Summary: "You see, it was girls like Thalia Grace and Piper McLean that let Leo know he was out of their league. But it was a guy like Jason Grace that let him know he didn't stand a chance."

Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes of Olympus, nor Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter I: What Leo Does in His Dorm Room

LPOV

"Oh, uh. My bad."

"Nah, dude. You're fine." Yeah. He's totally fine, and I'm the one choking on the scent of ambrosia, charred eyebrows and...maybe a subtle zap of electricity. I try not to stare – staring is for losers who don't know how to play the game, and Leo Valdez is so not a loser. My body heats up, and I've got to tell it twenty times not to explode because, really? I'm the only known Hephaestus kid who can summon fire. As a Hephaestus kid and a guy who likes to tinker, let's get one thing straight:

Explosions are cool. So long as that's the purpose, and it's not mine.

Well, if it's something of Jason's that explodes, then that wouldn't be cool, either. Since he can do that whole electricity-Child-of-Zeus thing, I can sense a little zap-zip here and there.

You know what, scratch that. If I were to explode, maybe that'd be cool. It'd be a cool way to go – and I'm Leo Valdez. I'd go out like a firecracker.

Only maybe I'd be like that robotic dog, Goddard, and regenerate – hmmm –

"Uh, dude?" Oh, yeah. Jason's still behind me. I'm lost in my thoughts, debating on regenerating explosions, and forget that he's apologizing for tripping over heaps of my stuff, only to save himself by – "You can take your hand out of my tool pocket now."

Jason Grace isn't a cocky bastard. He ain't the smartest guy around (ooh, guess. It's me!), but he isn't stupid. As a child of Zeus, you expect him to be just a smidge arrogant, or at least just a wee bit power hungry. But he isn't. He looks like a player, yet he isn't one of those, either.

I know this because as soon as I mention the fact his hand is still in my super awesome tool belt – mind you, accidentally groping my ass – Jason recoils. His sparkling blue eyes widen twice their size, eyebrows hiding under his hairline, and his naturally rosy cheeks burn twice their heat. "Sorry, Leo."

"Oh, no problem. You're not interrupting me – just the biggest project of my damn life while we're attending the University of Olympus that Annabeth will kill me for if I don't – "

"Alright, alright." Jason raises an eyebrow. "I just wanted to see if you wanted to come by Vesta's with Piper, Percy, and me."

"Ay dios mio." Big project should have spoken for itself. Vesta's was a little Roman cafe on the south side of campus. Weekly we rotate from going to Hestia's to Vesta's, and I'm guessing it was Vesta's this week. Ever since meeting Percy Jackson (supposed head of Greek OU), Jason and he have been trying to get the campus to get along.

"Okay," he says again. His laugh fills my ears, and my fingers flutter from the sweet sound. Jason puts a hand on my shoulder and I resist all urge to shiver. "Maybe later?"

"Iris message me. And I'll see what I can do." From the other side of my safety goggles, it looks like they block my peripheral. They don't.

Jason smiles again; his shy smile that makes his skin look like the sun's hitting him just right, and his cropped blond hair makes you think he just got laid – only he looks like that all the time – and his electric blue eyes that glow in the dark. He's gorgeous, humbly domineering, and –

There's a knock on our door and Jason quickly stands to is feet. He nearly lunges forth, half-blood instincts hilariously taking over, and in comes Piper McClean, one of the prettiest girls at OU. She has to be – she's an Aphrodite kid.

Piper smiles lightly, eyes landing on me before she laughs. "Your boxers are dirty."

"Well, they're not burnt like last time." I crack a grin.

"Doesn't it bother you when they get that dirty?"

"Jason doesn't mind."

"Really, Jason?" Pipes looks to her boyfriend, lips twisting in a grin as she squeezes his bicep. I'm not looking at them – you can sense what they do from a mile away. Instead, the steam fogs my goggles, and I pretend I'm absorbed in my work.

Jason shrugs. "As long as he doesn't make my pillow spontaneously combust like last time."

"I dunno. I kinda like it when he drives you crazy. It...drives you to me." Blush, blush.

"Oh, uh, really?" Blushing virgin.

"It's not like you need an excuse to see me, Jase. Come by anytime...alright?" Blush, blush. "After Vesta's, maybe a walk in the park...come by my dorm, watch a movie...?"

"Do I have to kick you two lovebirds out?" I yell at the top of my lungs, and automatically the demi-god next door bangs on our wall telling us to shut up. A curse escapes my lips and I pick up the screwdriver that was unintentionally thrown to the ground.

"You don't have to be so rude." If it came from any other girl I would have slapped them. But Piper has been my best friend for years, and I was the one who introduced them.

I turn around, lips contorting into a nonchalant smirk, and shrug. "I'll meet up with you guys later, alright?"

"Don't overwork yourself," Jason says, and he wraps an arm around Piper's waist like they're highschoolers again. He flashes that look, and The Smile appears. "Your goggles are all fogged up."

I refuse to look at him and almost block out his voice. Instead I feign irritation. My two best friends in the entire world laugh at my misery before slipping out of the room and off to Vesta's.

Being mad at Jason is a lot like if you got a crappy taco. Sometimes they come out too spicy, but they mean well – and you can bet they still taste good.

Jason is my taco. He never gets me angry – can't even if he tries – and that's how our relationship works. He knows every little one of my tendencies – like hell I knew I yank one of my curls when I get nervous – and I give him advice on Pipes. Not that he needs it.

Once I'm finally sure they're gone from the building, I relax. Does he know his laugh is intoxicating? That when he stares at you, you wanna fall to the ground and kiss his feet? Can he tell every time he's hovering over me, I debate – Is that a screwdriver in between my legs, or does he seriously get me that hot?

Of course that idiot doesn't notice.

Crawling out from under the desk, I throw myself onto the bed and bury my face into an ash-covered pillow.

Jason Grace and I met when we were fifteen. At the new summer camp Mom made me go to one summer, I stole some screws from Ms. Lupa and he covered for me. Mister Jason Grace – the Harry Potter of OU. For four years, we've been best friends, and no one can tear us apart. Piper was my best friend since diapers, and once we got to college, I introduced them.

That was a year ago. As I shut my eyes, the surface of his blue orbs electrify my entire body. Gorgeous, alluring blue eyes that makes my heart soar, and a smile that tingles my chest. His voice hums in my ears, and I wonder how in our four years I never noticed how much of a God he is. His beautiful laugh, his dorky way of blushing if you get into his personal space. I didn't notice at first.

When Piper starts noticing how cute his eyes are, I notice how cute his everything is.

Ladies and Germs: one year ago, I introduced those lovebirds. One year ago, I realized I'd fallen for that gorgeous, humbly domineering guy – who's taken.

One year ago, I realized that I could chase girls like Piper and Jason's hot sister, Thalia, all I wanted, but it only distracts me from the fact that I can't catch my totally hot, totally badass best friend, Jason Grace.

Author's Note:

Merry Christmas! :D