Chapter 2

1K 48 8
                                    

Percy and Jason were twelve now. They'd grown even closer. Jason had other friends, but Percy didn't. Jason always made sure that Percy wasn't left alone at school, so his friends lingered near him at lunch while he talked excitedly to Percy. They usually left because they thought Percy was weird.

"You don't have to hang with me, you know?" Percy told him. "Yes I do! You don't have any friends except me! I can just leave you to sit by yourself!" Jason claimed. Percy sighed. "You don't have to force yourself to be nice to me either. I know everyone thinks I'm weird." The boy curled up more in his grey pants and oversized black hoodie.

Jason frowned. Percy was a person who was supposed to be outgoing and nice. But his step-father was a bad person and it affected Percy a lot. It seemed Percy was withdrawing into himself more and more as they got older. In the summer, when it was too hot for hoodies, Percy still wore one unless he was with Jason. Jason noticed every new scar. He always noticed the bruises and bandages. He knew Percy wasn't that clumsy. At one point, Percy stopped trying to hide the truth from Jason.

Thalia asked why Percy didn't just call the cops on Smelly Gabe. "Because," Percy said. "The moneu he has is the only thing keeping us off the streets. Mom doesn't get paid enough."

Thus, Thalia and Jason had started a tradition of giving Percy and Sally old clothes of theirs for Christmas and birthdays and sometimes even on Easters. Now they didn't have to look homeless. Sally always cried when she received the clothes and thanked the siblings. Percy never cried in front of anyone, but Jason knew he did. Jason knew Percy well enough to know that Percy cried silent and alone in his room.

He wished he could help Percy and his mom.

§~•~§~•~§

In May, when Summer was finally here and school had just ended, Percy ran up to Jason with a huge smile on his face. He'd almost knocked the blond over as he barreled into him, holding him tight in a hug.

"What's this about?" Jason asked. "He's gone." Was all Percy could choke out. That was the first time Percy cried in front of anyone in a long time.

And Jason was so happy, he used the money he was saving up to go see a movie with Percy to celebrate Gabe's departure from Percy and Sally's lives.

§~•~§~•~§

"Hey, do you have a crush on anyone?" Jason wondered while they sat under a tree at the park.

"No. You?" Percy responded. "You." Jason said casually. "What?!" Percy fell over onto his side. "Me? Why me?" He gasped. "Because you're you." Jason replied simply. Percy rolled his eyes and shiver Jason over. "Stop messing with me."

Jason wasn't joking, but Percy was oblivious, so he let him think it was a joke anyways.

Best FriendWhere stories live. Discover now