Breakfast was the usual. What's there to change? We were all laughing about God knows what and we just couldn't help being together. It was the best feeling, having your friends be with you every step of the way. There was plenty of teasing but most of the conversations would usually lead back to Percy's new house. "We can go there for the summer!" Grover suggested with a big smile on his face.

"For a month?"

"I think that's enough… just to have some time alone. And away from school"

The guys chuckled and the rest of us rolled our eyes at how boyish it really sounded like. Honestly, can't they at least focus on the important here? "Percy, sweetie, could you do something for me?"

Seaweed Brain furrowed his eyebrows at me in confusion but nodded reluctantly. See, he can't even refuse me! "Could you get my phone from upstairs? I have to call my dad and tell him where I am. He's probably worried to death about me"

He nodded, kissing me once on the cheek before sprinting upstairs. "This is the happiest I've seen him in my entire life" Thalia commented, smiling at me. "I'm glad you make him happy." I thanked her silently and smiled. It was nice to hear a compliment from someone who I never thought would be at all supportive of this relationship. Then again, Thals is my best friend and she does say that my decisions happen for some reason.

I smiled at him the moment the material of my phone touched my fingers. Since my father wasn't in speed dial, I had to manually go to contacts and call him from there.

In all honesty, he wasn't that mad. Of course he was worried but he wasn't mad at all. He just told me that maybe it would be best if I go home as soon as possible. Maybe it was the fatherly side of him that made me feel guilty for keeping something that he should probably know. I know it may be hard for me to just make it sound like it wasn't a big deal but I can't just eat dinner with my family and say, "Hey guys, Percy and I are madly in love and we already started dating!" It doesn't work like that. I should at least prepare them, maybe distract them before telling them the truth.

"Dad," I muttered in exasperation after asking me where I slept for the tenth time already. "I told you, I shared with Thalia" I know I was lying but he would freak if he found out that I was with my boyfriend the entire night. He's overprotective that way, knowing that soon, he has to let me go for someone who truly loves me enough to fight for me.

There was a sigh on the other line. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I trust Percy but I don't know if I should"

"You should" I told him honestly. "He's the best… friend a person could ever have" I shared glances at the said man and I could tell that he understood why I had to censor all the words pertaining to our relationship.

"I just want you to be safe. You only introduced me to his parents a year after you two became inseparable." He paused and I could almost imagine his face falling grimly. "I arranged with a friend of mine in the office. He has a son your age and I know you'd get along immediately. You're going to meet him tomorrow and your mother approves of him"

I don't know what to say. I already have a boyfriend and my father, who I'm not even that close to, fixed me a blind date. "Dad, I can't." I muttered, almost inaudible. "I'm with Percy then. He's going to bring me to the beach with the others." It was a lie but I had to say something so this 'date' won't happen.

"What if I don't let you go" he was angry, probably sensing that maybe I would get my way this time. I mean, I always do. "It's for your best, Annabeth"

Unconsciously, I reached out to touch Percy's hand just so I wouldn't start crying. He squeezed it reassuringly before kissing my fingertips like he did this morning. "I love you dad, you know I do, but you can't just tell me who to be with. What if I tell you that I already am with somebody?"

"Annie…" he said, a little wistfully, "your mother will get mad at you for this. Who is it that you're with?"

I bit my bottom lip and he smiled at me, that same smile he always gave me. "Don't tell mom. I want to do it in person… she would never understand but I'll try."

"Who is he?" he asked a little more firmly.

"He's my best friend. He's the guy you've been seeing me with ever since I was twelve."

I don't know why but I could sense that he was smiling. "You guys are finally together." The reaction surprised me. I never thought my father would be the least bit interested in my life, much less my love life. "After four years of watching you and Percy dodging your feelings for each other, you are finally together!"

"Dad" I whined, "mom will hear!"

"She's not here. She brought the boys to the doctor for a check-up."

Maybe because it was how he accepted the news or maybe how I felt like a weight has been lifted from my chest but either way, I felt like everything was just so light, around everyone. It was nice, having to not worry about anything but my mother finding out. "You're really happy about this, aren't you?"

"Why should I not be?" he asked, "You two are perfect for each other. How come you still don't accept that?"

"I think I learned to do so…" Percy flashed me a grin, hearing that Frederick Chase is just as excited about this as Sally and Poseidon are. "But what about the date?"

My dad thought about it for a second, "I'll just cancel. They'll understand."

"Thank you so much, dad. You don't know how much that means to me"

He laughed heartily, something I haven't heard him do for a really long time. "My pleasure, Anna" he mused happily. It was such a rare moment that I never even bothered with the name that he called me. "I love you"

"I love you, too, dad" I answered sincerely.

And that was when I hung up.

The moment I put down my phone. I immediately ran to Percy arms and hugged him tightly, kissing him more passionately than I ever have in my entire life. He was returning it, more than I was giving him and our lips moved in perfect harmony, our tongues in a battle that he was winning again. His grasp on me was tight, as if he never wanted to let go. I couldn't argue because 1) I agree with him and 2) I couldn't do it without pulling away. And that is the last thing I wanted to do at that moment.

Eventually, though, we parted because of lack of air. And I never thought I would hate oxygen as I do right now.

"What was that for?" he asked, breathing hard.

My still very swollen lips formed into a smile. "Dad said that he was happy for us. It reminded me of Silena's reaction when I told her."

He nodded, saying absolutely nothing before kissing me again. There was something different to it. I just can't pinpoint what it is. But I wasn't questioning him any sooner since I was used to his sudden change of personality. "I love you. I love you so much" he managed to say. I don't know how he did it but he has done the impossible so many times before…

"I love you" I replied softly, placing my hand on his cheek. "And I will never stop"

I know that making promises like that would eventually get me killed but I didn't care. If I could, I will keep it even if the world would stop turning. This was something that I should never let go because Percy, he's one of a kind. You could never find someone as special as him, never find someone as kind and sensitive and brave and loyal as him. I don't know what I'm going to do if we ever break-up.

"Ewww!" Someone whined by the doorway. I immediately pulled away from the man I love and saw that his little sister was standing there, her eyes widening in horror. I mentally slapped myself, thinking that this might have scarred her forever.

Okay, so maybe it was a mistake for me not to consider the fact that we were out in the open for everyone to see. I'm just glad that it wasn't Percy's parents who saw us because I would have fainted at every single comment they would surely give us. "Oh hi, Bella" my boyfriend mused, acting as if nothing ever happened. "What brings you here?"

"Daddy wants to talk to you. Someone named Athena is on the phone" she mumbled in that cute little voice of hers.

Percy and I shared fearful looks but I nodded at him reassuringly, seeing that he needed it. He picked Bella up and headed to the living room where Poseidon Jackson was waiting, his face looking pissed. "Could you please explain the reason as to why Athena sounded like she was going to murder me when she doesn't find out where Annabeth is?"

"Well, about that…" he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Don't even try to explain" his father said, holding up his hand and trying so hard to hide that smile on his face. "I've been in your position once before with your mother but I'm just glad that you're bringing her home later. Am I right, Percy?"

My boyfriend sighed but nodded all the same, looking very disappointed. "Fine dad" he muttered.

He pulled me to the game room where all of our friends were hanging out. Either playing foosball or videogames or arguing or making-out. It was peaceful, something I can only be feeling when I'm around all those people who care about me more than my family ever have. They were my family, something that we've been building and growing ever since we came together. I have been promised one by Luke before, with Thalia, but he betrayed me when he started bullying my friends with another group led by a guy named Kronos. I know it was a weird name but I couldn't really blame him for it. Of course he moved schools the moment he found out that he was hurting me more than those he thought were his victims and I guess he just felt guilty about it.

Anyways, everything was just so happy, so light around them. I know that I should probably treasure this moment because I don't know when I would ever experience this again. I love spending time with them since every second is always so relevant. Every argument important. We weren't the perfect family but we are who we are and we're not really afraid to just be ourselves around each other. It was something all of us needed, someone to be with. And we just eventually found our way to way to one another.

"What are you up to?" I asked as I sat on the recliner, watching Thalia intently.

Whatever this is about, I expect a very bad ending to whoever she's planning to do this to. "I am doing what I have to" she pointed the spitball to her brother who was sucking-face with Piper McLean.

He pulled away in surprise just to see that he was hit square on the neck. Jason groaned and flicked it from his skin and made a face at Piper who was giggling at his indiscretion. "Thalia, don't you think you're being a little too childish" he whined

"I don't even know the meaning of that word" she mused playfully before doing it again, this time it was directly on his cheek. He looked disgusted and I did too before I cautiously took one step away from my best friend, eventually landing on my boyfriend's arms. It was nice to see that they were getting along well (note the sarcasm).

I'm just thankful that I wasn't her victim. Of course I felt bad for Jason but I need to think of myself first before I could think of others. As wrong as that sounds, I can't give what I don't have. It was something my mother thought me when I was a child and, as much as I hate to say it, it was permanently tattooed on my brain. "Thals, could you please stop?" Percy requested but he didn't seem to pay any attention since he was winning foosball against Nico.

"You won't care if I don't"

He shrugged innocently and smiled as he continued with his game. "If you don't stop at this moment, Thalia, I swear to God, I'm going to leave this place" Jason said seriously.

"Fine, I'll stop" See. Thals does have a heart.

Bella entered the room with a wide smile on her face, carrying what seems to be… are those chocolate spiders? Okay, Annabeth, they're just sweets. They're not real. Maybe it was a gift from a friend and they really haven't considered that maybe I was going to ask for some too. "Hey, Bells. What'd you got there?" I asked, choking a little.

"Mommy gave it to me" she said in that cute little voice only belonging to her. "She wanted me to ask if you want some"

I gulped and smiled at her, trying so hard to hide the fear that has suddenly overwhelmed me once again. "N-n-no th-thank you, B-b-bel-bella. Go ask your brother" she giggled and ran towards Percy who took one gratefully from her.

Of course, typical Percy who would never turn down chocolate. Even if that piece of chocolate was in the form of something his girlfriend is terribly afraid of.

Then something caught my eye, something moving in the corner of the wall. My eyes widened in realization before taking a few steps backward, my lips trembling. "Annabeth?" Percy asked, worried. He immediately stopped his game just to look at me and I was glad that he cared about me more than foosball. "Wise Girl, what's wrong?"

The spider crawled down to the floor, to where I was standing as if it was taunting me, scaring me until I get a heart attack. I would like to say that I handled it well, that I just stepped on the cursed creature just to be done with it but I would also want to tell the truth. Honestly, I was screaming my throat out, surprising everyone in the room and deafening my boyfriend. I jumped into his arms, and whimpered as I pointed to where it went. "Spider!" I screamed, "Percy! Percy kill it! KILL IT!"

Thankfully, he did. The moment it went to his feet, he stepped on it. I had to make sure that there was no more of them before placing a tentative foot on the ground. "Well my right ear would never be the same again" he said.

"Thanks, Seaweed Brain" I told him, kissing him lightly. "I owe you one"

He gave me a smile and placed me gently on one of the leather furniture. "God, Annabeth, why are you so afraid of them anyways?" Piper asked, looking at me funny.

I shook my head, trying to get the thought out. It was hard but I somehow managed to just let it slide. "I have bad experiences with spiders when I was young." I managed to choke out, still trembling with the aftereffects of its proximity to me just seconds ago. "A tarantula bit me and I never really felt the same"

They seemed to understand. All of my friends are afraid of something but we all accepted that and made that part of who we are today. We all understood each other in a way that made us special. Percy, he's terrified of the idea of losing someone he loves. That's why he never at all lets anything bad happens to his family. Either the family he was born to or the family that our friends composed of. "What do you suggest we do now?" Leo wondered aloud, fingering a piece of foil that he found lying around.

"Bella!" I scolded when I realized that the girl was eating at least five chocolate spiders at once. "Not too much or else your throat would hurt" she looked disappointed but nodded, giving me what was left of it. It wasn't that bad, you know, seeing that it was just chocolate in arachnid form. It isn't really a spider. But it still gave me goosebumps so I placed it gently and carefully on the nearest table, afraid that one of them would just start attacking me.

She skipped happily out of the door and I managed a smile as I held my boyfriend's hand. It was something I could always do since we were together now. "Come on guys, I'm bored!" Travis whined

"Why don't we just go to the mall?" Silena suggested, looking a little excited. "There's lots of things to do there and I could catch up on my shopping"

Percy and I shared glances and he agreed silently, knowing that there was no stopping Silena when she wants to go somewhere. "Fine with me" he muttered, playing with my hair.

There was a moment of consideration but the others slowly said yes in their very own ways.

Before I knew it, we were driving towards the mall in three separate cars. All belonging to Percy Jackson. "The girls and I would be shopping while you can find some place we can eat" Beck's girlfriend ordered, looking serious.

"Wait, I didn't agree to shopping!" I argued, holding tightly to my boyfriend's arm. The last time I went shopping with Silena, I ended up being forced to buy lingerie. And you know how much I despise lingerie.

"Well too bad because you're going with us"

I groaned and muttered a few curse words under my breath, just so she can get the point that I didn't want to go any close to a clothing store. Especially when that specific store has underwear written all over it. "Just go with it, Wise Girl." Percy teased lightly, kissing me. "We'll see each other soon" A small smile escaped my lips before allowing Silena to pull me to my demise.