"Where's Jason?" Piper glanced at her watch nervously. "I hope he's not lost again. Last time, the police found him on the street and it got…complicated."
Thalia checked her phone. "We haven't got any calls from the Police Station yet so I'm guessing he's still good." They were with Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Grover, Nico, Hazel and Frank at Percy's house. Reyna had to do something urgent for her History teacher, probably for extra credit.
"Do you have enchiladas?" Grover rummaged through the fridge in the kitchen.
"Grover, we've been through this. My house isn't your enchiladas source once you're out of your house!" Percy looked annoyed. "We only have enchiladas when my mom buys them and she didn't."
"Damn." Grover shook his head disapprovingly. "So, you were telling us yesterday Principal Stones hired you to be Jason's personal bodyguard?"
"Well, not exactly." Percy paused. "I'm not really his 'bodyguard', but yeah, I have to look out for him and stuff."
"So you decided to invite us to go around town with Jason and you?" Nico sighed. "You don't go anywhere around town except for the pool and the marine museum."
Percy looked offended. "It's not like I'm bringing Jason to the pool or the museum. He doesn't even like the ocean."
"So where are you bringing him?" Annabeth asked curiously.
"I don't know." Percy shrugged. "The mall?"
Leo's eyes darted around the room. "The mall?" he repeated as he got up and took a framed photo on top of a cabinet. "Won't Santa be there?" he grinned as he passed around a photo with Percy around 4 years old on top of Santa's thigh crying.
"Hey, just because I was four at that time and the elf taking that photo has a creepy bull-style nose ring, tattoos all over his face and all these stuff you don't even want to know about doesn't mean I'm afraid of Santa! Why did they hire that guy to be Santa's Elf?" Percy said defensively.
Hazel laughed and put her arm around Frank. Awh! Piper's heart couldn't help soften. They are such a cute couple.
Piper looked at her watch again. Jason is more than half an hour late. Normally, Piper won't care if someone is late. It's not like she's super-bored or something, they're just hanging out. However, this is Jason. Last time, when he was late, it didn't turn out so well. Some police thought he was just a hobo but some got so extreme, they pegged him as an illegal immigrant. Piper didn't even know how they could make such assumptions from a guy looking lost on the streets.
Ever since Jason got out of coma, Piper couldn't help but want to impress him. She knows she had made a deal with Reyna not to pressure Jason into choosing between them but it won't count as pressuring him if he just got a natural crush and ask Piper out..right? Piper won't want Jason so bad but it's like somebody is out there teasing her. Walking around New York everyday, at least she sees five of those really cute couples that seem like they're going to last forever. Ever since Jason came back, Annabeth and Percy seem to be cuter than ever and now there's Frank and Hazel who are just perfect for each other. Every bit of this is making Piper want Jason next to her. She missed Jason for two years and now, Piper just couldn't explain how she felt. Would it be better if Jason stayed in coma?
A+, A+ and B. What? B? Reyna looked carefully at her report card. B. That is impossible. Reyna is an over-achiever. She never, ever get any marks below A. Getting A's would guarantee her a great university. Something like Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford etc. Her sister, Hylla got scholarship to more than 5 Ivy League Universities. Living up to her standards as a younger sister is almost impossible but that's what everyone who knew them expects.
Her mom would kill her. Her dad would be so disappointed. Hylla? Well, she would just look at Reyna and say in a sickly sweet tone "Oh my god, Reyna! That is too bad for you! Try to work harder next time!" over the phone. Reyna knew Hylla didn't mean it. She knew Hylla would love to say "You'll never meet my standards, bitch." but it'll ruin her picture-perfect sisterly image.
"There must be something wrong with this." Reyna grabbed her report card and thrusted it in front of Mr. Freyers. "I couldn't have got a 'B' "
Mr. Freyers looked at his list of grades. "Nope, I graded your work. It's a B"
"But, how can it be? I have researched on World War Two thoroughly, created a presentation A-worthy and even added my version of Anne Frank's diary entry as a bonus!" Reyna protested. "If this is some kind of joke of yours, it's not funny. April Fools Day is months away."
"You know me, Ms. Jennings. I never joke." Mr. Freyer's gaze bore on her. "Now please, I have a meeting to attend."
"I can't leave this room with a 'B'." Reyna shook her head. "Is there something I could do? I could throw in..I don't know, research about Adolf Hitler's playmate when he was 5?"
Mr. Freyers tapped his watch. "I'm sorry. The deadline is over, I couldn't simply extend it for you to add in something like Adolf Hitler's friends during his childhood. It's not fair to others. Imagine how many people would come and demand me to extend their deadlines if I gave you extra time. Now excuse me, I have to go."
"Please!" Reyna pleaded weakly as Mr. Freyers walked out of the door.
"Ms. Jennings," Mr. Freyers paused outside. "Don't be too hard on yourself. It's a tough project, only Ms. Chase got an 'A'. I'll see you tomorrow." then he continued rushing across the hallway.
Reyna's heart couldn't help but burst in jealousy. Annabeth is just so perfect in every way, so perfect it hurts. Who got an 'A' in History? Annabeth. Who was chosen to be President of the Debate team - a team Reyna was most devoted to? Annabeth. Who never had any boyfriend issues? Annabeth. Nobody competed against her for Percy. She is like the 'Hylla' of Reyna's grade.
Oh, why is she friends with Annabeth? Reyna never really knew, maybe it's just because they hung out with the same people. Or Annabeth never gave her reasons to be hated. To be honest, the only person Reyna feels really connected to in the group is Hazel. Piper would have been great if they weren't after the same boy.
What is she going to tell her parents? Having 'B' in her report card won't do.
"Nico, read the text again." Piper ordered as Nico took his phone out.
"Meet me at the mall, in front of the fountain. Sorry, I couldn't make it to Percy's house" Nico read. "He should be here."
Piper groaned as her eyes didn't meet anybody like Jason around the crowded indoor fountain.
"Is there another fountain here?" Frank asked. "Maybe he thought it was suppose to be that fountain."
"Nope." Grover confirmed. "Only one fountain here. Unless you count the one outside."
"Meet me at the mall, in front of the fountain." Hazel repeated. "He didn't say indoors or outdoors. Maybe he is outside wondering where we are."
"Does somebody want to go out and check?" Thalia shrugged and sat down at the fountain side. "I'm just going to sit here until he decides to show up."
Piper immediately volunteered. "I'll go."
"I'll go with her." Annabeth walked towards the double sided automatic doors. "Come on."
Piper's eyes wandered around the huge mall as she and Annabeth made their way out of the doors. Maybe she'll spot Jason somewhere. Accidentally, she bumped into a teenaged boy in front of her.
"Oh, sorry." Piper muttered and looked up.
"Piper?" The boy asked surprised.
"Sky?" (AN: aha..just watched Mama Mia so I decided to name him after the character Sky there. Oh my god, Mama Mia is amazing) Piper blushed. "I..I thought you were in London."
"I came over for a holiday. We had a break from college." Sky explained. Piper blushed further. Sky was her middle school crush. At that time, Sky was in high school and he was just the person all kind of girls would go after. His messy brown hair and chocolate eyes could melt the heart of any girl and his freckles were just oh my god. With his intelligence, wits and charm, everyone loved him. Piper felt butterflies in her stomach.
"How's college." Piper asked trying to break the growing silence between them.
"Not bad." Sky suddenly looked into Piper's eyes which gave her jitters. "There's a party at Ashley Taylor's house next week. Do you want to come along?"
Piper turned beet red. Did he just ask her to go to a party? A college party at Ashley Taylor's house? Ashley Taylor is one of the most popular girls in the neighborhood, the whole neighborhood looks up to her. Even some older women tries to be like her. There are rumors that companies like Victoria's Secret hired her to model their products but as Piper never knew Ashley personally, she didn't know if they were true or not. All she knew about Ashley are from Google and gossips. Although Sky didn't exactly ask her to come together to the party, she'll be in this party with Sky and Ashley. How many kids out there would die to be invited to Ashley Taylor's Party?
"Sure!" Piper smiled trying to hide the excitement bubbling inside of her.
"Awesome. I'll pick you up at 8?" Sky winked and sauntered away. Piper's eyes fixed at him as he walked towards the mall as Annabeth pinched her shoulders.
"Hello, Piper?" Annabeth called.
"Yeah?" Piper blinked dreamily.
"Jason?" Annabeth looked at Piper with the look. Right, Jason.
"He doesn't remember me." Piper sighed. "And he was pretty close with Reyna three years ago and they actually knew each other. It's an extremely minor chance he'll like me anyway. Plus this isn't a date or anything. He didn't ask me out. He just invited me to a party and offered to drive me there."
We write. We Dream. We Fly. Thanks! and yeah, I know I'm crap at tenses.. :\ English isn't my first language but I got a friend who's pretty good at it to check my stories now. Thanks for your advice! :)
Sorry, I didn't get to upload for a long time. Homework :( Anyway, I should be uploading more often as we got a break from school.
Kisses, Emil