Disclaimer: I (sadly) do not own the PJaTO franchise, though I really wish I could. Maybe just in name though, I'll let someone else take responsibility for everything. Since I don't own anything, I'll just spread the Nicercy goodness. C:

I also do not own the lyrics (from Don't Want an Ending by Sam Tsui) that were used as line breakers. All copyrights belong to Sam Tsui. (shameless advertisement) Check him out, he's a damn awesome singer.

A/N: Heyyyy. I'm back with another chapter. It took longer this time, but I've been distracted by (cringes) responsibilities. Yes, I actually did my summer homework. I didn't finish it, but I did do it. Better than nothing.

Warnings: Language (ofc, what would a FullReverse story be without a little cursing), Characters Not In Character (because 1. I am not Rick Riordan, 2. I am just a fanfiction writer, and 3. I'm not perfect), Shameless References, Even More Shameless Ways of Applying Aspects of the Actual PJaTO!verse into My Story.

(Don't want an ending)

Paint Me a Better Tomorrow

V. Worth a Shot

"The right thing isn't always the easiest thing to do. Sometimes, it's the hardest thing to do."

(In one day, no way you'll be mine)

"This win doesn't feel right without Luke," Percy told Leo and Octavian, being the only ones left in the locker room. The others had left immediately after the game to celebrate, while they had to do a few more things before they could leave. "It's like something is missing."

Octavian frowned. "Of course, something's missing. Luke isn't here. But, we can't let that stop us from being happy about our victory. You guys are going to have to let him go." He paused, biting his bottom lip. "I've been thinking, ever since I came to your house, Percy, that we should just let Luke go."

"What?"

"Luke's in his own world right now. There's nothing we can do to help him."

Octavian laughed bitterly. "The best thing we can do is be there for him, but how can we even do that if he pushes us away? I'm not a saint. I can't wait for him forever."

"I know, Octavian, I know," Percy replied with a sigh. "I know that you can't be patient with him forever. No one has that willpower. And, no one deserves that responsibility. But, are you going to give up on him just like that?"

"Yeah," Leo agreed. "He's your boyfriend, your teammate, your best friend. Is that what you really want?"

Octavian shook his head, slumping against the wall. "Either way, I'm screwed. I'm hurt if I care and I'm hurt if I don't. I can't do anything to help him. He's already too far gone."

"What about our revenge?" Percy asked. "That could help him, couldn't it?" His voice was hopeful, almost to a fault, but even he, deep down, knew that it wouldn't do much help. It was just wishful thinking and naivety as he was starting to realize.

"I'm not giving up on that," Octavian explained. "I still want to get them back for everything they've done, but I'm not doing it for Luke, not exactly."

"If not for Luke, then for who?" asked Leo.

"For us," he replied with finality. "They humiliated every one of us on the court, not to mention injuring Luke in the process. Yes, I am still intent on avenging Luke, but I know, just as well as you do, that it won't help him come back. Avenging him is a small part of the whole thing. I want to reclaim our dignity and beat them. Give them a taste of defeat without stooping down to their level."

"I know it's stupid," Percy said, after being silent of a moment, "but, I want to believe this revenge sequence will help Luke. My heart desperately wants to trust in that, but my mind knows otherwise. He has done a lot for us, but we can't do anything in return."

"I feel like it's the least we could do, especially after all he has done for us, you know?" Leo added. "But, I know that what we're doing isn't the right thing. It's just that sometimes, the thing you have to do isn't right."

"We have to try, Octavian," Percy cried, his voice breaking at the end. "even if the results won't end up like we think, we have to try." He laid his head against his knees and closed his eyes. Even now, his words were starting to sound weak in his ears. There had been seeds of doubt ever since he declared that revenge would help Luke. He had always pushed them aside, but they grew and grew, until he could ignore them no more.

"You and I both know that you don't believe that," Leo whispered, a bittersweet smile gracing his features. "I've doubted this revenge ever since Annabeth confronted us about it. I-I don't think it will work out like we want. It won't help Luke. If anything, it will push him away, seeing what it had made us become. It's a new start, a new season. We're beginning fresh again. There is no need to dwell on the past. We have the future to think about."

"Revenge on the Titans for our own sake will be one of our goals, but it's not the most important goal," Octavian continued. "We have to get our heads in the game."

Percy smiled weakly at the reference and sighed. "I guess, there is no way around it. You're right. I've just been denying it for a while. I-it's just I feel useless that I can't do anything in return for you, you know?"

"You're too kind, Percy," the blonde commented, shaking his head. "Just forget Luke, forget everyone else for a moment, and think of yourself. Being a friend isn't always about being selfless and self-sacrificing. You have to think about yourself as well." The Jackson has a sheen of tears in his eyes, but he didn't cry. He took a deep breath and gave his friends a determined smile.

"I probably won't get out of this mindset for a while, but I'm going to try. I can't let myself be caught up in the past like that. I need to focus on the present more than anything."

"That's wonderful, Percy," Leo praised with a grin. "I know it's not easy for you to change what you've been thinking so long, but I'm happy that you are at least trying. And, that's all that matters."

Octavian just smiled, nodding in agreement. "Now that, that's finished" - he was almost hesitant to say that the situation was completely done, but he let it rest. Percy still needs time to fully understand what he decided to do - "We should get going. If I remember correctly, there is a celebratory dinner for all of us at home."

Percy smiled. It was nice to hear Octavian calling their house, "home". They had been doing their best to help his teammate feel at home and it was rewarding to see that their work had paid off.

Beside him, Leo and Octavian stood with a soft smile. They both extended a hand to their friend to help him stand. Percy grasped their offered and pulled himself up with a grin.

"Let's go home," he said. "I think some food will take my mind of all this for a while." They all laughed and headed out the door. Neither one looked back, as they left their problems behind.

(Two weeks later…)

"It's nice to see you guys listening to my advice for once," Annabeth remarked, hiding a smug smile behind her homework assignment.

Percy and Leo groaned from their own work corner of Leo's room. "Just say it already," Percy mumbled, resting his head against a textbook. "You were right from the start, oh wise girl of the wise. It was a profound experience for you to grace us with you wisdom and we were wrong to disregard it."

"I'm not going to say it," Annabeth. "This time. I'm just glad that you've been rethinking revenge. I'm happy that it was just a phase. I'm proud of you two." 'Wish Luke could learn from these two.'

Leo shrugged. They haven't exactly forgotten about revenge, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her. "We have more important things to worry about."

"Like, our next game with Yancy for example," Percy nodded when he noticed Annabeth's questioning expression. "Even if they were an easy win last year, we can't underestimate. A lot can happen in a year." He couldn't help, but think of Luke. With a slight frown, he pushed those thoughts away. 'I said I would stop thinking about him, didn't I?'

"Thinking about Luke, are up?" Annabeth asked knowingly. "You know, with the way you're always talking about Luke, it's like you still have a crush on him and not Mr. Gorgeous Italian Adonis."

"What?" Percy flushed ten-fold, glaring at Annabeth. "You know as much as I do that I don't have a crush on Luke. I'll leave that with Octavian." He winced at that. He knew that their relationship was not going well. "I may have a small crush on Nico, but that's all."

"Keep denying it, seaweed brain," she replied, rolling her eyes. "We all know that your crush on him is anything, but small, if your blush is anything to go by. And, you're not alone either." She made a point to glance at Leo. "You can't forget Leo and Mr. Hot Blonde."

The boy groaned. "Why do I have to get involved, too?"

"Because it's cute," Annabeth answered with a giggle that was very unlike her.

"I'm glad you find our inner turmoil cute," Percy replied dryly. Annabeth just waved off the comment and grinned. "What are you going to do about your crush?"

"Nothing," Leo replied with a shrug. "They're busy doing other things now." He seemed a little sad with his forlorn expression, but the impish boy quickly perked up with a grin. "But no matter, if they want us, they should act like it. If not, well, there's always more fish in the sea."

Percy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, so, we may have a little - maybe, more than a little - crush on them, but if they don't pursue it, then I won't act on it."

Annabeth shook her head, frowning. "I don't where you got such a stupid idea in mind. Sometimes, you have to take the initiative. Jason and Nico aren't busy all the time because they want to, you know. I've seen those sluts, I mean, cheerleaders, whatever those girls are, crowd over them ever since your game with Goode. It's not their choice in the matter. You should give them a chance. Before the next game, try to organize a study date or basketball practice just for the four or two of you alone. It might just get your relationship rolling."

"Do you know what you're asking of us?" Leo asked, his eyes wide. "You want us to ask them out on a date. A date! you make it seem so easy. Do you expect us to ask, 'Hey, Jason, Nico, want to go shoot some hoops with us this weekend?'"

"Yes," Annabeth replied with such seriousness that it scared the boys. "You make it too complicated. For once, you're the ones thinking too hard. Just ask them and make it appear platonic, like an innocent meetup. It's your choice to decide if you want more."

Percy choked. "If I want more? If I want more? Are you insane? I can't do that. That's like you asking Reyna on a date. That's impossible. And, where are you getting all this dating advice from? A book?"

Annabeth flushed. "Don't bring her into all of this. Don't turn this around on me. And, no, I didn't get this from a book. I've just been around Piper and her mom for a bit too much, that's all."

"Right," Leo hummed, turning his attention to the assignment at hand. He tried - unsuccessfully - to hide his snickers and Annabeth glared at him.

"How about this?" she proposed, trying her best to will the fervent blush away. "If you can somehow get Nico and Jason to go on a date with you, I'll ask Reyna out, as well."

Leo whistled. "You sure you want this, Annie? That will take a lot of courage. You could be setting yourself up for rejection."

"I know," Annabeth said resignedly with a sigh. "But if you guys can somehow do, then I can, too."

Percy pinned Leo down with a questioning glare, narrowing his eyes when he received a nod in return. Leo just shrugged. "What more can we lose? We're just their teammates. It won't cause any more awkwardness than what we already have. We do we have to lose?"

"I guess, that's true," Percy said hesitantly. "It won't hurt to try. Wise girl, you have yourself a deal." He shot her a weak smile, only to receive one in return. What have they done?

With a groan, he sprawled across Leo's bed, hugging a dragon plushie fondly named "Festus" to his chest. "We are so going to regret us."

"Regret what?" two voices asked, slightly amused, but more curious than anything. Jake and Beckendorf popped their heads into the room. "Is it relationship problems I hear?"

"Jake! Beckendorf!" Leo exclaimed happily, until he noticed someone was missing. "Wait, where's Nyssa?"

"She's still at the garage," Jake replied, "She's helping Dad close up. Now, what is this about regret I hear?"

"If me and Percy go on a date with our crush, Annabeth has to ask out Reyna," Leo explained with a shrug. "It's part of our deal."

"Your crushes being a Nico di Angelo and a Jason Grace, right?" Leo's brothers asked with a knowing grin.

"Yeah. Wait. How did you know?"

"Triton and Tyson told us a couple days ago. They thought it was cute," Beckendorf replied.

Percy huffed, hugging Festus tighter. "Traitors."

"Why are you going to regret this?" From what they heard, the three of them seem pretty close to their crushes.

"Our crushes probably don't even like us," Annabeth answered, putting their fears out to light. "At least, not in that way." She had a sad expression that seemed so out of place on her usually subdued features. Jake and Beckendorf immediately lost their amused looks. 'So, this is what's troubling them. Fuck.'

"All crushes start out like that. Sometimes, it leads to more," soothed Jake, trying his best to alleviate their fears. He didn't need to mention that crushes could also go the other way. They already knew. And from the looks on their faces, it's what they believed would happen to them. "That's how it started with me and Will." He had a fond smile at the mention of his boyfriend.

"I was the typical football player and he was the smart honor student." The word nerd was practically implied. "I thought he would never like someone like me, especially since I hung out with the wrong sort." He was embarrassed to admit, since it wasn't his best of choices, but for their sake, the shame was worth it.

"There is a but, isn't there."

Jake grinned at Annabeth, nodding his affirmation. "Atta girl. Will's butt was, is, quite fine, but that's not it. As much as I want to admit it, I was wrong. I thought Will would never like someone like me, but one day, I saw him at one of our games. I knew he wasn't one for sports. He practically hated football. After that day, I started noticing that he was always at our games. I thought he was forced into it or something like that, but my friend told me that it was because he had a crush on someone on the team."

"You."

"Well, I didn't know it at first," Jake confessed with a shrug of his shoulders. "I was pretty sad and jealous after learning that, but I also learned that he liked guys. Which meant I still had a chance. So after that, I tried to befriend him by asking him to tutor me."

"You what?" Percy questioned incredulously, sitting up to listen. "How did you do that?"

"I don't know. I just did it. It took me a lot of practicing in the mirror, though." He had a sheepish smile, as he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"What Jake is trying to say," Beckendorf elaborated when Annabeth gave a skeptical glance, "is that you have to take the risk. You can't just let the crush go. You never know what you could miss."

"You should tell them how you and Silena got together," Jake suggested.

Beckendorf blushed in mortification, but nodded. That immediately captured Annabeth and Percy's attention, while Leo just snickered. He was already told this story.

"Silena, as you know, is my girlfriend," he began. "She was a cheerleader and I was just another player on the football team, as cliché it sounds. I didn't really know much about her back then - just that she was really pretty. I never really took notice of anything besides football, school, and Cabin Nine [1] at that point. Then, I started getting these little notes in my locker-"

"Which he totally still has," Jake interjected with a shit-eating grin. At his older brother's glare, he just laughed. "Sorry, lover boy. Go on telling your story. I won't interrupt again."

"They were all really sweet, asking me if I had a great day or telling me how great I was at the last game. I began looking for the person who wrote these notes, but they always managed to get away. During this time, I actually began to notice Silena and learned that she was more than just a pretty face. One day, I caught her placing a note into my locker. It was pretty embarrassing when she asked me out after, but I said yes. And here we are, a couple years later."

"So, moral of the story, kids," continued Jake, "is to just take the risk. We did - well, Silena and I did - and look where we are now, happy with our boyfriends."

"It's not going to be that easy," Annabeth remarked.

"Oh, it isn't," Jake replied with a shake of his head. "Love is never easy, but you have to try. Promise me that you guys will at least give it a shot." He stared pointedly at each one of them until they nodded and made a pinky promise with him to seal the deal. "Good I just want you guys to be happy. Happiness isn't something you should give up so readily. Fight for it every chance you get."

"Even if you have no chance?" The hesitation in Percy's voice was almost heartbreaking. Jake and Beckendorf shared a look. This was much more than a simple crush.

"You don't know that yet," Beckendorf said. "There's always a chance. It might be with your crush, it might not, but…"

"You still have to try, right?"

The two older Valdez brothers nodded, smiling softly. "That's right. Now, who wants to help us with dinner? We're making burgers." The enthusiastic yeses made them laugh. They just hoped their advice did something to help.

. . .

(The next day…)

"How the hell do we get rid of them?" Jason whispered harshly, not breaking his smile directed at the girls at the door. He then broke the smile, scowling instead, when he figured that it was only encouraging them more.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Nico shot back, glaring at the girls wit his lips curled in distaste. "They've been following us around for a while. Don't you think I would have gotten rid of them a long time ago if I knew?"

Jason frowned and glanced back at the door. The sight of them pressing their arms against their breasts to make them appear larger and the insane amount of makeup applied to create the illusion of beauty sickened him, causing him to look away in disgust. "Whatever, just figure out a way for us to get out of here. Preferably alive."

"I don't think that is happening anytime soon," Nico replied dismally. "You know how they are. They won't stop, until they get what they want." Jason groaned, slumping back into his chair.

"Is this how I'm going to die?" he moaned miserably, mistakenly eliciting several breathy moans of pleasure from the crowd. "It will be all over the news. I can see the headlines now, 'Boy and His Best Friend Dies in a Classroom Due To Extreme Exposure To Cheerleaders!'" He flailed his arms dramatically, causing Nico to crack a smile, but it still did not deter them from their current situation. But just when they were about to lose hope, the two of them heard of the voice of an angel.

"Can you please move out of the way?" Percy asked exasperatedly, crossing his arms in frustration. He sighed when the girls wouldn't budge. He could already feel a headache forming. Fucking girls. They are such a hassle.. 'And, this is why I'm gay.'

"Well, being nice isn't going to work, Perce," Leo pointed out lowly. In a louder voice, he exclaimed, "Oh my god, is that Mr. Apollo shirtless?"

"What?Where?" the girls wondered, scanning the area. They pushed Leo and Percy out of the way and ran into the hallway. The two basketball players quickly picked themselves up and ran into the classroom, closing the door behind them.

"How did you know that would work?" Percy asked.

Leo shrugged. "If there was anyone else the girls are more obsessed over than Jason and Nico, it had to be Apollo. And, him shirtless is basically a treat for anyone. There was no way they would pass up a chance like that." His voice dropped down to a whisper. "Hell, I wouldn't pass a chance like that."

"Thank you for that," Jason suddenly spoke up, thankfully having not heard what Leo uttered. The two glanced over at him, startled, just noticing the blonde for the first time.

"Uhhh, you're welcome," Leo replied, scratching his neck nervously at Jason's presence. "Were you cornered in here by them?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Nico sighed, running a hand through his hair. Percy turned to look at him, feeling a pang of something he couldn't describe. But, he quickly pushed it away and forced a smile. 'Definitely more than just a crush.'

Nico felt something was off about the smile, but decided not to voice it. It was nice to see Percy, since he hasn't seen much of the other boy, other than at practice or in class. He regretted not being able to approach the boy, but the leeches - er, girls - left him with no choice. He supposed he could have tried harder to get past the girls, but they were truly relentless.

"So, why are you here?" Nico asked, getting out of his stupor.

Percy blinked, as if remembering. "Oh, I almost forgot." He paused and grinned sheepishly at him. "I may have forgotten my book here."

"I didn't know you had AP Chemistry," Jason remarked, sounding a little surprised.

Percy shrugged. "You never asked."

"Do you have good grades in this class?" Nico asked suddenly, sporting a hopeful expression. He desperately needed a tutor for this god-forsaken class.

"I'd say I'm fairly decent," Percy replied modestly.

"Decent?" Leo repeated with a snort. "An A+ most definitely decent."

Percy blushed slightly and cleared his throat. "I have pretty good grades in this class. Why?"

"I haven't been doing so well in this class lately," Nico admitted, a little ashamed. "Can you tutor me?"

"Sure," Percy replied, maybe a little too quickly, causing Leo to snicker. He tried to force down his brush and continued, "When do you want to start?

"

"Today, if possible," came Nico's reply. "I want to start as soon as possible, so I won't be behind."

"Alright, where will we meet?"

"At my house, I'll give you my address, if that's alright with you."

Percy nodded, feeling a little giddy that he managed to land a date - uhhh, study session - with Nico so quick. At his house, no less. But more than anything, he was just happy to spend some time with Nico, even if it was just to tutor him. 'If Leo gets asked, too, then Annabeth will have to ask Reyna out.'

"Hey, Leo," Jason addressed, once a silence fell over them. "You have AP US History, right?"

Leo nodded. "Are you having trouble in that class?"

"You said it, not me," Jason denied. "But, yeah, I need your help. American history isn't something I know very well."

"When do you want to start?"

"How about today?" he suggested. "You can tutor me at Nico's house, so we all meet in one place. "God knows it would be horrible to have Leo meet Hera. That woman was a right bitch.

"Alright." Nico scribbled his address onto a scrap of paper and handed it to Percy. If his hand lingered a second longer than necessary, neither decided to voice it. "Here's where I live. See you after school?"

Percy nodded as he grabbed his chemistry book. He smiled at Nico and Jason, heading towards the door with Leo following in suit. "I'll see you then, Nico."

When they stepped into the hallway, Percy released a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Did that just really happen?"

"I wonder if they really need tutoring," Leo murmured. That thought left a smile on their faces for the rest of the day. 'It's a date.'

(Where it's just you and me

and honestly,

that's everything I need)

So, that's it for this chapter. I'll try to update Chapter Six as fast as I can, but no promises. (sorry)

Terms Used in This Chapter:

[1] Cabin Nine - The name of the garage the Valdez family (including Hephaestus, Nyssa, Jake, Beckendorf, and Leo) owns

I will not apologize for the High School Musical Reference, haha.

Until next time, I am FullReverse. ^-^