"You went shopping yesterday!" Andrew laughed. "No need to torture the poor boy." Andrew ruffled his son's hair while his wife made a face at him.

"I need new shoes though and Tyler picks the nice ones!" Andrew looked quizzically at Tyler, who gave a mischievous grin.

"He's also got to do his homework." Tyler growled at his father, clearly not pleased at that reminder. "Besides, you don't need new shoes. You want new shoes- there is a difference." August pouted, folding her arms.

"Aw, now you've upset her." Tyler smiled. "You could come too and we could get a movie or something for later." His father pursed his lips, contemplating this offer. "I'll buy you a Big Mac…" Tyler prompted teasingly.

"Alright, but I am not going in the shoe shop." August beamed at him and Andrew's defeated expression brightened slightly.

Tyler liked it when his father was in a good mood.

They were just going to the car when Sage rang.

"Hi, Sage. You OK?"

"I'm fine." Sage had been desperate to tell Tyler about Charlie replying to her letters- quite frequently now- for the past three months, but then she would have to explain the godly side of her life. It would just be easier if he remained oblivious. "Are you free this weekend?" Tyler relayed the question to his parents.

"No." August shook her head. "Why?"

"Why?"

"You could come over."

"But you're coming over for dinner later." Tyler paused. "Aren't you?"

"I don't know… Something's come up and I don't know if I'm needed or not." Tyler suppressed a sigh, his heart sinking. "Dean said he can still come if that's alright." Tyler was pretty sure his heart had fallen into his sneakers with that sentence.

"It's fine." Tyler lied. "We're just going out; I'll talk to you later." She just managed a goodbye before he hung up.

Girls were so infuriating!

"Tyler?" His mother rested a hand on his shoulder. "What's the matter?"

"Sage isn't coming." He mumbled.

"Why not?" Andrew frowned.

"Something's come up apparently." Tyler shrugged. "We've got shoes to get; come on, Mom." He led his parents out, leaving his phone on the dresser by the door.

Sage didn't like being confused. Why was Tyler so quiet lately? OK, it wasn't her fault there was an issue at Camp and she had to go with her parents. Maybe he just didn't want to be left with Dean. Could Tyler just be nervous that a new person had joined their duo? Maybe he just didn't like the change.

Tyler says it's OK for you to go to dinner still, she texted Dean.

And you're not going? :( xxx

No. Maybe next time or something.

Why aren't you going? O.o xxx

Family stuff. He didn't reply for a few minutes.

Sorry, needed to pee. Is everything OK with your folks? Xxx

I really wanted to know that. And it will be when it's sorted.

Of course you did ;) What's going on? Xxx

No, I really didn't. And don't worry, it's just stuff.

Your secret's safe with me, sugar ;) xxx

Oh yay! I ALWAYS daydream about you peeing. SO amazing.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or genuine xxx

What do you think?

Probably sarcasm, knowing you :) xxx

Well done, genius.

Why thank you :D xxx

I'm going now

Talk to you later doll xxx

Don't call me that!

:D xxx

Getting up, Sage went on a hunt for her parents. Chiron had called them to Camp to discuss something with Percy and Annabeth in person, but he hadn't hinted at anything.

"Mom?" She called. "Mom!"

"What?" Annabeth called back.

"Can I talk to you please?" Sage stopped halfway down the stairs as her mother strolled from the kitchen, looking concerned. "In private?" Sage added quietly, looking warily for her father.

Annabeth followed her upstairs, calling a warning over her shoulder for her husband to stay put in the kitchen or else.

"Sage?" Annabeth said as she closed Sage's bedroom door behind her.

"Tyler's been acting funny. I thought he'd get better with time, but…" And she explained Tyler's non-committing behaviour and his dull, unenthusiastic greetings, the short conversations she literally had to squeeze from him- Tyler wasn't being Tyler and this had last for too long now.

"How does he get on with Dean?" Her mother quizzed as soon as Sage had finished.

"OK, I guess. Very blunt sometimes."

Annabeth was quiet for a while and Sage wondered if her mother would know what to do- she hoped so.

"Do you think he's worried about losing you?"

"Losing me?" Annabeth nodded.

"From what I've heard, you seem close to Dean. Not as close to Tyler, obviously, but Dean seems funny and Tyler may be worried that he'll lose you as a best friend."

"Is that it?"

"Most likely." Sage relaxed slightly.

"He's an idiot." Annabeth smiled, looking like she wanted to say more, but decided against it. She had just wanted to let Sage know to find her own 'Seaweed Brain', but Percy was most likely listening in somehow and that wasn't the best of ideas.

"Hi Dean."

"Are you sure it's OK?"

"Yeah, sure." Tyler did his best to give an assuring smile, stepping aside for his guest to enter. "You OK?"

"Yeah, thanks. You?" Tyler just nodded, taking Dean's coat for him.

Tyler showed Dean about the apartment and introduced him to his parents, but his heart really wasn't in it. He wished Sage was here. Playful arguments were easier with her around- conversations were awkward with Dean.

"Dinner's not going to be ready for another hour." August smiled apologetically. "Why don't you two play a game or something?" Dean looked eagerly at Tyler.

"Fifa?" Tyler suggested half-heartedly.

"You read my mind!"

Hands down, Tyler wasn't overly fond of Dean, but he had finally found someone who was as equally competitive at Fifa as he was. Dean didn't sulk or gloat when he lost or won, only demanding rematches on either account.

He was better to play Fifa with than Tyler's father.

"Hey, Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you like Sage?"

"Huh?" Dean glanced at him sidelong. "She's my best friend- course I like her."

"No, I mean like like her."

"Oh…" Tyler's heart thundered in his ears as he shook his head. "No. She's just a friend."

"Sure?"

"Yeah." Tyler lied, shooting his new friend a questioning look. "Why?"

"Well… I was thinking… Valentine's Day is coming up, right?"

"Yeah…" Tyler pressed, trying to ignore his pounding heart. What was Dean thinking?!

"I was going to get her a card."

"A card." Tyler repeated, uninterested.

"Yeah. And take her to see a movie or something."

"She's not allowed a boyfriend." Dean laughed.

"Says you?"

"Says her dad."

"Really now?" Tyler nodded, returning his attention to the game. "I'm sure he'll like me. It's hard not to."

"Fathead."

"Hey! Offense taken, dude!" Dean playfully slugged Tyler's shoulder, laughing heartily. "I know I can be a bit fatheaded, but I can't help it. I blame my stepdad. He was forever telling me that I'm awesome and should openly admit that- in a jokey manner, obviously." Tyler nodded. "But Clark's funny. Much better than my dad." Dean spat the word as if it tasted foul.

"Daddy issues?"

"You could say that. He hated me."

"Why?" Dean shrugged.

"My dad was nuts. Not in a good way either. He used to hit Mom and would lock me in my room for days, hiding the key so Mom couldn't help."

"What happened?"

"Died in a bar brawl. Stabbed with broken glass."

"Oh…"

"This might sound bad of me, but I'm glad he's gone. Not that I wished he would die; I just wanted him to leave."

"No, that's… understandable."

"Boys, dinner!"

"Mom's good though." Dean smiled, setting his control aside and finding his feet. "She's a bit like your mom, just not as… bubbly."

"Mom's normally really quiet, but she's only bubbly around new people- a nervous habit thingy." Dean just nodded.

They sat for dinner, making casual conversation and playing twenty questions.

Tyler wasn't overly involved with the game and he would have liked to stay out of, but his parents would worry.

Yes, Dean was funny, smart and friendly, but he liked Sage too.

And that was unfair.