Piper
It wasn't hard to tell that Jason was having a bad day.
He walked slowly, his eyes never leaving the floor. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and he walked faster than usual. He sat down at a table and buried his face in his hands.
"What's wrong, Sparky?" I asked, sitting down across from him.
"Oh, hey Piper." he mumbled, lifting his head up just enough to meet my eyes.
I stared him down for a long time, until he couldn't take it.
"It's…I forgot about my girlfriend, and she broke up with me." he whispered, obviously trying to hold back tears.
I frowned. He had a girlfriend, and forgot about her? I didn't really know what to say, so I took a bite of my cr salad.
"I deserved it though." he muttered, and stared at his lunch, which was pizza, in disgust. "But what makes me mad is that while I was gone, she started dating my best friend, Bobby."
I froze. "Did she start dating him before you two broke up?" I asked, raising my voice the slightest bit.
He thought about it for a second. "She never said she did, but she was usually busy every other night…Now that I think about it, Bobby always had plans those nights too!" he exclaimed.
I was shocked. It was hard to believe that someone would cheat on Jason. "You don't think…?" I asked, and his face filled with pure anger.
"It must be! I can't believe that son of a bitch." he murmured. Suddenly, Leo burst through the doors and ran over to us.
"Guys! Sorry to interrupt your little date, but…er…Jason has a visitor."
Leo was surprisingly silent as we walked towards the main lobby of the hotel. I looked over at him and saw that he was building a miniature ship out of some paper and string in his pocket.
I then looked at Jason. The normally cute smile on his face was replaced by a frown. I couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, but I know he was scared to find out who his visitor might be.
When we arrived at the lobby, Jason stopped in his tracks. I followed his eyes and saw a beautiful girl.
She had dark hair that curled over her shoulder, brown eyes that looked like they could give a nasty death glare, and the most serious expression I'd ever seen.
Jason looked like he either wanted to scream at her or hide under a rock. He took a deep breath.
"Reyna." he said, his voice barely audible.
This time, Leo froze. "Dude, that's Reyna? I've been flirting with her for the past ten minutes!" Leo exclaimed in a whisper.
It suddenly dawned on me. This was the girl who had cheated on Jason. This was his ex-girlfriend. I bit my tongue to keep from screaming at her, and I could tell Jason was doing the same thing.
Jason took a step forward, and Reyna met his eye. She stood up and sped walked over to where we were standing. Jason looked scared, so I grabbed his hand. His grip was tight, and he had a grim expression on his face.
"Jason, I'm so sorry, I…" Reyna began, but Jason cut her off. "I don't want to hear it." He snapped, and started to walk away.
"Jason, just listen to what I have to say." she pleaded. Giving in, he turned around. Reyna sighed in relief.
"Okay, so while you were gone, Bobby and I started hanging out more. We became really good friends. After a little while, he seemed to want more. He finally asked me out, but I said no. You were still my boyfriend even though you were gone for a while. I guess he got kind of angry, because yesterday when I was sleeping, he stole my phone and wrote you that text. I knew you wouldn't believe me if I called you, so I came here in person to try to get you to listen. I love you, I wouldn't do that." she said, and Jason's eyes softened, but only for a second.
"Then why did you and Bobby just happen to be out every other night?" Jason demanded.
"Well, I know I was out every other night because I had to visit my sister Hylla, who was really sick. I don't know about Bobby." she said.
Jason didn't say anything, and Reyna spoke softly. "I'm sorry I let him do that, Jason. Are we still good?"
Leo suddenly popped his head up and exchanged a silent glance to Jason, as if to say, No, don't do it!"
Jason looked really nervous, but managed to say," Um, yeah, I guess."
Reyna leaned up and kissed him. For some reason, I felt like someone had just slapped me. I like Jason. Sometimes, I even think I love him. Nevertheless, it hurt to see her kissing him.
I then noticed that Jason wasn't kissing back. In fact, it looked like he wanted to die. After about five seconds of debating with himself, he pulled away.
"Reyna, I…I can't do this. When I said we were good, I didn't really mean we were together."
She froze. "Are you breaking up with me just after I apologize to you?"
Jason shifted uncomfortably. "Rey, you're a fine girl. But being here, you could say I've changed. Only now can I see that we're not right for each other."
Reyna sighed and folded her arms. "I can't really be mad at you, I guess. I hope we can still be friends."
Jason shot his head up. "Of course, Reyna. I just think we'd be better off as friends."
She smiled for the first time since she came. "All right then. Friends," she said, and turned to me. "But before I go, I'd like to talk to Piper."
Jason looked like he wanted to protest, but I shot him a look that said "I'll be fine, what's the worst that could happen?"
He let go of my hand, which he had taken again, and I walked out into the chilly fall air with Reyna.
We walked in silence for a while. I could see my breath in the cold air. I spotted a park bench a few meters ahead, and Reyna nodded her head toward it signaling me to sit down. I slid into the bench and she sat down next to me.
"He likes you, you know." she said, still not making eye contact.
I knew what she was talking about, but I didn't speak. "I guess now that he said it, I realize that we weren'tright for each other after all."
"You two seem so alike though, I don't see why you wouldn't be perfect together." I uttered quietly.
"Well, maybe we're too alike." she replied. I remembered that my mom had told me something like that when I was little, before she left. That relationships never work with people who are too similar.
"Well, he might be too scared to make a move, so I suggest you go for it." she said, turning to look at me.
"Thanks, maybe I will," I said as I stood up," But I'll have you know that you've definitely caught Leo's eye. You've heard the expression; opposites attract." I turned around and walked away and could hear her laughing behind me.
When I got back to the hotel, Jason and Leo were nowhere to be seen, so I wandered up to my room. Annabeth wasn't there, and I eyed my guitar. I got it as a gift from my dad on my thirteenth birthday and taught myself to play it.
I picked it up and started to play my song for the week, Begin Again, by Taylor Swift.
Took a deep breath in the mirror Walked in expecting you'd be late And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
But I do
Turned the lock and put my headphones on
He always said he didn't get this song
But I do, I do
But you got here early and you stand and wave
I walk to you
You pull my chair out and help me in
And you don't know how nice that is
But I do
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny cause he never did
I've been spending the last 8 months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watched it begin again.
I heard the door open, and looked up to see that it was Jason. He motioned for me to keep going, so I kept strumming and singing. When I finished the song, it was silent for a few moments until Jason said, "You have a really good voice." in a soft tone.
I looked up at him and he smiled. "I hope you win, you deserve it."
I couldn't stop the heat from rising to my cheeks. "Um, thanks. That's…that's really nice of you." I said, trying not to sound as embarrassed as I felt.
He started to say something, but got cut off when Annabeth, Percy, and Leo walked in. Leo dragged Jason and me out the door and into the hall.
"You might want to give the two of them some privacy." Leo warned, and I mentally scowled. They could've given us some privacy. I could tell that Jason was thinking something similar by the look on his face.
When we got to their room, Jason exchanged a silent glance with Leo. I tried to read their expressions, but all I could make out was that Jason was mad and Leo looked guilty.
"What were you going to say earlier?" I asked Jason.
"Oh, um, it's not important, I'll ask you later." he said, but it obviously was important.
"All Idol contestants, it is time for dinner." said a voice over the loudspeaker. We started to walk down to the dining room.
All I knew was that something was up with Jason and Leo, and I wanted to find out.
Eh…sorry this took so long to put up. Writer's block! It's kind of a filler chapter like the last one, but at least we know what song Piper's doing for her first solo performance on Idol! Anyway, please R&R!
~Dezi, with my awesome bow and arrow! (-I-