So, I know I have other stories I need to work on, but I was rereading this story and ideas started popping up. Thank you very much, cluttered brain. Also, can I just say, I love you guys? Really, you're like my extended family now.

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Percy's POV

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I was up at five, and when I say up, I mean it. I was showered, dressed, and ready for the day. Jason was still sleeping when I slipped back into my room, and I didn't have the heart to wake him, so I sat down on the end of my bed and tried my best to catch up on the homework I missed yesterday. But after about ten mintues, the words began swimming off the page. Mom says I may be dyslexic, but I never wanted to get tested. It would just be another reason for people to pick on me, slow and can't read. I shoved my book away and huffed angrily.

"Feeling better?" I looked up and found Jason sitting against my headboard, studying me. "Having some trouble with the homework?"

"No!" I snapped. At his wounded look, I relented. "Alright, yes," I mumbled. "The words won't stay on the page. They keep trying to swim away. Hey, it's five thirty. Go back to bed will you?" Part of it was because he must have been exhausted. The other part was because of what I'd said to him the night before. I love you... Had I really said that to him? I couldn't have. I wasn't thinking straight last night. It was my feverish brain just being thankful someone was here tonight.

"Oh, I'm fine," he said around a huge yawn. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched his arms above his head, lacing his fingers together. I couldn't help but stare at his exposed stomach. Not necessarily hevily muscled, but not a trace of fat to be seen. Blushing,I glanced away. Jason made a series of noises like a baby whale dying, then rose. "Hey man, I don't have any extra clothes with me. Think I can?" He gestured to my closet. I sprang up.

"Sure!" I said with a little too much enthusiasm. I dug a pair of clean jeans out from the bottom of the closet and tossed them to him. He stripped right there, as if changing in front of me wasn't a problem. If I'd been blushing before, now I turned the color of a coca cola can. I couldn't help sneak a peek of his black boxers with a lime green elastic waistband though. Shaking my head, I looked around for a shirt for him to wear. I was wearing my drama shirt with the "upside down" arrows. It was a pink shirt with lime green writing on it. Jason came and peered over my shoulder. How about this little bit?" he asked, retrieving a couple of items. I blinked at them. Mom must have gotten them without my knowledge. It was a plain white t-shirt with a little black velvet vest. Jason slipped them on and twirled around. The vest fluttered out like angel wings, and I gaped at him. "I must look good," he concluded, running his hand through his blonde hair. It swept over in its ususal comb-over style

"Good might not be the word I'd use," I said slowly. His face slowly fell as he examined himself in my dresser mirror. "Hey, I said good wasn't the word I'd used. Don't look so wounded." He eyed me warily.

"What would you use," he asked me, sitting down at my chair by my dresser. He began examining my hair products and other things for my hair. I tried to think of a good word to describe him. Angelic was what I'd been thinking, but there was no way I would say that to him. I hugged JJ to my chest and continued thinking. God-like? Blonde Superman?

"Handsome," I finally said. Jason had been busy studying my soft-bristled brush, but he set it down and turned his blue gaze on me. "Handsome," I repeated. "You look handsome." He seemed like he he was debating what to feel. Or trying to decide if I was joking or not. Finally, he smiled. He sat down beside me and stroked JJ's soft plush, all the while staring at me.

"Thank you for the compliment," he said as his phone rang. "Oh, hang on," he told me, holding up a hand as he checked his phone. He punched a few buttons and held the phone out in front of him. "Hey Thals," he said. "You're on speaker phone. Say hi to Percy."

"Hey Percy," Jason's sister said to me. "Jay, be sure you know what you're doing. Leo." Just for a moment, Jason's calm demeanor evaporated, and a panicky look flared in his eyes. But as quickly as it came, it left. He smiled easily at me and rolled his eyes.

"Thalia, it's fine," he said, though his happiness now seemed a little forced. "Hey, I gotta help Percy with his homework. See ya sis." He hung up and let out a shaky breath. His demeanor slipped again, though this time it stayed gone. He sank down on the bed and put his head between his knees like he had a he had a headache. I reached out and gently rubbed his shoulder.

"Jay," I said hesitantly. "Who's Leo. And why would Thalia have to warn you?" Jason looked up, and his eyes were shiney with unshed tears. He took a shuddery breath and shook his head.

"I...I can't..." he started, then he shook his head again. "God, Percy, I swear I'll explain. I haven't told anyone this, so please can you keep this a secret?" I nodded. Jason pulled me to him, and I curled up and rested my head on his lap as he ran his fingers through my hair. "Leo Valdez was my best friend in elementary school. We did everything together. We even went on vacation together in fifth grade. I'd always had special feelings for him, and at first I just thought it was because he was my best friend. I figured everyone felt that way. But in seventh grade it began to dawn on me; I liked Leo. More than that. I...I loved Leo." I listened in fascinated horror. I had a feeling I knew where this story was headed. "One night, he was spending the night at my house with a couple other people. We were talking about our crushes. It got to me, and I said, in all seriousness, 'Leo.' At first, they thought I was kidding. But when I didn't laugh, or even smile, they realized I wasn't joking. I meant it. I had a crush on Leo. I turned to him. I told him I loved him. He was my first love, Percy."

"What did he do?" I asked. It didn't seem like this story had a happy ending. Jason snorted.

"What did he do?" he replied in a question. "He told me I was an abomination and that I was going to hell. He told me he would never love me. Worse, he told me I would never be his friend again. He left, with our other friends in tow. I'd thought nothing could be worse than that. I was so wrong. Leo told everyone at school that I liked boys, and to watch out, or I was going to want to sleep with them. Everyone avoided me. They hated gays. My teachers began failing me, simply because of my sexual preferances. I was kicked off my basketball and track teams. No one seemed to want to do anything. It got so bad, mom made us change schools. She and Thalia always remind me to be careful.

"Oh Jason..." I said, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing. I'd always thought Jason had the easy life. The perfect life. Now I knew better. Jason had always been the one I wanted to be. Now, I'd give anything not to be in his shoes. I wouldn't want to deal with the shit he had to deal with. My peers accepted me without much difficulties. "Are you out?" I asked him.

"Oh, not yet," he said casually. All his earlier sadness was gone. "I've been waiting for a reason to out myself. I haven't had a reason to do so."

"Do you now?" I asked. Jason drew me up and wrapped his arms around me. It looked like he was going to go in for a kiss, but he held back.

"Of course I do," he said. "It's you. You are the reason I'm going to out myself. You're worth it." I sat there, shocked and speechless, as Jason nuzzled my neck. "Remember Percy, you mean the world to me. I don't even care if you like me that way yet. I'll wait." He gave me a grin that made all his other ones seem fake. "Can I say one other thing?" he asked.

"Sure," I replied. Jason grinned again, his real grin. The one no one else but me got to see.

"I love you," he said softly.

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Jason's POV

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Something changed between Percy and I. In science, he would barely look or talk to me. We barely got anything done. It was frustrating, and I actually snapped at him to pay attention. He flinched like I'd actually slapped him, and he sank farther into his shell. I think he cried a little when I wasn't looking, because Annabeth and Grover came over and ushered him away. Annabeth glared at me, and I stared at his retreating figure in dismay. I hadn't meant to hurt him.

"Dude," Will said, snapping his fingers under my nose. "Are you with us today. You've been staring at that tuna casserole like it's going to bite you. I don't think it actually will, 'cause Jake and I have eaten quite a bit of it." I shoved my uneaten food away. I didn't have much of an appetite today. I wasn't even sure why I'd gotten food. I wasn't going to eat it. "More for me," Will said with a shrug, pulling my tray to himself and heaping the offending casserole onto his tray. Jake helped himself to my strawberries. I just watched them take my food. I glanced down at my phone to make sure Percy hadn't magically texted me back without me knowing. But nothing. So I sent him a fifth text.

If it's about this morning, I'm sorry I said anything. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. But you do mean the world to me. Please talk to me. I sent the text then sighed unhappily. Jake and Will stopped talking and eating and looked at me.

"Dude, you act like your mom died," Jake said. "What's up? Is your love life failing or something?" I flinched. Jake had gotten so close to the truth, it hurt. I stood up so fast my chair shot backward into the next table, causing some random girl to jump. I flushed and ran into the bathroom attached to the lunchroom. I locked the door and turned to face the mirror. My hands were shaking, so I shoved them into the pockets of my borrowed jeans. Percy's stuff was a little snug on me, but for the most part, they fit. I looked at the shirt and vest. I didn't see Percy wearing something like this. He was the kind of guy that wore t-shirts and sweaters all the time, but he still managed to make it look good.

I waited until the final bell for lunch rang, then I waited some more. Finally, I emerged from the bathroom. I had a weird feeling in my stomach, so I went to the nurse's office to lie down. She was out today, but the office laides ushered me inside and let me lay on the rubbery cot. I rolled so I could face the white brick wall. I didn't feel sick. Not really. I just felt like I'd somehow screwed everything up. I scrubbed my face with one hand and sighed again.

"Jason?" I turned to find Percy hovering at the doorway. It was the first word he'd said to me since he got ushered away in science. I squinted at him. He'd ditche his drama shirt, and right now he wore a basketball jersey and white shorts. Gym clothes. Something of which I would guess he wasn't particularly skilled. "Are you okay Jason?" he asked. He made no move to come over to me, but at least we were on speaking terms again.

"I guess," I said, sitting up and leaning against the wall. "I feel a little weird." His expression softened considerably.

"Did I get you sick?" he asked. I shook my hand.

"Nah," I said. "I just feel like a royally screwed up with you. I didn't mean to scare you off, I swear. I always speak my mind, because I never know if I'm going to be around to speak it." He seemed to consider that for a second. Finally, he gave a tiny nod.

"Alright," he said. "I guess I can accept that. I must admit, it freaked me out a little. Especially after that story about Leo." As I usually did when someone mentioned his name, I closed my eyes and felt the wave of dispair wash over me. I could see Leo's face the night I told him I love him, the scorn all over his face. His lip curled up in disgust. The way he shook with fury and revulsion. "Jay?" I opened my eyes, and Percy's worried gaze met mine. "Are you okay? Sorry I mentioned Leo." I took a few deep breaths to still my racing heart. Three years later and I still found my heart gave a little flutter everytime someone brought him up. I wondered how he was doing. "Anyway, are you sure you love me?" I looked at him in shock.

"Of course I love you!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in pitch. I plucked at the hem of the shirt. "Why would I say it if I don't mean it?" He gazed at me like he was trying to see through me.

"Because you might still love Leo," he said softly. I sucked in a breath. How dare he? I wasn't in love with Leo! Not anymore. Not after what he did. And yet... "You do, don't you," he said, disappointment now dripping from his voice. "You do still love Leo, don't you?"

"I don't know," I replied miserably. I didn't want mixed feelings around Percy. He made me feel good. He made me feel whole. Hell, he made me feel like my life was actually worth living. "I do know I care about you though," I told him. "I care about you a lot. I can be your friend. You'll see."

"I don't know if I want to be your friend," he said softly. I stared at him, dumbfounded. "I can't be friends with you Jason," he said, backing away slowly. "I'm supposed to loath you, remember? I have seven school days left. After that, I don't owe you anything."

"Percy?" I asked. This was worse than Leo. Maybe I'd never really loved Leo. Loving Leo didn't feel like this. Loving Percy felt so right, and him rejecting me was like sticking a hot knife through my heart. "Please, reconsider." He stared at me for the longest time. Then, he took a deep breath.

"Okay, okay," he said softly. "Honestly, it would kill me not talking to you again. Hey, I should get to gym. Feel better, okay?" He gave a little wave as he jogged out of the room. I watched him go, a smile tugging on my lips. I couldn't describe to you what it felt like to hear him say it would kill him to not talk to me again. My phone rang, scaring me. I pulled it out and looked at it. It was Percy. And it was a quote.

"'To the world, you might be one person. But to one person, you might be the world,'" I read aloud. "'And you, Jason Grace, are my world." I smiled at my phone. That quote always made me a little misty-eyed. But now, it had a special meaning. Percy just said I was his world!

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That was lovely and fluffy and far from over. And I'm sorry Leo is such a bully (since he isn't like that), but that was the angle I was going for. So, again, sorry Leo is such a jerk.