Lives Collide

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

I'm sorry for the wait; hopefully this chapter will make up for it.

The lunch time rush had just finished at the Jupiter Diner but the employees were busy cleaning away plates, glasses and the remains of two children's birthday parties that had filled the leather lined booths.

Percy came out of the kitchen and looked around at his friends as they worked. Everyone had come in today because of the amount of customers to serve and he couldn't have found a better time to tell them his news. With a sigh, Percy clapped his hands together and exclaimed, "Alright, guys! Can I have everyone's attention please?"

Jason and Piper, who knew what he wanted to say, stopped clearing a table immediately but Nico frowned and asked, "Can't it wait Percy? We want to get this done."

"Actually, I have something really important to tell you guys so, no it can't."

Hazel raised an eyebrow and said, "You sound so serious."

Frank winched and replied, "Percy being serious? Something bad must have happened."

Nico grinned and said, "Did the kitchen run out of blue food colouring?"

"Did it run out of food?"

"Is the Diner being closed?"

"Are you getting kicked out of your apartment?"

"We're all going to die!"

Percy waved his hands through the air and exclaimed, "Stop! Everyone, it's nothing too serious but it is important. And Leo?" He frowned, slightly worried about the younger boy, "We need to have a talk about you jumping to those wild conclusions."

Leo shrugged and sat down on a seat and said, "Well, whatever it is, can you just tell us?"

Percy took a deep breath before saying, "Ok, so I know that you've all been seeing some Olympia Academy students around the neighbourhood recently. I don't know if any of you have noticed but since they arrived I've been doing my best to avoid them."

"We've noticed," his friends chorused and Percy frowned.

"Percy, you vaulted over the counter once."

Percy shook his head and continued, "Anyway, the reason I've been avoiding them is because I used to know them. I used to go to school with them."

He stared at his friend's faces, each one of them confused, shocked and in slight disbelief.

"You? You used to go to the Olympia Academy?" Frank asked him and Percy bit his lip as he nodded.

"But...but how? I mean, it costs thousands a year to go there. You said so yourself," Nico exclaimed. "Did you get a scholarship?"

"The Academy doesn't give out those; that would mean letting poor people into their precious school. No offence Percy," Hazel replied.

Percy sighed and said, "Its ok. I didn't need a scholarship. My father paid for everything. You all know that he and my mom separated after I was born and when he finally met me again when I was fifteen, he wanted me to have a good education. That's why he sent me to...well, to his school."

"His school? As in the school he went to?" Nico asked but Percy shook his head again.

"No, as in the school he owns. I'm Poseidon Olympia's son."

This lead to a chorus of "What?!" from all his friends. But Percy expected that reaction and didn't blame them. His father was well known for his money and since it seemed that none of the Olympia brothers had children, everyone wondered where their wealth was going to go. And now it seemed that their ordinary friend Percy was the richest eighteen year old in the city.

"But if you're like, part of this rich family, what are you doing here? Not that we don't want you here," Frank said.

Percy wrung his hands together and he replied, "I don't get along with my father or his side of the family so I have nothing to do with them or their money anymore."

"So...you went to school with those Olympia kids? And now what you're friends with them again."

"I'm trying. Wires were crossed and I overreacted by leaving the school. That's when I came here. Look, the reason I am telling you this is because these guys were actually really good friends of mine and I'd like to go back to that. That means that they have to get along with all of you so they're coming here to eat with us after helping at the library. They mean a lot to me."

"Especially Annabeth," Jason added with a grin.

"Woah! Which one is Annabeth and why does she sound like more than a friend?" Nico asked, a slow grin appearing on his face as well.

"Annabeth's the blonde one with the Yankees cap."

"Oh I like her," Hazel replied, "We worked together sorting out books. She was so nice."

Percy looked over at Leo, who had suspiciously stayed quiet throughout all of this. "Leo?" he asked softly, "Are you ok with all of this?"

Leo sighed and frowned at his friend. "You lied to us Percy. I am very hurt."

Percy nodded and replied, "I know, I know and I'm sorry."

"There is only one thing you can do that will make this up to me."

"What?" Percy asked, not wanting to fight with any of friends over this.

"Buy me a pony."

Percy's face dropped as Leo's face cracked into a laughing grin. "Can't believe you fell for that one. But seriously if you want to buy me a pony you want. I won't have a clue what to do with it but still."

"Shut it," Percy said, relief running through him, "The point is that these guys are really good people and I just want all of you to try and get along."

"For you, Percy," Hazel said, "We will be on our best behaviour."

Leo narrowed his eyes and said, "Define 'best' behaviour."

"Don't even think about it."

-The Diner; the next day-

"I said don't even think about it!"

Leo froze as his friends and Percy's old ones all turned their heads to see him holding the salt shaker over Travis' milkshake.

Percy ran a hand over his face. They had just been having a nice lunch and, as his stomach was slowly starting to untie the knot it was in, his two lives seemed to be getting along nicely. Even if there was the familiar scent of a prank war in the air.

"He's not the only one in trouble," Percy said, "Conner."

Leo frowned and looked behind him to see Conner with the mustard bottle, ready to squeeze the condiment down Leo's chair. Leo looked at the bottle and then at Conner and he raised an eyebrow.

"Touché," he said seriously and Conner nodded to him as they put down their weapons. Conner threw himself into the chair beside Leo, his brother the other side of the younger boy.

Travis folded his arms and asked, "So, you see yourself as a bit of a joker?"

Leo maintained a straight face as he replied, "It's a calling."

"That it is," Travis replied.

The Stoll brothers looked at each other before turning to Percy and saying together, "We like this one."

"I think we just witnessed something horrible," Annabeth said from Percy's right side.

Percy snorted and sent her grin. She winked at him, sending him the message that everything was going fine; he needed to relax. She always could read him well.

Annabeth turned back to Piper, who had taken a shine to the older girl and they were chatting away while Jason ate some fries from his plate.

Jason had not said much during lunch; he had just nodded to Grover, Annabeth and the brothers when they were introduced.

Percy folded his arms on top of the table as he watched his friend stayed silent. He knew it was hard for the younger boy; even though Jason was younger, Percy knew how fiercely protective he could be and now there were strangers invading his space and meeting his friends. But at least he hadn't threatened any of them, so there was hope yet.

As Percy watched him, Jason took out his phone and looked at the screen. He clicked open a new message and rolled his eyes as he looked up at the window of the diner. Percy followed his gaze and caught sight of Thalia, making her way across the road.

Jason barely suppressed a groan, causing Piper and Annabeth to look at him. "Everything alright?" Piper asked and Jason looked over at Percy.

The older boy was still looking at Thalia, who had planted herself on the pavement outside, looking in at them with a sour look on her face.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Percy asked Jason, who paused long enough for Percy to take that as a reluctant yes.

"I'll be back in a minute," he said, as he stood up and walked out of the front door. The others didn't seem to notice and continued talking, but Annabeth, Jason and Piper kept throwing looks out the window.

Percy stepped out into the cool air and he walked over to Thalia; trying to remind himself to stay calm. They had a tendency to fight whenever they met.

"Thalia," he said to her, nodding his head slightly as he put his hands into his jean pockets.

"Percy Jackson," she said, "How is my brother doing? You know, since you seem to be spending more time with him than I am?"

Percy let out a low bitter laugh at this statement; it was a favourite of hers.

She took this as an insult and her temper flared. "I checked his room this morning Percy! His bed looks like it hasn't been slept in, in days; there is practically a layer of dust on his desk and none of his school books are there. His wardrobe is nearly empty. But it wasn't too far of a stretch to figure out where he has been staying."

Percy nodded and replied, "Of course, he's been staying with me. He hates that house because it's empty half the time and when there are people there, they don't pay him any attention. I get that things have been weird since your parents died-."

Thalia stepped forward and growled, "You have no idea what we have been through!"

Percy let out a slow breath as he calmed himself and he said, "I know. But Jason has talked to me about it; he's told me how he's been feeling and I helped him work through it! That's what friends do; that's what family does!"

Thalia opened her mouth to reply again but Percy was tired of having the same argument, over and over. Maybe this time, being blunt might actually help.

"Look, I get that you don't like losing control over something; you like being the one calling the shots. That I could tell about you from day one. But Jason isn't something you can control; he's got his own mind, a really stubborn one. You, your friends and your uncle haven't been treating him like he deserves so he comes here; where there are friends that love him. If you want him to be at home more, then you might want to be there yourself. And it would help if your friends didn't treat him like scum either, now that I think of it."

Thalia glanced through the window, to see Jason now speaking to Annabeth, Piper's hand placed on his arm.

Percy sighed and added, "He'll be home tonight; you two can talk then."

Thalia clenched her jaw but nodded and turned on her boot heel before walking away.

Meanwhile, inside, Annabeth tilted her head and asked Jason, "Is that someone you know?"

Jason looked at her for a second. This is girl had broken his best friend's heart but she was also the one who had it in the first place. So he shrugged and replied, "She's my sister; we don't really get on well and Percy kind of helps talk to her sometimes."

Piper and Annabeth exchanged glances and the older girl cleared her throat before speaking. "Ya, I don't get along well my mom either. It's kind of weird to be acquaintances with someone who is supposed to be family."

Jason had been picking at his food but he raised his head when he heard her talk. "Yes...that's exactly what it feels like. She...she tries to talk to me sometimes but Thalia likes having things her way; including how we interact."

Piper placed a hand on his arm and he smiled at her slightly. Annabeth looked between the two of them for a moment and she tried to hold back her own grin.

Percy walked back into the diner and sat in his seat, pointing at Jason. "You, are sleeping at your house tonight. No argument. We will see how it goes from there."

Jason rolled his eyes but nodded and went back to eating his fries and talking to Piper.

Annabeth turned to Percy and rested her arm on the back of her chair. "Does Jason usually stay with you?" she asked and Percy shrugged. "He's always been staying at my place ever since we met. But he hasn't actually been home in a couple of days and he does actually need to talk to Thalia."

"So you are free for the rest of the afternoon and evening?" she asked with a sly grin.

Percy narrowed his eyes at her and replied, "Yes...and why does it sound like you're up to something?"

Annabeth laughed and said, "I have a surprise for you and it's going to take a while to get there, so we might be home late."

"Ok, now I'm really worried," Percy said, silencing the voice in head that joyfully announced that he and Annabeth would be spending the rest of the day together.

-Later that day; outside New York-

"You know, I never believed anyone when they said you were a motorcycle kind of girl," Percy said as he climbed out of Annabeth's car and shut the door.

Annabeth shut the driver's door and walked around to meet him at the front of the car. "Motorcycle? Nah, I prefer four wheels." She laughed slightly and looked at him as she said, "You always did know me better than anyone."

Percy stared down at her for a moment and Annabeth cleared her throat and said, "Um, it's time for your surprise."

Percy looked around at the open area of grass and fences as he said, "Where are we?"

Annabeth just walked forward to one of the many large buildings that were clustered around the country scene.

"Annabeth, seriously!" Percy laughed as he followed her, "It took us forever to get here, so you might as well tell me."

They rounded the corner of a barn and went through the double doors. Percy stopped when he realised that he was actually in a stable. Percy looked at Annabeth in question but she was standing there smiling.

"Your father moved him here after you left; I thought it was time that you two met again."

Percy turned and looked down the row of doors, just as a black horse lifted his head and seemed to peek out. Percy's face lit up and he exclaimed, "Blackjack!"

Annabeth smiled again, putting her hands to her face as she watched him hurry down towards his old horse. Blackjack had been the only thing that his father had bought him that Percy truly cared about.

It was a few minutes later that Annabeth was sat on a fence, watching Percy gallop around the paddock with Blackjack. His face was flushed from activity and the smile had not left his face. It was nice to see him like this, so happy and relaxed.

Although she had only re-entered his life a few days ago, it was clear that his new life was as busy as his old one. Percy had always been someone that everyone could count on; if you needed help, Percy would be the first one there. But that meant that he had a lot of responsibility and it was good for him to just let go sometimes.

Percy slowed down to a trot and went to Annabeth.

"Feel good?" she asked him and he grinned widely as he caught his breath.

"I forgot how much I missed this guy," he said, patting Blackjack. "I remember when I would sneak into the stables and just pour my heart out to him, all my worries and problems. I swear, sometimes I thought he talked back."

Annabeth smiled again but that nagging voice in the back of her mind, which had been bothering her all day, sounded again. She tried to brush it off but Percy had seen her smile drop and her eyes sadden; he always could read her like a book.

"There's something that's been bothering you," he said, "Is there something I should know?"

Annabeth sighed and replied, "It's something Silena told me and Beckendorf heard it from Luke himself. It's about your money."

"It's not my money anymore," Percy replied quickly, adjusting the reins in his hands.

"Percy, you are not an idiot, no matter how many times I call you one. You can run as far as you want but you are still the only heir."

Percy sighed; first Jason, not Annabeth. "Luke was the one who put the receipts and the contract on your bed; the ones that told you that we were being paid."

"I should have guessed."

"Yes, well turns out he didn't do it just to piss you off. It was part of a plan that him and Hera cooked up. I'm not sure of the details but because of Luke's involvement with the school and how his family is connected with yours, Hera has manipulated the inheritance. Both she and Luke will get the money instead of you."

Percy laughed slightly and replied, "That'll be great news for Zeus and Hades! No one deserves it more than them."

"Even if people like Luke and Hera get millions? Money that they would squander?"

Percy shrugged, "Hopefully, they'll spend it all and end up broke. Either way, it's not my problem."

"But it's your father's problem," Annabeth argued, "There is a condition in the inheritance contract; if you come to the Masquerade Ball this year and claim the money, then they can't touch it."

"But it means that I'm sucked back into their world. I'll have to work for a few of their companies, either the papers or the restaurants or even the school! I don't want that life!" Percy said and Annabeth pushed her blonde hair away from her face.

"Alright," she said, "I respect whatever you think is best, even if I would hate for Luke and Hera to get the money. But you should at least talk to your father."

Percy looked away from her for a moment before looking back at her determined grey eyes. "I know that you're angry but he's been worrying about you for two years. He should know that you're alright."

Percy thought for a moment and then replied, "I'll talk to him; on one condition."

"What?"

With a grin, the green eye boy held out his hand to the surprise girl.

Annabeth's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh. No. No way!"

"Come on Annabeth!" Percy said, "You used to love this!"

"Yes, I used to love calm horses. You know that Blackjack is as wild as you are and hates anyone else riding him."

"Well, I'll be right in front of you so there no need to worry."

Annabeth paused and stared at his outstretched hand. The sensible part of her mind was telling her to stay away. But another part of her brain was saying get on the damn horse and put your arms around the hot boy.

Annabeth looked up at Percy's cheeky grin and with a sigh, she took his hand. He swung her up on the saddle behind him and Blackjack stamped his hoof slightly.

"Hey boy, don't be annoyed. You know Annabeth."

Percy set Blackjack off on a walk and together they went around the paddock. Blackjack sped up and Annabeth laughed and clung onto Percy even tighter. A few minutes later Percy slowed down and they stopped all three of them out of breath.

"That was fun!" Annabeth admitted and Percy placed a hand on her own hands that were wrapped around his front.

"Thank you," he said, "I missed this."

Annabeth gently leant her face on his shoulder.

Percy licked his dry lips and added softly, "I missed you."

Annabeth blushed slightly and her breath skimmed across Percy's neck.

Suddenly Blackjack moved forwards slightly and interrupted them. Annabeth pulled her head off his shoulder and Percy cleared his throat. "We better be getting back," he said, as he turned the reins and walked back to the stables.

-Meanwhile; Olympia Academy Ballroom-

Luke looked around at the large ballroom, watching as the stage was set up and tables were put out. In just a few weeks, the Masquerade Ball would be taking place there and everything he had been working for would pay off.

A small smile came to his face as he practically felt the cash in his hands and the horrified looks on the Oylmpia brothers' faces.

And the best part was that Percy Olympia was probably on the other side of the country so there was nothing to stand in his way.