Wow, two chapters in one night!

Disclaimer: Rick Riordan owns all characters.

Chapter 4

(Annabeth's POV)

Bobby shook me awake. "Annabeth," he whispered.

"Annabeth, wake up!"

"What, Bobby?"

"There's a boy in the water looking for you. He said his name was Percy."

I sat up immediately. "What time is it?"

"Midnight."

I kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you. Please don't tell anyone I'm leaving."

"Yes ma'am," he said, saluting.

I quickly and quietly rushed out the back door. I ran tothe beach. "Percy," I whispered. His head peeked over our rock.

"Hey," he said. "I hope he didn't wake you. Sweet kid."

"He did, but I've been sleeping all day."

He sighed. "Okay. Sorry it's so late."

I smiled. "That's okay."

"I found another spot," he said.

"Show me!"

"Come in." He held his hand out. I took his hand and he pulled me in. We swam down the beach a little and found a small divet in the beach. He pulled me toward it. Once we entered, we resurfaced. I gasped and looked around. Percy had found a small cave; It was beautiful. The bottom of the water glistened with multicolored crystals. The ceiling was at least ten feet high.

"Oh, Percy! How did you find it?"

"I was swimming around and came across it. It's in the cliff."

"It's beautiful."

He muttered something.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said.

"Okay..." I released his hand and climbed up onto a black rock. He sat on it as well. I twisted the water out of my hair.

"You don't need to dry off," he said.

"Yes I do."

"No. I mean, I can help." He touched my hand and I almost immediately dried. My eyes widened.

"That's... Incredible!"

He smiled. "It is." He gazed up at the ceiling. "There's a legend about this cave," he said. "In Atlantis."

"What is it?"

He gulped. "Every crystal has a different meaning. A person's favorite color is supposed to describe them."

I smiled and looked up too. "What's blue?"

"Kind. Adventurous. Mischievious."

"That's you. Green?"

"Adventurous. Prideful. Smart. Beautiful. All you."

I smiled for a moment, but then my brain registered what he said. I turned to him. He was staring at me.

"You.. You think I'm beautiful?"

He tucked a stray piece of hair behing my ear. "The most beautiful girl in all the world; under the ocean and on land."

He mumbled something else that I couldn't catch. Then, he leaned in close as if to kiss me. I could feel his breath on my lips. I felt myself tense up, and he turned away.

"I'll see you soon, right?" I asked him.

"Yeah. This time, tomorrow?"

"Of course."

(Percy's POV)

As I swam away, I muttered to myself how stupid I was.

Of course she doesn't love you! She wouldn't have tensed when you almost kissed her! I thought.

As I neared my little house where my mom and I lived, I saw her floating near the front door. I could feel her glare from however far away I was. Somehow, I think it wasn't for me.

"Perseus Jackson!" Nope. It was for me.

"Hey..." I said, swimming up.

"Where have you been all night?"

"I was at Grover's!"

"Don't lie to me. Grover came over around eight asking where you were."

"What?"

"You are GROUNDED, Perseus." I flinched as she said my full name.

The next day, my mother was going to take me out to the market. I hated the market. She went to introduce me to the new marketers at the art stand. There was a girl there. She was my age. She had frizzy red hair and bright green eyes.

"Hi! I'm Rachel. Rachel Elizabeth Dare. You're Percy?"

"Yes."

"Well it's nice to meet you."

"You too."

She surprised me by giving me a hug. She squeezed me a little too hard. Unlike Annabeth, who's hugs were warm and loving, hers wasn't.

"Um..."

DOS YERS A LARTER

Today was my sixteenth birthday. August 18th. August 19th and 20th would be the worst days of my life. I would find out to whom I was betrothed, and taken away the next day to the King's Army. I needed to see Annabeth. I couldn't keep my mind off of her. She was in my dreams, always there, always comforting me. Occasionally kissing me. Kissing me a lot. I only hoped it could become reality.

I started for our cove around ten. I swear someone was following me. Seaweed was always moving around me and I saw flashes of red occasionally.

Hehe, who could it be? Please review! ;)