Thanks for clicking on me! This is my first fic. Please, if my writing sucks, or is too long, too boring, too weird, or too whatever please leave me a note.

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Sorry, I'm pretty insecure.

Chapter 1

"PERCY JACKSON! STOP PONDERING, AND START SWIMMING" screams coach Hedge in that menacing tone of his.

Thank Gods, it's practice, the only time I find comforting. Lunch, then two more class periods until I return to my sanctuary, otherwise known as home. Today is another day of our new school year, another dreadful day of school, disheartening bullies, hard studying, and...thinking of Annabeth.

We have been "best friends" for the past 8 years, but it hasn't felt that way since the ninth grade. People started to notice her beauty which led her way to popularity, and her athletics occupied her time. We haven't found time to talk to each other. Secretly, I love Annabeth, a lot.

It's our Junior year of high school, and-oh my-what a good three years its been for Annabeth. My hormones tell me how much she has matured, become more "developed" if you know what I'm saying.

But my heart tells me otherwise. I'm intrigued by her smile, that beautiful, innocent smile she holds whenever I would make a stupid joke, and her intelligence, for which I, nor anyone in our school can compete with. But most importantly, her ability to make me feel like I should fee-ew! Not in that way!- I meant, Annabeth treats me with all the kindness, and warmth in her heart. She is one of the few people at school I know of that treats me with such regards. She sees me other than the "Percy Jackson" people shrug off at school, the kid that has ADHD and Dyslexia and is not the brightest of the bunch.

Since the ninth grade, she has always hung out with the well-admired, liked, pretty, popular crowd, the crowd that torments my pathetic life.

Luke walks to me as I prepare to jump into the pool. I hate how he's on the same swim team as I. We both compete for the number one spot, but there are several other reasons why I strongly dislike him.

"Sup Jackson, heard you're coming to Annabeth's party." Luke's voice infuriates me.

"Shut up, Luke." I start to feel the mockery, the sadistic mockery that Luke keeps inside of him. No one sees it except for me.

Luke dangerously snickers, "Why the sudden hostility? I simply asked if you are going to Annabeth's party, but I guess things have changed now." his friendly tone contains hints of dangerous sarcasm.

"Just leave me alone Luke. You-"

"HEY! GET IN THE POOL ALREADY!" Coach Hedge sure knows how to irritate people.

Practice is over. I scurried my thoughts, "Okay, change. Change as fast as you can and get the hell out of here!" I suspect the incoming fight Luke was planning in his head, how sick.

I would stand up to Luke, but the odds aren't exactly in my favor when two of his other friends are also fighting against me.

Luke is Annabeth's boyfriend of 2 years. She got her wish, too bad she doesn't know how badly Luke hurts me. Bruises, from light to dark purple, permeate my torso and back like the sun touching the body. It's every where.

That's just the least of my worries however. Luke stole the only girl I've ever loved. It hurts, more than the beatings. Pfft, that's nothing compared to the other torture I face! Each time I see Annabeth smiling and lively with, ugh, Luke, a pang of jealousy fills my heart, and it really, really hurts. I desperately wish for that person she loves to be, me. I want to be the person to hold her, to tell her how beautiful she looks, to stare at her, to kiss her soft pink lips, to caress her blonde, smooth hair, to tell her how I love her. Too bad such stories only occur in fairytales.

Luke and his friends usually hit me just enough to bruise, enough to threaten me out of anything he wants. For instance, the title of being the number one swimmer, for which I currently hold. Also, my relationship with Annabeth. For some reason, our diminishing relationship is threatening to him. I don't see why, as she never expresses affections of love, only friendship.

Thank gods it hasn't reached to the point of a concussion, otherwise Annabeth would probably know, and I wouldn't want to make her upset. I know how much she loves Luke, and I wouldn't want to be the person that ruins her love, since I know she would pull off their relationship immediately if she were to find out the truth behind Luke.

Annabeth's POV

"Ms. Chase, would you kindly answer this equation for the class?" Ms. Dodds thinks I'm her smartest student, like many other teachers in this school.

The room was silent, the class's attention was diverted to me.

"Sure," I said in a voice not too fake to be a teacher's pet, but also not too happy to sound excited, just a slight bright tone to let her know I care. "...it's false because the..."

"Correct! Amazing as always, Ms. Chase." Ms. Dodds smiles warmly.

The class shares a low audible "wow". My peers think that I'm the smartest girl in school, not to mention the prettiest, and most athletic as well. Although I'm quite fond of this popularity, I try to not get big headed.

LUNCH

"Annabeth! Save me a seat!" Thalia Grace yells out from across the campus.

Thalia has been a good friend of mine since the beginning of high school. Turns out that she and Percy are actually cousins. No wonder the similar black hair and piercing eyes. Speaking of the devil, I spot Percy sitting down with Grover and Nico.

Under his somewhat happy demeanor, I could sense the sadness somewhere in his entrails. I wonder what's bothering him, I miss Percy.

PERCY'S POV

"Phew" I breathed. I escaped Luke's torture.

"RINGGG" sounds the bell, initiating the beginning of lunch.

I'm sitting with my two only other friends in the warm sun and tempature. The sun touches the entirety of my body, warming it just a tad, and the breeze is light enough to complete the perfect weather.

I feel annabeth's gaze from afar, as if she's in deep thought.

I look over to her and she faintly smiles, I send the same smile back. The sun makes her skin glow like a model's. She wore a light, flowerly yellow sundress showing some cleavage, but not too much to be considered a show-off. Her entire golden hair is on one side of her shoulders, cascading slightly over her breast. She was just, pleasantly beautiful.

We hold eye contact for a far too many seconds. I could feel the strong connection. For some reason, I can't escape from our gaze, and I don't think she can either. That is, until Luke gets in the way of our silent interaction. We haven't had contact in a while.

ANNABETH'S POV

I've never felt such an attraction to Percy, it's different than usual. It feels more strong, stronger than ever. What could it be?

His jet black hair is swept to the sides, just above his slight furrowed eyebrows, radiating mystery. Percy has always been the target of bullying in our school. I try to stop it when I can, but our paths don't cross frequently, much like it had before, before high school.

It seems like it has been a year since we've last seen each other, when really it has only been three months-summer break ended. He's become more mature, his muscles were more defi-*gasp* what are you thinking Annabeth? Shake out of it! Percy's just a friend, nothing more.

Fortunately, Luke interrupts my thoughts. He walks to me in his blue flannel shirt that compliments his eyes, and light washed jeans with white sneakers, looking attractive as always. His blonde hair is spiked to a slight fohawk and his scar is visibly apparent, but it only enhances his good looks. Girls swoon over him, guys wish they were him. He's one of the most popular guys in school. I'm lucky to be with such an amazing guy, but I could feel our feelings for each other starting to faint. Maybe it's time to consider breaking up with him.

"Hey, babe, what are you looking at?" Luke's curiosity brought me back to reality.

"Oh! Uh, nothing, it's a nice day isn't it?" Nice going Annabeth, stammering will surely relieve Luke's curiosity.

Unfortunately Luke catches a glimpse of the sight I had my eyes set on. He sits down on the table with the rest of our friends rather calmly. He must not care. "Uh-huh, so anyways, you look beautiful today." he smiles warmly.

"Thanks," I smile back, "you look handsome yourself." I flirt with him, sliding my arm through his and embracing his presence. Using him as an escape relieved my conscience.

In my peripheral vision I see percy grimace. Could he be jealous?

Lunch went on as usual-talks of break-ups, jokes, and attractive people consisted of today's conversation.

But then, there was the mention of my party. It was my 17th birthday this upcoming weekend. Anyone who was "anyone" was invited.

Thalia says, "Hey Annie! Are you excited for your birthday party this Saturday? I know we are!", bringing up the topic I dreaded.

I never really enjoyed Birthday parties. They were much better when Percy was there.

Lying, with all of my fake sincerity, "Of course!" comes out of my mouth. Just to please my friends.

AFTER SCHOOL

I headed to my lovely car, a gray 2014 Hyundai Sonata.

"Where are my damn keys?" I think, fumbling through my bag while walking across the parking lot.

"Aha! I found them!" a little too loud for people to hear.

Still walking, while taking out my keys, I bump into a broad figure. It smells like the ocean, a comforting scent.

A deep voice sounds, smirking, "Still the same, huh Annabeth?"

Oh my Gods, it's Percy. I flushed, Percy probably noticed because his smirk got even wider. A feeling of butterflies start to develop in my stomach. I try to ignore it.

"Ugh, it's you." I say sarcastically, igniting Percy's newfound happiness.

"And it's you, Wisegirl, or should I say nerd?" Percy adds a slight friendly tone of mockery.

We both laugh at our lame attempts of comebacks. Percy and I continue off from our silent interaction at lunch. We bathe in each others pleasant presence.I felt such a strong connection with him, my eyes wouldn't leave his, my smile wouldn't retract, it couldn't retract. I just felt so happy, for the first time in a while. Am I falling for my best friend?

End of Chapter 1.

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