A/N: Sorry about the last chapter, I kind of lost some of my inspiration. Originally the last chapter involved a Super Soaker, so that's what might have messed it up. I also didn't really like the chapter, so I just put down words. Sorry if I let you guys down.

I had inspiration from Rudy and Liesel for this one. Kudos to you if you know where that's from.

IMPORTANT:

I went on vacation, so this schedule is messed up. For now, I'll probably update on Sunday for a few weeks. I'll be back to normal hopefully January.

TITLE: Rivers

SUMMARY: Annabeth's book gets thrown into the river. She's about ~11. AU

DISCLAIMER: I don't own PJO or HoO. Ooh, those books that we just hate that we love. Ah.


"No!" Annabeth shouted as she flew down the road past the crowds toward the bridge. She chased a pair of navy blue coattails, sailing through the air just out of the poor girl's reach.

"Too bad!" the boy taunted her, running even faster. He stopped suddenly, his arm danging off the bridge.

"Don't you dare!" the small girl cried.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Just don't." Annabeth pleaded, her gray eyes shining with unshed tears. Unbeknownst to the boy, who's name is Daniel by the way, that was one of her only books that she owned.

"Oh yeah?" Daniel's face twisted into one of pure disgust.

"Filthy little girl, you're not going to do anything about this book. Books are for those who are too weak to find their own futures. To work. Books are for dreamers." he spat, little beads of spit flying from his mouth as Annabeth leaned back to avoid getting hit.

"Don't you even!" she fumed and lurched forward to grab her precious book. Daniel dodged and hurled her book into the freezing stream below.

"No!" the short girl cried, marching up to the bully and slapping him. Hard. He fell, clutching his cheek while Annabeth ran the length of non-moving river to find her book.

"Oh, my poor, poor, book." she whispered, almost inaudible. She crumpled to the ground in a jumbled heap of fabric, hair, and tears.

Then she heard a large splashing sound.

"Hey!" Annabeth shouted, looking for the source. Wading in the below freezing temperature stream was a boy with dark, tousled hair. He looked as if muttering to himself, but shivering none the less.

"What are you doing?" the girl asked loudly, hoping the boy would hear him. "You're going to freeze!"

The boy just kept looking. He suddenly dove down into the five feet deep water. Annabeth let out a loud gasp, rushing towards the edge of the water. He resurfaced again, this time holding a soaked small, brown, leather bound book. He clambered out of the water, his shaggy black hair hanging over his eyes.

"Here you go."

Annabeth stood there in shock, and tentatively took the book from the boy's hands.

"Thank you." she murmured. She threw herself at him, hugging him, a stranger. He had saved her book after all.

"I-it wa-was my pl-plea-sure." he chattered out, and Annabeth drew him in even closer.

"Your name?" she wondered aloud.

"Percy. Percy Jackson."


A/N: I know, this chapter was really really really short. And I haven't updated in a couple weeks. I've been working on a couple other things that are a bit more important than this, such as a winter concert for band and module tests. This one may not get updated often, as I've lost a lot of inspiration. If you guys could help me out, that'd be great. At the moment, there are two competition entries I want to post soon, but they're Harry Potter, just wanted to let you know. I've also been working on The Aftermath, and I'd love to get the chapters out, but I want to make sure what happened last time doesn't happen again. I've been working a couple chapters ahead, and have started Chapter 8.

For this one, I'll probably only be able to update once every two weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

~FTC