"Where are you taking me, Castellan?" Percy asked as they drove around town.
"Oh calm down, Jackson." Luke smiled. "If I wanted to kill you I'd drive you out of town a couple of miles and get rid of you then. I'd seem way too sketchy if I killed you in town."
"How thoughtful of you." Percy replied sarcastically.
Luke laughed. "There's this really good ice cream place near the daycare that Thalia works at called Khione's. The owner is pretty bitchy but the workers are pretty cool. You remember Thalia right?"
"I remember getting knocked unconscious by a dodge ball to the face during p.e. seventh grade year and waking up to come face to face with the personification of punk rock standing over me." Percy recalled. "Pretty terrifying moment in my life." Luke laughed. "Yeah, after you got knocked unconscious by that rogue dodge ball," Percy gave him a side glare. "Thalia cursed me out and went to the nurse's office to make sure you weren't dead."
"Yeah, that 'rogue' dodge ball was a killer. I was still seeing stars hours after it happened. At least Thalia went on the account of both of you to make sure I was still alive."
"Hey! I sent you those flowers! That should count for something."
Percy looked confused and a bit shocked. "You did? The daisies?"
"Yeah!"
"I'm allergic to daisies. I had an allergic reaction to it."
"Oh.." Luke's face turned apologetic. "I am so sorry. Well, if it makes you feel any better, it didn't kill you."
"It could have."
"Well, at least I sent you flowers. Even if they did try to kill you."
"I guess I can't accuse you of something the flowers clearly tried to do. You're off the hook this time." Percy said teasingly. Luke smiled triumphantly.
"Percy Jackson?" Thalia asked as Percy and Luke walked into the ice cream shop. "Well well well. Look what the cat went and dragged in." Thalia smirked. "Got knocked unconscious by any 'rogue' dodge balls lately?"
"Ha ha." Percy rolled his eyes. "It's good to see the personification of punk rock standing before me again. How have you been?"
Thalia shrugged. "Finally moved out of my mother's house. I got to see Jason again finally. Months of blackmailing and threatening dad to tell the royal pain in my ass, Hera, about all of his affairs, finally paid off. He wasn't happy about it but he gave in. Threatening to tell his wife about his many affairs usually does the trick when you want to get what you want."
"You live alone?" Percy asked.
"Nah, I live with my older half-sister, Artemis and her platonic group of gal pals." Percy raised an eyebrow. "She's old enough to be their mom but she's more like a cool older sister to them." Thalia explained. "She rather adopt kids and take them under her wing than have her own. It was either live with her and her platonic group of gal pals who dislike the idea of men in general, or live with her twin brother Apollo. An egotistical music and art prodigy who flirts with anything with legs and sprouts out annoying haiku. He's like one of those frat boys who never grew up and that mother who acts younger than her actual age and flirts with all the younger guys. It's ridiculous. I feel for his kids, they have to deal with him twenty-four seven."
"He has kids?" Percy asked surprised. "He doesn't sound like the dad type."
"Oh, he's not. He's more of an older brother to his kids than an actual dad. That's why the majority of his kids live with their mothers or other relatives. I'm sure he doesn't mind though, less kids he has to act like an older brother to the better. He had five kids living with him but two of them died a few summers ago. Now, as far as I know of, he only has three kids living with him and another kid going back and forth between him and his mother every other week. So I much rather live with Artemis rather than Apollo."
"Don't you have other siblings you can live with?" Luke asked. "Not being able to have boyfriends over must be a drag." Thalia just smirked. "Luckily, Lucas, I'm not heterosexual so that's not a problem."
"Dammit." Luke laughed. "I knew I should've got you that 'It Ain't No Lie Baby I'm Bi Bi Bi' shirt for your birthday."
Thalia threw her head back and laughed. "The 'lesbihonest' shirt would've worked too." Luke laughed. "Next time I see it I'll buy it for you and then you can show your gay pride everywhere you go."
"I'll wear it around Zeus just to piss him off. Two hella gay kids will be a big punch to the face."
"Aren't you always pissing your dad off though?"
"What's your point, Castellan? It's my favorite pass time." Luke rolled his eyes and excused himself to answer his phone, stepping outside to have his conversation. Thalia sighed and turned her attention to Percy, smirking at him like she knew all of his secrets. "So, you're the 'cute hipster nerd' my little brother constantly goes on and on about." Percy's cheeks heated up. "Excuse me?"
Thalia laughed at his embarrassed face, "He's always talking about this guy he's friends with. He never told me your name, always calls you Jackson thinking I wouldn't ever figure it out. But," Thalia eyed his appearance. "It's definitely you. A smol hipster nerd and your last name is Jackson. Yup. You're definitely the one Jason goes on and on about." Percy was sure his face was like a tomato at the moment. He was never good with hearing good things about himself.
"Good things I hope."
Thalia just smiled like she knew something he didn't. "Yeah, all good things. Definitely good things. So, whatcha doing here with Luke?" She raised an eyebrow. "I never thought I'd catch you and him together on a date."
"It's not a date." Percy said quickly, clearing his throat at the look on Thalia's face. "We're just hanging out. I was at this party with Jason, our friends Nico and Will, and my half-sister Savannah when he recognized me. He asked to borrow me for a bit so I went with him, he apologized and wanted to take me to get some food as a chance to prove that he's changed. So, here I am."
"So you ditched your friends at some party to hang out with the asshat who bullied you in middle school."
"They won't notice I'm gone." He shrugged. "I was planning on trying to leave with Savannah or hide out with her anyways. Parties aren't my strong point. Do you have anything blueberry flavor here?" Thalia handed him a menu. "They dragged me and Nico this party saying we needed lives." He said as he looked over the different deserts. "And now I am. I'm considering this living."
"Luke could be a serial killer for all you know, Jackson. He could be planning on taking you out of town and killing your ass then throwing your body into some water or something where no one would ever find you." Thalia joked. "These kind of things can happen."
"You've been watching too much of the ID channel." Percy said. "I'll take a blueberry milkshake." Thalia made a face at his choice but went to make it anyway. "I'm being serious, Percy." She laughed, "Luke could be planning on killing you and you'd never know."
"Do you know something I don't?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because please let me know so I can prepare myself. At least then I'd know so I can try to defend myself."
"Defend yourself?" Thalia snorted, handing him his milkshake. "You're a smol bean, Jackson. You wouldn't stand a chance in hell against Luke."
"I resent that, Grace. And what the hell is a smol bean?" Thalia laughed and shook her head, smirking as Luke walked back into the shop, putting his phone back into his pocket and sliding into the seat next to Percy's chair. "What are you two talking about?"
"I'm warning Jackson here on your plans to kill him and dumping his body somewhere. You're welcome."
"Thanks a lot, Thalia. Now he's not going to want to ride anywhere else with me."
"Oops, my bad. I thought he'd want to know the truth so he can defend himself against you." Luke rolled his eyes and smiled. "Thals, why must you always tell people I'm going to kill them when I step out of a room. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to ruin any chance of friendship I try to have."
"I think she's jealous." Percy said, taking another sip of his milkshake. Thalia rolled her eyes as Luke laughed. "Just finish your milkshake. I got to get back to work but tell Jason I said hi."
"Will do."
"Nice talking to you again, Percy. Come visit me more. I'm always here." Thalia said before going back to work.
"So," Percy said turning his full attention to Luke. "How has the amazing life of Luke Castellan been?"
"Not so amazing actually." Luke admitted. "You're not the only one with daddy issues."
"Your dad doesn't want anything to do with you either?" Percy asked.
"Not in the slightest. He says he cares but I wasn't born yesterday. I know he doesn't care about me or his other ten kids." Luke grumbled, ordering a sundae. "I know how you feel." Percy took another sip of his milkshake. "My mom tries to make excuses for him but it's no use. I know he doesn't want anything to do with me."
"How is your mom these days anyway?" Luke asked.
"She's doing good actually." Percy said, smiling a bit at the mention of his mother. What can he say? He loves his momma. "She's working on a book now. She still works but it's not as much as she used to. Also, when I was fifteen she married my English teacher Mr. Paul Blofish. She met him at one of her classes she's taking. She's a lot happier with him and he treats her well. I can't say anything bad about him."
"Isn't it a bit weird though? Your mom being married to your English teacher I mean?"
"It was at first." Percy admitted. "But he makes her happy and treats her well. He's been more of a father to me these past few years than my actual dad ever was. And he's an English teacher, I get free tutoring in English." He shrugged. "It's a win win situation. I get to see my mom happy for the first time in years, and I get a free tutoring lesson. Paul really is a great guy, he's not like one of those step parents who hates their husband or wife's kids just for existing, he includes me in things and does stuff with me. What's your mom like?"
Luke just shrugged, "I haven't seen her since I was a kid. After my parents split up, my old man got custody of me. Told the court she wasn't emotionally or mentally stable to raise me so I was shipped off to him. But I've spent more time at our neighbor Chiron's house growing up than my own house. And recently, I moved out of my dad's house and in with my uncle Kronos. The old man wasn't happy about it but he doesn't have a voice in the matter, he can't stop me. I'm over eighteen. Not like I would listen to him anyways. Chiron took care of me and my half-siblings more than he ever did. And living with Kronos means I have my own bedroom and bathroom to myself now, I don't have to share a bedroom and bathroom with my half-brothers. Uncle Kronos isn't around much either but we've talked more in five minutes than I have my whole life with my dad."
"That must be rough," Percy said. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Luke just shrugged. "It's whatever."
They talked for the next hour and a half about anything and everything. Percy learned more about Luke's childhood growing up and Luke heard all about Percy's misadventures. Which is basically what Nico and Jason call all the incidents, trouble, and embarrassing things Percy gets himself into. Most being just down right hilarious. Well, not to Percy, but hilarious to everyone else.
"So let me get this straight, you told the pizza delivery guy you love him?" Luke asked, not even trying to hold back his laughter.
"It was an accident!" Percy defended himself. "I'm used to telling my mom I love her before I hang up. It was a force of habit."
"And what did the pizza delivery guy say?" Luke asked amused.
"He was silent for a few seconds then said '..uh..Thank you? But I hope you know I can't give you a discount just because you confessed your love for me.'" Luke laughed harder. "Well, at least I know that now confessing my undying love for the pizza guy won't save me money."
"Oh shut it, Castellan." Percy grumbled. Luke shook his head and smiled, excusing himself again to answer his phone. Percy sighed and checked the time on his phone. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt the presence of someone standing behind him and a nasally voice speaking up.
"So I see you met Luke Castellan." Percy turned around to come face to face with the scowling face of Octavian Bennett. The weird kid who's rumored to carry around stuffed animals for voodoo sacrifices. Percy has no idea if that's true or not, he makes it a personal mission to stay out of the blond scarecrow's way as much as possible. That's everyone's personal mission it seems like. Everyone sort of stays out of his way in case he snaps one day and goes on a rampage and starts using human sacrifices in place of his stuffed animals. Percy really hopes that's just a rumor, he doesn't want to be used as a human sacrifice if Octavian goes off his rocker one day.
"Yeah.." Percy said, stepping back slightly. You can never be too sure with Octavian. "I know him. Y'know him?"
The blond scarecrow scoffed and refilled one of the sugar containers. "I know him quite well." Well, okay then.. "Now, Jackson, I'm not one for giving out advice or anything, but it would be in your best interest to stay away from him."
"Excuse me?" Percy raised an eyebrow.
Octavian just scowled at him. "I'm warning you now, Jackson, stay away from him. Take my advice or not, I don't care. But whatever you do, stay away from him. Don't be in his inner circle. It won't do you any good."
"You sound like you have experience."
"Shut up and mind your business, Jackson." Octavian snapped and went back to work.
Percy looked at Octavian's working figure in confusion. What was all of that about? He seemed to know Luke very well but how? And why does he seem to hate Luke so much? Well, that doesn't really surprise him much, Octavian hates everyone. But still, everything seemed off about that conversation. But then again, this is Octavian we're talking about here, everything about him screams crazy, psychotic teddy bear killer. One of the many reasons why people stay away from him is because of his reputation with teddy bears. Octavian is wrong about a lot of stuff, the guy likes to start fights just for fun, so this could be just another one of his games. But his voice didn't hold any of it's usual malicious or teasing tone as it usually does. He sounded like he was legitimately trying to give him advice. But how is he supposed to figure out if Octavian is telling the truth or not? Another one of the many reasons why people stay away from Octavian is because of his way with words. He's very intelligent and an amazing public speaker, usually being able to achieve whatever goal he set for himself. And he's usually able to win over crowds by being able to discretely insult everyone. Octavian knows how to win over crowds by talking. He knows what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. A psychotic teddy bear killer who knows exactly what to say to win you over is never a good combination for anything.
So because of this, Percy has no idea what he's supposed to believe. Does he trust Octavian? Or is this just another one of his mind games to start something? What the hell is he supposed to do? Put his trust in a psychotic scarecrow who likes to use stuffed animals as voodoo sacrifices and hope for the best? Or continue to befriend Luke, the guy who bullied him all through middle school? All of this thinking is giving him a headache.
"What was that about?" Percy felt like jumping out of his skin at hearing Luke's voice behind him. Luke raised an eyebrow. "You okay? You seem jumpy."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I have no idea what Octavian's talking about. He likes to start things."
"Ready to go?" Luke asked, holding up his car keys. "I don't want your friends thinking I went and kidnapped you."
"My mom hasn't called me yet. I think we're good."
"When we first dropped our bags on
Apartment floors
Took our broken hearts
Put them in a drawer
Everybody here was someone else before
And you can want who you want
Boys and boys and
Girls and girls" Percy sang along to the radio. "Welcome to New York It's been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It's been waiting for you
Welcome to New York
Welcome to New Yo- Hey!" Percy pouted as Luke turned the station. "I was listening to that."
"Jackson, what the fuck? Taylor Swift? Really?" Luke asked in disbelief.
"Sorry." Percy shrugged. "I'm best friends with a white girl disguised as a guy. Jason's rubbing off on me. What do you expect?"
"Dammit, Percy. Just because you're pansexual doesn't mean you have to be the stereotypical gay guy."
"Shut up, Castellan." Percy grumbled. "Just because I listen to Taylor Swift and I like guys more than girls doesn't mean I'm a stereotypical gay!" Percy sassed back.
"I can't believe I have a crush on a guy who listens to Taylor Swift."
"Wait what?" Percy asked, his eyes widening.
Luke just shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "You're so oblivious to people having crushes on you. I've been trying to flirt with you all night. No wonder Thalia calls you her smol son. Alright, now I've had enough of this bubblegum pop you call 'good music'. We're going to listen to actual good music now. Y'know Asking Alexandria right?"
"I think Nico listens to it. But I haven't listened to their songs before." Luke's smile widened. At that moment, Percy knew he would come to later regret the decision to ride in Luke's car with him.
"Has anyone seen Percy?" Jason said walking over to Savannah and Nico. "I can't find him, I've been looking for him everywhere."
"Some of us have been looking for him more than others." Savannah said, her voice cold and hostile.
Jason didn't seem to appreciate her jab at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I meant," Savannah turned to Jason with a glare. "That while my brother was MIA, some of us were actually looking for him while others were making out with Santa's little helper while he's on vacation from the north pole in the corner."
"Excuse me?" Jason said defensively.
"You're such a little shit! I know all about boys like you. All you want to do is use people for your own 'greater good' but don't fucking think I'm gonna let you do that to my brother."
"Do what exactly?" Jason's voice turned shrill. "I'm not using Percy for my own 'greater good'. I genuinely care about him. I'd never hurt him."
"Oh really? That's bullshit! You claim you're in love with him and all you do is whine and complain like a love sick preteen that he'll never notice you're pathetic tries at what you call flirting but there you are making out with one of Santa's elves in the corner while Percy's missing. That right there speaks volumes about how much you're really 'in love' with my brother, Gracie." Then she turned her glare to Nico and Will. "And you two, Percy could be seriously hurt but you little Emo and white toasted piece of bread can't care less about that. You're too busy slobbering all over each other to even notice he's gone!"
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" It was Nico's turn to get angry. "Are you implying that I don't care about my best friend enough?" Will tried to calm him down but Nico shrugged him off. "I've known him longer than you while you've known him for not even a day. So don't you fucking dare think that I don't care about Percy when I do. He's not a child, Savannah, he's a teenager."
Savannah's glare deepened. "Do you even know what fucking time it is? It's almost two in the morning and he's been gone since we've got here. That blond scar faced dude took him away to 'talk'. Percy said he'd catch up to us. That was hours ago, if he was okay he would be back by now. We let him go off with someone we don't know and someone he clearly wasn't okay with judging by his reaction to seeing the guy."
Nico's glare started to lighten up slightly. He hated to admit it, but Percy's sister did have a point. That was hours ago and Percy wasn't back yet. What if he really was in trouble? How was he supposed to explain to Sally that her only son disappeared at a party they went to together? How does a person even explain that sorta thing to a mother? Oh gods, he was the worst person and worst friend ever. He should've never allowed Percy to go off with a total stranger. What the hell was he thinking? "Let's ask around and see if anyone has seen him since."
"I could've thought of that." Savannah rolled her eyes and went on her way to ask around anyway.
After barely making it through two of Asking Alexandria's songs, Percy had enough. Heavy metal screamo music or whatever music genre it is, is definitely not his cup of tea. He's definitely going to be deaf by the time he gets out of this car. He honestly doesn't see how Nico and Luke listen to this type of music. They're not terrible, they have talent, but he just doesn't understand the point in listening to music when you can't understand a word they're saying because they're screaming constantly. They may be hot British dudes but they're still scary as hell with great lungs by how much screaming they do. He's definitely deaf now thanks to Luke for putting them on full volume. Because seriously Luke? Do you really need to put them on full volume? Head banging to them wasn't enough? Honestly, doesn't your head hurt by now from all that head banging?
"Here we are." Luke said, parking the car. "The party is still in full swing." Percy gave him a shy smile. "Thanks, Luke. I had fun tonight. A lot more fun that I would've had at this party filled with people I've never spoken too before."
Luke smiled brightly. "Well, I'm glad I made your night better. If you can't find any of your friends or they're too busy just come back and find me."
"I'll keep that in mind. Surprisingly, it was nice seeing you again." Percy said.
"It was great to see you again too, Perce. We should do this more often. Hanging out with people and them knowing where you've run off to I mean. The last thing I need is everyone thinking I've kidnapped you or something. My uncle would kill me if I get into any trouble with the police."
Percy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't need my mom or anyone filing a missing person report again." Luke raised an eyebrow. Percy sighed and shook his head. "It's a long story. But I really should get in there and try to find my friends before they assume the worst has happen."
"Yeah," Luke said distractedly. "I should probably unlock the door for you."
"Yeah..that would probably be a good idea." Luke nodded and stared at Percy a second longer before realizing he hadn't unlocked the door yet. "Oh! Oops." He quickly unlocked the car and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. There you go."
"Thanks..uh..I'll see you around." Percy said, turning to get out of the car before Luke stopped him. "Wait, Perce. I need to do something before I miss my chance and regret it." Percy stared at him in confusion. "Forget wha-?" Percy was cut off by Luke's lips. On his own. What in the name of the Greek mythological Hades is happening? Was Luke Castellan, ex bully, actually kissing him right now? Oh my lanta.
Percy just sat there in the passenger seat not moving, not knowing how to process what the hell was happening at the moment. Don't get him wrong, Luke's a great kisser, but what the hell? He always wanted to have his first kiss, but when he imagined getting his first kiss, he imagined it being with someone totally different. Not that Luke's terrible or anything, but this just isn't how he expected any of this to go.
Jason walked outside to go out looking for Percy himself when he spotted him sitting in a truck locking lips with no other than scar face. Jason froze and it felt like everything around him slowed down. He wanted to look away but it's like a bad car accident, it hurts to look, but you just can't turn away. It felt like his heart was being ripped out and stepped on. Because really? That's the guy who's tongue he wants shoved down his throat? Scar face? The asshat who bullied him to nearly committing suicide? That asshole? Percy chooses to make out with the biggest asshole on the planet rather than open his damn eyes and see Jason's obvious crush on him.
Part of him, the part of him boiling with jealousy, heartache, and anger, wanted to walk over there and pull Percy out of the truck and yell at him for how much of a fucking idiot he's being then perhaps give scar face a good punch. Or two. The other part of him, the logical side, just wanted to turn away and act like he saw nothing. But it was so tempting to walk over and throw a few punches but he tried to tell himself it wasn't worth it. But damn, jealousy is a really powerful thing. Instead of giving in to the temptation, he turned around and forced himself to walk back inside the party to drag Nico home. A house full of drunk people they barely knew was not the place to cause a scene. He can just imagine the rumors flying around school now.
Jason made his way back inside the party, pushing past a few drunken idiots and girls trying to grope him and looked around for Nico. He spotted him and Will across the living room talking to themselves. Nico looked rather annoyed and it appeared Will was trying to calm him down. "C'mon, let's go."
Nico looked at Jason and raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I want to get out of here before I pick a fight with someone. Now c'mon lets go."
"So we're just going to leave my brother behind?" Savannah snapped.
Jason turned to glare at her. He was starting to have enough of her shit. "He's outside sitting in scar face's truck locking lips with him." He snapped back.
"Jason," Nico said in an accusing tone. "What did you do?"
"Nothing yet." Jason clenched his jaw and fists, noticing Luke walk back into the house, sending Jason a smile. Jason wanted to punch that innocent smile off his already scarred up face just for smiling at him. Nico noticed his clenched fists and grabbed his arm. "Don't you fucking dare. It's not worth it."
"He smiled at me."
"It's a crime to smile now?" Savannah asked. Jason shot her another glare.
"Jason," Nico brought his attention back to him. "This isn't the time to start anything. Let's go find Percy and get out of here." Nico said, giving him a push to start walking. "And don't start shit with Percy either. That can wait for another day."
Jason just grumbled as they walked out of the party and got sight of Percy.
"Hey guys." Percy said casually. "Ready to go home." Percy looked almost offended and a little hurt when Jason shoved past him and started walking. Nico sighed and followed behind Jason. Percy looked at Will and Savannah. "What's their problem?"
"Jason almost picked a fight with someone. Don't worry about it, he'll be okay tomorrow." Will answered. "I'll see you guys at school tomorrow." Percy nodded and watched Will leave and turned back to Savannah, falling into step with her. "What did I miss at the party?"
"Jason kissed that elfish looking dude. Leon or something?" Savannah shrugged and kicked a rock as they walked home.
"Leo Valdez?" Percy asked. He wasn't sure why, but he could've sworn he felt a bit jealous at hearing about their kiss. "That's cool. Can't say I'm really surprised. Well, I kinda am. Didn't really think Leo was into dudes. I always thought he was ace or something."
Savannah snorted. "He looked pretty into it."
"Ten bucks says they start dating."
"Nah," she shook her head. "I think they'll end up being fuck buddies or something."
"Jay doesn't seem like the fuck buddy kind of guy."
"Twenty bucks says you're wrong."
"Oh it's so on."