans."

I didn't bother correcting her. "Hey, Festus, you okay?"

He gave a creak that meant Yes.

"Yeah, we need to fix you." I turned to Piper. "Did you think I was dead?"

"Maybe. Yes." Piper bit her lip. "I'm really happy that you're here." Looking at Calypso, she raised her eyebrows. "And you are...?"

"Calypso. I, apparently, live on the sky." She glanced over at me. "Leo saved me."

Piper's grin faded. "So, are you two.." Her face flushed red, as if even thinking about it.

I suppressed a grin. "I came back from the dead, and that's the first question you ask me?"

"Technically, you weren't dead," Calypso pointed out.

I gave a wink at Jason. "Or was I?"

"Valdez, we're lucky to have you. Now we need to have two parties."

"One for you being alive, and last day with Jason," Piper put in.

My jaw opened. "What?"

"He's decided to leave with, um, Reyna," Piper continued.

Realization dawned on me. "Oh! Wow, is that even fine with you?"

"Definitely," Piper said a little too firmly.

I couldn't believe this. Did this mean...No. I couldn't make a move on Piper while she was still healing from break-up. Plus, what if she rejected me? It will be completely awkward between us. "Sorry to hear that. But there will be plenty of other fish in the sea, right?" I laughed nervously. The more nervous I get, the more cornier my jokes come out.

"Yes," she agreed, staring right at me.

I had hope. Maybe someday, we'll be together...

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