The Big Change Chapter 1: Unpleasant Meeting, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

Hello there, and thank you for checking out my fanfic! This is my first, so go easy on me! ;)

My name's FanaticPJ2003, and have a good day!

Percy's POV

A knock woke me from my blissful sleep.

"Mr. Jackson? Your father calls," I heard the muffled sound of Grover's voice from the other side of my bedroom door. I sighed and got up out of bed, rubbing sleep out of my eyes.

"Tell him I'll be there in a minute Grover!" I called.

"Yes Mr. Jackson, sir," He replied. I sighed again. He always insisted upon calling me 'Mr. Jackson' even though I told him it was fine to call me just Percy.

I heard the footsteps of Grover, walking away.

I ran and hand through my unruly raven black hair, making it even more messy. My dad had a thing about not wearing P.J's to breakfast so I changed out of my old t-shirt and sweats, into a more fashionable jeans and long sleeved black sweat shirt.

I went into my en suite bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror above the sink. My sea green eyes were glazed with tiredness and my hair look like a squirrel had spent the night in it.

I splashed my face with cold water and tried to flatted my hair. After two minutes of just making it worse, I gave up and padded out of my bedroom, into the hallway.

The lush green carpet felt like heaven on my bare feet. A maid named Mellie walked toward me, heading in the direction of the kitchens.

"Good morning Percy," She smiled.

"Morning Mellie," I waved and walked past her, nearing the dining room, where my father, Poseidon Jackson, would undoubtedly be sitting, reading the morning paper.

Once I got there, I pushed open the heavy wooden doors to find Uncle Zeus, Uncle Hades and dad, sitting around the table having a heated discussion.

"I know that Zeus, but he needs to settle down, have a good job-" My father's voice cut short as he saw me.

I looked at all of them, unsure of what to say. I clearly had interrupted something important. I just settled for a "Uh, hi?".

Poseidon quickly regained his composure. "Good morning Percy, son! Come to have breakfast?" He said.

I nodded mutely. The way they were all staring at me made me nervous. Had I done something wrong? I tried to remember the last couple of days. Yesterday, band practice. The day before, swim meet. The day before, basket ball practice. Nope, nothing that my father could complain about. I pulled out a chair and sat down, suddenly starving. I stared at the food that way laid out on the table. Bacon, sausages, beans, French toast, blueberry pancakes (My favorite), fruit salad and jugs of blueberry juice. I know, blueberry juice doesn't sound very nice but it is absolutely beautiful.

I shoveled three blueberry pancakes, five sausages, and three pieces of bacon onto my plate and started to eat.

When I was finished (Not a scrap left), I looked up to see the three brothers staring at me. I rose one eyebrow questioningly.

Zeus sighed. "Just tell him Poseidon," He said.

I sat up straighter. "Tell me what?" I asked, looking at my father, who seemed to have something stuck in his throat, from the look on his face. "Dad?".

He stared accusingly at Zeus and said "You are going to get married,".

"What?!" I stared at him incredulously. Married? I didn't even have a girlfriend. How was I supposed to get married?

"Yes married. To a nice girl named Annabeth Chase from San Francisco. Its an arranged marriage, because her father wants her gone and you need to get a wife and settle down," I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Settle down? I was only eighteen, for gods' sake! "No more of this nonsense 'band' stuff," Poseidon went on.

I stared at him again, wondering if he was joking. Nope, he wasn't. The twinkle in his eye that was always there when he was messing with me was gone.

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. I tried to say something, something like ' No!'.

Zeus and Hades looked sympathetic.

An anger started to boil in the pit of my stomach. He was taking away my freedom. Who I wanted to be with was supposed to be MY choice, not HIS.

I got up out of my chair, pushing it back so hard it toppled to the floor, and ran out of the room, fists clenched. Married? Over my dead body, I was getting MARRIED.

Annabeth's POV

I sat down on my vanity table's stool, and started to brush out my long, blond hair. Once I was finished, I tied it up in a pony, and started to put my school uniform on. Blue skirt, white shirt, blue and yellow tie and a blue blazer. Hideous. I looked in the mirror as I fasted my favourite gray owl earrings to my ears.

I fished for my blue shoes under my bed and found a lot of dust bunnies. After a while of searching, I came out victorious.
I slipped the shoes on, grabbed my school bag, applied a small coating of clear lip-gloss and ran out of my room and down the stairs. I thumped down each step, just to annoy my step-mother Helen.

"QUIT THAT RACKET," A shout sounded from the kitchen. I grinned. The perfect way to start the day.

I sauntered into the kitchen with a smirk on my face, just to annoy her more.

She stood by the cooker, her greasy black hair in a bun and a horrible look in her black eyes.

"WHAT WAS THAT NOISE ABOUT?!" She shouted in my face. Spittle rained down.

"What noise?" I asked innocently, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Her eyes narrowed. "DON'T YOU TALK BACK YOUNG LADY! I'LL TELL YOUR FATHER!"

I rolled my eyes. "You do that. See how far you get," Just then, said Father came in the kitchen door, covering his ears. He looked at Helen. "Could you please stop shouting dear?" He asked her. I smirked broadly at her. A murderous look appeared on her face. She whipped around, back to the cooker, and started to stab the sausages violently.

My dad, Fredrick Chase, turned to me, and a look of distaste appeared on his face. My heart dropped in my chest. As much as he didn't like my stepmother, he disliked me even more. I didn't know why. I had always tried to be the best child. I think I had succeeded too, but nobody else seemed to.

"Sit down Annabeth. We need to talk," He said in a hard, cold voice.

I sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, wondering what he was going to say.

"As you know, you are going to be graduating soon," He started, "And I know this is going to be a big shock… but you're moving. To New York," He finished.

I stared at him for a second, processing. New York? I had always loved New York. I didn't have any friends here in San Fran so….. I didn't really care about the school part. I was graduating in two days.

"That's okay with me, dad," I said, "When are we going?".

"We? WE are not going anywhere. YOU are," He hissed. I blinked in shock. What? "YOU are going straight after your graduation, to the Jackson manor in New York, to marry Mr. Poseidon Jackson's son, Percy Jackson. I have arranged this marriage and Poseidon thinks his son needs to settle down, so YOU were the perfect option," I was dumbfounded. Marry? Jackson manor? Percy Jackson? What?

I shook my head, trying to clear the jumble. My mind seemed to go into Autopilot, thinking about how I had heard of the Jackson's, and that they were one of the wealthiest families in America. I was going to get MARRIED? Why would my father do this to me? What had I done? Why-

My father's voice took me from my thoughts.

"You are to go to school right NOW! When you get home, start packing your things for tomorrow."

Percy's POV

I sat on my bed, picking at my guitar's strings, trying not to think. I had started to write a new song, and this is as far as I got.

Easy come, easy go. That's just how you live.

All take, take take it all, but you never give.

Should have know, you was trouble from the first kiss.

Had your eyes wide open. Why were they open?

I had texted my band mates Leo, Jason, Nico and Frank to tell them that band practice was off today, that I had something to do.

The replies I got were,

Leo: Sure, Aqua boy! You have another swim meet? PEACE OUT!

Jason: Okay, see you, maybe, Wednesday?

Nico: Fine.

Frank: Alright, Perce! See you on Wednesday or Thursday then?

I texted Leo back saying, No, I didn't have another swim meet. I texted Jason saying maybe. I said to Nico, Sure. And Frank I said Probably.

I knock sounded on my door.

"Go away, Grover," I growled.

"Percy, this is your father," My dad's voice said.

"Go away even MORE!" I shouted and ran to lock the door, but he got there first. He pushed open the door, and stood in the door frame.

I was standing a couple of centimetres away from him, my fists clenched, my face a tight mask of anger.

He stepped back, surprised. I was at least a couple of inches taller than him, at 6" 3".

"What do you want," I said, deadly quiet.

"I just wanted to see if you were alright," He replied, still a little startled.

"ALRIGHT?!" I exploded, "AM I ALRIGHT? OF COURSE I'M NOT ALRIGHT! YOU JUST TOLD ME I'M GOING TO GET MARRIED! TO GIRL I DON'T EVEN KNOW!" I felt like I was going to punch him.

He stepped back again, into the small little desk outside my bedroom. I slammed the door in his face, breathing heavily. I sat down on my bed, and started to write in my notebook,

If I was not myself …and you were someone else … I'd say so much to you.

And I would tell the truth.

'Cause I can hardly breathe… and your hands slip over me.

The ice is thinning out… and I feel braver now.

I'm there in the water, still looking for ya.

I'm there in the water, can't you see? Cant you see?

You've seen this all before… A life lived unsure.

You're smiling all the same… you sail away again…

I'm there in the water, still looking for ya.

I'm there is the water, cant you see? Cant you see?

Ooh oh oh ooh oh ah

Oh yeah I'm deeeaaad in the water. I'm dead in the water.

Still looking for you, for you, for you , oh ah.

Cant you see?

La ooooooh.

I'm dead in the water… still looking for ya… I'm dead in the water…

Cant you see?

I threw my pen down. Where had THAT come from?

Annabeth's POV

(Next day: Graduation)

I took my hat off my head, and threw it in the air, thinking of what was going to happen in the next couple of hours.

"Annabeth!" I heard my dad shout over the noise of all the new graduates.

I sighed and weaved my way through the crowd to where my 'family' was. "Yes?"

"We have to go. You are leaving in two hours," Helen said, a malicious grin on her rotten face.

"Okay," There was no point arguing. It wasn't going to get me anywhere.

I threw everything into my suitcase. All my clothes, all my make up, all my books, my I pod, my kindle, my Taylor Swift perfume and a little bag of toiletries. I tucked the things that my mother gave me in a little side pouch.

I changed out of my graduation robes and put on comfy leggings and a grey wool sweater. I tied up my converse and looked at my face in my mirror. I looked bright and bushy. Nothing like I felt like inside.

Last night I had screamed at Helen and Dad as my little brothers Bobby and Mathew watched. I had got slapped on the face by Helen for that. Dad hadn't stopped her. There was a welt, but I covered it up with make up. My blonde princess curls had fallen out of their ponytail at graduation. I decided to leave them hanging around my face. The only thing that showed my mood were my stormy grey eyes. They full of pain and confusion.

"HURRY UP ANNABETH," Helen hollered up the stairs. A tear slipped out my eye. I quickly wiped away.

"Coming Helen," I called down as sweetly as I could without screaming expletives at her.

I grabbed my suitcase, which was pretty heavy, and dragged it down the stairs, into the kitchen.

Helen was there, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Dad was there, his arms crossed and look of disgust on his face when he saw me.

I nearly broke down in tears.

"The taxi is here to take you to the airport. Here is the ticket and your passport," Helen handed me them, "You will call your father on your phone when you reach New York."

I stared sullenly at her.

"Don't give me that look, young lady, or you'll get another slap on the pretty face of yours," She pointed to the door, " Go. We will see you at the wedding."

I looked at my father. "Goodbye," I said to him. He didn't even blink.

I pirouetted on my heel, and stalked into the hallway, slammed open the front door and walked up to the taxi.

The taxi driver was standing by the boot of her car, ready to help me with my suitcase. I nodded a greeting to her and she opened the boot. She hauled the suitcase in and gestured for me to get into the taxi.

I boarded the plane. I showed the hostess my ticket and she pointed me to a seat near the back of the rows, by the little window. I thanked her and walked to my seat. I sat down and buckled myself in, suddenly exhausted. A girl about my age sat down in the seat beside me. Her frizzy golden brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She looked over at me and smiled and I noticed her startling golden eyes. Her skin looked like she had been out sunbathing for weeks. A beautiful golden brown tan. She had dark freckles pattering her nose. I smiled back.

I had my I pod out of my suitcase just before they took it away. I connected the earplugs into it and slotted them into my ears. I turned on 'Untouchable' by Taylor Swift and settled into my seat, prepared for my six hour flight.

*Guitar playing*

Untouchable like a distant diamond sky….

I'm reaching out and I just can't tell you why….

I'm caught up in you… I'm caught up in you…

Untouchable, burning brighter than the sun, and when your close I feel like coming undone.

In the middle of the night, when I'm in this dream its like a million little stars are spelling out your name…

You gotta c'mon, c'mon, say that we'll be together, c'mon , c'mon , a little taste of heaven…

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by that tanned girl. I sat up straight, looking at her golden eyes.

"I'm sorry, it's just that we have to get off the plane. We're in New York," She said in an accent I didn't recognize.

"Oh its fine! Thank you. For waking me up, I mean," I said. I stuffed my I pod into my jacket pocket and got out of my seat.

I saw my suitcase on the moving track, and grabbed it. I slid the pull along lever out of the top of it and started to pull it along.

I thought of calling Dad. Nah.

I looked around. Where to go?

Then I spotted a sign with my name on it, being held by a tall girl with luscious brown-blond hair and beautiful kaleidoscope eyes.

I walked over to her and said, "Um, hi? My name's Annabeth-"

"Oh goody! You're Annabeth Chase? My name's Piper," She held out her hand for me to shake. I took it cautiously.

"Are you one of the Jackson's assistants?" I asked her. She nodded. I noticed she was holding another card. It said 'Hazel Levesque' on it.

I looked around and spotted the tan girl I met on the plane walking toward Piper and I.

"HAZEL!" Piper squealed and threw herself at the girl I was guessing was Hazel Levesque.

Hazel chuckled and hugged Piper back. "Hey Pipes."

Percy POV

I sat in my in the middle of my room, on the floor, my guitar in my hand. Annabeth was due today. Ugh, that made her sound like a baby.

I started to sing one of my older songs.

So this is what you meant, when you said that you were spent!

And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit right to the top..

Don't hold back.

Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check…

I don't ever wanna let you down… I don't ever wanna leave this town.

'Cause after all, this city never sleeps at night.

It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger than them, I'll admit.

But I'm just the same as I was.. Why don't you understand? That I'm NEVER changing who I-

"PERSEUS JACKSON! COME HERE AT ONCE!" My father's shout clanged through the hallways, reaching my bedroom door. I sighed in frustration.

I got up off the floor, brushed off my best jeans and white shirt, and went to find my father.

Annabeth's POV

I got out of Piper's jeep onto a beautiful driveway that led up to a massive mansion. My mouth popped open, in spite of myself. The architecture was amazing.

The front door opened. A man in a finely tailored suit stepped out. His raven black hair was perfectly combed and his green eyes glinted with wisdom and pain. Pain?

Before I could think about that, another person stepped out of the mansion. This guy was taller the last. He had the same black hair, but his was sticking out at every angle, making him look more natural and handsome. Wait, what? Handsome? NO ANNABETH. DON'T START THINKING LIKE THAT. When he looked up from his feet, his beautiful sea green eyes met my stormy gray ones. His eyes were filled with curiosity and anger.

I guessed him as Percy Jackson. The guy that forced me to be here. To get married. To HIM.

I felt my suitcase being set down beside me. I looked over, to see Piper. I nodded.

Percy's POV

The girl was beautiful. When she got out of the jeep, I thought she was the normal California stereotype, with her blonde princess curls and tanned skin.

But then I saw her eyes. Intimidating stormy gray eyes that ruined the California look. She studied me with a look of slight disgust on her intelligent and regal face.

I looked back at my shoes. Obviously she was going to hate me. Why would I think otherwise? I pulled her away from her family and home city.

My father took me by my arm and pulled me toward her.

"Hello, dear! You are Annabeth, I take it?" My father put on his most cheery voice. I felt sick.

"Yes. I am Annabeth Chase," Her voice was melodic.

My father held out his hand. She stared at it for a second, then took it and shook it quickly. My father gestured to me. I nearly FELT my face go green. "This is my son, Percy," Dad nudged me in the ribs.

I held out a begrudging hand. When she took it, I nearly collapsed with relief. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard.

Her hand felt small and warm in mine. It seemed to fit perfectly. We shook once, and withdrew our hands. I put both of mine behind my back.

"Well then! Percy will you take Annabeth and show her around the house? Piper, you take Annabeth's suitcase to her room. Hazel, dear! How good to see you again!" Dad went on chattering.

I looked at Annabeth. She raised an eyebrow. I nodded my head toward the mansion. She shrugged.

I turned on my heel and walked toward the house. I felt Annabeth walk up beside me.

Once we were inside the house, I grabbed her by the arm, making her swing around.

"Yeah?"

"Annabeth, I'm so sorry. I didn't ask for this to happen. My father just sprung this….. Marriage thing on me yesterday. I didn't have a clue," I said, hoping she would accept that.

She sighed and looked into my eyes.

"Neither did I Percy Jackson. Neither did I," She grimaced, and I noticed something on her face.

"Did someone hit you?!" I asked, seeing a red welt the size of my index finger on her cheek, peeking through her hair.

She quickly smoothed down her hair. "No," Was all she said. "Will you show me around, then?"

Annabeth's POV

Percy brought me down a maze of twisting corridors, pointing out rooms and areas. I probably wouldn't remember half of them.

"And this here, is my room," He pointed to a door I wouldn't have thought any different from the others.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"Uh, sure," He pushed open the door, leading me in.

I beautiful brown guitar was lying in the middle of the room, on the floor.

"You play?" I asked him.

"Yep," He said.

"Can you play something for me?" I wanted to get to know this handsome boy. I WAS going to marry him, after all.

"Okay. I have my own band so I write my own songs," He picked the guitar up, "You can sit on the bed, if you like," I sat down on his bed and he sat on the floor.

He started to play.

We are all liven' the same way, the same way.

We are escaping the same way, the same way.

Circling.

We are a part of the same play, the same play.

We think we're making our own way, our own way.

Circling.

You don't have to hold your head up!

Round and round, I wont run away this time-

I gasped. I heard that same voice before. That song before.

"YOU'RE THE IMAGINE DRAGONS?" I near shouted. They were my favourite band, but no one knew who the band members were.

His face turned red.

"Um, yeah. Please don't tell anyone. We're meant to keep our identity a secret," he said.

I tried to calm myself down. I was MARRYING the lead singer of THE IMAGINE DRAGONS.

"Oh, no, I wont tell anyone, Percy," I said quickly, because his face was turning from red to green.

His face turned back to it's normal colour.

"Can you play?" He asked.

I thought.

"Yeah, a bit. I don't write my own songs though."

He got up and pulled me off the bed. I felt some sort of electricity surge up my arm when our hands touched.

I blinked.

He handed the guitar to me. I sat down on the floor, thinking of a song.

Percy sat down beside me.

I strummed the first chord.

I didn't realise I had played one of his own songs until I looked at him.

He looked thunderstruck, his mouth hanging open, staring at me.

"You could be our new guitarist. Jason cant even do that song that good!" I wondered who Jason was, then realised he had payed me a compliment.

I looked down at his guitar, blushing slightly. To change the subject I asked, "Who's Jason?"

"Hmmm? Oh, he's the lead guitarist," Percy said. He got up and held out and hand. I took it and he pulled me up.

"I'll show you to your room then?"

"Okay."

"Okay," He replied and opened the door of his room, and walked out.

I smiled. Complete Fault in Our Stars moment.

I started to hang my clothes in the big wardrobe by the en suite's door. My favourite owl t-shirt, my five sweaters, my many pairs of jeans and finally, my hoodie the said, DON'T IMAGINE, DRAGONS! If I wore that around the house, I would look like a complete ass.

I put my toiletries in the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror, thinking of Percy and the Jackson's humongous manor.

I decided to take a shower.

The water felt like heaven on my bare skin. I washed my hair with my favourite strawberry scented shampoo and wiped down the rest of my body.

I got out, dried myself with one of my towels and went to dry my hair. Out in the room, in one of the compartments in the wardrobe, I found a hairdryer. First, I put on my blue sweater and light blue jeans. Then I blow-dried my blond hair until it was perfectly straight.

Outside my door I heard a shout of "Hey Perce! Is this where your keeping your hidden beauty?"

"Shut up, Leo! And don't talk about Annabeth like that!" I heard Percy's voice shout from further away.

I got off the bed. Who was Leo?

I heard a crash.

"PERCY! GERROFF ME!"

"No! Not until you get away from the door!"

"Ugh! Fine! I'll go away from the precious door!"

I knock sounded on said precious door. I opened it slowly.

Percy was standing there, his black hair sticking up even more then usual. "Sorry about that Annabeth,"

"Annabeth?"

I smaller guy popped around Percy. He was tanned, with wild brown shaggy hair that went past his ears. He had a wild grin on his elfish face.

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

The guy started to laugh. "So this is the famed Annabeth! Percy was telling us about you!"

I stared at Percy, wondering if he was as nice as I originally thought he was.

"I didn't tell them a lot! I just told them why you were here! And now I wish I hadn't," Percy shot a murderous look at the guy.

He stopped laughing.

"Okay, okay," He turned to me and held out a hand, "Leo Valdez, pleasure to meet you, Annabeth Chase,".

(Two days later: Band practice)

PERCY'S POV

*Guitar playing*

*Jason*

Drop top sitting next to Ceelo

Pacific coast highway

This happens every day

And our songs keep playing on radio

Like 20 times a day

Man this is so crazy

*Frank*

Keep seeing pretty ladies walking round high heels in LA

What can I say

2 piece

The girls are looking fine today

*Chorus: Percy*

I like them Cali girls

Valley girls

Like the way they move

Love the things they do

Keep me up at night

I like them Cali girls

Valley girls

When they look at me

Not too hard to see

That a Cali girl is what I need

*Jason*

All kinds of models girls laying out Venice Beach

The ones in magazines

They're hanging out with me

Katy Perry wasn't lying when she told ya

You know these Cali girls

They really rock my world!

Short skirts so hot

Looking right in every way

What can I say? Oh!

*Frank*

Sexy shades 2 piece

The girls are looking fine you say

*Percy*

I cant get those Cali girls out of my head….

*Everyone*

A Cali girl is what I need.

I strummed the last chord on my guitar, and looked up.

I was nervous about this new song, because it was kinda about Annabeth. It was ironic, since the first time I met her, I thought she had been a Californian stereotype. I hoped she didn't realise.

Annabeth, Piper, Hazel and Calypso were clapping and cheering. I sighed in relief.

Dad suddenly burst into the room, nearly flattening Leo's girlfriend, Calypso.

He apologised, and turned to me.

"I need to talk to you, Percy," He said. I held my chin up, and set a scathing look on my face.

"Why?"

"Because, new potential business partners are coming tomorrow, and I need to throw a party," He said, like it was obvious.

"Why do you need me?"

Poseidon ground his teeth, clearly losing patience.

"I need you because you're my son, and you will have to be mingling and talking to the guests."

I sighed. "I'll do it, but you don't need to talk to me."

Poseidon pursed his lips, but left. I lifted my guitar strap off my shoulders and rolled my eyes.

"That was a fantastic song!" Piper said, trying to lighten the mood. "Who wrote it?"

Jason pointed to me, and I bowed sarcastically.

"I'm going. I'll see you guys later," I said, and walked swiftly out of the band room, and then out of the mansion.

The cool breeze on my face was pleasant. I walked through the grounds, toward the small pond. Once there, I sat down on the grass, thinking of how unjust this all was.

Annabeth POV

When Percy stormed out, I volunteered to go find him. No one objected, so I ran out of the room. I could see Percy out of the many windows, walking through the grounds.

How did he get there that quick?

The wind rustled at his hair and clothes. I could barely see his beautiful eyes, but I imagined he was angry. I piled on the speed, desperate to catch up.

Just then, I ran into something. Something hard.

"Ooof!" I panted, and jumped back.

The something was a girl. She was a couple of inches taller than me, with short, spiky black hair. Her electric blue eyes studied me. Just under her eyes, freckles splashed. She was quite pale, and she was wearing rocker clothes.

"Um, sorry," I said.

She shook her head. "It's okay. I'm Thalia," She said, and held out a hand. It was covered in freckles like her face. I took it and shook it firmly. "Annabeth."

"So you're Percy's fiancée?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Uh, I'm sorry, but I need to go find Percy. Talk to you later?" I said, sideling past her.

She nodded, and I ran past her. She seems familiar, I thought.

I pushed the thought away.

I had reached the front doors. I stood for a minute, catching my breath. I pushed my hair out of my eyes, and ran on.

Out the doors, into the garden. I could see Percy in the distance, sitting by a small pond. He seemed to be shaking slightly.

Once I was only a meter away, I realised he was crying. I was shocked, not sure what to do. I had never really seen a man cry before.

"Percy?" I said softly.

I jumped slightly, wiped his face with the hem of his t-shirt, and turned to me.

His eyes were bloodshot. He was pale, his dark hair striking against his skin. "Yeah, Annabeth?" His voice was slightly croaky.

I knew it was a stupid question, but I asked it anyway. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. I noticed his hands were shaking when he dragged them through his hair.

He took a ragged breath.

"I want to show you something," He said suddenly. "C'mon."

Just as he had taken a step toward the woods by his house, my phone rang in my pocket.

He looked around, raising an eyebrow.

I sighed and whipped the phone out of my pocket.

Dad.

My eyes smarted. He had decided to call now, two days after he had sent me away.

Don't get me wrong, I had gotten to know Percy better and he seemed like a nice guy. But, I could never be sure of people.

I pressed the reject button on my phone, and shoved it back in my jean pocket.

"Annabeth?" I looked up.

Percy was looking at me, a concerned look in his eyes.

"I'm fine," I said. "You wanted to show me something?"

He smiled. "Yes, I did. Come this way."

Percy's POV

I led Annabeth to the tree house, the one I always used to play with as a kid.

My mom built it for me before-

The tree was one of the biggest in the forest. It was an oak, and stretched up at least fifteen meters.

Annabeth stared up in astonishment.

I was quite embarrassed that she had seen me crying. So, I wanted to show her somewhere cool. As I looked up, I could see it was a bit over grown, but you could still see the sturdy wooden frame. A ladder was secured to the tree.

All, I was sure, would hold Annabeth and my weight.

"Ladies first?" I said jokingly.

She looked at me and rolled her eyes. She placed one of her hands on the first rung of the ladder, and began to climb.

I laughed, and started to climb after her. I watched her feet as she placed them on another rung.

Snap.

I heard Annabeth gasp, and the rung give way. I acted quickly before she could fall. I grabbed her waist with my right arm, my left wound securely around the trunk of the tree.

I could feel her breathing deeply against my chest.

"Are you okay?" I whispered in her ear. She shook her head slightly, and slumped into my arm.

Oooh! Cliffy!

I know, I'm evil. Mwhahaha.

Oh, I just wanted to say, I'm not Rick Riordan. Yeah. I don't own the charachters, blah blah blah. I only own the plot!

I'll try and update as fast as I can!

Thanks for reading! Reviews appreciated!