Author's Note: Hey :D Alright, so because I made a horrible mistake with the last chapter, what with the whole oh-my-goodness-I-posted-the-wrong-document incident, so I wanted to post this one as fast as I could. It's kind of short (I'm sorry) so I'll try to make the next chapter longer. I'm finally starting to get an idea for the whole flow of the story, so it's getting easier to write.

Please enjoy, and thank you to everyone that's reading this-it means A LOT to me. I can be really clumsy, but I'm trying my best with this story, so I hope you guys don't give up on me... Thank you!

Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the other characters in the amazing series do not belong to me.

The cold winter winds gave way to spring, and when the ice thawed off the roads of suburban New York, so did the walls surrounding my friend. He still didn't answer any of my questions, but whatever he had done to hide himself all the time, he no longer used it on me. Like the leaves that had sprouted on the trees, his eyes were always green. Well...to me, anyways.

I was jogging down the path to the station, the sun blinding my view-orange and glowing in its sink, so that I covered my eyes. The moment I let go, though, something slapped my face, and annoyed, I looked up, only to see one of the most surreal sights I had ever laid eyes on. Money flew down from the thirty story office building, flapping and swirling in the wind. They were like leaves, green and thin but lively, flying this was and that until they settled down on the ground like a carpet of grass. There was a crowd forming by the entrance, and all things considered (if my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, those were Benjamin Franklin's faces), I expected people to be grabbing at those bills, shoving each other over so that they could catch more sums. As depressing as it was, I was a realist and that was human nature. And yet, these people-adults in suits, still crisp from work-all dropped their bags, and opened their arms widely. Joy, awe, and pure disbelief shone on each of their faces, and as if in a dream, they discarded everything I considered normal and began to laugh and giggle, their lips stretched in a childish grin.

For a moment I just stood there, gaping at the sight before me. For some whole reason, I wanted to join these people. To drop everything-both literally and metaphorically-and dance and laugh in the rain of currency. It was like the way flowers attracted the hummingbirds or the way honey drew close the bears, and there was a sweet, almost gentle feeling that made me want to just enjoy life, and everything I had now. My grip loosened on my bag, but before I completely let go, a shadow of a man at the window of the top floor caught my eye, and I broke from my trance. My bag clutched in my arms and my eyes kept on that shadow, I maneuvered myself through the crowd and into the lobby.

What is he thinking?!

The shadow on the roof...he was standing in the sunlight, and yet I couldn't see any details. It was like he was there but not truly there; transparent like those birds I saw several weeks ago. Just like those birds. I raced out as soon as the elevator opened, and using my bobby pin to pick the lock of the penthouse door, I quieted my breathing and crept inside.

Am I being reckless? Yes. Am I being foolish? Absolutely. Am I probably going to get caught and be brought to prison? No doubt about it.

"I knew you'd come the moment I saw that look in your eyes."

Sea green eyes peeked at me through the shades, and I scowled at him.

"What are you doing? Do you want to go to jail or something?"

The look on his face was slightly mocking, and it made my blood boil.

"I could ask the same for you, you know."

"I was just worried. For a friend. Okay?"

His expression softened-he's letting me see it-and he reached out, tapping my nose.

"No need to be worried, Wise Girl."

"Wise Girl?"

He turned his face to look back at me.

"It's fitting."

He was just about to turn the doorknob, but something stopped him last second, and he stiffened. Cursing under his breath, he took my hand and shoved me into the small closet, closing the door behind him. After staying silent for a few seconds, I heard it too; the quiet thumping of footsteps. My heartbeat sped up, and nerves raced through my veins.

"Police?" I asked, keeping my voice as low as possible.

"Sort of. Not exactly. I'll tell you right when we get out of here."

I held my breath, and so did Percy. Seconds dragged into minutes, and more and more, my heart threatened to burst. An excitement like this-if you could call it excitement, that is-was enough to have me half out of my mind. I balled my hands into a fist, and pressing my ear against the door (because there was no space), I found that I could hear men's voices outside.

"He's in there, right?"

"Yeah, he hasn't had the chance to escape yet. And there's another one in there. Girl, I think."

There was some laughter, though I couldn't tell what was funny in that sentence.

Pigs, I thought.

"Come on. Catch him, and think of the prize we'd get."

"Oh yes, I can practically feel it in my hands already."

Next to me, Percy tensed. His eyes flicked this way and that, as if deciding the best way to escape. He gritted his teeth in annoyance, and I saw him take out a round, pearl like bead from his pocket. It glowed for a moment, and the footsteps grew louder. I took in a breath, and Percy suddenly banged the door open.

"Nice timing." I say, but my voice is trembling and weak from anxiety. Two men laid sprawled on the ground in uncomfortable-looking positions, their forehead red from the impact of the door. Another man came up, grabbing my free wrist, but I somehow managed to twist out of the way, kicking him on the side of his head.

"Wow, Annabeth." Percy marveled, and I gave him a shaky nod.

"Thank god for those gymnastic lessons."

He chuckled.

Thank god? I am pretty sure knocking out people with doors is not a good thing. What am I doing? What am I thinking?

More men poured in, and Percy grabbed my hand before taking a brief moment to face me. His sea green eyes were rather conflicted and a little bit nervous, but he made the effort to not look away; not once.

"Do you trust me?'

"Do I have a choice?"

His grip on the pearl tightened. "We don't have time, Annabeth."

I didn't hesitate to answer this time. "Yes. I trust you with my life."

The men were slowing down, thinking that they had us cornered. Honestly, I agreed. We were cornered. And yet, Percy, still holding my hand, took a step back, and another. And another, until we were right by the large windows.

"Gentlemen," he said, his smile sly and slightly crooked, "Tell your boss hello."

He crushed the pearl under his foot, and I watched in amazement as fog seeped through, spreading about until they obscured the view. He pulled me back with force, and though I expected the smooth glass surface of the window to hit my back, it never did. Instead, we fell through it, right out into the air, thirty stories above ground.

"And tell him goodbye!"

And fall we did.