Brett rushed to school the next day, intent on finding Annabeth and doing whatever it took to make her see reason. He couldn't let her spend another second with Percy, or any of her other friends from that camp of hers.
He searched the hallways frantically, hoping for a glimpse of Annabeth, but something else stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Jake?" he asked, incredulous.
Jake turned around from where he was stuffing books into his locker. "Oh, hey man! It's been awhile- how have you been?"
"Jake?" he asked again. He couldn't believe that after so long, Jake was actually back. "What are you doing here? Where the hell have you been?" Brett demanded.
Jake winced. "I was… at summer camp."
Brett shook his head. "Summer camp? You left halfway through the spring semester!"
"Yeah," Jake shrugged. "I, uh, I found some things out about my family, so I had to take some time off. Then my mom thought it'd be a good idea for me to go to Camp for the summer."
"Oof, dude, that sucks," Brett sympathized, his anger dissipating.
"Nah, Camp was actually really awesome. I learned a lot, and it was pretty fun too once I adjusted."
They continued to talk, catching each other up on what had happened the past few months while Jake had been gone. Jake was acting strange, being purposefully vague about camp and what he had been doing, but Brett let it slide. He had missed his friend, so he wasn't going to ruin anything by prying.
It didn't seem like long before they were interrupted by a familiar, and unwelcome, voice. "Jake!" Percy called from down the hall, making his way over to where they were standing. "What are you doing here, man? I thought you were staying at Camp this year." He stopped next to Jake, clapping a hand on his back like they were old friends. It made Brett's blood boil.
Instead of brushing him off like Brett expected, Jake just laughed. "I was planning on it, but there are only so many Stoll brother pranks you can take before they send you packing."
Percy laughed, "Yeah, I don't blame you. I almost went crazy staying in the same cabin with them for a week. I can't imagine what it's like living with them and knowing there is no escape."
"Hey now," Jake protested, "the Hermes cabin isn't that bad."
"You didn't see it before the reforms, my friend. It was so crowded you had people fighting for space on the floor."
"Well I guess I have you to thank for changing that."
They continued to talk about summer camp things that Brett didn't understand. He couldn't help but feel left out. Since when were Jake and Percy on friendly terms? Why did Jake's mom send him to the same summer camp that Percy and Annabeth went to? And why did Jake seem so different?
"Listen," Percy said eventually, "I have to go find Annabeth, but you should swing by for dinner tonight. Nico's already crashing there- something about Will being 'too annoying and too cute for his own good.' I'm sure Mom would love to have one more."
"Sure thing, Percy. I'll see you tonight."
Percy bid his goodbyes and walked away. Brett turned to stare incredulously at Jake. "What the hell was that?"
"What?"
"Since when were you all buddy-buddy with Jackson? He's the reason Annabeth won't date me!"
Jake frowned. "You're not still going after Annabeth, are you? Give it up already, dude. She's not interested. And besides, she and Percy are perfect for each other. They've gone through so much together, they deserve to be happy. I don't think anything could break them up at this point."
"Jake!" Brett protested, unsure where all of Jake's sudden defensiveness over Percy and Annabeth's relationship was coming from. "Percy's a bad guy! He's manipulating Annabeth! Can't you see that?"
"Brett, stop," Jake held up his hand. "Percy's a great guy. He is kind, compassionate, and loyal to a fault. He would never hurt any of his friends, much less Annabeth. Have you seen them together? He adores her. Percy would tear the world apart brick by brick before he let anything happen to Annabeth."
"How do you even know that?"
"I spent all summer with them. Percy helped me understand what was happening. When I first got to Camp I was lost and confused and alone, and Percy took the time to sit and talk with me. My whole world had gotten turned upside down, and Percy helped me start to make sense of it again."
"I can't believe you, Jake! You're seriously going to take his side on this? We've been friends for how long? And then you spend one summer at that stupid summer camp and now suddenly Percy's your new best friend?"
"Brett," Jake sighed, "you wouldn't understand, and I can't even begin to explain. You just have to trust me on this one, okay? Leave Percy and Annabeth alone. They've been through enough, they don't need you constantly annoying them and getting in their way."
Brett couldn't believe this. Jake, who had been his best friend since middle school, was now siding against him. He opened his mouth to argue some more, when Jake stopped him.
"Wait," he said, "what's that in your bag?"
"What?" Brett asked, caught off guard and immediately on the defensive.
"That," Jake said, grabbing Brett's bag and pulling out the photo album. "Brett, where did you get this? Piper has been tearing the camp apart trying to find this."
"I- uh- I found it."
"Bullshit." Jake's voice was now icy. "Brett, did you break into Percy and Annabeth's apartment?"
"I need to help her!" Brett insisted.
"She doesn't need help!" Jake shouted. "Annabeth is perfectly capable and perfectly happy where she is. Nothing gives you the right to break into someone's house and steal their personal belongings."
"So, what?" Brett demanded. "You're one of them now? A 'Percabeth' shipper?"
"Yes, actually, I do. A blind man could see how happy those two make each other. Aphrodite herself has blessed their relationship."
Brett stared at Jake in horror, realization dawning on him. Jake had become one of them. What had happened at that summer camp that had changed him so drastically? Why was he now suddenly friends with Percy Jackson, and referring to Greek gods as if they were real? When had he become one of the very people that Brett was trying to save Annabeth from?
"I don't know what they told you, Jake, but you and Annabeth are going to end up in serious danger if you keep hanging around these crazy people."
Jake just rolled his eyes. "You don't understand anything Brett, stop trying."
"I need to save Annabeth."
"Annabeth can do her own saving. Trust me, you can't make Annabeth do anything she doesn't want to do. If she didn't want to be with Percy, she wouldn't be."
Brett opened his mouth to retort, but Jake cut him off again. "Give it up, Brett. It's never gonna happen. You need to move on." He walked away then, leaving Brett standing there alone, gaping after him.
What happened at that summer camp that turned someone into a completely different person? How had he lost Jake to the same life that Annabeth was lost in? Brett tried to ignore it, but he couldn't help but play Jake's words over and over again in his head. Maybe he had gone too far. Maybe Annabeth really was happy with Percy. Maybe he should move on. Maybe Annabeth deserved peace, and maybe Brett was one thing that was keeping her from it.
Congrats on making it to the end! To be honest, I lost interest in this story a long time ago, but I promised myself I would never leave fics unfinished. So I'm sorry for the subpar writing because of that. I started rewriting this fic because I had a sudden burst of motivation (and I really hated my writing in the old one), but like with all things, my motivation didn't last. But besides all that, thank you so much for sticking with me too the end! I really appreciate everyone who has read and loved this fic- you guys kept me writing even when I felt like giving up.
