Chapter 5: When he pushed

When Jason returned to the cafeteria he found out that Piper had already left for her next class. He wanted to go find her right away but that would look desperate. So he decided to wait for their last period which they shared: History.

He burst into the room three minutes after the bell had rang. The history teacher scolded him but didn't put him in detention which was good. Jason scanned the room and found Piper sitting alone on a table at the back. Perfect! He quickly made his way towards her and sat down.

''We need to talk.'' Jason stated in a whisper.

''Please not today.'' She pleaded with her eyes trained in her notebook, pretending that nothing had happened.

''I didn't say anything after I apologized. Mind telling me how you managed to answer my freaking thoughts?'' He said, leaning closer to her. She had frozen in spot, looking as if someone had slapped her. ''You can't fool me.''

Her eyes closed and she slumped in her seat. She looked tired and it almost caused Jason to give up. Surprisingly, her voice sounded mere seconds after.

''Meet me at the parking lot after school ends.'' She finally sighed and looked at the teacher again. It was clear that she wouldn't speak again so Jason pulled out his notebook and started taking notes.

''Jason, aren't you coming home?'' Thalia asked him as she passed his car to get to hers.

''I have to do something first, I may be a little late.'' He said to her, not wanting to explain any further.

''Ookay, just tell Piper to be careful, I don't want to be aunt just yet.'' Thalia snickered at her brother as his eyes widened. He had definitely not seen this one coming. ''I just know you both and I had noticed your strange behavior today. You can't fool me little bro.''

''We're not together! I barely even know her!'' He explained hurriedly to her but she was already entering her car.

''Yet, Jason. You are not together yet.'' She laughed and drove away.

Jason managed to calm down before Piper arrived. However, he wasn't sure that his face had return to its normal color.

''Where do you want to talk?'' she asked simply.

''I don't know. Do you have any ideas?'' he shrugged and looked hopefully at her.

''I know a place at a park near my house. Just follow my car. And take this…'' Piper said and dug out her player. ''…I guess your headache will get better.''

Jason's jaw was about to drop when she turned around and walked to a dark red car. He shook his head and put on her ear buds after entering his car. He had to admit that her music wasn't so bad after all. Despite a few Taylor Swift's songs he found also Linkin Park, Simple Plan, Green Day, Imagine Dragons and Three Days Grace. He had never thought that a girl like Piper would listen to that kind of music. But then again, she didn't seem much common to him. She definitely didn't fit the stereotype.

After twenty minutes they came to a stop at a parking lot in front of a park alley. They both exited their cars and Piper led him to a small coffee shop on the opposite side of the street.

''Good afternoon, what can I get for you two?'' a nice woman in her thirties smiled at them from behind the bar.

''Hi, I'll want a hot chocolate with extra cream please. Jason, you?'' Piper turned to him expectantly.

''Uh…the same, thanks.''

When their drinks were ready they went outside again and Piper started walking around the park followed closely by Jason.

''So, what do you want to talk about?'' she started once the people started getting less and less.

''You know what.'' He stated looking at her closely.

She searched his face for a few seconds then sighed and sat on a bench. He followed her example while sipping from his drink. The warmth spread through him and helped ease his nerves.

''I'm like you. Or maybe you're like me since I became like this a while ago but…ugh, I'm getting off topic.'' She trailed off shaking her head slightly.

Jason stayed silent while trying to comprehend what had she just told him.

''You mean you can…''he finally muttered turning to her questioningly.

''I can read minds, yeah. Just like you except I can sort of control it.'' She smiled slightly at him.

His eyes widened at the last peace of information. She could control it? How? Could she teach him?

''Okay, slow down a bit because you can cause me a headache. I can teach you, yes. And I will. That is if you want me to…''

''Yes! Please, show me. Teach me!'' Jason eagerly said turning to her and lifting one of his legs on the bench in the process.

Piper laughed at his sudden change of mood and looked at his eyes. It didn't escape his sight that she had blushed a little. She looked nervous.

'Can I hold your hand?' Jason almost fell from the bench when her voice entered his mind. ''Just so I can block the voices in your head, nothing more.'' She hurriedly explained, sounding flustered. ''Your mind is too crowded for my liking and its kinda making me dizzy.'' He was too flabbergasted to talk so he just nodded.

Seconds later he sighed deeply when the voices of the people around vanished completely from his mind leaving him alone with his own thoughts. He closed his eyes to admire the feeling while it lasted. The headache he was having all day started easing little by little and Jason felt his lips twitching, forming the smallest smile.

''How can you do that?'' he asked her, his voice full of wonder and at the same time relief. He looked at her again and saw that she was leaning on the bench, looking more relaxed than he had seen her all day.

''I learned a lot of things from the Cherokees last summer. After the accident I started believing the legends and stories my grandfather had told me once. Things changed so suddenly…'' Piper suddenly stopped talking and looked down frowning.

Jason understood completely. He was sure that 'change' wasn't the first word that was coming to her mind when she talked about this but he also understood that they couldn't live in the past. Almost on instinct he squeezed her hand reassuringly, making her look at him again.

''I know what you mean.'' He simply said his face darkening again.

''I was crushed after my mom died. Not to mention freaked out because of this mind reading thing.'' She started again fiddling with his fingers in her hand, trying to concentrate. ''My dad was very sad too. Despite everything they talked about them in the media, they loved each other. We both didn't knew what to do for a while, how to cope with everything, how to…keep on going. He decided that it will be good for us to spend some time in Oklahoma, his home. He's a Native American, you know. From the Cherokee tribe but I believe your friend Leo already told you that.'' She smiled knowingly at him before averting her eyes back to their hands. Good thing too because he could feel his ears heating.

''So yeah, we went there and I met this guy named Kellan. He soon found out about the mind reading and to my surprise didn't think I was for a mental hospital. He showed me how to stop the voices,'' she lifted their hands slightly. ''how to communicate with thoughts, how to clear my mind, things like this. Things I thought were complete bullshit before that. But it turned out to be really helpful.''

Jason was so caught up in her story that it had to pass a few seconds to notice that she had stopped talking. She was twirling the feather from her silver necklace in her free hand.

''I haven't seen a feather charm so detailed before.'' He remarked then, trying to ease the tension, and she looked up at him questioningly.

''Oh, the necklace.'' She chuckled lightly clearly grateful for the change of subject. ''It's actually custom-made. I guess you can say that it's my personal lucky charm. It helps me balance my energy.''

Piper laughed at his bewildered expression and straightened up, mirroring his position on the bench.

''So every person is unique and different, right? And everyone has his own charm, a symbol that brings him luck and such, get it? Well, for people like you and me charms are much more important and have to be chosen carefully. The right charm can make it easy for you to shield your mind for example. If it fits you, that is.'' She explained with a small smile on her face.

''So the feather helps you keep this…shield up?''

''Exactly.'' She beamed at him, glad that he had understood her. ''Kellan helped me find out what my charm is; I guess he can help you with yours too. Well, that is if you want.''

Piper's phone suddenly rang, cutting of their conversation. She pulled it out of her pocket and sighed.

''Hi dad. I'm sorry I'm late, I got caught up with a friend of mine…Yeah, I'm coming soon…Okay, see you there, bye.'' She said in the phone and hung up.

''Sorry for that but I have to go. My dad is waiting for me, I was supposed to help him with a research for a movie.'' Piper smiled apologetically at Jason and they started walking towards their cars.

Once there, she tried to slip her hand out of his but he grabbed it tighter.

''Will you help me?'' he asked simply. Embarrassment be damned.

Piper looked in his sky blue eyes and for a second wondered what were they like with the spark of life in them and without the burden of pain. She quickly shook her head to try and clear it a bit.

''If you want, you can come tomorrow after school at my place?''

''I'll be there.'' He smiled at her and she smiled back. He suddenly realized that her player was still in him and he dug in his pocket to bring it out.

''Keep the player. You'll return it to me tomorrow.'' She said and let go of his hand slowly.

For a second he was overwhelmed but after the ear buds were in his ears it became bearable.

'See you tomorrow Jason.' Piper's thoughts reached his mind then.

'See ya.' He thought too and they climbed in their own cars and drove away.

A\N: Okay, I'm not completely happy with this chapter but it'll do, I guess. It's short but you deserve something after all the waiting since...gods, did I really last updated in April? Ugh, I'm awful. Anyway, please review and share your opinion with me. Requests are welcomed! It means a lot, thanks. I love you guys!