PLAYING THE PLAYER:
Third Person P.O.V:

"That first kiss: it's the passionate one. It's the one filled by desire and attraction, and all of that, but the second kiss is rational. You got time to worry, and over analyze and most women...they prefer that first kiss."- Dawson' s Creek, Bessie.

Chapter Nine:

It was the morning after the party as the red head walked into Goode High School, carrying her History textbook in one arm. Another heated, emotional teenage girl was behind her.

"I don't exactly know how you did it, but I know it was you!" Silena snapped hotly, following Rachel around school, practically stepping on her crimson red high heels. Rachel rolled her eyes in annoyance, trying to push past the daughter of Aphrodite. "What did you do to Annabeth? What did you put in her drink?"

Rachel whirled around, her hair curled and makeup heavily coated on her face. Her freckles were unseen, covered by tan makeup. Her nose crinkled, eyebrows narrowed. Her cheeks flushed a red color, over passing the smears of blush. She put her hands on her hips, obviously angry, but her lips were pulled in a smug smile, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief and cruelty.

"And what if it was me?" She paused, readjusting her purse strap. "You can't prove anything."

She began to walk away again, but Silena gripped her arm firmly, spinning her around. Surprised at the fragile girl's strength, Rachel allowed herself to be tugged around like a rag doll. "I'm not finished with you yet. Leave Annabeth alone. Leave Percy alone. Leave me alone!" Her voice caught on the last sentence.

A sneer formed on Rachel's face, her lips pulling unattractively upward. "Oh, hun. I think I'll be the one who decides when I'm finished with you or not. That is, unless you want Beckendorf to know about that little incident with his younger brother Leo Valdez. Imagine how heartbroken he'd feel. Just imagine the pain that he would go through because of your arrogance. If you want some morality to it- think of it this way. How can you become a better person unless you pay for your mistakes?"

Tears formed in the corners of her sapphire eyes, and Silena wiped them away frantically. "Please, Rachel. I thought we were friends."

"We were. That was before I figured out where your loyalties stood." Silena swallowed down the agonizingly painful lump in her throat, attempting to look even somewhat intimidating. Just the thought of Beckendorf discovering that she had slept with his brother...it was too much to bare. But she couldn't betray Annabeth. Then again, she already had.

"Loyalties? With who exactly?"

"Annabeth," Rachel spat her name like it was venom on her tongue.

Silena' s eyebrows furrowed together, trying to mask her pain and betrayal. Her pity for her formal friend. She had always just assumed that she was only using Annabeth as a pawn to take Percy down. "Annabeth? What had she ever done to you?"

Rachel scoffed, rolling her eyes. The hallways were deserted, except for the two teenage girls standing in the dead middle of it. "You don't get it, do you? She stole Percy from me! She plays with all of us, as if we're some kind of puppets. She's not our friend. She's just playing with all of us!"

Silena's sympathy turned to hot rage, her lips forming into a straight, permanent line. "Percy wasn't yours to begin with. He broke up with you to sleep with Drew! And now you're friends with the she devil who broke you two up. Don't blame this on Annabeth. She's been a better friend than you'll ever be. She doesn't treat us like puppets, she treats us like equals. But Drew? No. She's controlling. Drew is the puppet master herself."

"Drew has been the only one there for me. She showed me a way out."

"No," Silena shook her head. "She hasn't. Drew is showing you the wrong way. She's manipulative. You're only doing this because you're hurt. This isn't about revenge. Let me help you Rachel."

Rachel snorted, flipping her curls over her shoulder. To everyone else she was the stereotype, teenage mean girl. But to Silena, she knew that her friend was going through something and using revenge as an excuse. Silena could see the pain and hurt in her eyes. She didn't notice it the first time, but now she was paying more attention.

Know thy enemy.

Only she wasn't exactly sure who the enemy was.

"I want revenge. That may be hard to accept for your small brain, but it's true. I'm not hurt, Sil. In fact, I'm the opposite. I'm irrevaticaly content with my life."

"No. We both know that's not true. You're hurting."

"Shut up. Just shut up, Silena. Your reverse psychology won't work."

Silena frowned, troubled. "What happened to your art? What happened to painting yourself gold and protesting against your father's plans to destroy the rainforest?"

Rachel glared at her, tugging gently at the tips of her velvet hair. Her mouth formed into an 'o' shape and gently she began to scream under her breath. "Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone. Go AWAY!"

Silena flinched at her Ex friend's outburst, surprised. Tears were now streaming down her rosy cheeks, and Rachel's were beginning to fog. She began to walk away, stumbling over her feet.

"What happened to you, Rachel?"

Rachel smiled coldly back at the blue eyed girl. She wiped the spare tears from her eyes, all emotions gone. She whispered in response, "everything."

"Hurt anyone of my friends again, I dare you." Silena half screeched in exasperation, her pity and betrayal replaced with rage. "Because if you even so much as lay a finger on anyone that I care about, I won't think twice to take you down."

They both flinched simultaneously as the doors to the school opened, followed by a sea of rushing kids.

Rachel pursed her lips, a polished red fingernail on her chin. "Hm. Interesting negotiation. But, I think I'll gave to pass. And you seemed to forget something, my dear friend." Her voice lowered to a raspy whisper, her expression malevolent.

"My last name is 'Dare,' remember?"

. . .

Annabeth's P.O.V:

"UP! I will not say it again, Annabeth Rose Chase!" My head felt like it was splintering in half from the rueful shrieks that shuddered against my eardrums. To sum it all up in one word...I felt like crap. My head ached like nothing I had ever felt before, and my stomach churned as wildly as the Ocean, like rough waves crashing against rocks.

I let out a loose, hoarse gasp, burying my face into a soft material, seemingly hiding from the loudly shrieking voice and the rest of the world.

My eyes peeled open eventually, retracting towards the sudden amount of sunlight as a blurry figure pulled open the shades to my window. I held my hand up, shading my eyesight from the blinding light. "Annabeth Chase! Just wait until your father hears about this! You are grounded, young lady. Do you hear me? G-R-O-U-N-D-E-D."

Eyes widening at the women's harsh, disoriented words, I sat up quickly.

Pain flashed through my quicker than lightning, making my arms buckle and tremble furiously.

Double Ow.

My composure buckled, groaning, as I collapsed back onto my comforter in my previous position. Why did I feel like this? Everything was spinning. My closet, the lamp in front of me, even the familiar figure in front of me who I could not place yet. I clenched my jaw, holding onto my pillow for dear life. I sniffed, and a revolting smell hit my nose. Dried puke was in a puddle on my white pillow. My eyes opened hesitantly again, and the room had ceased its spinning, much to my relief. I had never felt so unsure and impure before. What happened last night?

Did I...?

Sleep with someone?

But more importantly, where was I?

My grey eyes widened even bigger, if possible, trying to recall every little, descriptive detail to Drew's back to School party. Faces flashed against my pounding temples- Thalia's tear streaked face, Rachel's inconsiderate smile, Malcolm's worried expression. Piper's confusion and flirtation. And then Percy staring down at me, his forehead crinkled in that cute way whenever he's worried.

And then nothing.

Just darkness.

And then telling him Percy Orion Jackson that I was in love with him.

The car bustled down the street, illuminating lights flickering above and me relishing every moment of it. I let out a loose giggle. Everything was spinning in a circle. But not in a nauseating way. Like I was on a marry-go-round that had yet to stop. My head was pressed up against something hard...something breathing. Something that radiated warmth. My eyes look up at Percy Jackson, and I let out a loud, hysterical giggle. The entire situation was just humorous...I couldn't quite place it. My mind felt muddled, like it had just been mixed by a spoon. But again, not in a bad way.

"What?" I hear a masculine voice ask from the front seat. My head tilts to the side, and I laugh even harder when I spot out the familiar features of Luke Castellan. Rival to Percy Jackson. "What's so funny, Annabeth?"

I open my mouth to answer, but Percy's voice cuts me off. "Don't answer that, Annie."

"WHYYYYYY?" I question, slapping his shoulder repeatedly. I see a crooked smile appear on his face at my actions, but it disappears turning into a flicker of annoyance. "Hehehe. Percy Jackson smiled!"

Luke turned around and gave me a smile, with an emotion that I couldn't place. All I knew was that it wasn't like Percy's warm butterflies that I got whenever he smiled. "I'm guessing that he doesn't smile a lot."

"Nope," I shake my head, like I ridiculous five year old who had just been rewarded a piece of candy. I had never felt so free. It felt like I was floating, like I had wings and all of the muscles had been opened to endless amounts of possibilities. No strict mother to keep me chained down, no split up family, no worrying about grades, about colleges. All that was there was a light, soft bubbly feeling in my stomach, telling me how good this felt. Of course, my subconscious mind was still there lecturing me- but whatever I was on managed to keep the thoughts detained. "Percy is allllllllll serious. Except when he flirts with girls."

"I'll bet," Luke continued, still speaking to me like I was a child. Which in this sense, I suppose I was. "But hopefully not with a pretty girl like you."

"Shut up, Castellan. Stop toying with her when she's not in her right mind." Percy snapped irritably, placing a hand on my cheek softly, pressing me against his chest tightly. Almost possessively, but there was a sense to protectiveness to it that I couldn't deny. His hoodie was wrapped tightly around me, like a blanket as I snuggled deeper into his chest.

Percy's arm drew around me, pulling me closer if humanely possible.

"Aw," Luke's blue eyes reflected through the interior rear view mirror. "Don't you two look like a happy couple."

I giggled, prying myself playfully away from Percy's arm. "PERCY JACKSON DOES NOT DATE! Are you stupidddddddddddddddddd? And anyways, we aren't a coupleeeeeeeeeeeee."

A loose laugh escaped Percy's lips, and Luke laughed along. His hand pulled away from the steering wheel, touching my curl gently. Percy's laughter ceased, and his hand shot out in an instant, his whole body going rigid and stiff beneath me.

"Touch her again and I will fuck you up. Understand, Castellan?" Something churned in my stomach and I felt bile rising in my throat. Not at their conflict, but something different.

"Percy..." I moaned in pain clutching my stomach tightly. Percy's gaze was diverted to me, as I felt my face go green, anger converting to worry. "I don't feel good."

"Shit," Luke complained. "Don't let her puke in my car. Do you know how expensive this is?"

Percy pulled me away, grabbing my locks and pushing it away from my face. His thumb brushed against my neck and cheeks in the process, causing me to gasp. "Percy...that feels goooood."

Percy's face went red, while Luke chuckled once again. "What are you two doing back there?"

"What do you think?" I croaked, as Percy handed me a paper bag. "I'mgoingtopuke!"

"Well don't puke all over my car."

At that moment, I felt it coming up and I managed to get most of it into the bag, the rest on the seat.

Percy held back my hair the whole time.

I didn't remember most of anything else. I remember struggling between being unconscious and subconscious. My head was leaning on his chest again, eyes heavy and almost shutting. The street lights seemed to glow brighter than ever as I moaned in pain. The fun was over.

"Its okay, Annabeth." Percy's voice. "You can sleep if you want to."

I shook my head, leaning tighter up against him. "It hurts to sleep." Bored again, I made up a quirky song. "Perccyyyyy, Percyyyyy, Jacksooooooon." Just repeating his name over and over to the 'It's a Small World' theme song, although I wasn't a very good singer. It just sounded like a mix of slurs, blending and molding together.

"Try, Wise Girl. You'll feel better." He eventually said, ending my singing. After a few moments, I had forgotten the words to my song altogether. I took his word for it, finally shutting my eyes and attempting to fall asleep. The key word? Attempt. I kept my eyes shut, but only because it subsided the pain to my throbbing headache.

After a few minutes to listening to the air conditioning and feeling Percy's breathing body beneath me, the two began to talk. Half of me wished that I was resting on Luke's chest. He was just too perfect to be ignored. I wished that he would make a move on me, (maybe that was my drunken mind talking) but every time he even tried to do so, Percy stepped in. I shoved the thoughts away as they began to speak.

"Is she asleep yet?" Luke's voice. I could tell that, even though I was basically seeing stars.

There was a pause, before Percy's comforting voice reappeared, protectiveness creeping into his voice. "Yes. Why?"

"Because I thought we could have a conversation without prying eyes. Or ears, in this manner."

There was another pregnant silence, and I could slice the tension with a knife.

"Sure," his voice was light again, but I could hear the edginess towards it. "Why not? What do you want to talk about?"

"How many virgins have you slept with so far?" Virgins? What were they talking about? My mind was muddled still, but it was beginning to slightly wear off. Percy Jackson loved to make bets with the upcoming threats to his position as school womanizer.

"How many have you slept with?"

I could practically picture Luke flashing him a grin. "Four. I've been taking it slow. I know that your mind has been captivated on a certain blonde girl." What blonde girl? Did he mean me?

No. That was impossible. Percy did not like me.

"Going easy on me?" Percy quipped sarcastically. Smart ass, I thought humorously. Then, he sighed. "None. I almost had Reyna."

A sliver of envy shot through me, my stomach twisting painfully.

"I know," he said. "But you didn't. Saying this as an enemy- you need to get your head in the game." The car turned the corner and bumped up a driveway. It then parked, and a feeling of dread possessed me, although everything was too fuzzy to comprehend. A car door opened, and a breeze of cold air embraced me. I shivered against Percy, clinging to him.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to get Annabeth's mother. I doubt she'll want you at her doorstop." My eye shot open at the mention of my mother, and Percy's worried eyes found mine. The door shut, and he leaned me up a bit.

"Hey." He nudged my shoulder. "Are you feeling okay?"

I gave him an exaggerated smile, obviously still drunk. "I'll manage."

"Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." His surprised face was all I saw before I pressed my lips against his. It was a small peck; quick and fast. And it left me wanting more. It left me yearning and aching for more of him. His lips were soft and warm, exactly how I imagined them to be. It was my first kiss, though I felt childish to admit that.

He was finally mine. His lips were molding perfectly together with mine, as if we were meant for each other. He was mine. Completely and utterly mine. He was finally letting me take ownership. But as the saying goes- ownership brings great responsibility. A responsibility that should be weighing heavily on my shoulders, resembling the weight of the sky if it wasn't for the dead panned fact that I was lost in his lips. His kiss.

He pulled away, shoving my arms roughly away. A giggle escaped my lips, but it died as soon as I saw the expression on Percy's face. It was pure anger.

"Annabeth," his voice was shaky, like he was restraining from doing something. "Go away before I say something I might regret" I blinked, unable to process this. I kissed him. Shouldn't he be happy that I kissed him? Shouldn't he be kissing me right now?

My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. He let out a breath of air, running a hand irritably through his empery hair. "Look, Annabeth. You're drunk. You probably won't remember anything tomorrow. Just- look, here comes your mom."

I followed his eyesight but the alcohol or drugs were kicking in again, causing the car to swirl like a carnival ride. "Okay, Annabeth?"

"Okay, Percy," my voice came out slurred again.

He hesitated, like he was unsure of doing anything. Then, he kissed me on top of the head. "Goodnight Annabeth."

"Goo'night, Seaweed Brain," then I fell into my mother's arms and darkness embraced me.

My breath got choked up in my throat, as I recalled the bittersweet memory. Percy's hardened face. No-enraged expression. He obviously didn't want me to say that. He obviously didn't love me back.

A flicker of pain shot through me.

What had I done?

"Oh, god. No, no, no, no, no!" I threw the covers off of me, baggy pants and a t-shirt wrapped comfortably around me. I frowned for a moment, studying it. When did that happen? I analyzed the room, seeing my frilly t-shirt and skinny jeans (Rachel's handiwork) lying crumpled on the floor. Everyone's sleeps over things were gone, disappeared out of absolutely no where, making the confusion in me heighten.

"Finally understood what happened?" My mother questioned in a taunting-sneering voice, placing her hands securely on her hips. I had never seen her this irate before and little things set her off. Her blonde eyebrows were narrowed, identical grey eyes fiery with anger and disapproval, stiff posture, hair frizzed. All the signs that a tornado was on its way. Storm Chasers better duck for cover- that Storm Chaser being me.

"I have to go-" I began to walk to the door. I had to find Percy. Had to explain that last night was just a mistake and nothing more.

I knew it was a lie.

"Go?" She just about shrieked. "Oh, no. You will sit your ass back down and exclaim to me what happened!"

"Mom..." I began, and then moaned from the light headedness. "I-It was stupid, okay? It was only a party for the seniors. Nothing else happened. I only drank punch."

I only drank punch.

Was I...drunk?

Hysterical laughter escaped through her plush, painted lips. "Just punch? Then explain to me, young lady how you are dead panned, pathetically drunk. Sitting wasted right in front of me? The nerve of you!" I winced as her strung sentences got louder, pulsing against my ears, making my head pound and the room spin again. I wanted to tell her to calm down, but I decided it was best to remain silent and take what was coming. No, I wanted to bolt out of this house and go find Percy. "Do you have no pride for me? For this family? Imagine if this gets around school? Around the town? My entire reputation...ruined! You cannot afford to screw up, Annabeth! Was it Percy Jackson who turned you around0? Have you begun to hang around him again? He's the one who brought you home, along with Luke Castellan. Luke is a fine, young lad but if Percy is converting Luke over to his side...is it that Grace girl? The Goth one? Is she making you behave like this? Oh, no! No more friends or even acquaintances for that matter, unless it's under my approval. You will not ruin my reputation, Annabeth Rose Chase!" Her finger was darting around in my face, making my eyesight even blurrier if that was possible.

"Your reputation?" I quipped hotly, before even rethinking my words, before even managing to acknowledge the snippets of insults flying out of my mouth faster than Percy Jackson could get a girl into bed. "This isn't about you. This is about me. It's my life, not yours. Stop trying to make up for your mistakes through me."

She scoffed as if that was the most ludicrous thing in the world. "Stop with the dramatics, Annabeth. This is the hangover and wild hormones talking." She grabbed my clothes from the ground, bundling them up in her arms as if it was a new born baby. Fumbling with my jeans, before shooting them a look of disgust. Her grey eyes were still narrowed in on my outfit, as if it wasn't proper enough for you. "Once you are ready to treat me with a sliver with respect you can come downstairs, apologize to me, then call your father and apologize to him."

"What?" I questioned incredulously, my grey eyes widening with surprise. "You told dad?"

"I did. As much as it kills me to say, he's you and Malcolm's father. He deserves to know what's going on in your life, although that may not constitute to mine."

I desperately tried to keep the conversation alive, trying to wriggle out of the mess I had just made. I didn't regret last night. It was the first time in my life I didn't feel like I was tied together with a rope, the first time I didn't have to look over my shoulder to see the error of my ways because my mother always corrected it and lectured me. For the first time ever- I was free. Physically and mentally. No one could ever stop me. Nothing could touch me. I. Was. Free. I wasn't chained up in the shackles of my parent's divorce. I had somehow managed to dig my wrists away and escape.

As if reading my mind Athena stated, "you need to deicide something, Annabeth. Whether or not you want to be free or you want to be safe. Because you can't have both."

With those words of wisdom, she stormed out of the room, shooting me one last look of sternness before exiting the room and slamming the door loudly for good measure. My hands crept to my knees and I brought them up to my chest, before slowly rocking back and forth, thinking. I felt some tears creep at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away as best I could, trying to motivate myself onto better things to divert my attention to.

The rejection from Percy...hurt. Even though I knew that most probably didn't mean anything. I was drunk, even though I don't remember ever bringing alcohol to my lips. Maybe someone spiked the punch. My head tilted in confirmation. The Stoll Brothers, most likely.

My phone buzzed to the side of me, and my heart leaped as a familiar boy with sea green eyes took over my mind.

However, when I saw the caller ID, I sighed with relief and disappointment.

"Hello?" I asked groggily.

"Hey!" Rachel's cheery voice rang out loudly, so piercing that I had to hold the phone away from my ear. Despite my headache, I managed to smile. "I hope your hangover is okay, hun. I should've been watching how much you drank. Anyways...how'd it go with your mom?"

I ran a hand through my thoroughly tangled blonde mess of curls. "Don't even remind me. I'm grounded seemingly for life."

"Aw, that sucks." Funny. She didn't sound sympathetic. "Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you! Guess what? Guess what? Guess what? Guess what, Annabeth?"

I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my lips was permanent from her enthusiasm. "What, Rach?"

"Ethan Nakamura just asked me out! Can you believe it? Percy is going to be totally jealous!" I frowned, glad that she wasn't here to notice my external discomfort.

"I don't know, Rachel. You just got your heart broken by Percy. I don't want you getting hurt again."

There was a large pause, and I froze for fear of saying the wrong thing. I heard her scoff from the end of the other line. "Oh, I see how it is." It came out like a disgusted, agitated sneer and I cringed from the traces of downright cruelty in her voice. "First you like my Ex, and then you like the next boy who asks me out! Annabeth, sweetie, don't be so insecure."

The amusing thing was is that she was drawing out this conversation because of her own insecurities.

"I'm not being insecure Rachel. You're my friend and I would never try and take a boyfriend from you."

Another sharp silence that made my stomach do flips. Thalia had already walked out on me. I couldn't lose another friend, not that I was writing Thalia off as a lost cause. I would go talk to her soon; find out what was bothering her.

Finally Rachel huffed in defeat. "I know, girlie. I'm sorry for being so snapping. I've been agitated lately."

"Its okay, Rachel. I understand." I glanced wearily at my door. "And I've got to run. If I'm grounded it means no cell phone privileges." I could practically see her nose twitch rebelliously, making her freckles dance.

"Alright. See you soon, hun."

"Bye, Rach." I hung up the phone, leaning up against the wall.

It felt so amazing last night- like a small child on the night before Christmas, the excitement bubbling in my stomach. So why did I feel so horrible and guilty the next day? I sank lower into the small cradle I built for myself, pulling the blanket up and wrapping it around my legs, warming me slightly. I felt the guilt clawing away at me, making my stomach tug around. I felt conscience-stricken, but I knew I didn't contrite getting drunk. I had never been drunk before, so I could speculate it into a learning experience for me. That certainly wasn't how my mother viewed it, but that's how I would.

A nauseating feeling that spread through me made me practically jolt out of my thoughts, as alarm flashed through me.

I felt something churn in my stomach, and felt sweat glisten across my forehead. "No!" I don't know who the protest was to, my stomach or me. I couldn't vomit- not in my bed. I climbed up, racing across the hall to the bathroom, despite my heavy headache.

Bumping into my brother's shoulder, I pushed the door open, slammed it tightly shut and knelt down next to the toilet. The repulsive puke came out soon enough.

There was a knock at the door, but I wasn't quite finished.

The door opened without my say so, obviously. "Hey, sis." Malcolm walked in; his blonde curls messily to the side, a crooked grin on his face. His uniform was on, making my eyebrows pull together. "How are you feeling, Annie?"

"Like rainbows and ponies," I snapped after I was finished, but I still remained in the same position. "How do you think I'm feeling genius?"

Malcolm shrugged, but he was still grinning from ear to ear. "You know there's a good remedy for a massive hangover."

This perked my attention, "really, what?"

"It's a greasy pork sandwich served on a dirty astray."

His sentence caused my stomach to lurch and flip, as I gripped the side of the toilet seat so hard that my knuckles turned white. "Ugh, I hate you!" (A/N: Okay, I might've stolen those lines from the show Supernatural. Oh, well. xD)

After I was done, I stood up shakily, my knees trembling.

"Why are you wearing your uniform? It's only Monday." I quipped, as I made my way over to the sink, wiping my mouth with a paper towel.

"Actually," he stated, amusement gleaming in his lively grey eyes. "It's Tuesday night." My mouth dropped open, beginning to stammer excuses.

"B-but the party- it was Monday night." Malcolm chuckled as hysteria passed through me. His tie was loosely stretched, hanging sloppily onto his blue vest. Goode High School's colors were blue and grey, clashing with his eyes making them stand out more than usual. We were allowed to wear our normal clothes for the first few days of school, then we were forced to switch back to our daily uniform. I didn't mind the uniform- I thought it made me look proper and act maturely.

"Yeah," he leaned off the door post, stepping in confidently and patting me on the back. "A hangover can do that to you. So, do you remember anything from last night?"

"No. Not really."

He let out a loose laugh, although now it sounded strained. "Good."

"Why is that a good thing?" I questioned earnestly.

"Because you did and said a bunch of... err, wild things. I wouldn't worry about it, though. But, I never would've guessed that you were that kind of drunk."

Was he referring to how I told Percy Jackson that I loved him?

I scowled at him. "I wasn't that bad, was I? Did I...do something?"

He shook his head, signaling a no. "Obviously not or else I wouldn't be talking to you like this. Basically Percy called me and told me that he was driving you home. I was busy dealing with Thalia."

I nodded curtly, taking this entire newly learned information in. "I do remember snippets of Percy."

He grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. "Of course you do."

I glared at him. "Enough of that talk. I don't 'love' Percy Jackson, you lovesick idiot."

Liar. My subconscious lectured. If I didn't love Percy, why did I confess to him that I did?

It was just the alcohol talking I stated, trying my best to push the thought out of my head. And even if I did love Percy Jackson...well, I would never do something with it. He would just break my heart like all the other girls who have attempted to change him, as he so pointedly stated to me when I questioned him about it. There was no way in hell I was going to let him play with me.

His rejection still hurt. More than I would've thought.

"Annabeth." His grin smiled, and I turned to face him. "When I said that you were in love with Percy Jackson, I never meant for you to tell him."

"W-what? What are you talking about?" I ask, desperate to play dumb, desperate to not admit to defeat.

He didn't speak after that, but I saw him through the mirror. Arms crossed tightly across his chest, eyebrows raised

"How's Thalia?" I spoke the words vastly, knowing that I had a fierce gleam in my eye. I only vaguely remembered her breakdown. Malcolm's jaw hardened and his arms pulled across his chest. I could feel protectiveness radiating off of him, practically glowering at me.

"Who's asking?"

Okay, that struck a nerve. I was just about to climb up when I registered that I probably shouldn't.

"Her best friend," I snarled through my clenched teeth.

"Says the person who didn't even try and help her." My hands balled tightly into fists at my side, and I said in a shaky voice, "don't you dare say that to me. I'm Thalia's best friend, and don't you tell me otherwise. What makes you her personal body guard?"

He rolled his eyes in irritation, but I noticed his expression soften ever so slightly. "Since you've become more busy worrying about Percy Jackson than her."

"And why do you care?" I snapped, growing exasperated.

"Because I'm in love with her."

. . .

Third Person P.O.V:

It was supposed to be special.

The brunette tugged on her clothes completely emotionlessly. Her usually vast, bright eyes were dark now, screaming all the emotions that raged on inside of her. Anger, remorse, regret, betrayal. Only she wasn't the one who got betrayed.

She was the betrayer.

This wasn't supposed to happen. It's not like she intentionally wanted it to. She didn't wake up one morning and think 'hey, maybe today I should sleep with Percy Jackson today!' It just happened. They were making out, then one thing led to another. She knew she shouldn't even crushed on him. She was just hanging out at the party, following Rachel around like a lost puppy because Annabeth had left- completely drunk, with Percy Jackson. She couldn't help but feel envious. She had a crush on the womanizer from the moment she saw him at school, then one fateful decision of checking on her hair in the bathroom caused her to run into Annabeth Chase.

If not for Annabeth, Percy would've given her the tour, and maybe they wouldn't been together. She slid on her shirt, scowling at her own ignorance. It wasn't Annabeth's fault, and even if it was, it was probably for the better. She had saved her from doing something she might regret.

Turns out that jealousy and alcohol don't mix well together.

After an hour of just drinking and watching "Thirty Seconds in Heaven" go on with Katie and Travis, (they exited the closet, but Travis wasn't covered in hickies. More like a black eye) she decided to go do something to keep herself entertained.

And she had run smack into the expert entertainer himself.

He was drunk- that part was obvious. His eyes looked red from crying, but he was Percy Jackson. He didn't, no couldn't cry.

One night can change your viewpoint a lot.

It turns out Percy Jackson wasn't some God she had viewed him to be. He was just a teenager- a confused, hurt, hormonal boy who had good looks and a charming smile. It was too late to reconsider, though. Her virginity was gone, stolen away from her.

Perhaps not stolen- she had fully participated. It still felt that way. She felt vulnerable; naked. And this time it wasn't from the lack of clothing.

It had felt good, sure. No, it had felt amazing. But now it was over, and the mistakes from last night were finally settling in like a razor blade to her arm.

"That was a mistake," Percy said the words bluntly, reading her mind. Still, his words felt like a bee sting. She hadn't expected him to feel regret, after all Percy Jackson never does.

"Yeah," she shuffled on her pants, closing her eyes momentarily allowing the pain to sink in. "It was." She stormed away from him, grabbing her duffle bag of clothes from the side. They were still in Drew's house, as were most passed out teenagers. School had already started, and she wasn't exactly sure she wanted to go to school. She couldn't face Annabeth.

No matter how many times Annabeth denied her love for Percy Orion Jackson, she knew it was true.

No matter how many times Percy slept with girls, he was in love with Annabeth.

Would anyone ever love her? Would she ever find the right guy? The one who stayed there in the morning? The one who wouldn't just have sex with her and then move on? But she couldn't blame Percy for this. He had done fifty percent of the work, the other fifty- well, that was on her. Still, it felt like she was carrying more than just half.

"Piper- wait." Percy's crestfallen voice froze her. "I'm sorry."

She shrugged. It wasn't that big of a deal, she reminded herself. That was a lie, but she kept repeating the words in her head. It was just losing your virginity. She should be thankful that it was to Percy Jackson. He was experienced; he knew just how to make her like sex. But deep down she knew that it was a mistake. A very big, unrepairable mistake.

Her father's words echoed in her mind, "some mistakes can be fixed, Piper, but others can't." She had never recognized his wisdom until now.

"Its okay, Percy."

"No, it's not. I took advantage of you."

"No," she said softly. "You didn't. I wanted this."

She turned around to see a shirtless Percy Jackson, and although all the lights were out, she could still see the pain swimming in his sea green eyes.

"That's the problem, Piper. I didn't."

"S'okay." She repeated, antsy to leave. She just wanted to go home, take a shower, and fall into an inescapable sleep. Or move back to her old school. It was safe there. No Percy Jacksons around to lure her into temptation. "I got to go, okay? I'll see you around."

"And Piper?" His voice broke.

She turned around to face him, eagerly listening.

"Don't tell Annabeth."