"I wish I was just living in a story and I can flip to the last page to see how everything ends. That way, life would be so much easier." ~ Piper McLean


"What are you doing here?" Piper whispered hoarsely.

"Thought you might needed some er.. moral support." Jason rubbed his fingers together nervously. True, that was like 10% of why he came, but he mainly came to see Piper. He haven't been able to see Piper during Valentine Day and that's pretty much why his sucked. At least his love life didn't go down the drain on that supposed day of love, Percy and Annabeth broke up because of this photo of Annabeth cheating on him. Percy just couldn't have found a better time to do so. Talk about right timing.

"It's okay." Piper murmured. Jason thought it sounded more like she was convincing herself than anybody.

Jason tilted his head. "So is he alright?"

Piper placed her head on the table and admitted. "I hope so. I don't know."

"How long are you going to stay here?"

"Dad says I have to get out of here somehow. There's school next week. I already took Friday off." Piper sighed. "I'll probably be going soon. I don't think the nurses like bringing Sky and me meals."

"I..I have to bring you home. Orders from somebody." Jason made up quickly.

"Who's the somebody?" She frowned. "Oh, never mind. It's probably another of my dad's workers or Jane or even my mom."

"Right." He nodded.

Piper checked her phone and shook her head. "What's up with Percy and Annabeth? It's spamming over my Facebook notifications and I'm getting hundreds of texts from Percy and Annabeth asking for 'relationship advice'. Like I'm one to give. My date ended up in the hospital."

"It's not your fault about Sky." Jason started. "and they broke up. Percy finally showed her the picture."

"On Valentine Day?" Piper cried in horror, it's almost like she forgotten Sky's situation. "What the hell is Percy thinking?"

"Yeah. On that day."

"Oh god." Piper grasped her phone urgently and went through her Facebook notifications. "Crap. Forget Sky. I don't usually like or do anything with love, that's for my mom, Silena and those kind of people, but this is Percy and Annabeth. They must be devastated. We're going. Wait..Jason, you can drive right?" She looked down at the ground. "I can't."

"It's alright." Jason grinned. "Got that covered."


Percy threw his phone on his bed. Piper hasn't been answering his questions concerning his relationship status. Okay, he knew he was being selfish but he couldn't help it. He honestly didn't want his relationship with Annabeth to crumble the way it did but Piper probably deserve some space judging by the state of her date. Piper haven't replied to any of his texts, phone calls, messages (from Facebook, Skype and all kinds of social network. He even made a Tumblr account just to spam Piper's ask with his questions).

Normally when he needed advice, he'll go straight to Annabeth but it wasn't much of a choice today.

It didn't occur to him that in Annabeth's bedroom, she was doing the same thing. Pacing back and forth trying to get Piper to somehow contact her. Sure, there are other people in their group that could give advice but Silena was always the best at understanding love. Now that she's gone, Piper's the second choice. Her mother, Aphrodite, spent a lot of time teaching her daughter about the whole concept of love (like she understood, she's a hollywood socialite and fashion designer/model. She doesn't care about academic studies or anything philosophical.).

Love is such a funny thing, none of them knew it'll be over so soon. They thought it will last for quite some time but they were wrong. Who can blame them? With love, you're always wrong.

BEEP! Percy got up as he checked his phone. Yup, a message from Piper. Finally. She must be pretty pissed at all those 'spam' messages. He was expecting capital letters and an angry Piper, instead she only sent a 1 lined text to him. Not actually to him, since it was also to Annabeth.

'Get back together.'

Well, that's helpful. Piper was always the best at giving advice. (Sarcasm here, just in case you haven't noticed)


Leo wiped a tear off his eyes comically. "That was emotional."

"Shut up, Leo." Reyna snapped. "The Notebook is horrible. I am never watching it again. It's all sappy and romance. Besides, you're mocking it."

Hazel smiled. "It's such a sweet movie! I'm glad Lacy introduced it to us. I mean, why didn't we watch it before?"

Frank nodded quickly. "It was amazing." Leo could have sworn he disagrees but Leo could tell that he liked Hazel and would agree with her no matter what she said.

"Nicolas Sparks novels." Leo sighed. "If you're interested in them, Frank, I'm sure Lazy has a whole box of them in her bedroom. I can ask her to lend you some if you like. I'm sure they would be as romantic as this movie."

"Um..no thanks." Frank looked horrified. "I'm not a big reader."

"Don't worry!" Leo said cheerily. "They have Nicolas Sparks movies like the Notebook too! I heard Dear John is great, maybe The Last Song? The Lucky One?"

"Nicolas Sparks…" Frank turned around. "I would like to try something new. Star Wars?"

"I was thinking more of the Time Traveller's Wife. Also starring Rachel McAdams from the Notebook." Leo grinned.

"Ooh! Lacy said it's also really good!" Hazel smiled and pushed her friend playfully. "We should watch that one next, Frank."

"Oh great!" Frank tried glaring at Leo but looking happy at the same time towards Hazel but it really wasn't working. Reyna bursted into laughters. "What?"

Reyna shook her head. "Nothing you need to know about. Keep on doing whatever you're doing."

"You're teasing me." He guessed.

"Nope!" She said cheerfully as she faked a set of laughters. "I..um..laugh randomly. It's weird. See? A laughing attack's coming!"

"That's weird." Leo commented. "Like to be honest, you're always as serious as my dad is when he's around his machines. You can hardly take a joke, leave laughing aside."

"What the hell?" Reyna protested. "Come on! After knowing you for years that's how you describe me?"

"So a more serious topic." Frank wasn't convinced about Reyna's unusual 'laughing attacks' but stopped asking her. "What are we going to do with Percy and Annabeth?"

"Percabeth?" Leo asked innocently.

"What?" All three of his friends stared at him.

Leo shrugged. "You know. Percy, Annabeth, Percabeth? How many times do I have to explain this? I'm pretty sure I used the whole Brangelina example like thousands of times."

"Brangelina?" Reyna raised her eyebrows.

"Whatever." He shook his head. "Still, they can't just break their relationship. It'll be really awkward next time we hang out at school or something. It's a good thing Annabeth has her committee meetings so she didn't have to face him during lunch time when we're around. I seriously don't want to get between them."

"Same!" Reyna agreed, although she sounded colder than usual and she said almost robotically. "I really hope they will be back together."

Hazel sighed. "I know. I wish I could do some magic that just makes them go back together."

"Annabeth should explain what happened." Frank added thoughtfully. "They should talk through it."

"Talk through it." Leo repeated. "God. I don't even know what happened. Why doesn't she tell us what happened first?"

Frank whispered to Hazel. "We never tell him anything. He's a blabbermouth."

"I know." Hazel nodded. "He doesn't even know how his tacos disappeared last time."

"Or why Thalia kicked him in the shins." Reyna added.

Leo wasn't paying attention to his mumbling friends. It didn't occur to him they were talking about him or anything that might be useful. He was absorbed in the magic of his mind again. Wait..is his dragon model working correctly? Maybe he placed the wrong screw so it wasn't able to breathe fire as it is suppose to. His dad should know how to fix it. Oh, dammit. He was going to start on another project today. Instead, he was stuck watching the Notebook. Why did he even agree to his? Now his whole schedule is behind.

Yup, just Leo's mind working. Sometimes, it goes on and on about even more random things Leo is puzzled about. These ideas just pop into his mind and he couldn't stop thinking of them.

Why isn't there pink M&M's? Girls would like them. So would guys if they like pink. Pink Smartie? I think that already exists, Leo told himself. If broccoli and cauliflower are living creatures and they have to fight each other, who would win? Definitely cauliflower. No, maybe broccoli. Annabeth should know the answer. Wait, no, she might not. Probably Harry Potter will. He's magical. Does Harry Potter even exist? Why didn't I get a friggin letter to Hogwarts yet? Maybe they just forgot to mail me the letter. I'm obviously wizard material. Dumbledore will like me. Draco Malfoy would too. Who won't? Leo smiled at himself, I'm adorable. Even Voldemort can't resist the charm and wits of me. I can burn him. I can burn anyone. Come at me, Voldemort! Wait. Maybe Voldemort's the Shooter. That'll explain everything. Who the hell is the Shooter anyway? He or she is such a coward, they won't admit who they are. Why do I have a feeling it has something to do with Percabeth's break up? Never mind, I have weird feelings all the time. Like I'm feeling rather dizzy. Why would I feel dizzy? Ooh, I'd like some cheese. They're yummy. Somebody should open a cheese stand. Like a lemonade stand but they'll be selling cheese.

Leo's mind went on and on. Little did he know, he almost got an answer out of his busy brain.


"I was thinking about the Shooting and everything." Jason confessed as he drove the car.

"Really?" Piper raised her eyebrows. "What have you got so far?"

"I think it might be related to what happened to Sky." Jason paused. "I know it's Justin and he obviously isn't the Shooter but still, I can't help feeling like there might be some connection."

"Connection? It's Justin." Piper laughed. "From what Cat told me, he's probably just taking a piss from it. He's probably laughing in the courtroom or something now. He'll get away. The Fontaine family can afford the best lawyers and they can win any case, even if it's pretty hopeless. He is no Shooter. He couldn't even be working for the Shooter. Justin has that kind of attitude where he's never going to get a job. He's planning to live his life off his parent's money."

"I don't know." Jason admitted. "I don't know Justin as well as you do, Cat knows him even better. It's just one of those gut feelings you can't ignore."

"Yeah." Piper agreed. "I know that feeling and I hate them. 70% of the time I get them, I'm wrong."

"So you think this is false?"

Piper shrugged. "Might be."

"I just have a feeling everything's connected. Dr. Marshall. The Shooting. Drew and Mr. Di Angelo's death. Justin. Everything."

"Maybe you're right." Piper broke a piece off her chocolate and gave it a bite. "I wish I was just living in a story and I can flip to the last page to see how everything ends. That way, life would be so much easier. All the mysteries will be solved."

Jason reminded her quietly. "Some mystery remains even when you're gone. I was technically gone for two years and the answers aren't here yet."

"True." Piper nodded. "But that's because you're back. Why didn't the Shooter kill you? Did he or she had special fondness for you and didn't want to kill you? Did he or she simply made a mistake and thought you were dead but in reality, you weren't?"

"I wish I knew but the only person who knows everything is the Shooter."

"I've been thinking." Piper scratched her chin. "Well, I am now anyway. Maybe you're back for a reason. Maybe somebody wanted you to be alive. Maybe you have a huge role to play in the future. My dad told me that everything happens for a reason. There's a reason why I'm in this car now, there's a reason Sky is unconscious, there's a reason you're here with me."


"Bianca, so you'll be going back to England." Nico nodded at his sister curtly.

"Don't go, B!" Their mother held onto Bianca and grasp her in a big hug. "You have no idea how alone I am here."

Nico faked a cough. "Excuse me."

"Ah, sorry, Nico. I know you're around and I'm not really alone," Their mother said. "But it's a girl thing. I love you, Bianca."

"I love you too, mom." Bianca smiled.

"I use to love my mythomagic cards." Nico grumbled resenting the attention his sister's getting. "And did anybody care?"

Things have gone weird since Hades Di Angelo have died. Their mom have became less stubborn and strong. It seems like she has been broken. Nico knew Mariah Di Angelo knew more than she let on. She also seemed very cautious, as if they're the next target if there's another killing. What have they done to provoke anybody anyway?

"Nico." Bianca finally got away from her mom's grasp and looked intently at her brother. "Take care of mom when I'm gone and please don't sulk all day in your bedroom. It's not going to help. Dad's gone and we all need you back in reality."

"Fine." Nico scowled. "The world I have in my head is a lot better than the nightmare I'm living though."

"And don't go inside dad's office again." Bianca hissed softly. "It's not safe. Everybody knows that. Mom's in your hands, you can't put her in such a dangerous spot. If people knew you were sneaking inside and looking through those files, you're the next victim. Imagine mom in that state if it ever happens. Don't do it to mom or yourself. Do this for dad."

"Promise." Nico rolled his dark eyes insincerely. He have no plans intending to stop. What dad knew was way out of this world, he couldn't let go of something like that which is just next to him. It tempts him daily like how the snake tempted Eve into eating the fruit.

Bianca had a small, sad smile on her face. "Thanks, I know I can count on you Nico. One last thing, don't hold a grudge. It's a thing with the Di Angelos. We hold grudges and it leads to our doom. I learnt my lesson a long time ago."

Nico was curious but decided against questioning. What grudge could his perfect sister possible held and led to some kind of 'doom'? Her life is content and great, didn't seem like any sort of biggie hit it. "I'll try not to." He muttered.

What does Bianca know about the grudges and Di Angelos anyway? Is holding grudges a genetic sort of DNA thing that transfer from generations to generations?


There was a knock on the door. "Come in." Jason groaned as the door opened. It was as if it didn't even wait for the permission. Of course, it could only be his dad.

"Jason." His dad nodded stiffly. "We need to talk."

"Dad." Jason squirmed uncomfortably. It's rare that his dad pays attention to him and now he knocks on his door demanding for attention…what? "About what?"

"Life." His dad answered inviting himself to sit on Jason's bed. "Not my idea," he added quickly. "Your mom says it's good bonding between father and son."

Jason lowered his laptop screen and turn around to face his dad. "Alright. So my life's good. Yours?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing much." Jason mumbled. "How's yours?"

Jason's dad sighed. "There's something wrong, isn't there?"

"Whatever." Jason rolled his eyes and told his dad about Piper.

"Don't go after Piper!" His dad urged. "She's got enough problems of her own from what I've heard. Don't worry son, high school's tough. Now, it might seem like everything to you but believe me, there's still so much out there. College, work, and much more."

"But..dad, do you even know Piper? It's my life! And what do you know about high school?" Jason raised his eyebrows. "Is it like 20 years you've been in school? 30?"

"Shut it." Jason's dad gave him the evil glare. "I'm still cool. I keep up with the latest trends. I know all the dance moves to High School Musical. (AN: Direct reference here from the pilot episode of Modern Family ;) ) School wasn't that long ago. We're all in this together, once we know, that we are, we're all stars, and we see it!"

"If you call decades 'not long'." Jason grumbled cutting his dad's number short.. "Do you really not want me to ask Piper out?"

"Come on." His dad shook his head. "It's your life. I should know. I'm a judge if it gives any credits to this case, but I'm also one of the most socially active-"

"I know." Jason threw his arms wide open. "You were like super popular in high school and whatever. You should know everything to do with high school because you hang out with the supposed 'cool' people. You have told me and Thalia that like millions of times."

"What can I say? I was really popular back then!" Zeus Grace said defensively. "And I know this situation. Get rid of the McLean girl, you can do much better! What's wrong with that another one..Reyna is it? I mean, other than the fact her mom was a total nerd back then. I don't know anybody who actually read To Kill a Mockingjay for English when the movie's sitting there practically begging for us to watch it instead. I'm not a big fan of her but she's better than Piper."

"Reyna..Reyna's fine." Jason stuttered. "I just don't like her as much as I did before. I mean, I like her as a friend but not a girlfriend. I liked her before though, the magic just seemed to be gone."

His dad snorted, one that Jason found insulting in some way. "Kids these days. Putting that aside, what else are you doing."

"I'm trying to find out who the Shooter is." Jason admitted quietly. "He or she has taken away two years of my life. Two of the best years, probably if I was around. I really would like to do who that person is. Also, you know Doctor Marshall?"

"Yes?"

"I think he have some connections to this." Jason told his dad followed by the story where he suspected Dr. Marshall was changing the tape and what Lawyer Brown mentioned earlier about his past.

"I don't like it." Zeus stated. "Should I hire another doctor for you?"

"No!" Jason cried. "Losing him would be like losing the closet connection or hunch to the truth."

"I wish." Zeus muttered only loud enough for himself to hear. "But the Shooter is closer to you than you want it to be."


AN: asdfghjkl; I'm so excited! My friend who moved to another country came back to visit for a few days! :) Okay, enough about me..wassup guys? xx Sorry, I know Piper's a bit OCC but don't worry, she'll be more in character later

hehe, hope you liked this chapter! xo

~Kisses, Emily