Chapter 2

It wasn't that Jason didn't want to skate again at nationals. He was just fine. In his small town. Attempting to forget that his time at nationals last year had never happened.

"Wake up Jason." Percy whispered in his ear. Jason groaned. "Go away Thals." Jason replied, rolling over in bed. His blankets wrapping tightly around his legs, and his arm quickly dragged a pillow over his head. Covering his exposed ear.

He was perfectly fine waiting in his small town, never seeing the spotlight again! In fact, he could be happy like that. It was simple. And Jason considered himself to be a simple person.

But Percy? He changed Jason. Even in the short amount of time, he had changed him.

Jason found himself in the skate rink. Percy by his side, and in skates.

8 am, 9 am, and soon this time expanded until 3 pm.

They wouldn't stop, Jason's phone in his pocket, and his soul free.

Percy watching from the side lines, making remarks and notes– later telling Jason what he needed to improve on. Grinning to himself, Percy would make a small comment under his breath.

"Again!" He would shout, causing Jason to loose focus.

"Stop doing that!" Jason exclaimed, forgetting who Percy was as his earbuds fell out of his ears. His body skidded across the ice. Bad crashing against the wall.

"You okay, Jason?" Thalia called out. Jason looked up to see her at the side of the rink.

"Aren't you–" Thalia interrupted him. "I came to skate." She yelled, Jason eyeing the skates slung on her shoulder.

Her black hair was in a messier fashion than Percy's, and her face was tinged red. Her freckles pale under the crappy rink's lights.

"Hope I'm not intruding." Thalia told Percy, throwing her slip on ballet shoes to the ground. Percy shrugged. "I thought he could use a break by now anyway. Maybe having you here would help with his concentration." He replied, watching as Thalia laces up her skates.

The raven haired girl stood up, gripping the side of the rink tightly. She smiled, and slowly started to skate. Her knees were too straight, and balance a little off Percy couldn't help but pick on.

Jason, gliding to her gracefully, smiled. "It's been a while Thals." He joked, giving her a playful nudge. Thalia laughed, nudging him back. "Ready?" Thalia questioned,

"So we're doing this again, are we?" Jason teased, earning Thalia to blow him a raspberry.

"Let's skate, Jason."

"Fine, Thalia."