Chapter 5

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PJO

"Jason, wake up."

"Is he dead?"

"Nope, didn't you see his unicorns and rainbows gaze at everything after he came back from working with Piper?"

"Damn it! I missed it, geez whatever just wait."

"What are you gonna do." A voice said nervously...Wait that's Percy.

"You'll see." Another voice said mischievously...Wait that's Leo. Oh gods help me. A second later, I felt a freezing cold bucket of water poured on me.

"AHHHHH! WHAT THE HELL LEO?" I screamed in a not so manly way.

They laughed for like five minutes. I'm surprised they're still alive.

"Whatever man, that was funny. You gotta tell us what happened yesterday. Oh wait save your story; let's go to the cafeteria first." Percy wiped a tear from his eye. I checked my phone; it was already 11:30. Wow I must've been really tired.

"Alright, let's go."

-X-

When we got to the cafeteria, it was already packed. Luckily, there's one more table for us. We quickly rushed to the table and waited for Annabeth, Piper and Thalia.

"Gods what takes them so long?" I asked.

"They're girls." Leo said and we all cracked up.

"I see them!" Percy shouted which caused people near us to give us weird looks.

Percy jumped on our table and waved frantically. Leo and I exchanged looks and rolled our eyes. I looked over and I saw Annabeth rolling her eyes and face palming. Piper walked to us and Annabeth and Thalia seemed to have disappeared in the crowd.

"Where'd they go?" Percy asked confused.

"They went to go get their food first; we're going right after they come back." Piper replied.

We got our food and it was surprisingly good. We kept on stealing each other's food which caused a mini food fight between the girls and boys. Piper threw an olive and it hit Leo right on his forehead which made everyone crack up. I grinned evilly of what I'm about to do. I threw an olive and bits of spaghetti (yeah we had really good food today) at Piper. That stopped her from laughing her adorable laugh (did that make any sense?). Piper turned to us and glared daggers at us. If looks could kill, she would've killed us like sixty million times. Oh well.

Percy and Leo held up their hands in defeat and pointed at me. I glared at them. What traitors, willing to give up their friend.

"This means war!" Thalia shouted.

I did my best on pelting the girls with food but their too good. Damn it. I was too busy thinking that I did not see the incoming bacon that hit me on the nose. Piper started to laugh hysterically.

"Dude watch it! I was saving that bacon!" Percy wailed.

"Oh shut up Seaweed Brain, you have more food on your plate than everyone else!" Annabeth exclaimed and threw two olives at him and Leo. Ha, she missed me. I swallowed my words when Annabeth and Thalia turned to me and pelted any food that they can see at me. That is not fair. MAN DOWN MAN DOWN MAN DOWN. We're losing the war.

Everyone was laughing and choking on their food. We were having a pretty good time.

"Hey Jason!" a familiar voice screeched.

Man, I knew that her voice can go high pitched and annoying but this just takes it to another level.

"Hey Reyna." I greeted. Way to sound enthusiastic. She inspected the table and then looked at each and every one of us like we were some science experiment or something. Reyna smirked.

Uh oh, that look is not good.

"So why are you hanging out with these retards?" She glared at Piper.

Wait did she just call my friends retarded? That is not cool. Things are not going well.

"Reyna if anyone's a retard here it would be you." Piper countered coolly. I could hear my sister snickering.

Damn, this is so not turning out well.

"Whatever Piper, at least I've actually got a family unlike you." Reyna said haughtily. My eyes widened at that comment. How low can Reyna actually get? I've never seen this side of her. Of all the times we've talked, hung out or anything she was always nice and funny.

Suddenly the whole cafeteria has gone silent.

I should stop this before it can get any worse.

"Reyna..." I warned trying to get her attention. It didn't work. Her attention was on Piper and they look like they were about to leap and tear each other's throats.

"Don't talk about my family like that, it's not like you've ever met them." Piper retorted.

"We should really stop them." Leo whispered to Percy and me. We nodded in agreement; about to say something but apparently this tension is not over.

"Yeah okay, I don't have to meet them to know what they actually do for a living. Let's see," Reyna said her perfect manicured nails tapping her lips, "I bet your dad stays on the reserve and sell Cherokee arts and your mom... Oh right you've never met her." Reyna smirked and Drew snickered.

She just can't do that! Who does she think she is? Reyna does not have the right to talk crap about Piper's family. They barely know each other. I can't believe she would actually stoop this low!

Suddenly, Piper stood up and was about to attack Reyna when Thalia and Leo held her arms to stop her.

"Shut the fuck up Reyna!" Thalia growled menacingly. Annabeth glared at her and Drew. I can't take this anymore. I stood up and slammed the table really hard I could see everyone jump at the sound even Piper.

"Reyna, what is wrong with you?" I asked my voice dangerously low. I can see Reyna turning really pale.

"How low can you get, talking about Piper's family like that? You don't even know them! You do not have the right to bully Piper if you would like to know, Piper's dad is T—"

"Jason, stop..." Piper pleaded. Oh no, I am not done with my rant yet.

"Jason, wh-what are you talking about?" Reyna asked close to tears. I almost gave up but no she has no right to embarrass and bully Piper.

"Another thing, I don't get why you rather hang out with Octavian than me. Yeah sure, he's your 'friend' but come on spend time with me too will you? I guess that doesn't matter anymore because I honestly don't care if you're cheating and I'm dumping you right now."

"But—"

"We're over Reyna." I growled. Reyna's eyes were full of tears and she turned super red. She rushed out of the cafeteria and drew and her other friends followed after her. I glanced at Piper and she was just standing still trying to process what just happened so did my other friends.

Hmm, well at least I gave everyone else some entertainment that will surly last for quite a long time.

-X-

I stood there shocked, trying to understand what just happened. Did Jason just stand up for me? More importantly, did he just dump Reyna? I've dreamed so many times that he would dump her but I never expected it to be this way. I feel bad for her.

I feel bad for Reyna...

Wow I'm probably going insane. I should've been happy that he publicly humiliated her, but I'm not. I looked at Jason. He looks confused just like everyone else.

I've never seen him that mad before.

I can feel my head throbbing. I'm thinking too much. This is a lot to take in.

"I'm going back to my dorm." I said tiredly.

"Piper..." Annabeth trailed off. I gave them a tired smile.

"It's alright, I have a headache. I'll come back I promise." I said waving to them and taking one last look at Jason. I could only see a blurry image of him standing there... I don't know if it was just my mind playing tricks on me or I saw a flash of concern when he gazed into my eyes.

I lay on my bed thinking about the events that just happened. What happens now? Do I still talk to Jason? What about Reyna?

I was still thinking about Jason before I finally drifted off to sleep.

I woke up and sighed. A lot has happened today. I looked around and neither Annabeth nor Thalia was there. I wonder where they went. They probably talked to the other guys about the very interesting events that had occurred an hour ago. I felt a twinge of sympathy toward Reyna. I sighed I really need to clear out my head. I changed into more comfortable clothes, grabbed my phone and went to wander around the campus. What will happen between Jason and me? Will everyone hate Reyna? Will Jason forgive her? What if they get back together? I shook my head. I'm thinking way too deep stuff. I was too busy thinking that I did not notice someone was right in front of me so I bumped into that person really hard. I closed my eyes waiting for my butt to hit the ground but it never happened. I opened my eyes and gazed into my rescuer. Hazel eyes clashed into stormy blue ones. I gulped; will this day get more and worse? Jason supported me until I could stand by myself. I willed myself to look away from those eyes. He seems to be studying me for a long time and I tried to fight the blush creeping up to my cheeks.

"Um thanks." I said lamely. Way to go Piper, embarrassing yourself even more!

"No problem. So uhh how's life?" He asked nervously avoiding my gaze. Oh gods, this is very awkward.

"...Could be better..." I looked up at him and I saw a flash of guilt in his eyes. Why was he guilty all of a sudden? I should be the one because I never thanked him for standing up for me even though Reyna was his girlfriend.

She was his girlfriend.

I honestly don't know if I should be happy, sad, mad or upset right now I'm way too confused to understand my own emotions.

"Can we talk somewhere in private?" Jason asked still avoiding my gaze. I nodded and followed him outside. He led me to the football field and we sat on the bleachers.

-X-

I never understood any emotions, especially the silly one called love. Love: a feeling that makes you feel like the king of the world or maybe the most dangerous weapon that will not kill you, but more likely to torture you. Love can be very destructive and will take your heart out, figuratively, while replacing it with nothing that will soon to consume everything else in your world.

I learned at an early age that love isn't always that warm fuzzy feeling but that it can be a thousand daggers stabbing into your insides. I would always ask my mother, Bellona, where my father went. Her answers depended on her mood. If she was happy, loving, and caring, then she would have this nostalgic look on her face and say that my father went on a very big adventure and suddenly disappeared. On other days, when she was angry, self loathing, and horrifying, she would either chastise me or tell me to go play. We lived in a big house in San Francisco but I never wondered where we would get that money from.

I never really understood my mother, but all I knew that she was very strong and had amazing will power. She was like a warrior, like a goddess of some sort and most importantly, someone who I looked up to. Then one day, she just disappeared and never came back. My naive mind automatically thought that she went on a quest to find my father that's why she just disappeared like he did too. I wouldn't know what else to think for I was still six that time.

Days passed by, then weeks, then months, then a year passed by. I kept waiting and waiting but Bellona never came back.

"Reyna, it's time to eat sis."

My older sister, Hylla, would say. I would nod and listen to her. Hylla was the only other person who I looked up to, who I wanted to be when I grow up besides Bellona. If I got upset, she would be the comforting shoulder and she would always hug me when my mother was not around or if something would upset me. Now that I think about it, I would always remember that every time I was in the play room doing my own thing, I would hear Hylla's and my mother's voices talking very loudly. No... Loudly was not the word. It was more of arguing. I would always come near the door to the room they were in and listen. I could pick up some words like:

"Why won't you tell her?"

"You know why, Hylla. Do not question me."

"She deserves to know... What will happen if she finds out by herself? I wouldn't want that to ever happen!"

The argument would go on and it happened on a daily basis so I thought nothing of it. My seventh birthday was coming and my hope vanished completely. My birthdays were always fun, creative and everything but sad. Hylla tries everything to bring back the spark in my eyes, the happiness in my empty laugh and though I try to be happy, it just wouldn't work. My seventh birthday came and since Hylla was nine years old, no one was there to take care of us. We were about to get taken away to a foster home when a mysterious man came and told the people that we had enough money and that we can take care of ourselves and just live in this house. It turns out that mother has left us quite a fortune.

I turned fourteen and Hylla turned sixteen. We were getting more and more distant from each other, talking when necessary and that was it.

"Where are you going?" I asked a little bit worried as I saw my sister put clothes on a suitcase. She never told me we were going somewhere.

"We're leaving for Seattle. Go pack up anything you need like clothes and stuff because we're moving tomorrow." She said while avoiding my gaze. I felt rage inside me.

"Why didn't you tell me that before? I never had a thought about this!" I shouted. Something flashed in Hylla's eyes.

"We don't need to talk about this. There's not enough time so please go pack." She pleaded.

"What if I don't want to move?" I challenged. She ignored me after that and I had no choice but to return to my room. I slammed the door shut and leaned against it and started to cry my heart out. Cry because Hylla's moving. Cry because my mother never came back. Cry because even though I had never met my dad, I still wanted to know what he was like. Cry because of everything that had happened to me. I ended sleeping on the floor that night.

"Sis, are you awake?" I was awake but I did not feel like talking to her. At all. I just lay on the floor acting as if I were asleep.

"If you are, I want you to know that I'm leaving for Seattle in thirty minutes and if you do change your mind I left my new email, phone number, and address on your bed. Please do keep in touch with me. I love you Reyna." I felt something wet on my cheek and a kiss on my forehead and then I heard the door close.

Two months after living alone, I decided I should move too. I met up with a distant relative asking if she wanted the house she accepted so she did all that important stuff. I moved to Manhattan. I still kept in touch with Hylla, but not as much as I did when I lived in San Francisco.

I figured that I need to start over with my life. I decided to wear a mask. A mask that I promised myself that will never break. I went to Goode High with my new preppy, all girly, bitchy attitude. I climbed the popularity ranks until I got to the top. No one will ever know about me... The old me. I thought I can get used to my new personality but a lot of times, underneath this mask, I wince at how preppy I sound. I am drowning in a sea of lies. I did like Jason, but I never loved him. I noticed that girl, Piper, was head over heels for Jason and vice versa but never said anything. Instead I stole him away from her.

"We're over Reyna." I could feel the dull sting at the back of my eyes.

Suddenly, my shoes are wet. The next thing I know is that I'm crying. I can't do this. I quickly rushed out of the cafeteria. Why does this always happen to me? I got carried away in that fight. Why would I ever stoop that low? I feel very disgusted with myself right now. I need to find air and quickly. What have I done? I've hurt so many people including Jason.

I have one specific reason on why I despise Piper so much. She reminds me of myself and it hurts to think that she has the freedom that she can carry that personality around.

Piper McLean reminds me too much of my old self.

AN: Well this is a very angsty chapter and sorry if toward the end it's kinda confusing. Anyways, tell me what you think of the Reyna angst. Her back story gives her the reason to hate Piper. So please tell me what you guys think of chapter 5. REVIEW PLEASE! :)

Much Love, Ever Amaranthine