Between the battles: Heroes of Olympus one shots

We'll See Each Other Again, Right?

PIPER

Eight year old Piper sighed as she stared out the window, twirling her hair.

Her dad was taking her along to a studio audition for a role in a commercial, he said that maybe he could get a role in acting so they could afford medicine for Grandpa Tom. He had been awfully sick, and Piper was worried about him.

"Will he be ok?" She asked her dad in the front seat, who was gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

"I don't know Piper." He replied, too worried to even try and reassure her.

Why does it have to be him? She thought, trying to reason with any gods that were out there, Cherokee or whatever.

Piper's dad stopped the car, and Piper unbuckled herself and slid out of her booster seat.

Her dad came around and took her hand, leading her to the studio doors. He pushed open the door, and gestured for Piper to go in, and Piper stepped cautiously in.

Instantly bright lights blinded her, and she shielded her eyes, stumbling back a couple of steps.

"Sorry!" She heard a man call, "Just testing out some spotlights!"

Piper rubbed her eyes and turned around to her dad, who took her into a hug.

"You ok Piper?" He asked, smoothing her hair.

She nodded, and he said "How about you wait outside until this is over, there are benches on the other side of the building."

"Ok." Piper said, and exited the blinding lights and the loud sound effects.

She pushed open the doors again, and stepped out into the fresh air. She took a deep breath, and walked around the side of the building. She found the benches her dad talked about, and she sat down, swing her legs mournfully.

Did her dad not want her around? Is that why she's outside? Piper wondered as she fidgeted, trying to think of why she had been banished from the studio. Was it something she had done?

Her thoughts were interrupted by another boy coming and plunking himself down besides her.

He had brown curly hair, and he was absolutely filthy. He had a small backpack that seemed empty, and he sighed, fiddling with his jacket sleeves, which were torn and frayed.

"Hi." Piper said cautiously. The boy turned and looked at her, seeming a bit afraid.

"Hi." He replied, his voice gravelly like he hadn't used it in a couple of days. "I'm Leo."

"I'm Piper." Piper replied, smiling a bit. "How old are you?"

"Eight. I think." He replied, which Piper found strange. How do you not know how old you are?

"Me too! Where do you go to school?" She asked, getting excited. "Maybe we go to the same one!"

The boy shuffled away from her, his eyes downcast again. "I don't. Not anymore."

"Lucky!" Piper said, scooting closer to him. "Why don't you have to go to school?"

"It's complicated." Leo said, glancing up. "Trust me, you're the lucky one. What are you doing here anyway?"

"My dad's trying to get a commercial job. Why are you here?" Piper asked, smiling.

"Don't have anywhere to be, and there was an open bench. Why shouldn't I?" Leo said, confusing Piper.

"Well where's your dad?" She asked, glancing towards the studio doors.

"Never had a dad. And don't ask about my mom." Leo replied, narrowing his eyes.

"That's ok. I never saw my mom." Piper said, patting Leo's back. "We're alike!" Piper honestly liked this boy, even though he seemed reluctant to meet her eyes. That was ok though. Piper didn't know why, but when she just had a feeling like he could trust him, and she had a strange desire to beat up whatever was making him sad.

"So you ok?" She asked, wrangling her violent tendencies.

"Not really. But honestly no one cares at this point." Leo replied. His ears turned bright red, and Piper swore she saw smoke rising from his hair.

"Hey. I care." Piper said, putting an arm around him. Leo shot her a startled glance, and he slowly smiled and put his arm around her, and Piper smiled, enjoying his warmth.

"So why don't people care?" Piper asked, smiling.

"Because I'm me, and people don't like that. But please don't ask. Why are you here alone?" Leo countered, twitching his shoulder.

"Told you. Dad didn't want me around." Piper said, leaning closer to Leo. "I'm not sure he likes me anymore." She whispered, a flash of sorrow running through her heart.

"He likes you. That's probably why you're here. He wants to help you." Leo said, sniffing slightly. "That's what my mom always said. All dads want the best for their kids."

Piper couldn't believe that. Her dad had been more and more distant almost, and he didn't seem to want her around anymore.

"You sure?"

Leo opened his mouth, but before he could reply Piper heard her dad's voice from the end of the alley.

"Piper! What are you doing? Get away from him!"

Leo gasped, and bolted to his feet, shifting his backpack. "Bye. Sorry!" He managed to get out, and turned to run. But Piper put her hand on his shoulder and spun him around to face her, ignoring her father's shouts.

"We'll see each other again, right? I'll miss you." Piper said, an unexpected surge of emotion. She barely knew this boy, and she was on the verge of tears.

"Maybe. Probably not. But you have to go!" Leo hissed in her ear.

Piper threw her arms around him in a hug, and he returned it. "We will see each other again, alright? I'll come back here, as often as I can, just be here sometimes, ok? Bye!" She kissed him on the cheek and ran off to her father, and she heard Leo's footsteps dashing off in the opposite direction.

"Piper, are you alright? Who was that?" Her father asked frantically, checking her over for injury.

"Dad, I'm fine." Piper said, pushing her dad's hands away and looking over her shoulder for Leo, but he was nowhere to be seen, he simply vanished.

"Who was that?" He father repeated, still checking her for injuries.

"He was Leo, dad. He is my best friend."

November Word Count: 1,201