Annabeth couldn't figure out why she ran after Percy. She didn't ask him to do that; she didn't anyone's help. Percy was walking hastily towards the parking lot. Even at a steady jogging pace, Annabeth was barely catching up to him.

"Hey! Wait!" Annabeth called after him. He didn't stop until she quickened her pace; when she finally caught up and put a hand on his shoulder he came to an abrupt stop nearly causing her to run into him. His muscles were tense and shaking with anger. "God, what the hell was that? I didn't ask you to do that!"

"I didn't do it for you." He said angrily, gritting his teeth not daring to look towards her. "I hated the stupid perverted look in his eyes; the way he looked at you, like you were an object he could just possess. Guys like him… It just pisses the hell outta me."

"Percy…" Annabeth said softly. She moved her hand down his arm. His muscles relaxed. Annabeth was never good at communicating her feelings. She didn't mean to yell at him or get angry; she was just freaked out.

Percy finally slowly began to turn towards Annabeth. Annabeth never even took a real, long look at him. His wavy, dark brown hair was still wet from swimming. His brilliant sea green eyes were stunningly beautiful; He had sharp features that reminded her of a male model. The word handsome doesn't do him justice. He took Annabeth's breath away.

She took a step towards him, putting her hand on his cheek; Annabeth was mesmerized by his eyes; they were masked as if he was hiding something from her, but Annabeth could see the sadness in them. Why was he sad?

"Thank you..." Annabeth spoke softly. With that, Percy closed the distance between them, meeting his lips with hers. Their lips touched with the softest of touches, one that sent Annabeth's heart racing before touching completely. His lips were soft and tasted of sea salt; and when he closed the distance, allowing their lips to touch fully; that kiss, Annabeth knew there was something different about him. She pulled away to look into his eyes. He didn't stop her; he didn't hide from her. She looked into his previously sea green eyes that had now changed. He let down his wall that hid what he really was. When she looked into his eyes, and saw what he was; she accepted him, wholly and completely.

It's been just over 2 months since Piper met Jason and Percy. Piper still had her suspicions about them, but she put them aside for Annabeth. She and Percy were getting along perfectly. Piper didn't know what happened after the beach, but something between them worked out. She seemed happy, which made Piper happy.

"You're doing laundry." A voice said over Piper's shoulder. Piper turned; it was Annabeth. "You never do laundry, yet you've been doing a lot of laundry lately." Annabeth was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed. She had a determined look on her face. Piper sighed, she didn't want to talk; she didn't want to think; she just wanted to work to hopefully get her mind off of things.

"Percy told me you've been avoiding Jason." She added.

"I haven't been avoiding him. I've just been busy…" Piper trailed off. That got Piper a look from Annabeth.

"You've been keeping yourself busy. There's a difference." Piper didn't respond. Annabeth was right, she just didn't want to admit it. "What wrong?" Annabeth asked softly. Piper stopped folding clothes and opened her mouth to respond, but she couldn't get the words out. She didn't even know why she was so suspicious; maybe her suspicions were stupid, nothing to get worked up about, but a voice deep inside her kept pushing her away.

"Come on, Piper. I'm your best friend. If something's bothering you, tell me." She added gently. There was a long pause as Piper thought.

"Have you noticed?" Piper started softly.

"Noticed what?"

"Percy… Jason… They seem…" Piper paused, searching for the right word to explain. "Different. I don't know how to explain it." Annabeth eyes widened. "Whenever we're around them weird things happen. I don't know. I sound stupid and probably crazy, but something… something deep inside is screaming that something weird is going on."

"I-I've never noticed. What made you have these doubts?"

Annabeth was never the best actor, so Piper could hear the surprise in her voice.

"Jason and Percy seemed to be talking, but they never said any words; the ocean stirred when Percy got all worked up at the beach. It's small things that are out of the ordinary." Annabeth didn't say anything at first, but then she laughed. Piper flinched at her laughter.

"Percy told me him and Jason are like brothers and that sometimes they don't need to say anything to understand what the other is thinking. It's nothing... supernatural just brotherly like a deep connection or understanding of one another." Piper just nodded, not pushing on. She didn't need to make a fool of herself again. They had work in a few hours and Piper could already tell it was going to be a long night.

….

Work was a zoo.

Every table was filled with more people waiting for an opening. One thing caught Piper's eye, a guy sitting by himself in a two seater table by the wall that divides the upper and lower half of the grill. It wouldn't be weird if he wasn't wearing a long black trench coat and hat. It also wouldn't be creepy if he wasn't staring right at Piper either. Suddenly, their gazes met, something in his eyes caused icy cold fear to stir deep inside Piper; there was something inhuman about him, Piper could see it.

Piper had to tear her gaze away from him. There was something eerie and frightening about him; it sent chills down Piper's spine. She had to keep focused though; she couldn't get distracted by this guy. Clearing her mind, Piper got into the rhythm of waiting, serving, and taking orders. It helped the next few hours fly by, but her rhythm was thrown off by Rick and his friends loud roar of laughter. Quickly glancing over at their table, Piper noticed Ryan was gone. She wondered where he was; maybe he finally ditched those douche-y friends. Annabeth was talking to Percy and Jason who were seated next to Rick and his friends. Jason looked at Piper and gave her a small smile, but Piper kept her face straight. Annabeth then crossed in front of their table to serve another table. She leaned in to look at what the customer was pointing to, as she leaned Piper saw Rick nudge his friend then nodding towards Annabeth.

What's he up to? Piper thought.

Rick leaned towards Annabeth, his hand heading towards Annabeth's butt, but something stopped him. Piper couldn't register what happened next. It happened too quick for her to follow. Suddenly, Percy was standing over Rick, Rick's wrist in his hand. Percy clenched it angrily. Rick nearly stumbled out of his at Percy's sudden presence. Piper couldn't believe it either; she stumbled back a step, nearly running into another waitress. He was over there by Jason? But now he wasn't? How'd he move so fast? That-… That's not humanly possible.

Piper started towards the steps to head to the upper part of the grill when a ice cold hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her dead in her tracks. Slowly, she turned her head; the creepy guy was holding her wrist. Blond hair peaked out of the collar of his black coat as he slowly turned towards Piper. The chill of danger radiated off of him making Piper shiver, but she didn't dare move away. Their eyes connected; his eyes gleaming with something inhumanly chilling. What was he?

The shadow across his face lifted just enough for Piper to see one side of his lips curled up in a smile.

A vampire… a voice said.

Piper was officially crazy. First she's seeing things, now there are voices in her head. Besides, vampires? That's not possible. Vampires are myths, fake; they're just legends. Why would that even pop into her head?

Because they do exist. They're all around you… the voice added. An image of Jason flashed in her head.

Jason? That's not possible.. It can't be. He seemed weird, but vampires is just not possible.

You say that, but your mind is racing at the possibilities… the voice added.

Piper realized the creepy man still had her wrist. She jerked away. Was he just in my head? That's not possible. None of this should be possible. Piper didn't know what was going on, but she knew one thing for sure.

Vampires were real.