Chapter Seven: New year, New me

After the end of the semester, Annabeth and Percy had slowly grown more distant. They were still happy, but Annabeth had taken that conversation between Hazel and Piper seriously. She didn't want to get to attached to Percy in case Piper was right.

Percy was still afraid that Annabeth liked Luke. He had seen her face when they were twelve and Luke talked, and he had seen her reaction when she was told Luke was teaching again. He, too, was afraid to become too attached only to discover Annabeth cheated.

Everyone had noticed this change. One day, after Latin class, Luke pulled Annabeth aside.

"I'll catch up to you," she called to Percy, blushing furiously because of the look Drew gave her. She glared at her.

"What's going on?" Luke asked gently.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth said a little too quickly.

"You and Percy are acting funny."

"No we aren't."

"Yes you are."

No we aren't. Everything's fine. I'm just -" she searched for an innocent answer desperately. "I'm just stressed for finals. Or I was. I mean, I -"

She broke off with a sigh. "Percy and I are growing distant."

"Distant?"

"It's like we aren't comfortable around each other like we used to be."

"Maybe he just wants to tell you he loves you," suggested Luke.

"Maybe," Annabeth said. "Thanks, Luke."

"Anytime." Luke planted a brotherly kiss on her cheek, and the door flew open.

"I told you!" Drew shrieked. "Look, sir! They're having a student-teacher relationship!"

Luke and Annabeth froze. Chiron, who was playing the principal, glared at them.

"What's going on?" Percy's voice asked.

Annabeth's heart beat faster and faster. How could she explain this?

"Your lovely girlfriend is cheating on you!" Drew screamed. She grabbed Percy's arm and pulled him close. "Look!"

Luke straightened up. "Annabeth is not cheating on you, Percy. I assure you, sir, this is not what it looks like. If you could check the security cameras-"

"All they showed me is that you two were talking and then you kissed a student," Chiron said coldly.

"But you didn't hear our conversation?" Luke said incredulously.

"Oh, that must be my mistake!" chirped a pleasant voice.

Evangeline of the Hecate cabin skipped over. She smirked and winked at Drew. "Ah, too bad I was practicing my quieting spell while all of...this...was going on."

Annabeth gasped. "You!" she screamed. "You two evil little roaches were planning this!"

"Oh, my gosh, Annabeth," Drew said. She rolled her eyes. "I can't, like, even believe that you would say something like that. I mean, you're, like, obviously just trying to get out of trouble." Her voice trembled just slightly, nervously, and Annabeth knew she was right.

"Wow," Evangeline said. "I can't believe you, Annabeth. You should just find somewhere else to go until you can get yourself together." She elbowed Drew.

"Such a disgrace," Drew said. She laughed.

"That's enough!" Chiron snapped.

"Yeah," Percy said, glowering. "It's seriously not your business, Drew. Besides, your not supposed to practice spells at school!" he glared at Evangeline.

"Well," Chiron said, looking troubled. "Since we don't have sufficient proof, I can't prosecute either Annabeth, Luke, Drew, or Evangeline. I think that, for the time being, Annabeth, you should switch to another class until we can get proof-"

"No," Annabeth said. "It's fine. My dad wants me to find a new school anyway since there are so many monster attacks." She stalked off, shouldering Drew out of the way.

"Did she just call me a monster?" Drew asked dumbly.

"I'll go after her," Percy and Luke both said automatically. Percy glared at Luke and then ran after Annabeth.

"Awkward," Evangeline said in a sing-song voice. "Well, Drew and I have to get going. So, see you two later!" They both skipped away.

"I'm sorry, sir," Luke muttered.

"It's fine," Chiron said. "Your not in trouble. I'm guessing that Drew and Evangeline set the whole thing up anyway, but unfortunately…" his voice trailed off.

"Yeah, I know," Luke said. "But it might be good for Annabeth to have a change of school."

. . . . . . . . .

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled. "Wait!" He turned the corner and almost fell.

Annabeth kept running. Tears stung her eyes. She just wanted to get away from it all - from Percy, from Luke, and from Drew and Evangeline.

"Come back!" Percy gasped. He massaged his ribs and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Come back," he mumbled before collapsing.

. . . . . . . . .

"So, Annie, how was school?" prompted. Annabeth stabbed A carrot with her fork sullenly.

"Fine."

"School was great!" Her step-brother Bobby chirped. "in math, we learned about fractions."

"That sounds great," said warmly. "Annabeth, what did you learn in school today?" she gave Annabeth a surprisingly encouraging smile, but behind it there was still the participate-in-the-conversation-for-your-brothers-or-else look on her face.

"I learned that I would like to switch school," Annabeth announced. She wants me to participate in the dinner conversation, I'll participate.

"What changed your mind?" asked.

"I just realized…that," Annabeth said slowly. "I might need…a change."

A/N: lol surprise hahaha I'm sorry, but it will make the sotry super interesting I promise (hope)