Percy felt like he had molded into the booth, like a new ornament to go with the cheerful décor. One that looked remarkably similar to an extraordinarily full twenty-something-year-old with pizza sauce stains dribbling down his front.

It was like college all over again.

Thankfully everyone else looked to be in similar states of grogginess.

Jason took one last drag of his milkshake before stretching out and shaking the daze out of his eyes. "Alright, we should get going."

Piper, yawning, nodded. "I need to stop at the studio real quick to get some papers. Annabeth can take me. Why don't you drive Percy home? He lives close to the studio."

And that's how he ended up in the front seat of Jason's truck, ambling along the San Diego roads. It was odd how peaceful it was here, as opposed to the roar of the big city life. Jason drove with all the windows down, the salty air cooler now that the sun was down.

"So how are you liking Diego?" Jason asked after a minute or two in relative silence. It was comfortable sitting there with him.

"It's pretty cool. Weird, I guess," Percy replied, resting his head against the door frame. The breeze woke him up a bit, but the hearty meal left him dazed and content to just sit there and enjoy the feeling. "Sometimes I forget that I'm not in the city anymore but that fades pretty quickly, considering how creepily quiet everything is here."

Jason kept quiet for a bit, nodding slightly. "What about the people?"

"Haven't met many, aside from you guys, but you guys seem pretty cool," Percy answered honestly. He liked Piper, despite how scary she could be sometimes when she wanted him to do something, and Hazel was awesome. Jason was cool too, and he seemed to like him which was a little weird. He had known some guys like him before, in school, and they did not like him to say the least. He got sent to detention tons of times because of it. Jason didn't seem the type to be like that though, despite Percy's first impression.

He had a friendliness in his eyes that contradicted the stiffness in his stance.

"Even Annabeth?" he asked.

Percy blinked. "Huh?"

Jason made a face, like he was trying to figure out what to say. "She's a bit intimidating when you first meet her. She had a tough childhood," he eyed him out of the corner of his eye. "and lately she's been a little…"

"Cold?" Percy suggested, remembering the steel in her eyes.

"Withdrawn." Jason said firmly. "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea. She'll warm up to you. Just give her time."

Percy didn't say anything. There was something protective in Jason's tone. He guessed that they were all pretty good friends – he didn't want to ruin his relationships with the only people he knew on this half of the country, so he kept his mouth shut.

"This is your street?" Jason asked. Percy blinked and glanced around, recognizing his neighbor's bright pink trashcan.

"Oh, yeah." They must've gotten close while Percy hadn't been paying attention. "It's this one," he said, pointing to the one at the end. It was relatively blank-looking compared to the ones around it.

He said thanks again and turned to get out of the truck when Jason cleared his throat again, "I just think you need give her a chance. That's all."

Percy hesitated and smiled. "Yeah, bro, no problem."

Jason's teeth gleamed in the dim lighting. "See ya!"

Up in his apartment, Percy felt oddly alone. He collapsed in his sofa, wrapping himself in a blanket he tossed on it a while ago – an excellent move, if he said so himself – and turned on some ridiculous – and by ridiculous he meant ridiculously awesome kung fu movie.

Some time later he fell asleep to absentminded thoughts of yoga and awesome blue pizza. Also Bruce Li's screaming and super awesome magic flying kicks.

In his dream he was chasing a rabbit. Or a girl wearing rabbit ears, and looking none too pleased about that fact. She was blonde, but faceless. Every time he got close, she moved further away.

He woke up frustrated and lying on the floor. Some time during the night he had fallen and landed – painfully – on his hardwood floors. Groaning, he craned his neck to look at the clock above his TV. It was nearly seven. Too late to go back to sleep, too early to give a damn.

He wrestled himself vertical and stumbled into the bathroom. His reflection reminded him of something off The Walking Dead.

It really was just like college again.

He splashed water on his face and began getting ready for the day. It was going to be a long one.

A/N: Yoyoyooo
I just finished House of Hades and wow. It's probably going to make me write a lot more, so you have that to look forward to. Short update, but hopefully I'll more up soon!(: Much, much love!
Anna x.

If you want to know of updates and new story ideas while they're in progress and/or before they go up, please follow my tumblr, combustspontaneously or message me there if you have any ideas/comments/etc.
Reviews=motivation and happiness!