A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry I abandoned this story! I didn't mean to, it's just that I got really busy with all my classes and I did have a teeny bit of free time, but I always get really anxious when I try to use my free time to focus on something that isn't what I should be focusing on. This is just a filler chapter and I have to go back and edit it, but I had a hard time writing it as well, hence being MIA for so long. I'm working loads this summer, but no stress so expect proper updates! Also thank you to LivelyEmeraldGreenEyes for putting my baby (this story) on their Personal Percy Jackson Favorites list-having people love my story is the dream. Love you guys and don't forget to favorite and review.

Chapter 9: I'm Just a Sad Song

After a very hungover Piper disappeared behind aspirin, some sunglasses, and a casual-yet-still-trendy outfit of cut-offs and a flowy white blouse, Annabeth drove them to the address Percy had sent her. She had never been to his house before, but she wasn't surprised by what she saw. The house was a generically well-made house. It was on the larger side, as a celebrity's house was expected to be, but wasn't too large for someone who was chill and lived alone like Percy. It didn't represent who Percy was but it didn't not represent him either—rather, it conveyed someone who was fulfilling expectations rather than doing what he wanted. That seems to fit Percy rather well, Annabeth thought grimly.

Annabeth put in the code Percy had texted her and waved to the guard at the gate. She started driving up the driveway. When she parked, she took a deep breath.

"Why are you so nervous, Annie? You've already met all of these guys at my party. Unless—" Piper stopped. "You want to make a good impression! You like him! Omg I was right, and we can go on double dates with the hot cousins and—"

Annabeth stopped Piper, irritated by her rambling. "I do not like Percy, Pipes. His bandmates seem nice enough but I have no idea what they're like normally. Also, you're definitely able to see through our act. I don't know how much his bandmates know, but he definitely didn't tell them it was a set up when we were at your party. Even if they only knew him half as well as you know me, we still wouldn't survive."

"Stop rambling, Annabeth," Piper retorted, opening the door. You guys fool me half the time, so I'm sure you'll be fine." The girls got out and walked to the door.

After ringing the doorbell, the girls heard a bunch of commotion come from inside the house. Leo opened the door with a large grin on his face, with Percy panting behind him. "Hey ladies," Leo said, winking. "Welcome to the Casa Jackson."

"Leo," Percy said, trying to catch his breath. "For the last time. We are not calling my place 'Casa Jackson'."

"You're no fun, Jackson," Leo pouted. "Anyway," he continued, moving from the door. "Come in, come in."

The girls followed the guys into the basement, where the rest of the guys were lounging with their various instruments. "Hey boys," Piper said, smirking. Jason, who was leaning back in a stool with his feet up on the table, tickling a guitar, half fell over when he saw her. He barely managed to save his guitar from certain doom and propped himself back into his seat, grinning. Piper's grin widened in response.

"So guys, shall we provide the girls with a sample of our music?" Jason said, still trying to recover from his momentary flustered behavior.

"Kronos?" Nico asked, quietly. Annabeth remembered this song from way back when she listened to their music. It brought back several memories, many of which she didn't want to come up in this moment.

Leo counted them off and they all went into the song. It was equal parts ballad and edge. Leo's drumline was hard and Nico's delicate fingers struck the chords beautifully on the keyboard, while Frank kept up a baseline that was as strong as him but still gentle. Jason ripped into his guitar, while Piper watched, fascinated. Percy, meanwhile, played chords and sang about time—the sands of time ebbing and flowing, bringing him and a past love within each other's grasps, but pulling them apart because the timing wasn't right. Annabeth saw his torment and couldn't help but wonder if he was just empathetic, or if this was a real part of Percy—a part that was just hidden under all the womanizing and crude jokes. Despite the media's criticism about Annabeth for 'only writing love songs' and allegedly being a serial dater, Annabeth needed to get out all of her emotions, and she appreciated the need for others to do that. She wondered who had hurt Percy, and felt even closer to him after this display of vulnerability.

The closing chords to the song rang out as the guys stood motionless. Percy panted and wiped his face—Annabeth couldn't tell if the liquid was sweat, tears, or both. It was probably both, she assumed. Annabeth and Piper gave them a standing ovation, Piper smiling widely while Annabeth held back tears. Now was not the time to unload emotional baggage. Piper put her arm around Annabeth and gave her an unassuming squeeze. The guys smiled, oblivious; conferred; and launched into another song. They played one amazing song after another, so Annabeth figured that this was the set list for their previous tour.

"And now, ladies," Percy smiled, "We are going to play our newest single, from our newest album. This is 'Amnesia'."

Annabeth immediately remembered listening to this when she bought The Lost Hero. Percy and Jason both sang on it. They were amazing when they sang separately, but they were even better when they joined forces—Annabeth marveled at their cousin-best friend bond and almost wished she had a band to process her feelings with through music. Her friends were wonderful and always listened to her songs, but performing together was different—the closest she had ever gotten was songwriting with Thalia.

"You guys are amazing," Annabeth said, quietly. Percy came over to her, about to give her a hug and kiss. She accepted the hug, but went in for a kiss on the cheek.

"Annabeth, they don't know about us," Percy whispered, kissing her ear. Annabeth responded by dragging her lips to his and giving a quick peck.

"Happy?" she whispered, forcing a smile. Before Percy could answer, she changed her expression to a wondering one to prevent it from cracking. "Where's your bathroom?"

"The easiest to reach is probably the one just at the top of the stairs."

"Ok. Hey Piper," Annabeth called out to her friend, who was talking to the other guys. "Bathroom?"

"Um…" Piper trailed off. "Sure!" She said, seeing Annabeth raise her eyebrows.

"Man, chicks are weird," Leo huffed.

"Yeah. I definitely dodged a bullet there," Nico snickered.

The guys continued talking and Jason came up to Percy. "Dude, that's the best you've ever played," he whispered.

"Bro," Percy joked, pretending to get all misty-eyed.

"Bro," Jason responded. "But for real," he continued after a minute, "Annabeth makes you perform so much better."

"What?" Percy said, confused. "I played and sang the same way as always…"

"Come on, Percy. You don't need to try to be a tough guy around me. That's the best guitar I've heard you play in a long time, and you were near tears during some of those songs. The guitar was definitely because of Annabeth, but now that I think about it, do you miss—"

"No." Percy cut Jason off. "I'm fine, and any difference in my playing is purely coincidental. I have no idea what you're talking about." Percy said, going upstairs.

Piper washed her hands as Annabeth peed behind her. "Are you okay, Annie?" Piper asked, looking over her shoulder.

"No, Pipes, I'm not," Annabeth said, close to tears. She flushed the toilet and moved to stand next to Piper and wash her hands. "I like Percy's music a lot, but some of the music reminds me of Luke. Especially Kronos. We loved that song. I thought I was over him, but sometimes I get these waves of missing him, and it's just so shitty." Annabeth's tears started coming in full force.

"Annabeth," Piper whispered, pulling her friend close. "I know you miss Luke, but he was so horrible to you—you can't think that way. Normally, I wouldn't recommend this, but as it's been two years, you just need to have an infinitely more fulfilling relationship to show you that you don't miss what you had with Luke."

"But how can I?" Annabeth sobbed quietly into Piper's shoulder. "Percy and I are fake dating, so I can't really date someone until that's over. Reyna's got this planned at least through my album release in October, and probably into the new year."

"Dude, then have something with Percy."

Annabeth looked at Piper disbelievingly. "Ew."

"Look, I know that you have your heart set on not falling for him, and you're not the kind to do things without emotions, but just flirt with him. You're friends, right? It'll be fun."

"Fun… I mean, yeah, fine," Annabeth said blankly.

"Alright, now are you ready to go? All cried out?" Piper asked, holding Annabeth's shoulders. Annabeth weakly nodded. "If they ask why we took so long, allude to periods. Or better yet, makeup. Which reminds me," she said, pulling out some concealer and attacking Annabeth's face.

"Thank you, Piper," Annabeth said, smiling.

"Any time."

When the girls exited the bathroom, they realized all the guys had moved upstairs, and they followed all of the commotion to the kitchen. Leo and Frank were practicing some wrestling moves while Nico and Percy raided the fridge and Jason sat on the couch in the living room, reading a book and wearing glasses. Piper gave Annabeth a look and made her way over to the couch, where she sat down next to Jason and prodded him about his book. Annabeth joined Nico and Percy by the fridge and stole a bowl of grapes right out of Percy's hand. He protested and they joked, just as she had come to expect they would. Soon, Nico, Frank, and Leo joined them and they all tried to throw food into each other's mouths. Jason and Piper contributed some commentary, and before Annabeth knew it, she was competing with Leo to see who was the best at catching food, her heartbreak far behind her.