Hey guys, sorry it was so Percy/Rachel before. Anyways, hopefully you'll like this one a smidgen better. Remember - the relationship of Percy/Annabeth is a slow process

Disclaimer: the usual

Freshmen at NYU Part II

May

Girl trouble is the worst trouble ever.

Ever.

Not only has it made me insomniac, but it has me constantly on guard and hyper alert of everything that happens. Then again, my ADD does that too. But whatever. That's not the point. The point is that girl trouble is that worst trouble.

Ever.

Okay, so sometimes it can be a nice distraction, but the girl trouble I have right now is making me crazy. When I'm around her I can't think right. I can't spell right and I can't read right. But then again, I have Dyslexia. But that's beside the point.

Maybe it's not so much girl trouble than just Rachel trouble. Not that Rachel's really troublesome, but it's just that, well… She makes me go crazy.

Evidence: Last weak she texted me a flirtatious text message with a winky face and all. Yesterday, she was going on about this guy named Tristan and how 'cool' he was and today she's all moody and snappy. Which either means that she's PMSing or, well, I'm annoying her.

It's irritating, not knowing what to say or do. Before when I was young and naïve to her beauty, everything was easy. And ever since the realization set in, everything's been filtered through my mind before I do it. Even tying my shoes. Should I tie them even if I'm watching a movie? Should I deliberately do the bunny trick to tease her about how she somehow can't tie her laces the fast way? Or will she get all moody and give me the cold shoulder?

So in times like that, I just don't do anything.

Which really makes me agitated because, hello, I have ADD. I can't concentrate just on the movie. I'll be looking at my poor, old shoes, at Rachel and at some other object that'll grab my attention like the coffee table or a lamp.

For the past months my hopefully romantic relationship with Rachel as escalated to the point of almost-dating. We'll hang out more. She'll sleep over more. I'll not sleep on the ground as much, she has a few of her own shirts in my dresser, we'll go for coffee, she'll bring me a supply of gummy bears and be so comfortable with me that she eats most of them (I mean all of them).

We do couple-y things. Like go to the movies or eat at McDonalds and stuff. But it's always two steps forwards, one step back. And really, she's the one taking the steps back.

Not her, intentionally (that I know of) but the things she does. Things that irritate me. Like when she gives me a light kiss and I try to deepen it, she backs off and says no. When I ask why, she says 'because she isn't ready' even though we've been like this for two months.

Did you see that guy? Isn't he the cutest/hottest/funniest/something-positive-est person ever? The answer: no, I am. Pay attention to me and not some dork that looks like he's from the movie Grease! Or I'll disagree on one thing and that'll go into a full out argument. Evidence: I told her that raspberries are better and that's why I got her raspberry smoothie and not strawberry. Besides, she never told me which one to get. She said surprise me. So I did. And the smoothie was only two dollars! If she wanted another one, she could get it herself!

Stupid stuff that makes me want to rip out my hair (which, apparently, should be either styled messier or neater because it's at a 'weird state in between', according to Rachel).

Little things like the smoothie incident and shoe laces are okay. It's mostly just the stuff about other guys that pisses me off.

"Were you just checking out that guy's butt?"

Okay, so I'm too the point of acting like a girl. I know. You don't have to remind me. Grover reminds me everyday. Travis and Connor usually back him up, too. And I leave before Malcolm and Beckendorf can come out and say so, too.

I'm walking along the sidewalk with Rachel, carrying her shopping bags in one hand and holding her around the waist by the other. And she's the one who put it there. So why is she leaning against me and practically shoving all kinds of flirty and boyfriend-girlfriend-y things my way when, there she goes, checking out other guys and sending them the flirty looks.

And there's no way I'm falling for the 'it's a project' thing or 'I'm just trying to boost self-esteems' thing. If she wanted to boost anyone's self esteem, it should be mine.

And I know I'm whining. But I'm a sensitive guy! With Girl/Rachel Trouble!

"What? Percy, no!"

"Rachel, don't lie to me."

She shakes her head sadly. "Why are you so possessive of me, Percy! I'm not your object!"

"Whoa, I didn't say anything that you're my territory or anything. Just, you know, it's not cool of you to do-"

"Percy, you're trying to rule me. And I don't like it one bit. You're giving me no freedom. Every second I feel like you're taking it away from me. I have no free time because I'm always with you, and you always accuse me of doing something that I'm not doing! First it's about trying to make you jealous when I'm talking about some new friend. Why would I make you jealous? Why would you be jealous? You don't trust me! And I can't trust you if you don't trust me!"

"Um, that's not very fair-"

"And then you're accusing me of looking at other guys! Percy, am I not allowed to take in my surroundings? And so what if I look at other guys, it's not like we're dating or anything! So I'd like for you to-"

The last one was what made me lock down. 'Not dating or anything?' Did she really just say that? What does 'or anything' mean? What's she saying now? When will she shut up so I can talk? Oh, that's such a cute little puppy! But the owner looks really… kind of ugly, no offense…

"Percy?"

I snap my attention back to Rachel and her red hair.

"See? That's another thing! You never listen when I need to have someone to talk to. Tristan's always there. And he doesn't judge me like how you judge me and," she takes out her keys as we walk up her dad's apartment building. She has the whole top floor.

Tristan? The new friend who's also an artist and future movie director? The one who wanted her to star in one of his low budget films? Who's six years older than us? The guy who apparently has the comfiest king sized bed ever? And how does she know it's the comfiest? Because she took a nap there one day.

I can feel my blood boiling. Everything I've kept in the Percy-Only folder is about to burst out. I'm gonna cry. Instead, I tune her out while she unlocks the front doors and walks in.

"Percy? Are you coming in?" she asks, a little confused when I just drop her shopping bags a little before the second door.

Deep breath in… deep breath out… one, two, three… four, five, six… seven, eight, nine… ten. Another deep breath in… bottle up your anger… don't rip her head off… clear your vision…

"No. I don't feel like having all of my flaws pointed out. Maybe Tristan would like to hear, them, though. Him and his comfy king sized bed." And with that, I turn and leave.

M.W

Everyone's been asking me if I'm okay. Everyone's wondering if Rachel had anything to do with it. She won't stop phoning me and apologizing to me by turning it around and blaming me.

"Percy? It's Rachel again. I don't know what happened, but you just suddenly walked out on me. I don't know if it's something you misinterpreted or what, but phone me! I'm worried about you. So, please phone me! Love you."

Messages like that. Do you get where I'm going with this? So I decided to run away from it all for one afternoon. I went to places no one would ever suspect me of being. I was thinking about it and it turns out that there are a lot of places that I'd never go to normally. Like coffee shops because they're so loud most of the time with people either grumpy or crying over some fattening pastry about their latest breakup to their friends who don't have enough time to actually go out so instead they just do a quick coffee run. I could go to the fencing gym, and practice more. There's museums, libraries, bowling alleys, plays, some weird movies… the list is endless.

So I've planned to do three things. Go to fencing. Then go to the library and work on some assignments. And after that, spend a nice evening at the museum. I think there's some cool ancient history section. Either way, no one I know will be there.

So I hit the gym and see my coach, Mr. Quintus there giving lessons to three kids (okay, more like teenagers). An Indian-looking girl, a Hispanic boy and a kid with short blonde hair and really blue eyes that are almost weird because they're so blue. They remind me of someone… but I can't really put a finger on it.

"Ah, Percy," Quintus waves to me. His big black dog, Mrs. O'Leary bounds towards me, jumping up on my and almost knocking me down.

"Easy girl," I say and settle her down. She barks at me and then runs off into Quintus's office, probably to get a ball or something. I walk over to Quintus and, like every time I see him, he has a bird tattoo on his neck. His hair's graying a bit more now and he looks tired and almost sick.

"Coming for more practice? The big competition's coming up."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

"Well, gear up and we can both get some exercise," he looks over at the three teens who are now just sitting on the ground and chatting. "Hey!" he calls to them. "Get to work!"

After two hours of intense training, a shower, three assignments done and my brains completely fried, I head over to the Museum. I have to write an essay on one Greek god, so I might as well get some info form other sources than just books.

It's a big place. Like, really big.

I head towards the Ancient Greek section. When I was little one of my mom's friends gave me a book on Greek mythology. I've loved it ever since. Especially Poseidon. He loves to water, I love the water… I think we'd both be good friends. You know, aside from the part that he's mythological and a god whereas I'm real and nobody.

I see a tour group coming up. It's all a school trip. Tons of ten year olds are going around, goofing off while the teachers and tour guide try to keep them in place.

"Who knows anything about Greek mythology?" The pretty tour guide asks, her curly blonde hair up in a pony tail. Her bangs lie across her forehead and almost go straight to her stormy grey eyes. She looks familiar. Really familiar.

A teacher calls out a name and everyone looks at a little boy. "Is it from china?"

Only the teachers scowl. Everyone else laughs or smiles. Pretty Tour Guide looks like she's trying not to laugh. The other tour guide, a younger boy who's always looking at Pretty Tour Guide laughs because he can see it too.

"No, it originated from Greece."

"But everything's from China!"

I laugh a little too loud. The Pretty Tour Guide turns to me and her eyes open a bit with recognition. So have I met her before? Because I'd think that I'd remember her. She's very… memorable.

"Alright, everyone come and get a work sheet!" the teacher calls out. Both of the teachers hand out packets and the all the chaperons, teachers and tour guides go around to check in with everyone.

"Excuse me, Miss," I come up behind Pretty Tour Guide. She turns and gives me an indifferent look. Her eyes look particularly stormy now. Her full lips pout a bit.

"What can I help you with today?" she asks politely.

"I was just wondering…" it's something about a project. Who is she? Poseidon… I know her! I just… can't remember…

"Yes?" she asks, getting a little impatient.

"I know you, don't I?"

She raises an eyebrow. "I don't know. Do you?"

"Well, you look familiar… and…" And what? Speak Percy! Pretend she's not as pretty! Pretend she's not as goddess-looking! And stop staring at her lips!

"I'm sorry sir, but I'm with a tour group right now. If it was a really quick question, I could probably help you, but if it's going to take you five minutes alone to ask the question, well… maybe you should find another curator."

She waits another second. I can't find my voice. She starts to leave.

"You're Juniper's friend, right? The really smart one?"

She looks back in surprise. "Um, I guess," she laughs nervously. "And you'd be one of Grover's friends?"

I nod, maybe a bit too enthusiastically because she actually kind of knows me. "I'm the not so smart one." The corners of her lips twitch. It's so close to a smile… and then it goes back into a flat line. Damn it!

"So, the question?"

"Mhmm," I wait for her to ask it. And when she doesn't say anything, I remember that it's me asking the question. "Oh, right, I'm uh, doing a project… and…" Gods, I feel all clammy. I run my hand through my hair as a nervous habit. Hopefully it won't get to the point when I bite my nails. I start to go all breathless and a little lightheaded. She's waiting a bit impatiently. Oh no.

"Never mind," I mumble and leave before I can look even stupider.

And I have another crappy day.

I know, I know, not much Percabeth in this one. But more is to come! And i know Annabeth was a little b-i-t-c-h-y but what can you expect when you practically spend a whole night with a guy only to go off with some other girl?

If you read it, review it!