ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

44

KAT KINDA JUST let Jason and Piper drag her around the camp, Jason pointing out places that were — are, Kat guessed — important to him, waving at many people with his free hand.

Meanwhile, Piper was looking half like an angry cat, half trying to look normal and happy for Jason.

Trouble in paradise. Kat could handle this. Except she's somehow never been the meditator. She's the one always picking fights.

"Rina," Piper said in a clipped tone. "Were you lying about the mom thing?"

"And the uncle thing?" added Jason.

Kat pouted. "Aw, do you really think that I would lie?"

"Yes," Jason and Piper said in unison.

"Jesus Christ, you two can agree on something," muttered Kat. "But do you think they're kidding? Seriously. Didn't you two meet my mama?"

"No," corrected Piper, "we met your uncle. Leo met your mom. I know. He whined to me about it for days. Don't tell him I said this, but he cried on my shirt."

Kat burst out into laughter. "No. Really?"

"Really," Piper agreed, relaxing at the sound of Kat's laugh. "It's one of the most traumatic events of my life."

"I can imagine."

They walked in silence after that, and it was a little awkward. Usually, whenever they were alone, silences were comfortable. Kat didn't feel like she had to contribute any noise to the atmosphere. Now? Now, it felt different.

Eventually, they got to some building, where Jason held the door open for them. Kat gave him a big smile before dragging Piper through the door and into the Hall of Fame or whatever.

Kat squinted at the plaques on the wall. "Ugh, I'm shit at reading Latin."

Piper sniggered. "You're also shit at reading in general."

"Shut the fuck up!" Kat shoved her playfully. "I will fight you. I don't fucking care if I ruin your pretty face."

Jason pulled them apart. "Don't fight Piper, Rina. Alright?"

Kat glared up at him, pouting angrily.

He was, sadly, immune to her looks. Most of the time. "Alright?"

She sighed. "Okay."

He smiled, and holy shit she was down BAD for him. "Let's get you that selfie!"

Jason led them down the hallway, which was honestly kinda eerie. They could've been in a horror movie for all Kat knew. Maybe he was leading them to their deaths.

Well, it wasn't like Kat wasn't ready for death. Let's do this.

"And . . . here," he announced, and immediately she walked straight into him. She let her head fall against his shoulder, where it fucking stayed because ow, that hurt. Yep. Death was coming for her, and it was going to take her right now.

"Rina," Jason chided, pushing at her head, "don't you want to see your family's accomplishments?"

"She doesn't care about that," Piper scoffed, then she said in a bright, cheery tone: "Rina, selfie!"

Kat immediately perked up at that, settling herself by Piper's side and smirking at the camera, sticking up her middle finger as Piper snapped so many Polaroid photos Kat went blind by flash.

"And . . . there!" Piper smirked at the picture that came out of the camera after shaking it, giving it to Kat who nodded at the photo.

"You used up all of my film," she grumbled. "I'm gonna have to buy more."