Soul Mates (Jercy)

Chapter 5: I Need You!

Jason didn't notice how utterly lonely he was until the day before his sixteenth birthday. 

 It was a Saturday. His friends had taken him out to lunch as a sort of pre-birthday gift. They'd been doing little things for eachother all week, Jason had been buying them chocolates and candies and they were buying him food and alcohol. Not that he had a drinking problem, it was just nice to always have a stash in case of a party. Anyways, the birthday dinner was nice, it was at a family owned diner somewhere in town that he couldn't remember the name of. The owner was nice, he brought out a tray of cupcakes dyed sky blue that Jason thought were adorable. It was a nice night in all, really, and Jason wouldn't have thought it any different form another night, except for the fact that each other person with him had their soul mate (or mates) at their hips. Leo was happily eating his second cheeseburger with Frank talking about latest football scores and Hazel smiling at Piper across the table on either side of him. Piper and Annabeth were trying to discreetly hold hands beside Jason while they ate matching salads and drank hot chocolate. Reyna had a caramel skinned girl with honey colored hair beside her, both in silence as Leo rambled about some mechanics project he'd started ages ago.

IT was all very nice, really, and Jason enjoyed the steak that he'd ordered (and refused to let anyone else pay for). Jason just...couldn't get over that feeling of being left out. And when the night ended, Leo and Hazel escorted him home. The two sat up in the front of Hazel's car with Jason stuck in the back listening to them. They made sure he was included in the conversation, because they weren't horrible people, but he just felt the smallest bit excluded. When he got dropped off at his house, the first thing he did was go to his phone and make sure there were no new texts, which there almost always were. 

Soul Mate: hey

heard you were going out today

hope you have fun! 

<3

Jason blushed. Holy shit, this was happening tomorrow! He swallowed as he sat down on the bed and started to type. 

                                                                                               -+-

A heart!? Really, Jackson!? Percy groaned, covering his face with his hands. That was stupid. This was all stupid. Dammit, why did he have to actually fall in love with Jason! He hated this. After pacing around for a couple of hours, he'd spent about three more hours going through his closet to find his best outfit for tomorrow. The only thing he'd managed to come up with was A light blue t-shirt under a flannel with a multi colored beanie, some skinny jeans and his sneakers. He'd taken out his earring a while ago, but he wondered if he should put it back in. 

It was five by the time he finally sat down to answer Jason. 

Jason <3: So how's your day? 

You: fine. how did ur thing go? 

He set the phone down and waited for a response. He groaned. This was terrible. He wasn't supposed to be in love with him....He swallowed when his phone dinged. 

Jason <3: PRetty great. I wish you were there. Everyone was getting all cuddly with their mates, but other than that the food was amazing and the wait staff  was realy nice. I want to take you there some time. 

Percy full on blushed, eyes wide. His breath was catching in his throat. Jason didn't know him. Would he still mean that after they'd met? 

Jason <3: Do you ever find it odd that we say these things to eachother? But like, I don't even know you. You could be someone super gross, like Octavian. Or Clairesse. 

You: dont be a dick jason. 

Jason responded with a laughing emoji and then a few more minutes of text bubbles with dots before he finally responded with words. 

Jason <3: I mean, it's not like I would just refuse whoever it is. I just have this suspicion I know who you are and I hate to think that you're who I think you are...

Percy's blood ran cold as he stared at his phone. Why did he want to cry? Maybe Jason meant Nico! Or Will....

You know he means you, dumbass.

He threw himself backwards into his pillows and groaned into them. Fuck soul mates. Fuck Jason Grace. 

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Jason couldn't sleep. He hadn't gotten a message after the one he'd sent. Maybe his mate had gone to sleep...He rolled over. He didn't have that luxury. He wished he did. 

Was Percy his soul mate? Was Nico his soul mate? He had no clue. He wished he had a clue. There were a lot of wishes happening tonight. He swallowed, holding a pillow close, arms and legs around it. He was frowning at a poster on the opposite wall. A man stood side by side with a woman, both holding guns pointed out at whoever was admiring the poster. It was for some old movie he'd seen a long time ago. Somehow staring at the picture made him feel better. The fact it was something he knew so well. 

Jason swung his legs out of the bed. HE needed some air. He swallowed as he pulled on clothes and a jacket. He tugged on his sneakers, grabbed his phone and umbrella and headed out into the streets. 

                                                                                                     -+-

Night in New York was a strange time. Jason lived in a good neighborhood, a nice one, so no one was waiting around a corner ready to steal him and his things. He took comfort in that as he swung his umbrella around, watching his phone screen. Had he scared off his soul mate? He swallowed a little and watched his screen for a while longer. It was his birthday. It was about one in the morning. He should be sleeping...HE rubbed his eyes and sent a quick text. 

The response was almost immediate. 

Soul Mate: y the hell r u up

Jason smiled a little, tilting his head. 

You: I can't sleep. I'm thinking of you. 

He imagined the person on the other side blushed. MAybe it was too cheesy. He sighed and looked up at the sky, pitch black, all stars blotted out by the city lights. His eyes closed. Thinking about how much I need you...