Hell no!

Chapter 31. Piper's dad (Jason)

At lunch I wanted to brag to Piper about beating Will at basketball, which I nearly never manage, so I did and she laughed about it, how I, according to her, seemed ecstatic about. But then she told me about her father, and I got kind of nervous. Scratch that, I'm really nervous.

''So then at the last second I scored and I won. I won against Will! I never win against him, he's the best basketball player in the entire team, which is why he's the captain…''

''Well you seem happy about that,'' she laughed. Gods, her laugh is so cute. But she isn't like a stupid cheerleader or something. I found out last time, when she was at my place. She is super smart and a total badass. Thals seemed to really like her…

''Yeah, because this is the first time in years I beat him, so it's really an accomplishment for me,'' I told her proudly. She smiled at me again. ''And what are we going to do this afternoon? I know we have to work on our English project, but I don't think that'll take all afternoon.''

''Yeah, that's what I want to talk to you about. This afternoon.'' Piper said, a little quieter than before. I got the idea she was trying to warn me about something.

''Yeah?''

''My dad, he's kinda… overprotective. He might start firing questions at you if he meets you. He's done it before. It's a really annoying habit of his,'' she said a bit awkward, before reassuring me, ''But you'll be okay. I know it!'' Then she flashed me a smile and all my doubts were gone.

Then we had English, and Piper and I worked hard on our project, so we would have to do less English this afternoon, and more talking. Then we walked towards my locker before going to hers.

''Yo, Will. I'm going to Piper's place. We're working on English and stuff, you okay with riding with this water loving idiot?'' I told Will, teasing Percy a little. Hey, what can I say, he is an idiot, sometimes at least.

''Hey!'' Percy said, sounding a little offended, and shoving Jason.

''Sure, I'm fine with that. I'll just read or something.'' Will answered, not really listening.

''Okay, see you guys tomorrow!'' I said to them while waiving and walking away from them with Piper.

When we were out of ear shot she giggled. ''Are you guys always like this? Or are you just teasing him more than normal now?''

''Nah, Perce and I are always like this. It's a kind of friendly rivalry.''

She laughed again. We arrived at her locker, where Annabeth was waiting with Nico and Hazel, who weren't talking. Piper got her books out of her locker and we went to their bus. In the bus Hazel and Annabeth were talking together and Nico sat in front of them, staring out of the window. Me and Piper on the other hand…

''I hope English won't take too long.'' I said to Piper.

''I hope you won't get scared by my father,'' she retorted.

''I don't scare easily. Sorry, Pipes!'' I said with a smug smile towards her. She just laughed.

''We'll see, tough guy, we'll see…''

But I was nervous. The longer we were in the bus, the more nervous I got. The longer we were in the bus, the closer we got to her house, to her dad. When we got out, I tried not to show my nervousness. But I think it showed. When we said goodbye to Annabeth and walked towards Piper's house she told me so.

''You don't have to be nervous, Jason. He'll like you, you're very likable,'' she reassured me. But I didn't feel so sure.

She opened the door and we walked to the kitchen. The house is very big, like very, very big. In the kitchen stood a man I easily recognised as Piper's father. Same skin tone, same hair colour. And of course, he was in their house and Piper greeted him. But he seemed familiar somehow. As if I'd seen him before. But I can't put my finger on it.

''Hey dad,'' Piper said cheerily. ''This is Jason. He's my English partner. We have to finish our project so we'll be going to my room.''

''Hold on, Sweetheart,'' her father said. ''I want to get to know your new friend.''

Piper rolled her eyes. I walked towards him and held out my hand, to shake his.

''Hello, sir. My name is Jason. I'm in Piper's English class and we are working on a project about…''

''Nice to meet you, Jason. My name is Tristan. Are you in any other classes with my little girl?''

''Dad~ '' Piper said.

''Ehm, yes, we are also in the same gym class. Our schedules don't match up because I'm on the Basketball team and that is sort of hard to fit in the schedule.''

''Ah, a sport man. Are you the Captain?'' he asked critically, but less scary than before.

''No, unfortunately not. One of my best friends, Will, is the captain of the Basketball team.''

''And what does this basketball player want to do when he grows up?''

''Uhm, I am not sure yet, sir. My father wants me to follow in his footsteps, but my big sister told me to follow my own dreams.'' I said nervously. I could get judged by how I think of my family, after all. And I want to make a good impression on Piper's father…

''Smart girl. You should follow her advice.''

''Okay dad,'' Piper said, ''We're going to start working on our English project, and you go, I don't know, study your lines or something…?'' Study lines? Is he an actor? Wait, he… he looks like, he's Tristan McLean. Why didn't I recognise him before?

''Okay, sure Piper. Good luck!'' Tristan said, before shooting me a quick look and then he disappeared through one of the doors.

Up in Piper's room we finished English quickly and then we started talking. I asked her about her dad, and if he really is the actor Tristan McLean. She told me he is, and that that is the reason she doesn't tell people her last name, because she doesn't want people to want to be her friend just because she has a famous father. I can understand that.

In no time at all we got to the topic of Will and Nico, and we decided to try and get them together. Piper said she would get as much info from Nico and maybe Hazel, who knows a lot about her brother and who he likes, normally. I told her that I already know that Will has a slight crush on Nico and that Nico is the kind of guy he'd liked before. I promised to try and figure out more about it. We said that we are going to plan more for them, but that we should keep this a secret for the time being, as they wouldn't be too happy with us if they knew that we are meddling with their love lives.

Wow, we've been talking for over an hour now! Time to… do the thing, yeah…

I moved a little closer to her. She noticed, but didn't do anything about it. That's a good sign, right?

''Uhm, Piper?'' I asked.

''Yes, Jason?''

''I, eh, I want to, to ask you, eh, something.'' Damn, why do I have to go all stutter-y right now? She looked at me expectantly. ''Ehm, I wanted to ask, to ask, ehm, if you would like to… to go on a… on a d-date with me?'' While I asked her that, I got red.

''I would love to go on a date with you, Jason.'' Piper said happily. As if she'd been waiting for that question. Which she probably had…

''Friday?'' I asked. Piper nodded. ''Okay, I'll pick you up at 8.'' At 8 I will pick her up, and then I'll take her to see a movie. That'll be fun. I think. Gods, I have no idea how to plan this…

After another half hour I had to go. At home I made a quick dinner with Thalia and we talked about today. When I told her that I had asked out Piper her reaction was a little weird, but to be expected. It's Thals!

''Well finally. You got your act together and finally asked her out. So what are you going to do?''

We talked for a while and then I went to text the guys. I'm not telling them about asking her out, but I am telling her about, well, her father.

Me: Guys, guys!

Percy: Yes?

Hah, a reaction, someone lives!

Me: Guess who Piper's dad is? Ur not gonna believe me

Percy: IDK, tell meeee

Me: Tristan McLean! I met the freaking legendary actor!

Percy: OMG! He's Piper's /dad/?

Totally saw that one coming, the reaction. Wish I could have seen his face when I told him…

Me: Yes! I couldn't believe it, I freaked when I saw him.

Me: But he was kinda intimidating, though

Percy: Y?

Me: He kept asking questions about me and stuff… Pipes was right, he's overprotective of her…

Will: NO FREAKING WAY! Her dad, the Tristan McLean?

Will: And most fathers are very protective of their daughters, they are their little baby girls!

Percy: Hey Will still lives!

Will: I was studying, idiot!

Will: But now I'm gonna sleep, g'night!

I decided that the homework could wait, and that I should plan some things for my date, date (!) with Piper on Friday evening. After a while I got sleepy, so I took a shower, brushed my teeth and went to bed. Sleep sweet sleep.

AN: Another chapter. How are you liking it?

So a chapter about Jason and his experience with Piper's dad.

Well, I am finally updating again, but probably not as much as before anymore, because I'm still sort of stuck. I can write parts, but not as fast as before anymore. Before I'd write a chapter a day, now maybe a chapter a week. So sorry about that. I will not, however, abandon this fic.