Jackson POV

The worst part about of Percy Jackson coming back from summer vacation ripped, was that everyone always greeted him by his last name. So when someone shouted "Jackson!" down the hallway, I'd turn and end up looking like an idiot when they waved me on and tried to get Percy's attention.

And to think he was the dweeb that blew up the band room last year.

The second worst part of Percy coming back different is that he doesn't act any different. You'd think the guy would at least be a little more arrogant, or smarter or something. But he wasn't. He acted the same—oblivious to girls, nice to just about everybody, and quiet.

So, naturally all the girls think he's tall dark and handsome.

And I'm just the stupid jock.

Which is ironic, because I'm fairly certain that I'm smarter than Percy. Thankfully, I have my girlfriend Hallie. Whereas Percy doesn't have a girlfriend (admittedly, he does have a lot of girls trying to be his girlfriend…).

"Hallie!" I yelled across the hallway. She was talking to someone at their locker, but I couldn't tell who.

Turning, she waved at me before turning back to whoever she was talking to.

Pushing through the crowd of people trying to get to their seventh hour class, I finally reached Hallie and the stranger.

It was Percy.

"Percy." I said politely.

Looking up from his locker, he gave me a quick grin. "Jackson." He quickly went back to digging through his locker, muttering to himself about pencils.

"Why don't you just use that pen in your pocket?" Hallie asked, reaching for the pen sticking out of his back pocket.

"No!" Percy whirled around quicker than I would have expected, looking worried.

Hallie and I both stared at him. I was confused, and admittedly a little freaked out.

"Sorry." Percy said sheepishly "It's just that this pen is out of ink, and my dad is really weird about not throwing pens away. Landfills and all that, ya know? Anyways, it was nice talking to you both. And I'll see you at the library tomorrow Hallie? After school?"

At Hallie's nod, Percy shut his locker and loped off to class.

Hallie and I shared a look. She shrugged her shoulders. "We're doing a history project together, and we're gonna try not procrastinating. Ready to math?"

We both had Calculus last, and walked hand –in-hand to the class.

Unfortunately, she left early for a dentist's appointment.

Which left me alone after school.

Normally, I'd chat with people, but I felt weird without Hallie, and unsettled after my conversation with Percy.

Lingering in the calculus room, and then my locker, I was surprised at how quickly the halls emptied.

Slamming my locker shut, I walked out the double doors of the school, breathing in the dirty New York air.

But, there was a faint smell of lemons in the air. Turning around while searching for the source of the smell, I noticed the blonde haired girl sitting on the steps reading a book.

The book looked thick, but the girl was reading it intently, based on the way her eyes quickly moved down the page. And her eyes were gorgeous. Nothing compared to Hallie's, but they were intriguing.

Before I knew it, the intriguing grey eyes met mine. "Can I help you? Because I already have a boyfriend, I'm not dumping him, and I'm not above beating you up, or asking him to."

She said her piece as though she was used to being hit on. And I could see why…

"Sorry. No. You sound like you say that a lot." I said with a grin as I made myself comfortable next to her.

She scooted away while giving me a look. "A lot of guys find it amusing to see if they can get me to go out with them. One of the curses of being new with a boyfriend. No one believes me when I say I have one."

"Well, I won't hit on you. I already have a girlfriend, and she'd kill me if I even thought about cheating."

The girl laughed. "It's good to talk to someone who doesn't have an ulterior motive. I'm Annabeth, by the way."

"Jackson." I said.

"Jackson?" She said, looking amused.

"Yeah, mostly used as a last name, but close friends call me Jack. Sometimes. I dunno. It's just my name. What are you reading?"

"The Odyssey." Annabeth replied. "It's one of my favorites. Athena played an important part throughout the book."

"I've read The Odyssey a few times. You like Athena?"

"She's my favorite Greek Goddess." She said, before mumbling "No offense" under her breath. Ooookay.

From there, our conversations continued into different areas. I pleasantly surprised that she wasn't an air-headed blonde. She defied the stereotype as she talking intelligently about nearly all topics I brought up.

Suddenly, behind us the door swung open and Percy Jackson came jogging out.

"Percy!" Annabeth called out, waving her hand.

How does she know him?

Whirling around, Percy smiles happily at Annabeth, before looking a bit curiously at me. Jogging over, he plops down next to Annabeth before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her over to him for a kiss.

And this wasn't a sister/brother kiss. It was more of an "I really missed you honey" kiss.

So Percy has a girlfriend.

"You know Jackson?" He asked Annabeth.

"Sort of. We started talking while I was waiting for you. Where were you?"

"English." He made a face. "Apparently my teacher didn't like the notes I had in the margins of my notebook."

"Idiot."

"Meanie."

"Very mature come back, Percy. Bravo."

"Shut up Wise Girl."

"Make me, Seaweed Brain." She said, sticking out her tongue.

"And you call me immature?" Percy cried in mock outrage.

Annabeth just laughed as Percy pulled her closer to his side.

I felt like the third wheel.

Getting up, I met both of their eyes.

"It was good talking to you Annabeth. I'll see you tomorrow Percy. And I guess I won't have to worry about chaperoning you and Hallie at the library tomorrow."

Percy laughed. "Don't worry about, man. See ya tomorrow."

Walking away, I could still hear Annabeth and Percy bickering.

I laughed to myself, listening to them as their bickering continued to escalate. Based on the short time I'd spent with Annabeth, and what I had learned about Percy via gossip, I had a feeling that this fight would end silently.

I feel like I'm losing the point of all these one shots. I dunno. Suggestions/requests appreciated! Thanks!