Disclaimer: Rick Riordan is the creator and owner of everything PJO and HOO. As much as I would like to say they are mine, sadly, that would be a lie. You guys know as well as I do that this is all his.

oooOOOooo

Annabeth got home and slammed her mother's car door, locking it behind her as she entered her house and toed off her shoes, not caring about the mud she was getting everywhere.

"Annabeth Chase," Athena once again met her in the doorway. "Just what do you think you're doing."

The image of Rachel standing there in the Jackson's hallway covered in only a towel was still fresh in Annabeth's mind and maybe it was for this reason that she felt the anger at her mother rise so easily as she placed the keys down on the little stand beside the door.

"Oh give it a rest, mom!" She yelled, turning to stare Athena down. "Let's face it, you haven't been a great parent for years, don't inconvenience yourself by trying to make up for that now! Just get out of my way and let me go to bed, I really don't want to listen to anything you have to say."

She shouldered past the older woman without another glance, feeling a sick satisfaction at her hurtful words.

She slammed the door to her room behind her and was immensely thankful when nobody came to follow her- she wouldn't have let them in anyways. She grabbed a brush and yanked it through her blond waves, feeling a strange pleasure at the pain. Rachel in a towel, she thought as she brushed. Standing there. Percy's lips on hers. The heat, the passion, the want for more, more, more….

Rachel in a towel. Percy not doing anything, just standing there telling her some crazy excuse. Rachel acting surprised, as if Annabeth being there was out of the ordinary, as if she was there all the time.

She must practically own the place, Annabeth thought angrily as she saw a few strands of her hair catch on her brush. She's probably over 24/7 and stupid you believed that nothing was going on.

"Face it Annabeth," she said out loud. "Percy's a teenage boy. Rachel was half naked in his house. What do you think was going on?"

Gods, she was so stupid.

She was angry at Percy- gods she was unbelievably angry at him and at Rachel; but she was also mad at herself. She had acted like a stupid love-struck teenager tonight. She acted first and thought later and look what had happened. She was made a fool out of, her heart was trampled on and ripped to pieces and she was worse off than before. She had practically begged Percy to go out with her after she told him she would break up with Luke for him. Luke, the man who had been her big brother for years and comforted her when she was upset about something her parents had done. Luke, who was one of her best friends apart from Thalia. Of course he was different now- meaner and ruthless and hurtful. Annabeth had grown to see him in a true light while with Percy, seen the things he had done. But maybe Percy had just been influencing her. He hated Luke, maybe he had been toying with Annabeth all along, trying to make her start to dislike Luke. Maybe the only reason she didn't like Luke was because Percy had made her.

Because while Luke had his faults, at least he had never toyed with her. Had never made her believe he liked her only to cheat on her and hide another girl in his shower.

Not that Percy had cheated. But he had led her on, made her think he liked her and had fun with her. Annabeth had thought they were close. Had thought she was who he came to about things, he was the one she could trust and open up to when she wanted. Then when she had kissed him he had kissed her back and Annabeth had thought she was right. That he really did like her the way she liked him.

She came back to herself and realized she was standing with her brush at her sides, staring at herself in the mirror. She looked suddenly small and weak and vulnerable. But gods, her eyes… she made it a point to stay strong, hide herself away so that nobody could reach her and hurt her the way she was currently being hurt. Right now her eyes looked wide and open and the hurt, betrayal and disappointment in them made her mouth feel bitter. She looked so broken- that more than anything pushed Annabeth over the edge.

She swallowed and put her brush down, tying her now brushed hair into a ponytail before changing into a tank top and pajama shorts. Then she went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth before washing her face.

She came to her room and when she glanced in the mirror once more she not only looked weak she looked washed out and exhausted. All of her emotions seemed to plummet and she turned off her light before crawling under her comforter and into bed, hugging the top layer to herself in an attempt to get some sort of comfort.

She didn't wipe the stray tears that streamed down her cheeks away as she closed her eyes and fell into unconsciousness.

oooOOOooo

She dreamed she was outside Half-Blood High and the entire student and staff body was in front of her. They were all standing together- a group, the most formidable opponent Annabeth had ever faced.

As she looked she saw there were other adults there too. Sally and Paul, laughing at her behind their hands. Her own parents, frowning at her with disapproval before her mother started yelling at her about everything she had ever done wrong with her father nodding and agreeing beside his wife. Zeus and Hera, shaking their heads at her as if she had somehow disappointed them too. There was Luke and Thalia standing beside each other, Luke yelling at Annabeth about how she had betrayed him, given up on him and gone running off to Percy. Thalia was looked at her with sad eyes, saying "I thought you were my friend. I don't even know who you are anymore." There was Grover, with a satisfied look on his face as he said, "it's nothing less than you deserve." Chiron looking as if she disgusted him. "I thought you were smart Annabeth," he was saying. "Yet here we are and you've let me down…"

The most heartbreaking though, was Percy standing a foot or so in front of the rest. He was looking at her pityingly. "You thought I actually liked you?" He asked her.

"Percy," Annabeth gasped, body shaking, voice hoarse from crying. "Percy, please-"

"Like I ever actually thought you were nice," he went on. "You're just as mean as the rest of them, if not worse. I came to you to tutor me because I wanted to get back at you, make sure you knew how it felt to be humiliated. But, come on Annabeth, like I could actually care about you?"

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, Rachel stepped forward- clad in only a white towel- and slipped her hand into his. "It's okay hon," she said to him. "She's too stupid to know any better."

Annabeth swallowed and watched with wide eyes as Percy turned to Rachel and kissed her, full on the mouth. Open-mouthed, hot and heavy kisses that made Annabeth want to vomit.

She woke up with a cry and didn't get back to sleep until she had cried herself into it.

oooOOOooo

She woke up with groan and slammed her hand down on her alarm clock, shutting off the annoying beeping. Thursday. Gods, it wasn't even Friday yet? Why couldn't it be Friday?

She got out of bed and went to her closet, looking at it carefully. She wanted to send a message today, and while normally she wouldn't care about clothes too much, she needed the perfect outfit.

Finally she took out an extra tight light purple sweater with a brand name adorning the left side. She picked out some jean shorts, a braided leather wicker belt and a white tank top that was extremely tight in the chest but loose around her stomach. She chose a long, dangling key necklace that hung between her breasts- she had read somewhere that hanging jewelry drew men's eyes, and pearl earrings. She took brown flip flops with pink braided straps and put them on.

She went to the bathroom before brushing her teeth and coming out to do her makeup. Eyeliner on her top lid and waterline, sparkling light pink eye shadow, and pink lip balm with a coating of gloss that was the same sheen, she nodded. Perfect. She was stunning.

So why wasn't she happy? Instead she felt the same numb feeling she had felt since she woke up. Maybe it was because of-

No. She refused to let herself think about… certain people, today.

She pulled her hair tie out of her hair and brushed it before deciding she would keep it down.

Finally she sprayed some vanilla scented perfume on herself before picking up her purse and taking out her phone and dialling a number.

"Luke you're picking me up this morning." Her voice brooked no arguments or questions and she hung up after he agreed and told her he would be there in ten minutes.

She waited downstairs, tapping her foot on the floor anxiously with her arms crossed in front of her chest as she did so. She didn't see her parents- strange, but she didn't dwell on it- and frankly she didn't care. She wasn't in the mood to see them right now anyways.

Luke pulled up outside and she ran out to greet him, sliding in the passenger seat of his car and immediately leaning forward to kiss him.

He seemed surprised at her actions yet he kissed her nonetheless. His lips were warm and soft but there was something off, something missing.

It wasn't like the kiss she had had last night. It was almost nothing compared to that. No passion, no fireworks or heat… Annabeth pulled away from Luke and turned to look forward, frowning as she did. This was wrong, all wrong. She was supposed to be putting Percy out of her mind and yet she couldn't stop thinking about him and last night.

"Good morning to you too," Luke snapped her out of her thoughts. "You must be in a good mood."

She wanted to laugh at how little he knew her.

"Of course," she said with forced bubbliness instead, turning around to meet his eyes. "It's Thursday. There's no school tomorrow and a party at Silena's tonight. Why wouldn't I bet in a good mood?"

Luke shrugged and put his car in gear, easing onto the main road. "I dunno, today you just seem… different."

She rolled her eyes, ignoring the pang his words sent through her. "Oh Luke," she giggled. "You can read me so well."

He looked over at her. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?" He asked suddenly, voice sounding concerned and warm and gentle for once, eyes boring into her.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and turned forwards. "Like I said," she started. "Why wouldn't I be?"

oooOOOooo

"Move it, freshmen," Annabeth ordered as she walked down the halls, scaring a couple of girls in front of her to get a clear path to her locker. "Stop just standing around; don't you have somewhere else to be? Preferably where I wouldn't have to see you?"

The hall was empty apart from them so Annabeth's voice carried, cold and mean.

One of the girls narrowed her eyes at her. "What is your problem?"

"Lizzy," the other one said in a slightly nervous voice. "It's no big deal, come on."

Annabeth smiled pointedly at the red head in front of her. She had always hated people with red hair. "Yeah, Lizzy." She said sweetly. "It's not a big deal. Now move."

"Listen, bitch-"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "No, how about you listen, bitch. I'm asking you to get out of my way and leave before I do something you won't like. Maybe I'll call my boyfriend down here. You know him right? Luke Castellan?"

Lizzy's eyes widened to be almost as big as her brown haired friend's. "Luke-?"

"So how about you just get out of the way and I'll forget this ever happened…. Lizzy, was it?" Annabeth asked, cutting her off. "I really need to get to class."

She stared the two girls down for a second before the brown haired one gently took Lizzy's elbow and walked a couple of steps away.

Annabeth moved towards her locker but stopped when Lizzy's voice rang out through the halls.

"So it's true then?"

Annabeth ground her teeth before turning around and fixing the girl with a death glare. "What's true?"

"You're back, just like you used to be?" Lizzy asked from down the hall, her friend mysteriously gone.

Annabeth smiled but there was no warmth behind it. She was trying to hide how the words twisted her gut. "Back? I wasn't aware that I'd gone anywhere."

Lizzy's blue eyes narrowed in response. "Just making sure," she replied. "It was getting boring having no one to hate and gossip about anymore."

Annabeth watched as she turned around and practically flounced down the length of the hall, turning and giving a little wave as she moved to go into a classroom.

She turned around and opened her locker, yanking out her books before closing her door and heading off to class, purse bouncing at her side with each step.

"Ms. Chase you are late," Mrs. Mccoy announced as Annabeth entered the classroom several minutes after the bell that signalled beginning of classes.

She fished around in her purse and brought out a pink piece of paper. "I have a late pass."

It was several years old since Luke had stolen it from Mr. D's cabinets when he first came to this school, but Mrs. Mccoy looked it over and appeared satisfied- or at least unable to punish her. Her mouth thinned into a disapproving line. "Very well then, take a seat."

Annabeth glanced around and saw that the only empty seat was at the back beside Percy- the one she had been sitting in for a while now. She sighed and walked to the front row, finding the seat she had used to sit in occupied by Lou Ellen.

She smiled down at the girl. "You're in my seat."

Lou Ellen, a blond, shy and nervous girl, looked up at her in surprise. "Your seat? But I thought-"

"I sit here," Annabeth said, quiet enough for Mrs. Mccoy not to hear. "So if you could just move…." She trailed off, the meaning behind her words perfectly clear.

"I-" Lou Ellen faltered but before Annabeth could pounce in her moment of weakness, Percy's voice sounded from the back.

"Just get a different seat."

When Annabeth turned she saw he was staring at her with an incredulous look on his face. She narrowed her eyes at him, appearing more pulled together than she felt. Seeing him brought too many emotions to the surface, ones that she pushed away to the back of her mind hopefully never to be revisited again.

"Oh, I'm sorry, was I talking to you?" She asked him rudely. "No? Then how about you just butt out, kay?"

"How about you leave her alone-"

"Is there a problem?" Mrs. Mccoy was watching the class carefully.

Annabeth shot her a sickeningly sweet smile. "Oh no, Lou Ellen was just about to let me sit down. Weren't you Lou?" Annabeth asked.

Lou Ellen, looking panicked, nodded very fast while gathering the notebook from in front of her. "Yeah, sure. Go ahead." She stood up- careful not to come too close to the blond in front of her- and made her way to sit beside Percy's spot in the back.

Annabeth slid into the vacant seat and pulled out a notebook and pen, staring expectantly at the teacher in front of her as the older woman turned and began to write on the blackboard.

"Annabeth," her name was a hiss and she turned to find Katie staring at her. "Are you okay?"

People really needed to stop asking her that. It was getting annoying. "I'm fine Katie, why wouldn't I be?" She replied before turning around, not wanting to talk to the girl.

Katie, thank the gods, didn't try to continue the conversation.

Science class went by quickly and Annabeth was packing her things up before she knew it, strutting out of the room ahead of everybody else. She went directly to her locker and found Thalia waiting there for her.

"So," Thalia started. "What's up with you?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes as she checked her appearance in her locker mirror, mussing her hair a little. "Why does every keep asking that? Nothing, everything's fine."

"Oh yeah? Then what was last night?"

Annabeth froze. How did Thalia know about last night? Had Percy told her about their kiss, about what she had seen? Was Thalia some sort of way for Percy to get to her-

"You left the swim meet before I could get a chance to talk to you." Thalia continued, not noticing Annabeth breathe out a sigh of relief. "What was that?"

She shrugged. "Nothing. I just decided I didn't want to stay with a bunch of weirdo's who I don't even like and cheer on a stupid boy. The whole thing was stupid."

Thalia looked taken aback. "What?"

"You heard me," Annabeth said, closing the locker door and turning to speak to her best friend full on.

"But- I thought you and Percy-"

"Me and Percy?" Annabeth said like it was the most ridiculous thing in the world, with a casualness she didn't quite feel. "Gods no. No way in Hades."

"You said-"

"Well I was wrong." Annabeth snapped before sighing. "Leave it alone, Thals. You don't want to get involved anyway. It's a huge big mess."

Thalia watched her carefully. "You know if you wanna talk, I'm here right?"

No. "Yes," Annabeth said out loud, smiling at her. "I'll see you for lunch, okay?"

She turned and walked a few steps before looking back at her friend who had been watching her go, ignoring the looks she got as she spoke again. "Oh and you're cousin? He's a lying player who let's girls kiss him with another girl showering in the next room. Just thought you should know."

She didn't look back.

oooOOOooo

"Are you tutoring Percy Jackson?" Luke's voice appeared next to her as he slid into his place at the cafeteria table. They were alone at the table, Piper and Jason having gone somewhere to do some 'studying'. Leo was hitting on a transfer student named Calypso and Thalia was surprisingly sitting at the table with Percy, Nico and the rest of that group.

"What?" She asked him in surprise, dread filling her.

"I just heard you were tutoring that loser," Luke said. "Of course I punched the guy in the face and told him to stop being stupid right after, but it got me wondering. You have been acting weird lately, defending him and asking about the swim team…" His eyes narrowed at her. "Anything I should know?"

Annabeth raised her eyebrows at him, pulling of a great façade of disbelief. "You're joking right? What, is this you being a jealous, over bearing boyfriend? You do know that you hate the guy, right?"

"I do," Luke agreed. "But you don't."

She rolled her eyes, ignoring the flutters in her stomach. She did hate Percy Jackson. She did, she did, she did. "You're my boyfriend Luke," she said, not lying, per se. "Why would I tutor someone you absolutely loathe? Besides," she added. "Who said I even tutored at all?"

"That's what I said," Luke agreed. "But Jake said…"

"Well I'm not." She said honestly. "Tutoring him, I mean."

He nodded. "Good." He ruffled her hair like you would a little kids. "I knew I could trust you."

Annabeth forced a weak grin in response.

oooOOOooo

Annabeth Chase was positively feared that day. By all but one.

He found her at a water fountain. It was out of the way, in a corner of the school people rarely went. Most of the students were outside anyway, playing a game of football or lounging around to watch. She was sure she was the only one inside.

Something for which she was glad. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this act up.

Gods, had she really been so mean before? She fell back into the swing of it easily enough but this time Annabeth actually realized everything she was doing and, dear Zeus, she despised herself.

But it was the only thing she had thought of doing. Falling back into routine, something safe. Luke was there to back her up, Thalia at their side… this was how things had always been.

She stood back up when she finished taking a drink, staring outside through a window. There was Luke, she saw, hugging Thalia around the waist trying to get the ball. They were laughing, she noted, both of them seeming so happy.

Usually she would be out there joining them. Laughing and having fun and just being with them in a way she hadn't been for a while now.

"Annabeth," his voice cut through her dazed state and made her spin around quickly. He sounded sad and confused and hurt and guilty and Annabeth felt her stomach clench at it.

But her anger rose too. Because why should he feel hurt? Had he gone to her house, confessed his feelings for her, promised to break up with his girlfriend and kissed her while she had another guy in her bathroom? Had he had his heart broken? And the guilt- gods, he should feel guilty!

"Go away."

"No."

She narrowed her eyes at him, ignoring the frantic beating of her heart. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Well I want to talk to you, and I want you to listen." Percy said to her, his tone suddenly authorative.

She watched him but said nothing.

"What happened last night…" he ran his hand through his hair. "Annabeth, nothing is going on between me and Rachel, you have to believe me."

"I don't have to do anything." She replied. "And I would be a lot more inclined to believe you if she hadn't been half naked-"

"Nothing. Happened." Percy stepped towards her, eyes earnest. "It was one kiss, that was it, short and completely-"

Annabeth froze, mind buzzing with this new information. "You kissed her?"

Percy stopped too obviously realizing he had said too much. "I-"

"Before or after I got there?"

His eyes closed as if realizing that his answer was of extreme importance. "After."

"After," she breathed out, something plummeting in her and her heart feeling like it was being crushed. He had kissed Rachel- even after she had kissed him first, after she had left, after he had told her there was nothing going on.

"She kissed me. I sent her home." Percy said. "I- that's it, I promise."

She didn't believe him. Not anymore. She wanted to so badly, really she did.

But she would just get hurt again. She needed him to go. To leave her alone.

So why did the thought of that cause her more pain than anything else that had happened so far?

"Like I said, Percy, I got you a new tutor. Sorry I couldn't get Rachel, I'm sure you would have loved to spend some quality time with her." He flinched. "More than you already do, I mean. Unfortunately her time was booked… I don't know what with." She continued cruelly, only causing herself more pain at the words.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked her quietly.

She faked innocence. "Doing what?"

He gestured to her entire appearance. "This. What is it? Some sort of twisted plan? The return of Annabeth Chase, most popular bitch in high school?"

A shocked and hurt expression crossed her face and Percy obviously saw it and realized he had gone a step too far in trying to prove his point. "Wise girl-"

She narrowed her eyes at him after taking an almost non-existent breath. "Don't. Don't call me that. You think I'm a bitch? You think I'm exactly like I was before?" She let her anger take over, smiling a wicked smile, trying to pretend that she was okay and not at all affected by what he had just said. "Fine. Screw you, Prissy, you're just some loser who thought he could have a chance with the popular girl. Now you're trying to save your skin and guess what." She yanked her purse strap up onto her shoulder and turned her head up to face him, to meet his stare dead on. "It's not working."

"Annabeth-"

She yanked her hand out of his grasp as if it burned. "Stay away from me."

She tried to make her voice commanding and cold but instead it sounded tired and hurt and angry.

Annabeth turned around and stalked away down the hall without a backward glance, not seeing Drew standing around the corner and leaving Percy to do nothing but stare after her.

oooOOOooo

"I'll see you later," Luke promised, kissing her on the cheek in the school parking lot. "Thals are you sure you don't mind giving her a ride home?" He asked, turning to face the girl sitting in the driver's seat of a flashy yellow Porsche.

Thalia nodded. "Of course, gives us girls a chance to catch up." She looked at her brother who was sitting in the passenger seat beside her. "Scram, li'l bro, Annabeth gets that seat."

Jason rolled his eyes. "See what you're doing Annabeth? You're demoting me to the backseat."

Annabeth grinned and slid into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her. "Thalia's car, Thalia's rules."

"Yeah so call your girlfriend or something, Annabeth and I have a lot to talk about." Thalia said, shooting a teasing smile back at her brother. "I'm sure Piper would love to hear about your day."

Annabeth turned around to face Jason. "Where was she today anyway? Sick?"

He shook his head, blue eyes meeting hers. "Nah, she was helping Silena set up for the party all day. So was Beckendorf."

Annabeth nodded in understanding. "I take it you're going then?"

Jason snorted. "Who isn't?"

Percy, Annabeth silently said in her head. Probably his friends too. Out loud she laughed and rolled her eyes. "Only people who wish to commit social suicide. People are saying this is going to be the best party of the year, better than grad."

Thalia shrugged beside her. "By people you mean Silena, and you know she always exaggerates everything."

Annabeth turned around to face out the window. "I hope it's as good as she's saying. Gods know I could use a distraction."

Thalia looked over at her, frowning. "About that," she said quietly. "What's going on? Why are you suddenly acting… different."

Annabeth looked over at her. "What do you mean?"

"And today in the hall," a hard note entered Thalia's voice. "I assume you were talking about Percy and not Nico."

"You assume correctly."

"Annabeth, what's going on? I thought you and Percy… had something."

Annabeth bit the tip of her tongue to stop words coming out of her mouth. She heard Jason talking on the phone behind them so thankfully he wouldn't be eavesdropping, but really, did she want to share this with Thalia?

"It's nothing," Annabeth said in a sigh. "I'm just not tutoring him anymore, that's all."

"What?" Surprise coloured Thalia's voice. "But he was doing so much better! What happened?"

She shrugged. "Things just weren't working."

Yeah because he had a half-naked girl in his shower, a voice that sounded like Rachel said.

Annabeth pressed her lips together to keep from saying something she'd regret.

"So," she said, switching the subject. "What's your love life like? I feel like you haven't had a boyfriend in forever!"

"Oh." Thalia shot her a grin. "I guess none of the boys around here are good enough for me."

Annabeth snorted. "Sure, Thals. C'mon, really. You used to have guys trailing you all the time- and you used to like it. You used to always have at least one boy on the go," she winked at her best friend. "Maybe even two."

Jason cleared his throat from behind them. "Ahem, that is my sister."

Annabeth rolled her eyes but lowered her voice once more. "But I haven't seen you with a guy since.. what? Last year?"

Thalia looked studiously ahead. "Maybe I've taken a break off boys."

"No," Annabeth mused. "I don't get why they suddenly stopped following you though. Is it because you came back to school? But that's stupid. It's like someone told all the guys to just stay away from you." Annabeth laughed and after a second or two Thalia joined in.

"Yeah right, Annie. Who could do that?"

"Luke could," Annabeth spoke the truth without thinking. It was true, Luke held that kind of power in the school. It was why Annabeth was hardly ever hit on.

At her words Thalia slammed her foot on the break, causing all of them to jolt forwards into their seatbelts.

"Gods, Thals, what the hell?!" Jason asked from behind them before turning back to his phone to talk hurriedly to Piper.

"What did you just say?" Thalia demanded, turning to look at Annabeth.

"What?" She asked distractedly. "Jesus, Thalia, what was that? Why did you stop?"

Thalia watched her carefully for a few seconds and Annabeth stared back at her in confusion before Thalia turned around once more and started driving.

It was several minutes later, as they were pulling into Annabeth's drive, that she spoke. "I thought I saw a cat."

"Gods, who gave you driving lessons? Apollo?"

Because while the older man owned a car dealership, he was known to be a reckless driver.

Thalia looked away. "Sorry."

Annabeth just shook her head and got out of the car, promising to see them both later that night.

oooOOOooo

She looked good.

She kept her makeup the same as it had been at school that day, touching it up where it was needed. Changed her shorts for dark skinny jeans, her white tank for a more colourful one of light blue. Her necklace was the same but she changed her earrings to dangling silver strands and put on a small metal link bracelet with the infinity symbol in the middle of it. Her hair she straightened and then put up in a ponytail before curling it like that. She left a strand on both sides of her face and curled them as well. Spritzing on some perfume she took a deep breath of vanilla and smiled.

She looked very good.

Finally she fished out some shiny black ballet flats and slid them on her feet before heading downstairs. Luke was coming to pick her up in about five minutes and she commended herself on her timing.

"Annabeth."

Her mother's voice made her spin around and find her standing close behind her. She cursed inwardly. Of course, right at the door, just as she was about to get away…

"Annabeth, your father and I would like to talk to you."

Athena looked tired and worn. Her hair was down, for once, and she was wearing jeans and a blue sweater.

"Mom, I'm just about to leave so-"

Athena sighed at her words and Annabeth faltered, noticing for the first time the bags under her mother's grey eyes that were so like her own.

Athena never looked tired. Something was wrong.

"Mom?" She asked after a few seconds of silence. "Are- are you-"

"Go on to your party." Athena said. "We can talk tomorrow." She forced a smile towards her daughter, one that only made Annabeth more worried. "Have a good time."

Annabeth opened her mouth and was just about to speak before a car horn sounded, making the two women jump.

"Go on," Athena said before Annabeth could speak. "Come back before 1:00."

Annabeth hesitated but nodded after half a second. Whatever was going on with her mother… she didn't want to have to handle it right now. "Bye mom."

She walked out the door.

oooOOOooo

Luke had already had one or two drinks by the time he picked Annabeth up at 8:30, and she wrinkled her nose at the smell of the alcohol. Great.

"So I was thinking," Luke said, distracting Annabeth from her thoughts about her mom. "Maybe later tonight we could… I dunno. Hang out?"

Annabeth looked at his hand that was slowly sliding up her thigh and shifted, effectively making it slide off her leg.

"Actually I have to be home tonight." She said evasively. "Yeah, my mom is acting a little weird."

"Oh," Luke replied, moving his hand to grip the wheel once more. "Alright that's fine. Whatever you want Thals."

"What?" Annabeth asked him, turning in surprise.

"Huh? Oh! Annabeth, I mean Annabeth. Sorry. I just got off the phone with Thalia before I picked you up. My bad."

Annabeth bit her lip, not really believing him. When Luke lied his eyes got really wide, as if he was trying to look innocent.

So why was he lying to her?

A bad feeling rose in the pit of her stomach. Why was everyone acting so weird today? Was it because of how she had been acting? Or was it something else that she didn't know about. Like Thalia, almost killing them when she stopped the car after school, and Luke right now asking to do something later but calling her Thalia instead of Annabeth…

"Okay." She said, letting it go and turning to face the front. "Anyway, sorry. I can't tonight."

"Alright then." Luke said. "I guess we'll just enjoy the party together then."

"Sure," Annabeth turned to him and smiled.

He pulled into Silena's driveway and Annabeth couldn't help but take the place in. It was a huge white Victorian style house. It had a wraparound deck and huge windows. Gods, Annabeth had known Silena was rich but she hadn't known she was that rich.

Silena's house was right beside the lake, near the docks. Annabeth could see people in the darkening night already stripped down to their bathing suits- or skinny dipping, there weren't rules at Silena's parties- and running into the water.

Luke placed a hand on the small of Annabeth's back and she tensed, relaxing a second after she realized who it was. "We should go for a swim later," he whispered to her.

She swallowed and nodded. "Sure thing. Right now let's just stay inside though."

Luke nodded and they walked into the house.

"Annabeth!" The dark haired party host appeared out of nowhere and gave the blond a huge hug. "Oh, I'm so glad you came! We're having a blast!"

Annabeth laughed and hugged Silena back before pulling away to look in her chocolate eyes. "I wouldn't miss it," she said, ignoring the stench of perfume and alcohol Silena brought with her.

Charles Beckendorf appeared out of nowhere and smiled at Annabeth. "Hey," he greeted her. "Glad to see you here."

Annabeth smiled, glad somebody was here to keep Silena in line. Or at least keep her out of trouble. Beckendorf was the best person for that job. "Hey Beckendorf."

Silena squealed as she caught sight of someone else, Annabeth followed her gaze and saw Drew standing there, red cup in hand, lipstick marks around its rim. She was in a black halter top and even skinnier jeans than Annabeth's, not to mention 4 inch black high heels. Her eye makeup made Annabeth seriously consider the possibility that Drew's mother was a raccoon and her hair fell half way down her back in dark waves.

And she was staring right at Annabeth with narrowed eyes.

"Drew!" Silena squealed happily, stumbling to go and hug the girl.

"Hey Silena," Drew's voice was condescending and Annabeth narrowed her eyes at her tone. Silena may be older but Drew had a way of talking down to everybody. "Great party."

"I know right?" Silena replied. "There's everything." She explained turning to Annabeth. "Seven minutes in heaven, beer pong, keg stands, drinking games and swimming…" She trailed off. "Right Charlie?"

"Mmhmm," Beckendorf turned from his conversation to Luke. "Hey listen, we're just gonna go hang out okay? Will you be alright for a bit?" Beckendorf asked his girlfriend.

She smiled at him. "Find me later?"

"Always." He ducked in to give her a kiss before turning back to Luke. "Come on man, I'll show you where the guys are hanging out."

They left.

So much for enjoying the party together, Annabeth thought bitterly as she watched her boyfriend's retreating figure.

"So what should we do girls?" Silena's giggly voice made Annabeth turn back to the pretty brunette's.

Drew scanned the room before her eyes alighted on something. She glanced at Annabeth with a wicked glint in her eye before pointing. "Maybe we should go join them?" She suggested.

Annabeth followed her finger and saw a group of people crowded around a closet, most of them with red cups in their hand.

She noticed Travis and Katie coming out of the closet with their lips swollen and clothes rumpled and grinned a wide grin. 7 minutes in heaven.

Her grin fell flat however when she saw who was going into the now vacant closet.

A gorgeous girl with glossy brown hair and caramel coloured skin and eyes was tentatively following a taller guy. She had a blush on her cheeks but a small smile on her face. Annabeth didn't know her.

That wasn't what made her freeze.

The guy leading her in the closet… it was Percy. Tall hair, black shirt, jeans… he looked more attractive than ever and Annabeth swallowed despite her suddenly dry throat. He was talking quietly to the girl beside him and Annabeth couldn't seem to look away.

"Should we go over there?" Drew asked and Annabeth glanced back to find the girl staring at her deviously.

"I-"

"No." Silena shook her head franticly. "Charlie would hate it if I played without him."

Annabeth stepped forward and put a soothing hand on Silena. "Okay, okay, we won't go." She shot a confused glance at Drew. What was she trying to do?

Drew shrugged. "Whatever. I'm going." She smiled. "I'll see you two later."

"Byeeeee Drew!" Silena sang out.

"Alright hon, how about we go sit down, okay?" Annabeth asked Silena.

Silena's face puckered. "Actually I am pretty tired-" She broke off with a gasp. "Piper!"

"Hey!" Piper came over to them, Jason and Leo following closely. "We just got here! It looks great Silena!"

"I know!" The girl replied happily. "Annabeth's only been here 5 minutes and she loves it already."

Annabeth smiled, keeping a firm hold on Silena in case the girl fell. "It's awesome."

Silena giggled again. "Leoooo," she called. "Where's Calyypsooo?"

A blush adorned the son of Hephaestus's cheeks. "What?"

Silena smiled and Annabeth knew she was in 'matchmaker mode'. "Your girlfriend." She crooned. "Calypso! I saw her here earlier."

"The new girl?" Jason asked. "What's she like?"

Annabeth shrugged. "I don't know, I haven't seen her before either."

Piper smiled at her supposed half-brother. "He really likes her." She grinned at him. "Don't you Leo? She's your first kiss and you guys have this dream of opening a mechanic's shop-"

"Alright, gods, Pipes, try not to embarrass me too much, huh?" Leo broke in. He looked at the rest of them. "Anyways she's really pretty and-" He broke off and pointed. "There she is!"

Annabeth turned behind her to find Leo pointing at an open closet door.

Or, to be more specific, the two people exiting the closet.

Percy and the girl both had light blushes on their face but Annabeth didn't think their lips looked particularly swollen.

It didn't stop the painful feeling in her chest from appearing though, or her narrowing her eyes and staring daggers at the pair.

As if feeling eyes on them both Percy and Calypso turned to meet the group's eyes.

Percy was grinning but when he met Annabeth's eyes the grin slid right off his face and a shocked expression replaced it.

Maybe it was the hurt and betrayed expression he found on her face, or the fact that she looked more vulnerable than ever. Whatever it was it made all the humour leave his eyes.

Annabeth let go of Silena as the girl started speaking. "Oh Leo, she is cute! You guys should totally DTR."

"What?" Jason voice sounded faintly from behind Annabeth. "What's DTR."

"Determine the relationship? Ugh, honestly Jason, you're so hopeless. Piper why haven't you been teaching him..."

Annabeth stopped listening as she saw Calypso catch them all looking at her. The girl's face broke into a grin and she grabbed onto Percy's arm, pointing at them all and seeming to speak very quickly.

Percy's eyes didn't leave Annabeth's but she saw him take in a breath and hesitate before nodding at something she said.

They started making their way over before Annabeth knew what was happening.

"Look guys, I should go and find Luke-"

"Calypso!" Leo's voice cut her off and Annabeth closed her eyes quickly before opening them and plastering a fake smile on her face. "Hey."

"Hi Leo," the girl replied shyly. She looked around at them all before moving to slip her hand into the curly haired Hispanic's. "You must all know Percy right?"

"Hey cousin," Jason grinned at the green eyed boy. "What are you doing here?"

"Jase," Percy nodded his head. "And actually, someone invited me." He said, turning to look at Annabeth and she felt her breathing falter. "Although I don't know if they really wanted me to come."

Piper laughed. "Sure they did, if you got an invite."

Percy shrugged, looking at Piper. "I'm not so sure."

"Oh, sorry Annabeth!" Jason broke in. "You haven't met Percy before, have you? He's my cousin, Poseidon's son." Jason grinned at her before it faltered. "Just don't mention this to Luke and you should be fine."

She felt Percy tense beside her and Annabeth forced a grin at Jason, not looking at Percy.

She felt humourless laughter rise in her. Knew Percy? Of course she knew Percy. She probably knew Percy better than Jason did. She knew he struggled in school but tried his hardest because he didn't want to worry his mom. Knew that he loved his father and searched tirelessly for some sign of approval from him. That Triton, his half-brother, hated him and it made Percy sad. She knew he stuck up for Nico constantly, defending him from people who said he was gay. Whether it was true or not- and Annabeth suspected it might, in fact, be true- Nico hadn't said anything about it and people should know better than to be so rude. She knew Percy considered Grover his best friend, loved Thalia, Jason and Nico as if they were his own siblings and was really close to Hazel and Frank.

Finally she turned around, meeting his eyes in the dim lights. Her breath caught and her heart gave a painful stutter as she did so. His eyes were unwavering and consuming.

"Hi." She said.

Something flickered in the green orbs and he opened his mouth-

-and suddenly Annabeth just couldn't stand to be near him anymore.

"So," she turned around. "I'm going to go and find Luke, I'll see you guys later."

And she all but ran away, feeling her skin settle down and her heart start to slow when she got a bit of distance between herself and the group.

She looked around, making her way through the suddenly packed room, and quickly went up the set of stairs. Red carpet covered the floor and Annabeth walked through the upstairs hallway. She had been in Silena's house once before for a party and was pretty sure she remembered where the bathroom was.

She made sure to knock on the door and was glad she did when a muffled reply came from inside.

"Thalia?"

"Annabeth?!" Her name was a slightly panicked reply. "Umm… can you find a different bathroom? I think I'll be a while."

"Are you okay?"

"Mhmm," came the answer through the door before a muffled "shhh, she'll hear you!"

Ah, Annabeth realized in surprise. There was a guy in there- oh, okay.

"Alright," she called. "Meet up with me later, okay?"

"Yeah, sure thing!" Came the reply before Annabeth turned and walked away, nodding to the occasional people before spotted the door to Silena's room slightly ajar.

She peeked in quickly and saw that it was empty before entering, closing the door behind her and leaning against it, taking a deep breath.

Coming here had been a mistake. She should have known- should have thought that Percy might come…. She closed her eyes and the image of him and Rachel, him and Calypso, him and other faceless girls flashed behind her lids.

She breathed out and moved to the bed. Before she could get close enough to sit on it however, the door opened and Percy quickly came in.

"Annabeth, please, listen to me."

"What- what are you doing in here?" She asked him, heart speeding up once more. "Get out!"

"Not until you listen to me. I need to explain."

He stared at her earnestly and something in her melted, her anger crumbled and as she searched his eyes she saw something in them that made her bite her lip and nod.

"Rachel." He started out by saying. "You have to believe me, it wasn't a big deal. She's my friend and nothing more. Yesterday I let her shower in my house after she got soaked and lent her some clothes to borrow. After you came and.. ya know," he blushed lightly and Annabeth resisted thinking it was cute. "She kissed me but please believe me when I tell you I pushed her away."

Silence fell over them and Annabeth looked down. "You pushed her away?" She asked finally, looking up once more.

He breathed out and moved towards her, stopping a couple of feet away. "I pushed her away."

"And that was all that happened."

"That was all," he confirmed.

"And Calypso?"

He gave her a sheepish grin. "It was seven minutes in heaven," he said. "A quick peck and that was it. Although we did do some talking."

"You can't just expect-"

"Annabeth! Listen. For once in your life you don't know everything, okay? I swear on anything and everything I'm telling you the truth." His hands grabbed her wrists gently before she shook her head and pulled away.

"I can't believe you." She whispered.

"Why not?"

"Because every time I do I end up more hurt than ever!" She shouted before closing her eyes, not wanting to look at him. "You hurt me in ways I never even thought was possible, I can't breathe when I'm around you and you make me so gods damned angry. Sometimes I think I hate you and other times I think I'm in love with you and-" She broke off, eyes wide and mouth open.

Percy was watching her carefully. "What, and you think you're the only one who feels that way out of the two of us?"

Annabeth snorted. "I seem to be."

Percy shook his head. "Yeah, okay. Because I'm the one driving you crazy. I'm the one you think about 24/7? The one who's dating a complete jackass yet making you think that maybe there's more to me than everyone else sees, am I right? That instead of the pathetic popular girl act, I'm an actual person behind all the fake walls and acts."

She looked up at him, not breathing and not saying anything.

"Annabeth you're the most stubborn, overbearing, controlling and downright annoying person I know." He said, holding her hands. "And I cannot stop thinking about you." He grinned a bit. "You drive me crazy. There's so much depth to you and I just want to learn everything about you. I love that you eat tic tacs in fours. I hate that you act so mean to people to stop them from getting close to you. I love that you try to be so strong for everyone else. I hate that you think you have to be. I hate that you get annoyed easily and I love that you made me fall in love with you."

She caught her breath. "You love me?"

He hesitated a bit before nodding. "I love you." He repeated. "Now do you believe me?"

Annabeth swallowed, ignoring the jumping feeling in her stomach and the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "And why should I believe you?"

He looked into her eyes. "Because it's the truth?"

She shook her head. "That's not good enough."

"Because you want to?"

"Still not enough."

He hesitated and that thing shown in his eyes once more before he spoke. "Because I really like you," he whispered and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, making her skin tingle. "And you really like me."

She leaned towards him. "Still not enough."

"You are so not making this easy," he said, teasing layering his voice.

She grinned, finally, and stepped until she was right in front of him, chest to chest. She slid her arms up and around his neck, playing a bit with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I'm never going to make things easy for you Seaweed Brain," she whispered against his lips. "Get used to it."

And then she kissed him.

When she kissed him she didn't think about Rachel or Leo's girlfriend or anything else but him. This kiss was nothing like the one from yesterday, this kiss was all of Annabeth's stress and anger letting itself out. She and Percy were pressed right against one another, lips sliding and opening and tongues colliding and Annabeth's legs felt weak from the feel of it. This was savage pleasure and passion and she was breathing in little pants when they pulled away.

Hurriedly Percy began trailing kisses down her neck and Annabeth leaned her head back, savouring the sensation and falling victim to the pleasure. Her skin felt alive and on fire, Percy felt solid and warm against her and she found herself losing all coherent thought.

Percy trailed his way across her chest and up the other side of her neck before kissing her on the lips once more. This time their passion lessened and it was slow and full of pressure. Annabeth loved it. She had never really understood why kissing was said to be so good- sure Luke was an okay kisser, but it was nothing special- but now she never wanted it to stop.

But it had to. It had to. Because she was mad at him and there was Luke and a house full of people just outside that not quite closed door and Annabeth did not want things to get any crazier than they were already.

She pulled away and stared at him, watching his chest heave as heavily as hers.

Percy stepped away, hands falling from her hips to his sides before he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I….

Annabeth swallowed. "We need to talk."

oooOOOooo

Meanwhile Drew with a smirk on her lips, quietly shut the door to Silena's bedroom, unbeknownst to the couple inside.

She grinned. Tonight was going to be good.

oooOOOooo

"Annabeth!" Thalia called over to her from a table surrounded by people. "Come and play Never Have I Ever with us!"

She quickly scanned the people. Piper, Jason, Leo, Calypso, Luke, Drew and Thalia.

She smiled and came and sat beside her best friend, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "I expect all the details later you know."

Something almost like a blush coloured Thalia's cheeks. "Roger that," she said. "Now come on, let's play. You know how to play right?"

"Sure," Annabeth said. "Someone says something they've never done and the people who have all have to drink, right? The person who's the most drunk at the end loses and the most sober wins."

"Yeah, yeah, good. Get it going Piper." Drew's voice answered her. "Oh wait! There's Percy! Let's get him to play too!"

Annabeth's eyes shot to Percy who had just come down the stairs. He looked just like he had before their make out session upstairs and she glanced away, scared her thoughts could be read on her face.

They had decided to talk tomorrow. They would sort things out then. Right now they were supposed to act like usual.

"Drew-" Thalia's voice sounded the warning that everybody was obviously thinking, but Drew ignored her.

"Percy!" She called, somehow being able to make his name sound flirtatious. "Come and play with us!" She winked. "If you know what I mean."

Percy looked over at them and glanced around, taking in the faces. His eyes rested briefly on Annabeth before he shook his head. "You know, Drew, I think I'm just gonna go and-"

"Oh come on, Jackson." Surprisingly it was Luke who interrupted. "Scared?"

Percy came closer and raised an eyebrow. "Of a drinking game?"

Luke shrugged. "Who knows what scares you."

"Luke." It was Thalia who interrupted again. "Come on, just let him go-"

"No, Thals, it's ok." Percy pulled out a chair and sat, grabbing a cup. "I'll play."

"It's never have I ever," Annabeth told him. "In case you were wondering."

Percy just glanced at her quickly before looking back at Luke. "Who's up?" He asked.

Luke grinned. "Thalia's up."

"Fun," Thalia's grin was positively evil as she leveled her gaze at Drew. "Never have I ever… had sex with something plastic."

Drew drank amidst whistles.

"Really Drew?" Piper's voice was disgusted.

The girl shrugged. "Don't knock it till you've tried it, princess."

Annabeth looked at her with distaste but then looked down at her cup. Her turn. Okay. "Umm…" Her eyes landed on Piper and she smiled. "Never have I ever been caught singing Best of Both Worlds in the shower."

"Annabeth!" The younger girl exclaimed. "You promised you wouldn't tell."

The whole table was laughing, even Jason, as he nudged his girlfriend's cup towards her. "Drink up, Pipes."

Next was Leo. "Hmm… Never have I ever…" he looked at Drew and he grinned wickedly. "Been in a photo half-naked." He paused. "One that was shown around the entire school."

Drew drank, scowling at Leo. "You'll pay for that, Valdez."

Calypso smiled. "My turn," she announced. "Umm…" she frowned and pouted. "This is no fun. I don't know anything you guys have done."

Leo leaned over and whispered something in her ear, both of them pulling away with identical grins. "Okay. Never have I ever woken up on my neighbour's lawn dressed in nothing but a pink tutu."

Jason and Luke both drank.

"Never again," Luke said, looking at Jason. "Gods that was awful."

"No kidding," Thalia's brother replied. "And gods, that guy was cranky."

Thalia and Annabeth's laughter subsided and then it was Jason's turn. "Umm… Never have I ever.. egged a house?"

It came out sounding like a question and there was a collection of sighs from around the table.

"Really Jason?" Thalia asked her brother across the table.

He rolled his eyes. "Just drink Thalia."

Everyone around the table except Jason drank and he looked at them all with disbelieving eyes. "Really?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "It's not really that big of a deal."

Leo nodded. "Yeah dude, if Annabeth even did it… then it's nothing."

"Leo!"

"All of you?" Jason asked as he turned to his girlfriend.

She shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. Leo and I were mad at Mr. D."

"Percy?" Jason asked.

He shrugged. "You don't know half the stuff I get up to Jason."

"True," Thalia raised her drink towards her cousin. "He can do some crazy stuff."

Jason pouted. "Why wasn't I invited to these… things?"

Thalia grinned at Percy who returned it. "We have our reasons."

"Look can we get back to the game?" Luke cut in, sounding annoyed.

"Okay, umm…" Piper bit her bottom lip before grinning. "Never have I ever kissed a teacher."

Drew and surprisingly Calypso, both drank.

"Calypso?" Leo asked in surprise.

She shrugged. "It was just a peck. And it was a dare from a friend. Completely innocent."

Annabeth looked at Drew who was grinning like a shark. "Mine wasn't so innocent."

"Gross."

"Disgusting."

"Slut."

"Piper!" Annabeth admonished.

The girl shrugged. "Oops."

"Never have I ever…" Percy looked around the table and his eyes landed briefly on Luke and Thalia before he moved on and stopped at Leo. "Played mythomagic with Nico."

Leo, Thalia and Jason all drank.

"Wait, wait, wait," Piper cut in. "Why is that bad?"

Thalia snorted. "Have you seen Nico play mythomagic?"

"No…."

Thalia shook her head. "Good. Keep it that way."

They all turned to look at Drew, who had drank the most so far and looked pretty drunk. She looked around at them all before her eyes rested on Annabeth. "Never have I ever fallen in love with someone while dating another person."

Silence descended upon the group until finally four people picked up their cups and drank.

Jason, who's story was known. He had been dating a girl named Reyna- not exclusively, but they had been going out long enough for it to be a big deal- when he had met Piper. Piper and Jason had gone out, realized they liked each other and bam, you got yourself a couple. Reyna had been dumped and forgotten about.

It wasn't a nice story but it wasn't exactly like Jason did anything wrong. He hadn't known how much Reyna had cared about him when he met Piper.

The other three were Thalia, Luke and Annabeth.

All eyes turned immediately to Annabeth. It was known that her only boyfriend had been Luke and if she had fallen in love with another person while dating him… well it was obvious it was pretty recently.

"Annabeth?" Luke's eyes and tone were surprised. "What-?"

"Luke?" She asked in return. As far as she knew, Luke loved nobody. "Who…?"

They trailed off, looking at each other in silence before Annabeth got up and went outside, the last thing she heard being Percy saying, "way to go, Drew."

"Annabeth-" Luke's voice followed her. "Annabeth, wait-"

She didn't stop until she got outside onto the deck and took huge gasping breaths of air.

It had never occurred to her that Luke might be unfaithful in their relationship. Sure he flirted with other girls all the time but she had been so wrapped up in her own dilemma that she hadn't noticed- hadn't even thought-

"Annabeth, let's talk about this."

She turned around. "Talk? You want to talk about it?" She knew she was being unfair. Maybe Luke had cheated but so had she, right? And who said he had even cheated, maybe he just loved somebody else. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Whatever it was, Annabeth couldn't get past the hurt and betrayal she was feeling.

"Who is she?" She demanded.

He hesitated before opening his mouth. "Annabeth," his voice was soft, like he was imploring for her to understand.

"Luke?" She asked, trepidation building. "Who is it?"

A throat cleared from behind her and Annabeth whirled around angrily, about to tell whoever it was to just get the hell out because now was not the time; she stopped, however, when she saw it was Thalia.

"Thals," her name came from Annabeth's mouth in a breath of relief. "Look, give us a minute, I'll be there in a sec-"

"It's me, Annabeth." Thalia interrupted her, watching her sadly. "I- it's me."

Annabeth faltered, unsure of what she was saying, her mind suddenly feeling foggy. "What?"

Thalia swallowed as Luke stepped around Annabeth to stand near the dark haired girl. "The girl Luke's in love with." She took a breath and clear blue eyes met stormy grey ones. "It's me."

oooOOOooo

So thanks for reading! Hope you liked this chapter! It kind of got out of hand… I never meant for it to be anywhere near this length but I just couldn't find a good place to stop. Cliffhanger! Muwahahah now I'm just like Rick.

Just kidding. I have no where near as much talent as Rick does.

Reviews! You know I love em!

Love you all!

Percyjacksonfan3