Chapter Three

Leos POV

I open my eyes and notice I'm in a bed. An actual bed. In a room. That's lit up as if it's morning.

Though that doesn't make sense because that means I slept here overnight.

Here?

Percy's mom walks into the room and everything that happened last night's floods into my head.

"Oh." I say out loud.

"'Oh' what?" She says and I try to sit up but a dull pain strikes through my chest.

"Ow ow ow ow oww." I say laying back down.

"Yeah." She says. "You don't have to get up for me."

Then she hands me a cup of liquid, which I look at skeptically.

"Sorry, who are you?" I say bluntly.

She sits on the side of my bed.

"Only the person that nursed you back to health. That, and Percy's mom." She smiles and my health skipped a beat.

I barely know this woman but I already love her. And then I become bitterly envious of Percy to have such a mom like this.

To have a mom at all.

"Well, thanks....?"

I'm not really used for people to go out of their way to do something for me.

She laughs lightly and then the man from last night walks in. He looks worn. I know the feeling.

"How are you?" He asks worriedly.

I sit up, despite the pain.

To say, in short, I'm a little intimidated of these people.

"Fine." I say, defensively.

He looks at me weirdly but says, "Percy called, or Iris messaged I should say, your friends at camp. They should be here in a few minutes."

My heart jumps up to my throat.

"W-what? Why?"

They look at me strangely, but before they could ask anything else the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it!" A voice screams from the room next to the one I'm in.

I see Percy run past the room and hear the front door open.

I stumble, half asleep, trying to get out if bed.

"No no. You have to rest." The woman resists.

"I have to go. I'm fine." I say, obviously lying.

"Where is he?!" I hear someone shriek from the another room.

The man pushes me back in bed and says firmly. "You're not fine. Your hurt and need to rest."

Tangled in sheets I look up to see a very very angry Piper.

Behind her are Jason, Hazel, Frank, Nico, Annabeth, and Percy.

"H-hey guys." I say quietly.

Jason looks at me sadly and Frank, along with Nico, just look confused. Hazel, Annie, and especially Piper start yelling.

"What we're you thinking-"

"Don't you ever, ever-"

"I swear I'm going to-"

"Why would you-"

"I missed you so much-"

"I'm so glad your back-"

"It's been so long-"

"A year-"

"A YEAR-"

"Girls girls," Jason says. "Give him some room to breathe."

"He doesn't deserve room to breath!" Piper shrieks.

"Look Pipes. I'm really sorry."

I say, though not really knowing what I'm sorry for. I'm sure I did something before I left.

She takes a shaky, deep breath and I know I'm in trouble.

"Do you have any idea what you put me through?" She says tearing up.

"Look, Pipes I-"

"Don't call me that! Don't even speak my name."

"Okay," I say carefully. "Look. I thought it was for the best-"

Then all of a suddenly Hazel tackles me in a hug. I'm frozen; utterly stunned.

"I missed you so much." She mumbles into my shirt.

It's official. I am extremely confused.

Do I hug her back?

Do I push her away?

Eventually, I just lay there with my arms awkwardly in the air.

Then against my will, my eyes start tearing up. Ever since I left camp, one year ago, I can't even remember the last time someone hugged me.

"Leo," Jason says. "What's wrong?"

Hazel pulls away and I shake my head. "Nothing."

"Come on Leo." Annabeth tries. '"I haven't known you as long as Jason and Piper but you have to explain yourself and open up."

I disentangle myself and stand up shaking.

"No, I'm fine. I just..." I glance at the door, then at the open window that leads down into emergency fire exit stairs. "I just need some space."

Hazel tentatively touches my shoulder. "Leo please don't go. Not again."

I look at her helplessly. "You don't understand. I can't j-just stop."

"Why not?" Piper says, now no anger in her voice, just pain.

"Because... well because..." I say searching for the right words. How am I going to explain if I don't even know myself?

"Are you in trouble?" Annabeth says suddenly. "Are you running from someone...or something?"

"No. No one and nothing is coming after me. Well. That I know of."

Frank looks puzzled. "So why did you run away. I thought someone threatened you or something tried to kill you or something."

I laugh bitterly. "Such the imagination, Zhang."

I take a deep breath. "I'm fine. I'm in perfect health. Perfect safety. Perfect everything."

The man cut in. "I wouldn't say perfect anything. I don't think you're okay or safe in the condition you came in yesterday."

"Well then... why would... yesterday... condition....... why-where-were you little... I... where..." Piper says searching for the right word.

"Where were you? For the past year." Piper asks, her voice cracking.

Then she jumps on me and suffocated me in a hug. I tense up as I feel her tears on my neck.

"I was so worried. I looked everywhere."

"You looked?" I ask. "For me?"

I can't help it. I was shocked. It might sound clichè and stupid but it's true.

"Yes, you idiot. I looked everywhere. I.." Her voice breaks and she starts crying.

Sally gets up and comforts her with a hug. The man just stares at me, with an odd expression.

I sit at the edge of the bed.

"I'm..sorry.....Piper." I say.

Jason looked at me and said softly, "Do you even know what for?"

I stumble with my words. "Y-Yeah. For leaving a-and...um...for.....bribing Fleecy and Iris-"

"That's why we can't Iris Message you!" Annabeth exclaims, relieved that she finally understands.

My eyes flicker to her. "Yeah."

"Okay." The man says clapping his hands together. "Answer this. What happened last night?"

I eye him. I don't like grown ups. They're all jerks. They're all so arrogant. And they all at some point-...... well...

I look at Sally, and how she comforts Piper. And the concern in her eyes.

I study my torn dirty shoes. They might not all be so bad.

"I might have... possibly... gotten mugged."

Hazel looks at me. "Mugged?"

"Yeah," I say somewhat embarrassed. "But I got all my money back."

My hands go to my jeans pockets and I stop.

Mentally I go through all the places I could have put it.

Then I remember I passed out holding it.

I stand up and glare at the man. I knew he was bad. He is a grown up after all.

"Where the hell is my money?"

"I didn't take it." He says innocently.

Why does everyone lie to me? How stupid does everyone think I am? For years I used to just take this schist from everyone but not anymore. No ones taking advantage of the poor orphaned kid anymore.

"Well-" I start but Sally cut me off.

"Leo." She fumbles with her jeans pocket.

She takes out money. My money.

And holds it out to me. "Here."

I look at her in disbelief. All the stories Percy told about her. I can't believe she....

"You took it." I say understanding.

Obviously. I thought she was different from all the other adults.

But no. They're all the same, in their own horrible way.

"No no no." She says. "I saw you holding it so I kept it for safe keepings. I was going to give it to you when you wake up."

I take the money and look at Piper.

She looks at me warily. Like I'm a different Leo.

I guess I am. I don't think she's ever seen me really show my anger.

When I was mad I used to just keep it inside and joke around. Now I don't.

I look at the other faces and basically, I see the same thing.

Confusion. Wariness. Sadness, as if I'm too far to be helped. As if I need help. And in Hazels eyes, I see the worst.

Fear.

Then all my anger turns into fear.

What am I doing? Why am I yelling and losing control?

It's the worst feeling to look at someone you once liked, a close friend, and then they look at you like... you're a monster.

An unknown fear gripped me and I start shaking.

What is wrong with me?

Trembling I feel tiny next to everyone in the room.

Someone touches my shoulder and says,"Leo?"

I look up to see Jason.

I open my mouth to say I'm fine but no sound comes out. I pull away and quickly make my way to the window.

When I reach it I look back at the confused faces and part of me wants to stay. Wants to have somewhat of a family. Wants to be loved and appreciated.

But before I give myself a chance to think it over, I duck my head and jump out of the window.