Chapter Eighteen: Jason Is Not a Happy Camper
Piper's P.O.V.

LET'S JUST SAY JASON was not a happy camper. He was angry that he couldn't know about our quest, due to the fact that Chiron kept it a secret just within the counselors who were present at the meeting in which the quest was issued. On the other hand, without hearing from me in four months, he was at least, at the bare minimum, happy to see me alive.

But once he got over the fact that I am indeed not dead(yet), I know he'll be upset. Typically, Jason is a cool boyfriend. We never get into fights. But the way he looked at me when I had arrived.... Concern, curiosity, and angst showed in his eyes.

I definitely knew that look well. It's the look my father wore the day he discovered I stole the BMW. A look I had hoped I would never see again. As the rest of the counselors flood the exits of the Big House, Jason and I sit still at the table.

"Piper, I know you were on your quest," he says, "but you can tell me if there is a reason why you didn't try to communicate with me any sooner."

"There isn't," I reassure him, "A girl tends to get busy struggling to keep up with magical school work, dream diaries, having to learn to actually writing with a quill on parchment(which is more difficult than it seems, by the way), normal school drama, ghosts, horrid teachers that look like toads, illegal defense clubs, and trying to keep my real demigod identity a secret."

Jason laughs, "Well if you put it like that...."

"I know," I say, "wizarding schools sound boring."

"At least you get to do more than just go between camps building alters, cabins, and temples."

"Jason, I really-"

At that moment the door to the rec-room opens again. There stands Mr. D in his usual, loud tiger-striped shirt.

"Penny, John, the meeting's over. What the Hades are you two doing in here? Get out!"

Jason and I could both tell that he wasn't in the mood, so we quickly left.

"I guess I should go back with my Cabin now," I say.

"Yeah," Jason shrugs, "See you later, I guess?"

"Sure," I smile at him, "My pleasure."

I make my way back to my cabin. By the sun in the sky I could tell it was about half past four. Telling the time using the sun was a skill I learned at a young age. It was something Grandpa Tom would always amaze me with. That and the stories he would tell me made our time more special....

Since it was Thursday, I kept to my cabin's schedule by heading to Javelin Throwing. It feels like it's been so I've been able to walk free. No horrible black robes and Katopris in my belt so I can stroll past the comforting strawberry fields. Home sweet home.

* **

I was expecting more. The small clearing where Javelin Throwing was usually held was nearly deserted. Could I possibly be in the wrong place? I didn't think that much would've changed between now and the time that I left.

"Piper!" a voice calls. I look to see a thin girl with braided pigtails down to her shoulders freely holding a javelin.

"Lacy?" I ask. The last time I had seen my half sister she had been almost three inches shorter, paler, and she hadn't had her braces taken off.

"I didn't know you were coming back today!" she says excitedly, "I mean, I expected you to be back for the holidays, but I didn't know when exactly. This is just so great! So where have you been? There are rumors about you and the other four fleeing to Australia but I thought that was a little ridiculous. So how long are you going to be staying? Oh I just-"

"Lacy, slow down. Where is everybody?"

"Well, no one actually goes by the schedules much during the holidays anymore. Though I particularly have been training an awful lot since the war. In the final battle I was so out of shape, I was bashed in the head with a shield and woke up in the infirmary three days later. I don't want anything like that ever happening again."

"Well it's good that at least you're training, but what about everyone else?"

"Well, a majority of everybody's still in the cabin. But people usually just do their own thing, so I don't know...."

That's just the thing I had to come back to. Everyone in my cabin with the exception of Lacy doesn't even care anymore. I was really hoping I could just come back to camp and go with the flow, but now I have to deal with my arrogant siblings. Now I'll have to have a talk with Drew about everything. That's one conversation I'm just dying to have.

I tagged along with Lacy for a while making chit-chat. I told her the basics about our quest, and she told me about how her school year had been going before she got pulled out of her school in November when she became a full time camper.

Eventually it was time for dinner, and we met up with the rest of the cabin. A majority of them were happy to see me there. After dinner, Jason and I escaped the sing along and met up at the climbing wall. We sat there for a while. It had been months since we'd been able to enjoy each other's sole company.

"If there was anyway to bring you on the quest with me, I'd do it," I tell him.

Jason stares at me, "Even if there was a way, that would still be breaking the rules of the quest."

"The rules have been broken before. Percy and Annabeth, in the labyrinth- we've both heard the story."

"Still, look at how that turned out. So many halfbloods died at the end."

I sigh, "Don't you know I hate it when you're right."

Jason laughs, "And vice versa."

We both laughed together. I had really missed this feeling.

"You know, I was just starting to enjoy your company, don't make me reconsider."

"Ah come, on. We've been together what- one year now.... Wait a minute."

"What?" I ask.

"This time last year was when we first came to Camp Half-Blood. You and Leo had just been claimed, I had no memory, and Percy was still missing."

"You're right! So what does that make this? Our one-year anniversary?"

"I think it does."

"Wow," the words absently leave my mouth. It hadn't occurred to me that one year was the first time I actually met Jason. It feels longer because of the mist, the months he was never there.

"Well?" he said.

"What?" I ask him.

"Here's to our one-year anniversary," Jason pulled me in for a kiss. It reminded me of the last time I had felt like this; on the rooftop so many months ago. The night we decided to write our own history.

After a while, we both pulled away and looked into each others eyes.

"I was thinking," I tell him, "it's been so long since we've been alone like this. The last time was when we were on the roof of your cabin. The night where we just knew, that Leo wasn't gone."

"Right. Then the next day everybody was at the pavilion and his giant face just came shimmering out of the rainbow."

"Oh Iris, what would we do without you?"

After a few more minutes we both headed back to our cabins. The sing along was almost over at this point. And I was getting tired anyway because of all the jet-lag. But I knew one thing; a few hours at Camp Halfblood was more comforting than a day at Hogwarts anytime.

Me: I do not own any of the characters. All characters either belong to Ri-
Leo: *Runs in* DIDN'T YOU HEAR?
Me: Hear what?
Leo: Uncle Rick was brutally murdered by a pack of rabid fangirls!!!
Me: WHAT THE HADES? WHY?
Leo: Well, honestly I don't blame them. HE WAS CONSIDERING TO FRICKIN' BREAK UP PERCABETH!
Me: HOLY HERA!
Leo: But here's the best part, everyone's saying J.K. Rowling was leading the fangirls!
Me: Well, in this case, I might as well claim everything! BrokenTimeTurner officially owns Percy Ja-
Leo: *bursts out laughing* You actually fell for it! Nico's right, you are the most gullible daughter of Hermes ever!
Me: *mutters under breath* Darn it! Well, before Leo basically wasted the whole disclaimer, I was saying I do not own any of the characters. All characters either belong to Rick Riordan or J.K. Rowling.
Leo: *waves hands* That's it folks!

Most credit for Disclaimer belongs to @Fire_girl87

5/25/15

(Lots of 5s ^^)