Sorry it's late, but I've been really busy lately. Lots of stuff going on. Most of my stories will be on slow update, so sorry again, guys.

Disclaimer: I own Percy Jackson. [Insert: Wish] [Correction:] I wish I own Percy Jackson.

Percy's POV

I walked out of the locker room in just my black swimming trunks, a towel slung over my shoulder. A few girls giggled upon seeing my abs, but I ignored them. I had Annabeth.

"Twenty laps, on my mark!" Coach Dilling barked. "You too, newbie!"

I shot him a sarcastic thumbs-up and he glared at me. Then I set the towel down and stood at the edge of the pool, rather than crouching like everyone else.

"Cupcake!" I heard Dilling yell. "You're gonna stand there?"

I looked at him. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

He sneered. "I could give you detention right now, Jackson, but we'll have to see if you're any good first,"

I just turned to the pool.

"Ready..." I rolled my shoulders. "Set..." I arched and cracked my back. "GO!" I jumped in and immediately took the lead.

By the time I was on my tenth lap, most were only on their fifth. By the time I was on my fifteen, most were on their eighth or ninth. And by the time I was done, the second fastest person was just starting their fourteenth lap. I willed myself to become wet and sat at the edge of the pool, my feet dangling in the water. I flashed a gaping coach a grin.

"Did I do well?" I asked innocently.

He shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. "Yes, you did! Now, if it wouldn't be too much to ask, would you like to join the swim team? Tryouts are next week. And with you as our captain, we'll be in a shoe for globals!"

I thought about it. "Yeah, sure." He grinned at me.

After that, we did 100 meter freestyle relays (which my team won, of course). Then, it was lunch.

Daemon's POV

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Tim, I have no idea how to do this!"

He groaned. "Just go up to her and ask her out!"

I gave him a look. "You know what she always says. She has a boyfriend,"

Tim scoffed. "You can't honestly believe that this 'Percy Jackson' guy, with the 'raven black hair and sea green eyes' is real."

"Yes, I can. Even she can't come up with that many details in one minute!"

"Dude, seriously. You're her freaking best friend!"

"Yeah, yeah. And I've never been to this 'camp' of hers, where she has so many friends and where this 'Percy Jackson' guy is. Plus, she's got photos." I rolled my eyes.

"Honestly. The pictures are all photoshopped. It's obvious. And it's a camp for ADHD and dyslexics, neither of which you are. It's all just to get Xavier away. On that note, did you hear the new kid beat him up this morning when he flirted with Annabeth?" he asked.

I laughed silently. "Did Annabeth beat him up for fighting her own fight?" I could imagine the new kid, probably with blond hair and blue eyes, in the nurse's office. Annabeth hated it when people fought her own battles.

Tim's face fell. "No. Quite the opposite, actually. I just heard a few snippets, but apparently she offered to be his tour guide or something. I dunno. He'll probably be at the lunch table today,"

I deflated. "So she's all over him," I said.

Tim shook his head, brushing his long black bangs out of his eyes. "No. Not yet. I told you, we'll see."

We pushed open the doors to the lunch room and headed to our table. The twins, Robyn and Ravyn Gilt, were already there, and so was Katia. Finn, Katia's boyfriend, and Dusk, Ravyn's boyfriend, were also there. Annabeth wasn't.

I sat down next to Robyn, and Tim sat next to me.

"Hey, where's Annabeth?" I asked.

Everyone shot me looks of sympathy. They knew I liked Annabeth.

"What's up with the long faces?" I asked.

"You haven't heard, have you?" Robyn asked. I shook my head.

"About what?"

"The new-" Ravyn started, but the lunchroom door opened and Annabeth walked in, a bright smile on her face.

She was halfway to our table when a guy I'd never seen before walked up behind her and slung a lazy arm around her shoulder. I was just about to tell him to beat it she she pushed his arm off.

I internally smiled.

He shoved her.

I fumed.

She shoved him back.

I relaxed.

He shoved her again.

I tensed.

She shoved him back.

I settled down.

He shoved her again.

I bristled, while the whole lunchroom watched them in silence.

She reached out, as if to shove him again, but instead, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him towards her.

"Seaweed Brain," she murmured so quietly I wasn't sure if I'd heard her correctly.

And then she kissed him.

I froze, and everyone at the table turned their heads toward me, their eyes full of sympathy - again.

I was so frozen, I didn't even notice when they sat down at our table, until Annabeth started talking.

"Guys, this is Percy Jackson. My very real boyfriend."

"Ravyn Gilt," Ravyn said.

"Robyn Gilt."

"Katia Shane."

"Phillip Downright, but call me Finn. I'm Katia's boyfriend."

"Dusk Langer. Ravyn's boyfriend."

"Tim Diam. And before you ask, no, that is not short for Timothy."

The Percy turned to me.

"And you are?"

"I'm Daemon King," I said, trying to keep a calm expression. On the inside, I felt like I was slowly burning up.

He nodded. "Cool."

Annabeth punched him in the arm. "Be friendlier," she scolded, but there was a twinkle in her eye. "And I've been meaning to ask. Are you the only one?"

He shrugged and smirked, just moments before the doors slammed open.

Everyone stared.

In the doorway stood seven mysteriously good-looking kids, all new. The two in the front both had electrifyingly blue eyes. The girl had spiky black hair, a silver jacket, ripped jeans, red Converse, and a silver circlet on her head. The boy had blond hair, a navy blue hoodie, dark jeans, and silver-and-gold Osiris shoes. Behind them were five other people:

A beautiful girl with long brown hair, cut choppily, color-changing eyes, stood next to a Latino boy with curly hair that looked vaguely like an elf. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, an impish grin on his face.

Next to him was an emo/goth-looking boy, with shaggy black hair, and aviator's jacket, baggy jeans, and worn black Vans. He had a skull ring on his left hand.

Next to him were two people, obviously a couple. They were holding hands. The boy had a muscular body, as if he was a warrior, but his babyish face ruined it. The girl had dark brown hair, and seriously startling golden eyes.

I was just about to ask who they were, when Annabeth jumped up and yelled, "Thalia!," rushing at the girl in front with the spiky hair. Annabeth tackled 'Thalia' with a flying hug, which she gladly returned.

Percy chuckled and got up slowly. My fists clenched.

Annabeth turned on him. "The rest of the seven and your cousins? Gee Perce, I never knew you thought I liked surprises," she crossed her arms over her chest, a (very scary) death glare on her face.

Just when I thought she was about to punch him, he laughed and pulled her in for a hug. She giggled and hugged him back.

Whoa, whoa.

Hold up.

Giggled?

As far as I knew, Annabeth Chase does not giggle.

Robyn reached out and patted my arm. "That's what," she said quietly.

Then they kissed, and my eyes closed. I was being torn apart.

I cracked an eye open when the bouncing guy with curly hair shouted, "Oi! Lovebirds! Break it up! Mushy-gushy time is reserved for camp!"

Annabeth wriggled out of Percy's embrace and slapped him. "Shut up, Leo." She proceeded to give everyone else hugs.

"Hey! Don't I get a hug?" Leo pouted.

Annabeth smirked and reached out to hug him. At the last moment, she slapped him again. He yelped.

She pointed to a table, and they all sat. Then she and Percy walked back, grabbed their things, and gave a short wave before walking over to the others. I could hear their conversation, because I was closer to them than the others.

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Annabeth asked.

"Lady A wanted me to have a 'good, normal teenaged experience,' because I'm going to be like this for a long time." Thalia said.

Huh?

"And she pulled me along," the blond haired guy grumbled.

"Aww, c'mon, you so wanted to come," Thalia said with a cheeky grin.

He scowled. "Yeah, right."

She pinched his cheeks. "Admit it. You didn't want to miss out on all the fun your older sister was going to have,"

Older sister?

As far as I knew, she looked about fifteen and he looked about sixteen-seventeen-ish.

"Piper?"

"Oh. Just came with Jason to make sure he didn't do anything dangerous or something like that. Leo insisted upon tagging along," the choppy-haired girl jerked a thumb at Leo.

Leo just grinned and held up something in his fingers. He let go, and I saw what it was.

It was a small scrap metal helicopter with actual spinning blades. It made a circle around the table before landing in Leo's outstretched hand.

"Dude, how the heck do you do that?" the baby-headed guy said.

"Skill, man. Just like you can be an ele-" Annabeth slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Moving on," she announced. "Nico, why are you here?"

The emo guy said, "Per- erm, I mean my stepmother didn't want me around. Dad didn't have any jobs. So Thalia offered for me to come here. When I refused, she threatened me with flowers," he shuddered. Thalia rolled her eyes.

"Frank and I"-the golden eyed girl gestured towards the buff kid-"were just looking for a high school. When we found you here, we transferred."

Annabeth smiled warmly. "That's great. Schedules?"

"All the same," they chorused.

She raised a brow. "Except for electives, I'm guessing."

The nodded.

"Let me guess. Nico and Hazel, you guys took Rocks and Minerals along with soccer. Jason and Thalia, Weather and Atmosphere with basketball. Frank, History of Wars and football. Leo, Workshop and soccer. Piper, Design and Track?"

"Yep," they said together again. Dang, they knew each other well.

Annabeth smiled. "Guess who the Greek teacher is?"

They shrugged.

"Mr Brunner!"

They all seemed to get excited except for Leo.

"Who's Mr. Brun- Oh, Chi-"

He was cut off by Annabeth's hand. Again.

"Yes, Leo. Our activities director. Now it's a minute to the bell, so we'd better get going."

They stood up, clearing the lunch that I hadn't realized they'd gotten, and walked out of the room together.

I thought about my position.

I wanted to hate Percy. I really did. But he seemed like a nice guy, and Annabeth was a whole other person around him.

I really wanted her to be happy. For her to be with the one she loved, who seemed to be Percy.

But I wanted to be that person.

And so I made a decision.

As wrong as it sounded, I was going to try to break up my best friend and her boyfriend.

No matter what the cost.

MWAHAHAHA! And, just to clarify, none of Annabeth's school friends are demigods.

Yet.

I think.

I come up with the plot as I go, so don't blame me.

R&R

~Luke~