A/N: Hello my most devoted readers! i hope you enjoy this chapter! It really is important, just a little sad. Well...PLEASE review! I helps me so much!

*DISCLOSER* I still don't own PJO or HoO! ALL RIGHTS TO RICK RIORDAN!

Annabeth

My world was spinning. I hardly had a grip on reality any more. My mind is flashing through so many thoughts its making me dizzy. I can't focus on anything, it's very disorienting. I feel so off balance.

My world had started tilting because of a boy. The boy had longish windblown hair, and tan skin that girls just drool over. When he looked at me, his bright green-blue eyes were soaking in the image of my face. They were a window. I know its super clichéd but they were a perfect window into his mind. And I could tell he loved me. It was practically written on his forehead. He stood there with his billowing purple cape, giving off an illusion of power. One thing was for certain, even though he looked like a blind man seeing the sun after many years, I had never seen the boy before, and his first move is to kiss me.

I immediately pulled away. My arm wound up and when I let it go it came across his face in a defining sound. He looked so hurt. His eyes portrayed such a pain that it made me feel guilty. They were searching my face for an answer. Looking into his eyes was painful. Reminding me of a hurt animal, they continued to beg me for an answer. I felt even worse, the longer I stared into his eyes. I couldn't answer his questioning looks because it's very unsettling when a complete stranger just kisses you.

I had to get out of there. The looks from everyone on the boat literally dug into my skin. I couldn't stand it anymore. I ran to the stair well, to my lone escape route. Within moments I was in my room. I dove into the soft green sheets, and just sat there. "Why did it matter what everyone thought?" I thought bitterly. But I knew why it mattered. I wasn't the only person completely lost. And with that thought, sobs rocked me into oblivion. Well for a while.

A rapping on the door brought me up short. Piper walked into the room. She surveyed the room and her glance locked on me. "Annabeth, talk to me," was all she said.

I didn't know this girl any better than the boy, or any other person on this boat. Even though I didn't know her, she was always trying to comfort me. She seemed to understand me a bit better than any of the others. Her voice sounded comforting, like a warm fire and a soft blanket. It was smooth like honey and I didn't want to talk but her voice made it seem easier. "Annabeth, Percy doesn't know about what happened to you."

I thought about everything that had happened through the last few days. I was emotionally stressed. I was stretched in a thousand directions. People were trying to talk to me. They were trying to take care of me. I was tired, scared and injured. Nothing made sense and now, oh now, this boy decides that I'm easy. So he kisses me, thinking that his forward nature would be endearing. That was the final straw. Anger boiled up in my veins. My eyes narrowed as I thought about the boy's expression when I bitch slapped him. I wanted to grab the knife that sat on my bed side table and run to the upper deck and gut the monster.

Piper laid her hand over my clenched fingers, breaking me out of my own thoughts. "Percy, so that's the creep's name," I said through clenched teeth.

Piper sighed. She sounded like my words broke her faith in humanity. "He's not a creep, he just missed you," Piper breathed.

"I don't know this kid; I've never even seen him before!" I practically growl at her. "And now this nutcase thinks he can kiss me out of nowhere!"

Piper carefully placed her arm around my shoulder. Her tan arm patted mine. My head bowed, sobbing again

"Annabeth…"

I looked up, straight into her kaleidoscope eyes. I exclaimed, "Who does he think he is?"

Piper paused, and when she spoke, her voice was almost a whisper. "You boyfriend, that's who he thinks he is."