Chapter Text
Leo was screwed.
He liked a girl.
The girl maybe, potentially liked him.
He messed up.
So now maybe, potentially she doesn't.
It sucked.
But he hoped that Percy could help. He knew things were bad when he asked Percy for relationship advice. Not 'cause he had no luck, in fact he had a very nice girlfriend, but because it took him years to know that he liked her. How oblivious can somebody be? Alas, Percy was the only one who could help. See, Percy had also liked this girl before, so he knew what Leo was dealing with. He knew how resistant she is to love, how kind she is, and how forgiving. But Leo had gone too far this time, how would she ever forgive him?
He knocked on Percy's door. His mum answered. Great! Leo loved Sally, but now really wasn't the time. “Uuh hi, is Percy here?” he managed to spit out.
“Yep, he just got in,” Sally replied and then turning around she shouted “Percy! Leo's here.”
“Two secs,” was the response from down the hall.
The worry on Leo's face must have been completely obvious because as soon as Percy shut the door to his room he asked “What's wrong?” Or maybe Percy just knew him that well. Leo had always struggled to make friends, being in care and having ADHD never exactly made him popular. So when he had been seated next to Percy in maths on the first day of school, he instantly clicked.
“You know how you and Calypso had that thing a few years ago,” Leo hadn't actually been there, but he knew all about it. Percy nodded, so Leo continued, “Well um, I kind of like her and I messed up really bad, and I don't really know what to do.”
“What did you do?”
“Uhh, I kind of told her I like her.”
“Did she say anything?”
“Yeah, obviously.”
“What?”
“Oh.”
“Oh? Is that it.”
“Yeah.”
“And then what?”
“And then she left.”
“Oh.”
“That wasn't funny.” OK, maybe it was, but Leo would never actually admit it. Percy was already too full of himself.
“So, you said you liked her, she said “oh” and left. That could mean literally anything. You know, before me and her used to go out, she kind of hated me.”
“She doesn't “kind of hate me,” Percy, she like actually despises me!”
“Have you talked to her since?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why would I?”
“Fair point. Ring her.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Percy got out his phone. Normally Leo's reaction time was virtually zero, but he was distracted, so Percy had already rung Calypso before Leo knew what was happening. *Ring… ring… ri*
“Percy?” came Calypso's voice, slightly muffled by the phone.
“Hi Cal. Umm so, uuh, someone told me that Leo confessed his undying love to you.”
“It wasn't like that,” Leo whispered quickly.
“Is someone else there with you, Percy?”
“Nope, umm it's just my pet bird?”
“You know, Percy, I don't really believe you.”
“I thought so. So, Leo is here,” that nearly made Leo leave before Percy's firm grip pushed him back down. “He said you just left, and I was hoping I could help you understand each other better.”
“Oh hi Leo.”
“Hi.”
“I think you have the wrong idea,” that certainly got Leo's attention, “I do like you, I uhh, it was just so sudden, and I really wanted to admit it first, so I could plan out everything, so when that happened, I didn't really know what to do.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Wait. You like me too?”
“Kind of.”
“How much is kind of?”
“More than I ever liked Percy.”
“Rude,” Percy interrupted.
“Percy, this isn't about you. Calypso, you mean you like actually like like me?”
“Yeah, like like like.”
“Oh. You said you wanted to admit it to me. What did you want to say?”
“You'll have to take me to dinner to find out.”
“OK, when?”
“Friday 6 o'clock, you decide where.”
“It's a date.”
“Yep, talk to you later,” she said just before hanging up.
Percy's had his I told you so face, so Leo decided not to look at him. “That went… well.”
“Of course it did, Leo. You're literally the sexiest person I know.”
Just then there was a knock at the door. “I've got cookies, boys. DO you want some?”
“Absolutely mum. Your timing is incredible as always.
The two boys ate blue cookies together and talked about girls until the early hours of the morning. Any homework that might have needed to be done could be done later. Probably.