Disclaimer: All rights to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus series go to the annoying yet amazing Rick Riordan and I own nothing but the plot

Leo gave one of his signature goofy "pretending-I'm-not-heartbroken-inside" grins to his friends as they gathered around the campfire.

Leo loved the camp fire, actually. While, for a long part of his life, he was afraid of and basically despised fire because of his mother and all, now he's learned to use it for his own good. Besides, the camp fire was actually really relaxing. Like he could stare at it forever, mindlessly singing along to whatever combination of camp songs the Apollo cabin has each night, and forget about his problems.

Which, until now, he completely forgot about. But there they were-Piper and Jason, his best friends, holding hands. Again. Jason was visiting camp for Piper. Again.

He didn't even mind all of Percy and Annabeth's or Will and Nico's or even Frank and Hazel's (when they were there) hugging and whatever. But Piper and Jason were his best friends, and this was really making him feel left out. Making him feel more of a third wheel than he already felt.

He would never admit that, though.

Yes, he was happy for them. It was all the PDA, though. (A/N: You probably know this, but Public Displays of Affection) Leo didn't care that they were together...well, he kind of did, but it was all the PDA.

Sure, they're together! But no need to rub it in that you got my girl, Grace!...Where'd that come from?" Leo thought. On the outside, he sighed. On the inside, he was now debating what his head meant by "my girl." Even he couldn't understand himself sometimes.

But did he really like Piper?

They're best friends, though! He couldn't ruin that! Besides, what would Jason think? They're best friends, too. Even if he felt left out sometimes, they still were.

"And do I like Piper? I mean, my mind could've misspoken something..."

"Oh, you definitely like her. And I don't have to be a child of Athena to know that," Annabeth's voice startled Leo.

"You were talking out loud, buddy." Percy piped up. Piped. Ha. Like PIPEr-FOCUS VALDEZ!

"Well, I don't like her. I just… well… my thoughts were confusing me okay? I blame ADHD…"

"I blame Aphrodite," Percy laughed.

"Really, though, Leo. Even if you hadn't said that, you always get that look around her. Before you started thinking out loud, you were staring at them. Your eyes had that mix of admiration and hurt, and your fists were balled. Tightly."

Leo rolled his eyes, playing it off. It wasn't that hard to hide his emotions, usually. Just make a joke.

"I'm just jealous of that perfectly roasted marshmallow she has! I'm always impatient, so mine burns!"

In his defense, it was usually easy to hide his emotions with a joke. There were, of course, those times, like now, where his ears would turn bright red when embarrassed.

"Look, don't set youself on fire over this, Valdez. I mean, I think I've accidentally thought out loud before... just never about a girl.. Anyhow. Just, sort your feelings out and try to tell her, if you think you can. There really is a chance that she likes you, being best friends and all that." Percy smiled.

"Yeah, it's just this Seaweed Brain is has no idea whatsoever about how to tell if a girl likes someone. Seriously, though, a four year crush and he never noticed." Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Hey! It's not my f-" Percy tried to protest.

"You know, I could talk to Piper later… but… I prefer not to until you sort your feelings out. I don't want to get in the middle of everything. I'm just saying, though, I can tell you like her. While I trust my mind to make rational decisions all the time, sometimes you do have to let your heart decide," Annabeth paused, "that sounds really cheesy, but you know what I mean. Don't overthink it."

"You should listen to her, Repair Boy. Things are easier for me when I do."

"And yet you still don't."

"I do! SOMETIMES. Other times, it's better if I take the lead.." the couple kept doing their adorable arguing thing, the kind of adorable arguing thing that always made Leo upset when it was Jason and Piper, as Leo turned his attention to the camp songs.

He did not like his best friend. No matter what they said.

But… maybe he did.

Just maybe.

Just a little.

Well, no. A lot.

He liked her a lot.

Not exactly...

He loved her a lot.

And he hated himself for it.

That night, Leo Valdez looked to the sky, to Olympus, to Aphrodite, and prayed for help.