The war with Gaea was extremely tough on your family.
Your stepbrother went missing for months. He was kidnapped by Hera, and then he had to fight in the war.
Your stepbrother's name is Percy, and he's a notorious demigod and resident idiot. The war with Gaea wasn't the first Greek myth war he was in, and you hate to say it might not be his last.
Your stepmom Sally was stressed, your dad Paul was stressed, your brother's girlfriend Annabeth was stressed, and so were you.
But Percy came home, and everything was okay for now.
It's been a while since the war, about a year and the demigods you know are doing fine.
In all honesty, they shouldn't be. Percy and Annabeth, it had been recounted to you, fell into Tartarus, which you've heard is pretty scary.
But right now, everything was good. Percy was in his room studying, and you were listening to music.
Someone knocked on your doorframe. You pulled your earbuds out and looked up to see Percy.
"Hey," he said. "I gotta get out of the house, and a couple of my friends were gonna go meet at that pizza place we went to a week ago. Wanna tag along?"
You half-smiled. "You sure you want your annoying sister in the same room with your friends?"
He smiled back. "What else are you gonna do, (Y/N)?"
You pursed your lips. "Good point."
You didn't have any friends, aside from a close acquaintance in Annabeth. You two got close when Percy was gone, but she hasn't talked to you much since, besides the occasional hey when she stopped by the house.
Percy knew that you weren't really popular at school. Nobody made fun of you or anything, they just didn't care enough to glance your way. He always made an effort to make you feel like you had some friends, though.
You stood, standing a lot shorter than Percy. You looked up at him. "Let's go, then, I guess."
He smiled. "Alright, little sis."
"We're the same age."
"And yet, you're still little."
You rolled your eyes and walked to the car.
You got in and slung your feet up on the dash.
Percy started the car. "Feet. Down."
"You sound like Dad," you grumbled, putting your feet down.
He started driving.
You tapped on your legs. "So... how's life?"
Percy laughed. "Better."
"And Annabeth, how's she?" you asked.
"She's doing good," he replied.
"What about Rachel? I miss her," you said softly.
He laughed. "Then hang out with her."
"She does not have the time for me," you said. "She's always at camp."
"Then go visit her at camp?" Percy furrowed his eyebrows.
You rubbed your arm. "I don't know, am I even allowed? I'm, like, a mortal and stuff."
"So's Rachel," he shrugged.
"But she's the Oracle," you said. "She's affiliated with the Greek stuff."
Percy smiled. "They're not gonna lock you out or whatever. Well, maybe Clarisse, but that's it."
You shrugged. "Maybe. Next time you go, can I come with?"
"Sure."
"Hey, which friends are gonna be here?" you asked.
"Annabeth, Jason, and Leo."
"Oh, Jason's in New York?"
"Oh, yeah! I forgot to tell you?"
"Um, yes you did!" you said, face turning red. You may have had a little bit of a crush on Jason. Obviously you weren't gonna act on it, he was with Piper, but still.
Percy smirked. "Aw, wish you'd done your hair?"
You smacked him. "Shut up! Wait, who's Leo?"
"Oh, right," he said. "He got... blasted away after the battle at camp? And you didn't get to meet him, but he got back a few months ago. And if he's kind of upset and stuff, he's not usually like that. He just got dumped by his girlfriend."
You winced. "Ouch."
"Yeah, it sucks," Percy replied.
He pulled up to the pizza place. You got out to see Annabeth waiting in the parking lot.
"Hey, Seaweed Brain!" she said, running up to kiss him. "Hey, (Y/N)."
You waved awkwardly.
"Jason and Leo are waiting inside," Annabeth said.
Percy opened the door to the restaurant, holding the door open for you and Annabeth.
You walked in and saw Jason sitting at a table with a smaller guy with curly hair.
Jason turned around and smiled. "Percy! Hey! You brought (Y/N)?"
You blushed and smiled. "Haha, yeah."
You went to sit down in front of the smaller guy who you assumed to be Leo. He smiled but he looked a little distracted.
"Leo," Percy said. "This is my little sister (Y/N)."
Leo smiled at you. "Hey."
"Hi," you replied. He was sort of cute when he smiled.
Percy smiled. "Okay, did you guys order?"
Jason nodded. "Yeah. Should be here any minute."
"How's Piper?" you asked Jason softly.
"She's good," he said.
You nodded.
A waiter brought some pizza.
You got a piece and took a bite. Why was pizza so good?
After everybody had a couple pieces and the tray was clean, Percy paid the bill.
"Hey, why don't we go somewhere else now?" Annabeth suggested. "We devoured that pizza in about two minutes and by we I mean Percy."
Percy frowned. "Hey!"
"Are we opposed to doing something dumb?" Jason smiled.
Leo smiled mischievously. "Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
Oh, wow, a little bit of a southern accent, you were not expecting that.
"Let's do the 24-hour challenge," Jason suggested. "Like, in Walmart."
You smiled, but didn't say anything. You didn't know if they wanted you to come.
Percy laughed. "Yeah! Let's do it, but I gotta call my mom first. Annabeth, you in?"
Annabeth bit her lip. "Uh, why not?"
"Okay, (Y/N), c'mon," Percy said. He started walking outside.
You followed him. "Need to use my phone?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
You pulled your cell phone out and dialed Sally's number before handing your phone to Percy.
He put it on speaker.
"Hello?" Sally asked into the phone.
"Hey, mom, it's me," Percy said. "Can me and (Y/N) stay the night at Walmart with our friends?"
Me and (Y/N). You smiled. The both of you.
"Why?" Sally asked.
"For fun," Percy replied. "Please, Mom?"
"Yeah, Mom," you said. "Please?"
Sally hesitated. "Mm, okay. But call me every so often, (Y/N), okay? And watch your brother!"
"Okay, Mom, thanks!" you said.
Percy smiled. "Love you, Mom, bye!"
"Love you both, bye!"
Percy hung up the phone. "Yes! I can't believe she let us."
You smirked. "Only 'cause I'm coming."
He laughed. "You know, I wanna be offended, but you're probably right."