HELLO! I am back! Well, kind of. I've still be writing, just not for PJO. I've been considering this story for a while now. I hope you enjoy!

Annabeth stood in front of the mirror in the spare bedroom at the Jackson-Blowfis residence. After some discussion (and a lot of begging to her father) Annabeth was staying with Percy and his family for her senior year of high school. She was excited, or at least she tried to be. The idea of being with Percy, just the two of them, felt like a breath of fresh air.

Or at least it did before the party.

Percy had heard about a party one of his old friends was throwing before school started up again. Despite parties not really being her thing, Annabeth figured she would go anyways. It would be harmless. She could be social, maybe even make some friends.

The party was insane. Everywhere she turned another person was pushing past her, trying to weave through the sea of people. It was suffocating. Annabeth didn't think she'd ever gripped Percy's hand tighter. Every once and a while, he would give her hand a reassuring squeeze. Sometimes, he'd even go as far as stopping a conversation to ask her if she was okay.

She always said she was.

And for a while, Annabeth was good. Aside from being stuck between sweaty bodies for almost two hours now, she was having a lot of fun. Percy introduced her to his friends. They were awesome. She felt welcomed and accepted. Apparently, they already knew all about her, as Percy hadn't stopped talking about her all year.

Things were good until Annabeth stepped away to use the bathroom. When she returned, she found Percy talking to a blonde girl. Or rather, a blonde girl talking to Percy while he looked bored. The girl had long, straight, blonde hair. It wasn't frizzy at all. It shined when the light hit it. She was wearing makeup. It wasn't too much. She looked natural and beautiful. It was something Annabeth was sure she could never pull off, natural and beautiful at the same time. Her clothes were nice and showed off her body in all the right ways.

A sharp pinching feeling arose in Annabeth's chest. Her breathing quickened and her hands shook. This girl was everything Annabeth ever wanted to be: pretty, confident, charismatic, the list goes on.

Percy's eyes found Annabeth and his face lit up. When he noticed her expression, his face fell. He gave her a look that said Everything okay? Annabeth shrugged and gave him a small nod. He tilted his head, doubting her for a moment, before smiling again and waving her over.

"Hey, babe," Percy said when she came over. She gave him a questioning look, as he never called her "babe" and he leaned down to hug her. "Save me," he whispered in her ear. Annabeth stifled a laugh.

The girl talking to Percy raised an eyebrow, her once happy expression how cold. "Who is she, Percy? And why is here? She's just so..."

Annabeth faltered. Sure, she knew she wasn't a pretty or appealing as other girls, but to hear it out loud was completely different. The pinching in her chest returned and she had to fight the urge to cringe away.

Percy's arm slid around her shoulders and gripped her tightly. "'She's just so' what, Madison?"

The girl – Madison – didn't respond. Instead, she turned around and walked away. Annabeth kept her eyes locked on a picture hanging across the room. She still hadn't quite recovered from the comment Madison had made. It made her feel worthless.

"–beth, Annabeth?" Percy said as he snapped his fingers in front of

face. Annabeth blinked and turned to face him. He looked concerned. "You okay?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Percy looked unconvinced. "Are you sure? Madison is like that to everyone. She thinks she is better than everyone else and deserves the world handed to her on a silver platter. Don't let her get to you. Okay?"

"Sure." Annabeth suddenly didn't want to be at the party anymore. Whether or not she was like that to everyone, Madison's words struck a chord inside Annabeth and she didn't like it. "You know what, Perce? I think I'm just going to head home."

Percy scanned Annabeth's face. "Are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?"

Annabeth shook her head. "No, that's okay. I'm just feeling a little tired. You have fun and catch up with your friends. I'll be fine." She gave him a small smile and walked away.

When Annabeth finally got back to the apartment, all she wanted to do was sleep. It was amazing how quickly things can change from one comment. Everything felt heavier like there were weights attached to her limbs. It made her exhausted. Annabeth was about to go into the guest room when she spotted Percy's blue bedroom walls through an open door across the hall. At that moment, Annabeth didn't care whether or not she'd have to explain why she was in his room later. She just wanted to be near Percy, even if it wasn't really him. It was easier, Annabeth felt if he wasn't really there. She wouldn't have to face him then.

As much as Annabeth wanted to sleep, the exhaustion wouldn't take her. Her thoughts overpowered. Something like a comment on her appearance shouldn't have bothered her and yet it did. She'd been through so much worse than image issues but she couldn't help it. Annabeth knew she wasn't considered "traditionally" beautiful. Every time she looked in the mirror she noticed it. She tried to ignore it, pretend it didn't bother her. But it did.

It was why she didn't want to be around Percy at that moment. He knew her too well and would notice that something was wrong. He would question her and Annabeth didn't want to have to answer. She couldn't lie to Percy so being away from him was easier. She'd never tell him how she felt. It made her feel weak and less than. Annabeth wanted to be better than that.

That's why she spent so much time picking out her clothes for the first day of school. Normally things like that wouldn't bother her but she couldn't help it now. Everywhere she went the thoughts that ran through her mind at the party followed her everywhere. It was easier just to give in.

"You look beautiful, as always." Percy wrapped his arms around Annabeth's waist and rested his head on her shoulder. "Mom made a special breakfast for the first day of school."

"I'll be there in a minute," Annabeth replied.

Percy kissed Annabeth's cheek and stepped away. "Okay."

Annabeth waved and turned back to the mirror. It wasn't right, what she was wearing. She still didn't look quite right. Everything she'd tried on while Percy was in the shower that morning didn't seem good enough. Annabeth sighed and took one last long look at herself before heading to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Annabeth," Sally said as Annabeth entered the room. She was setting down a plate of waffles next to Percy's seat. Annabeth smiled took her seat.

"Really?" Annabeth asked. Percy had practically inhaled one and a half waffles since Annabeth had entered the room. Percy shrugged and continued eating, making Annabeth and Sally laugh.

Annabeth glanced up at the clock on the oven. She quickly stood up and went to grab her backpack. "Percy, we have to go. It's already 7:35. If we don't leave now we'll be late. I still need to grab some more stuff from the front office."

"Thanks, Mom!" Percy called as he followed Annabeth out the front door. The two of them jogged down the steps to the garage of his apartment building. Percy's car near the door they'd exited the staircase from.

Annabeth reached out for the door handle before Percy's swatted it away. "Let me be a gentleman, Wise Girl. At least for your first day." Annabeth laughed but complied.

Once they'd begun driving, Percy turned back to Annabeth. "You nervous?"

Annabeth pulled her eyes from the window and shrugged. "I don't know, I guess. New schools are always a little freaky. People aren't always so welcoming to new kids."

"You watch too many high school movies with Piper, but don't worry. I'll protect you," Percy replied.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "My hero."

The school was big. That was the first thing Annabeth noticed. A big school meant lots of people. Annabeth didn't normally mind, but lately, the idea of having to face people made her anxious. She didn't know what was wrong with her. Annabeth hoped the feeling was temporary.

Percy ended up walking Annabeth to her first class. Annabeth appreciated it, not just because she'd probably get lost on her own, but because the anxious feeling lessened when Percy was around. He made her feel safer. "I'll see you at lunch?"

"Yeah," Annabeth replied. "See you then."

Percy was about to walk away when he turned back suddenly. "If you get lost, just text me. I'll come find you."

Annabeth smiled. "I'll be fine, Seaweed Brain. Go to class." She gave him a quick peck and he walked away.

It wasn't until she exhaled that Annabeth realized she had been holding her breath. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she wouldn't be as fine as she thought. It didn't matter though. Annabeth would pull through; she always did.

Well, that's the chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed. Review and share! I'll try and update a few more times before camp starts.

BEFORE YOU GO! Super important! I have another PJO story called "Memory" on this website. I have been considering picking that one up again. I'm SUPER excited about this story, but if you'd rather me keep writing that one, I have a few ideas for that story too. Let me know in the comments on this story or "Memory". Either one works.

Bye!