Hey. It's KJ. I know I have been away for a long while, but I'm back until I have another reason to take an unexpected break. This time, my excuse is that I had a lot of thinking to do. The situation is not serious anything worth mentioning. I didn't like it and was angry. I was angry for about a week, but right now I'm completely content with posting this chapter...I'm lying. All I can say is thank you for sticking with me through my break from FanFiction and those who started following, reviewing, and adding my story(ies) during that period of time, thank you for doing just that. I cannot be more thankful. your support means the world to me.

Anyway, cue story...

Student Photographer

Chapter 9: Darling, Where Did You Go? Part 2

I feigned my best to feign sadness rather than anger. "Did you take my camera, Annabeth? Please. Tell me you did; I want my baby back!" I could only hope she bought my act. I did my best to get fake tears to water in my eyes. I thought I was doing well with my acting skill. It could become a side job for me.

"I don't know what you mean, Percy? What happened to your camera?"

"Someone stole her! I don't know who, yet and I just want her back. Would you please tell me if you have it? It would mean the world to me! I won't press charges of whatever kind of punishment I could give you."

For the first time in all that I've "known" her, Annabeth seemed concerned. It could be a sign that she was feeling guilty and wanted to give my camera back. "I'm sorry, Percy, but I don't know what to say. I didn't steal your camera, nor have I seen anyone with it." That crushed my dreams. "I can help you while I'm not busy. We need to continue on with the photo shoot. I know you have another camera, use that while I look for it."

I made a tiny grin before nodding and saying, "Thank you so much! Hey, maybe my friend, Grover could help you!" I started walking back away from her, "He's that guy that looks like a goat! Thanks again, Annabeth." I turned away from her and ran as I felt my face heat up.

"Okay, tilt your head back slightly. Loosen your arms and give the camera a tough look, Yuki, like you're about to win a war against someone who had no chance." Marco gently said to Yuki as she followed his instructions. Yuki was perfect to play Joan of Arc; every one of her poses fit her character and sold the concept. The camera loved her—my back up, at least. I wouldn't be truly happy until I had her back.

"Perfect, Yuki! You look stunning!" I cheered as I took another shot. Both Mr. Joc and Brad were snapping photos from the angles I wasn't doing. I felt a tap on my shoulder but didn't turn around and instead continued to take photos. "Yes?"

"Percy, I need to speak to you." It was Annabeth. There hadn't been a good reason for her to talk to me unless it was about my camera or an apology, but I knew wasn't either.

"I'm busy right now, Annabeth. We can talk after I'm done Yuki's shoot." I said.

"Next set!" I heard Joc yell. I began walking over to the next Joan of Arc set with Annabeth following me.

"Look, Percy. I'm sorry." That made me stop in my tracks. I quickly turned and stared at Annabeth in amazement.

"Whoa, what?"

"I said, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my behavior. I'm not typically like that."

"No."

"Yes. There's a reason behind it all. We-we—I'll tell you later." Before she stormed away from me, I noticed a weird glint in her eye, like a wall was being torn down internally. She should get that checked out. I shrugged and finished walking to the second set.

The shoot was finally over and people were packing up. It was thirty minutes to midnight and everyone was tired, even though I did all the work.

I was walking past the chill room when I heard someone talking. "Yeah, I have it. I've had his camera for hours now, since lunch…Yes, he has been worried about it all day." He must have been talking on the phone because of the silent delays between his sentences. When I heard camera, my heart pounded a million times harder.

The longer I listen to the guy in the room, the more I remembered it. It was the voice of the guy who was flirting with Annabeth earlier. He stole my camera and it was all part of a plan to weaken me. I couldn't take it any longer and kicked the door completely open (I'm not strong enough to kick open a closed door). The light guy's son stared at me. My camera was in his hand and I was angrier than I could ever be. He was holding my baby by the strap—improperly. There was no care in his hold.

"You stole my camera!" I yelled at him. He looked frightened. "You look scared punk. Hand over my camera, now, or we'll have an even bigger problem than we already do." He hastily handed me my baby—improperly—and I walked away with a huge, satisfying smile that hurt my face.

"I'm sorry, Annie...He threatened me, how can I not be scared...I am not a wimp!" I heard as I slowly left just to hear what trouble he got into.

"Percy!" I was stopped yet again by Annabeth. "I can tell you what I wanted to say now." She said.

"You better make this quick, I need to be out of here in thirty, so do you."

She told me everything. She explained why she was so cold to me, she made it clear that my dream was real—not that she knew. We had a past together, Annabeth and I, and I ended it and apparently "ruined her life". It was one of those elementary "dating" things that didn't last but a week, but ours lasted over a full school year and half a summer. Annabeth had dance to think about and said I was distracting her. She said that I blew up and told we were over. I didn't understand why I couldn't remember anything that happened since I've known her; my guess was that the accident caused it.

I was sitting at the kitchen table at three in the morning alone. My mom and Paul were sleeping and after everything that happened tonight, I wasn't ready to go to sleep. The whole situation with my camera and then with Annabeth didn't seem like much but it was weighing me down. I couldn't go to sleep with too much on my mind.

I felt a warm, gentle hand rub my head. I immediately knew it was my mother's. "You have something on your mind. I know how things get to you. It'll be better for you if you talk about it with someone, particularly a mother of a kid named Percy Jackson and is currently standing in the kitchen with him." I laughed lightly.

Mom took a seat next to me and grabbed my hand. "Now, what's going on with you, Baby Bear?"

Thank you for reading! I very much appreciate it. My fellow Detectives, I love you.

"Against the assult of laughter nothing can stand" - Mark Twain

~ KJ