ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

80.5

KATERINA WAS RUDELY awakened by her alarm going off. She let out a groan and blindly reached out her arm to probably slap her phone off of the nightstand.

However, her hand met something else, and someone said, "Rina, can you not?"

Katerina opened her eyes and yawned, her gaze meeting Piper's. After a few moments, Katerina registered that was leaning against Piper, and probably had for the majority of the night. And that her stupid alarm was still going off.

"Shut up, I don't wanna be awake," Katerina sat up, reaching for her phone and turning off the goddamn alarm. She glanced around, frowning. "Where's Jason?"

"What time is it?" asked Piper, still half-lying down against the armrest of the couch. That should not have been a comfortable position. Katerina wondered how she slept like that. "He's probably awake. Y'know, Roman camp schedule."

"Right . . ." Katerina said, replying to Julia, who had agreed on the ride situation. She'd have to ask them how the date went. Admittedly, Katie Gardner was a steal. "It's, like, ten."

Piper sent her a slightly disappointed look. "And you're supposed to leave at eleven?"

"I was not anticipating on being here for New Year's," argued Katerina. "I thought I was going to be alone at my house, hungover and having extra time to sleep before getting my way to the airport. Apologies, your majesty."

"Well, are you glad you're not?" a new voice appeared, and Katerina and Piper looked up to see Jason opening the door with his body, holding two plates.

Katerina frowned. "Have you always had glasses?"

Jason shut the door and walked over to them. "You were there when I got them, Rina."

She remembered that, actually. A machine-powered snake goddess monster . . . the vial that brought her best friend back from the dead . . . being told that she would be heartbroken. At the time, she'd thought that that was because of Leo. That his death would break her heart so badly that the healing god had to warn her about it himself. But she now realized that he'd been talking about everything. Leo's death, the breakup, the argument with mama, running away.

Nothing was clear in that world until you got older. Until you realize the unfair treatment that the gods give just because they're all-knowing and immortal. And complete jerks.

Katerina shook off those thoughts. She was not going to think about this now. Maybe on the plane she would. "I haven't seen you wear glasses since I've been in New York," she said, looking down at the plate of food he slid over to her. "You made us breakfast?"

Jason shrugged. "Yeah, I know it's not avocado toast, but I wanted you to have something to eat," he said. "Contacts exist, you know."

"Thank you," she said quietly, starting to eat quickly because she was on a time crunch. "I know. I was just surprised. You look good with your glasses."

"And he doesn't look good without?" teased Piper, digging into her own food.

"You're putting words in my mouth, malyshka," Katerina declared, finishing her food surprisingly quick. Well, maybe not, considering she had to go. She always ate faster on a time crunch. "Shit, if I get to the airport late Kiki's gonna kill me. And then Jules is gonna revive me and kill me again for not being there."

"Let's go then?" Jason said in his confused golden retriever way.

"M' not finished," Piper said, her mouth full of food.

"And I have to go to the bathroom," added Katerina, standing up and speed walking to the door, opening it and walking into the apartment. Then she realized she didn't know where the bathroom was. "Wait, where's—"