A/N: Thanks to everybody who reviewed. You guys have been very helpful and encouraging. So here is the second chapter. I hope you'll like it. I know the first one wasn't so great, but usually the first chapters are the hardest since they start up your whole story. Also, some people are asking who the prince is so I'm going to clear things up. Luke is the prince. I might add the other characters later on such as Nico and Grover, and Thalia will be back. Maybe some of you now know what's up with everybody. Anyway, reviews are much appreciated, though flames aren't. Enjoy!

DISLCAIMER: I don't think I want to do this every chapter so I'm just going to apply this to my whole story: I do not own PJO. I am not Rick Riordan.

When I finally woke up, the sun had already set. I noticed we were still slowly making the journey. I stretched and yawned, startling Percy. He laughed, earning a glare from me.

"Well, I see Sleeping Beauty has awaken from her nap," he smirked. I rolled my eyes and replied, "That is no way to greet a princess after she's rested." Percy frowned and stayed silent as if carefully thinking about what I'd just stated. After a few moments of awkward silence, he spoke up, "I apologize, Princess. I guess I felt more comfortable speaking with you that I forgot I was speaking with a member of the royal family." He didn't look at me while he was speaking, but I did catch him glance at me when he was finished. I found his seriousness humorous, considering I was joking when I had said that. If anything, I was glad somebody actually had the guts to be so informal around me.

"You do realize that I was joking? I don't mind. It's nothing really," I assured him. I saw him smile a little and knew that he was satisfied with what I'd said. We didn't talk for a few minutes until the captain yelled something I couldn't comprehend.

"We're setting up camp soon. Once we reach the site, stay by me so I can keep an eye on you while the others set up," said Percy.

I raised an eyebrow, "You know I am perfectly capable of handling myself. I'm sixteen. I think I'm reasonable enough not to let myself in harm's way. You're setting up camp! It's not a big deal."

Percy said, "Well I was under strict orders to stay by your side at all times." I scoffed. "My parents are way too protective of me." He just rolled his eyes.

Our party came to a halt at a clearing in the forest. All the men dismounted their steeds and Percy opened the door for me. I stepped out, but lost my footing because I hadn't realized how long I'd been sitting. I stumbled and had to lean on Percy to balance myself. He caught me by the waist with one arm while gripping my arm with the other. We both looked at each other and locked eyes, grey on green. I turned and blushed, muttering, "Thanks." I realized I was still leaning on him and we were in the same position. He must have come to his senses too because he then let go of me.

"Could you please just stay close to the camp site while we set up? I don't want you wandering the woods by yourself," Percy said.

I sighed. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm just going to stand on the side and do practically nothing while watching everybody else having to do something." I added a more dramatic tone towards the end.

Percy raised his eyebrows. "You want to help set up?"

"I don't want to just stand around, useless!" I exclaimed. He smiled and shook his head.

"You're the strangest princess I've ever met, not that I've met any other princesses. Seriously, Princess, we'll handle everything. I don't think it is proper to have a princess set up her own tent or collect firewood."

"Fine. I'll tend to the horses. Maybe I'll talk to them so they won't be so lonely," I said, pointedly. Percy merely laughed and headed towards the other men.

I looked over at the horses and walked towards Percy's. His steed was entirely black, camouflaging against the dark sky. The beautiful sleek fur reminded me of Percy's silky jet-black hair. I ran my fingers along the mane, feeling the soft texture of the fur. This was probably how it felt like to run a hand through Percy's hair, only it was probably much better. I shook my head, What am I thinking?

When I touched the horse's muzzle, it whinnied and bowed its head a little. I looked into its eyes and saw a knowing look, as if it knew exactly who I was.

"I suppose you're going to give me special treatment too," I mumbled to the horse. It shook its head. I cocked my head to the side wondering if this horse actually did understand me. I continued speaking anyway, feeling comfort in the presence of it.

"You're just a horse, of course you wouldn't care who I was. I wish that applied to people. Then it wouldn't seem like I had superiority over others. It gets irritating. It's always 'Princess this!' 'Princess that!' Not even my own parents or best friend try to treat me as a normal person, not even for a little while. I just wish someone would depend on me as 'Annabeth' not 'the crowned Princess'," I closed my eyes and sighed, stroking the horse's neck. It was still looking at me, probably processing what I'd said, though I highly doubted it. I looked into its eyes and asked, "You're a really good listener, you know? But what exactly is your name?" That last part came out as a whisper.

"It's Blackjack," a deep voice answered. I blinked. The voice seemed to have come from the horse. Although, there was something about that voice that seemed all too familiar. I decided to confirm the impossible.

"Did you just talk?" I muttered, making sure none of the others could hear me. Then I heard a low chuckle from behind Blackjack. Percy stepped out from behind the horse with a smirk. I scowled at him and smacked him on the arm, receiving an "Ow!"

He rubbed his arm and said, "You know, for someone who's expected to do nothing, you've got quite an arm."

"Do you think I like to do nothing? Don't judge someone by how they appear to others. You don't know anything about me," I growled.

Percy put his hands up in surrender, still wearing that annoying smirk. "I see you were talking to my horse."

"Yes, I was indeed talking to your horse, just like I said I would," I narrowed my eyes. "How much did you hear?"

"Just enough to know that you dislike being the crowned princess," said Percy.

I sighed. "It's not that I dislike being a princess. I just don't like the fact that everybody, even the people closest to me, treats me as just 'Princess'. It's rare when I'm just Annabeth to someone."

I couldn't believe I'd practically opened a part of myself to this boy. We'd barely met and yet he made me feel so relaxed around him. I felt like I could trust Percy with anything. I didn't know what the feeling was, but it made me feel warm inside whenever I spent time with him.

"I don't always see you as Princess. When I made that remark about Sleeping Beauty, I only saw you as Annabeth. It's probably why I said that in the first place," he said, softly. I smiled, realizing that I had possibly made a new friend.

Percy looked back at the camp, where all of the tents were set up already. He then looked at me and said, "We should head toward the campfire. Travis is probably done with his stew."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him. I couldn't help the grin that had split on my face and the slight blush that had formed from his grip on my wrist. Why did he make me feel this way?

A/N: And that is all for this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Personally, I thought I didn't put much heart into it. Oh well. Please review!

storytella out!