A/N: so i went to see som and...well, i had no expectations for it to relate to the book at all so i guess it was okay.
/spoilers my favourite parts were tyson in general and nathan fillion's comment on "the best shows being cancelled". i think i was the only one who got that joke as i laughed in an otherwise quiet theatre aahaha ha. in terms of character personality i think they got clarisse and tyson pretty spot on i was glad that their actors were a-fucking-dorable (clarisse wowie also thalia was a cutie). kronos being resurrected so early that pissed me off. all in all the plot was off by miles but at least they included grover in a dress so overall it was pretty okay aaha. /end spoilers

anyways excuse my little rant sorry but hey another chapter! a bit short but hope you enjoy it, review if youd like to take the time (: boop you're all lovely ill update again soon


Annabeth knew something had happened when she met Percy for breakfast the next morning. Something was different since last night. This was for certain.

She and Grover had seen Percy slink away the night before, getting into a whole new argument that he was now upset with them. They weren't sure where he'd gone; back to his cabin, or taken Annabeth up on her advice to look for Luke in the forest grounds. She hoped he was okay, no matter what he had decided, and that he didn't do anything stupid. Percy was prone to that, she had figured out.

The son of Poseidon had showed up that morning all smiles and laughs, as carefree as Annabeth had ever seen him. They'd given their offerings, sat down to eat their food, and Grover had stopped by to say hello. Percy...he had no complaints to share. Nothing to break his grin. This seemed more than a bit odd to the blonde, who stared at Percy all morning in his mood. He fiddled with his utensils, half-mindedly cutting his pancakes as he talked without restraint about whatever crossed his mind. After a certain amount of time she determined it had to be Luke. Percy had this dreamy look in his eyes, all dopey and not-so-discreetly glancing to where the counselor sat from time to time.

Yeah, it's Luke, Annabeth concluded with a snort.

"What is it?" Percy finally asked, as Annabeth watched him with an amused look while he ate breakfast. "Is there something on my face..?" he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, just in case.

"Nah. There's nothing."

"What's with you, then? You haven't really spoken a word all morning."

Annabeth shrugged, purposefully doing a bad job at hiding her smile. The blonde laughed at the expression on Percy's face once she looked his way again; the demigod had stopped halfway into taking a bite, a slice of blue pancake hanging out of his mouth.

"Really? Wha' is it" he asked again after swallowing the bite.

"You're being really bubbly," she chuckled.

"About...what, exactly?"

"Spill, Seaweed Brain. What exactly happened between you two last night?"

"Oh." Percy turned his eyes to the ceiling, then the table where his food sat, a pink tinge lighting his face. He knew what she was referring to. "He was where you said, last night."

"Really. And?" Annabeth pressed, grinning.

"Uh, we talked. He broke up with Abigail earlier."

Annabeth let out a hiss of victory, slapping the table.

"I knew it, thank the gods! What else?"

"Ah. Well," Percy rested his head on his hand, suddenly distracted by his own thoughts. "We just talked. And then we had to run back to camp to make curfew."

"I doubt that's it."

He tilted his head back slightly, striving to remember the details. "We just talked. He's not upset about breaking up. Oh," something hit him suddenly, turning to Annabeth with an annoyed expression.

"What?"

"Whatever you were telling Luke about me, he thought you were into me. He asked if we were together, or something like that."

The daughter of Athena choked on her drink, bursting out in laughter so that a couple campers turned to see what had happened. Percy couldn't help smiling at her reaction, shrugging while she gasped for air and returned to eating his food. She couldn't stop for almost half a minute, completely set off by how Luke had taken the advances.

"Are you serious?!"

"That's what he said."

"Haha, oh gods, that's..."

"I told him 'no way'. But apparently you talking about me all the time led to that, so thanks a lot."

"Oh well, at least you've got his attention," Annabeth finally calmed down, "And that's all you're happy about?"

"Well, we talked and it was-"

"Ugh, you're pathetic," Annabeth groaned. "I thought you had confessed or something."

"What do- why would I say that now, Wise Girl?! I can't just blab that. I'd rather take my time."

"Come on, you've got to have some edge to you, Percy, put a little effort in."

"I am!" Percy said loudly, drawing attention. "I, uh, I am. I'm trying," he tried again, softer this time. "I've only really got one shot, though, don't I?"

"That's right. And you don't want to miss it!"

Percy sighed, knowing she had a point. He took a defeated drink from the goblet next to his plate, unconsciously looking over to where Luke sat. Again. Both he and Annabeth noted this at the same time, causing Percy to glare at her when the blonde giggled.

"Stop it."

"Its too obvious! Just ask him out or something!"

"I can't, Annabeth, what if I mess up?" Percy looked worried for the first time that day. "What if he thinks I'm joking?"

"Then at least you tried," Annabeth said warmly, sincere in the way she patted him on the shoulder. "Better knowing you did than wishing you had, right?"

Rolling his eyes despite the truth of her statement, Percy finished off his pancakes in silence. Despite her constant ragging on him, he knew Annabeth always had a point to her argument; she was the daughter of Athena after all, what did he expect? The girl next to him waited for an answer, but only received a hum of acknowledgement after a moment or two.

"Mm. Yeah."

"So?"

"I'll figure out something. But- not now. Maybe later."

Annabeth sighed, knowing she'd done the best she could. She could only push Percy so far out of his comfort zone until he would shut down completely, and refuse to move forward at all.

"Okay. But think about it, right?"

"Yeah..."

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Percy was off-task for the rest of the day, constantly thinking about everything but what he was supposed to be doing. Archery hadn't gotten much easier for the demigod, but today he was especially terrible as an arrow flew by two camper's heads at one point. Going out to the water wasn't much better either, as Percy had gotten terribly lost, as his mind had drifted as much as his canoe did ending him far past the set borders. He paddled back towards shore in a panic and learned that by the time he got back, class was practically over.

His head was completely wrapped up in Luke, it was hard to focus on anything else for the boy. Yesterday, although insignificant as it seemed, was a big step in his mind's eye. Being that close to Luke alone together, even if they were just talking, made Percy shiver just thinking about it. He knew it was pathetic, like Annabeth had pointed out, but he couldn't help himself. And he really wanted something like that to happen again. Wanted to feel that proximity, and to watch his scar pull slightly when he smiled. Needed to hear Luke laugh like that, just for him, over and over...

Percy Jackson had an addiction.

He had to have more of Luke Castellan to himself.

Problems multiplied in full when Percy was headed for sword training that afternoon; just being at his class made Percy breathing just a little heavier. And what didn't help was when Luke had appeared with no top on, bare chest exposed as he welcomed the next group lesson. Apparently it was pretty hot out. Apparently Percy agreed. And if he was already nervous before, this sent him into quite a state.

He was almost disappointed when Luke had thrown on a loose sleeveless camp shirt, in hopes to call everyone over to watch something. The group had gathered around the counselor as he did a short demonstration with an Ares camper, of how to block downward glancing blows without jarring your weapon. Percy tried his best to listen.

They'd been practicing the technique individually, while Luke walked around examining the progress.

"Hey! Perce!" the counselor had called him out during practice of the technique, no doubt noticing how off task the boy was, doing a completely separate maneuver with his sword. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, sure, why?"

I'm so glad I got that out in one piece, he thought to himself, attempting to look nowhere else but Luke's eyes. Wow he has really nice eyes, too.

Percy's brain had been on hyperdrive for most of the day, and he couldn't control what thoughts came to the forefront. Especially those concerning the older blonde, perhaps a little too racy to be on his mind. He went red from some image of Luke without clothes on, maybe doing something that uh wow that's...

"Percy?"

"Yeah, sorry? What was that?"

"You're doing the wrong technique. Are you feeling okay?" Luke had an expression of mild concern, probably only half joking, gaze flashing up and down Percy's physique in question.

"'M fine. Really." In reality Percy was feeling a bit lightheaded. But no way was he going to collapse in Lukes class for the second time in a week. "Just kind of distracted, really, nothing serious..."

"Alright, just making sure." Luke turned to leave, a lazy grin settling comfortably over his features.

"W-wait-" Percy's breath suddenly caught in his throat, as the blonde's face was taken so abruptly from his sight. He felt an overwhelming impulse to reach out and touch him. He followed his aggression, closing his slim fingers around Luke's arm, savoring the touch. His grip stiffened at the contact, hoping it was more than it was.

"Yeah?" Luke turned back, eyeing the shorter boy's hold on his forearm.

"Could you give me any tips? On the sword movement?" he asked, flashing a warm smile that hopefully came across well.

Nodding, Luke crossed his arms once Percy regretfully let go. "Sure. Go ahead," he gestured, waiting for the boy to demonstrate what he'd accomplished so far.

Percy swallowed his butterflies, raising his sword and doing the maneuver without much hesitation. Or much effort. He really wanted critique, for as long as possible- maybe if he pretended to to it horribly, Luke would stay a while longer and talk to him. It was selfish, but Percy didn't have much else of a choice to gain attention from the counselor. Watching closely, Luke rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly a teacher again.

"Hold your sword up higher, you'll get a better angle." He stepped towards the shorter boy, standing behind him and lifting his arm up a bit higher. Closed his hand over the other's hands, moving his grip on the sword farther up towards the hilt. Percy flinched at the contact at first, but went along with the counselor's advice and adjusted to his liking. Willing back the warm feelings in his stomach, and the red on his face. Which was especially difficult, when Luke nudged Percy's legs wider apart with his foot. "This is a better stance."

"So I won't fall back when I make contact?"

"Exactly. Try it now."

"Like this?"

Percy did it again, following the new instructions for the movement. He squared his shoulders, following through with the swing of the heavy blade, looking back to Luke once he'd finished.

"Yeah! Just like that!" Luke grinned, obviously pleased. "Great. Now just practice."

"Sure thing!"

This time, Luke left for good, leaving Percy's vicinity to examine the other campers.

"Yeah...I'll just...be here..."

Disappointed in his absence, Percy returned to repeating the technique half heartedly, until class was over.


A/N: next chapter will be a direct continuation whoop thatll be up in a couple days but i thought itd be better to split it up so look forward to that ! !

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