A very long chapter for you guys; please enjoy! I do not own PJO.

"No, I will not be put on hold! Who do you think I am?!"

The man was waiting in the control room, pacing back and forth in front of the large screens that showed every angle of the basketball game his most successful (and only) client was playing on. His hand was holding a screen-tap phone and his sleeves to his white button-up shirt were rolled up. The dark room was hot with many other people there—but he always said that they were rolled up because he meant business.

"Ah—no! I am Leo Valdez, Jason Grace's manager! Yes, the Jason Grace!" He waved his finger around in the air and then ran his hand through his shortly cropped curly hair that was sticking up from the humidity.

There was a pause as he listened to the other line stop to what they were doing. Then a wicked smile spread across his face and he nodded his head slowly. He looked like a smug little creature. "Yeah, that's right. Don't put me on hold." Leo stopped walking and lifted his head up at the glowing screens that cast a shadow over his face, making him look evil.

"Yes, but since you've been giving me a hackle, I would like to speak to your manager, please." Leo turned from the screens—which were still following Jason—and folded his arm under his other one to keep holding up the phone to his ear. There was another smug look that swept across his face and he moved his hand down to the belt loop on his hip of his black slacks.

"Wow, you're exactly right," he switched the phone to the other hand, and with his now-free hand, he rubbed his chin, his eyebrows creasing together. "This won't happen again."

Leo nodded his head, agreeing to what the frantically nervous person on the other line was saying. "Now, back to business…"

As Leo talked about his next deal to support his star and best bud, Jason, his eyes swept back up to the screens. There were workers of the stadium all around him talking into headsets, ordering to hit at angle 2 with Camera B. It made Leo's head swim with numbers and letters and such, due to dyslexia and ADHD. It suddenly made Leo's lungs close up and he felt like he was going to puke, it hurt so badly; he could taste the bile rising in his mouth. He swallowed it down, pain washing over his face. Beads of sweat popped onto his forehead and top lip like dew drops on leaves in the morning. Leo knew he had to get some fresh air and water or else this sight wouldn't be too pretty anymore. With a final glance at Jason, he stepped out of the room.

Leo had caught the last few words the person on the other line had said and responded numbly, "Okay, sure. Listen, we'll talk about this later, okay? I'm kind of busy."

Without much of a reply, he ended the call and put the phone in his pocket. He pushed through many other people, murmuring, "Excuse me," every now and then. Finally, he got to the exit door and pushed on it to find himself in an empty gray hallway. It felt nice to finally breathe in fresh air and his lungs expanded as he took a deep breath, holding it in as he puffed out his chest, and then let it go, his lips slapping together, making a horse noise. He walked down to one end of the hallway towards a vending machine. He brought out his wallet from his back pocket and from that he slipped out a dollar bill as he stared at his choices. Considering his sudden illness, he decided that a bottle of water would suit him well. He punched in the numbers for his order.

He tapped his foot as he heard some commotion at the other end of the hallway. Leo took a step back, leaning his upper body outwards to peek out from behind the corner to see what was going on. He saw a bodyguard down at the other end, his back to Leo, and Leo guessed that someone who wasn't supposed to be back here was trying to sneak in.

Leo chuckled and stepped forward and leaned down at the mouth of the machine. He reached inside, patting the hollow space to feel for his drink. There was nothing there. He straightened, studying the vending machine. He lightly kicked it with the side of his shoe and in response, his dollar bill slowly slid out from the teeth.

Leo pursed his lips, glaring at it. He growled, grumbling about the machine being dumb. He yanked out the paper money and pressed his fingers on both ends and began to slide it across the edge of the machine to smooth it out. Leo slipped it back in and after several more tries the dollar bill successfully went inside.

He smirked and reached down at the clattering noise. He picked it up and unscrews the lid, raising it to his lips to ease his queasy stomach. The water felt cool against his parched throat. When he swallowed and unleashed the bottle from his lips, he let out a small sigh and licked his lips satisfyingly. Leo walked away from the vending machine and to the room he was just in—but also getting closer to the guard and trespasser.

Leo could feel his stomach make a gurgle noise and he made a disgusted groan. He took another drink of water, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Look, sir, I swear I'm supposed to be here! This ticket is not copied!" Leo could hear a female voice say. To him, the voice was too familiar and convincing.

"Where did you say you got it again?" A deep voice rumbled.

The woman sighed impatiently and then exclaimed, "Leo Valdez!"

Leo's eyes snapped open and he almost choked on the water. He stopped walking and set down the water bottle, the water he had just consumed still trapped in his mouth as his mind was not focused on swallowing at the moment. He realized that he was right in front of the two and saw the back of the woman's head this time instead; the two must've stumbled around each other. Her hair was a dark brunette, but under the shining lights, there was a halo of blond in the layers. She was wearing regular jeans and a purple shirt—which probably had the team's logo on the front.

The guard glanced up and spotted Leo with his puffed-out cheeks. He gestured to him. "Well let's see if he remembers you, then."

The woman turned around and when Leo saw her face for the first time, he was surprised to find who it was. Right when his eyes landed on her, he immediately turned his head away from her, and his surprised reaction was him spewing the leftover water, freeing it from the cage he called his mouth. Mixed in with his saliva, it was sprayed all over the guard's black shirt. The man with rippling arms—which were crossed—closed his eyes, his lips pursed. You could tell he was disgusted.

Leo was coughing and when it the tickling feeling in his lungs and throat died down, he looked at the guard apologetically.

"Oh, uh…" Piper said, trailing off, stifling a laugh. "Hey, Leo,"

Leo glanced at her, his face painted with shock. He turned back to the guard, opening his mouth to say something. But the man cut him off by raising his hand. "Did you give her a backstage pass?"

"Uh…uh—uh…" Leo looked back at Piper, who stared at him pleadingly. She had gotten prettier since the last time he'd seen her. No acne and she actually wore a little bit of makeup. "Yeah, actually, I did."

The guard didn't look convinced, but he didn't say anything about it. Without another word, he turned and stalked off towards the locker rooms to find a new shirt.

Leo turned back to Piper. "Hey, Beauty Queen! It's nice to see you and all," his tone was cheery but then it descended to an alarming tone, "but what in the gods' name are you doing here?"

"Annabeth and Percy asked for a ticket so I can use it." Piper explained and her face twisted with guilt.

Leo still looked at her like she had grown two heads. "Okay, but why? And why didn't you tell me?"

"I had to see you…and Jason." She said. In a softer voice, she said, "It's been a while, Leo."

His expression suddenly softened as well. He straightened, looking down at his feet bashfully and then nodding. "Yeah, sorry I went all Hulk on you there," he said chuckling nervously as he looked back up at her. "It's just that you scared the heck outta me."

Piper shrugged. "It's fine. I understand; I didn't mean too."

"Ah, forget about it," Leo waved a hand at her. He then opened his arms wide. "Come on, I haven't seen you in forever! I deserve a hug from my best bud!"

Piper grinned and obliged. They hugged and Piper thought it felt nice. She was really missing him and his goofy ways. She had been longing for his humorous personality to make her laugh.

When they parted, they looked over each other. Then Piper burst out into laughter, not being able to control her chortling. Leo dragged along a pitiful laugh, staring at her skeptically.

He wiped at his nose and then hunched over with his hands on his hips. "Ah…what's so funny?" he asked with enthusiasm and a smile still plastered on his face.

Piper stuffed down her laughter to talk. "Nothing, I just rethought about what you just did to that poor security guard."

Leo's smile fell and his face turned red. "Oh…yeah…" he thought about it for a second and then he also started to laugh—a real laughter. It was pretty hilarious, he thought. He stopped when he could tell that something was bothering Piper. It was by the dull color in her eyes and the way her lip pursed. Leo automatically knew why. "He wants to see you, too." Leo said.

Piper's head shot up and she stared at him with wide eyes. They were churning with blue and green and hazel. "You really—I'm just afraid—"

"Don't be." Leo cut her off. "Jason's not that kind of guy." He placed a hand on his heart. "Trust me, I know."

Piper's shoulders relaxed a little and she gave a small smile.

"Come on," Leo put a hand on her arm. "Let's go backstage and wait for him."

Jason Grace stared down at his feet, which felt like led. The floor beneath him was glistening from the brightly luminous lights above him and the sweat and wax caked on its surface. A sweat droplet rolled down the tip of his nose, falling and splattering onto the floor. His breath was the only thing he could hear since he was panting so loud. His ears were used to the ostentatious crowd and their sounds were blurred from disrupting his mind and focus. He could feel his heart pumping in his chest that was just as loud as his breathing; he could also feel the rush of adrenaline that was coursing through his veins. He liked the feeling it gave him—made him feel like he was unstoppable.

He finally looked up and found his teammates and the other team lined up on both sides of the hoop. They stared at him; the opponents glaring at him and his own friends staring at him with wide eyes and small smiles. Jason's eyes flickered over the opponent that pushed him to the floor, causing him to be in this position.

He took a deep breath and the referee's whistle rang through, disrupting his heartbeat and breaths. Jason's head turned to the black-and-white striped clothed man and the oversized referee nodded to him as he bounced the basketball to him.

The ball was smooth in Jason's rough hands. It might've been a little dirty with sweat, but Jason had been used to that his entire life. He stared at the mahogany colored ball—his friend—his partner in crime. He bounced it once against the floor and caught it as it flew up at him. He bounced it again; it's thumping against the floor matching with his heartbeat like it always did.

This was when Jason concentrated on the small winds that circulated around him. He knew it was cheating, doing this, but it was still a sport. No one would know and he and Leo were the only ones who knew he was a demigod. He stepped up to the blue line, shifting his feet to where it was comfortable for him. There was a break in the crowd's conversation as they held their breath when Jason looked back up at the hoop.

It seemed to glare at him, daring him to shoot. It told him that he was going to mess up and that he was going to miss for the first time.

Jason just had to suppress as laugh. What that hoop didn't know…

He bounced the ball once more and when it touched his hands again, he straightened his spine and his muscles immediately tensed. He bent down like a tiger about to pounce and then jumped on the balls of his feet. The ball rolled off of Jason's left hand as his right pushed it up. As it left his fingers, he could feel the coils of air string off of his fingers and push up the ball as well. He kept his hands hanging in the air as his fingers tensed and he concentrated on the ball that seemed to move in slow motion. Jason willed the air to push the ball just a little. He had practiced with basketball for so long that it wasn't that hard to use his powers just for a free-throw.

The ball responded by swooshing into the hoop. His teammates pumped their fists as another point was added onto the scoreboard.

A smile flashed through him but then he knew that the game was back on. The ball was handed to the other team and he jogged to the other side of the court with the others. Sneakers squeaked against the floor.

Number 7 on the other team glanced at his teammates, which were being guarded by his fellow friends. Jason stood in front of the man, his arms spread wide. He jerked his feet around, blocking him. The man's eyes looked frightened and nervous and indecisive. Jason resisted the urge to look back and see who was open—he kept his eyes trained on him.

The man's eyes didn't leave because if they did, then Jason would know what his next move was. But Jason could already tell as they flickered above him—he was going to try and shoot. The man jerked the ball to the side as a fake move and then raised his arms up, beginning to release the ball. But Jason was already in the air. He bat the ball away and cursed (instinctively in Roman but it was too loud for anyone to hear) because he should've caught it instead. He began to run that way, after Number 7. Jason gritted his teeth on his mouth guard. Sneakers squeaked furiously against the floor.

The opponent stretched out his arms to reach for the ball that was bounded to the out-of-bounds area. But Jason jumped, willing the small winds to carry him further and he reached out. He pushed through the air with one foot to cover more ground. Finally, his arms did what he was supposed to do in the first place—wrap themselves around the ball. He hugged it but he was falling to the ground. Jason, with years of battles for practice, rolled once he hit the floor and then jumped to his feet at the outskirts of the court. In case Number 7 was going to try and steal it, he held the ball close to his lower abdomen, bending over the ball.

He looked over his shoulder and found the teams beginning to run to the other side of the court again. He did the same, throwing it to a teammate close to him. It was a little harder then he meant it to be because his veins were flaring and his head was deep into the game—it was like he was fighting again. But he knew he had to keep that part of him down because he would probably hurt someone if he unleashed that fighter inside of him.

Jason watched as he stood in front of a man on the other team. His back was to him, but he had his arms stretched limply behind him so that he wouldn't be blocked.

His team was having a bit of a struggle as they kept getting blocked or the other team would slam the ball away when they tried to rebound. Jason felt a gnawing feeling in his stomach as he could see the moves that everyone was going to take—he was used to all of these instincts—and he desperately wanted to run out there and score. But he knew he couldn't because he didn't want to be called a ball-hogger or an attention seeker.

"Jason!" He heard his name. He looked over and found that one of his teammates with the ball was staring at him.

Jason's eyebrows went up and he put his arms in front of him now to get the ball. Before the ball was passed to him, though, someone got in front of him. It was like a sandwich now as opponents were in front and behind him. He growled in frustration and weaseled out to the side as the person that was in front of him swatted the ball to the side, ready to pass it to his own on the other team.

But Jason weaseled out of the sandwich and started at a sprint. He wove his way through the sweating teams. He found the ball bouncing into his grasp as he intersected the pass. The team had begun to run to the other side and when Jason caught it, there were loud squeaks as players stopped their actions and aggravated growls and curses.

Jason instantly jogged back to the hoop and he could hear the two panting behind him. He leaped up, feeling the wind whip at his shorts, and found the red rim of the hoop level with his mouth. With one arm, he swung the ball down into the hoop, successfully performing a "slam dunk". The PANG! that was produced from his move made a happy feeling surge through him like a wave. Jason had so much force in his action that the net swung up and was wrapped around the rim.

Jason's feet landed onto the court just as the loud buzzer blew from the speakers signaling the end of this game. Relief and pride was what now ran through his blood and he pumped his fists, a whoop leaping from his mouth. In this moment, he felt good and like he was invincible; the feeling made him happy and washed with clean energy.

A mad grin was plastered on his face as his teammates shouted his name and swarmed around him, thumping him on the back and congratulating him. He shook hands with most of them, pulling into a manly hug.

The smell of sweat consumed him and the boisterous noises finally caught up to him, the crowd on their feet in an uproar. He heard his name being shouted from all around him. His vision swam with different colors of the crowd and cameras were immediately stuck in his face, people asking questions like, "How does it feel to be…"

Jason didn't listen to the rest of the question. He didn't like the attention that everyone gave him. He felt like he didn't exactly deserve it. He didn't like it that he was stealing all the fame because he wasn't that kind of person.

He walked away after celebrating on the court and the T.V.'s around the world were now switching off to a commercial break. He and the team made their way to the locker rooms to get cleaned up. His friends pounded against the walls with their fists and jumped past him. Jason's cocked smile stayed on his face as he watched them and their exuberant actions. They whooped and yelled, saying that no one could defeat them.

Jason's sweat dripped from his hair and his skin felt pasty and cold on his arms and neck due to his jersey not covering them.

Suddenly, Leo stepped in beside him and the two walked behind the rest of the team through the hallway that led to their lockers.

"You, my great friend, did great out there." He said as he clapped a hand on Jason's arm. Once he felt how drenched it was, he slowly took it back and stared at his palm in slight disgust. He wiped his hand on his pant leg.

"Thanks, man." Jason said, ignoring Leo's reaction to his sweat as he wrapped an arm around Leo's neck. Leo yelped and tried to pull away from him. "Means a lot to me," After a while, Jason finally let his manager go.

Leo stepped away from him. "That's just nasty, bro,"

"I know it." Jason smirked at Leo.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Leo waved a hand at him. "Just get yourself cleaned up. You've got a visitor."

"Don't I always have a visitor after winning a game?" Jason grumbled.

"Well, yeah, but this is someone you haven't seen in years."

They arrived at the locker rooms but before Leo could scurry off to leave him suspicious, Jason turned to face him, gripping his shoulder. His eyebrows furrowed together. "Who is it?"

There was a glint in Leo's eye—something much stronger than Jason had ever seen it. It made him shiver.

Leo let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck with the arm that Jason was holding to make him let go. "I, uh, don't believe anyone knocked."

Jason gave Leo a look.

Leo took his wrist with two fingers because he didn't want to touch his "gross" sweat. He picked it off of his shoulder, freeing himself, and said, "You'll find out when you see—" Leo stopped himself from revealing the gender, making Jason's eyebrow set back down. The manager sighed. "Look, the faster you get ready, the faster you'll meet them, okay?"

Jason opened his mouth to respond but then Leo held out a hand, his eyes closing dramatically, and he turned and walked away. Jason closed his mouth into a firmly pressed line and stepped into the locker room that was filled with chatter and clatters.

His legs were stiff but he made his way to his locker and he slumped into a bench in between the aisles. Instantly, his muscles sighed with a break from their agonized screaming. Jason leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and he took deep breaths to try and calm down his heart. He heaved himself up from the wooden bench and opened his locker revealing his possessions: extra clothes and guards, his phone, wallet, keys, and pictures of people from his home. Every time he opened his locker, he made sure that his fingers brushed over the picture of his sister, Thalia. She may be a pain in the butt, but other times he really missed her.

Jason placed his mouth guard in a small container and peeled off his sticky jersey that was irritating his skin. He slung the wet shirt over the top of his locker. The cold air that was circulating through the locker room made his chest prickle. The air felt nice against his abs and it strengthened him, in a way. Jason was solemn as his fingers pushed at the locker door and he closed it a little.

But then he got a glimpse at a familiar face that made his mind scream out, "Piper!" He swung the locker back open and found there was a photo of her at the very bottom of the metal door. Jason's fingers shook and his heart contracted inside his chest. A small sigh was dragged from his mouth as he stared down at her beautiful face. His fingers barely brushed over her hair and his thumb traced down her cheek, passing over the dimple from her grin. He sniffed and his fingers then picked at it, the tape slowly coming loose and he pulled her photo from the locker door, holding it up close to him. Jason craned his neck down, his spine curved as he slouched forward; his firmly thin figure was now covered with goose bumps. He blinked. Jason, with a sigh, placed the picture into his wallet.

He grabbed his extra pair of clothes—jeans and a blue t-shirt—and closed the locker and made his way to the showers.

The hot water felt wonderful against his bare skin. The heat made the tense feeling in his legs and arms dissolve away. He closed his eyes, craning his head back as the water drizzled through his blond hair. Steam rose up around him and it only made the sensation better.

But then Leo's words rang through his mind and he was curious to see who this new visitor could be. So his arm reached from behind the shower curtain and his hand clutched a soft towel. He dried himself off from behind the curtain because he knew that if he opened it, there were many bad possibilities that could happen.

With the white towel wrapped around his waist, still low enough to show his hip bones and abs, he walked back to his locker and dressed quickly. The comfortable jeans and smooth cotton blue shirt reminded Jason just how exhausted he really was. He slipped on socks and black Converse high-tops and walked back out of the locker room with his wallet, keys, and phone in his pockets. He walked out into the hallway, going deeper opposite of the way they came. Jason walked with his hands in his pockets and he realized that Leo never told him were to meet. His thoughts were interrupted by a furious growling. Jason halted and looked over his shoulder; he didn't see any monster. Then he felt the heated pain spreading through his stomach and realized that he was hungry.

He was relieved because he was too tired to fight a monster that had somehow found him. He walked around, knowing there was a vending machine around the building somewhere.

Jason knew he was getting closer to it when he heard a thumping noise. He turned a corner and found it with a girl standing before it, thumping her fist against it.

"Come on, you stupid thing!" she growled.

Jason slowed down and stepped near her. "You need some help?"

The girl gasped sharply and her head snapped in his direction. Her face flooded with alarm and she nervously tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. "Um…yes, please."

Jason stepped forward and held a firm grip on the sides, rattling it from side-to-side. He stared up at it, his mouth gaped open in thought, and finally a pack of chips fell from the black ring that had been holding it captive. Jason stepped back. "There you go," He leaned down and handed it to her.

The girl took it, tucking the strand of hair behind her ear again although it hadn't fallen. "Thanks, Sparky."

Something sparked in his head at the nickname. He body went rigid and his head did a rewind. Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold up, he thought. There was only one person alone in the whole world that called him that. Jason's blue eyes slid up to the girl's face and it suddenly became clear, as clear as the blue and gray in her eyes, who this person was.

His breath caught in his throat and his lungs closed up. He suddenly felt the urge to reach out and slip his fingers through her silky hair and trace his thumb over her cheeks and jaw—just to make sure she wasn't a picture anymore and that she really was standing in front of him.

But he resisted, his body unable to move, and because he knew that that would make things uncomfortable.

Jason was finally able to breathe as a laugh bubbled out from him. His smile came upon him like she was reaching out and pulling the ends of his lips up with her fingertips like she sometimes used to do when they were younger. She smiled with him and his laughter died right when it was born.

"Pipes?" He breathed out.

Piper opened her mouth to respond, but then giggled, shrugging her shoulders as she smiled softly. "Present,"

He laughed again and found himself already losing consciousness just by staring into her eyes and pointing out the different colors. Brown…blue…green…stop it, Jason.

"Well," There was another voice. They turned and found Leo with his arms crossed and a smirk lining his lips. "I see you guys have met again."