Hello, friends! I want to say thank you to the two people that reviewed the last chapter and a double thank you to all of you who read, favorites, or followed this story! I have a lot of ideas for the story, and I'm trying not to imitate the story Learning about Leo, which I absolutely love. If anybody has ideas for a fan fiction they want to be written, just tell me in the reviews! Also, I'm not sure why, but I have an obsession with Evanescence right now. If any of you are too, review!
Percy was walking through the ship when he heard it. He was walking to the mess hall to get some food before they looked at today's memories. Just as he passed the engine room, he heard a stereo playing and a voice joined in.
Perfect by nature
Icon of self indulgence
Just what we all need
More lies about the world that..
Never was and never will be
Have you no shame? Don't you see me?
And you know you've got everybody fooled
Percy stopped. Leo had a beautiful voice, it was smooth and firm. And he harmonized perfectly with the singer.
Look, here she comes now.
Bow down and stare in wonder
Oh, how we love you
No flaws when you're pretending
But now I know she..
Never was and never will be
You don't know how you betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled
Leo stopped singing as he turned off the stereo and walked toward the door. Percy snapped out of his trance and scrambled up the stairs.
He arrived out of breath with a dazed smile on his face. Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
"What have you been up to?" She asked.
"I was going by the engine room, and I heard Leo."
"Is he okay?" She asked, remembering the events of last night.
Percy nodded, still smiling.
"I heard him singing." Piper turned to him.
"What does it sound like?" She was curious.
He thought for a minute before answering.
"I can't even put it in words."
"You can't put what in words?" Leo asked, standing in the doorway, holding an iPod.
Thank the gods, Frank and Hazel chose that moment to arrive. Leo let it drop and sat down with one ear bud still in. He was in the middle of a song he liked, even though it was pop. He was so caught up in the song, he started singing the chorus as he cut up his food and stirred his tea.
I am a lost boy from Neverland
Usually hanging out with
Peter Pan
When we get bored we
Play in the woods
Always on the run from
Captain Hook
Run run, lost boy
They say to me
Away from all of reality
'Cause Neverland is home to lost boys like me
And lost boys like me are free
Leo stopped singing and turned his music off as he started to eat.
Percy looked at the others like ' I told you so' and everybody just stared in shocked silence. Leo noticed it was quiet and looked up to see his friends looking at him like he just turned purple. He turned to look behind him, and then look back at his friends.
"What are we staring at?" He asked, ducking his head low and keeping eye contact with everyone.
"Well, Percy. You weren't exaggerating."
"I told you guys!"
"Wow."
"What are we talking about?"
Everybody stopped and looked at Leo. It was Jason who said something.
"Leo, you can sing." He said. Leo nodded slowly.
"Everyone can sing. Just not all people sound good."
Just then, the air around them shimmered and they were surrounded by a memory.
This memory was another one of Leo with some sort of musical instrument. He sat at a piano, his eyes closed as he began to play. He couldn't have been more than thirteen.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
If you have to leave,
I wish that you would just leave
Your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
As Leo played, Annabeth looked around the room. There were drums, guitars, and other instruments organized on shelves, in cases. This must be a school, she thought.
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
Bit though your still with me,
I've been alone all along
Leo jumps up from the piano bench and started playing an electric guitar as the speakers continued playing around him.
After the song was over, there was a slow clap from the doorway.
"I've gotta hand it to you, Valdez, you are good." Said a female voice. Leo turned.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to change your mind."
"I told you, I can't."
"Why not?"
As they bantered back and forth, they stepped closer and closer to each other.
"Because I don't want to be a part of anything."
"What are you so afraid of?" The girl was a little shorter than Leo. Her long, black hair was high lighted with blue and her nose was pierced. Her blue eyes were lined thickly and she wore boots, ripped jeans and a jacket. She reminded Annabeth of Thalia. Her white teeth stood out against her dark lips.
"I'm not-"
"Oh, bull. You don't want to because you're afraid. Of being hurt. Of being forgotten. Why can't you just take a risk?" She begged.
The seven turned to look at the older Leo and found that he was blushing. He shook his head and pointed to the two figures silhouetted by the emergency light above them. The other lights were off.
"Please stop asking."
"Then you stop refusing!"
"Please just stop! Everybody that has ever gotten close to me has gotten hurt, and I don't want that for you or anyone else!"
"Then stop pushing me away!"
"I can't." Piper smiled as she realized what was going on and shared a knowing glance at Annabeth.
"Yes you-!" Leo cut the girl off by kissing her. She quickly responded. She put her hands behind his head as he put his arms around her waist. As soon as they pulled apart, the memory faded.
They now stood in a street. Leo was the same age as he was in the last memory. His hands were in his pockets and he leaned against the wall, talking to himself.
"You couldn't let her go, could you ,Valdez? All you do is HURT PEOPLE!" His back slid down the wall as he put his head in his hands.
"Why, of all people did she ask me to join the stupid band? I'm the loser. I can't do anything right!" He stood, kicking the wall and ran out of the alley, the memory turning to smoke as he fled.
When the seven were back in the mess hall, Leo tried to make a break for it. Annabeth stepped in his way. He sighed and slumped in his chair.
"One, question at a time, please." He mumbled. First was Piper.
"Was that your first kiss?" He nodded, smiling tiredly. Next was Annabeth.
"Let me see your arm, now." She commanded. Leo glared at her.
"No." The rest of them were shocked. Nobody stood up to Annabeth like that.
"Leo, we ca-"
Leo threw his head back and laughed.
"You care. Wow. Okay, if you cared, we wouldn't be watching my memories right now, so don't tell me you care, okay?"
Piper was very curious now.
"What's wrong with his arms?" Annabeth glared at Leo.
"He has scars. On his wrist. That look very neatly done." The others were horrified.
"Leo, when..?" Jason asked. Leo sighed.
"Some of them are years old, and some of them are.. Newer, I guess you could say."
"Like how new?" Jason asked. Leo flinched.
"Maybe a couple months..?" It seemed to come out as a question. Hazel covered her mouth with her hand, and closed her eyes as Frank put an arm around her. Percy turned away, running a hand over his face. Annabeth and Piper looked at each other, and Jason put his head in his hands.
They all walked toward Leo and buried him in a hug. They cared, and they were going to fix this.
After all, it was them who screwed up.
I hope you guys like this chapter, I don't own any of the music. I love this chapter so much! Cute Leo with his first kiss! Aww.
-R
