A/N: HEEEEELLLLLLOOOO! My username is Winter'sFangirl, and I am on the best drug ever: insomnia. So if this chapter seems to be a little off, I am so sorry. It's, like, 1 a.m. and I have to work tomorrow and can't sleep and there's two dozen creepy giant moths outside my window. Someone please save me. (I'm freaking terrified of moths.)

So... I'm 16 now! Yay! (Please note the sarcasm.)

Also- the The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack? Pure brilliance! I'd have to say my favorite song is Let Me In by Grouplove or Tee Shirt by Birdy. (I love all the Birdy songs.) What do you guys think of it?

After I get off work I'm going to see it as part 2 of the birthday. (My parents thought I wanted a giant party. Like, no, Mum, I hate parties. So this was the alternative.) Taking two boxes of tissues, because I'm a sap.

Also- I'm sorry this chapter isn't the whole thing. I'm trying to fit in an update. It's getting back to the no-plot, what-kind-of-crack-is-this-girl-on? king of writing. Sorry about that. Plot is next chapter, though!

I'd like to know: would you guys rather have longer chapters that take a week and a half or so to update, or shorter chapters every four days or so? I need to set up a schedule, badly.

Warning: this chapter contains stupid jokes, Candy Crush and the occasional bad pun. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: I don't own it, I promise. Candy Crush, Mars bars, and the characters all belong to other people. I'm just that weird girl that watches Avatar and writes fanfiction.

Percy

Driving down the road is quiet, perhaps the quietest it's been for ages. Neither Annabeth nor I speak, not for the first few minutes. She turns on the radio and hums along to a Paramore song.

"So, what are we doing today?" she asks once it's over. Keeping my eyes glued to the road, I answer.

"Jason wants to record the last song today. Which will mean an hour of arguing about what song it will be. I hope you brought a book." Or a camera. Leo and Jason's arguments could get out of hand and overly dramatic at the drop of a hat. Frank and I often had thumb wars whilst they battled it out, or played tic-tac-toe or tried to see how many things we could balance on the edge of a couch. (The record was twenty seven, in case you were wondering.)

Annabeth crosses her arms. "Okay."

All is silent. It's a bit uncomfortable, like when we first met, only worse. Then, we were strangers with nothing to say. Now, we know each other so well, but don't want to say anything.

I clear my throat. Annabeth shifts in the passenger seat, and I steal a glance at her eyes. They gaze out the window dreamily, probably imagining somewhere a thousand miles from here. I was doing the same, though my thoughts were only a few miles down the road.

With the silence, I had time to worry about Dad. He would have said something by now, if he was fatally ill? Right?

I pull into Jason's driveway and be sure to park out of the way. Hera would have a cow Author's Note: did you see what I did there? if I got too close to her lilies. Annabeth unfastens he seatbelt and leans to open her door, but I place a hand on hers. Her skin is soft and warm, and she smells faintly of strawberries. How does she always smell like that? Why do girls... No, I mentally shake my head. Why does this girl always smell delectable? Okay, now I'm sounding like a creep. Just so you know, I'm not into cannibalism, nor am I vampire nor any other type of creature that's in to eating people.

Her eyes are full of a million questions. "Percy?" she asks softly. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm?" I hum absentmindedly. It's probably a stupid thing to do, but I'm only half-listening to Annabeth. "Oh, I'm fine."

"Okay. Are you ready to go in?" She sounds unsure of something, almost nervous.

Keep your shit together, Jackson. "Yeah, I'm ready." I say with false cheer. It sounds almost real enough to convince myself that I am fine. "Let's go."

We enter the Grace's to the sounds of shouting. Angry yells from Hera and Zeus on the main floor, Jason and Leo's insults drifting from above. Even Nico's screaming, though he's just reacting to something on his game.

"Hey, Nico." I wave to the pale boy slouched on the couch., eyes glued to a Gameboy and earbuds in place. "They at it again?" I ask, gesturing towards the closed door. He nods and takes out an earbud.

"Been at it all morning. Something about another woman, I don't know."

Zeus and Hera often got into arguments, though no one could say what over. Probably something trivial, knowing Hera. Jason's stepmother was as persnickety and fussy as the Queen of Sheba.

Nico continues. "And things aren't any better upstairs. Leo and Jason have already started throwing things."

Things have escalated quickly this morning. "Where's Frank?"

"Over there. I wouldn't approach him, if I were you."

Annabeth peeks her head over the back of the couch. "He's playing... Candy Crush?"

Oh no. Not again. This room is now a war zone. "Everyone freeze," I hiss, and Annabeth throws me a wide-eyed, confused glance. Nico looks bored, tired, and slightly dead.

"Percy," Annabeth stage-whispers. "What is going on?"

How can she not understand the grave consequences these conditions could hold? If Frank were to be disturbed, or to not win his level... I shudder.

"Percy! What is going on?"

I grab Annabeth's arm and slowly pull her away from the couch. "Frank... He's very dangerous."

Annabeth

I always knew Percy was a nut. I always knew his friends were weird, especially Leo, but saying Frank was dangerous was like accusing a bunny of being the spawn of Tartarus.

"What's wrong with him? He doesn't look dangerous." Percy continues to stare at me like I'm dense. "What?"

"Well, it's Frank. And he's playing Candy Crush."

That doesn't explain it. I give Percy a look. He's flustered now, but I'd like to know why he thinks Frank is dangerous.

Percy

She wants to know what's wrong with him?

"Quite frankly, he's-"

Oh gods. I made a stupid pun. That's it. The world is in danger; I am turning into Leo.

I don't get the chance to answer. There's a cry of fury coming from the couch, and it appears that Frank has just lost.

"Annabeth," I say seriously. "Walk away. Go downstairs." Before he attacks.

Annabeth scoffs, flipping her shiny blond hair over one shoulder. "You're not serious." She rolls her eyes and speaks up. "Hey Frank!"

Nico panics and jumps underneath the table. He peeks out from in between the legs of the chairs, hands gripping the rails with white knuckles. He's terrified, as he should be.

The monster stirs on the couch. The top of his hair is visible over the edge, and Frank begins to turn around.

There's a heavy silence, the only sounds coming from our nervous breaths. Frank lets out a small, non-human sounding cry of anguish before he starts screaming.

"I lost, Percy! I was this close, and I lost!"

Part of me wants to help a friend. The other part, which is the one that wins, reminds me that 'that isn't my friend anymore'. Frank holds up the phone, and, sure enough, he was one Jelly away from winning. It would have taken one more move, one he didn't have.

I'm wondering how to phrase my sympathies when Leo comes stomping down the stairs.

"That's a stupid idea!" he shouts, flinging the basement door open. He stalks over to the couch and collapses beside a distressed Frank, who is now crying into the pillows. Leo crosses his arms and pouts. "Such a stupid idea!" He mutters to himself. "I don't see what's so wrong with Smelly Cat. It's even a cover!" Leo looks up, and as if noticing Frank for the first time, turns to us. "He okay?"