I didn't stay seated for very long. I wanted to get going. Jack tossed me my dagger and stowed his sword in his belt.

Blake lead the way, walking confidently. "So...you know how to get out of here?" Jack asked conversationally. Blake turned around and sneered. "No, I'm leading you into a trap." He said sarcastically.

Jack narrowed his eyes, immediately defensive. "Excuse me for being cautious!"

Blake opened his mouth to retort, but I was starting to get a headache, and I didn't need these two snapping at each other. "Can you two shut up?" I hissed, the annoyance obvious in my voice.

Blake and Jack fell silent, though the air was thick with tension.

I twirled my dagger between my fingers, thinking. I was still wondering why I had seen this vision of Bianca, and who I now recognized to be Tommy. More importantly, I wondered why it had come at such an inconvenient time.

Yes, I understand that things aren't convenient in the demigod world. Nothing happens at the right time, unless The Fates are on your side, and usually, they're not.

I didn't realize how long of a time I spent locked in thought. Before I knew it, Jack was poking my shoulder. "OUCH!" I yelled as he jabbed at the wound.

Jack winced. "Sorry, Snippy, I was just trying to get your attention. Blake wanted me to let you know he scout ahead."

"Well, you could have let me know a different way." I hissed, rubbing my sore shoulder.

Jack smirked. "'Course I could have, but which one makes it more amusing?"
"More like annoying."
"What? Me? Annoying?"
"Honestly, Jack? Do you have to be that oblivious?"
"Do you really think I'm being serious?"
"No, but that doesn't mean-"

Jack jammed his finger into my lips and squished them. "Shhhhhhhhhhh..." He hushed me, moving his finger and my lips.

I opened my mouth and licked Jack's finger. He drew away from me. I spit out the Jack-juice I had just gotten on my tongue.

For some reason, Jack looked proud. He nodded approvingly at me. I tilted my head at him, confused. "You've impressed me." He said quietly, still nodding.

I bit my lip. "All I did was lick your finger." I said pointedly, which now that I thought about it, sounded disgusting.

Jack laughed. "Well, I'm proud of you for licking me in the first place."
"I can't even begin to explain how honest to the gods disgusting that sentence just was."
"Well, I can point out a few things-"
"Please don't-"
"I mean for one thing when you lick people it's generally during-"
"STOP!"

Jack tilted his head at me. "I'm just pointing out that licking people-"

"OH GODS, JACK, STOP!"

Jack started laughing. He ran his left hand through his dirty blonde hair and grinned at me. I didn't grin back, I had just noticed something on the back of Jack's hand and arm.

I covered my mouth with my hands. There was a white scar there, standing out against his tan skin. Except this wasn't any ordinary scar.

It spelled out a word.

Loser

Jack hastily hid his hand in his pocket and attempted to twist his arm away from my view. How had I not noticed this before? "What was that?" I asked, surprising myself with the icy calm in my voice.

"It's nothing." Jack said nervously. I grabbed his arm and whipped his hand out of his pocket, examining the scar that went from his knuckles to his elbow.

"Where the Hades did you get this?" I whispered, looking Jack right in the eye.

Jack looked away from me. "It was just-"

"Jack, tell me you didn't do this to yourself."
"I-"
"Did you do this to yourself?"

Jack let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, I did."

The look on my face made him recoil, and he pulled his arm out of my grip. "Asha this was before Camp Half-Blood-"
"JACK YOU'RE ONLY THIRTEEN HOW THE HADES-"
"Asha..."
"-COULD YOU POSSIBLY THINK THAT THIS WOULDN'T UPSET ME I MEAN YOU'VE BEEN AT CAMP FOR-"
"Asha."
"-LONGER THAN I HAVE, WHICH STILL MEANS YOU DID THIS ALMOST RECENTLY AND-"
"Asha!"
"-YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THIS IS, MY FATHER-HE NEVER-AT LEAST I DON'T THINK-"
"ASHA!"

I stopped talking and looked coldly at Jack.

"That was before Camp Half-Blood," he repeated, "and more specifically, before I met you."

I stared at Jack, the weight of what he had just said sinking in. "You-you stopped because-" I sputtered.

"Because of you, yes." Jack said quietly.

This was a new side of Jack. A new side which I didn't want to see. This was an insecure, scared Jack. One that didn't crack jokes, didn't smile...and carried around a knife stained with his own blood.

I shook my head and looked away. "Jack...I mean, I'm flattered, but-"

"I get it," Jack said, holding up his hands and looking a bit like his usual self. "You need time to process this. Frankly, I can't blame you...just do me a favor and don't bring it up in front of Blake...he already thinks I'm a wimp."

"That scar-the fact that you were-don't you dare-YOU ARE NOT A WIMP!" I burst out angrily. Jack took a step back. I could feel the heat rising in my face.

"DON'T YOU DARE LET THAT BLAKE CHARACTER MAKE YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A WIMP!" My voice cracked from the ferocity of my screaming. I was surprised Blake didn't come running back to check on us, my voice probably carried.

Jack suddenly grinned. "Please, Sunshine," he said, transforming into his usual sarcastic self. "As if I would let that pinhead make me feel like a wimp. I've been through enough..." He paused, a shadow crossing over his face and a haunted look flickering in his eyes, but just as quickly as it had come it was gone. Jack was grinning at me again.

I didn't bother responding. No matter how brave Jack tried to be for my sake, I knew I would never be able to look at him the same again.