A/N: And here's the 2nd chapter! I'm glad to know that you loved the first one. Thanks for all the support you gave me and my stories! I still don't know how many chapters this story will have, but I'm not gonna make it that lengthy since I'm used into writing one-shots and all that (which was probably the reason I stopped Excaecavit Affectio).

Special thanks to: Norsk Unicorn, fabinafeels, goldensalad and June Green.


The vibrations of running water echoing in the walls greeted Annabeth's ears once she stepped inside the small yet cozy shower room. The gray sports bag dangling on her shoulder provided no weight at all as she crossed the room easily, finding an empty spot near a corner to get a change of clothes. Inside the room, the girls didn't seemed to mind privacy (they're just of the same species, with same parts making up their bodies and it's a public place, so what?) as they slipped in and out of their clothes with no malice whatsoever, as long as they kept their basic garments: sports bra and shorts.

Annabeth tied her hair up in a ponytail before taking off her cardigan and the rest of her work clothes. She pulled out her judogi, the name of the official garment used in judo. Hers was a white one, as she liked to keep the traditional look with her. Sliding inside the finely woven cotton pants, Annabeth noticed that the waist kind of fitted tighter than before. Oh gosh. She pinched the small yet still excess layer of fat in her belly. She's out of shape.

"And look at that, darling. You lost your shape," said an ultimately familiar voice behind her. Annabeth didn't really need another reminder from Thalia of her being whipped out of the slim-waists circle because she perfectly understood that she needed to toughen up with her training. Just as she thought, the girl with spiky black hair and electric blue eyes appeared before her almost half-naked state.

"Way to make myself decent to everyone," Annabeth muttered. "And I did not lose my shape, Thals. I just gained an itty-bitty amount of weight."

Thalia snorted at her. "They're just one and the same, darling."

"No, they aren't. And don't call me darling."

She shrugged and put on the 'being just a good bestfriend here' look. "Just to remind you of your single-ship."

Annabeth drew the heavy jacket up to her arms. "I am not single, Thals. I'm dating your brother, remember?"

Thalia watched her tighten the black obi around her waist. "Oh. And here I thought you two broke it off."

"We did. Before. Got on again recently."

The black-haired girl crossed her arms over her chest. "And that goos old brother never told me." She huffed and said seriously this time. "On and off relationships aren't good for your heart health, Annabeth. Even if it's with Jason."

Annabeth stiffened when she heard the underlying venom in her bestfriend's voice. Sure, Thalia can be the most obnoxious, sarcastic and utterly unsupportive buddy Annabeth could ever have. But, when the older Grace turned serious, it's definitely a serious business they were talking there.

And Thalia Grace wasn't the most behaved ex-girlfriend when it came to on and off relationships. She had experienced it first-hand, and learned the lesson in the hard way. The scar Luke left from where he metaphorically stabbed her wouldn't heal, to serve as a reminder to Thalia that she was once his, and no one could ever change that.

"I know." Annabeth smiled warmly at her, hoping to make her bestfriend know that she cared.

Thalia returned the favor and casted an appraising eye over Annabeth, observing her current physique.

"Yeah. I guess I maybe wrong when I said you're out of shape. But, when everything between you and Jason doesn't work out like fairytales do, don't be afraid to pull away before you get burned. Well, even if he's my brother, he can still be fairly stupid," Thalia commented, fixing her own blue judogi as well.

"Traitor. I thought we agreed to have the traditional color," Annabeth mumbled, glaring at the blue piece of clothing.

"Nah. I bought this with my cousin. He said blue was better than white. So, I took it," Thalia reasoned as she placed her bag next to Annabeth's.

"Still a traitor."

Thalia's face suddenly perked up. "You should date my cousin."

"Pardon?"

"You should date my cousin," Thalia repeated again.

Annabeth choked on her spit. She stared at the girl incredulously. "What? Are you out of your mind?! Why would I date your cousin? I'm with Jason, Thals!"

"Well, once you two break up, you could date Percy."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at the punk-like girl. "Are you trying to plot our break up?"

"Technically, no. Hypothetically, yes. I mean, don't play dumb with me, Annabeth. We both know that you only love Jason as a brother. Nothing more. Nothing else. You shouldn't try to suppress your own happiness. He'll just hurt more if you keep doing that."

Annabeth didn't know how, but Thalia seemed to pick up the signals that her heart wasn't romantically linked with Jason. She felt embarrassed, that Thalia had to know, the sister of her boyfriend had to know. Yet, some part of Annabeth felt glad. She didn't have to carry the burden all by herself. She had Thalia to talk to now, and Annabeth was more than happy with that.

"I-"

"You don't have to deny it, Annabeth. I'm not mad. Just a little put off that you have to lie about your feelings. You have to be honest with him."

"Yeah. You're right about that. But, still it doesn't why should I date your cousin?"

"Because other girls say he's hot, sweet and cool? Oh, and I also heard he's a good kisser. I remember you talking on one of our high school sleepovers about how you wanted to have a good kisser boyfriend, right Annabeth?"

Blood rushed up to Annabeth's cheeks. She said that? Well, once but... Screw those high school sleep-overs. And screw Thalia for having such a sharp memory.

"Thals! Are you trying to make me cheat on your brother?!"

"No. But you can break up with him, sooner. Then, you can make out with Percy all you want."

"Thalia!" Annabeth slapped her in the arm. "Careful with your words. And do you want me to just say 'Sorry Jason. I didn't loved you the way I should. So, Thalia told me to break up with you so I can date your cousin, Percy'?"

"You could do that, but...It's still your choice. The offer still stands."

"Thanks for the moral support, Thals. Thanks, really," she said sarcastically.

They started their way out of the room, mumbling a few hello's to some acquaintances. Some commented about their fit and blooming look, while others, well others noticed Annabeth's gain of weight. She felt like being doused with ice water everytime someone remarks about it. Couldn't they somehow mind their own business?

"Annabeth," Thalia opened up, as they walked down the hall. "I have something to share with you."

"Yeah?"

"You know Death Breath, right?"

Annabeth let out a laugh. Thalia could be the worst in giving nicknames. "You mean Nico?"

"Him. Yeah. He's actually my sparring partner."

They stopped dead in their tracks. (Well, because Annabeth did.) The blonde looked over to Thalia with a comical glint in her eyes.

"Nico? As in Nico di Angelo? The one you can't stand the personality and looks like a zombie?"

"Yeah."

Annabeth gave Thalia a sympathetic hug and a pat. "I feel you, Thals. I got a jerk for a sparring partner."

"Jerk?"

"Yup. A completely annoying, stupid jerk."

Thalia flashed her a grin. "I guess just best of luck with you, buddy."

"Same to you, too. You're gonna need it."

Annabeth pushed through the double metal doors. The training room was fairly big to hold enough space for several adults kicking-off some judo moves. Most students were stretching stiff limbs or performing warm-up stunts and others were just being adults. She should search for that jerk now, so as to knock some sense to him if they were to be partners for the competition.

Craning her head to search for the thick mop of black hair among the sweaty adults, Annabeth spotted him sitting on a bench at the far end of the room.

She nudged Thalia's side and jerked her thumb towards the guy.

"That's the guy I was talking about. That's the jerk."

Thalia looked up also. "Where? Are you- Oh, what a coincidence!"

Thalia grabbed Annabeth's hand and they treaded amidst the mass of perspirated bodies, like fishes trying to swim in a can of sardines. The black-haired girl took long strides that the poor girl in tow was left to bump against people. Everytime Annabeth collided with another mass, she was already dragged away before she could even muster a proper apology. Note to self: Never let Thalia lead her again.

"Where are you taking me, Thalia?" she asked as she tried to dodge another body.

Thalia pointed at the direction of the jerk. "See that guy over there?"

"That's the jerk!" "That's my cousin!" They said simultaneously.

Annabeth halted in her step. Thalia did the same.

And her bestfriend's words replayed itself in her head.

"Because other girls say he's hot, sweet and cool? Oh, and I also heard he's a good kisser. I remember you talking on one of our high school sleepovers about how you wanted to have a good kisser boyfriend, right Annabeth?"

"That's the cousin you were talking about? The one you wanted me to date? The one you said was a good kisser?!" Annabeth pointed an accusing finger at him, but he was nowhere in sight.

"Now, now. Who was that good kisser you were talking about?" said a familiar deep voice that could only be associated with none other than the annoying black Maserati driver, who, unfortunately happened to be Thalia's cousin.


Sorry 'bout that but…Favorite, follow and review!

P.S. Constructive criticisms do apply.