"I just don't understand why she had to talk to you alone," Piper crossed her arms turning away from Jason to stare at the camp fire, which was burning low and black with just the two of them in the amphitheater.
"She just wanted to talk Piper," Jason answered. Piper was tired of that answer. It seemed to be the only answer he had to offer since the mysterious talk a few short hours ago. And it was not a real answer in Piper's opinion.
"She could have talked with us there," Piper brooded pursing her lips. She normally was not petty, but Piper knew Jason had feelings for the dark-haired Roman demigod. And she was terrified that he would chose the Roman over her.
"It was a private conversation," that was a new response. Piper liked that even less.
She was no fool; she could see the struggle in Jason's eyes. He had no idea if he wanted the Greek lifestyle or the Roman one. He had lived both of them. Percy had lived both of them too. But Percy had someone at Camp Half-Blood to return to. And if Jason had a person like that at Camp Jupiter, it was Reyna.
She could lose Jason forever. That was causing her to be petty, and she really did hate herself for it. But it was a natural reaction to a situation like this. Jason and Reyna had a history-thing that she could never contend with. Most of the history Piper had with Jason was a farce setup by Queen Hera. That could never be enough to convince Jason to stay with her.
"It was a long conversation," she finally continued, having no real response against his claim. "You almost missed dinner."
Jason sighed, running his fingers through his hair standing up. "Would you stop this?" he asked looking down at her. "Reyna's my friend and she wanted to talk with me. What does it matter how long it was or that she didn't want you to hear what she had to say?"
"It was about me, wasn't it?" Piper demanded standing up, the flames of the camp fire shooting straight up and burning with rage from the argument.
"No," he answered quickly. Too quickly, she saw his eyes flicker to the fire then back to her. He was lying to her. Jason was lying to her.
Piper's hands shook with rage, her jaw clenching as she stared at the Roman demigod. Reyna had been talking about her; that was why she had demanded to talk with Jason alone. It made sense now; the Romans had been talking about the Greeks. "Tell me the truth, Jason."
Jason sighed, his eyes closing as his shoulders drooped and his head fell. "She wants me to leave with her. To go back to New Rome and the Legion," he answered quietly.
"Why? They already have a second Praetor, Percy made Frank one."
"It's not that simple, Pipes," Jason started, but Pieper had heard enough.
She turned from the child of Jupiter and stormed out of the amphitheater, leaving him alone with the glowering embers of the camp fire. She held herself together until she reached her cabin, then she buried her face in a pillow and screamed. She glared at any of her siblings that tired to talk to her; she just wanted to be alone.

I can't believe he would choose her over me. We have so much more in common. I know Jason, the real Jason that the Roman camp never allowed him to be. I know his hopes and dreams, I can make him laugh, and—I know Jason.
Piper paced a wide circuit in the green between the original twelve cabins, biting her lip and wringing her fingers while she waited for Jason. She regretted storming off, that would not help the situation. She knew she could trust Jason, but her fears had made her irrational. She had to apologize to him, explain that it was jealousy that had caused her to act out the night before.
"I'm so stupid," she muttered repeatedly, constantly looking at the Zeus cabin where Jason would eventually emerge. It was early, no one was awake except a few Ares kids who wanted to use the arena undisturbed.
She could go to the cabin. She had been in Jason's cabin before, all she had to do was push open the door and walk in. She could talk to him inside where no one could eavesdrop. She sighed, forcing herself to turn away from the cabin. If she wanted him to know she respected him and his privacy she had to wait for him to come outside.
Why would he choose her? She wears those dumb togas, and she a Praetor. She would never have time to do stuff with him.

She completed another circuit of her paced circle, switching hands to give her raw fingers a break. She bit down harder on her lip, forcing herself to focus on something besides the Zeus cabin. He would be awake soon. She could talk to him as soon as he came out those doors.
Of course he would choose her. She's a Praetor; I'm just a cabin counselor. And I always sit on the sidelines. I'm not impressive, all I have going for me is Charmspeak.
Piper sighed. Would he stay because she used her Charmspeak unknowingly? Was he still in Camp Half-Blood only because he could not resist her powers of persuasion? She finished another circuit, shaking her head miserably.
Was she really the cause of the sadness in his eyes? Was he wanting to leave and her inability to let go keeping him trapped? She hated Charmspeak, she really did. It caused her nothing but trouble.
He belongs here. Reyna just makes him miserable, she decided, casting her doubts aside quickly. She had no time for self-doubt. Jason belonged with her in Camp Half-Blood, she just knew it. Why else would Hera have sent him to her?
It was the call to breakfast that finally got Jason out of his cabin, and he was not alone. Reyna emerged with him. Piper felt a wave of jealousy rising again. She had been out on the green pacing while Reyna was in his cabin!
He's such a happy care-free guy, but not when Reyna's around. All she does is put him down, and I know he says its fine—but I know it's not. What is he doing with her? He belongs with me!
"Piper," Jason called, a smile lighting his face as he moved away from Reyna.
"Jason," Piper responded coldly, glaring past him at Reyna. The Roman demigod squared her shoulders and raised her chin in response. She was much better at the silent threats than Piper. That made her even angrier, "what was she doing in your cabin?"
"We were just talking," Jason responded, Piper was really tired of that answer.
"In your cabin?" her voice came out shrilly, surprising even herself.
"What is with you?" Jason shook his head. "Can I not talk to my friends? Do you see me getting all jealous when you hang out with Leo?"
"This is nothing like that!" Piper defended herself with another shrill response. This conversation was turning south quickly. Was the relationship between Jason and Reyna like her relationship with Leo? Was she becoming jealous over nothing? "And Leo never stays the night in my cabin!"
"I didn't stay the night," Reyna seethed before Jason could form a response. "I was saying good-bye to one of my dearest friends."

"In his cabin?" Piper challenged.
"I wanted to avoid a confrontation," Reyna snapped at Piper. "I've realized that Jason is no longer fully Roman. He has no wish to return to Camp Jupiter with me, so calm down."
Piper recoiled at the icy tone Reyna had snapped with, taking several steps back. She had been right; Reyna was trying to steal Jason away from her! And it had failed!
"I'm sorry Reyna," Jason turned from Piper, offering a smile to the Roman. "I hope you understand.
"I do, Jason," Reyna smiled back. "And I hope you'll visit someday, New Rome won't be the same without you."
He was staying. Piper had been right, Jason did belong with her. She could almost squeal in delight.
"Of course I will, New Rome will always be my home."
Piper felt a weight like a stone fall in the pit of her stomach. Maybe she had not won. Maybe Jason was still considering leaving. And she was not doing anything to make him want to stay with her. She was more likely to drive him away with the way she had been acting.
Reyna nodded to Jason, leveled one last calculating look at Piper, then turned away.
"You decided to stay?"
"Yes," he answered walking away from Piper toward the dining pavilion.
Piper bit her lip watching him walk away. She had messed up, he was mad at her. "Jason," she called after him.
"I need some space Piper," he brushed her away, not even looking back at her. "Just leave me alone."
Have you ever thought that maybe you belong with me?