Part of My Skin (Teaser Book!)

Piper

~ Piper is a model in the future. A certain photoshoot brings back bad high school memories ~

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He asked Piper to pose on the couch. In a way that made Piper nothing but uncomfortable.

But it was for money. And she had to make a reputation, especially for an up and coming Broadway star. If she was going to accomplish her dreams, she'd just have to get used to what everyone else does.

As the photographer told her to maneuver her body in the worst positions, Piper started to worry about what her friends would think.

 What would Annabeth think?  she thought. Or Leo? He'd probably murder me. Rachel, Nessa, Will, Percy? 

Jason?

And that scared her. Jason isn't the jealous type, not in the slightest, but how would he feel about this? In her mind, he'd hate this. Maybe say that, as long as she knew what she was doing and was following her dreams, he supported it. But it wouldn't be true.

Piper convinced herself that it couldn't get worse. It wasn't worse than Zak.

There were plenty of ways for it to get worse.

And it did.

Maybe the photographer wasn't happy with her poses. Maybe he did it on accident. Piper wondered these things for years, just like she did with Zak.

The photographer took her leg and spread her legs apart, touching her inner thigh to "position" her leg. His hands trailed around her body, positioning her how he wanted.

And of course, this shoot, she was wearing a cropped tank top and short shorts. Of all shoots. She realized that was on purpose.

Piper sucked in a breath. She was used to this. It happened to her all through high school, just about all the time. And now it was happening again. No, no, not again.

The photographer picked at her top's strap. Piper's old fear that kept her quiet for so long seemed to be creeping up her throat.

When it was Zak, she just prayed and waited for it to stop. It never worked. But Piper came up with a new idea quickly: pretend it's Jason.

Pretend that Jason's hands are the ones that would make her feel safe instead of terrified. Pretend that while the photographer pulls down her top strap, Jason was actually doing that to her.

And of course, she's felt Jason's hands compared to the photographer (many times. But we're not getting into that, we're staying as PG as we can). But at least pretending that the rough hands on her body were Jason's smooth and gentle ones made her feel the slightest bit better.

Her top was just about off, ready to reveal Piper's undergarments. The photographer had lust in his eyes, and Piper tried to calm herself down. Jason, Jason, Jason.

~~~~

It had happened. And it's sure to happen again.

Piper felt the same feeling she did back in high school: violated, dirty, unsafe. She put on Jason's big sweatshirt, which made her feel at peace. Somewhat.

As Piper headed to her dorm room, she changed her mind. Nessa could handle a night alone. She needed Jason right now.

Piper texted Nessa.

Me: Staying over at Jason's 2nite

Nessa: Y? U gonna puck it?? ;)

Me: Haha probs not.. but i just have 2 2nite

Nessa: is there a reason or..?

Me: long story but it's ok

Nessa: U good?

Me: fine.

She stuffed the phone in a massive pocket and turned around.

Jason luckily didn't have a roommate, so that made every night they spent together a thing for Jason's dorm. Piper liked the room because it was cozy and it captured Jason's personality perfectly.

She knocked on the door, and Jason opened it after about thirty seconds. He wasn't shirtless (sadly, in Piper's opinion), but he did notice that Piper was wearing his sweatshirt. "Hey, Pipes." His voice was like grovel, which 1) was hot to Piper, and 2) told her that she woke him up.

Jason noticed the tired and pained look she had. "What is it?"

She shoved herself into Jason's arms. Once he noticed that she started to cry, he closed the door and set her on the bed. "Do you need anything?" But Piper didn't answer, she just grabbed him and cuddled into his body. Her head sat in Jason's neck.

"What happened?" Jason asked, but Piper ignored him once again. She sat in his arms, feeling more safe than she had all night. 

"I love you," she whispered.

Jason hadn't heard that from her in a little while. "I love you, too."