…

PIPER

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"Is that her?" asked Olivia. She was balancing on the tips of her high heels so that she could see over the large crowd forming at the top of the hill. It was the perfect spot to view the Big House, and the school bus that was just pulling up but far enough away that they wouldn't have to worry about being overherad.

Campers from all of the cabins had gathered to watch the arrival of the Roman, so Piper wasn't surprised to find her fellow cabin mates amongst them. Last time, the Romans were here to invade Camp Half-Blood and burn it to the ground, so obviously tensions were high. But the fear of an invasion wasn't what brought the Aphrodite cabin out today.

"Where?" Ethan asked following Olivia's gaze.

"There! The girl that just got off after Jason. See? The one with the long black hair," said Sophia.

Piper froze. They were talking about Reyna. Of course they would be. Piper knew the second she was told that Reyna was also coming that she would be the center of attention amongst the gossip crowd. Of course, her cabin would want to come out and see the girl who stole Jason Grace away from their beloved cabin leader.

"She looks mean," said Lacy.

"She looks strict," continued Mitchel.

"She looks hot," added Ethan. All the other members of Aphrodite's cabin quickly turned around and glared at him. "What? I'm just making an observation," he mumbled before retreating back into the group.

"I just don't understand it," said Lacy shaking her head. "Why would anyone in their right mind give up Piper for that?"

Piper had heard enough.

"Guys!" She shouted getting their attention. They leaped around in surprised.

"Piper!" Lacy squeaked. "We thought you were over there, greeting the Venus demigods."

"I was just on my way when I saw guys standing here." Piper gave them her best fake smile, but they knew her too well. Their shocked faces turned to guilty ones once the realization that Piper had overheard their entire conversation sunk in.

Piper knew that they all meant well. It isn't their fault that their mom was the goddess of gossip. She knew that they all cared about her. After all they were the ones who comforted her back when she couldn't get out of bed after Jason told her that he had decided to leave.

She took a deep breath. "Guys, I want you to promise me that you will leave Reyna alone."

Lacy opened her mouth to say something, but Piper silenced her.

"I know you guys just want to help, but there is nothing you can do. Jason has made his choice, and I'm just going to have to live with it." There was nothing Piper could do to hide the sadness in her voice. Whoever said that time heals everything had obviously never had their heart broken. A year had done nothing to heal the hole in her heart left there by Jason. But now wasn't the time for sorrow, so she put on her brave face before she continuing.

"Reyna is the leader of the Romans, so it's very important that she feels welcome here. Don't call her names behind her back. Don't spread rumors. There is enough tension in the air as it is without my cabin adding my personal problems to it. This is our chance to unite our camps, and it might be our only chance, so I would appreciate if it wasn't my cabin that screws everything up."

"We understand Piper," replied Lacy giving her a sympathetic look.

Piper was grateful for her support. She knew these next three weeks were probably going to be hell for her, but at least she had her cabin there by her side to help her pick up the pieces.

"Ok, I'm going to go greet the sons and daughters of Venus. I want you to go back to the cabin and make sure everything is ready for them. We need to be good hosts for our Roman brothers and sisters."

They all nodded and began slowly walking back to their cabin. Lacy and Mitchel gave her encouraging smiles as they walked by her and she did her best to return them. Then she took another deep breath and begun dragging her feet towards the Big House.

She hadn't seen Jason in three hundred and seventy-one days and six hours, and she didn't think seeing him now was going to do her any good. Her love for Jason left a deep gash in her heart, and the mere thought of seeing him again bought back all the original pain. Add seeing Reyna to the mix, and Piper felt as if someone ripped open her heart and pour salt and lemon juice into it.

If she had things her way, she would have been able walked up to Jason and Reyna without a care in the world. She would have been able to laugh and hug Jason without feeling as if a dragger was being plugged into her chest. Perhaps, there might have been a new boyfriend on her arm who thought she was the most beautiful girl, not Reyna.

But that obviously wasn't going to happen in the next thirty seconds, so she plastered on a smile that she hoped was more convincing to the Romans than it was to her own cabin members.

By the time Piper had reached the welcoming party Chiron had already begun his opening speech. She maneuvered her way through the crowd as discreetly as possible until she found her place next to Annabeth and Percy.

The Romans were dressed in purple t-shirts and jeans similar to the ones Jason showed up in all that time ago. They all stood completely still with their heads held up high. Camp Half-Blood's council members stood opposite of them. Dressed in their orange t-shirts, of course, but they also stood at attention trying to match the Romans in posture, attitude and head height.

Jason and Reyna stood in the front of the purple crowd. They hadn't changed at all. Jason was his usual perfect self, while Reyna still looked as cold as ice. Her metal hounds sat threateningly by her feet. Piper caught Jason's eye and he smiled back at her. Piper returned it with a fake one of her own, and then looked away. She did her best to focus on Chiron's words.

Chiron stood at the top of the porch overlooking the two divided groups. "−what past is past. Today, we choose to place our grudges aside, and accept each other as fellow demigods. We welcome you to our home in hopes that we can form a bond that will last for generations. But understand this." Chiron's tone changed. It became more firm and absolute. "You are on Camp Half-Blood's ground now. While you are here, you will respect our customs. You will follow our rules. And you will treat every camper with respect. Break these rules are you will be punish as any Camp Half-Blood camper would be."

Piper could tell Chiron was trying to make the message very clear. We haven't forgotten about what happen last year, but we choosing to be the better people and accept you into our camp anyways. But don't you dare misinterpret our trust as weakness.

Reyna took a step forward to address him. "Thank you, Chiron. And thank you for welcoming us into your camp. We are equally anxious to learn everything we can from our fellow demigods. I ensure you there will not receive any trouble from my people."

The way Reyna spoke, Piper had a feeling that her words had a double meaning. Then again she always found Reyna's wording complex.

Chiron accepted her promise with a solemn nod. "We will break you up into groups now. As part of Camp Half-Blood's traditions, we will be splitting you according to your parentage. While you are her this group will be your family. You will sleep, eat and train with them. Camp leaders please find your Roman siblings"

As the crowd began to disperse, Piper spotted Jason making his way towards her. She thought about making a run for it, but he had already seen her.

"Piper," Jason called out before he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey," she choked and weakly hugged back. She could feel Reyna's eyes burning into her the whole time.

"How you are?" he asked when he finally released her. His eyes were even bluer then she had remembered. She stared into them, unable to answer. Luckily, Leo was there to save her.

"Amigo!" Leo exclaimed appearing out of nowhere.

"Glad to see you, man," Jason smiled back.

They did one those weird handshakes guys that always do, since hugging was too girly. Then Leo turned to Reyna and gave a low bow and murmured, "My Lady."

Piper looked away embarrassingly. Leo always did manage to make himself look like a fool in front of girls.

Reyna returned the strange greeting with an uncomfortable nod.

"Dude, I have to show you what I have been working on. It's so beysome!" exclaimed Leo returning to his ADHD attention back to Jason.

"Beysome?"

"Beyond awesome," explained Leo. "It is so awesome I had to create a new word for it."

"Alright," Jason laughed. "But later. I promised Reyna I that I would show her around the camp first."

Piper could tell Leo was disappointed. They never really talked about, but Leo missed Jason almost as much as she did. It wasn't just her romance that Jason's decision broke up, but Leo's bromance too.

"Oh, no you don't," interrupted Percy appearing at Jason's side. Annabeth followed behind him. "Reyna still owns me for when she got to show Annabeth around Camp Jupiter. That means I get to show her around Camp Half-Blood."

"Is that alright with you?" Jason looked toward Reyna.

"Fine with me," Reyna stoically answered.

Piper was not that surprised that Reyna accepted Percy's offer. Out the seven of them, Jason and Percy were the only ones actually on her good side, although, Piper could tell from her expression that she would have prefer it if Jason was with her.

"You can come too," Percy quickly added to Annabeth. He was finally getting a hang of this boyfriend thing, and knew better to go off on his own with Reyna without checking with her first. A year ago, Percy had admitted to Annabeth that Reyna flirted with him a bit during their time together at Camp Jupiter. Ever since then, Percy had been careful to avoid mentioning Reyna's name near Annabeth.

"No, I better help Chiron sort everyone out." Annabeth reluctantly replied. "I'll see you later." She gave Percy a quick kiss on the cheek, and gave Reyna a threatening stay-away-from-my-man look before leaving to find Chiron.

"Hazel," said Percy turning to her. "Nico isn't here to show you around, so you should come with us too."

"Can Frank come?" asked Hazel.

"Sure. I don't see why not."

"Great! Now that is sorted out. Bunker now!" Leo shouted pushing Jason in the right direction.

"Leo wait, you have to show the Vulcan campers their cabin first," Piper reminded him.

"Oh right," Leo sighed then shouted, "Ow! Trekies this way!"

"Leo," Piper sighed disappointedly. She was pretty sure that wasn't the way to impress the Romans.

Eventually, six Camp Jupiter campers appeared next to Leo, thanks to Annabeth's directions, not Leo's, and he began marching them back to his cabin.

"Come and find me when you are done," Jason told Reyna.

"I will," promised Reyna meeting his eyes. Piper did her best not to notice.

"Are you coming?" asked Jason turning his blue eyes onto to her.

"No, I better find the Venus' kids," Piper stammered. "But I will see you at dinner. Bye!"

Before he could reply, she made her escape. She guessed it could have gotten worst. She could have been in tears right now. At least she was able to get through their reunion with some of her dignity intact.