To AIMEE: I would just like to say that this wonderful chap is dedicated to my bestie poseidon4life18 - aka AIMEE ! She doesn't know why yet , but babe , I guarantee once you're done reading it , you'll know why (:

To the reader who reviewed "No offense but what about the invisibility cap" : I did it on purpose (: it'll explain in the first little bit . thanks for the review !

To everyone who reviewed, favorited & alerted from the last chap: THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH ! you guys make my life amazing (: lovee you !

To Percabeth lovers : Stick with me through this chapter. You might not like me at first, but you will! ...eventually .

To ALL : enjoy Sneaking Out & Southern Hospitality (:

Step, step, step. Turn. Step, step, step. Turn. Step, step, step.

I had been pacing across my cabin for probably the last ten minutes. I now knew where I was going and I already took care of Chiron and Eli, but…something was still holding me up. I mean, this was it. I was finally going to find Percy. Not that I hadn't attempted to find that Seaweed Brain before, but this time, I was actually going to do it.

All the other times that I had snuck out of camp to look for him had all ended with me either giving up, being forcibly brought back or, on one occasion, being attacked by a Hydra. But this time I actually had a clue—or, clues—to where he was. And I was going to find him—no matter what.

Thalia walked back in the cabin. I had sent her out to see where both Eli and Chiron were and make sure they were busy. "You're good to go," she said. "Chiron is sorting more files and Eli is at the arena. But Annabeth, I don't get why—"

"Shh, Thalia!" I cut her off. "I don't want anyone to hear. If anyone else finds out that I'm leaving again, they'll throw me in a love-sick mental hospital!"

Thalia got this teasing grin on her face. "Anna loves Percy! Anna loves Percy!" she sing-songed loudly just to make me mad.

"Thalia!" I said sharply. "I just…" I paused. "I need to make sure I'll be able to get out of here to find him. I need to find him."

"But Annab—"

"And if anyone sees me and tells Chiron, I'll never get to find him."

"You'll be fine 'caus—"

"And if I hadn't been sitting on my ass for the past four years, maybe I would've already found him! Then I wouldn't have to be breaking up with Eli and having to sneak past everyone! Oh gods, Thalia, what if someone sees me? I can't stand the idea of getting all my hopes up for noth—"

"ANNABETH!" Thalia screamed above my rambling. "Listen to me. I realize that you're head-over-heels in love with Percy. But you've got to shut up! This isn't the Annabeth who ran away from home when she was seven, led a quest through the Labyrinth and saved the world." I sighed and finally relaxed. She was right. It's amazing what this boy could do to me. And he wasn't even here. "Now, as I was trying to tell you, I don't know why you need to have Chiron and Eli distracted anyways. Don't you still have your invisibility cap?"

A smile crept on my face. "Gods, that's right!" I walked into my study and started pulling out some boxes. I didn't know which one it was in so Thalia and I just opened them all and dug through.

"Found it," Thalia said, hunching over an old cardboard moving box labeled Dishes.

She grabbed the cap out and blew off some of the bust before handing it to me. "Gods," I said. "I haven't worn this in years." Actually, the last time that I had worn this was during a game of Capture the Flag. I remember because I used it to sneak up behind Percy, hoping to scare him. But he must've heard I was coming because without even turning around, he paraded my attack and, in one swift movement, pushed off my cap, knocked my knife out of my hand, caught it with the other, and had his blade at my throat. Then he leaned in so he was only centimeters from my lips and whispered, "I'm shocked. I would think a Wise Girl like you would come up with a better plan than just sneaking up behind the boy who's invincible." Then he winked and closed the gap between our lips.

Thinking back, I don't remember who won that game. Percy and I kind of dropped out after that. But even if it turns out that my team lost (which I doubt is what happened because I always win), I wouldn't care because I got to make out with my unbelievably perfect boyfriend. I also lost my hat after Percy threw it off. Another camper found it just days after Percy disappeared, but I was too depressed to be thankful so I just threw it in a storage box.

Gods, I thought. Does everything in my life have to somehow relate to Percy?

But there was no way I was about to cry. So I picked myself up, put on a brave face, and thanked Thalia for finding it like it was no big deal.

I grabbed my backpack from off the floor and threw it over my shoulder. Just before I was about to put my cap on, Thalia spoke. "Hey, Annabeth?" She paused, looking deep in thought. After her thought process, she sighed. "Good luck finding Percy. I hope you do."

I grinned. "Me too." I quickly pulled her into a tight hug before fitting my cap on my head and vanishing into thin air.

Getting out of Camp Half-Blood was the easy part (thanks to Thalia and her ability to think). Getting to the amusement park, not so easy.

Of course, I didn't have Argus to drive me and I didn't have a car of my own. So that meant I had to walk. And just to make things even more difficult, I couldn't remember where this place was. So I'm off to a great start...

After I made it out of the woods, I just fallowed the dirt road that leads to the highway which leads into town where I'd catch a bus to the amusement park. That was my plan anyway.

I had been walking for about an hour and a half when my back started realizing how heavy my backpack actually was with everything in it. Then a little later, my legs started noticing how hard walking ten miles is with only one bite of a waffle with whipped cream and strawberries was. Finally, the sun decided to make a direct appearance which wasn't helping anything. I ended up stopping just up ahead by a tree for a much needed break.

I pulled out my box it Ritz and started munching on a few. Looking down the road, I still couldn't see the highway. I groaned. I don't know what it was, maybe the lack of food, water and friends with me, but something was making me slip up. I would think that this would be the quest I was most determined to do, but I'm already tired, I've been jumping at the slightest sounds hoping that it wasn't a monster even though I know I'd be able to beat it, and I haven't been thinking all day. Or thinking well I should say. I mean, I'm Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena! I've just been throwing that at myself all day.

After sitting there for a while, I figured I should get moving again. The faster I get moving, the faster I get to see Percy again. And I kept telling myself that as I started repositioning. The faster I get moving, the faster I get to see Percy again. The faster I get moving, the faster I get to see Percy again.

Only that thought started relaxing me for some reason. …the faster I get to see Percy again.

I leaned up against the tree in the shade. …I get to see Percy again.

Percy. My Seaweed Brain.

And just like that, I was asleep, awaiting dreams filled with a certain dark haired Kelp Head.

I was woken up by the sound of a truck coming down the road. It was one of those old, red, country ones you see in movies all the time. Whoever was driving noticed me sitting there and came to a stop in front of me.

It was a boy about my age driving—maybe a little older. He had spiky blond hair that was gelled up in the front, and was wearing a blue button up shirt and aviators. His car was covered in dirt but he had the windows rolled down anyways, looking not afraid of any dust that might come in.

"Hey," he said with a southern accent. "Need a lift?"

I shook my head while standing up. "No thanks, I'll walk."

"Oh, c'mon. It's no trouble at all," he said, smiling.

I shook my head again. "I have a boyfriend." Okay, so that was a total lie because I had just broken up with Eli and Percy wasn't technically my boyfriend anymore. But I wasn't in the mood to be around any other boy besides Percy.

"I'm not tryin' to hit on ya," he promised. "Just tryin' to show some of our southern hospitality."

I raised an eyebrow. "Our?" I asked.

"Hop in the truck and I'll tell ya." He had a sweet smile and I do have to admit, his accent was kind of sexy. I didn't want to push it any further, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings either. I climbed in.

He told me I could drop my stuff in the back seat. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Annabeth Chase," I replied shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet ya, Annabeth," he said while taking off his aviators. His eyes were light brown which gave him the look of complete innocence and, although I didn't want to say it, extreme hotness. "I'm Charlie Hunter."

I thanked him for the ride then told him that I was heading into town. "What's in town?"

"I'm going to see an old friend." Well, it wasn't a total lie. I am going to meet an old friend, except he's just not in that town—at least I don't think he is.

"And you planned on walkin' all the way there?" he asked chuckling under his breath.

"I didn't have a car, okay?" I said not being able to hide giggling at myself at how stupid I must've looked sitting on the side of the road.

He laughed. "Well at least you have loyalty. I like loyalty in a girl." He smirked.

"Hey," I said turning towards him. "You said you weren't hitting on me."

"And I'm not," he said. "I was just statin' a fact."

I smirked. There was a short silence so he flipped on the radio to some country station. So I will sail my vessel…'Til the river runs dry…Too many times we stand aside...And let the waters slip away… "So, what were you doing driving on a road that goes to nowhere?" I asked.

"The folks bought a summer house up here when I was young," he said. "I'm from Athens, Tennessee originally."

I stifled a giggle at the irony. "What?" he said.

"Nothing," I said. "Just thought of something funny." 'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow...It has now become today...So don't you sit upon the shoreline ...And say you're satisfied

He shrugged with a half-smile. "So my summer home is just a few towns away. Folks said I could borrow the car for the day. Just been drivin' around, enjoyin' summer. Then I saw you there lookin' lost. I was actually glad to have somethin' to do."

I smirked. "What happened to 'southern hospitality'?" He shrugged while grinning. I playfully hit him. Choose to chance the rapids…And dare to dance that tide...And I will sail my vessel…'Til the river runs dry…

We continued down the dirt road then eventually turned on the highway—the whole time, laughing and sharing stories. I have to admit, he was very charming.

But not as charming as Percy.

Turns out that Charlie knew exactly where the amusement park was. He used to go there when he'd come up here when he was little. I told him that I was "meeting my friend at the amusement park" and he offered to drive me so that I wouldn't have to take the city bus. I don't know if I said yes so I didn't have to ride the bus or if it was so I could talk to Charlie longer.

You're going to find Percy, I kept telling myself. Percy. From there I could easily slip into daydreams about him.

When we got there, it was about four-thirty. Sense it was summer, the sun was still high in the sky. I grabbed my backpack and climbed out. I said good-bye and was starting to walk away when Charlie called out. "Hey, Annabeth?"

I turned around. "Yeah?"

Charlie reached into his back seat and grabbed a crumpled up piece of paper and a pen. He scribbled something down and handed it to me. "You keep in touch, alrigh'?" He smiled, put his aviators on and drove away.

I looked down at the paper and saw his number in sloppy handwriting. I blushed and tucked the paper in my backpack.

I turned towards the entrance of the park. It was just as I remembered it—little kids with their parents were coming out, big groups of teenagers were going in, and the whole place smelt of fried food and wood. I could even see the loops of the roller coaster that Percy and I went on after I ate those Funnel Cakes on our first official date. I shuttered. Bad memories with that coaster.

But I rolled my shoulders back, took a deep breath and grabbed Percy's note that I had been keeping in my pocket. "Okay, Percy," I mumbled to myself. "Where are you?"

lot of page breaks in that one . but oh well !

Review babes. Gotta know if my story's still good.

-kenna(: