Wow guys, what a hectic time it's been. Somehow I managed to get this chapter up just before my exams which is a good thing. I've been adjusting to my new glasses and my new schedule and I am super excited for this chapter because it's an interesting one. Hope you like it everyone. Sorry for it being so late, almost a month and half, I'm so sorry bout that, will try get it done quicker, I promise.

Rumour Has It

Chapter Four: Another Side of Me

...::Day Two – Sunday::...

Sweat – moisture exuded through the pores if the skin, typically in profuse quantities as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, fever or fear.

Annabeth was experiencing sweat due to the second example – physical exertion or in her case, her Sunday afternoon run. For her, Sunday was laid back, peaceful and she felt no need to awaken at the crack of dawn to go for her early morning jog before school everyone. She loved running, it helped clear her head at times when she was stressed, overwhelmed on rare occasions and typically did it when she had confrontations with her step mother.

In Annabeth's home, it felt like a prison sometimes but it never affected her work ethic and her determination to strive in whatever she did in life. Years ago when she was a little girl, around the age of seven, her mother died suddenly from breast cancer. It was so unexpected but when Annabeth grew up she learned that her mother had been sick for a long time and her father had known but never told her and her older brother.

She resented him for keeping it from her but he more so resented him for moving on from her mother so quickly. Her mom hadn't even been dead a year when her father introduced her and Malcolm to his pregnant girlfriend and their future step mom cause they got married right before the twins were born.

The twins were terrorists on her life but she couldn't find herself to blame them for coming into the world and basically taking her father away from her. She just blamed herself for some time for not being enough to keep his attention because the twins were important. She couldn't remember the last time Malcolm had spoke to their father. Before he left for University, they had a big blow out and her father basically said he didn't want him to come around because of the argument.

She didn't know what it was about as neither parties for the last three years had divulged any of the details about what happened and she didn't think that they would any time soon. She'd spoken to Malcolm last night after the conversation she had had with her parents when she informed them that she would be going to the dance and that she had a date. It wasn't one of the most pleasant conversations that ended in a very unpleasant, sour note.

"I'm eighteen years old." Annabeth said loudly, her tone firm and full as confidence as she stood up from her seat. "All I've ever done is work all my life. Trying to make sure my grades remain the ones they are so you can be proud of me. So I can have value in your lives because everything now is just about Bobby and Matthew and I am tired of being an outcast. They get everything they ask for, this is the first time I have asked for anything from you!"

"Don't you raise your voice at us?" Sue said firmly, her rich highlighted red hair pulled back into a tight bun, her blue eyes filled with authority as she stared Annabeth down.

"What are you going to do? Disown me and chase me away like you did Malcolm?" Annabeth bit back, looking at her father with glassy eyes. "I don't know why I even bother trying to make either of you give a damn about me." She reached up and wiped the tear that had fallen from her eye away, much to her step mother's surprise. "I know you hate me Sue. You don't have to hide it. You don't have to worry, I'll be out of your lives for good in a few months, no make that weeks. I'll leave as soon as school is finished and go live with Malcolm because at least he cares about me."

"No Annabeth, that isn't true." Her father said as he stood up, his sandy coloured hair a seemingly curly mess as his intense toned brown eyes looked at his daughter.

"It is and you know it." Annabeth whispered brokenly, "I've tried everything to make her like me but all I will be is a constant reminder of a past that you put to rest a long time ago." She reached up and pulled her glasses off and put them in her case as she tried to compose her breathing, "You don't have to worry dad. When I'm gone, you don't have to remember mom or that Malcolm and I exist anymore. I won't be a burden anymore because that's all I've been for so long and I'm just over it. I just wanted a moment where I could live without questioning whether I was disappointing you or not so I am going to the dance."

"Annabeth, please. I love you. You're my daughter." Her father said in a saddened tone as he tried to reach out to his daughter whose grey eyes swirled with so much overwhelming emotion.

She shook her head as she moved out of his reach, "You say that but the truth is I haven't been your daughter for a long time, dad so don't act like you suddenly care because you seem me vulnerable and upset. I'm tired of trying to have value in your life when work and the second family you have hold all your attention." Annabeth could see that her father had nothing to say which only seemingly hurt her more as she let out a sad chuckle. "I'm nothing to anything."

"Annabeth-" Sue began but Annabeth just shook her head.

"I'm not going to fight to have some sort of relevance in your life. I can't even remember the last time you came to something important of mine and told me how proud you were of me... I can't even remember the last time you said you loved me dad." Annabeth had a sad smile on her face, her eyes filled with tears as she growled at herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. "As far as I'm concerned, Bobby and Matthew pay more attention to me than you did and they're only ten. There's just no point in acting like you care now when those two little boys came and asked me about my day and how I feeling or when they were there when I went to bed after family dinner and cried because I didn't exist on that table."

The silence was just so powerful as it shrouded her father and her step mother.

"You forgot about me after you met Sue. You forgot about Malcolm and look where he is now. When was the last time he came home?" She questioned as she looked into her father's guilt filled eyes, "It hurt that two ten year old boys worried about me more than my own dad. Right now, I don't have a real family because I haven't had anyone there for me since Mal, and when you sent him off, I had no one and I was all alone again." She shrugged as she shook her head, "I need to go to bed before I say something I really regret. Good night."

She turned on her heel and made her way up the stairs, ignoring the people calling out to her as she walked into her room and slammed the door shut behind her...

That night, an emotional phone call to Malcolm, she proceeded to cry herself to sleep that night. It and been a long time since she allowed her emotions to be set free. She prided herself on the mask she wore day in and day out when she faced the world. It was new to her to let them out and be so drained from what she was feeling emotionally that she drifted off of her tears. When she walked down stairs in her running gear a little after ten, a little later than normal for her, she was greeted with hugs and smiles from the oblivious twins who looked like mini me's of her father.

Sue and her father were eating breakfast at the table, conversing but when Annabeth appeared they were silenced as she walked over to the fridge and pulled out her bottle of water to go for her run. They wanted to say something, she could tell but they didn't to which she just shook her head in disappointment. She had expected them to at least have some reaction but she just let it blow over her shoulder no matter how much it hurt her and she laced up her shoes and went for her run.

She ran for what felt like ever, passing through her neighbourhood to go to the local park. She had a perfect spot there, a quiet hidden spot that was like her own secret garden where she could think. Malcolm had said it was alright for her to come crash up with him in New York where he attended NYU. He had an apartment and didn't have a roommate and it would be logical since she had applied to NYU and got in for their architectural program that they offered.

It was an ode to her mother whom was an Architectural designer before she died.

Both her and her brother had wanted to honour her memory and they loved to design things so it was the perfect thing for them. It was a love they had inherited from their mother whom had designed the home that they had been living in for years. She felt at piece with the world as she ran down the pathway, sweat trickling down her spine, a comfort to her.

She felt like she had been running for hours when it had only been an hour and she decided it was time to go to her special spot, to the place where she felt most connected with the world and where she felt like she could be alone with her thoughts. The truth is this spot was the place where her father met her mom and she felt closer to her mom there.

As she began along the forest trail, she could heart the distinct sound of guitar strings being strummed in a gentle tune. It was coming in the direction in which her secluded spot was so naturally she followed it, curious as to who could have discovered this private and secluded spot in the park as not many ventured down into this woodsy area of the park.

The strumming got louder the closer she got to the location and when she arrived at the wall of leaves that hid the secret area, she parted them like the curtains on a stage, peaking in with a curious eye and to her surprise, it was a familiar face but not one she had honestly expected.

Seated on a large rock - that was shaped in a way that you could climb upon it and hang your legs over with it being comfortable and you not sliding right odd of it - was none other than Percy Jackson with an old acoustic guitar with a lot of fading spot on the wood. It wasn't the newest guitar but it sounded beautiful as Percy strummed a gentle tune with his finger which Annabeth instantly took note of. She had noticed there had been calluses on his fingers and she now knew it was from strumming and plucking at guitar strings instead of using a guitar pick.

He was wearing a pair of ripped denim jeans and a tight blue shirt that moulded to his body structure and his figure. He looked incredible in this gentle sunlight peaking through the leaves of the trees that surrounded them, this almost ethereal like glow surrounding him as he got seemingly lost in his music. Annabeth couldn't help but be drawn in by the beautiful music he played and came in through the draping branches and approached Percy, a smile on her face.

"I didn't know you played the guitar." She spoke up, causing Percy to freeze mid-strum and slowly lift his head to look up at her in this dramatic way as they locked gazes. Annabeth instantly in that moment that there was genuine fear in his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She apologized, her apology completely genuine as she watched Percy seemingly come out of his frozen state.

"No, it's alright. I didn't think anyone would be in this part of the park today." Percy confessed as he removed his guitar strap and laid the guitar down on the rock as he dismounted it. "I wasn't expecting company."

"Honestly, neither was I." Annabeth said as she rocked on her heels. "I don't usually come here but I needed time to think about a few things."

"no worries. I just had a stressful morning and just came here to de-stress here." Percy said as he approached Annabeth, a smile on his face. "I didn't peg you for a runner Miss Chase." Percy said with a lop sided smile, seemingly more comfortable that he originally was when she made her presence known.

"And I didn't peg Goode High's most wanted bachelor, motor cycle riding bad boy to play such soft delicate music on an acoustic guitar." Annabeth said with a playful tone to lighten the mood, "if anything, I thought it would have been a rock style you played."

Percy let out a light heart chuckle which made Annabeth unable to not smile as the smile he had on his face was infectious. "No one really knows. Just a few select people know that I play."

"So the rumor about you possibly having a band," She began, looking at Percy with genuine curiosity, "Is it true?" She asked with an intrigued look in her eye. When she first heard that rumor through the school grapevines, she didn't believe it but now seeing him with a guitar made her believe it but also made her curious to learn more about this man of many different sides.

Percy chuckled and smirk, "Yeah but you can't tell anyone." He had a stern look that basically said if you tell, I will hunt you down to the end of the world.

"I promise." Annabeth answered but Percy didn't let up the look.

"No, you gotta swear it on the River Styx." Percy said with pure conviction and passion, a hundred percent serious. "For me to believe you, you've got to swear it on the Styx or hell will break loose on you."

Annabeth couldn't help but smile when she remembered how when she first knew Percy, he had this obsession with Greek Mythology and how he and Nico played that game, Mythomagic. She even once played it with them. It made her smile sadly because she and Percy had been great friends in primary school and the beginning of middle school but there Percy slowly became very distant and when they got to High school he was what he is now and she barely recognised him at first. A long time ago she'd had a crush on him and she didn't know what it was but hearing him use that silly Greek promise he taught her made her think of life back then.

"Alright. I swear on the Styx that I will tell no one of your band unless you give me permission too." She said with a cheeky smile. Upon hearing her making the oath, Percy's face broke up into that familiar grin that made her heart race a little causing her pulse to quicken ever so slightly.

"Good."

"Am I allowed to ask how long you've been playing for?" Annabeth said as she wandered over to the rock and looked over the beautiful guitar. It was definitely an oak wood guitar, simple yet told years of a story.

"A few years." Percy said as he tucked his hands in his jean pockets and followed her to where she stood, watching as her finger traced the strings, "It was my dad's." There it was again. That distant past tense tone that was filled with sadness that made Annabeth's heart clench sympathetically for him. she didn't want to pry or ask in fear of intruding on his personal business.

"It's beautiful." She said in an admiring tone as she noticed letters etched into the wood.

PJ + SJ
Forever Truly in Love

"PJ stands for Poseidon Jackson. That's my dad's name and the SJ is my mom, Sally." Percy said when Annabeth looked up at him with a curious glint in her eye. "When my dad first met her, they were in high school and both had gone to cabin's in Montauk and they had both wandered off to explore when a storm him. Neither could find their way back but my dad had found this abandoned cabin and was in the process of heading down there when he heard my mom cry out."

Annabeth was leaning against the rock, listening with genuine interest unlike most of the girls at school just stood there, nodding their heads, twirling a strand of their hair whilst batting their eyelashes at him when he talked about something. They had no interest in listening but Annabeth was fascinated and wanted to hear more about Percy's family. They weren't close, close friends as she was still getting to know him when they drifted.

"She'd fallen and got this nasty cut on her leg from a jagged rock and twisted her ankle and like superman my dad found her carried her bridal style to the cabin." Percy said with a smile on his face, "Whilst the storm went on, he tended to her and looked after her and they had gotten talking as they had never really talked before at school."

"What happened after that?" Annabeth said as she lifted herself up to sit on the rock so she was eye level with Percy so she could gauge and watch his facial features for reactions and facial queues.

"They were trapped in there for a few days and when the storm had stopped, a local search party from the summer camp there found them and from that day, they became best friends." Percy had this soft gentle smile on his face but this thoughtful distant look in his eyes as he spoke, "They connected on a really deep level and like six months after they met my dad asked her out and like a few months later, admitted he loved her and she felt the same."

"Did he ever play for her?" Annabeth asked as she looked at the guitar, noticing Percy's eyes sadden ever so slightly.

"All the time when they dated. He played it for her on their wedding day and a few times after that. He taught me the basics and I learned the rest from elsewhere." She could see he was diverting from speaking about his dad so she let it slide as she looked at him.

"That's so sweet." She said as she reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm jealous you have such an amazing dad and family unlike me."

Percy's demeanor changed for a moment before he looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Is your family part of the reason why you wanted to come here to think?" He asked as he turned to fully face her, as she frown and looked at her lap, realizing that when she gets home she has to deal with this all again.

"Yeah, it's not something I like talking about but I've got a real complicated relationship with my dad and feel like I don't have a mother at all," Which in her mind was true cause her mom was dead but Percy didn't know that. "It just got to me yesterday since they fought with me about going to the dance."

"Oh, was it because of me that you guys fought?" Annabeth smiled at Percy, realizing that there was more than meets the eye when it came to Percy Jackson.

"Partially but it's a lot more complicated than that and I just needed to get out of there a while." She said glancing at her watch to see it was actually well after two. She didn't realize how long she had spent out, not that she really cared anymore because it's not like they cared.

"I'm sure everything will work itself out in due time." Percy said, resting hand on her thigh, causing her to look up at her with a smile on his face as he gave her thigh it a comforting squeeze. She smiled back at him but then his eyes changed to one of confusion, "If I'm right, this park is like an hour, hour and half from where your house, isn't it?"

Annabeth nodded with a shrug, "Yeah, I guess."

"How are you going home?" Percy asked curiously as Annabeth climbed off the rock and stretched her arms a little.

"I'm gonna jog back." Annabeth answered as she reached down to touch her toes, thankful she had opted for wearing her knee length grey yoga pants and her matching grey sports bra. Percy was silent and she glanced over her shoulder and couldn't believe her eyes when she saw that Percy was clearly checking her out as she stretched. She stood up, a light dusting of blush on her cheeks as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear to make it seem as though she hadn't noticed it, "I'd better get going. Sorry for disturbing you." She said with a smile as she turned round to walk away when Percy wrapped his hand around her wrist to stop her.

She turned round and looked at him with curious eyes, noticing how his grip was barely even there, "How about I give you a ride home?" Percy offered, much to her shock which clearly showed on her face. "It would save you some time and would help me learn the route back again so I know it for sure."

Annabeth looked slightly skeptically at Percy, "I wouldn't want to impose and you've gotta have space for your guitar." Annabeth countered, really questioning why she was using logic and reason to get out of something she really wanted to - oddly enough - do again.

"It's not a problem." Percy said with a smile, "Instead of me wearing it round my chest, you could wear it. It's getting rather late and being the gentleman my parents raised me to be, it would be shameful of me to let you walk home." When Annabeth looked at him, she knew that she couldn't resist the charming, friendly smile on Percy's face.

After the incident yesterday, she oddly felt like being a little rebellious and this was certainly one way of being a rebel. Riding a powerful, dangerous machine was one way to go about it and she trusted Percy to take care of her during the ride like he had. Then it hit her, logic outweighed her previous argument as she had one of his prized possessions at her house. His father's leather jacket that he let her borrow yesterday was laid on her desk chair at home.

She let out a sigh before she nodded, "Alright. I would appreciate it and it benefits the both of us since I've still got your jacket you loaned me yesterday at my house and it's easier if I give it to you today rather than tomorrow." Percy smiled, seemingly proud to have won the lottery with how wide his smile is as he closed his guitar case offers the strap out to her.

Annabeth smiles as she puts the strap around her so she is wearing it like a sash for a beauty pageant or something as Percy offers her his elbow like a true gentleman. "Allow me to escort you to your ride."

Annabeth couldn't help but laugh at how silly but cute he looked doing that. She fought off the blush that wanted to appear when she thought he looked cute as she slotted her hand through the gap between his elbow and body and locked arms with him. "Let's go, shall we?"

Indeed we shall." Percy said with a smile as he led her out the secret garden and back through the park. Annabeth tried not to think about how this felt like a romantic date, walking through the park, smiling and laughing at the silly jokes Percy made but it was hard when he looked at her with eyes filled with glee and adoration that was directed at her. She for a moment got lost in watching him as they walked, listening to him recollect a funny incident when he was a child about how his father got his nickname, Barnacle Beard.

Percy was gorgeous, she admitted that much. It's one thing that she knew all the girls loved about him was how beautiful he actually was but they focused on that part of him. they didn't actually listen to his voice and how full of happiness and life it was, or how his rich green eyes sparkled when he talked about his mother of how when he mentioned his father that there was a little underlined sadness beneath all the joy in his eyes.

It took about ten minutes to walk to where Percy's had parked the bike and unlike the day before, Annabeth felt no nerves, only the excitement of experiencing another adrenaline rush and sharing another moment with Percy. She liked being around him, and they'd only recently spoken in these last two days and they just worked together so well. It was something Annabeth hadn't expected to come out of getting asked to the Halloween dance and she not once in the future would she ever regret saying yes because she knew that she and Percy would be friends for a long time.

Mounting the bike, Percy got the bike into position and Annabeth followed behind him, not being shy to shift a little closer but lean away from Percy's back so she could look properly at everything that moved by like a movie scene. It was different feeling air surrounding you in it's entirety than sitting in a car with a window open, its a whole new experience that she enjoyed.

She just grinned like a fool when the bike rumbled to life, the roar sounding incredible. In the beginning she hadn't appreciated the beautiful sound of the bike as she was nervous about riding it as she watched Percy listen to it and now, she felt exactly what he felt listening to it come to life. "I know, the first time I rode it with my dad, I felt like you did yesterday but the second day, I was so excited to try it again." Percy said over his shoulder when he looked at the contented look on Annabeth's face.

"I never realized how incredible it sounded until today." She said as she opened her eyes and smiled brightly at him. "It's a beautiful sound." Percy grinned as he turned to face the right way and pulled out into traffic.

The ride was so enjoyable and Annabeth was thankful for the awesome ride. She never expected Percy to offer her a ride two days in a row, it was something unexpected and she greatly appreciated it. They pulled into her driveway and Annabeth was laughing like a maniac because of how windswept her hair was. A short way into the drive she pulled her hair out of it's ponytail and her curls were wild and seriously fluffed out. She climbed off the bike, laughing like a good at the goosebumps that ran up and down her arms.

Percy was smirking at Annabeth as she pulled his guitar case off from around her as Percy switched off the bike and stood it up on its stand and climbed off the bike. "I take it you enjoyed the ride." Percy said rhetorically, the smile never leaving his face as Annabeth ran her hand through her hair, loosening some of the knots formed by her hair being loose in the wind.

"Enjoyed doesn't even describe how my I enjoyed it." Annabeth chuckled, "I'm going against my no swear clause to say that I fucking loved it!" Percy's eyes widened, shock and surprise evident on his face. Annabeth rarely swore, she had a no swear clause and she just broke it to emphasize how much she enjoyed the ride.

The shock wore off and Percy grinned cheekily as he rushed forward and lifted her off the ground and spun her round, making him laugh as he shouldered her like a sack of potatoes and spun. "Percy!" She shrieked, even though the two of them were laughing. During the walk and the ride, she'd met Percy's playful and goofy side.

Percy quickly changed directions making her scream out loudly again. She hadn't seen the door of her house open and her father stepping out with a worried look on his face, and then a confused one appeared on his face as he watched the scene.

"Perseus Jackson, I swear if you don't put me down I'm going to kill you!" he said between laughs as Percy moved round onto the grass of their front yard, still spinning round like crazy. Annabeth was banging his back when her hand struck the small of her back, causing Percy to jump and lose balance, sending the two of them tumbling to the ground in laughing messy heaps on top of each other. "Are you okay?" Annabeth said between laughs when she had calmed down slightly, worried she hurt him hitting wherever she hit him made him jump.

Annabeth looked up from Percy's chest where she had been laughing into and looked into his eyes as he panted for breath, "Yes. You just got me on my Achilles Heel." Annabeth raised a curious eyebrow as Percy breathed out and sat up, bringing her with him, "It's my one weak spot. You can tickle me, punch me in my stomach, whatever, it doesn't affect me but the small of my back where you got me is the one place that brings me down."

Annabeth nodded in understanding, surprised at how open with that information he had been confiding in her but it made her smile, "I won't tell where it is. I swear on the Styx." She promised, making Percy smile as he climbed back to his feet and offered his hand to Annabeth. She took and let him pull her to her feet as they dusted themselves off.

Percy let out a school boy like chuckle, throwing his head back in laughter, "You're learning, Wise Girl." Percy said with a smile as he reached out and ruffled her hair, much to her annoyance. "Listen, I'd better get going. Wouldn't want to worry my mother." Percy said as he looked at Annabeth with a contented smile. "I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow Percy." Annabeth said as she embraced him, his arms loosely wrapping around her as they shared a friendly hug. "Thanks again for the ride. Hope I can have another one soon." She said as they released each other and Percy shouldered his guitar and wrapped it across his chest

"How about tomorrow if you're free I give you a lift home." Percy offered, a soft gentle smile on his face.

"I'd like that." Then she suddenly remembered, "Oh Percy, I still have your jacket. Let me run in and quickly go and get it." Annabeth said, her body turning towards her house but Percy raised her hand, causing her to stop.

"Don't worry about it. You can give it to me tomorrow. I don't mind. You've got to wear it tomorrow anyway if you're gonna be riding with me." Annabeth nodded, smiling as Percy started up the bike again, "Take care of yourself Annabeth. I'm sure everything between you and your parents will work out fine."

Annabeth noticed her father and Sue on the porch from the corner of her eye but paid no notice of them as she smiled, "I hope so too Percy. I hope so too."

"See you tomorrow Annabeth." Percy said as he backed out of the driveway and gave a final wave before he pulled out into the traffic as Annabeth watched him drive off. She felt like she was on the moon. She hadn't expected to see such a whole new side to Percy Jackson and today she saw all of them. The playful fun side. His tentative, sweet side. His carefree, relaxed side. His vulnerable and exposed side. And she even encountered a slightly flirty side to him as only now she had come to realize that Percy may or may not have been flirting with her when they walked through the park.

She hadn't had many relationships so she wasn't an expert on flirting but she could tell he was but she could also tell that maybe, just maybe she might be allowing herself feel more than she thought she would originally feel. Her crush on Goode High's Most Eligible Bachelor had resurfaced and he made it come out so effortlessly. She didn't know what she was going to do but in these last few days, things had changed and for once, she wasn't going to over analyse or figure things out, she was going to go with the flow and see how things went.

One thing she wouldn't deny is that he had an amazing smile that was so infectious and she hoped to keep seeing him smiling like that. She smiled to herself, truly feeling like a real high school girl all over again as she turned on her heel and walked up the path to her house, ignoring the looks her father and Sue sent her as she entered the house and went straight to her room, not wanting her good, happy mood to be ruined.

As she lay on her bed later that night, she couldn't help but be excited for tomorrow.

Hey dudes, so sorry for the late chapter, it's totally on me. I will try get the next chapter up soon, i promise, leave a review and let me know what you thought of my chapter. Love you guys, thanks for the on-going support.