Jiper/Jasper Life at Camp Half-Blood

Chapter 23- Jason

I lay staring at Piper's closed eyelids. The sun isn't up yet but it's light enough for me to see how relaxed she is.

I blow on her eyes. She scrunches her nose.

"I'm trying to sleep." She says drowsily.

"Come on. It's seven thirty already. We have to go eat breakfast."

She pulls the blanket over her head,"You can go. I'm sleeping in."

I get up. I say, "Fine. I'm going to go take a shower."

"Yeah, yeah..." I hear her mumble.

******

Piper's hair is played over the pillow. She really did fall asleep again.

"Piper. Wake up." I say in her ear. She stirs. Finally.

"I hate you." I hear her say. She stretches and yawns.

"Sorry, Pipes." I add, "I love you."

"Sure."

I chuckle. "You have to say it back."

"Sure."

"Say it."

She doesn't answer and heads toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"Heading back to my room. I need to also go take a shower."

I grab her hand and pull her to me, "I'm not letting you go until you say it back to me." She gives me an innocent look.

She brushes my hair with a quick swift of her hand, "your hair's still damp." She stands on tiptoes and kisses my cheek and then my hair. Before she leaves, she says at the doorway, "I love you, Lighting Boy." Then she closes the door behind her.

I grin and touch my hair where she kissed it.

*************

I look up at the dark, looming clouds. The cold wind gives me chills. Usually in the winter it rains more than it snows here.

I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and smile at Piper. I say, "Took you long enough."

She walks in step with me and links her arm in mine, "We don't all have the luxuries of being perfectly on time."

I laugh. "Hey, I have to show you this really cool cafe. It's one of my favorite places in Camp Jupiter."

"I could definitely use that right now. It's really cold today."

When we arrive, the door jingles when we enter. It's a small place but it's warm. There's no one in it but the person taking orders.

Piper and I both order hot chocolate. She stares wistfully out the window.

"What are you thinking about, Pipes?"

"Camp Half-blood. I miss it. Hard to believe we've been here for a month now."

I nod. "Things are going pretty great between the two camps so I think we'll be leaving pretty soon. I still have to show you my favorite place though. This cafe is only my second favorite."

Piper stares straight at my eyes, smiling.

After finishing our hot chocolates we chat after half an hour, then we head out again. This time, it's for training. We go our separate ways, Piper is going to archery and I'm going to sword practice.

The day goes by slowly as I don't get to see Piper very often. I spend some time with Leo, Percy, and Frank.

When the sun sets, at dinner there's an announcement. Reyna and Frank announce that the campers from camp Half-Blood are going to head back but anyone who would rather stay longer can. We will be leaving tomorrow.

I look over my shoulder at Piper. She's smiling. I guess I also feel really homesick. I miss my old cabin and the daily activities there, the campfire, marshmallow fights, and Chiron.

I meet Piper after the announcement.

"I still have to show you my favorite place, Pipes. Let's go now. At night is the perfect time."

We hold hands.

When we get there Piper asks, " The garden of Bacchus is your favorite place?"

"No, my favorite place is in the garden of Bacchus. Come on." I lead her through mazes of garden bushes and trees. Finally I find a wall covered with ivy. I push the ivy aside and see a crack in the walls big enough for at least two people to get in at once.

"No one else knows about this except me and Reyna and Frank. They were going to fix the crack but I told them not to."

When we enter, Piper gasps, "Whoa! This is amazing!"

There are hundreds of fireflies all around us. The grass is barely visible through all the flowers. And the trees, instead of leaves, there are flowers.

"But how? It's winter."

I shake my head, "I don't know. All I know is that it's always like this. Never changes."

Piper leans closer and kisses me. I pull her closer to me.

"So, how do you like it?" I say after we reluctantly pull away.

"I love it. I can see why it's your favorite place."

"Ours." I correct, "It's our favorite place."