I DON'T KNOW IF LEO HAS RETURNED YET IN THE SERIES BECAUSE I HAVEN'T READ ANY TRIALS OF APOLLO, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME-THIS IS SIMPLY MY VERSION OF SUCH AN EVENT AS IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY A KINDLY REVIEWER.

THANKS FOR READING. -KAY SKIE-

Return

LEO

I'm not sure if everyone is happy to see me. They were shocked when I first showed up with Calypso, but now it's like everyone's avoiding me. I tried to hang out with Jason and Piper after breakfast but they all had things to do. Will has given me an awkward smile. Nico waved once. Percy and Annabeth wouldn't bother to stop when they were sparring this afternoon. That's unusual because even though we started off on bad terms, Percy and I generally get along pretty well. Annabeth's usually nice to me too. She checked up on me when I was building the Argo II when I didn't show up for meals. Chiron has kept Calypso in a meeting all day. I don't know if Hazel and Frank are here. I can't even find Coach Hedge. If that wasn't bad enough, my cabinmates are AWOL. All of them. How is this even possible? Why are they avoiding me?

So, I spend a majority of my day tinkering around with tools. It's too depressing in my cabin so I take some supplies to the woods (because that's a great idea) and build in peace. I think it's kind of ironic that I'm combining nature and technology. It's like the technology is infiltrating the woods, unwelcomed but present anyway…like me at the camp. I try not to think about that.

JASON

We're ecstatic that Leo's back. He's going to be excited this evening when Calypso brings him to the big party we're planning at sundown. We've been trying to act natural, but it's not working. I'm worried Leo might translate this into us ignoring him which I realize I for one have done since I became Piper's boyfriend, but that is going to change. Unfortunately, we can't change the pattern right this second because we need to finish our preparations. It'll be a surprise so Leo will be happy. At least, I hope he will. I've neglected my duties as best friend, but I will make it up to him. I just hope he gives me a chance to do so.

Everything's fine until Leo isn't at dinner.

Calypso sits at my table and asks, "Where's Leo?"

Oh no.

I'd been so busy setting up for the party that I didn't think to check for him at lunch. Did I? I don't remember.

"When was the last time you saw him?" I ask.

"This morning." Calypso answers.

"Let's start looking for him then." I say.

What if he ran away because he thought we don't want him around?

LEO

I'm leaving. I can't go through this again. Why are you walking alone in the woods Leo? Someone might ask. I'm glad you asked. Honestly, I'd rather be attacked by monsters all the time than be the seventh or whatever number wheel I'll be at this camp. Every time I think I might fit in somewhere, I quickly find out that I was wrong. Even Calypso's ignoring me. I didn't think she would do that to me. At least I have a weapon in case I run into monsters. It's bronze knuckles with a sword attacked to it. Ideally this will be cool to use…unless it doesn't work. Then I'm in trouble.

Nico nearly runs into me as I walk. Where did he come from?

"Where are you going?" Nico questions.

"Nowhere." I reply. I don't look at him. I don't want anyone to know I've been crying. It's stupid anyway. I should've known this would happen again.

"Well, can it wait for tomorrow then?" Nico asks.

"No." I answer.

"Why?" Nico asks.

There's no point in lying.

"I'm leaving."

"Why?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

"Nope."

"Just say why already. You look like you need to get something off your chest."

I laugh without humor. "Wow. Look at you talking about feelings." I say, hoping to annoy him so he leaves.

Nico huffs in frustration. "Screw you Valdez. I'm just trying to help."

"Yeah, you can stop that."

New tears are rising and it's getting hard to talk past the lump building in my throat.

I'm tired. Please just leave me alone. Everyone else does.

"Is that really how you feel?" Nico sounds horrified.

I didn't think I said that out loud. Crap.

"You're not alone. Everyone has been getting stuff ready for a surprise party to welcome you back. You're one of us. You belong at Camp Half-Blood with the rest of us." Nico says.

"Did they send you to find me?" I ask. I look at him. I don't think he's lying, but I've been wrong before.

"Everyone's looking for you. I just happened to be the one to find you." Nico shrugs.

"Why did you bother looking? We don't talk much."

"If anyone can understand feeling like an outsider, it's me. I'd guessed that's why you weren't at dinner—because you felt like everyone was avoiding you."

"What would you know about that?"

"I'm a son of Hades—I'm not supposed to exist. I raise the dead, I have a pet hell-hound, and I can shadow-travel. People feel uneasy around me. I've felt like an outsider for the past few years, but you just have to let yourself trust that people won't always let you down. It's hard. But, it's also possible."

I nod. I guess I could try.

"Can we go back to everyone else now?" Nico asks.

I nod again, not trusting myself to speak.

Nico puts his hand on my shoulder and then we're at dinner. A few campers scream when they see us and I see what Nico means by his feeling like an outsider. I'd been one of those crappy people who were scared of him for a while too. I'll have to apologize for that.

I don't get a chance because someone shouts, "Leo!"

Then I'm grabbed into a bear-hug by none other than Jason Grace.

"Hi Superman." I say.

Piper joins the hug.

"Hi Beauty Queen." I add as I hug them back.

"We missed you so much." Piper says.

"I was a bad friend. I'm sorry." Jason says.

"So was I." Piper adds.

They kind of were, but they're my bad friends.

"It's okay." I tell them.

"No, it isn't; but we're here for you now Leo." Jason says.

"All right guys. All this love is suffocating." I say.

I'm going to cry if they don't stop talking.

They release me and Calypso marches right up to me and says, "You were going to leave me."

Shame washes over me. I can't look her in the eyes when I say, "I didn't think you needed me anymore."

"I didn't use you to get off the island Leo. I care about you. I wouldn't do this otherwise." She kisses me full on the lips.

I nearly go into shock. I've kissed her before but I wasn't expecting a kiss right this second. It takes a moment for me to respond and then I'm kissing her back.

It took three months for us to return to Camp Halfblood. That involved a whole load of blood, sweat, and tears. We fought monsters and hunger. We stole and hitchhiked. We mended each other's wounds and tried to sneak pass the walls we both built to block people out. We both still have a lot to learn—no, that's not the right word. We have a lot to look forward to finding out when it comes to the other. I'm excited to find out the mundane things about her like what foods she likes and also important things like what she thinks about when she lies awake at night. I'm scared for her to find out some of the latter things about me, but I think I'm falling for her, so it'll be okay. I think I love her, but now isn't the time to tell her that.

Instead, I say, "I understand now. I won't leave again."

"Promise?" Calypso asks.

I think about the Disney movie, Tangled, of all things, and how in Rapunzel's world, promises are permanent and must be kept at all costs. That's the kind of promise I make to Calypso when I say, "Yes. I promise."