Because We Can

5~ Home

Piper's heart and brain were throbbing with an ache she couldn't place. She was scared of looking into her knife to see if something would happen - she would rather be surprised.

She gazed into the distance, watching Percy train some younger campers. He was really good with kids, and she wished Jason were like that. She didn't even know where he was. There were footsteps behind her.

"Hey Pipes," Annabeth greeted her. Piper looked up, shocked at the bags under her friend's eyes. Annabeth smiled sadly. "I know I look bad."

Piper was going to protest and tell her that she looked pretty, but it was hard to lie.

"Are you watching my boyfriend?" Annabeth questioned mockingly, staring at Percy laughing with a boy not older than ten.

Piper snorted. "No! I'm just... taking notes."

Annabeth laughed at that. Piper had to admit that she hadn't heard that sound in a very long time. "So where's Jason?"

"I don't know," she said with a sigh, looking down at the strawberry in her hand. Sitting in the strawberry fields had quickly became her favorite pastime ever since one of her half-sisters gave her  strawberry-scented lotion for her birthday. Unfortunately, it meant Piper was becoming a true daughter of Aphrodite.

"Are you okay, Piper?" Annabeth asked, looking at her. "You've seemed a little off."

"Well, Beth, I can always say the same to you." She offered a half smile, but regretting saying it.

She shook her head. "I know, but there's something bothering you. Even Jason asked me to see if you were doing okay."

"Really?" Piper muttered. "I was just wondering the same thing about him."

"Jason's a good guy," Annabeth told her. Piper looked at her friend, who was smiling in Percy's direction. He was pairing his students off to spar. "I think he's worried about, um, you know, how you're doing after the..."

"You don't have to talk about it," Piper said gently, knowing Annabeth was still traumatized after being in Tartarus. "But why would he be worried about me?"

Annabeth looked uncomfortable. "Pipes, he told me something that I think he should break to you."

"Why can't you tell me?"

"It's not like I can't," she explained, "It's that I think you'll freak out."

Piper's mind was running. "What do you mean?"

"I really don't think I should tell you. He'll tell you soon, I think-"

"Hey guys!" Jason called, and jogged through the strawberries to meet them.

"Oh gods," Annabeth muttered under her breath. "Hi, uh, Jason. Are you here to tell us something?"

Piper looked between the two in confusion.

"Oh, you know," he said, shrugging. "I just came to hang out."

"Are you sure?" Annabeth said pointedly. Piper noticed he was wearing his Camp Jupiter shirt.

Jason sat next to his girlfriend. He bit his lip, and she had the urge to kiss him before he told her whatever he wanted to say.

"Pipes..." His voice trailed off.

"Jason," Annabeth growled, "Just tell her already."

"But I can't!"

"Gods, Jason. Piper's right. You're so shallow." Annabeth got up and stormed away, meeting up with Percy and the bottom of the hill.

"You said that about me?" he asked quietly.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "But yeah."

He sighed, not reaching for her hand like she thought he would. The sun was dipping in the sky, and long shadows ran to across the fields.

"Did Annabeth tell you?"

"No," she stated, almost harshly. "She said she wasn't supposed to."

"Oh."

"So what is it?"

"It's..." Piper couldn't look him in the eyes. She turned away, watching Annabeth finally reach Percy and hugging him tightly. All the kids screamed playfully and ran away. "Piper, can you at least look at me?"

"What is it, Jace."

"I'm leaving."

Piper froze. She couldn't breathe. The sun stopped setting. She glanced at Annabeth, who was staring back. Even Percy had looked up.

"Pipes, did you hear me?"

She felt like she was choking.

"I'm sorry, but Reyna said Octavian's going to take Percy's place. He won't go back - he has Annabeth. But you can come with me. We could live there together if you want-"

"SHUT UP!" she screamed, scrambling to her feet. Her eyes welled up. "You promised!" she wailed. Jason's face was pinched with sadness and emotional pain. "You said you would always protect me. You said no break ups!"

"Who said we were breaking up?" Jason demanded, his eyes turning hard with anger. His breaths were shaky.

Piper ignored him, calming down enough to speak.

"What's going to happen when you're not here? The giants can come back, Jason. They're going to... to dissect me again!" She lifted her shirt, revealing the shakily-cut scar running down her side. "This will happen again. I can't protect myself. I was the weakest of the Seven, remember? You had to rescue me. I need you, Jason. You can't leave."

There were running footsteps behind her, and Annabeth was at her side, Percy on the other. Piper dropped her shirt. "Told you she wouldn't take it well," Annabeth stated plainly.

"Beth told me what happened," Percy said quickly, as if letting himself into the conversation. "Why, Jason? You promised us. You told everyone you were on our side."

Jason stood, his face clouding. "This isn't home for me." He was holding his hands out. "Camp Half Blood will never be my real home. Reyna needs me-"

"Reyna?!" Piper screamed. By then, her cheeks were soaked. "You're doing this for her, aren't you." It wasn't a question.

"No, Pipes, I told you there was never anything between us," Jason said, his features softening only for her. "It's Octavian. She said he's planning to attack again-"

"And you believe her?" Piper scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest so that he couldn't see them trembling.

"Yes," he said, almost immediately. His posture straightened. Piper took in Roman Jason, preferring Greek Jason much more. He was an alien. An eidolon. "I will always believe her."

I'm sorry :( you're probably mad at me now...

there won't be an update until next week. and yes, i know i already updated this week.

Trojans, Altlas Genius.

(i feel so bad LIKE I WANT TO SCREAM AT MYSELF but don't worry... no, stephanie, don't give them spoilers to your own story! THEY'LL BE FINE I PROMISE YOU)