The new chapter is up! Get ready, set, GO!

Chapter 3: When the ghosts appeared

The bell finally rang, announcing the end of the school day. Leo eagerly stood up with his backpack already in hand.

''Jase, are you coming or not?'' he piped up practically jumping up and down.

Jason understood that Leo was going to help his mom in her work. She was a mechanic and Leo had practically grown up in her workshop. He loved the place very much.

''If you have to run, go. I'm going to ride home with Thalia anyway.'' Jason reassured his friend while they were making their way towards the parking lot.

''Mom said I can help her in the garage.'' Leo explained with a grin.

''That explains a lot.'' The other boy smiled a little. ''Have fun.''

''Will do. By bro.'' and with that the Latino boy flew out through the doors.

Jason sighed and headed to his sister's black Audi. She came just a few seconds after him but she wasn't alone.

''Jason, you don't mind if Piper is riding with us, do you? She doesn't live that far away.''

''No, I don't.'' Jason replied and looked down frowning.

'What's with him now? He seemed a little better at lunch. What had happened?' Thalia thought but didn't asked her brother anything. She unlocked the vehicle and got into the driver's seat. Jason sat in the passenger's seat which left Piper in the back.

Jason stole a glance at her just to see that she was looking at him too. When their eyes met the boy was sure that she was going to cause him trouble. She looked at him as if saying 'I know you are hiding something and am going to find out what''. She was a smart girl that was for sure. But she wouldn't discover his secret. She would never believe it anyway. Heck, Jason himself wouldn't believe this if someone had told him about it a year ago.

He shook his head and looked through the window. After a fifteen-minute ride they came to a stop in front of a large house. It looked like one of those mansions in L.A. A second later Jason realized that it wasn't so shocking; after all her father was a movie star.

Piper got out of the car swiftly and leaned against Thalia's open window.

''Thanks for the ride Thals.'' She smiled gratefully.

''No problem, that's what friends are for.'' Thalia winked at her. Piper then eyed Jason, curiosity burning in her ever-changing eyes.

''I owe you Jason, thanks again.''

''Any time.'' He just replied looking back at her, determined to not back down this time. Eventually, she straightened up and waved for goodbye. Thalia drove away.

''So you like her?'' his sister asked with a smirk.

Jason didn't answer. Thalia just chuckled.

''She is a good person. A good person who had experienced bad things. Just like you.''

Jason didn't miss how his sister didn't add herself in this. It was well known that she hated their mother for not taking proper care of them when she was little. That was the reason she wanted to stay with their dad after the divorce. Jason however, was too small to be separated from his mother, as the judge had put it up. He didn't know whether to thank him or to hate him for that decision.

''She is not like me.'' No one is, Jason thought bitterly.

Thalia glanced at him caringly. She was thinking about Jason's behavior since the accident. She was debating about the usual things: depression, mental trauma. She finally let out a deep breath admitting her defeat.

''It will pass with time. She healed too you know.'' She said while parking the car next to his in their garage.

His car was the same as hers but colored between light blue and silver. He actually liked it but he preferred walking.

When they entered the big house Thalia headed towards her room to leave there her bag. Her room was on the second floor right next to Jason's.

''I'm making sandwiches, do you want some?'' Thalia asked while exiting her room.

''Sure, I'll be down in a bit.'' Jason answered and closed the door to his own room.

He plopped on his bed after turning on the stereo. The song 'Whispers in the dark' filled the silence and he sighed relieved. His room wasn't much compared to the fancy house but it was probably the only place where he didn't need to pretend. This was his piece of the world. And the place he could be with his own thoughts (after turning up the music as loud as he could that is).

His mind jumped from topic to topic until it finally stopped at a certain brown-haired kaleidoscope-eyed girl. Why was she so different from the others? Why was he acting like an obsessed person? He knew that it weren't her looks that drew his attention though he couldn't miss that she was simply a knockout.

There was something about the way she was looking at him, as if…as if she could read him like an open book, like she could see directly in his soul. And that was scaring him shitless. How could someone that he had just met know so much about him? Thinking about the conversation he had eavesdropped at lunch, he came to the conclusion that she didn't exactly pity him. It was more like…sympathy, understanding maybe which was logical, she'd lost someone too. But still, she was the first one acting so friendly when meeting him since a lot of time.

'She is just like you' his sister had told but she was wrong. Piper was a lot happier than him, more outgoing. With a pang in the chest he remembered when he was like that.

(Flashback)

He was walking quickly, making his way towards his first class carelessly. Some of his clasmates waved at him and he waved back, even managed to share a word with some nefore a voice called him from behind.

''Hey Grace, are you in for the game today?'' Bobby, one of his best friends caught up with him.

''Of course bro. My leg's feeling like new. The doctor said that it was just over worked a little but everything is fine now.'' Jason answered with a laugh, his blue eyes dancing with excitement. ''When starts the warm-up before the game?''

''Five-thirty. Don't be late or Coach will pummel you. Dakota is acting weird again and the new kid Frank just can't do well enough to play on first line tonight. ''

''Don't worry, I'll come on time. And Frank is nice; he just needs to practice for some time, that's all. I wasn't much better the first time I played, remember?''

''Oh yeah, how could I forget!''

The boys both laughed but then Jason stopped abruptly and smacked his forehead.

''What?'' Bobby asked his friend.

''God, she's gonna kill me. I had to bring mine and Reyna's science project today but I was late this morning and totally forgot! I'm doomed!''

''Good thing she's your girlfriend bro. Or else she could have killed you for real. Maybe she'll only just hit you really hard.'' Bobby smiled at his friend earning a priceless glare.

''Not funny Bobby. She's scary when she's angry. God, how could I be so stupid! I have to run.'' He ushered and turned to leave.

''She'll find you even in China if she gets F because of you. Run like the wind my child!'' Bobby laughed after his friend.

''I'm going home to get the project idiot! Cover for me in Math?'' Jason practically yelled from a few feet away.

''When have I didn't. Hurry up!''

''You're the best. Lunch's on me!'' Jason yelled gratefully and ran out the door towards his car.

Thalia's loud thoughts coming from the kitchen downstairs brought him out of his reverie. He shook his head wildly, trying to erase the memory. It wasn't healthy for him to dwell on the past. He had no chances of getting back there, why think of it then? He quickly made his way towards the kitchen.

''I called you a few times, didn't you hear me?'' She asked casually while eating.

''No, I was listening to music and thinking, sorry.'' He said in the same tone hoping for her to drop the subject but he knew how stubborn his sister was most of the time.

''I can't understand how can you listen to music so much, I mean sure but you do it even in school. And how can you hear anything else is a mystery to me.'' Thalia commented looking him with her bright intimidating eyes, much like his but more alive.

She had hit the target with this question. For a second Jason felt like a deer caught in the headlights but an acceptable answer came to him after a minute.

''I just carry them with me but the music isn't actually playing most of the time. What do you think, that I have super hearing or something?'' he tried to laugh but didn't manage to convince his sister. She was still suspicious of him but at least she wasn't near the right answer.

''It's easier to shut down everyone else, isn't it?'' she asked suddenly. He looked up surprised to see Thalia smiling genuinely at him. ''Don't be so surprised little brother, she was my mom too. And even though we weren't on such good terms I miss her sometimes. Music helps. People…not so much sometimes.''

After that she returned to eating her sandwich again. Jason was left stunned. He loved his sister very much, he always did but hearing that she understood him even partly and even for a thing so small as listening to music he felt better, maybe even lighter. He felt connected in some way to her. And then guilty for lying to her, for not trusting her enough to tell her about the mind reading thing. He knew that she cared for him; he could read it in her mind after all. But he couldn't tell her.

''Thank you Thals, for being here for me.'' Jason finally said, trying to show her that he cared too.

Any other girl would have crushed him in a tight hug but Thalia knew and loved her brother enough to not do it. She just grabbed his hand tightly and he tried to not flinch away by squeezing hers too.

''There's no need to thank me Jason, we're family, we've always been. And just so you know, you can tell me everything. No matter what, I'll not judge, I'll try to understand, okay?''

He simply nodded and she got up smiling.

''I have some homework and after that will go out with Percy, Annabeth and Nico. Would you like to come?''

''Maybe some other time. You go and have fun.'' He assured her and stood up to help her clean the table.

''Promise me!'' She turned to him with a playful glare and a pointed finger like a shotgun.

He smiled but put his hands up like he was a villain giving up to the police.

''I promise!''

They both laughed at the situation, remembering how they used to do it when they were little and then Thalia went to get her books.

Jason went to grab his math book, deciding to do something useful and distract his mind from everything that happened throughout that day.

While he was sitting at the kitchen table with Thalia he decided that someday he would tell her about his secret. Someday, she would know and he hoped that when this day came, they both would be prepared for it.

Okay, I simply love Thalia and Jason's sibling relationship and I hope that I had done well here. I am satisfied with myself.

How is the story going in your opinion? Review and let me know. Thanks!