Annabeth:

It was very hard for me to get all of those shards out of his wounds and it was even harder for me to hear his side of the story. The entire time I thought that Jason was the bad guy here, that he was the one who broke Piper's heart. I was wrong. And I never thought someone as innocent and kind as her would do such a thing to the person she truly loves.

Until now, it was still pretty hard to believe.

And I was biting my lip hard just so that I wouldn't cry out of pity. I would be totally open to the idea of them not getting back together after this. But Piper was my friend and I know she was hurting as much as he was. Hers was just emotionally. He was both emotionally and physically.

I sighed, trying to control my breathing as I bandaged his hands and some other cuts. And he just smiled at me, thanking me and Percy quietly for being here. He even smiled at Nico for not leaving his side. Sure, the guys and he get along well but it was always the three of them who do crazy things together.

"What is it with you and Angela, anyways? You looked as if you've seen her before." Percy asked a little hesitantly. He doesn't want his cousin's rage and self-pity to ignite again and cause another rampage, probably one that could cost his life.

Jason just sighed, "After my mom sold me when I was two, they brought me to a house where all the other children were. I made so many friends but Angela was always the one who would stay with me through everything. One day, two people arrived and saw her and fell in love with her almost immediately. I thought they were going to take me, too, because she would never let go of my hand..." His gaze fell to his slightly wounded feet, "I never saw her again until you made me do my dare. It just surprised me, you know. And it made me feel like I was a child again when I talk to her. Apparently, she remembered me."

"So you two were just childhood friends? You weren't attracted to her or anything? You just happened to recognize her and miss talking to her? You never doubted your feelings for Piper once." I said in disbelief, not really processing everything as quickly as I used to.

The sad blonde nodded, staring at the wall opposite us. I felt Nico sit beside me to my right. "We're here for you, buddy." He reassured, "Don't you ever forget that. We're brothers, remember?"

At this, we all managed to smile. "I guess I'd have more scars to worry about, other than the one on my lip."

Percy laughed, "You're just lucky you don't have any on your face or you'll look like..." He trailed off, realizing his mistake. And my grip on his hand tightened, a tear sliding down my face.

"Annabeth?" Nico questioned, confused. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, wiping the tears from my eyes and trying to focus on the fact that it wasn't me who was supposed to be crying right now. "Yes, of course. Just remembered something."

My boyfriend tilted my face up so that our gazes were locked. And he pressed his lips softly to mine. "Don't worry about it, Wise Girl. You won't see him again. I'll make sure of that."

Soon enough, I had to leave the three boys alone because I felt that Jason should talk to the guys who know him best- other than the one who betrayed him, of course. And I headed down the staircase to where I know the others were comforting someone who clearly cannot be comforted.

Piper was sitting on the floor, her head between her legs as she cried. And everyone, even Clarisse, tried their best to at least quiet her sobs a little. It clearly wasn't working. I know that intervening when she was at her most miserable state wasn't the best idea and I know that I should be the friend that she needed me to be but I couldn't help but feel the burning anger as I looked at her.

"How could you?" I demanded, ignoring my rational side. My friends looked at me in surprise but I ignored that too.

She stared at me with bloodshot eyes, confused. "Wh-what?" she whimpered.

"How could you do that to him? You knew that he loved you! You were everything he had, everything he cared about and you just betrayed him like that. You don't know what state he's in because of you. Did you see the blood on Leo's shirt? That was his! He's wounded and bleeding and heartbroken there and Percy and Nico can't do anything about it. I can't believe you could do such a thing."

Suddenly, she was standing. Her usually peaceful chocolate brown eyes filled with anger and before I could even blink, her palm connected with my face. And never once have I been slapped by a friend. Not the way she did it. "You don't know how bad I feel. You will never know how bad I feel. I'm angry and frustrated and just hurt."

I looked away from her, partly in disgust and partly in humiliation. And no, I wasn't disgusted with myself. "I don't know you anymore, McLean. And I don't know where that Piper I know went but this isn't her."

What I said was true. I don't know if it was love that changed her for the worst or because she was just used to being loved that she was seeking more attention. And I guess Jason never really realized it yet, not before his heart was broken and stepped on.

The rest of the day turned awkward. None of us spoke with each other. Percy, Nico, Thalia, and I took turns watching over Jason because we didn't want him to commit suicide or anything. Plus, since he refused to go down to eat, it was our job to bring him what he needed- even when he didn't usually mind it.

It was Piper who came to talk to me after. She hasn't at all recovered yet from what happened but she looked plenty guilty. "Annabeth, I'm sorry for acting so selfish. What you said was true and... and..." She broke down again, causing me to feel the guilt and self pity coming like waves from her. I pulled her into a sisterly embrace.

"It's alright, Pipes. I shouldn't have blamed you for this. It wasn't your fault." I smiled kindly at her, wiping the tears from her eyes.

I didn't sleep well that night, feeling somewhat responsible for this break-up. Of course, Percy was there to assure me that I wasn't and this was just a problem that they have to solve on their own. But how can they solve it if they barely see each other?

That was when I came up with a plan.

On the day before we were supposed to leave, I managed to convince Piper to sing for him, even if it was just for a short time. He needed to know how she feels after this. He needed to know that he was still loved by the person he loves most.

"Everything's going to be fine" I said, smiling at my friend. "Seaweed Brain agreed to do this with you and he's already learning. Piper, your voice is amazing. Do this for him."

She breathed slowly, her eyes looking very frantic. "I don't know if I can. What if he doesn't accept it?"

"He will" This was Thalia now and she looked beyond grateful that I came up with this last night. Jason needed to see the light again- both metaphorically and literally.

Silena and Katie hugged Piper once more before leaving the room. "I'll stay here." I sat beside my boyfriend on the loveseat, my head placed lightly on his shoulder as he tuned the guitar. "As for you," My voice was only a whisper. "I still can't believe you can do such a thing."

He strummed a few notes before placing the instrument lightly on its stand. Where he got it, you may ask? Well, Angela owns it but she never really learned how to play. Thankfully, she wasn't one of those girls who design their belongings with things that describe her best. In other words, the guitar was very simple. And Percy likes simple.

When Nico gave the go, my boyfriend played it professionally and I admired how he learned to do this while watching his grandfather when he was a boy.

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street
Faster than the wind
Passionate as sin, ended so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind
Once you're already flying through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn
So bright just before they lose it all

Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red

This was when Jason passed by, just as planned. And his eyes were confused for a minute before realizing that she was doing this for someone. He just never noticed that he was that someone. He must have thought that everything she was doing was for Leo's. That was where he was wrong.

Touching him is like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you
Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song
Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there's no right answer
Regretting him was like wishing you never found out love could be that strong

Losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met
But loving him was red
Oh red burning red

She was standing now, a tear falling to the floor as she reached out, touching his face. And he leaned to her touch, really smiling for the first time ever since this happened. He finally realized that it was he who she was in love with.

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes
Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head

Burning red!
Darling it was red!

Oh, losing him was blue like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met
Cause loving him was red yeah yeah red
We're burning red

And that's why he's spinning round in my head
Comes back to me burning red
Yeah yeah

Cause love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street

And she just started sobbing, something she has been doing quite a lot lately. Jason's breathing turned erratic as he tried to stop his own cries. Because he was the one who was meant to comfort. Right then and there, he forgot whatever happened between them as he let his protective instincts take over.

It was the best sight ever, seeing them together again after the scars and almost dehydration. "I love you, Jason. I'm so sorry for what happened and I didn't know what came to me..." She gasped when he felt his arms around her, something that made me smile even wider. Finally, I relaxed into Percy's grip. "You have to understand that I can't live without you."

"It's okay, Pipes." He muttered, "I love you, too."

Somewhere near the doorway, I heard a very loud squeal. It just had to be Silena because I knew that she was the only one who truly cared about other people's relationships as much as those people involved. And she just couldn't help herself.

The Stolls had the decency to not tease or interrupt the moment at all. And Connor just happened to volunteer in returning the guitar back to Angela. I had a feeling he would like her. I just couldn't believe that the twins fell for too innocent girls.

We spent until lunch time trying our best to catch up with Hazel and Frank. Since we didn't really do that yesterday what will all the drama of everything. And we told them everything about the road trip and what we've been doing. I even mentioned when we humiliated Rachel Dare when we were still at school. Percy shared about his artistic side and managed to prove that it was real. And we just hung out like we used to.

The giant double doors suddenly opened.

A man with very dark hair and pale olive skin wearing what seemed to be a business suit and holding a suitcase went to greet us. The features he had were like Nico's, which made people doubt if his actual child was his child at all. But Hazel looked more like her mother, who died when she was fourteen.

"Hello, Mr. Levesque" We all greeted, smiling. He nodded at us and placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead.

Even when he wasn't the kind of father that smiles and jokes around- not unlike Percy's dad or my dad or even Travis and Connor's dad- it was still clear that he loved Hazel very much and would do anything for her. She knows it.

"You know, Hazel, you should come visit us more often. We miss you guys!" Silena suggested, nudging the girl lightly.

"I'll try. If dad allows me, then I will. Plus, I've always wanted to see that beach house of yours, Percy."

The man beside me smirked, "Yeah. When you do come to visit us, I promise we'll go see it."

"Well, I can if my time and my father permit me. They are the only things keeping me here." Hazel teased lightly, chuckling when she heard her daughter cry out a response from the distance. Something that strangely sounds like: "You can only go back to New York once you give me an A in History!"

My good friend just face palmed. "Dad!" She whined, "You know I can't do that any time soon! It's unfair!"

It only took him a second to answer. "But life's unfair, Sweetheart. Get used to it." His head suddenly appeared by the doorway, smiling happily at his daughter. And I never thought that I would ever see that expression on him any time soon seeing that he barely even looked at us when we greeted him. I guess that's just the effect of daughters to their fathers. They get all mushy and stuff.

Frank laughed in front of me, unable to control himself because of the childish banter existing between the two. When Leo asked him why he was reacting this way, he only said that he wasn't at all used to this even when they practically do this every day. It was nice to see a father spending all of his free time, and some of his not-so-free time, with his daughter. It was very rare to see nowadays.

How come my relationship with my father was never like that when I was young? Did I do anything wrong to deserve just cold, heartless parents? Or did they want me to grow better as a person and never treat my future children the same way I was treated because I didn't want them to suffer? Maybe that was the way it's supposed to be. And plus, ever since I moved in with Percy and his parents, I have never felt better in my life. I already reconciled with my father and see my baby brothers often, even when they were still pretty annoying.

Maybe my suffering was a way for the world to tell me that good things were on its way and maybe the same thing applies to all of my friends who are going through so many things with me. The break-ups and hardships each couple goes through and how we went past that means that we're all strong enough to stay together. The thought was very corny but it was true.

I'm not going to let anything happen to the people I love.

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