AN: Focus of this story shifts a little after this chapter; we're going to find out what else has been going on, or is about to go on, among Frank and Hazel's friends soon!

Hazel sat in the stands with Annabeth, Piper, Reyna and Leo, watching Olympus High's football match.

Unfortunately, it was not going well.

Coach Hedge had been sent off for abusive language and threatening an opposition player (who, in all fairness, was not playing a clean game at all) with a baseball bat. (Which was weird, because he was a football coach.)

Their captain, Charles Beckendorf, had been injured. It looked like he might have a broken arm, which had sent his cheerleader girlfriend and soulmate Silena into tears of distress.

The team was essentially directionless, and it was already half-time.

Annabeth, with her clever strategic mind, seemed to have already performed an analysis.

'Percy and Jason have the leadership potential and abilities to take charge, but they lack the strategic minds. However...' She turned to Hazel. 'Do you think your boyfriend can step up?'

Well, I haven't seen as much of that confident, natural leader side of him in this match, archery is really far more up his alley than football. But he's still the same person, and he's been calling and leading the defensive plays really well. Necessity brought out his confidence in regards to the archery team, and look where he is now! He's already more confident than he was when we met.

She nodded firmly.

'I believe he can.'

Piper, who had been telling off Leo for objectifying the cheerleaders, turned to the other three girls, before pointing to the field.

'Good call, Hazel.'

The players had gathered together on the edge of the field.

Frank appeared to be addressing them.

Percy, oblivious as ever, stared at him with what seemed to be shock.

Jason was smiling knowingly.

One figure, probably Dylan, tried to challenge him.

Hazel's hands clutched her scarf tighter.

Come on, Frank, you're so much better than him. Be strong!

Frank stared the bully down, and Hazel grinned with pride.

Reyna looked surprised.

When half-time finished, Olympus High took to the field more confident than they were before. The girls and Leo stood and gave them an extra-loud cheer. (Except Reyna, because that wasn't dignified. She simply cheered, which was unusual enough for her.)

They played with much more direction too.

As unexpected as it was for most of the crowd, Frank, a Sophomore, that klutzy shy Asian kid, seemed to be taking charge.

Hazel beamed through the entire rest of the game, and her voice became hoarse from cheering.

The game ended in a very, very narrow win for Olympus, causing half the stands to erupt in cheering. Hazel heard people cheering Frank's name, and her grin grew even wider.

Annabeth turned to her, smiling.

'Your boyfriend's a good strategist.'

Hazel nodded proudly.

'He is.' She reached out and touched the older girl's arm as she turned away. 'Annabeth, do you think you could tell him that? It'd mean a lot to him, coming from you...'

(Annabeth's strategic mind and intellect were legendary.)

A slight blush tinted the blond's cheeks.

'I certainly will.'

'Good job, man!'

Percy slung an arm around Frank's shoulders as they exited the locker room.

Jason patted him firmly on the back.

'You really stepped up to the plate today. Great work, Frank.'

Dylan simply ignored him, which was much better than usual, so Frank supposed it could mean that he'd earned some grudging respect from the bully.

However, as pleasant as all the praise was (and as surprising as it was), his mind was elsewhere.

He'd played really hard today, and pushed at least as hard as he was pushed. He'd felt Neanderthal Frank taking charge during a good portion of the game.

What will Hazel think?

He needed to talk to her.

Today, she'd finally seen him for what he really was. Seen what he could do. What potential he had.

He sent a silent prayer to gods that he wasn't even sure existed.

Please, please don't let her be disgusted. Or worse, scared. Please.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by a familiar curly-haired girl flinging her arms around him.

Despite his preoccupation, he smiled and hugged her back firmly.

'You were absolutely incredible, Frank!'

He flushed. There was so much pride, even maybe a little awe in her voice...

'It was nothing, really, I just did what I had to do.'

As she kissed him on the cheek, he reddened further.

The others sniggered, and there were a few interesting comments from Leo and some of the other footballers walking past.

Frank now resembled a tomato, while Hazel was also noticeably blushing and fanning her face.

Percy rescued them.

'There's a party at Dakota's. You guys all coming?'

'Oh, yeah, this super-hot McShizzle's definitely going to be there! After all, wouldn't want to disappoint all the ladies!'

Piper rolled her eyes. Annabeth sighed. Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. Reyna just looked impassive as usual. (Gods, the girl had really good composure.) Piper stepped over and put an arm around Jason, a gesture which he reciprocated, almost as if they were comforting each other.

We'll survive him, I promise...

'Pipes and I will be there, Percy.'

'Reyna?'

The dark-haired girl raised an eyebrow at Percy (Really?), but didn't speak.

'I know, I know. Just asking in case you've changed your mind.'

The green-eyed boy looked hopefully at his soulmate.

'Wise Girl?'

She considered for a moment, then smiled at him.

'Fine. I can stay for an hour, then I have to go and study.'

Percy punched the air.

'Oh, yeah! Victory!'

Once he'd calmed down a little, he turned to Hazel and Frank.

'You two coming? Everyone will want to see you there, Frank!'

Frank and Hazel shared a glance.

'No, I don't think it's really our thing.'

'And Nico would kill me if I took Hazel to a high school post-game party.'

Hazel smiled and squeezed his hand.

'No, he won't. I won't let him.'

Leo rolled his eyes.

'Well, I'm out of here before you get all sappy on me!'

Percy, Piper and Jason glanced at them.

'Are you sure?'

(Annabeth and Reyna seemed to agree with their view of these parties.)

They both nodded.

'Okay then, but you don't know what you're missing out on!'

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

'Don't listen to Seaweed Brain, you two. Sure, sometimes they can be fun, but more often than not it's just drunk teens making out. You're not missing much.'

The other teenagers left, leaving Frank and Hazel sitting on the bleachers alone.

Frank took a deep breath.

'I...I promised to explain after the game...' He took another deep breath. 'So that's what I'm going to do.'

Hazel nodded and squeezed his hand gently. Go on. You can do it.

'...Football, as I'm sure you've seen is...is a bit of a rough game. A violent game. When I play, sometimes...sometimes I...I...' He ran a hand through his hair. 'I'm not making any sense.' He took another deep breath. 'Hazel...look at me.' He gestured at his body. 'If I wanted to, I could hurt people really, really badly.' He looked down. 'And...and I know I have that potential to be violent. Sometimes, I really, really want to hurt people...and I just see red...and it comes out when I play. You can see it when I play and...' He trailed off, completely unsure of what to say.

He looked up warily at her.

Hazel was staring at him. With affection in her eyes...and was, was that awe?

'Frank, you mean you were scared of inviting me to a game because you thought I might see your potential for violence and be scared or horrified?'

He nodded slowly.

'..I hate that part of myself...and I was worried that you would too, or even worse, you'd be scared of me...'

Hazel shook her head, a half-smile on her face.

'I don't deserve you, Frank.'

He stared at her in shock.

Surely it's the other way around?

She shook her head again.

'Oh, Frank, why can't you see? This is no different from what you told me. We've all got terrible potential within us. But the fact that you're so concerned about it just reflects how much of a good person you are!'

'You really think so?'

Hazel poked him in the chest.

'I know so.'

Slowly, he smiled, as a flush crept up his face.

He leant over and kissed her on the cheek.

'Thank you, Hazel. But I still disagree with you. I don't think I deserve you.'

Hazel just smiled and shook her head, before scooting closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, before Hazel spoke up, her voice soft but resolute.

'I don't deserve you, Frank.'

He opened his mouth to disagree, but she put a finger to his lips.

'I really don't, and I think that no matter what you say, I'll always think that.' She took a deep breath. 'And I think that you'll always think that you don't deserve me, no matter what I say...But...I just want you to know, that I choose to be with you. I choose you. Not because of the marks, but because of you...Because you're you...And...and I think that you choose to be with me for me too...so I...well, I don't think it's about deserving each other, not really...What's really important is that we chose each other.'

He smiled at her (and it was the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen), and leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.

'And that is exactly why I think I don't deserve you.'

But it was in a lighter tone than he'd ever said it before, so she beamed back and simply punched him lightly on the arm.

'But...don't think, know, that I choose to be with you because you're you too, Hazel.'

And that, not any of the scenes from those cheesy romance movies that are Piper's (and she suspects Frank's and her brother's) guilty pleasure, is the singularly most romantic thing she's ever heard in her life, as short as it has been.

She reached out and embraced her Frank.

AN: Okay, a bit sappy, but anyone else envision Frazel as a really let's-talk-about-our-feelings couple? (They do spend a lot of time talking, and are emotionally very open people.)