Switched

Chapter 5 : Piper

Chapter 5

Piper:

My name is Piper McLean. I am fifteen years old. My father is Tristin McLean. He is an actor. I wish he wasn't. I don't know why. My mother left us. I never knew her. Now I know she's a roman goddess.

I'm messed up.

I blinked, trying to gather up my thoughts. I remembered bits and pieces, but somehow, it just wasn't enough. I needed more information, who was I?

"Am I interrupting?" I didn't have to look up to recognise to voice. I just shook my head, and felt him slide down beside me.

"Your dad's Tristan McLean, huh?"

I looked up at him, blinking.

"Uh, you sort of said that out loud." He said, awkwardly.

I bit my lip, how stupid of me, I thought, frustrated.

Jason probably saw my frustration, so he quickly said, "You're not messed up, you know. Not any more than the rest of us are."

I smiled, "That's a nice thing to say, Jason."

"I mean it."

You're probably just trying to be nice.

"So," He said, to fill up the silence, "Tell me about your dad."

I saw what he was doing and smiled a small smile, not enough to show teeth, "What do you want to know?"

"The usuals, what's it like?"

"I don't know, Jason. It's not as glamorous as people suppose it to be. It's just…hard. Most of the time, I just wish I could have a normal life. A normal dad, one I didn't have to share with the paparazzi." I laughed harshly, "You don't know how many teenage girls have crushes on my father. I mean, he's 45, for goodness' sake, Jason. Shouldn't he be, I don't know, roasting stuff on a grill in the backyard and reading bedtime stories? My dad doesn't even have time to say hello." I said bitterly and then looked at my hands, ashamed.

I knew my dad worked very hard, I shouldn't be badmouthing him in front of other people, especially people I don't know. Jason must be thinking that I'm one of those typical whiney, spoilt daughters who don't appreciate anything.

If Jason thought about me along those lines, he didn't show it. He just said, "Demigods always have some problems with their mortal parents. You're lucky you know, I never knew my mother."

He had this distant look in his eyes. I leaned against him, my shoulder touching his, "I'm so sorry." I looked at him and found his blue eyes fixed to mine, "You're right, you know. You don't realize you what you have until you don't have it anymore." I said and then blushed, how cheesy of me.

Jason smiled, "Right."

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Your eyes," Jason whispered, almost a breath, "They change colour."

I ducked my chin, "Thanks." I grumbled, "I know they're weird."

"No, Piper, they're mesmerizing. So pretty." He smiled.

I probably turned as red as a fire truck, "I-Um-Thanks." I stammered lamely, "Your eyes are nice too." I mumbled.

Jason laughed, it was a nice sound. I smiled, temporarily forgetting my embarrassment.

"By the way," He said, "I know this might be the wrong time for it, but we're holding a senate meeting in ten minutes. Octavian will 'decide your fate' there."

I gulped, "Great, that'll probably be fun."

Jason smiled, "Nothing to worry about Piper, just pray someone will vouch for you."

Vouch for me? Who's vouch for me?

"Alright," I dusted my jeans and got up, trying to look stronger than I actually felt. I felt like hiding in a hole for the next ten years.

"Let's go." I said to Jason, who got up and followed me.

"Tell me about the girl who disappeared." I asked Jason as we walked.

"Reyna? She was great, I guess, is, I mean. Uh, she's really strong and stuff." Jason stammered.

I smiled, "You like her, don't you?"

Jason sighed, "It's complicated, Piper. Reyna really liked me, I don't know about now, she said she moved on. We tried to date, but I don't like her like that. She's like a sister to me. I don't have feelings like that for her, but she does, so it's been a little awkward around her."

I nodded, feeling a little relieved for some reason. I shook it off at changed the topic, "Who do you think my mom is?" I asked him, "I mean, I always accepted that I'll never find out, but now, I have a chance to know who she is." I whispered.

Jason took my hand in his and squeezed my hand, "We'll just have to find out, won't we?"

I nodded, and felt my hair fly in the breeze. "I like this place." I said and smiled.

Then, I felt like I'd done something terribly wrong.

I was running…fighting…laughing with a girl with blonde hair. "I love my home." I told her, "I couldn't imagine living anywhere else." She smiled at me.

The she whispered, 'You liar, you traitor, you forgot me, you forgot us."

I opened my eyes.