No POV

Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson.

They were best friends and nobody could say different. When Percy needed help with school, she helped. When Annabeth needed help practicing a sport, he helped. It was that way since second grade. Nobody could get between them. Everyday, they walked into school together, and left the same way.

The two children played together, defended each other, and never got into a fight. Perhaps, some would call them "Best Friends Forever", because that, in fact, was all they were.

Despite other students making circles around them and chanting, "Annabeth and Percy, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G...", they were only friends. And every time it happened, the other students watched them for signs of blushing. But Annabeth and Percy just smiled and broke out of the circle before continuing with whatever they were doing before that.

They had always bee that way, throughout elementary school. But things began changing in middle school.

Annabeth had never cared about clothing or make-up, instead focusing on school, family, and friends. People began to whisper about her, casting her glances as she walked through the hallways. It didn't matter, at least not to her, since she had Percy to stick with her. But lately she had noticed that he was acting a bit different. She no longer saw in the hallways, he was never at his locker when she went to find him, and he never sat with her for more than five minutes. No matter how many times something told her that something was wrong with Percy, she refused to listen to it, doing her best to believe that he was just having a hard time and needed to be alone.

That hope shattered when she saw Percy laughing with different people, laughing about someone. And she heard the name, "Annabeth."

Annabeth

My repressed memories hit me at once and I remembered why Percy had seemed to familiar to me in the park. I could suddenly remember that day clear as water. Nothing has been the same since. In fact, my life seemed to take a downward spiral from there.

Nothing I say could express what I felt that day. I saw Percy, my best friend – or so I thought – talking with some people. These people are what others would call the 'popular kids'. For a long time, I wondered why they choose to be with him, and why Percy left me alone. Now, I wonder why I didn't know.

Percy always loved water. A lake, a ocean, a pool. He loved water. So naturally, he was an amazing swimmer. In fact, Percy was the best on the team. That was where things began to change. I always thought that I would be his "Wise Girl" and he would be my "Seaweed Brain". How wrong I was. But that was how it was. I wasn't much, not a big pretty face, never very social, hardly noticed. He was the best swimmer on the team, easy to talk to, always laughing. People flocked to him, leaving me in the shadows. Although I was a little hurt that he didn't value my company anymore, it was nothing compared to the heart crushing feeling of seeing him and his new friends laugh about me.

"My God, she's such a freak!" Laughter. Someone asked, "Why did you hang out with her for so long? I mean, it must've been so lame. All studying and no fun, that's what she is." I was wondering who they were talking about. I didn't wait long for my answer.

Percy spoke up and my curiosity reached new peaks. "I felt kinda bad for Annabeth. Without me, she would be all alone. But that doesn't matter now, she can handle herself. Besides, you guys weren't there!" I heard laughter in the distance. I hadn't even realized that I began walking away. Tears began leaking down my face, and I made no attempt to wipe them away. I snuck around the school, avoiding everyone before I began to run home.

Pain coursed through my veins. Then anger and betrayal followed. Mixed together, the three were not something to mess with.

I slowed to a brisk walk when I was far enough from the school. As I walked the last mile from school to get home to the welcoming arms of my mother, I swore that I would never forgive Percy Jackson.

I was lost in my thoughts once more. But the Muses voices pulled me out of my trance like state. "... and we'll also have a musical at the end of the year, and everybody is going to participate. Okay, everybody split up and go to your teacher!"

Everybody stood. Some went to the music section of the room, others to art, and yet more to drama. Soon everybody was with their respective teacher. I had music. Unfortunately, so did Percy. I mentally groaned at my bad luck, before I decided to ignore him best I can and pay attention to the class. So I did. And I payed attention and ignored him for the first ten minutes.

The teacher looked at her portion of students. "Alright, so this is music as you all know. Either you sing, play a instrument, or you want to learn how to play. Course you could also be a songwriter... That's besides the point. So how many of you play a instrument?" asked the teacher, who's name I found out, was Ms. Euterpe. A few people raised their hands. She looked around the room to see if anyone else was going to do the same. I saw Percy look at me from the corner of my eye.

"Ms. Euterpe, Annabeth also plays an instrument," he called out. Everyone turned their heads to look at me. I ignored them, being to busy glaring at Percy.

She looked at me with a little bit of surprise evident in her eyes. looked at me before saying, "Is that so Annabeth?" I mutely nodded. "Which instrument?" I said nothing. Once again Percy spoke up. "A violin."

Now her attention was on him. "And how do you know this?"

Percy looked slightly embarrassed. "I saw her carrying the case into school." She looked at me with a expression saying, "Is he telling the truth?" I nodded and she looked away satisfied.

Once again, she surveyed the portion of students. "Is that everyone?" People nodded. And so we continued on with whatever we were doing. Once again, I was reminded of what I said. "I swear that I will never forgive you Perseus Jackson." I had said the same thing at the park as well. And nearly every time I thought about far, I hadn't forgiven him, and I wasn't going to back down now.

Percy

I was still reeling from the shock of seeing Annabeth here. And the memories that came with it certainly didn't help.

"... but I'm sure that we'd all get along fine. I mean, she's a likable person," I said, trying to make them see her in a different light. Unfortunately, it didn't work. They laughed, saying, "Please! The only thing she does is study! She doesn't care about sports or any of the girls' gossip. You can't possibly believe that we would all be FRIENDS."

I hesitantly smiled saying, "But you never know right?" Thinking quickly, I added, "Oh, guys, the buses are going to leave soon, we should be going." They agreed and began to walked over to the buses, still talking and laughing. I hung in the back, thinking. 'Why did they dislike Annabeth so much? I mean, yeah she isn't interested in school sports or anything, but she's nice. I wonder why they don't see that.'

Though we usually stick up for each other, I always hung in the back of my little group, watching silently as Annabeth was pushed around and taunted. Drew and her friends shoved her around, throwing everything she carried to the ground. For the first few times, she looked up at me desperately. I looked away. After that, Annabeth began ignoring me, suffering the bullying with her head held high.

It was almost as if Annabeth was telling me, "You see Percy? I don't need you to defend me. I can carry myself. And you can watch me walk away."

After that year, she moved to Seattle when her dad changed jobs. The last I ever saw of Annabeth was when I was riding my bike with a few friends and turned onto the road where Annabeth lived. I saw her blond hair kept back with a ponytail as she loaded boxes into a moving van. She was short, and slightly pale. Our eyes met, sea-green on gray, for one last time before she turned away and left.

Annabeth was gone.

From then on, the class went by quickly. I faintly recall saying to Ms. Euterpe that Annabeth had a violin, which she did, and Annabeth glaring at me. No matter how much I deserved it – ditching her and all – I didn't like it; it felt like a reminder that we could never go back to being friends again. But her attention went to the teacher after a minute and spaced out.

The bell rang, startling me, and I ran out. As I walked to my next class, I remember the summer, when I saw Annabeth at the park. I honestly couldn't believe that we had forgotten about each other, even though it had been three years without seeing each other.

Room 237, science. I walked in and had a minute before the bell rang. Not many people where in the classroom, leaving many empty seats. I naturally choose the one by the window. With nothing to do, I looked around the room, looking at each person that was waiting for the class to start.

There was a girl with black hair chatting with a girl that had red and brown hair. A guy sat in the front with blond hair and someone sat in the row behind him who had short brown hair that was spiked up. And then I saw someone who looked familiar in the back of the room, staying out of sight in the shadows. Black hair, black eyes, black clothes, olive skin...

"Nico!" I whispered to myself as I got up and walked over to him. "Hey Nico!" He glanced up and me. A notebook lay open on his desk and I tried to take a peak at it, but he closed it quickly.

Nico smiled slightly and said, "Hi Percy." He seemed nervous about something and I couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding. I looked at his face and, upon noticing this, Nico ducked his head. But I saw something as his head went down. I grabbed his chin and made him look at me. His face seemed normal, but when I turned his head to the side, I saw a purple bruise blooming next to his ear, hides by his hair. Nico pulled back from my hand and glared at his desk.

"Nico..." I said quietly. He ignored me. "Nico." No response. "Nico. Nico. Nico. Nico, listen to me!" I said loudly, drawing the attention of the two girls who quickly looked away to continue talking.

He brought his head up, glaring at me. "What." I shivered slightly at the sound of danger in his voice.

"Who did this to you?" He opened his mouth to answer and I cut in, saying, "I know someone here did this to you. Don't lie and tell me who. It. Is."

For a minute, Nico stared at me, then gave up and sighed before saying, "Ben."

The sound of the name made me growl. Although there were many "Ben"'s at the school, I knew only one who would hurt Nico. It wasn't the first time, but usually Ben got one of his friends to do the dirty work. "I swear, I'm going to hunt him down and..." I muttered dangerously before Nico told me, "Just drop it Percy. It's done. Forget it."

I nodded, but I knew that I was going to destroy him. Although I usually only stopped a bully with my words, I didn't do it often. In fact, I hardly ever did anything anymore. I had learned that people had to look after themselves and I stuck with my friends. Sometimes I would defend a stranger, but I usually walked by. But nobody, and I mean nobody, messes with my friends.

Class came and went, as did the next – which was English – and I walked to lunch with Nico and Leo, looking for Ben. But I didn't spot him in the hallways or cafeteria so I got my lunch and sat down with the rest of my friends at our table. Thankfully, I didn't see Drew yet, so I happily ate my lunch.

Of course, the peace didn't last long. I heard a screech and I, as well as the rest of the cafeteria, turned to look at the source of the sound. Drew. Who had beans on her designer clothing. I smirked, and saw that Thalia was the cause of it. She was glaring at Drew, as was Annabeth who was sitting next to her. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT! YOU LITTLE -"

"Oh, shut up Drew, no one whats to hear what you have to say." I looked in shock at Annabeth who had a smile on her lips.

Thalia grinned turned around to ignore the Queen Bee and eat her lunch. Annabeth began to follow in suit, but Drew reached and and grabbed a handful of her blond hair. She pulled back, hard, and Annabeth turned and punched Drew in the face.