A/N: Hey, I'm back. I am soo sorry it took so long. I had state tests and 4 projects due. So I'll be posting one of these options next week to make it up.

-New chapter of Begin Again

-New Chapter of The Third Wheel

-New Story

Vote for which one you want to see in the reviews.

Please favorite and Review! They make my day!

"No, my son, you twist to the right, not the left," Hephaestus corrected. Leo nodded and turned the wrench to the right. Hephaestus was satisfied with his son's work. "Alright, I think you're done for the day." Leo grinned in response, but simply added, "Nah, I think I'll stay here dad. It's not like I've got any friends to hang out with."

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then more the reason to get out of the workshop and make more friends." He shoved Leo out, and gave a simple 'goodbye' before slamming the door in his face.

Leo sighed. He might as well text Piper, she was his only close friend. Sure, he was friends with Jason, but they weren't too fond of each other.

Hey, it's Leo. Wanna meet up somewhere?

Sure. Jason and I are meeting up at the mall. Come along, I'll see you there.

Leo frowned a bit. He knew he was intruding on something, but he honestly just didn't want to be alone. Leo had been alone his whole life, and now that he had friends, he wanted to take advantage of it.

He changed into (slightly) nicer clothes and walked the short distance to the mall. Piper told him to meet her and Jason at the food court, but he had yet to find them. And so Leo ended up wandering the mall for an extra ten minutes before he saw the short stature that belonged to Piper McLean. "Yo Pipes!" Leo called out. The shorter girl whirled around, eyes wide. She looked like a deer in headlights. She placed a hand on her heart. "Geez, Leo, you scared me!" He flashed her a toothy grin. "So, where's Superman?"

Piper blushed at the nickname. "Oh, Jason? He won't be here for another ten minutes or so." Leo nodded. There was quite the awkward silence between the two of them until Leo decided to break it like taking a hammer to glass. "JASON, BRO, C'MERE YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S WAITIN'!" Piper smacked him, hard, as Jason approached the duo with the reddest cheeks you'll ever see. Though he didn't deny the 'girlfriend' part, he said, "Leo, I am not your bro."

Leo grinned, "Uh huh. If I'm not your bro, then Piper's your girlfriend." Jason gulped and scratched the back of his neck. "Uh...she's not...she's not..." Piper clapped her hands together to save Jason from impending doom. "Well, I have to go to my half-sister's birthday party and I plan to look good, so, let's go!" She got up from her seat and grabbed the two boys by their wrists, dragging them to a nearby shop.

Leo's feet had never been so sore.

Piper led them to store after store, trying on dress after dress, before she called it quits five hours later.

Even though Leo was with two other people, he felt withdrawn and isolated. Jason and Piper kept holding hands, and Leo knew he was witnessing the beginning of something, but he didn't know what. It didn't help that they were fast walkers too, so Leo was continuously left behind. The worst part of it all? Even when he was around they hardly noticed him.

They were always laughing at something, and it bothered Leo that he didn't know. So he put on a fake smile and put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes Leo, you need to feel sad in order to understand what being happy feels like,his mother's voice echoed in his head. He shook it out. He didn't need to think about her now, too. It would only make things worse.

By the end of the ordeal that Piper called 'shopping,' she had bought three dresses, two pairs of shoes, and five purses and other accessories. Leo was suddenly relieved he wasn't a girl. He could only imagine the drain he would have on his parents's pay. Piper had pretty damn close maxed out her credit card, so Leo and Jason had to pay for around half of it. She squealed in excitement and squeezed the two of them in a group hug.

"Are you sure you don't need a ride home, Leo?" Piper asked as she walked toward her black Honda Accord. Leo shook his head. "Nah, I'll be fine. I don't think walking a few blocks is going to matter." "Alright then. I'll see you at school on Monday; have a safe walk home, ok?" She said as she stepped into the driver seat of the car. Leo waved solemnly as Piper backed out of her parking space. She gave a final wave and sped off to her father's mansion.

Leo sighed and turned around. He decided that he'd sulk the whole way home.

I wonder if it's because I'm so scrawny. Is that why? I don't think so. No, it's not about me. Other people control-

Leo's thoughts were interrupted as he smacked into something soft. He felt his knees go weak and a foreboding feeling crept into his stomach as he lost balance and fell on top of the person he ran into. He glanced at the ground, confused, and realized who he was on top of.

He'd fallen on top of Reyna.

She had ear buds in her ears and from what he could hear Leo guessed it was Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday. He raised an eyebrow. He didn't think Reyna would listen to something like that. Her hair was in a ponytail, not her usual style, but she was still pretty to him. She was also sweating, she was probably out for a run. Leo blushed as he mumbled his apologies and got up from the awkward position.

He reached out a hand. Reyna didn't take it. "Green day, huh?" Leo said, trying to strike up a conversation. Reyna nodded. "Yes. Thalia introduced them to me. I listened to 21 guns first. Then I listened to their other songs, and decided I liked them." By now they had already started walking back. Leo ran a hand through his messy hair. "Eh. Paramore's better." Reyna shook her head, making her ponytail swing back in forth. "Nope. Not even that band can beat 'em. No rock band will ever have better guitar solos. Ever listen to Neon Trees?" Leo nodded.

They ended up talking about different bands that they liked, ranging from U2 all the way to Maroon 5. It turned Reyna listened to all types of music-except country.

"Can I have your number?"

Leo stopped dead in his tracks. He never, ever, ever expected a girl to ask for his number, especially one of the most popular (and prettiest)in school.

He gulped. "Sure."

Sensing his nervousness, Reyna laughed. "Oh, you doofus, it's just asking for a number to talk; I'm not asking you on a date or anything." Leo rubbed the back of his neck. Reyna's fits of laughter was not helping with his embarrassment. Reyna whipped out her phone. "Here, write your name and number. Oh yeah, and choose two emojiis. I do that for everyone. Choose wisely," she advised.

After careful consideration, Reyna's contact for Leo looked like this:

Super Awesome McShizzle?

Reyna took it and frowned. Looking up, she said, "Super Awesome McShizzle isn't your name." Leo shrugged. "So?" Reyna rolled her eyes. "Never mind. See you tomorrow, Valdez." Leo raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow? But tomorrow's Sunday." Reyna nodded. "Exactly. You're coming with me to find a dress for Silena's party." Leo groaned, a noise in the back of his throat, and it made Reyna blush furiously. He raised his hands up in the air. "But I just got done with shopping with Piper!" Reyna almost giggled, but she decided to hold it back.

She waved one last time a Leo before walking home. Leo stood at the doorway, and looked at her retreating form. He still didn't understand why, and wouldn't ever understand, that Reyna thought of their outing to the mall as a date.