Jason POV

The next week, filled with had work and sweat and tears, we were performing in the live (on the internet) shows.

"I still can't believe you kissed my sister." Percy tells Nico, crossing his arms tightly.

He hasn't let it go, and its been just over a week. I kind of feel sorry for Nico because, I mean, a week and he hasn't let it go, bringing it up every time we're all in the same room, and double checking that they're at least a foot away from each other. Paisley told Percy to go and screw himself at dinner last night when they tried sitting next to each other at the table.

I would do the same if someone tried keeping Piper and I away from each other like that. In fact, I would probably react worse.

"Like Elsa says Percy, "Leo begins, with his hand on his chest, "Let it go."

"But-"

"Percy." Luke interrupts, "Seriously. You and Annabeth are worse."

Percy looks at us, astonished. "She's my baby sister!"

"I'm not a baby!" Paisley screeches at him from the stairs, "For the sake of the gods, Percy, grow a pair and deal with it!" She was wrapped like a mummy in a pink blanket.

"Morning kids." Venus smiles, "Percy, you should really loosen up, they're a good couple."

"See? Listen to the adult, Cee Cee." Paisley says, coming down the stairs and hugging everyone. It was kind of awkward, but we all got used to it. She wouldn't go to bed unless she had said goodnight to everyone, and wouldn't go anywhere unless she had said good morning or something.

"Hmph." Percy humphs, "Sorry for caring."

"Apology accepted." Paisley says, jumping onto his back.

"Wheres the rest of the girls?" I ask her, as I can't wait until I can hang out with Piper.

"Asleep, and being lazy. We don't have to leave until, like, one. So chillax." Paisley says, as I swallow my disappointment.

Backstage as buzzing with nervous teens, looking like they were on the verge of passing out.

"No matter the outcome of this, no hard feelings?" Thalia double checked with me. I nod, ruffling her hair before rushing to find the rest of my missing band.

We were up second, so we were in a rush.

People were yelling, and frankly, it was very chaotic.

"Ogygia!" Hermes shouts, "Anyone seen Ogygia?"

"Jason!" Percy yells at me from the make up stand, where a few people were getting powdered.

"What?" I reply, racing over to him and the rest of the crew.

"Have you seen my shoe?" Percy asks me, pointing to his foot which was only covered by a sock, "If I don't find my shoe, we're all going to have to go out in our socks."

They went as far as organizing what colour socks we were wearing. I remember the girls complaining earlier about how they all had matching bras... Anyways.

"I don't think I've seen it. I'll have a look." I declare, watching as his face lights up. I don't particularly fancy going onto the stage in my socks.

I scour the room, looking under bags, feet, clothes, everything. No sign of the shoe.

"Outcasts! Get ready!" A stage hand says, running into the backstage area.

And no shoe.

We all gather together, hearts racing like a runner on an Olympic track.

"No shoe." Luke says, "So I guess we're all going on with our socks."

I sigh in embarrassment. Thalia will never let me live this down. I squat down and untie my shoelaces, like everyone else in the band.

"Sorry for losing my shoe, guys." Percy says, taking of the one shoe he has got.

"It's okay, Perce. They'll have something to remember us for, now." Leo says cheerfully.

We were wearing identical costumes to each other, almost. I was decked in a blue flannel shirt, a white under shirt, jeans and blue vans. Nico was in black, with a white under shirt. Luke was in brown. Percy in green. Leo in red.

Our socks were black, like our jeans so it just looked like the jean covered our feet too.

"Outcasts backstage now please!" A voice shouts. We all nervously glance at each other, before making our way to the wings.

As we pass the girls, they give us reassuring thumbs ups and big, excited smiles.

I quickly smile back at them, before being pulled into the wings.

"Okay, we're all here?" The stage hand asks us, counting us to make sure we're all here. "Cool, now when you get on the stage, the equipment has already been set up for you. You know how everything works. When Hermes introduces you, you can start any time after."

The band before us plays, very well may I add, for about another minute before they're called to talk to the judges with the questions like "Did you have fun?" etc.

I could hear the crowd roaring wildly, causing my stomach to do back flips and my heart to beat rapidly as a white water river's water.

"Thank you." Apollo says to the band. I hear them come offstage, and they push past us with big grins.

"Now, all the way from The Big Apple, or New York, OUTCASTS!"

The stagehand pushes us forward onto the stage, where everything indeed has been set up for us. I stand behind the mic, hearing some of the audience members sigh.

"Woo! Go Outcasts!" I hear Sally and Aphrodite yelling from the back, where I spot them.

I look behind me at my ready band mates, who nod at me encouragingly.

"Once again, OUTCASTS!"

I take a deep breath and hear Percy on the drums beat the sticks together and say the cliched "5, 6, 7, 8."

As I find my cue in the music and begin singing, finding the courage to look up at the very noisy crowd.

The room was full, so to say the least.

Juno, Apollo and Venus were lined up in their special judges thingy. Venus and Apollo are smiling at us.

My heart pounded faster at the more people I saw. Easy five hundred.

I couldn't be more glad when the song came to a stop.

I sighed in relief after I sang the finishing line, and looked back at my smiling band. Minus Nico. Because Nico doesn't smile.

"Holy crap!" Percy whooped once we were off stage, practically jumping on us. "THAT WAS INSANE!"

"Percy, we were singing on stage like we have done at gigs all the time." Nico deadpans. "The only difference is that there are more people and three professionals there."

Percy begins to grumble to himself, "You're killing my vibe." He proclaims, making us all laugh.

"What vibe?"Leo asks, "I don't see no vibe around here!"

I duck under a beam and tug past the curtains to get to the backstage area, where the girls are huddled up.

I spot Piper with her back to me. She was curled up in a ball, with her head resting on top of her knees, which were drawn to her chest. She looks adorable in the outfit chosen by Venus. It looks comfortable and casual. I guess she didn't want us to look strange.

I scooch up behind her and pinch her sides, resulting in her squealing and sitting up straight. Her friends laugh at her unease, as i pull her in front of me so she's sitting in between my legs.

"How was it?" She asks, tilting her head to the side so she could see me.

"It was scary at first, but so long as you don't over think it you'll be alright." I assure her, knowing she's nervous despite her relaxed manner.

"Cool." She says, "How many people?"

"Tonnes, but don't be put off by it." Percy says, joining in the conversation and sitting next to Annabeth. He wraps an arm around her waist, before continuing, "Pretend you're in rehearsal."

We have to wait a week before we get the results, like the rest of the Audience.

Tension has been high, but that might just be me. It's now Sunday, and the performances were on Friday.

Generally, we've avoided the other band, Roman Recruit. It's not like they've made much effort to get to know us either so as Sam Smith says, "I know I'm not the only one." Only this is on a mass, and WE'RE not the only ones.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" Reyna asks me, from where she's seated at the other side of the table. She was sorting through paper, while I was trying to read and fully understand the book Twilight.

"Yeah." I say, a bit hesitant. I didn't see the look she gave me before but Thalia says she didn't like it and I trust Thalia.

I slowly get up, and make sure to show my hesitancy. I follow her upstairs to a room, which I assume is hers and Hazel's.

The room is tidy, and is much like mine. There's a en suite, with two beds with the headboard pressed against the opposite wall. There's a desk on the side of the room I'm on.

"Come in. Nothing's going to jump out and kill you." Reyna says, sitting at the desk chair and swivelling around to face me.

I do as she says, but then she says to shut the door, which makes me more nervous.

"No. I'd prefer it open." I say, surprising her, as her eyebrows shoot up.

"Fine." She says stiffly, as usual.

I stand there awkwardly for a few minutes, my frustration and agitation with her building.

"Aren't you going to-" I start before she cuts me off.

"You're Jason Grace?" She asks, "Lived in San Fran until you were ten and then moved to the Big Apple." She says Big Apple with disgust and hatred.

"Yeah, how do you-" I say before she yet again cuts me off.

"I used to be your neighbour." She says, standing up, "We were best friends. Until you left and dropped contact."

I wanted to hit her. I really did. She was way too close for comfort and she was getting under my skin. And I think she knew that.

"Well I'm sorry that my Mother died and I had to move in with my Dad." I say, "Sorry that I couldn't magically bring her back for your benefit, and I'm sorry that you're upset with me but I don't see how it's really my problem. I've moved on and I've practically forgotten you. I have a girlfriend and friends and right now I don't really need-"

"I see." Reyna says, "Move away from home and all of a sudden you don't need anyone."

I realize what I said was harsh but she should have prepared herself for it. I mean, everything I said was nothing but the truth. Sure, it was a bit insensitive of me to say, but still.

"Leave." She says, and I gladly do.

A/N

Hi. I'm tired. No, my name is not tired, it's Sky.

It's been a long week. I can tell you that.

I've got the last of my Christmas shopping to do and whatnot and its so stressful and I've been feeling sick. Lightheadedness, dizzy, lack of balance etc.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Because we all know that I won't be updating before then because I'm lazy.)

You know the one thing I hate about holidays? Sports stops. I don't really like doing physical exercise but now I'm getting fat and I have a swimming competition in January (after my birthday which is on the 21st (Of Jan) by the way hint hint.)

~KaleidoscopeColours

AOTQFYTAFLU: I hate the colours Yellow and Orange. Anything neon or really bright. It gives me a headache.

QOTCFYTA: I don't have one. What would you like to know about me? (Nothing creepy) and it can be one of my questions.