Disclaimer: I'm not Rick Riordan, and do not own anything you recognize from the PJO or HoO series. This is what I do with my time- borrow characters and settings and plots and write totally unoriginal stories.


In the last chapter:

11. When she's scared, protect her.

9. When she starts crying, just hold her and don't say a word.

12. When she lays her head on your shoulder, tilt her head up and kiss her.


Percy stumbled out of the arena. He'd been practicing his sword fighting with various Ares campers for hours on end, and felt like he'd been run over by a truck. He opened his water bottle and poured it over himself. Much better.

He headed in the direction of the showers, hoping to get one in before dinner. On the way, he saw Annabeth walking towards the Big House. He thought of calling out to her, but then stopped himself. Instead, he ran in her direction, and when he got closer, he slowed and snuck up behind her. When she was less than a foot in front of him, he grabbed her around the waist.

He was in for a surprise.

Without even turning around, she grabbed his right arm and judo flipped him over her shoulder.

"Aaaaaaaaah! Hades, Annabeth! What the- Why would you- Who did- Gahhhhh!"

"Oh my gods, Percy, I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" She knelt next to him. "Are you okay?"

Percy didn't want to admit he had just been whupped by his girlfriend. "Yeah, sure." He winced as he sat up. "Just peachy."

"Are you sure? You don't look okay."

"I'm fine!" Percy snarled. Annabeth raised one eyebrow. "I... I mean, I'm all right." He smiled nervously.

"Sure you are, Seaweed Brain. I'll help you get to the Big House."

"No, no," Percy protested weakly. "I'm fine!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, stood up, and held out her hand to Percy. "Come on."

Percy sighed. He took her hand. "Remind me to never sneak up on you again."


Percy dialed Annabeth's phone number. She was probably going to kill him for it, but he had to talk to her, even at the risk of attracting monsters. She could take them.

He pressed call. He was afraid it was going to go to voicemail, but on the last ring, she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Annabeth? It's me."

"I know."

"How?"

"Because only you keep calling me when everything's perfectly fine."

"Actually, well, um, it's... not."

"What?"

"I, um, have to tell you something important."

"Well, tell me then."

"I, uh, kistsumelse."

"Slow down, Seaweed Brain, and repeat that."

Percy's stomach turned over. "I... kissed someone else."

No reply.

"Annabeth?"

Silence.

Percy waited. She wouldn't just hang up on him, would she?

He considered hanging up and calling her again. Maybe she was expecting him to. But at that moment, she spoke.

"Who?" She sounded a little strange.

"I don't know her name- that didn't come out right. It was this waitress, at a restaurant. I was just sitting there in the booth, and the next minute she was next to me and I don't know what happened next. I didn't kiss her back though, I swear on the Styx, I pulled away right after that, and-"

"Stop, Percy."

Percy felt like he was going to throw up.

"I-"

Annabeth interrupted him. "It doesn't matter. It isn't your fault. And you told me. I... appreciate that, Percy."

Percy felt like whooping with relief. "Thanks, Annabeth. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'll see you tomorrow." She hung up.

Percy fell back onto his bed. When he thought she'd blow up, she didn't. When he thought something wouldn't matter, it did.

Women.


A really, really long A/N: Sorry, this chapter is pretty short and kind of OOC. I've been really busy and somewhat uninspired, so I hope you'll forgive me. I wanted to get this up quickly because I don't think I'll have time to do so this Friday. Actually, forget about updating Fridays. I'll just try to update once a week. CONTEST IS OPEN THIS CHAPTER.

So, can we get up to 30 reviews for the next chapter? Even though I don't deserve them?

Would anyone like to offer their services as a beta? I won't bother you all the time, just for chapters like these, where I'm not quite sure how to go about it. Please PM me if you can!

Do you like my new cover image? My Photoshop skills are rather mediocre, but I think it's okay. A little creepy, but okay.


Guest (19th review): I'm sorry. It's gone now.

Guest(21st review): Thanks. I'm most definitely not going to have lemons. I don't know about suspense though. It's just a series of one-shots. If it were an actual story with a real plot and all, maybe, but this is just meant to be kind of relaxing and easy to read.

Percabeth Lover: Thanks so much! Your reviews make me feel special. And I know, imagine how silly all those apocalypse-ers must feel now.

~AlabasterLily