Reyna:
I clacked away at the computer's keyboard.
I had been up almost all night last night, until Nyssa took my computer away because I was keeping her up, writing this. Now, I was reaching the end, but I didn't know how to end it.
Back home, my teacher saw promise in my writing. She told me that there was a big contest that could get someone in the writer's circuit, and she thought I could win. So, I had to have a short story written by the end of summer, and she would enter it for me. But, I had no idea what to write about. Emphasis on I had no idea what to write about. When the whole 'Piper' thing came along, I got an idea. I had a draft all written up, but that wasn't how things really worked out. So, I started over, and here I sat, right at the end. I didn't know what I wanted to happen. Would Jessie (me) end up with Taylor (Jordon) or Ben (Jason)? And where would Gwen (Piper) and George (Leo) fit into all of this? I had no idea, and I didn't have much longer until I had to turn this in.
The only thing I knew was that Jessie ran away from Ben, where she found Taylor. I also knew that Gwen loved Ben, and George loved Gwen. Jessie loves Ben, but she doesn't know if she could ever trust him again. Also, Ben keeps saying he wants to get in touch with Jessie, but he backs out at the last minute. Jessie also knows that she will never forget Ben, and Taylor continuously tries to be there for Jessie, which is something Ben hasn't done.
At first, I was just going to have Jessie stay off the dating scene for a while and find out who Jessie is, but I didn't. Then, I thought that going back to Ben would be a good twist, but it didn't feel right. I had her fall in love with Taylor, but I backed out of that one, too. For a while, I had Ben falling head over heels for Gwen, but then I almost cried and had to get rid of it. I even wrote that Gwen realized that she loved George and he turned her down because he thought she was trying to trick him again, but that idea was thrown out as well.
I felt useless as I just stared at the computer screen with nothing to type. I felt like calling Ben-er, Jason- but I quickly remembered my anger towards him. Jordon was going to be on a boat, without cell service, all day, and Nyssa was going to a fencing excursion. Usually, I felt fine with being alone, but it didn't sit right this time. I wanted to be around someone, and I wanted to tell them everything on my mind. But I had only been able to do that with one person, and he was what I was going to talk about. I would have even talked to Clara, but she was skyping with her mother to help plan a wedding. Then, she and Connor were going hiking. I thought about talking with Annabeth. While she hates Piper, she is friends with Jason. I don't know what I'd get out of that one. So, I just sat in my room. I had called in sick to go to some of the ruins. I'd be alone all day, which is what I came here for. I wanted to see who Reyna was without Jason, and the only thing I had found was that she was confused. I could find a straight answer.
Jason told me he loved me. Then he kissed Piper.
He said he wanted to talk. But he won't answer me.
Jordon is open, but I can tell he's keeping one big secret.
Leo says he loves Piper, but, from our secret correspondence, I found he's hanging out with them and acting like nothing ever happened.
Piper said she loved Jason, but she was afraid of losing Leo.
Nyssa is afraid of what will happen to us if Jason and I split up, but she doesn't think we'll work it out because she put telling Octavian on the line.
Octavian has been head over heels for Nyssa for years, but he acts like he doesn't even like her one bit.
Everyone is keeping a secret. I found Jason cheating on me, which is something I don't want anyone to know. Piper is trying to get Jason, but she feels something for Leo. Annabeth knows more about Piper than she'll ever tell. Thalia takes care of her brother, even if he thinks it isn't helping. Jason says he loves me, but there is definitely something there for Piper.
I just wish we could get our shit together and tell it all, but I know we never will. If we could, we'd take it all to the grave. It was part of who we were. We were used to lying. It'll be a miracle if we ever stop.
That's what makes everything so hard. I can lie to everyone that I don't love Jason, and I can even lie to myself. I could even go to my grave without telling anyone how he cheated on me. I might even be able to convince myself that it never happened, and that scares the hell out of me. I want to really be happy, not just telling myself that I'm happy, but happiness was something that didn't come along very often at our Roman camp. That's why we treasured it so much. Feeling so strongly for Jason was like a miracle, which is why I hated Piper so much. The romans don't take many risks. We think things through, deciding which has the best outcome. I don't know what my fatal flaw is, but I think that's it. I always think it over. I don't just jump into things like Piper does. Maybe that's what Jason likes about her.
Maybe he likes how she is so innocent because she's never seen a battle. She's never had to kill someone she used to be friends with. Piper doesn't have to worry about things because she'll work it out. She isn't sitting alone in a hotel room, trying to think of what to do. She's getting the one she wants and keeping another on the side in case. She has a cabin of kids rallying around her, and I never asked for that. I have a best friend, and, while she loves me, it's my problem. It's my life, not hers. Nyssa knows I'll take care of myself because I always do. Piper has people who can make sure she gets what she wants, and, for the longest time, it was what I wanted, too. Now, I don't know so much.
Sure, there is no way in hell that I would ever be okay with that slut ever getting Jason, but I don't know if he's what I want. Not long ago, I would have been able to say 'Hell Yessss, he's what I want. What the hell have you been smoking to think otherwise?' without thinking about it. Now, I pause. I think about it. I still don't even know what to say.
I looked down at the cliff, making myself cringe. Jason looked compassionately at me for having to be around the edge, but he didn't ask if I wanted to move because the truth was that I didn't. I would have stood on the top of Mount Everest if I had been in this situation.
The warm, summer air brushed across my skin, but I didn't really notice. I wasn't saying anything, and neither was Jason. We just sort of sat there, looking into each other's eyes. It was like we were paralyzed into doing so. We wouldn't move, I don't even think I could.
"What are we going to do if she says no?" I asked, wanting to smile and to cry at the same time.
We were both in the first legion, something we've spent our entire lives trying to get. With it, there are many rules. We basically have to be perfect. We can't have a moment of weakness, and, to Lupa, love is weakness. I find it as strength to make me want to fight harder, but she doesn't see it like that. When we accepted the offer to come to the first legion, love was the last thing on our mind. We can't date. Sure, there are some exceptions, but those are for the ones that aren't that important and they're with those of lower stature. We don't apply to that. We both petitioned for the rule to be abolished, but we won't know until tomorrow morning. Lupa always said she saw great promise in us, but I didn't know if that would enough.
Jason was about to say something, but he stopped himself. For probably the first time in the last hour, I looked away from him to the cliff. Somehow, it seemed much better than to look into his eyes and know that I could be living without him. If she said no, one of us would be sent away all the time so that we could never try to stay together secretly. And, if I know Lupa, she'll send me away. Jason is an icon around here. Too many people would suspect it if he was always gone, but they'd think I was trying to get inspiration for my writing. She'd also push a lower classman towards Jason until he had gotten over me. And I'd be keeping the peace around the world during the summers and coming home, wondering how he was faring. It'd be torture.
"I'd don't think she'll say no," Jason told me, but it didn't change it. He doesn't think it, but it could still easily happen.
"Why not?" I didn't look away from the night sky as I awaited his answer.
Jason reach over the short distance and took my hand. I burned red a little bit because I still wasn't used to it, but I did manage to look back at him. He took that as a good sign as smiled.
"It'd be stupid to. She knows I won't give up. I never do."
"Yes, you do," I smiled warmly, and he let out a little laugh.
"I give up for you," he leaned over to kiss my forehead, but pulled down his chin and kissed him on the lips.
"You almost missed," I smirked.
I was caught off guard by the sudden beep of my laptop.
A new email.
It could only be from a kid in the US because all of the kids here were busy. I braced myself for another message from Jason, but I sighed in relief when I saw the name 'Leo' as the sender. I opened it to find that he had a picture attached, but I looked at the message first.
I'd don't know about you, but this makes me pissed. Need your help. ASAP.
-Leo
I opened the picture to where I thought I was going to pass out. A beautiful brunette was smiling at a blonde, who I knew for a fact was Jason. Piper. She was in the middle of a laugh and also in his grasp. They both looked a little drunk, but I knew this girl knew exactly what she was doing.
Leo was right.
I knew I didn't exactly have the right with Jordon and all, but I was definitely pissed.
Leo:
I sat on my bunch, nervously awaiting the response from Reyna. It was Saturday afternoon. Jason was teaching a class. Piper was Who-The-Hell-Knows-Where with Who-The-Hell-Knows-Who. And I was skipping Arts and Crafts. Last night was fun. Or least, it had been fun until I saw Piper with Jason. At first, I was there only to make Piper mad, but I found that Drew was kinda cool.
Then I guess Piper figured out why I came with her in the first place and tried it herself. When she was walking on the dance floor, she gave me the 'Two can play this game' face and made sure I could see her with Jason. It went all downhill from there. Drew noticed, but she didn't say anything, thank the gods. I was surprised by how sweet she could be. I just had to give her a chance, something Piper never gave her.
Well, I found out that a few of the guys got pictures from the party, and I had them send them to me. As soon as I found the one with Piper and Jason, I sent it to Reyna, asking for her help, or at least her opinion.
My laptop pinged, and I went to the new message.
What do I need to do?
-Reyna
I smiled to myself.
At least I'm not the only one who doesn't want Jason and Piper together.
You know Jason better than anyone. What do you think?
-Leo
I pressed send, hoping that I didn't cross a line. This was a touchy subject for Jason. I can't imagine how Reyna feels about this all.
What's the outcome you want?
-Reyna
I thought it was pretty obvious, but maybe she just didn't know what she wanted. So, I started to type back once more, but I found mid-sentence that I didn't know what I wanted to say. I wanted Piper for myself, I think, but I also want her to be happy. What if that isn't with me? I want Jason to be happy, too, and maybe he is happy with Piper.
So, I typed in the only answer I could come up with.
I don't know
I waited a few moments until I heard the familiar 'Ping' noise.
Neither do I.
-Reyna
Feeling flushed, I send another email.
We can't just sit back and see what happens, can we?
-Leo
A few minutes later, I heard the noise of the last email.
We have to.
-Reyna
XXXXXXX
I watched as the flames grew larger and larger due to Piper's bottle of 'Bed-Head' hairspray. I wasn't allowed to create the fire after what happened last time. (Hey, it's not my fault that hair is flammable!) So, I just sat on the log, feeling helpless. The kids around me, all here for the camp fire, seemed divided from each other.
Hazel, here for Jason, was sitting with Reyna's older brother, Daniel, her boyfriend. They were talking about god-knows-what. Jason was telling Octavian about how he and Piper crashed their sailboat a few days ago, but Octavain wasn't paying attention, probably thinking about Nyssa. Piper was listening to Jason, shining brighter than the fire beside her. Gwendolyn was pursing her lips as she drew in a note pad and ignoring her twin brother, Bobby. Dakota was talking to Bobby.
I wasn't doing anything.
"I'm going to get going," I told Piper, but she didn't really notice. A frown set in, and I started to walk away, wanting to scream. Anger burned through me. I felt useless. There wasn't a damn thing I could do except for wait.
And Leo Valdez doesn't wait.
The warmth of the fire disappeared as I continued to walk back to my cabin, but I liked it better that way. The bitter cold fit my mood better.
"Hey, Leo, wait up," a familiar voice told me, and it snapped me out of my thoughts. An involuntary smile escaped my lips without even consulting me, or thinking about Piper.
I turned around to see Drew smiling at me. Her long hair had been straightened until it went to the middle of her 'Pretty Girls Turn Heads, Me and My Girls Break Necks' tee-shirt-clad back. Her almond-shaped eyes were shining what little moonlight filled the air around us, and her 'strawberry-pink' lips were fashioned in a smile.
"Speak of the devil," I smiled, and she playfully hit me.
"So, why aren't you with them?" she nodded towards the group of kids that didn't even seem to notice that I was gone. Aren't they such good friends? If you don't mind, note the sarcasm in that one.
"Long story," I shrugged. I couldn't tell her the real reason. So, why waist our time with lies? Drew looked down at a pink watch-wait, is that the same pink as her shirt?
"We have an hour until lights out," she smiled warmly.
Drew:
I stifled a yawn as I walked through the front door to my cabin. In the hallway that led off to the many other rooms, a three girls stood with their arms crossed. I noticed that two, Hailey and Lisa, were standing in front of the way that led to the bathroom and the other rooms. Piper stood in front of the door to my room, and I immediately knew what was going on.
"Okay, this is definitely….interesting. Can I ask what the hell is going on here?" I played dumb, and Piper was the first to act.
"What ever happened to the 'Girl Code'?" Piper forced faux-sadness in her baby blue eyes.
"Excuse me," my eyes widened, "You're getting mad at me for the girl code?"
"It's only been a week since my split with Leo. You know that," Piper's eyes hardened.
"Jason and Reyna hadn't even broken up before you tried to take him," I smirked, crossing my own arms, and Piper opened her mouth in 'Oh-No-You-Didn't'.
"I mean, I don't know about where you're from, but in Massachusetts, a girl who started dating a guy's best friend to get a guy, threatened the guy's girlfriend, and started kissing him when his girlfriend was right there, doesn't get to make charges like that," I smiled.
"Break it off with Leo!" Piper screamed, making me almost flinch. It was the first time I had ever heard her scream. I pulled together a smile. She ain't even seen me be a bitch yet.
"Break what off? I'm just talking to him. Isn't that what you're doing with Jason?" I bat my eyes as I played dumb, and Piper flushed to the shade of my tee-shirt.
"Break it off with Leo," she told me a little more forcefully, her confidence falling.
"Break it off with Jason, and we'll talk," I smirked as I hit my shoulder against hers and walked through the door to my room.
Before I'm attacked by rabid Piper fans, she wasn't being a bitch because she could. She was being mean because she still has feelings for Leo and knew that being a total bitch because she knew that was the only way to get through to Drew with something like that. So, we good? Awesome.
