Quick! Hold My Hand!

Jason didn't remember Reyna having that swimsuit. He felt bad for looking at her like that, he knew how rude it was to be ogling. Yet, she looked pretty enough for his chest to get tighter and lift at the same time, how he felt when they first started dating. It only lasted a second before a rock settled where his heart was. He was fake dating Piper, and Reyna was real-dating Thalia. Thalia had even told him how they were so in love. It was cute, truthfully, seeing his sister so happy and flustered by a simple look.

His attention snapped back to Piper, her laugh rang out at some silly move Reyna made. Reyna laughed with her, and Jason felt his chest tighten again. Percy’s calling snapped him out of it, and he raced him into the water, pushing the image of Reyna dancing in the sand out of his head.

Percy tossed a foam football at Jason, which he effortlessly caught despite the breeze. Jason tossed it back, the water starting to reach his toes.

They had gotten to Percy’s cabin the afternoon before, immediately dropping off their stuff before Annabeth went to buy food. Everyone made sure to clean the house do that dust wouldn't make their allergies act up. By then Annabeth was back and Calypso enlisted Reyna’s help to make dinner. Which was followed by everyone going to bed.

Jason could hear Reyna having fun, and he missed an easy catch. Percy frowned at him as Jason pick the ball from the sand, throwing it back. He shook it off, trying to focus back on the ball. Before he knew it, Reyna was standing in front of him.

“Piper made a bet that I can’t beat you back to the cabin.” Reyna told him, putting her hands on her hips and flipping the braid off her shoulder. “Let’s race.” Jason blinked, but his competitive nature came out and took over.

“You’re going to lose.” He said without thinking, starting off towards the cabin. Reyna quickly caught up to him, pulling ahead slightly.

Jason found himself slowing down a little bit, watching the way Reyna’s shoulders moved when she ran, the sun reflecting on her legs. The shine the water left across her shoulders. Reyna was fast, but she could never beat Jason. Until then. Her smiling face turned to him, pride across her deep brown eyes.
“Piper owes me, now.” Reyna gloated, leaning over the steps to get close to Jason. He could feel himself starting to sweat.
Holy shit.
Jason simply cracked his famous lopsided smile, little scar on his lip stretching. “Looks like my girl,” He hoped Reyna didn’t hear his strain when he called Piper his girl, “Actually lost.”
Luckily, Reyna didn’t seem to notice, a laugh erupting from her chest, waving past him to Piper. He could hear a loud sigh of disappointment coming closer, and his chest dropped.
“Let me just get my wallet.” Piper’s voice rang through her ears. He didn’t expect this much trouble to happen to him. Liking his ex again while having to act like he was into Piper. It was getting hard, and Jason got a headache from thinking about it.


Piper passed them and went inside, the screen for clicking shut behind her. Jason immediately looked back at Reyna. Her eyes were so open and honest. That was why Jason dated her in the first place. The honesty between them was refreshing. Wanting to tell Reyna the truth was hard to ignore, trying to keep the secret. He couldn't lie to her before. How could he now? He had to try.

Moments later Piper came back out watch a crisp twenty, handing it over to Reyna.

“It's hard to part with.” Piper exaggerated her disappointment, and Reyna smirked in response.

“I'm sure Thalia will love what I buy her with this.” She said, before Reyna lowered her voice, “A galaxy cat tee shirt.”

Piper smiles wide, shaking her head, “Truly. You are the best gift giver.”

////

The late night rolled around, and Jason helped pull out the projector. Annabeth sifted through Netflix before hooking up her laptop, a John Mulaney special starting.

They laughed along, and Jason could feel Piper’s laughter in his chest. It felt refreshing, good considering the dilemma he faced earlier in the day. He tried to tell himself he was just eager for a real romance, and that Reyna fit his mold. Jason hoped that was true. After all, if it wasn't, that would mean big trouble.

Though, when he glanced around at everyone, he locked eyes with Annabeth, and they looked at each other for a moment. An embarrassed blush washed over him as he went back to watching the special, laughing a little at the joke about HGTV.

He looked down at Piper to see if she was doing okay, but she seemed to have fallen asleep on him. Jason didn't dare move, instead looking back up and making sure Piper’s blanket didn't fall off and on to the deck. When Jason looked back on it, he never really paid attention to Piper during the day. Sure, he saw her, but he didn't pay attention to her in detail. Not like he did with Reyna.

Jason glanced at the clock on the wall, seeing that it was almost midnight. He slid his arm under Piper’s legs to pick her up. On his shoulder, her sleeping head rested in the crook of her neck as he carried her inside. It took roughly a full minute to get Piper into their room and under the sheets. He stepped back for a moment to make sure she was asleep. It looked peaceful, her face relaxed, body curled up just slightly but not making her too warm.

By the time he got back out to the deck, the special was ending. Everyone had started to get up, except Annabeth. She was being carried- bridal style -by Percy. He gave a nod to say goodnight before yawning, and in turn made Jason yawn. Jason held back a laugh and followed them inside to go to bed.

Piper had moved onto her side, leaving enough space for Jason to lay down and stretch out a little bit. That was exactly what he did as he trailed into sleep.

His dream was different. He was sitting in a park, a familiar but implacable face next to him, a familiar laugh and a familiar smile, but he didn't know who. It didn't feel right, though. The context felt different. The picnic around them made it feel romantic. Did he take this girl on a date?

He couldn't cook, much less plan out a picnic. It felt too weird, and the dream went away into a velvet darkness. Time seemed so fast, because before Jason knew it, it was morning again, and time to wake up.

Notes