FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE

Annabeth sighed as the bell rang signaling lunch time.

Thalia had opted to go to Colombia with Luke instead NYU with Annabeth, but it was not her fault. Annabeth had insisted that Thalia go with her boyfriend and promised to keep in touch. Ever since then it was all going down the drain until she had met Piper in her class and met the group.

Everyone greeted Annabeth and welcomed her with open arms. Except for Nico, because you know Nico and hugs um they don't go well along with each other. The only one Annabeth found a little amusing but just plain annoying was Percy Jackson. He had green eyes and black velvet hair and a rebellious streak. But what really troubled her was the fact that he was DUMB.

She met hazel who was very sweet. The whole college had nicknamed Piper, Hazel and Annabeth as the three musketeers. Her dorm partner was someone named Selina who was sweet and later joined the group.

Annabeth's year went very well. If not better because she was not alone anymore.

When she went back home and met Thalia after the long year, she couldn't help but wish to go back to college.

SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE

Second year was a lot more demanding and difficult to study.

Annabeth had engrossed herself in books. While others had a little hard time Annabeth managed to keep her reports straight A's. Though she wasn't spending much time with others. Piper tried to get Annabeth nose out of the book but she wasn't able to do so.

One day while Annabeth had a light lunch and was returning back to the library...

"Hey Annabeth, wait up!" she heard an overly enthusiastic voice call out to her. She turned to see who it was. It was Percy.

"What happened?" she asked Percy who was catching his breath.

"Ok you won't believe what happened. Well actually there are many things that happened. But I will tell you the funniest thing happened in the lunchroom. I didn't enter there to eat I just grabbed some juice and headed back to the swim room but even I stopped to see the spectacle that was created. I bet you will never bet on this."

"Whoa slow down Percy. Take a deep breath. It doesn't help that you just ran and came and are breathing hard." Annabeth shook her head and smiled, though it annoyed her.

Percy gave her a cheeky smile.

"Well remember Katie Gardner who came to Hazel birthday party?" he asked.

"Of course the one who hit Travis repeatedly until he got a bump on the back of his head?" I remembered because she was awesome to cross against the Stoll's. The Stoll's play pranks on everyone so no one messes with them. Well except Katie. She always hit Travis, huh funny she never hit Conner a lot.

"Yeah well she confessed her dying love to Travis and Travis, he," Percy started laughing.

"Oh my god." I said. "Take me there now" I said and started pulling him towards the cafeteria.

He obliged and led me and we ran as fast as we could. We reached the place where the drama unfolded and I saw Travis fainted on the ground. And Katie looked like a fish with her mouth open and eyes wide.

I started laughing at the scene and went near Katie who looked like she swallowed a fly.

"Psst Katie what happened?" I asked her. I saw Percy coming behind me.

Katie looked at me and snapped out of it, "I…I um the –g-girls had given me a d-dare to tell one of the Stoll's' that I l-lo-loved the-them. So I did and here…" she said waving her hands pointing to Travis like she thought she gave a heart attack to Travis.

Oh god "poor Katie." I say and we all took Travis to the nurse room.

Later when Travis woke up he saw Katie first and again fainted.

Afterwards Piper told me that she gave the dare, because she knew there was something going on between them so she told Katie to tell either of the Stoll and then slap him. And she picked Travis.

Later when we used to take our place. 'We' as in Katie, Piper, Hazel, Rachel and I sat down at the study room, Travis always came and started teasing Katie. He called her Katie-Kat.

I started joining the group in their meetings. We had a lot more fun.

In one meeting…

Leo asked "hey don't you think its strange Percy is not coming in our meetings."

I hadn't noticed Percy was not coming. I mean he loved spending time with the group. So I didn't expect that from him.

"Yes. I don't know why but I noticed him many times when he came for the meeting. He would always stay for the first few minutes then he mumbles something and leaves." Piper said.

"Hey guys don't take it hard on Percy. Percy may just have something going on with swimming practice." Jason said. It may be right. We all looked to Frank. Because he was also in the swim team.

Frank rubbed behind his head, "well Percy is doing great in swimming. He may as well take up the captain position but since he is second year he can't. Though last week couch had called Percy separately for a moment. I never knew what he said."

We all were quiet for a moment and then went back to our dorms after saying goodnight.

I woke up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare. I went out just to free my mind. I was walking in the corridor when I heard a noise. I walked towards it to see what was happening. I could hear well as I was coming nearer.

"-why is it so? - Let's try next one. - Ugh forget it—

And then cussing started.

I came closer and saw—

Percy? He was sitting with a math book and a notebook solving a sum I guess, then next minute he closed his book and shook his head. It looked like he was having a problem.

"Hey"

Percy gasped and flinched looking around with eyes wide. When he realized it was me he calmed down. "Annabeth? What are you doing here?"

I rolled my eyes, "what are you doing here? Much less with a math book?"

Percy look flustered so I sat beside him and waited for him to speak up. "I – coach said that I have to increase my grade otherwise I will be kicked out of the team." Percy said looking down. "It is true I haven't been studying a lot but I can't understand math at all. I think I should just quit."

I couldn't believe it. He wanted to quit?

"Quit? Are you hearing yourself? You have a chance to become captain of the swim team. Frank said so. And you want to give up?"

He shrugged, "it's not like I can do anything to my scoresheet." He sighed and became silent as if in deep thought, which surprised me, for the Percy Jackson I knew was always spontaneous and foolish.

"What if I helped?" I asked. I was already busy with most of my work but I figured I could give him three hours a week.

He looked at me surprised, "really?! But-but I don't have enough money to pay you?"

"Oh, I don't need a lot of money. Just lunch money." I said

"Are you sure?" he looked skeptical of me.

"Yes I am." I frowned at him. "Why do you think I wouldn't be?"

"Well normal lunch costs 25 dollars and the very good lunch costs 30 dollars. Since I don't work for a job, I have very little savings. At least you could give me 15 dollars."

He still looked unsure.

I sighed, "I promise I get good grades in Math's. I will not teach you wrong stuff and lower your grades. You have my word."

Then he smiled, "for a minute I thought the Stoll's sent you to play a prank on me. Well if you're sure you can help me, I'd like to try."

His smile was mesmerizing. I never really spoke to him much. We knew each other for namesake. But his smile immediately gave a sign of a troublemaker, with his crooked sly but genuine smile. I smiled back at him and we exchanged numbers and decided on Friday and Tuesday to be our study days, where we will meet at 9'o clock at night, after checking our schedules.

"So can I ask?" I looked up at him from my phone screen, "why did you suddenly decide at helping me?"

I shrugged, "well, everyone needs help. So do I. and after being friends if we still don't help each other it is a shame upon us all." But it was not true, I knew it and I felt he knew it too. We were never close friends. So why did I suddenly want to help him? For the few rare moments of my life I didn't have an answer.

Percy, bless his soul didn't press any further. He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and turned around. "Can I ask one more thing?"

I rolled my eyes. "What are you doing in the corridor in the middle of the night?"

I was here because of my nightmare. But I couldn't tell him that.

"Just couldn't sleep." I replied.

He nodded with understanding in his eyes. "Well, Annabeth. Thank you for…you know helping me. But I have a request. Can we keep this just between me and you?"

I realized he didn't want to be so open front with everyone about his problem and I could share his concern.

So I nod, "yes."

When I returned back to my dorm, Selina was still asleep. I was already very tired. But it still took me half an hour to sleep. Because I was still glowing after being captivated by Percy Jackson's grateful gaze in his deep sea green eyes.