*sings* Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to meeee, happy birthday to me! Lol yep, it's my birthday. I am now…another year older lol. I'm not telling you all how old I am. Older. That's all you need to know. I'm actually writing this ahead of time so I can post it on my birthday, so it's all ready at midnight :).

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Octavian's POV

…

I blinked my eyes open and yawned. Then grunted when I couldn't move. My vision was still blurry from sleep, so I couldn't quite figure out why I wasn't able to move. But my vision soon cleared, and I found myself staring at the sleeping face of Percy. He was smiling in his sleep, and he had his arms around my waist, holding me to him. I placed my head on his chest and closed my eyes, listening to the steady pound of his heart. He was reassuring. It was the first night I hadn't had a nightmare in over two years. Well, more than once a night anyway. I'd had no trouble falling asleep once Percy climbed in bed with me. I didn't make a habit of relying on people when I had nightmares, but he was willing.

I ran my fingertips over the fabric of his shirt and breathed in his scent. He smelled of chlorine. And something else. Winter mint. That was it. He smelled of mint. One of my favorite scents. I snuggled up against him, and his grip on me tightened even further. I gasped out a breath and his grip relaxed. Now he was loosely holding me, a smile on his face. His sea-green eyes opened and he turned to look at me.

"Morning Tavy," he said, yawning. "TGIF, know what I mean?" He chuckled. "The end of the week. I can't believe it's Friday, Tavy. I have…I think cross country practice tonight. After that, wanna go out to dinner?" I made a face.

"Please no more food," I said, rubbing my stomach. It felt stuffed full still. "I can't eat any more or I'm going to be sick. We could do something else…wait. Are you asking me out on a date?" He laughed.

"Damn right," he said. "If we're really going to do this thing, I'm courting you like a proper gentleman. So, my little damsel in distress, what shall we do tonight, if you don't want food?" I pondered that. I mean, what exactly could we do? A lot of places involved shoveling food and calories into me, something of which was not appreciated right now. "Movies?" he asked. Another face.

"I hate going to the movie theater," I said. "What else could we do? Shopping?"

"No thanks," Percy said. "I hate going with anybody, no offense meant." I shrugged. I didn't really want to go shopping. It was just a random idea. I tapped my chin. For having so much in this city, there was nothing to do. Suddenly, a slow smile spread across Percy's features. "I have the perfect idea," he told me.

"Do tell, do tell," I said, looking up at him. But he zipped his lips shut and shook his head.

"Not telling," he said. "Leave the details to me. Meet me at my locker after school. You can come to practice and we can leave for our date after that, kay?" I didn't have the heart to argue. Actually, I was pretty sure that my heart was trying to launch out of my chest. Percy freaking Jackson just asked me out on a date! Do you know how many girls (and guys) wish they could be in my place right now? "Whatcha thinking?" Percy asked me, throwing the covers off and climbing out of the bed. I whimpered in protest. Where was my furnace going? "We have to get ready for school," he reminded me.

"Do we have to?" I asked. "Can't we skip?" Percy's eyebrows shot into his hair and he shook his head in wonderment.

"Tavy not wanting to go to school, unbelievable," he mumbled to himself. "Well, I have to, or I can't attend practice tonight. Jason would strangle me if I didn't show up."

"He cares a lot about you, doesn't he?" I asked, feeling little pangs of jealous. Which was ridiculous. I shouldn't be jealous of Jason. He was Percy's best friend. "I mean, buying you things, trying to set you up, making sure you're on time to everything…"

"When you put it that way, he sounds like my mother," Percy said, giggling. "But all kidding aside, yes, he does care a lot about me. And I him. We've been through a lot together."

"Like?" I asked him. He turned bright red and glanced away. "That doesn't look good," I mumbled. "Percy, what exactly happened between you and Jason? Why won't you date him? He seems like the perfect guy for you in all reality."

"Stop!" Percy yelled, whirling on me. I shrank back against the wall, my eyes widening. "You don't need to meddle! Stop with all the fucking nonsense! Jason and I will never be together!" Tears welled in my eyes. I hated being yelled at. I buried my face in my hands and refused to look at him. "Tavy…" he said softly. "Tavy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. Jason and I…that's just a topic I don't want to discuss."

"Then say so," I replied, deadly quiet. I was pissed now. I'd only asked what happened between Percy and Jason. That's all. I didn't deserve to be yelled at. "Is this how you treat all your friends?" I scoffed. "No wonder you can't get a date." Percy stumbled back and hung his head. "I think I'll skip the date, if that's fine with you." His head shot up, and tears made tracks down his tracks.

"Tavy, please," he whispered. "I really am sorry. I should've never yelled at you. It was uncalled for. Please, another chance?" I tried to be mad at him, but it was impossible. He was really sorry for what he'd done. In all truth, I didn't blame him, not really. I wouldn't want someone meddling in my life either. "You want to know what happened between Jason and I? I'll tell you. Jason was my first boyfriend, way back in the day."

…

"Uh, what?" was all I could think to ask. I mean, I'd expected him to say something along the lines of they'd experienced some trauma together, or they tagged along on vacations. Finding out they'd dated, well, that wasn't what I'd expected. I stared at Percy like he'd grown a second head. "You…you dated Jason?" I asked lamely. Seriously, I was supposed to be smart. That was the best I could do? "I thought…"

"We try to keep it on the down low," he replied, sitting down on his bed. "We tell people we won't date because it would destroy our friendship. Really, it seems to be the only reason we are still friends today." He chuckled sadly. Kind of wistfully. And once again, I felt the sharp pangs of jealousy. I had a reason to feel them now. Though it seemed Percy didn't have any intention of getting back together with the blonde.

"What happened exactly?" I asked softly, pulling the blanket up to my chin. I glanced at the clock. We were already late for first hour, but that seemed a small matter. Percy sank back against the wall like the very thought of Jason was weighing him down. "I mean, you guys dated, no big deal, right?" I prodded gently.

"We were only eighth graders," Percy replied. "Just figuring ourselves out. It would've been fine. Hell, we'd still be together today." I wasn't sure how I felt about that comment, but I let it slide. The whole point was to figure out what happened between the two of them, not get jealous and make him shut down. This was a sore subject for him. Kind of like how my family was a sore subject for me. "Well, Jason cheated on me."

"What?!" I blurted. The very thought of someone cheating on this sweet boy was far-fetched. "I'll beat him. I swear." Percy actually laughed.

"It's fine Tavy," he said. "We realized we worked better as friends anyway. I forgave him, and we've been best friends ever since. Funny. I got a relationship out of it after all, just not the one I would've expected."

"Well, I for one don't know how anyone could cheat on you," I said, blushing faintly. "You're so sweet and loveable." I looked away. Did I really just say that? Percy chuckled and came over to sit beside me. I rested my head on his shoulder and we sat in comfortable silence for about ten minutes.

"You really think so?" Percy asked, looking down at me. I looked up and found the longing in his sea-green eyes. "Do you really think I'm sweet and loveable?"

"Doesn't everyone?" I replied. Percy seemed to ponder that. I guess it wasn't very often that someone asked him that question.

"I guess I don't know," he said at last. "I don't go around asking my friends if they think I'm sweet and loveable." He kissed my temple. "Not like their opinions matter. There's only one person's opinion I care about."

"Jason's?" I joked. I giggled when he gave me a pained look. He tickled my sides, and I twisted away, falling back against my pillow. Percy stretched himself out on top of me, pinning me to the bed. He smirked as I squirmed. "Oof, you're heavy!" I complained. "Get off!" Percy laughed.

"No!" he replied. "You're pinned!" He happened to glance at the clock. Then he shrugged. "They can do without me for one practice," he informed me. "We're already late. Might as well stay here." I grinned.

"I'll turn you to a bad boy yet!" I said with glee. Percy widened his eyes in mock horror.

"No, not a bad boy!" he exclaimed, ticking my sides again. "Anything but the bad boy!" I laughed and squirmed under him again. "You can't get away," he whispered, leaving a trail of kisses down my cheek and neck. "Escape is futile."

"Who says I want to escape?" I said, and his eyebrows shot into his hair again. "I'm rather content like this. It really emphasizes the whole sweet and loveable thing." He grinned at me. "So what should we do with our day off?" I asked him. He rose from the bed and stretched his arms over his head. His shirt rose, and I turned away quick.

"How do you feel about Netflix?" he asked me.

…

We ended up watching the first two seasons of Supernatural, and the first full season of The Fosters. Those shows were good! I liked Fosters better than Supernatural myself. And not because Brandon was cuter than Sam and Dean. It seemed more relatable somehow.

"Aww Jude," Percy said. "Look at that Tavy," he said, turning to look at me. "Connor put on the nail polish too. Now Jude isn't the only one who does it, and he doesn't have to be embarrassed about it." I laughed.

"I know," I replied. "I'm watching the episode with you." We were re-watching episode five, our favorite. It had Connor/Jude action out the wazoo. I totally ship them together, even though Connor turns out to be a jerk. Connor was such a perfect fit for Jude. And the little guy deserved someone who made him happy.

"I'm setting up the other episodes to record," Percy informed me after the episode ended. "You should come over on Monday's and we could watch the episodes together. And then you can spend the night." I rolled my eyes.

"I should just move in with you," I said. His sea-green eyes lit up.

"Why not?" he asked excitedly. "I have the extra bed in my room. Your stuff would be safe here. We have running water and food. You'd be safe here Tavy. You don't need to give me an answer right away, but think about it, alright?" I swallowed hard. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I just nodded. Was Percy really asking me to move in with him? No one had ever asked that question before. This was new territory. "Think of me as your Steph and Lena," he said. "You're Jude, looking for a home and someone who loves you. Well, I'm here to take you in."

"That's corny Jackson," I said, forcing out a laugh. But in truth, I was scared shitless. I really did want to move in with him, but I couldn't leave mom on her own. Then again, she barely noticed when I was there, so it wouldn't make much of a difference if I actually was there or not. Percy brushed his lips against mine.

"You bet Holden," he replied. "But that's all part of the fun, isn't it?" I gave a genuine laugh and nodded. As corny as it was, it was really sweet. How'd we go from strangers to roomies again? "Wanna watch Jude and Connor again?" he asked me. "I would prefer nice moments, but we can watch Jude get his heart broken if you really want." I shook my head.

"I never want to see our little Jude heartbroken again," I replied. "Do the episode where they work on the science project together and he gives him his game." Percy laughed and flipped to the episode and we settled down to watch. He was against the arm of the couch, and I was curled up against him. He had one arm wrapped around me as we watched. We'd been sitting this way all morning. It was almost like we belonged together. We were like Jude and Connor. We belonged together, but neither of us wanted to admit it right then. Hopefully, our ending was a little better than little Jude's. I was still going to kill Connor.

"Whatcha thinking about Tavy," Percy whispered, pressing his lips to my ear. "Tell me." A laugh bubbled in my chest and I playfully shoved him away.

"Nothing Perce, nothing," I said. "Just watching the show, that's all. Look, Connor's giving him the game." Percy turned his attention back to our new favorite show, and I stared at him for a bit. He was Jude. Sweet, loveable, innocent, and always falling for the wrong guys (killing Connor). Maybe I could show him that he didn't have to fall for the wrong guy again.

…

I think we'll call this chapter Sweet and Loveable, because that's what they talk about again. Btw, my favorite show is The Fosters, if you couldn't tell. And I love little Jude! He's adorable and innocent and only wants love. And stupid Connor. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. It's on Monday's on ABC Family.