Percy POV:
When Annabeth ran toward him, he never felt better, but she seems different. She acts like she's hiding something. Maybe Hera had a point. Was she going to ruin the quest? No. He loves her; she wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Piper didn't talk much on the way to the meeting. All she did was mumble and say what sounded like cursing in Greek. It's pretty obvious that she had a thing for Jason. He was so relieved his love life wasn't as complicated.
"Can I ask you something?" Piper finally spoke.
"Yeah, um…sure. Shoot", Percy replied. She tumbled with her thumbs for a few seconds before she finally asked.
"Is there anything going on between that girl Reyna and Jason?" Piper asked. When she said 'that girl', she didn't say it with hate, but with jealousy. Percy explained about the praetors and how they usually hook up after a while, but they never were a real couple. He also explained how he took Jason's place. Her face brightened a bit. She looked at him with her desperate eyes. They seem to change color. She mouthed thank you. She wasn't like the Aphrodite girls back at camp. Except one; Selena. She gave her life to save the camp. She wasn't self-centered, or vain like the Aphrodite girls. Piper seemed like that. She never fixed her hair, or wear make-up.
"You sure don't act like an Aphrodite girl that's for sure", Percy admitted. She smiled and nodded. It may have been the first time he saw her really smile.
"Yeah. I get that a lot."
Leo ran past and tapped her one the shoulder. "Race ya to the building!" Piper rolled her eyes and ran after him. Percy sniffed. He remembered when him and Annabeth were like that. He followed after them. Admiring how playful they were. When they reached the gate, Leo wouldn't give up his tool belt.
"No way am I giving up my tool belt!" Leo yelled.
"Leo, just give it up. The meeting already started." Piper pleaded. There was something about her voice that made me want to give up anything I have.
"Don't charm speak me, Piper. I'm not giving my tool belt to a six-year-old girl!" Piper looked down. She hated to charm speak. She gave him a pleading look.
"Fine." Leo gave the little girl his tool belt and continued on the path to the meeting.
Once in every one was in the building the meeting began. Reyna stood on the stage; tall and proud.
"Hey, Piper", Jason said, "About what I was saying earlier…do you maybe wanna-"
"Jason; son of Jupiter. Percy; son of Neptune. Please come to the stage." Reyna said. Jason didn't know what to say. He looked at Piper with sorrowful eyes and walked to the stage. "While Jason was gone we elected Percy as the new praetor. Now that Jason is back we must decide who will be praetor of camp." Everyone looked at each other. Murmuring grew to shouting. Suddenly Octavian walked in with a stuffed elephant in his hand.
"I think I have a solution for this!" He shouted. Percy knew this would not be in his favor. "A duel!" Piper and Leo gave each other nervous looks. Annabeth shook her head. A duel between two of the children of the big three would not end out good.
Reyna shook her head. "No. A duel is not the answer. We need to think in a more logical way."
"We want the strongest to be our leader right?" All the ghosts and most of the other campers nodded in agreement. "Then a duel will prove who is the strongest. Who's with me?" Everyone but a couple cheered.
"Even as son of the god of war. I don't this is a good idea." Someone said from the crowd. It was Frank.
"What kind of son of Mars are you? One who denies a duel is no son of the war god." Frank looked down. He was obviously embarrassed. When he sat down Hazel rubbed him on the shoulder.
"So it's decided. Percy and Jason will duel. Tomorrow at noon. May the better demigod win." Octavian said with an evil smirk on his face. He left the meeting with a satisfied look on his face.
Jason looked at Percy. There was fear on both of their faces. Jason gave Percy a nod. Piper had her head in her hands. Leo was trying to make Piper feel better. There was no way out of this. Tomorrow, Percy and Jason will have to duel.