Chapter 8. Percy POV

Percy leaned up against the wall outside Goode. School was over, and it was a mad rush to get out of the building on a warm, March, Monday. Percy's left hand was wrapped tightly around the handle on the case for Riptide, his electric guitar, while his right hand was clenched tightly into a fist. His wary eyes scanned the crowd. He really hoped Luke was done and wouldn't come after him again. He also wanted to find Jason, and get the hell out of there.

After about five minutes, Percy found Jason in the crowd, and shoved himself off the wall. Before he set off, he made sure to pull down the sleeves of his ratty blue and green flannel, covering up his wrists.

"I got it" Jason said when Percy came up to him. He grinned and held out the small black case in his hand.

"Nice. Who'd you have to bribe to get it?" Percy asked, cracking a small smile. The two of them set oft towards Jason's house, with Percy limping slightly.

"Technically no one." Jason said. When he saw the questioning look on Percy's face, he sighed. "Reyna"

"Wow. With what?"

"Told her to come by in two weeks."

"You did what?!" Percy asked, whirling to face his friend, shocked. He wanted to perform, but he didn't want any of them to be there when he did.

"Whoa, hold up. I've actually got an explanation for this one!" Jason said, holding his hands out in the universal gesture for surrender. "If you want anybody to actually be there, she's your best bet, because hopefully she'll tell somebody, and soon enough we'll have a decent crowd. And, I doubt she'll recognize you up there, when you're up there."

Percy just thought for a minute, before accepting Jason's defense. "Fine. As long as you don't say a wad about it to Annabeth or Luke. 'Cause if you do, I'll murder you with your own drumsticks."

Jason nodded. "Don't worry about it. I won't tell either of them. I know how much you hate them." You have no idea, Percy thought bitterly.

With that, the two started walking again. After a minute of silence between the two, Jason finally asked question. "How would you kill me with my drumsticks?"

Percy turned his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Very creatively."

Time Skip

Jason and Percy walked into the Grace house, like every other day for the past month. But something was different about today. Percy could feel it in his gut. As well as the pain. But that was beside the point.

Soon, he found himself thinking about the incident that morning. One question kept playing through his head. Why? He was so lost in thought that he just robotically followed Jason, not paying attention to where they were going. He didn't even notice Thalia standing in the hallway. Why now? He asked himself. What could have set it off? I mean there was nothing t... Suddenly Thalia spoke up.

"Why are you limping Percy?"

"Uh...Dunno?" He said, knowing how pathetic it sounded. Thalia looked angry at that, but Percy wasn't sure if it was at him or at his terrible excuse. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it. She glared at him for a minute, before turning around and walking away. Percy, still nervous, turned around to meet Nico and Jason in the garage.

"Hey Perce." Nico said, already sitting on a stool, leaning over his guitar.

"Hey Nice. Hey Jason" Percy replied, acknowledging his band mates as he sat down.

"So what should we start with?" Jason asked, getting right down to business.

"We've finished Come as You Are and About a Girl." Percy said. "Let's finish Aneurysm." When they other two nodded, he pulled out Riptide, and Jason started to set the beat. Percy grinned. He loved this part. And he could tell they were in for a long night.

Time Skip: 2 Hours

Thalia had to drag the three of them out of the garage. Despite Percy's insistence that they were almost there and just need some more time, and Nico's surprising choice of music over food, Thalia was adamant.

As they walked out, Percy noticed that Jason was hanging at the back of the little group, not looking at any of them. It probably has something to do with this morning's conversation. Percy thought to himself. Mentally, Percy began to imagine the worst-case scenarios, and played them out in his head. It was a bad habit he didn't care to break.

When the four of them sat down at the table, no one moved. An awkward silence hung in the air, with Percy imagining bad scenarios, Nico looking confused, Jason looking guilty, and Thalia looking very nervous. The minutes slowly ticked by, the only noise came from the ticking of an old clock on the wall.

Nico broke the stalemate, finally, by reaching for the food on the table. Naturally, it would be Nico to do that, Percy thought, grinning inwardly. They ate in silence, until Thalia finally said something.

"Percy, Nico" She said, slowly, like she was still planning what to say. "I have a...proposition for you two." Percy and Nico looked up, while Jason developed a very sudden interest in his carrots. This is it, Percy thought, mentally bracing himself for the worst, and hoping Nico would do the same. Thalia continued on.

"I want you guys to stay here with us."