Leo POV [Documentary]

Leo's fiance Calypso did not agree to be his camerawoman, but nevertheless, she obliges because that's something that people do when they love each other. God, Leo is just so lucky to have this woman in his life. She pans the cellphone camera across the New Rome Community College class reunion. It's going to be weird seeing everyone again.

She points the camera at Leo, and he gives a short introduction.

"And we're back," he says. "Leo Valdez here, joined by my lovely fiance Calypso. We're here at the New Rome Community College class reunion. You'd think it's weird that we're actually back here considering how much we complained about it, but time is funny like that." He breathes in deeply, taking in the questionable smells of the New Rome cafeteria. "Between making explosions and setting things on fire, I actually found myself missing this place."

Calypso zooms in on some parts of the cafeteria including the same decorations from the Sadie Hawkins dance, Hazel's sandwich shop, and some new composting bins. Calypso is a slut for composting.

Leo clears his throat.

As if reading from a script, Calypso asks, "What have you been doing since graduation?"

He claps his hands together. "Funny you should ask, babe! I've been working in pyrotechnics—that's like fire and explosions—but for movie sets. I'm living the dream and I'm putting my degree to good use. MythoMagic: The Live-Action Reboot is going to rock!"

"I came as soon as I heard 'pyrotechnics,'" Frank grumbles from off-screen.

"Frank!" Leo cheers. "Get over here. We're doing a documentary."

In unison, the men sing the jingle to their old morning show. "Frank and Leo in the moooorning!"

Leo addresses the camera. "Eight years after graduation and that song never gets old! Glad you see ya, Frank!"

"Missed you, man," he says.

Calypso clears her throat. "Frank, would you like to tell the camera what you've been doing since graduation?"

"Well, I'm still teaching kindergarten at the same school, except now I'm also in charge of the gifted program. My daughter is in my class this year."

"Aww, that is so sweet," Calypso says.

Frank takes his phone from his pocket and shows the camera a picture of a little girl with a toothless grin. "This is Gwendolyn. She thinks it's weird that the other kids call me Mr. Zhang. To her, I'm just Dad!"

"Frank, what did I say about showing everyone pictures of Gwen? Not everyone cares about that. Are you at least asking Leo what he's doing?" Hazel asks. She looks into the camera and waves to Calypso. "Still doing this, I see."

"Frank and Leo in the moooorning!" the guys sing.

"Hi, Hazel," Calypso says. "Care to tell the viewers back home what you're doing?"

Hazel nods. "Yeah, Hazel's Sandwich Hub is now a popular dining option on college campuses all over the west coast. Business students can partner with us to help run the shop and earn internship credit. It's an awesome opportunity for people who need experience but also have the burden of managing a full course load. Oh, is that your engagement ring?"

Calypso shows Hazel the rock on her ring finger.

"Oh, that's nice!" Hazel beams. "I'm so happy for you! When's the date?"

"Summer!" Leo says. "Your invites should all be in the mail! None of you are allowed to talk to Calypso's Tia though. Someone pass that along to Percy. Oh, speaking of extended family-"

"Tio Leo!" Two little sandy blonde children run into the frame. A little boy with messy hair and chocolate on his face latches onto Leo's left leg, while a little girl with glasses and pigtail braids clutches his right one.

A frantic Jason runs into the frame. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, Leo. I couldn't get a sitter and-"

"Hey, no problem, man!" Leo says, high-fiving his former roommate. He turns to the camera.  "Jason thought I was just the perfect influence in his kids' lives, so they call me Tio. I was flattered the day that he and Piper invited me over for dinner and-"

"That is not how that went," Jason says. "And I'm pretty sure you invited yourself over for Cheetos macaroni and cheese." He fakes a gag.

Calypso sighs. "Tell the good people what you and Piper have been up to."

Jason smiles at Calypso and explains. "Piper works for the government. It's one of those jobs where I'm not supposed to elaborate, but let's just say she is rocking a pixie cut right now. I stay at home with the kids and do academic research, which involves a lot more Latin skills than I'd like to admit. So much so, that I might consider putting it in the kids' homeschool curriculum."

"Is Piper here?" Leo asks.

"She's on a business trip," Jason says. "I have no idea where she is. The government will like, place me in witness protection if I find out where she is before she gets home."

"Calypso, point the camera on Percy and Annabeth's entrance, will you?" Leo asks.

Calypso spins around and points the camera at the entrance, where Percy and Annabeth are making their grand entrance.

"Hey, guys!" Frank says. "What are you doing with all those pamphlets?"

Annabeth shows the image on the front to the camera. In the admissions advertisement, she and Percy are still students, giving each other the infamous hug from Dean D's commercial.

Percy hands the stack to Leo. "You can burn these for work or something, right?"

"Uh, that's not exactly how... Whatever." Leo takes the pamphlets anyway.

"Hey, Calypso," Percy says, giving the camerawoman finger guns.

"Mind telling me what you've been up to since graduation?"

Percy smiles and throws an arm around Annabeth. "We're taking a salsa class!"

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Percy works full-time at the local aquarium. He likes to tell everyone about the lesbian penguins that live there. He's also a volunteer firefighter. I'm working for my mother's architecture firm, which isn't as awkward as it sounds because she still doesn't realize that I'm her daughter. I'm on the go most of the time anyway. I do environmentally focused work to try to minimalize the effects of climate change."

"Oh, that's nice!" Hazel says.

"And we're taking a salsa dancing class."

"Hey, Leo," Calypso says from off-screen.

"Now now, babe. I'm going to tell the DJ to play some salsa music so we can get footage of Annabeth and Percy dancing."

"But Leo-"

"Well, if it isn't the brats who told me they hated this place," says Dean D.

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Come on, Dean, you know we secretly loved it, even the excessive amount of dances."

"What do you want, anyway?" Hazel asks. "I thought you hated us too."

Dean D opens a tote bag and passes out some t-shirts. "I do believe I owe you your free t-shirts for attending at least five school dances."

"Huh," Frank says. "I guess the freshman year Valentine's Day dance, the Halloween party in the library, and both the Sadie Hawkins dance and Annabeth's anti-dance, we did it. This is our fifth dance."

Hazel puts the t-shirt on over her dress. "This is super comfortable material."

"Thanks," Frank says, "but why is mine an extra small?"

When the dean walks away, Jason says to them all, "I'm ready to blow this popsicle stand. Waystation?"

"Just because you have kids doesn't mean you're allowed to talk like a suburban dad," Annabeth quips.

"Jason, we can't bring your kids to the Waystation," Frank says. "Jamba Juice?"

Jason groans. "But we'll know people at the Jamba Juice! C'mon, guys, my kids are cute enough to get into the bar."

Calypso pans the camera across the parking lot. Still arguing about where they might go for some better food, the study group steps out onto the concrete.

Jason buckles his kids into their car seats in his brand-new minivan, Annabeth and Percy try to figure out the controls to their rental car, and Frank and Hazel call their babysitter before getting their blue Jeep.

And altogether, it's a wonderful reunion, and as Leo and Calypso get into their own car, he can't help but casually brainstorm some ideas for a movie.