L E G A C Y / / Percabeth's kids fic

.: chapter 26 :.

Mason Cooper

So far everything was working perfectly. The entire school was talking about Andrew. People have so many different theories about his relationship with Charlie there's no way the two of them will be able to stay together after this.

I sat in the cafeteria with Lincoln and Amelia, waiting for the rest of our friends to show up. Ethan entered the cafeteria first, when his eyes met mine, I was honestly scared for my life.

He marched up to the table and put a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm.

"I need to talk to you." He growled.

I reluctantly stood up, I would not let Ethan scare me. We stood in the hallway outside the cafeteria and he crossed his arms.

"What have you done?" He pulled a folded up newspaper from his back pocket and shoved it against my chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I didn't even glance at it.

"Cut the bullshit, Mason, I know almost everyone at this school and you're the only person I know who would do this."

"I don't know who wrote it." I lied, "are they telling the truth?" I asked, curious to see his reaction.

He didn't dignify me with a response, "this type of thing can destroy people's lives. Take it back."

"Look, Ethan, I didn't write this and I don't know who did, but if it's out there then there's no getting rid of it."

"You and I both know that if you can get her to write a piece that speaks against it, then it'll be gone."

I knew he was referring to Jasmine, who had the most influence over the people in our school. And I also knew that Ethan has a complicated history with her and he couldn't ask her himself.

I smiled smugly. "I have no reason to go to Jasmine. For all I know, this," I held up the paper and handed it back to him, "is true and Charlie really needs to leave her boyfriend. He sounds like trouble."

Ethan's jaw clenched, "Don't pretend like you know him." He took a step closer to me and lowered his voice to a whisper, "you don't know a damn thing about my life, my family, my friends, and my sister, so do us all a favor and get rid of it or I'll make sure that you pay."

Then he shoved past me and stormed back to the lunch room and sat with his other group of friends.

I went back to my table, where Charlie was now sitting next to Lizzie, the two of them whispering in hushed voices.

"Hey Charlie." I sat down, "how was your trip?"

She barely glanced at me, she was to see in her conversation with Lizzie. "Fine." She replied shortly.

I pursed my lips and waited for them to stop. They must've noticed they were the only ones talking and stopped.

"Sorry." Lizzie muttered, then went to picking at her food. What was up with her lately?

"So how was your trip really?" Amelia asked Charlie.

"It was really fun actually! I got to see some family and only friends. It was a nice break." She smiled but I sensed she was holding something back, there was a certain sadness to her and she looked so tired.

"So you were in the city the whole time?" Lincoln asked.

She shook her head, "only for a little, then we went to Long Island."

Long Island. It's always Long Island.

"Where's Andrew?" I asked, a little hopeful.

She completely ignored me and kept eating her food.