AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! Thanks so much for the 30+ reviews! You guys are AMAZING! But yeah please keep up the support, and I'm sorry for the delay. Its been a while. I was updating my other story, the Person Within. If you ever get a chance, please check that out! So yeah, I hope you like it and Please review!

Oh and I wanted to give shout out to Shandia99, who was the first one who PMed me about this story and gave me ideas!
TO Shandia99: Thank you for your ideas and suggestions! You are AWESOME :D


Percy POV

"So," I began, sitting down next to her, "Let's hear it!"

I took a bit of my brownie, watching her narrow her endless, all-knowing eyes.

She cleared her throat, and said, "Well, I mean I don't know how else to say it besides that my friends got drunk and got into a fight. I didn't know what got into me...it's just, Piper and Thalia are basically the only people I care about, and they care for me back. I've never had a real mom or dad who truly given a shit about what I do." She spat.

I didn't know why, but everything about her made me intrigued. The way she moves, the way she talks, and when she says my name...

"Bottom line is... They are the only people who care."

I hung onto every word, nibbling on my brownie every so often.

Annabeth smirked and raised a fine eyebrow. "Now where's my brownie?" She asked, playing me like a toy. I hated the affect she has over me, Percy Jackson, who is so "cool and uncaring" that he could get any girl he possibly wanted.

But not this girl. She was different, so real. She's not afraid to be herself, like everyone else is.

She got up and went over to the counter, picking up a brownie and popping it into her mouth.

"Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed, now stuffing it in her face. "This is amazing," she said. Although 'said' isn't the right word. She basically sang it, in a beautiful ballad.

Her voice made goose bumps appear on my arm. She wasn't just gorgeous, she had serious talent.

I stood up, not taking off my eyes of her long legs. Annabeth turned around, her stormy eyes meeting my oceanic ones, and blushed deeply when she realized what I was staring at.

"You checking me out?" She joked, rasing her eyebrows.

I choked on my own brownie. "No!" I shouted. "I mean, it's not that you aren't pretty, but I mean, wait, no-" I stammered.

She giggled, her laugh echoing in my ears.

Clearing my throat, I made my way over to her.

"So." She said, breaking the awkward silence. "What are we going to be doing today?"

I got up and followed her. I loved hear her American accent, even though I know I can fake one perfectly. It was so different. So unique, just like everything else about her.

Only a couple more days to Christmas, I thought to myself before responding.

I thought about it for a while, staring at the beige colored walls, along with the huge Christmas tree in Annabeth's living room. I smiled, thinking about when I was little, watching famous singers on TV singing at Madison Square.


BEEP BEEP BEEP! I heard my alarm go off on Christmas morning, and a huge smile appeared on my face as I threw off my covers.

I ran down the stairs, already taking in the strong, hardy scent of gingerbread.

Tyson, my younger brother, ready had beaten me to the living room. "Ha-ha! He taunted. "I beat you first!" Tyson said, sticking out his tongue. Usually, I would go over there and bop him on the head of something, but it was Christmas, my favorite holiday of the year, I would NOT let him ruin it.

My mum and dad came down the stairs, their eyes shining with love. "Awww, look, Paul!" My mother exclaimed. "The boys got up extra early to open their gifts!"

Paul was my step-dad. Even though I don't remember my biological one, he was the closest I had.

He went over to me and ruffled my hair affectionately, making it fall over my eyes. "You ready to open the presents Seaweed Brain?"

I used to be obsessed with water, swimming almost every day of the year, even in the winter-hence the name Seaweed Brain. But as I got older and we moved to the United States, I had no time to even go near the water.

I picked the biggest present and held it up. "Can I open this one?" My voice anxious.

"Sure." Mum told me, getting the camera ready.

I tore it open, my eyes shining with excitement and my jaw fell open.

"A CAMERA AND A MICROPHONE?!" I asked, jumping up and down.

My parents beamed with pride, as I ran around the living room singing to the top of my lungs and filming everything I could.

One by one, I opened all my presents, but I didn't love any as much as I did the camera.

* * * (time shift)

As we at around the table for our evening meal, I thanked God for the amazing day I had. I was so lucky. I had a family that loved me, the bestest friends in the world, and everything I could ever had wanted.

Paul turned on the TV, and my favorite singer, Bruno Mars, was singing at Madison Square. I got out of my seat, grabbed my microphone that I had got earlier and started singing along with him.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
there is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.

Tyson took the camera I got and filmed my 'performance'. I had the biggest smile I've ever had on my face. Most smiles that I do today are only for show. For the paparazzi and my fans. It sad that they can't see the truth, but I'd rather fake it than lose my career I've been dreaming of having since I was 8.

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you, yeah.


I could almost feel my eyes lighting up the room. "Why not ice skating?" I asked cheerfully.

She bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't really know how to ice skate."

I pouted, giving her puppy dog eyes. "Please?" I begged.

Annabeth shook her head, but her eyes looked unreadable, like she has some grudge against it.

I furrowed my eyebrows and then out of nowhere, grabbed her and put her on my shoulder.

"Percy let me go!" She demanded in shock. I let out an evil chuckle as I walked out the door and put her down in the car. Before she could get out, I was already next to her, starting the engine.

"Where are we going?"

I smirked, looking at her in the corner of my eye. "You'll see."

She was on edge, gripping the seat. "Percy!" She whined, looking around anxiously. "This is kidnapping!"

"It's not kidnapping if you like it." I said, flashing a dazzling smile, watching Annabeth role those ash-like marbles.

I stopped at a pond, completely frozen. I smiled at the memories I used to have here. Every winter, I would visit this place and just ice skate by myself whenever I wasn't recording a song or shooting a movie. It was a way for me to let go, to not have a care in the world. I almost forgot about the stress of being a role model for millions of little girls around the world.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Annabeth's trembling voice.

"No. No, no, no, no! You are not going to make me do this."

I stared at her, giving her a look. She stared back at me, but not in the same way. It was strategical, as if she was planning on taking me down a fight.

Eventually, she gave up, opening the car door and walking outside. I followed, shuddering at the cold air. Grabbing a pair of ice skates that I had brought from the house, I gave one to her and told her to put them on.

"This isn't fair!" She complained.

I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't want to learn to dance, but you made me learn it anyway, didn't you?" I countered.

"Yeah, but you had to learn how to dance. I don't have to learn how to ice skate." She shot back, a smile tugging on her lips.

I groaned, and got onto the ice, zooming around the pond and back. She stared at me in horror.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Taking her hands, I led her onto the ice. Her grip was like stone, but strangely enough...I didn't want her to let go. Annabeth held on tightly to me as I showed her now to move slowly.

Taking her hand, I instructed her to push out slowly. Before long, she was getting the hang of it, starting to move a little faster-without my help. I had to give her props. She caught on really fast.

"This. Is. So. Much. FUN!" She shrieked, making another lap around the pond. As she came around, she grabbed my hand, pulling me into the middle of the pond. I twirled her around over and over until she collapsed onto me, our faces only a couple inches away.

"Um...Sorry." I stammered, picking myself up. I couldn't meet her eyes. I couldn't be feeling the way I do about her. I'd put her in the spotlight, the paparazzi hounding her the way they do with me. And I couldn't live with myself if I put that burden on me.

"It's fine." She said kindly, trying to read my face.

"We should be getting back." I told her coldly, making my way back to the car.

She followed me silently, scowling at the ground.

We rode back together in dead silence, not even facing each other. It killed me not to be able to say anything, to behave so rudely like this. But it was for the best. Our worlds don't touch. And they shouldn't touch for a reason.

I got out of the car, slamming the door a little harder than necessary.

Annabeth glared at me, opening her mouth as if she were going to say something, but closed it when she saw the girl standing in the front of the house.

The girl had too-familiar blazing red hair, the color of inferno. Freckles lined her face, and her selfish, piercing green eyes had a devilish gleam to them.

I cursed under my breath. She's already been sending me to hell and back for the last two months. Why does she have to choose here-of all the places in the world-to visit?

She turned around, and I found myself looking into the bitter eyes of Rachel Dare.


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