Awesome as Annabeth- Um… I can't remember… am I taking your advice? O.o I've been working on this all of last night and today, mainly in my head, but I hope it's OK! I'm back to the regular story line now, but I might throw in more Alvie… Not sure yet :P I can't wait until BoO comes out, but it's the last one! D: If Rick came to my school, I'd die. Well, maybe strangle him a bit for everything, but then I'd collapse or whatever :D

Guest 1- Adorable couple names… if I'm honest, I don't come up with the couple names- you readers do :P But excellent point all the same!

Guest 2- HE HAS A DEMIGOD RING! I don't know anything about Lord of the Rings, but get him to take a quiz of some sort and see who his godly parent is! If your dad is a demigod… :D

And I was reading over the Humpty Dumpty and Cinema Trip chapters and I had totally forgotten that Tyler's arm had broken. And the purple rock thing Sage had given him… I can't remember my idea for that.

Dean tagged along on their trip to McDonalds. Tyler tried to stay cool with that, but Dean seemed to demand all of Sage's attention.

They are dating, he reminded himself, and Sage is allowed to talk to someone else other than me.

"Happy Meal?" Dean offered. Sage pursed her lips and Tyler felt a smirk form on his own lips.

"Sage likes Big Macs and medium fries, but she'll steal your toy if you get a Happy Meal." Dean watched him for a second before placing their order.

Sage smiled at Tyler, mouthing a thank you. Tyler grinned in return, his heart practically jumping in excitement at the fact that she had smiled at him. He had gradually remembered some events involving her, him and Charlie, such as a movie night. He had found out what that blue marble was that Alvie had- a memory. Surprisingly, the whole demigod thing didn't seem to bother him as much as he expected it to, but that was because Charlie had already told him, according to Alvie. There was a lot of stuff Tyler hadn't remembered yet, but he was getting there!

To distract himself from staring at Sage, he looked round to locate a free table, hurrying to grab when he did and upsetting a bunch of comic nerds in the process. This was his table. End of story.

Sage joined him a minute later, her ADHD enforcing boredom. Sometimes, he forgot she was ADHD. It didn't seem like it.

"You OK?"

"I have a table." He smiled proudly. She rolled her eyes at him, concealing her own smile. "Is Dean in a bad mood with me?"

"I think he's in a bad mood in general, but I don't know. He won't say."

"Maybe it's just Dean stuff." Tyler suggested.

"Yeah, maybe." Sage glanced back at Dean. He was leaning on the counter and talking to some girls about their age. "Who are they?" She frowned as Dean flashed a flirty smile.

"I don't know. Ask him." Tyler didn't trust that grin of Dean's, but he wasn't going to voce his thoughts. He didn't want to upset Sage.

Dean started making his way over with the tray of food. An idea sparked in Sage's sea green eyes and she sat up straighter.

"I never did thank you for the roses, Tyler." She announced, subtly projecting her voice so Dean heard her. "I've put them in a really nice vase and they're on my bedside table now. They look and smell lovely." She wasn't saying all of this just to spite Dean- there was truth behind her words too, Tyler noticed, and- if you pardon the cliché- he felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

Dean set the tray down with a finalizing thud, his smile tight and his eyes flaring briefly with annoyance.

Sage just smiled sweetly at him, taking her meal before Tyler could. She made casual talk, engaging the pair of them, but Dean still seemed sulky about the roses.

As they were leaving, Sage checked her pockets to see how much money she had left. Percy had been nice and given her twenty-five dollars to spend as she wanted.

"Maybe we could see a movie." She glanced up at them, but movement over Tyler's shoulder had her breath hitch and tension strike her shoulders. She shoved past them and started running.

"Sage!" They called. She weaved through the crowd, smaller and lighter than them; faster and outdistancing them in seconds. Especially with her curiosity in sight…

She rounded the corner, skidding to a stop and hurriedly scanning the crowds. The boys were calling for her again. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them still chasing after her, but she just spotted the small figure in the bright red jacket.

Breaking into a run again, she saw the figure turn and disappear easily into the crowds.

She wasn't sure how long she sprinted around the mall- up to that floor and down to this one; in this shop and in that one and every bit in between, but she never caught them. They were always just such and such a distance away.

Eventually Tyler managed to cut her off, grabbing her and holding her still. Dean blundered to a stop a short distance from them, exhausted and red in the face. He doubled over, hands on his knees and trying to breathe away the stitch plaguing his side.

Sage wrestled against him. "Let me go!" She noticed then that thick tears burned freely down her cheeks. Tyler increased his hold on her and her energy to fight him rapidly depleted.

Her knees buckled and her sobs clawed into control of her. Tyler kept her upright, holding her close and talking to her in soft, soothing tones. "What happened?" He asked quietly, passing a hand through her hair. Sage hid her face in his shoulder, curling her fingers in his jacket. "Come on." He urged her gently away, moving into a small, well-lit and warm coffee shop. He sat her in a free booth, sliding in next to her. Dean trailed after them, looking awkward. He sat on the opposite side, right on the end of the row as if he was ready to jump up and escape at the next bout of emotions.

Tyler drew a packet of tissues from his pocket and withdrew one, gently wiping at her eyes. He kept his arm around her and let her cry into his shoulder and curl up into his side; doing his caring best friend job very nicely, even if he did say so himself.

What was Dean doing?

Bugger all.

Sage managed to calm herself down after Tyler had ordered hot chocolates and double chocolate muffins. Her eyes still brimmed with tears, red and hopeless, utterly dejected. Her shoulders sagged in defeat and it was like all happiness, all hope, had been replaced by sheer and burdening devastation.

"I thought… I saw… I thought I saw… Charlie…" She finished quietly, looking at him pleadingly to understand, to not mock her. As if he would ever dream of it.

"Charlie?" Dean's eyes narrowed in confusion, with an underlying hint of what Tyler thought was suspicion.

"Her cousin." He explained, words clipped and icy. He was doing nothing to help, leaving his highly inconsolable girlfriend to be comforted by her best friend. Not that it mattered- Tyler would do anything to help Sage- but this was Dean's job as much as it was his.

"Well, that's good then, right?" Sage choked on another sob, tears falling again. Tyler glared at Dean, disbelieving of how stupidly insensitive Dean was being.

"Charlie's… not here anymore." Dean visibly paled, his lips forming a silent 'oh'. He mumbled an apology, looking nervously down at the table surface, uncomfortable.

Tyler turned back to Sage, persuading her to drink and eat the chocolate-y products.

"I really thought it was him, Tyler." She mumbled, her eyes shining again as she stared miserably into the bottom of the hot chocolate mug.

"If I could get him back, I would." He smiled sadly. "But he wouldn't want you miserable now, would he?" Sage sniffed and shook her head, wiping at her eyes.

"Hey! What's wrong?" Tyler glanced up and saw Tobias leaning on the edge of the table. Sophia stood a few feet away, looking back curiously. "Tyler, move it." Tyler squeezed Sage's shoulder before jumping up and letting her brother take over.

Tobias instantly crushed Sage in a hug. "Who needs breaking?" He asked instantly. Sage choked on a laugh.

"No, it's just me… chasing ghosts." Her voice caught, but she tried for a smile all the same. Tobias looked at her curiously.

"So I can't break anyone?"

"No, not this time."

"Buzzkill." His shoulders slouched slightly. "Wait, chasing ghosts?"

"Delay." Sophia coughed, smiling angelically as Tobias turned to her. He made a face and looked back at Sage.

"I… I'm going mad. I thought I saw… Charlie and…" She trailed off, pressing her lips together and looking down as another onslaught of tears occurred. Tobias pulled her back into the hug, resting his chin on her head.

"She was running all over the mall trying to find him. I hate exercise. Can't feel my legs."

"You need to get off your lazy ass more. Who are you?"

"Dean."

"Oh!" Tobias's eyes suddenly gained a mischievous gleam. Sophia glared at him and he was instantly contrite, but there was trouble brewing. "Hi. I'm Tobias."

"The annoying older brother?"

"Yup." Tobias grinned, ecstatic with this title.

"Sage told me about you. Very annoying apparently."

"Just doing my job. Ooh, choccie muffin."

"No." Sophia stepped forward and smacked the treat from his hands. "No." She repeated firmly at his wounded puppy look. Sage snickered.

"I love it when Soph gets you to do as you're told."

"Honestly, the support here is overwhelming." Tobias waved his hand about.

"They're Sage's anyway." Tyler said.

"She should share then. All this annoying big brother work is tiring."

"If it's any consolation, you're not always annoying."

"I'm still having a chocolate muffin."

"Dammit…" Sage muttered. Tobias swiped one and took a bite before Sophia could react.

"She's gonna kill me later." For some reason, the prospect of imminent death at his wife's hands was highly amusing.

"Now there's a surprise." Sage wiped at her eyes and ran her hands through her hair, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly.

"Better?" Tobias and Tyler asked. "Jinx!" Tobias hissed, smirking triumphantly. Tyler scrunched his face up in response.

"I'm OK."

"I'll get you a strait jacket and a rubber room just to be sure."

"Tobias!"

"Yeeeesss?" Sophia narrowed her eyes. "Alright, alright. Gods… if looks could kill..."

"You'd be dead a million times over."

"I know, right? I'm a freaking miracle."

"Not how I'd put it, but OK." Sophia nodded. "Come on. Lou will go bonkers if we don't pick the twins up."

"I think we should be more worried about Sam." He looked back at Sage. "If you need to talk or rant about idiots, call me. Just not at three o'clock in the morning like last time."

"Love you too." Tobias laughed.

"Just kidding!" He squeezed her in another hug and then left with Sophia, grabbing Tyler's arm and dragging him away too.

"Hey!"

"What's up with Dean?"

"I don't know. Sulking apparently."

"He doesn't seem very helpful."

"I know." Tyler sighed. Tobias looked at him, an approving light in his eyes.

"You stay with Sage. Let me know how things are, OK?"

"Will do." Tyler gave a promising grin and Tobias let him go.

"What was that about?"

"Just a plan to get more chocolate muffins, don't worry. Top secret."