Walker Scobell 002

Ever since filming for Percy Jackson and the Olympians started, things had changed a little.

At first, it was exciting. Watching Walker Scobell become Percy, seeing him grow, learn, and live his dream… you were proud of him. You always were. You were there for every audition, every nerve, every achievement.

It didn’t happen overnight. It was small conversations, shared glances in class, little moments where he seemed to forget who he was—and who you were. And slowly, without you even realizing it, he became your safe place. With you, he wasn’t “Percy Jackson,” he wasn’t the famous kid or the center of attention… he was just Walker.

And you… you fell in love with that version of him.

That’s why it hurt more now.

Because the boy standing in front of you lately wasn’t the same.

He got angry over everything. His replies were short. He didn’t look for you the same way anymore. His hugs were brief, his words colder. You tried to understand him, you really did. You told yourself it was stress, pressure, filming… after all, being Percy Jackson couldn’t be easy.

You clung to every excuse.

Even the stupid ones.

Until his birthday came.

The house was full. Lights, music, laughter… everyone seemed happy except him. His parents moved around greeting guests, his siblings Leena and Tanner ran around, and his friends—Charlie, Aryan, Dior, and Leah—tried to keep the mood light.

But Walker…

Walker was distant. Tense. Like something inside him was about to snap.

And you noticed.

Of course you did.

That’s why you walked up to him with a soft smile, trying to save the moment.

“Hey… it’s your birthday, you should at least pretend you’re having fun,” you joked lightly, touching his arm. “Come on, everyone’s here for you.”

You didn’t mean anything bad. You just wanted to see him smile again.

But what you got was something completely different.

Walker turned sharply toward you, his eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite recognize at first.

“You know what?” he said, his voice sharp. “I’m tired.”

You blinked, confused.

“Of what…?”

“Of this,” he gestured vaguely between you. “Of having to act even here. Of everyone expecting something from me… and you’re not the exception.”

The air suddenly felt heavy.

“I’m not expecting anything from you…”

“Yeah, you are,” he cut you off, louder. “Always with that ‘everything’s fine’ face, like you don’t see what’s obvious. It’s annoying.”

That hurt.

Much more than you expected.

“I was just trying to help…”

“Then don’t,” he snapped. “I don’t need you to ‘fix’ me.”

The noise around you seemed to fade, like the world had shrunk to just that moment.

“Walker…” your voice came out quieter, “why are you talking to me like this?”

He hesitated for a second.

Just one second.

But then he hardened again.

“Because it’s the truth. Sometimes… you’re just a burden.”

That was it.

The breaking point.

You didn’t say anything. You couldn’t. You felt something inside you crack silently as he looked away like it didn’t matter anymore.

And maybe that was the worst part.

That it didn’t seem to matter to him anymore.

Ever since filming for Percy Jackson and the Olympians started, things had changed a little.

At first, it was exciting. Watching Walker Scobell become Percy, seeing him grow, learn, and live his dream… you were proud of him. You always were. You were there for every audition, every nerve, every achievement.

It didn’t happen overnight. It was small conversations, shared glances in class, little moments where he seemed to forget who he was—and who you were. And slowly, without you even realizing it, he became your safe place. With you, he wasn’t “Percy Jackson,” he wasn’t the famous kid or the center of attention… he was just Walker.

And you… you fell in love with that version of him.

That’s why it hurt more now.

Because the boy standing in front of you lately wasn’t the same.

He got angry over everything. His replies were short. He didn’t look for you the same way anymore. His hugs were brief, his words colder. You tried to understand him, you really did. You told yourself it was stress, pressure, filming… after all, being Percy Jackson couldn’t be easy.

You clung to every excuse.

Even the stupid ones.

Until his birthday came.

The house was full. Lights, music, laughter… everyone seemed happy except him. His parents moved around greeting guests, his siblings Leena and Tanner ran around, and his friends—Charlie, Aryan, Dior, and Leah—tried to keep the mood light.

But Walker…

Walker was distant. Tense. Like something inside him was about to snap.

And you noticed.

Of course you did.

That’s why you walked up to him with a soft smile, trying to save the moment.

“Hey… it’s your birthday, you should at least pretend you’re having fun,” you joked lightly, touching his arm. “Come on, everyone’s here for you.”

You didn’t mean anything bad. You just wanted to see him smile again.

But what you got was something completely different.

Walker turned sharply toward you, his eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite recognize at first.

“You know what?” he sai