Liz's POV

Charlie called me this morning. Yeah, the morning after we caught Jake on top of Sophie because she stumbled.

He said he wanted to meet. I don't know why, but if he actually called instead of text, it must be urgent.

So here I am, ten in the morning, going to the café Charlie works at.

I walked inside, asked to see him and the rude barista let me through.

"Hey! What's up?" I ask Charlie when I finally spot him.

"Oh, you came!"

"Of course I came, why wouldn't I?"

"Nothing, just stress." He says. Okay, he is officially acting weird.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"Not tell, actually... More like ask." He says.

"Okay..?"

"Will you go out with me?" He asks so quickly, I barely understood what he said.

"Uh... Charlie, I am so sorry, but I see you as a brother, not the kind of guy I would date... I am so sorry!" I say. Well that caught me off guard.

"No, it's okay. I was just asking, it's fine, really." He replies, clearly disappointed.

"Look, I need to go study for a chemistry test... We will talk later, okay?" I tell him, and it is practically the truth.

Actually, it's not only that I see him like a brother, but the fact that I like someone else too. I like Mike. There, I said it (happy now, Dawn?).

And he is supposed to help me with chemistry, which would make things worse if Charlie knew.

I headed over my house to get my books and then went straight at Mike's.

*

"Uh... Liz?" Mike said.

"Yeah, what is it?" I replied.

"I want to tell you something..."

"What?"

"You are awful at chemistry." He said humorously but keeping a straight face. I laugh.

"Yeah, I know. Anything new?" I say sarcastically.

"I like you." He blurted out. I could tell he didn't mean to, but he did and I just blushed and smiled.

"Me too." I say and he leaned in.

And then we kissed. I know, there weren't any signs like with those other two idiots, but I did like Mike. Sophie had figured it out (by reading me, but that's a small detail).

But being myself, with all my bad luck, eveverything had to be ruined.

The bedroom door swang open and Charlie came in.

"Hey, Mike, your mom l--" he stopped dead at what he had just seen. "Liz?" I stood frozen and wide-eyed.

And then he stormed outside and left.

"Wait... What happened?" Mike asked.

"He asked me out before I came here, but I turned him down... Dammit..." I replied shaking my head.

Mike sighed.

"Just... Let's get back to stud--"

"No. If it is going to be awkward, I'd rather go home and study on my own." I interrupt him. "I made a choice, Mike. I turned him down and chose you. If you are going to be all awkward about it, I can just go."

"You're right, but he's my friend!"

"I know, but it's just a phase, he will get over it!"

He sighed again.

"You know what? See you tonight." I say and leave.

I know it is my fault but I feel too anxious to do anything.

I was asked out by a guy I consider my brother and I turned him down. Two hours later, the boy I like told me he liked me and the other guy walked in on us kissing.

How much bad luck can I possibly have?

Time to call reinforcements.

"Hey, Sophie? I need advice, can I come by?"

"Uh, yeah. I am waiting." She says.

"I will be there in ten." I hang up.

After arriving, I tried, unsuccessfully I might say, to get Jake out of Sophie's room and after a long time of explaining, they both stared at me.

"Your faces have so many similarities right now that I don't know who is copying off who." I tell them.

"That's my thinking face! I don't know what you're talking about!" Sophie says.

"No, it's not. Your thinking face is scary, but anyway." I say and she turns red. I hope she doesn't hold that against me.

She looks at Jake and they turn around to have a silent argument.

"We decided that..." Jake says dramatically.

"We are going to play matchmaker." Sophie continues. "Consider it payback." She smiles.

"Oh, come on! This is unfair." I protest.

"I told you I would get back at you." She smirks. "Besides, you are going to thank us both after we finish."

"What will you do?"

"Let's not ruin the surprise." Jake replies.

"You haven't thought of anything yet, have you?"

"Dammit." They say at the same time and turn red.

"Guys, how can I say this? Just get together already!" I tell them, making them even redder. I am really enjoying it.

"Shut up, Thorn." Jake snarls.

"Fine, whatever suits you." I say and stand up. "I need to go study that stupid chemistry thing. I will see you lat--" and all our phones buzzed.

"It's the app. Wait... Is that--" Sophie starts.

"Charlie?!" Jake finishes her sentence. "He went rogue!"

Dammit.

"I will call Mike to see if he got it." Sophie says and we leave to get ready too. I go to the bathroom and Jake in his own room and we "suit up".

"He can't make it. Family dinner and they won't let him get out of it this time." She says once she comes downstairs.

"So it's just us?" Jake asks.

"Looks like it..." I reply and off we go.

Now, before you start bombarding me with spns on what the hell Charlie is doing, he has stopped traffic on the High Bridge and has caused widespread panic. Nothing big yet, but I guess he is waiting for us to get there. Sophie took me flying and Jake ran below us.

We arrived under the bridge in five minutes.

"Popeye, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Jake asks him.

"What does it look like?" He replies taking a school bus and holding it on the air above the road below.

"Stay here, I am going up. If the bus falls, it's up to you, S- Illusion." He tells Sophie.

"Wait! What if you get hurt or something? Don't rush it!" She stops him.

"Don't worry, you are not getting rid of me that easily. Trust me." He reassures her and runs up there. Meanwhile, I took the long way there, but came face to face with Voldy.

Wasn't expecting him to show up here, unless... Charlie was the traitor from the beginning.

"Get out of my way!" I tell him.

"No, no, no... I am sorry, but I can't do that. It would ruin my plans." His voice seemed familiar, but I couldn't match it to a person.

And then there was hand-to-hand combat, until I heard someone shriek "No!".

A/N: Mwahahahahahaha *choke* I am okay, thank you. I won't be for long.

Cliffhanger, yay!

The Riordan inside of me is waking up.

Also I know the love triangle was kinda stupid... I am stupid too, but I needed sonethibg to trigger da traitor. Oopsies... More drama coming on!!! And no, it ain't going away anytime soon. Please don't kill me (I am looking at you, Ria).

:)