AN: Aha! I know I said I wouldn't upload until January, but since this chapter is pretty short anyways, you can look at it as kind of a special, Christmas mini-chapter, if you want.

Warnings: Language, as per usual.

Onwards and Enjoy!

~THF

Percy didn't expect his relationship with Jason to last much longer than the summer, because he'd never had a relationship that has worked. He's pretty sure Calypso still hates him for their failed attempt at a long-distance relationship. And he doesn't think Annabeth has quite gotten over the end of their relationship, either, but she's certainly trying.

Either way, Percy is infamous for his failed attempts at relationships, long-distance or otherwise. That's why he's not surprised when he starts really feeling the distance between himself and Jason after Thanksgiving break.

It's just a mild chill that settles over Percy as he watches Jason board the plane back to California. Something numb that creeps into the places where Percy should be missing Jason. It's enough to make Percy panic, and he never panics.

So Percy does the only rational thing he can think of. He gets into his Chevy, and he calls Drew.

"Hey." Drew picks up on the first ring, her voice sexy and sultry. "You've reached Aphrodite; the best relationship advice hotline in New York. You're on with Drew. What's your name, sweetie, and how can I advise you today?"

"It's Percy."

Percy can almost hear Drew's excitement through the phone, and when she speaks, her voice isn't sexy or sultry anymore—it's giddy with childish excitement, and that's the Drew Percy adores.

"Hi! What's up, sugar plum? I haven't heard from you in years."

Percy laughs, relaxing into the seat. "We had lunch together last Tuesday."

"And that was way too long ago," Drew retorts, and Percy can visualize her tossing her glossy black hair over her shoulder and grinning, just like she does in person. Percy would never admit it, but before he realized that he likes guys, he'd had the biggest crush on Drew Tanaka. "Seriously, baby doll, what's up? You never call me while I'm at work!"

Percy hesitates, then hedges into the topic. "You remember me telling you about Jason, right?"

Drew's sharp intake of breath crackles through the phone. "It's happening, isn't it? The bit of all of your relationships when you start losing the spark?"

Percy closes his eyes, resting his head against the back of the seat. "Yeah."

"Oh, honey," Drew says, and she sounds so soft and remorseful. "I'll be over tonight with tea, chocolate, and The Little Mermaid."

Percy chuckles, shaking his head. "What do I do, Drew?"

Drew's voice is gentle, albeit firm, when she speaks. "Dear, you have to want to make it work. If you don't want to make your relationship with Jason work out, it's not going to. You have to put the effort into it, or it'll just fall apart. Just like it did with Annabeth and Calypso."

"But that was because I'm gay!" Percy protests. Distantly, he wonders if his call is being aired on the radio, or if Drew took him offline when he told her his name. If he is on the air, he wonders how many people he'll offend simply by being gay, or if that's even an issue at all on Aphrodite.

It was an issue with Gabe, Percy thinks, and grimaces at the memory.

"Was it?" Drew asks soothingly. "Or was it because you gave up when the spark went out?"

Which only makes Percy even more confused, but then, he's usually confused.

"Calypso was never anything more than a summer fling when I was fourteen, anyways," Percy rationalizes, "and Annabeth broke up with me, if you'll recall. She knew I was gay before I did."

"I won't argue with you," Drew says, and Percy imagines her rolling her eyes, shaking her head, and reapplying her lipstick. "But you should consider all the guys you've dated, babe. Something has gone wrong in all of them, and the common denominator is you. You give up because you lose the spark, but you've never tried to get a proper flame going to begin with."

Percy's stomach sinks, and he opens his eyes, sitting up in the chair. "Are you saying that I'm the problem? In all of my relationships?"

Drew hesitates, and Percy knows she's biting her bottom lip like she does when she's anxious. "I'm not saying that, darling. I'm just saying… You promised Calypso you'd keep in touch, and you didn't. And after everything you did to Bob…"

Percy coughs loudly. "I never dated Bob!"

"Did Bob know that?" Drew snaps, and then she breathes a quick, sharp sigh. "I have to go. I can't do this with you right now, Percy. Later."

She hangs up, and Percy is alone again.

In June, Percy had walked out into the middle of a beach party and tried to find his way around it to reach the beach for a night swim. Instead, he'd seen an athletic blond standing in the area where the water collapses against the sand before receding, and Percy was instantly attracted to him.

It was kind of an instant boy-meets-girl-and-they-fall-in-love kind of thing, only they were both men, and Percy never let himself fall in love with Jason.

As Christmas break grows steadily closer, Percy starts to panic.

He's flying down to see Jason and meet his family, and Percy—well, Percy isn't sure that he can meet Jason's sister and pretend that he's still enthusiastic about the relationship. And he doesn't want to keep leading Jason on, either.

Percy's at the airport, bags packed to the brim, about to step on the plane, when he realizes that he can't do this. He can't keep doing this.

He remembers what Drew said to him: You give up because you lose the spark, but you've never tried to get a proper flame going to begin with.

And suddenly, Percy can't board the plane. He does a full 180 and walks, walks until he's in the airport parking lot, and then he sits down on a curb and hails a passing taxi.

He texts Jason to tell him that he isn't coming, that he wants to spend Christmas with his mom now that she's pregnant.

Percy feels awful about doing this to Jason, but he always feels awful when the relationship starts to end. It'll pass, just like it did with Annabeth and Calypso.

"Jase?"

"Percy!" Jason's voice is so excited, Percy loathes every inch of himself.

"How was your Christmas?" Jason asks, seeming to reign in some of his excitement. Percy sighs.

"Jason, look. We really need to talk."

There's silence on the other end of the line, and then Jason is speaking again. "Sure, what's up?"

Percy feels like he's going to throw up. "I'm so, so sorry, Jason. I know it's the day after Christmas, which makes me an absolute ass for doing this, but I—I think we should break up."

The other end of the phone is utterly silent, and Percy can't stop talking.

"I thought I could make things work out with you and I couldn't," he says, "which I should have expected, because long distance relationships never work out, and you never hear stories about people marrying their high school sweethearts. Not that I think you wanted to marry me, anyways. I'd make an absolute shit husband. In fact, you're lucky to get rid of me. I—"

"Percy." Jason's voice is raw, and Percy clenches his jaw. He hates this. The ending part of relationships, but they all end. Percy thinks he should just give up on relationships and men in general and become a monk.

Are monks allowed to be gay? Percy wonders. He makes a mental note to ask Annabeth about the religious practices of monks later.

"You're right, Percy," Jason is saying. "We should break up."

Percy pauses. "I—I'm right?"

"If that's what you want," Jason says softly, "then I'm not going to disagree."

Percy hesitates, then murmurs, "Merry Christmas, Jason."

Jason barks out a laugh, the sound crackling over the phone line. "Merry fucking Christmas to you, too, Percy."

The line goes dead, and Percy tosses his phone to the edge of his bed. As far as break ups go, that one could have been worse.

Fin.

There isn't a playlist for this chapter, since it was more of an explanation than anything.

Chapter five should be up before the New Year, but we'll see about how motivated I am to write it, especially since I'm working on about three billion other fics right now.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, Jahfy!