Piper
The breakfast Piper had at the Valdezes that morning was as awkward as Frank.
She knew that Esmeralda would notice the difference in her behavior so she tried her best in doing doing what she normally does whenever she's at the Valdezes.
The moment Leo dropped his fork on his plate, Esmeralda stood up. Piper followed her with her eyes and she saw Esmeralda grab a butter knife. Soon after Esmeralda sat down, she cut the air with the knife.
"What the heck are you doing mom?" Leo asked.
"I'm cutting the tension between you two" Esmeralda said. "Spill the beans. What happened? You slept naked again, Leo?"
"No!" Piper and Leo chorused. Esmeralda just raised an eyebrow at them.
Piper sighed. She knew Esmeralda would pester them unless they told her the truth.
"I found out that Leo has a girlfriend" Piper admitted.
"He never told you? Wait, does anyone know about her, Leo?" Esmeralda asked.
"I wanted to tell them but I know they wouldn't believe me like Piper here, so why bother" Leo shrugged.
"I never said I didn't believe you; I was just... shocked, I guess" Piper smiled sheepishly.
"What's the difference" Leo poured himself a glass of water.
"I'll admit. I was shocked at first - wait, not because I don't believe you" Esmeralda paused as Leo's face turned sour. "I was shocked because Calypso wasn't from this island"
Piper turned her head at Esmeralda.
If what she was saying is true, then it's a real mystery how Leo managed to get a girlfriend that is not from this island. Leo barely leaves the island and when he does, he usually have either Esmeralda, Annabeth, or Jason with him.
"Let's assume that the tension wasn't even present. How did you two met?" Piper wondered.
Leo refused at first, but with the two's unwavering gaze, he finally admitted defeat.
"It was an accident. I, uhm, left the island without telling anyone and I crashed on this nearby island and voila, we met" Leo smiled nervously.
Piper stared at him, trying to deduce if what he told them was the truth. However, before she could even deduce what he said, Esmeralda's protective motherly side went on.
"You left the island without telling anyone?!" Eameralda cried. "Why would you even do that?! What if you crashed somewhere else?! What would I do then?!"
"Mom, I know! I'm sorry, okay! I was an idiot back then!" Leo apologized.
"Why would you even leave without telling anyone?" Piper asked.
"I don't even know why. I just woke up in her island with my head hurting from hangover" Leo said.
"You were drunk?! Oh my gods, Leonidas Valdez! You are too young to drink! What were you thinking?!" Esmeralda scolded him. Piper couldn't help but stifle her laugh.
"I don't know the punch was spiked!" Leo admitted. Piper crossed her eyebrows.
"Wait, did this happen the night Octavian had a party where you mysteriously vanished for the night only to find out you were passed out at the dock?" Piper asked, her chin pinched between her fingers. "That was the only party I knew that had some spiked punch. I was also spiked, if you'll ask"
"Yeah. My drunk self decided to get off the island. Thank Zeus, that's how I met Calypso" Leo smiled.
Esmeralda massaged her temples. "Kids these days"
Piper chuckled, along with Leo.
-X-
It was barely 11 AM when Annabeth messaged her about their task, which was to wait for Rachel in Montauk.
Piper almost forgot about it. She immediately hurried back to her home, saying thanks and goodbyes to the Valdezes, and prepared for their task.
She decided to wear pastel colored sundress since she knew that the weather would be hot since it's summer. She knew she dressed for what's best during this climate but she also can't help thinking about what Leo said yesterday.
About how the sister-in-law would meet the future wife.
Piper blushed at the sheer thought of marriage so shook her head to clear the idea away.
Besides, they're too young to even think about it.
Grabbing her sun hat, she decided to stay at the Valdezes and wait for Jason.
-X-
They left as soon as Jason arrived.
"Frederick said he would take us to Montauk. I've already contacted Rachel. She said they're on their way towards Montauk. ETA, 2 hours and 45 minutes" Jason told Piper and Leo while they made their way towards the docks.
"We'll arrive there within an hour so that leaves us an hour and 45 minutes at most for our date" Piper smiled.
"Date?" Jason asked. "What are you talking about?"
Piper scowled. "I told you; you owe me a date. Besides, what can we do for an hour and 45 minutes?"
"Well, you could keep me company" Leo chimed.
"You should have brought her along. Then maybe you could have quality time together" Piper suggested, irritation laced in her voice.
"Her?" Jason wondered.
Piper cursed. She forgot that she's the only one in their group that knew about Calypso.
"I was talking about Leo's mom" Piper said.
Jason nodded. "Yeah, it could be a good idea. We don't know how bored Espie is"
"My mom? Bored? You can't form a sentence with those words together!" Leo laughed.
"Well, we're still an hour away from Montauk" Piper smirked.
"That smirk is giving me the creeps, Pipes" Jason shuddered. "Don't tell me you're planning something"
"Actually, yes" Piper's smirk turned into a grin. "Let's play 'Truth or Dare'"
Jason and Leo simply groaned. They were in a yatch in the middle of nowhere and they knew that disagreeing with Piper could result to some drastic events.
Like maybe throwing them off the yatch or something.
-X-
The moment Piper set her feet on the sand, Jason immediately pulled her to some sort of a restaurant near the beach after shouting an apology at Leo who insisted at staying behind with Frederick.
As soon as she entered the establishment, Piper gasped.
From the outside, it looked like a simple cabin with wooden exteriors but on the inside, it gave her a comforting vibe - with the wooden interiors and cozy atmosphere added with the mix of wonderful array of colors from the stained glass that adorned the walls of the establishment.
Jason turned to face her, a sheepish smile adorning his lips. "I actually had this planned out the moment you said I owe you a date"
"Alone?" Piper teased. She knew Jason can't pull something this sweet alone. He's much of a nerd to pull this kind of stunt.
Jason help his hands in the air. "You got me. I asked for Rachel's help"
Piper scanned the interior once more. Simple yet classy. Warm yet colorful.
"I see" Piper pointed at the stained glass that showered the room with colors.
"Well, we have an hour and a half to spend" Jason pulled the seat in front of her and motioned for her to take a seat.
"Did Rachel also teach you that?" Piper asked.
"Nope" Jason smirked. "That was all Jason Grace"
-X-
Lunch at the reataurant was marvelous but knowing Rachel's preferences, that was expected.
"Rachel said she'll be here any second from now" Jason read the text message Rachel sent him.
"And the mysterious Thalia Grace will be with her" Leo said. He eventually joined them at the restaurant for lunch - well, Leo missed everything but dessert.
"You just have to remind me" Jason hid his face in his hands.
"It can't be that bad. She's your sister. You know she loves you" Piper smiled.
"Yup. The lady's right!" A woman's voice rang from behind their table. Piper turned and saw a young woman in her early twenties who stood beside Rachel.
'So this might be Thalia', Piper thought. 'But they don't have any resemblances at all!"
Piper examined Thalia and compared her with Jason. Thalia's eyes were icy blue unlike Jason's electric blue. Thalia had black hair while Jason had blonde hair. Thalia's attire resembles that of a punk while Jason kept it semi-casual. She also had a nose piercing while Jason had a scar on his lip. Wait, what?
If she hadn't been with Rachel, Piper swore she could have called the police.
"Sorry we're kind of late. My father decided to give a long lecture about things I shouldn't do while at the island - which I remind you, he tells me every year" Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Nah. You're only late for like a few minutes. Besides, it gave us more time for dessert" Leo patted his stomach, a contended grin on his face.
"Wait. You butted in on their date? That's like the number one trait of a third wheel" Rachel frowned.
"I got hungry and there's food, so what's the harm?" Leo shrugged.
"So, my little brother a girlfriend," Thalia slightly scowled. "and it isn't Reyna"
Piper felt her heart constrict. Was Thalia implying that she wasn't good enough for Jason.
"Hey, Thalia. Watch your words. I'm her boyfriend" Jason glared.
Now, Piper's heart went ba-dum. The way Jason said 'I'm her boyfriend' made her feel important. Not like she should be proud that she was with Jason but the other way around.
That Jason was proud to be with her.
That he was the one that got his heart stolen away by Piper.
"Then how about Rey-" Thalia was cut off by Leo who simply stood up and shrugged.
"I don't about you lady, but I treasure my time like I treasure my mom so unless you want to get stuck here and make Frederick wait at the yatch, I suggest we get going" Leo walked out of the restaurant without looking back at them.
Piper simply followed everyone back to yatch where Frederick was simply waving at them.
-X-
After leaving Jason with Thalia to discuss about what happened earlier, Piper talked with Leo alone.
"Thank you for standing up for me earlier, though quite literally" Piper chuckled.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Leo shrugged.
"Really?" Piper frowned. "I guess the cheesecake that I planned to buy later should be dumped then"
"Of course I'll stand up for you! You're like my sister for damn's sake!" Leo grinned. "So, do I get the whole cake or a slice? Maybe two?" He added.
"Maybe two, little brother" Piper grinned.
"Little brother? Hey! I am the older brother in this relationship, young woman, so I demand the whole cake!" Leo sneered.
Piper rolled her eyes. "Whatever, little Leo"
"Ah! I hate you, damn it!" Leo pulled at his hair in frustration.
"Sorry if I'm meddling but I heard you two and I have to agree with Piper, little Leo" Rachel snickered while leaning at the doorway.
"Now I have to deal with two evil spawns!" Leo cried before cursing in Spanish, which Piper couldn't understand so she simply shrugged.
"So, Rachel, how long do you plan on staying at the island?" Piper asked.
Rachel took a seat beside her. "I'm planning on staying over during the whole summer vacation"
Piper blinked. "The whole summer vacation? And your father agreed?"
"He was reluctant at first but when your 'adorable little princess' decided to have a tantrum, what could he do?" Rachel laughed.
"I guess I'll have to try that technique on my dad as well" Piper smiled sadly.
Rachel could have sensed Piper's sadness so she decided to change topic.
"Anything new about the island since I left last summer?" Rachel asked.
"Well, few people decided to live on the island, some decided to leave as well. Nothing much really" Piper shrugged.
"And the ARGO? Still sailing?" Rachel decided to make herself a cup of coffee.
"Few people joined since last summer. Two to be exact" Piper said.
"And?" Rachel faced her.
"And what?" Piper asked.
"What are they like? I want to know more about my friends' friends" Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Leo!" Piper nudged Leo.
Leo's head snapped up from his arms, where he decided to take nap on. "What?"
"Do you know when Mr. Brunner's request was?" Piper asked.
"From what Annabeth told us, around 4 PM, I think" Leo replied, his voice muffled as he rested his head on his arms once again.
"Good. Just in time" Piper faced Rachel. "How about I show you who those two are"
-X-
After sending Jason a message that she'll give him and Thalia some time to bond, Piper lead Rachel to the open park where they held the banquet for Percy, where she knew Frank and Percy would be.
"I'm actually glad that I tagged along. I can't wait to see what those two would do for the kids" Leo grinned. "Maybe I could blackmail them"
Piper pushed him gently. "Oh, shut it, Leo. We know everything you try backfires"
"Yeah, but not this time" Leo rubbes his hands excitedly.
"Good thing I don't have to bring a lot since I have some of my things here at the island" Rachel sighed.
"Well, this is your second home so I understand" Piper smiled.
"Second home" Rachel muttered. "I actually felt at home more on this island than back at home" She might have noticed the weird stare Piper was giving her because she smiled sheepishly. "Oh, forget what I said"
"Oh, there they are! Quick!" Leo grabbed both of their arms. Piper looked at where Leo pointed at and indeed, there was Frank and Percy, together with around 10 young children and Mr. Brunner, guarded from the heat by the biggest tree at the center of the park.
From what Piper could see, Mr. Brunner was simply watching the two while they perform some kind of entertainment. Frank was strumming the guitar while Percy sang, from the way his lips were moving, which was quite new for Piper; she never knew these two had this kind of talent.
Out of curiosity, Piper decide to step forward only to be stopped by Rachel's firm grip on her hand, which she wasn't aware of.
"Yo, Rachel. You in there?" Piper waved a hand in front of her face, which promptly grabbed Rachel's attention. "They're quite fine specimen, aren't they? Anyways, the one on the guitar is Frank and the other one is-"
"Percy Jackson" Rachel supplied.
"Huh? You know him?" Leo asked.
"Remember when I said I was transferring to another school during the half of the year? Guess what" Rachel said.
"That's where Percy previously studied at, right?" Piper deduced.
Rachel simply nodded.
"I don't see why you're shaken up, though" Leo frowned.
"Did he say anything why he moved to this island?" Rachel asked.
"Now that you mentioned it. No" Piper and Leo exchanged glances.
"I see" Rachel sighed. "So, shall we come closer? I never heard Percy sing before" She smiled before slowly making her way towards them while hiding using the surrounding trees for cover.
Piper gulped as she follow Rachel.
Piper knew that Percy is one hell of a mystery that maybe only Annabeth can solve but right in front of her was a key.
Rachel was the key to help her unravel the mystery known as Percy Jackson.
-X-
Author's note: Quite a delay, I'm sorry. I actually finished this chapter a long time ago but I've been having a bad time. Honestly, I'm still having a bad time but I guess writing takes my mind off of things.
Anyways, new chapter!
Shout out to Hans51 for that encouraging 'Review'! Thank you!
Also, to Iheartbooks1 for the reviews!
I appreciate that a lot!
Just to inform you, this story's NOT on hiatus ao expect sporadic updates.
Cheers!