what you know. (cher)

When Sawyer hopped on the bus to Upper East Manhattan, the last thing he would expect was to run into a familiar face. Although the eighteen year old was acquainted with a few people, the chances of running into demigods outside of camp were unlikely. Additionally, members of his fight club were primarily located in Brooklyn, while his buddies from the underground magazine he worked for were always hanging around West Manhattan.

Earlier that day, he felt the sudden urge to get away. Literally, he was already a long way from home, but figuratively, he was still caged. Sawyer couldn't quite escape the reigns that held him down, such as participating in an illegal fight club or risking his safety by going out in public and increase the possibilities of running into a monster. Sometimes, he just wanted to run and never come back. He found a temporary euphoria in music, but it only lasted until he took off his earphones. The last time he had been truly content was when he was in a relationship with Lucille, a daughter of Hades. Ever since she had ended things, his regime had automatically switched back to how it was before she came into his life. He was getting into fights more often, burying his head in work when he wasn't beating someone to a pulp. In other words, he was a complete mess.

Tearing his gaze away from the window of the bus, he looked down at his fists resting on his lap. He traced the bruises on his knuckles. A small frown graced his lips as he tried to remember who had caused the faint marks. Sawyer was practically a robot; all he ever did was attend the club, write, read, and train. He had pushed everyone away, with the exception of a girl he met during a music festival earlier that week. Even though he was developing feelings for the girl, the reminder of Lucille constantly entering his mind whenever he'd almost open up and let someone into his life. The last time he did that, he was left broken. Despite the fact that he and Lucille remained friends, he couldn't quite bring himself to trust her, like he had before. Sawyer stripped himself off all barriers that kept him from befriending people; he told her about his old life and his complex relations with the fight club. It would be difficult to do the same to someone else.

Snapping back to reality, he shifted his attention to his iPod nano. It was an old model, something he bought with the money he gathered from his two jobs, and switched the current song to one by Two Door Cinema Club. When the bus came to a stop, he glanced up and was surprised to meet a pair of dark eyes that he had grown to love. His breath caught in his throat. It was Lucille.

When Sawyer heard Lucille's voice, it was like a thousand bricks hitting him all at once. Numerous times has he heard that voice whisper sweet words in his ear. The sound of her honeyed voice made it seem like it wasn't absent from his life for a while. He nodded, scooting over so that she would have some space to sit. Sawyer has never been good at conversations and Lucille knew that. Although the two were still very good friends, hopefully she'd realize that he was still the same Sawyer as he was when they first met.

He was startled when she started to speak Ancient Greek rapidly. Chuckling quietly to himself, he replied, "I have to, Lucille. You know that. It's my job." he shrugged. It was how he was helping his mother pay the bills. Even though he was practically risking his safety, he knew it would help his mom, either way.

Popping the ambrosia in his mouth, he smirked at Lucille. Immediately, the taste of a strawberry fruitshake filled his mouth. "You care too much," he told her with a smile after he had swallowed the remains.

Sawyer glanced up from the now faded bruises on his hands to shift his gaze to Lucille's face. His heartbeat thudded in his chest as he recalled what he would used to do whenever a look of anxiety crossed her face. He remembered the taste of her lips when he had tried to kiss the frown off her face, disliking the fact how his troubles were affecting her as well. After planting a kiss on his lips, he'd proceed to kiss her forehead, wishing the worry lines would disappear whenever she'd furrow her eyebrows. He remembered kissing her everywhere; on her cheeks, her lips, her nose, her eyelids, just to see the smile that made his knees go weak slip back on her face.

Shaking his head, he snapped out of his reverie. He was fully aware of her mother's profession as a con artist, but never knew the details of it. The dainty Asian woman wasn't informed of the pair's previous relationship. It made everything much more exciting; knowing that her mother thought they were only close friends. To Sawyer, the risk of her mother finding out was enthralling and gave him a surge of adrenaline whenever they were in her neighborhood. That's what he loved about Lucille; she was so easygoing and carefree. She made him forget about his problems.

"It's okay, Luce. You know how the club works. They'll probably have my ass before I can tell them I want to quit," Sawyer responded, unconscious of the fact that he used Lucille's nickname. He tore his gaze away, hoping the dull pain in his chest would go away. It hurt to see her and claim that he wasn't her boyfriend anymore. By the looks of it, Lucille has probably moved on already.

Suddenly, the bus lurched forward as it stopped. Sawyer gripped the seat in front of him, ignoring the subtle ache in his knuckles. Something in his peripheral vision caught his eye. It was the necklace. He remembered the day so clearly, but forced the memory deep inside his brain. He didn't need to remember it. Not now, not ever.

He had the impression that Lucille threw it away after she dumped him. After all, wasn't that what exes did? Throw away their former love's crap away to forget about them? Apparently Sawyer and Lucille were unique; while she still kept the necklace they bought together, Sawyer still had a stash of items they had bought together as well. Although it was kept in the bottom of his trunk in Camp Half-Blood, it didn't stop him from coming across from them time to time, igniting a series of flashbacks revolving the daughter of Hades.

"I," he forced out, blinking rapidly, "have another job at the magazine, remember?" Hopefully she still remembered his second job as a writer for an underground magazine. After all, it was hard for him to forget her and all the memories she embedded in his head.

"S'okay." Sawyer shrugged, running his fingers through his golden brown locks. "I was already part of it before you… you know." he stopped himself from mentioning anything about their previous relations. Things didn't need to get awkward now, and Sawyer would've preferred if that didn't happen. She had always been so intent in stopping him from participating in the club, but if he had done so, things would've gotten more complex for the then-couple. Weaving Lucille into his mess of a life wasn't exactly how he pictured their relationship going. Then again, he didn't exactly imagine their relationship going down the drain, either. In his eyes, they had the movie-perfect romance. Part of him couldn't quite figure out the exact reason why she had broken up with him. It made matters ten times worse for him. He spent three weeks alone, trying to figure out what was so wrong with him. But seeing Lucille now, that unfinished puzzle was starting to sort itself out; she deserved better.

He smiled at her, touched at how she still recalled their times together. It was hard not to recall the memories of their nights together. While she would doze off, he would be writing an article that needed to be finished as soon as possible. He remembered all the nights when she'd fall asleep in his arms, thinking about how they would stay in this eternal bliss.

The bus came to a halt at another stop and Lucille lurched towards him. Automatically, he held out his arms to balance her. The familiar scent of her perfume wafted in the air. The close proximity was almost normal to him, the only thing keeping him from staying comfortable was the reminder of their break up. He gave her another grin, responding, "Yeah. Are you okay?" he raised an eyebrow. It looked like the woman gave her a good push and earnestly wanted to know. The sound of her voice was nice, but it was starting to get foreign. The thought of having of her on his arm was starting to get strange. In that moment it was suddenly occurring to Sawyer.

He was starting to move on.