As promised, virtual ice cream. :-)

Percy smirked at Annabeth's receding figure. She was probably just surprised that he had kissed her. There's no way that she'd actually rejected him. He looked on with amusement as she walked off, her heels making hard, loud clops as they hit the concrete with every step. Percy turned around to leave when he remembered something. Slipping his hand into his coat pocket, he withdrew a small, light blue colored jewelry box labeled Tiffany & Co. After removing the lid, he pulled it up by the silver clasp. Percy brought the pendant up to his eye level, a momentary glint in the diamond catching his eye. He smirked once again before pocketing it, heading back to his own room.

Annabeth, trying to keep a cool head while walking away from Percy, broke into a sprint up the stairs till she was safely in her own room. Closing the door behind her, she just stood there with her heart thumping loudly and a hand on her chest. She then raised her hand so that it was brushing past her lips, as if to check if what had happened was real. At this point, her heart beat even further as though it were racing in the Olympics; Annabeth could almost feel it threaten to burst out of her chest.

Rushing to the bathroom, she brushed her teeth vigorously; even using mouthwash till the sensation was completely gone from her mouth. Grasping the edge of the sink, she looked at herself in the mirror, unable to even recognize the face peering back at her. She look exhausted, the lipstick slightly smeared, and the mascara starting to run a little.

Turning on the shower, the familiar sounds of the water rushing helped her collect her thoughts. He had no right to do that without her permission. Who was he to get so familiar with her? He had enslaved her…and then tutored her. Sure their relationship was complex, but she didn't think it was so complex as to throw in some romance too.

After a quick change in to her gray flannel pajamas, Annabeth sat in bed, facing the window; she saw the lights turn off in his room and took that as a cue to sleep as well.

Next Day while Annabeth is at School—

Percy stood nervously in front of the Chase apartment. Mrs. Chase had sent him an email last night saying that she wanted to see him at 10 AM sharp the next day. Percy really wanted to make an excuse saying that he had classes, but hell. He had never cared about school before. Annabeth didn't tell her mom or anything, right? Besides, if she had kept the trip a secret, there was no way that she'd let a little kiss get in the way and bother her enough to tell her mom.

Athena Chase opened the door slowly, showing Percy her stern visage and marked frown. Her mouth was a pencil thin line, and her forehead was crinkled. All in all, she resembled a hard-boiled egg with the pasty face. He black hair had been rolled up into a bun, only causing Percy to fear her more with her semblance to an old teacher of his, Mrs. Dodds. Had it not been for this striking resemblance, Percy would have found himself laughing uncontrollably.

"Come in," she said with a clipped voice.

Percy adjusted his fake pair of glasses once, trying to give himself a more earnest look as she led him to the living room.

"Have a seat, young man. I have things to discuss with you," Gesturing towards a hard-backed wooden chair in the middle of the room, she herself when to the luxurious cream colored sofa on the opposing side.

Taking a seat on the chair, Percy felt as though he were a part of the Spanish inquisition as she continued to scowl in his direction.

"Where to begin?" She wondered out loud.

"Ma'am…"

"That's right. Just who do you think you are?" Athena Chase stressed the word who, wondering whether the boy had been his right mind last night. Perhaps he had been drunk? Teenagers these days…

"Just because you're good-looking and go to NYU, what gives you the right to play with my daughter's affections?"

Other accusations aside, Percy was not a player, despite what others thought of him. There was no way he was going to let that go. Looking Mrs. Chase straight in the eye, he said, "I was not toying with her."

"Then, how do you expect me to believe that when you kissed her in public?" She gave a long, hard glare as he seemed unabashed by what he had just said.

"I'm sorry," Percy began, not sounding sorry at all. "But I…"

"Quiet!" the lady snapped. "Do you have no shame? I could call the authorities and call it sexual harassment. "

"I…"

"I said quiet!" she said with a deadly cold tone. She stood up till it looked she was almost towering over from his vantage point. "Because I respect you for you've done for my daughter, I will let you go. If I ever see you around her again, you will regret it."

Nodding imperceptibly, Percy acquiesced with Mrs. Chase's demands, "As you wish."

And Athena strikes...

I know, I know… Short chapter, but it sets the stage for the rest of the story. I'll try to update Sunday, if not, next Friday… or sometime in between. That is if I don't get caught up in the current drama I'm watching. And not to mention exams.

Anyone catch The Princess Bride reference?

Lastly, since this story is coming to an end in 3-4 chapters, I'm starting to think of new stories. I know that I should probably be original and come up with my own, but that takes too much time. I only time for that during the summer, so till then, vote on these…based on kdramas (All of them are AU and OoC potentially):

Playful Kiss: Annabeth Chase has had a crush on Percy Jackson since freshman year in high school, but he's never returned anything, not knowing she even exists. She's been at the bottom of the class while he aces at everything. When an unfortunate incident causes them to live in the same house, will Annabeth be able to change the cold, indifferent heart of the school heartthrob?

Heartstrings: Annabeth is a traditional music major while Percy is more contemporary. Harp versus guitar. Both defend their own values, causing them to clash more than others. But after seeing each other play, one falls for the other in a one-sided love. Will the other be able to realize it and fall for it before it's too late?

I really want to take a spin on a more crime/adventure/mystery based genre, but tell me what you think.

So, review, fave, and follow.