Four False Lives

S E C R E T

"Something, uh, came up?" And then he hung up.

Normally I wouldn't be mad, but this was the third time this week. I knew it wasn't another girl, Percy had never been the type to do that but I never thought he was one to keep secrets.

I was starting to get worried. He and Leo had been coming in early in the morning and leaving late at night. Their job shouldn't require that late hours.

Plus, they seemed to be hurt every time they came in. Leo tried to stay sitting, and when he did get up, Percy was right next to him.

I knew they were good friends, but something about the glances they sent to each other seemed like they were hiding something.

Of course, it made me feel bad that I was looking into someone else's secret when I had my own, but I was worried for them. And for a supervillain to be worried, it meant something was up.

"Hey Seaweed Brain," I walked into the kitchen to find him the only one up. "What came up yesterday?"

"Oh uh, I had to...work?" Percy lied.

"Percy, I know that's not true. I went to your work and you weren't there. Why are you keeping secrets from me?"

"Secrets? I'm not keeping secrets? You would only need to keep secret if you had a secret identity. And I don't have a secret identity. No secret identity here,"

Percys voice was ten times higher than it probably should've been. And I had one hunch; he had a secret identity.

But then what would he do with it?

"Percy, you can tell me. You can always tell me anything, I just want to make sure you're okay," I pleaded.

"Fine. Ananbeth, I'm—" his phone went off mid sentanve. "—gonna have to take this,"

He said a few things into the phone and nodded before turning around to look at me. "I have to go, my. . .grandma just died. Funeral and that. I'll see you tomorrow morning."