Jason

Awkward. That was the only word I could use to describe my time with Percy Jackson. I mean, I already knew that it was going to be awkward being alone with someone who knows your fake girlfriend better than you do but I never expected it to be so awkward.

"So," I started in an attempt to break the ice. "What's up with this crazy weather we've been having?" I'm usually not this bad under pressure but something about Percy makes me want to prove myself better than him. He has the cool guy aura, the guy everyone likes.

He took a sip of his drink, a vibrant shade of blue, before answering. "We live in California." I waited for him to continue, thinking he paused when I realized that was his answer. That was literally all he said.

"Oh, right." I felt so stupid, but I refuse to let him see. I kept sipping my ice water in an attempt to keep my mouth from blurting out stupid crap.

I didn't work.

"So what's up with this average weather we've been having?" I wanted to slap myself right there. Why did you speak Jason? Why...?

He looks up, trying to figure out if I'm joking or genuinely speaking. I hope he chooses the first option. Finally, he speaks. "Why are you asking about the weather?"

I shrug. "I was just wondering." I hope this ends the conversation but then he says something that makes me want to face palm.

"Wondering whether the weather will ever be better?" he tries not to smile while saying so and I try not to smile when he says it.

"That pun might be the bane of my existence. Out of all the puns in the world..." I say groaning and then covering my eyes, pretending to be ashamed.

He scoffed, putting his drink down. "Like you could do any better," he said crossing his arms.

I put my drink down as well and narrowed my eyes, "I could do better."

He scoffed again and took a step forward, "Care to wager then?'

I took a step forward and now we were practically nose to nose, "Of course. How much?"

Percy scrunched his nose and eyebrows in disgust. "Money? No. It has to be something greater! Something that both the loser and the winner will remember. Like really remember. Something that will be brought up in an interview when your sixty!" The way he spoke, it sounded so motivational. Great, another thing Percy could do that I couldn't. There was no beating this guy.

Jason nodded and rubbed his chin, "Hm. I like how you think Jackson. Loser has to..." I couldn't think of anything as memorable as Percy was describing. I hoped that while I pretended to have an idea, Percy would have one too and I could just piggy back that. It's okay to swallow your pride when the other person doesn't know he's winning. Which he is not, of course.

Percy seemed to have a light bulb moment. His face lit up like a lantern and his eyes widened. "I got it," he said whispering. "Loser has to sing on stage, by themselves. Winner gets to pick the song."

I ran my hands through my hair, a habit I acquired at twelve and never grew out of. "All right, deal." I held out my hand, to shake and Percy clasped it, shaking it firmly. I thought his hands would be rigid cold but instead they were kind of warm. And moist. I wonder if he's just as nervous as me? God, I sound like a girl on her first date. I scowl at the thought.

I decided to start. "My sister is so good at gardening, it makes the other kids green with envy."

Percy snickered but continued. "I'm glad I know sign language, it's pretty handy."

"My cousin used to work at a coffee shop. Then he got sacked for spilling a bag of coffee beans."

"That pun was so cheesy I could melt it and make some awesome nachos," he replied. I smirked at him. He smirked back and narrowed his eyes competitively. "I used to be a bank teller till I lost interest."

I sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?" I asked mockingly. "It must be your joke because it stinks."

Percy glared, "No, I think that's just you."

It was my turn to glare. "My first job ever was selling honey to raise money for my school. It was a pretty sweet gig."

Percy raised a brow but didn't comment on the pun. "A kid in my class peed his pants, I told him 'Urine for it now."

I scrunched up my nose, "Gross."

He smirked, "Like you?"

"No," I replied, "Like your sense of humor."

"Great comeback Superman," he said sarcastically. I scowled at the nickname, Superman?

"Superman?" I said out loud.

"Yeah. Aren't you playing a super hero in your upcoming movie?" Percy asks.

Oh right. I forgot. "Oh yeah, you're right."

Percy nodded and then suddenly smiled. "What?" I asked. Why was he smiling like that?

"Five, four, three, two, one," he counted backwards. I still have no idea why. When he saw my expression, his smile widened. "You lost. You didn't say a pun."

Wait, what? "Not fair, you took us off topic!" I complained.

"I believe it was you who commented, 'Gross,' instead of a pun," he said with a smug look.

My mouth gaped like a fish. He was right. Curse you Percy Jackson! "Now the song you'll be singing is-" Percy began.

"Hey guys!" Annabeth said from behind me. We turned around and there were Annabeth and Scarlet, with what looked like ginger ale in their glasses.

"Hey Jason," Scarlet said slipping her arm around my waist. I rose an eyebrow, asking what she was doing.

She replied with a look that I interpreted as, Go with it you jack hole! How I love our lovely banter. I licked my dry lips and smiled back at her. Then I looked at Percy who was glaring at me.

I could read his look clearly too, We'll finish this later. I gulped. I am really trying not to embarrass myself tonight.

"So Scarlet, I'm really sorry but I have to go home. I have to wake up really early tomorrow for shooting and Percy has to go to the studio," Annabeth tells us. What?! Percy is a singer? That is so not fair! Our bet would have been bias! It is bias!

"But you'll miss my performance!" Scarlet whines to Annabeth.

"I bet you'll be great," Annabeth replies. She smiles at me but my eyes are on Percy.

"You didn't tell you were a singer," I said through gritted teeth to him.

He smiled smugly, "You never asked."

"Son of a-" I muttered until Scarlet elbowed me in the ribs. She really needs to stop doing that.

"Well it was nice to meet you Annabeth," Scarlet said in a sweet voice that seemed sincere. "And I'm glad I got to see you again Captain Salt Water." Captain Salt Water?

Percy blushed crimson red, "You've got to stop calling me that Scar."

Scarlet smiled, "No." She stepped forward and hugged Percy, who hugged back like he hadn't seen Scarlet in forever. Which apparently he hasn't. I would've been okay with everything until a second later. When she kissed his cheek. She kissed his cheek. I don't know why it bothered me but it did. A lot. It made me want to pull her towards me, away from Pretty Boy Jackson.

I looked to see if Annabeth felt the same way I did but she looked unfazed. In fact, she hugged Scarlet like they were lifelong friends! "Bye Jason," Annabeth said.

"Bye Superman," Percy said with a wink. He had a smug look on his face but after spending an hour with him, I've learned that's just how his face is.

"Good bye Percy," I replied. When they were no longer in sight, I muttered under my breath, "Kelp-for-brains."

"Jason!" Scarlet hissed. "That is rude!" She glared at me, removing her arm and crossing them across her chest. Can't I win anything tonight?