(WARNING - There is Pipercy. You can skip it, but it's kinda necessary. Don't worry, though. This is a Jiper story.)

Was this what sunshine felt like? Piper didn't know, but she was pretty sure. Her kisses with Jason danced in her head like faint memories she was trying to hold onto.

When she ran into him in the hallway, it was like fate.

"Hey, Jase!" She greeted him.

"Hi, Piper, uhm, we have to talk."

Confusion spread across Piper's mind. "Okay, sure, what's up?"

"I don't like you in that way. Last night- I was not thinking straight, me and Percy were drinking a ton, I'm so sorry." Jason rushed.

Piper's stomach seemed to drop to her feet. Her world was caving. It was a whole canyon of just. . . nothing. Piper felt everything and nothing.

She'd never had a broken heart in her whole life. SHE was the heartbreaker. SHE was in control of relationships.

"Oh." She managed, staring down at her shoes as she dug the heel into the ground. "Okay."

"I'm sorry, Pipes. Friends?"

"Yeah, friends." She smiled, though it was tough.

"Good, I'll see you later." Jason walked off, and she smelled his cologne as it faded into the obscurity of the air.

The longer she stood there, the harder it was to let go. Though they'd only known each other for a short period of time- Piper really liked him. Not love, though. Not love.

Piper needed something. She needed to feel something. It was empty and alone in her cold room.

Reyna was off in who-knows-where. Annabeth was in Chicago for the break in school. Thalia was with Jason at a family holiday event.

There was a fair number of kids still at school. Piper was still there because her dad was at a business event in London. She could be partying with cute British boys, but no, she was stuck in a grey room by herself for a week. Leo and Percy were both there- they were okay.

Piper's writer's block didn't help much either. She could at least be writing their next hits- okay, maybe she needed Annabeth and Thalia to help. So she was pretty much stuck in an endless rut.

"Hell-o?" Piper sung into the phone. "Perc?"

"Yo," Percy said on the other end, fumbling with something that sounded like pans. "What's up, Pipes?"

"I'm bored. Everyone's gone."

"I could come over and make you cookies. I bought some dough for me and Jase, but he's gone and I have enough cookie dough for half of Asia."

"Deal. Bring alcohol."

"You got it. See you soon, Pipes."

"Bye." She hung up, leaning back on her bed.

Piper never really noticed, but Percy smelled faintly like the ocean. Which was bizarre, because there wasn't an ocean for about one hundred miles. He looked fresh and his hair was slightly blue. Piper found it endearing.

So this is why Annabeth liked him so much. He was really cute, but not Jason cute. Crap. Why did she always think about Jason? He was always on her mind.

Piper was fully aware that Percy was her rebound- it was obvious. He didn't really know what had happened between her and Jason, so that was a plus. Percy didn't have to know.

She tried to think about Percy. Percy, Percy, Percy. His hair, his eyes, his smile. . . Jason.

Piper felt like banging her head against the wall. She was hopeless. Unless, maybe, she could do something about it.

As Percy was making her the cookies, humming "Tuesday" by I LOVE MAKONNEN and Drake, Piper kissed Percy. He was shorter than Jason but a bit more muscular, and he carried himself differently. It was odd, but she began to forget about Jason a bit, as all she could think of was Percy.

In the back of her mind, though, all she could hear was "Jason, Jason, Jason. ."

Piper knew she was being dramatic. But she was Piper McLean, gorgeous singer, rich beyond belief. She could afford to be dramatic.

The only thing keeping her from thinking about Jason was Percy and his godly body. That wasn't even a joke. Piper found refuge from her constant thoughts in Percy's lips, his collarbone.

Every time, though, she could see Annabeth's face and her reaction. She would hate Piper for this. They had broken up, and though Annabeth knew this, she still had some feelings for him. Just like Piper's for Jason.

Jason. He came back two days prior. Reyna was still gone, so Thalia roomed with Piper in Reyna's bed.

The melody of Death Cab for Cutie's "Soul Meets Body" flowed through Piper's room as she and Thalia were sitting out back, watching the sun slowly go down and smoking cigarette after cigarette.

"So," Thalia turned to her. "You've been banging Percy? Does Annabeth know?"

"Of course not. Do you want me decapitated?" Piper laughed before taking another drag.

"Annabeth would probably rather you just tell her." Thalia said. "I know it'll be hard. If she doesn't agree, then oh well. If you like Percy, be with Percy."

"You're right." Silence followed her statement, until Piper spoke again. "How are you and Reyna?"

"Good," Thalia nodded. "Though I don't know where she is. She kinda just. . left."

"I know," Piper agreed. "She didn't tell me either."

"I would have liked to know." Thalia said, setting her jaw. "But I guess she didn't tell us for a reason."

"Probably." Piper said, putting her cigarette out in the ashtray. "I'm bored. AHS?"

Thalia smiled. "AHS."

Piper flopped onto her bed and turned on the television. She opened Netflix and selected American Horror Story, then turned it on.

Thalia got up and put the popcorn in the microwave. She flopped on the bed as the theme "do do do do. do, do do do do," played, and the main actors flashed on the screen. "Evan Peters is such a babe," Piper muttered.

"True," Thalia said, smiling. "Twelve outta ten, would bang on a table."

"You're such an ass," Piper smiled, hugging Thalia. "But I can deal."

"Thanks, you're such a doll, Pipes." Thalia said sarcastically.

"I know."

Through the thick fog of the window in the stuffy theater dressing room, Piper thought she could see the lights of the distant city. Her head was tilted to the side, her body feeling cool from the air conditioning yet warm because of Percy.

It was the last day of holiday break, and everyone was back, including Annabeth. Piper took Thalia's advice and told Annabeth she was screwing Percy. Annabeth just shrugged.

"Go ahead," Annabeth said, laughing. "Take him."

"Really? Are you sure?" Piper said.

"Yeah. I'm over it." Annabeth said. "Besides, I found a new guy in Chicago who goes to NYU."

"Who?" Piper's attention peaked.

"His name's Atlas. He said he might visit if he can. NYU's got him so bad, it makes him feel like he's holding up the sky." Annabeth smiled. "But he's sweet."

"That's great, Annie." Piper smiled.

Percy's black-blue hair was beaded with sweat, his eyes a lustful sea green shade. Piper grasped the edge of the small counter, her body being pushed and released from the marble table. The mirrors were fogged as well as the windows.

Suddenly, Piper's phone rang. It was Annabeth.

Piper, you have a visitor. XX Annie

"Crap, Percy, I've gotta go." Piper removed herself and gathered her clothes, kissing Percy quick. "Bye." Piper pulled her shirt and pants on.

"Bye." Percy nodded, pulling his clothes on. Piper ran out of the door and to Piper's room, where Annabeth was sitting.

Jason was sitting next to her.

"Oh, hi, Jason," Piper said, immediately becoming self-conscious. Her ponytail was loose and her eyeliner smudged at the corners. She looked like a wreck.

"Hey, Pipes. I wanted to see if you're going to the film tonight in the theater." Jason smiled.

"Oh, there's a movie? Uhm, okay, yeah. I'll be there."

"Cool." Jason said. "Bye, Annie. See you, Pipes."

Jason left. After he closed the door, Piper sat down on the beanbag where he had just sat. "That was it? A film?''

"He sounded like it was more urgent. Sorry to get your hopes up." Annabeth picked at Piper's messy hair. "Where were you?" Annabeth froze. "Wait, nevermind. I do not want to know. You two are rabbits."

Piper laughed. "Sure, Annie. You and Atlas probably were too."

"Shut up." Annabeth grabbed two root beers from the fridge. She handed one to Piper. "Tonight's movie is the first Harry Potter. Your favorite."

"Aha, when I was, like, twelve." Piper knew that Annabeth was aware of Piper's Harry Potter fanaticism.

"Are you going to go like that?"

"Of course not. I'm classy."

"Mhm. Right."

A/N : I know this is a bad stopping point, but I'm kinda tired.

Merry Christmas,

bugatty.