Now that I'm reading over this, I just realized how fast this story is going. Do you guys agree? Do you think I should slow things down a bit or should I continue on like this?

And the answer to the last question from the last chapter, "When was the first time Annabeth and Percy Kissed?" It was in the fourth book. I meant when did they kissed on the lips . . . sorry for the confusion.

Anyways, thanks for the reviews and well, I would really appreciate it if you guys can give me a couple of songs I could listen to. If I think they go would go well with the story, then I'll add it in! So, yeah.

And yes, I'm updating in my b-day. It's a thank-you present for all you people who reviewed, favorited or story alerted my fic.

*First 15 reviewers will get a sneak peek of the next chapter*

*This chapter is dedicated to Wisest Owl. Thanks for being so nice to me! . . . although I don't know you that well . . . *


Chapter 10 : The Start of Everything (meaning drama)

Do you remember when

I said I'll always be there

Ever since we were ten, baby

Out on the playground, playing pretend

I didn't it back then

Now I realize that you were the only one

It's never too late to show it

~Best friend – Jason Chen


Annabeth's point of view

I closed my eyes as we leaned closer, our lips inches away. My heart was beating so fast, I was scared it might burst. Percy's breath fanned over my face and I resisted the urge to open my eyes and punch him in the shoulder for being so close. But this was different. He wasn't about to lean over to thump me nor is he going to pinch my cheek. He was about to kiss me.

Seconds past. I was so tempted to grab his face and kiss the life out of him since he was taking so long. My grip on my laser gun tightened. I opened my mouth a little bit to tell him to hurry –

Oh, God. He's kissing me.

I felt myself scooting forward to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Percy tilted his head to get better access. I can't believe I'm doing this! Percy placed his hands on my hips and our faces were moving downward to the ground. My fourteen year old mind screamed at me to calm down our raging hormones but I was distracted by his lips.

His lips . . . they were so soft. All I could smell was his signature sea breeze smell, a hint of Axe and soap. You're probably wondering what's wrong with me right now. Why is she making out with Percy while kids are running around playing laser tag? If you were me right now, you would be too preoccupied by the fact that your best friend that you had a crush on ever since you were ten was kissing you. Especially if he had lip locking skills that would make males all over the world be jealous of.

Did I feel electricity running through my veins? No. Did I feel sparks? No. Did I feel that I was about to die? Yes. All I could think of was that Percy might be part god because I felt like I was about to explode. All I felt was hot heat warming the insides of my body.

I leaned more into the kiss, feeling so blissful that nothing would stop us. I had to jinx it.

"Hey! Stop kissing! That is so gross!"

Percy and I slowly detached ourselves, eyes sparkling. Percy's hair was messier than usual, strands of hair covering most of his eyes. His shirt was somehow lifted up a bit, showing a little of his muscular stomach.

We smiled a little sheepishly at each other, blushing faintly.

We craned our head over the foam box to see the same kid from before (the one who trampled Percy) crinkling his nose, looking rather constipated.

"Hey, kid. I'll give you twenty bucks if you walk away right now," Percy said, looking at me with an awe expression.

The kid quickly snatched the crumpled dollar bill and ran away, boasting how much money he made.

But I didn't pay attention to the kid. My eyes were on Percy.

That kiss is going to change everything.

x.x.x.

Percy's point of view

I grin at Annabeth, my heart still pounding from our kiss. Instead of feeling the usual sparks, I think I just combusted. It was like a volcano exploding inside my body, but leaving comforting warmth. Annabeth leaned closer to me, I half-expected her to imitate another kiss.

"Percy, I have something to tell you," she said, her gray eyes locking with mine.

Still dazed from the kiss, I slowly nodded.

"Percy, I –"

She was quickly interrupted when two girls tackled her to the ground, squealing happily in her ear. Dumbstruck, I just sat there while Annabeth was shouting at them to get off of her.

Blinking rapidly, I asked, "Silena? Thalia?"

The two girls got off of Annabeth and gave me smiles. Well, Silena did. Thalia just smirked.

"Barnacle beard," Thalia said curtly.

"Percy!" Silena shouted, giving me a tight hug. Stepping away from me, she beamed brightly. "How're you? Our school let us out early so we decided to come visit you for a while."

Speechless, I struggled to give her a response.

But I didn't need to. Because then, Thalia and Silena proceeded to drag Annabeth away from me to go somewhere.

"Hey! Where're you going?" I shouted, one arm outstretched.

"Catching up! Girl talk! Bye!" Silena shouted.

My arm fell limply by my side. All of a sudden, I felt very cold. As if something bad was about to happen. I shrugged it off. I was being paranoid as usual. Sighing, I grabbed my gun and Annabeth's before walking to the front desk. I smiled as I walked out of the building, remembering that Annabeth still had my hoodie.

I looked up at the full moon, still smiling. My heart skipped a beat and my stomach did little flips as my thoughts were filled with Annabeth. Frowning, I looked down, one hand on my chest to feel my heart. That was weird. Maybe I should check a doctor. I think I might be sick.

x.x.x.

On the night of the dance

(Still Percy's Point of View)

I trudge up the stairs to Sienna's house, fulfilling the promise of watching a movie marathon with her to take Laden's place. Since it was just us lounging around in her living room, I had slipped on a pair of Levi's, my Reeboks, a white t-shirt with a picture of a tie to look as though I had a tie slung around my neck and a worn leather jacket. I slipped my phone into my pocket just as Sienna opened the door, decked in a baggy t-shirt and shorts.

Smiling at her, I walked into her house, immediately welcomed by the smell of popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and other movie snacks. After taking off my sneakers, I stood in the middle of the living room, awed at how large it was and so calm and sophisticated.

"What movie?" I ask her, lifting up two cases.

Her blue eyes swept over the two movies before deciding finally, "Seven (1995)."

I shudder a bit and we began to nestle into a couch. As the movie started, my mind flashed back ten minutes ago.

"Are you sure you're not going to the dance?" Annabeth's voice drifted from my phone.

I was walking to Sienna's house when Annabeth called me about the dance. Feeling a little guilty, I answered her.

"Sorry, not my thing. And it wouldn't look good if I stole you away from your 'boyfriend'," I said with a slightly bitter tone.

"So I heard Silena and Thalia forced you to wear high heels," I changed the subject, chuckling at the thought.

Annabeth huffed on the other side of the phone. "Actually, Thalia just handcuffed me to my bed posts while Silena slipped them on. They threatened me that if any time during the dance I take them off and change into flats, they'll take away my architectural designs and hide them!" She said, horrified.

I let out a laugh as I stuffed my free hand into my jean pocket to keep it warm from the cold.

"Percy? Are you sure you're not going to the dance?" Annabeth asked me.

I stopped walking and leaned against a lamp post, closing my eyes. My stomach plummeted as I answered, "No. I'm not. If you need me, I'll be at Sienna's house."

I could hear her swallow loudly into the phone. Her hurt radiated from her house through the phone and stabbed my chest.

"Annabeth, you know I would go but I promised Sienna. It isn't fair that she'll be lonely when her best friend is doing a favor for someone." I pleaded, trying to diffuse her pain.

"Percy," she sighed loudly through the phone, "it just won't be the same. You're my best friend and –" she cut off. "Percy, I have to go. Laden's here," she said softly.

I opened my mouth to say goodbye but she hung up. Staring at the phone, I tried to shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen. My heart slowed down a bit as I realized she just hung up because Laden was there to pick her up. Gritting my teeth, I shut my eyes in anger.

'It should be me picking her up. It should be me giving her a hug before handing her the flower that every guy should give to her date for the winter dance. It should be me escorting her to the dance, making her laugh and smack me in the head when I say something stupid. It should be me teasing her that it's the first attempt that she ever tried being girly. It should be me, dancing alongside with her, stepping on her feet. It should be me, leaning down to ki –'

I cut off that thought. 'It's wrong to think about kissing your best friend', I think furiously to myself. A little voice asked me, 'Well, why are you? Do you like her?'

I didn't answer.

"Hey, getting lost in your head again?"

I blink rapidly and saw Sienna staring at me with raised eyebrows.

"Can I unpause the movie now?"

Nodding in her direction, I redirected my attention to the movie, trying to focus. But my mind kept drifting back to Annabeth. Shutting my eyes, I tried to ward off the thoughts.

Annabeth laughing as I twirled her around before collapsing after she jumped on my back.

I push her off, before rolling on my back, staring at the skies. She did the same.

"I'm calling you Wise Girl from now on instead of calling you Polka Dots," I said suddenly. "It fits you better. And calling you Polka Dots makes me sound perverted."

"Well, I'm calling you Seaweed Brain because your head is full of kelp." She answered back.

"Hey! That's not a compliment," I protested.

She turned her head to look at me, smiling at me. "Well, too bad. But look, I'm going to be the one who calls you this. No one else."

I grin at her. "And I'm the only one who can call you Wise Girl."

"Of course. Because I'm yours and your mine." She said matter-of-factly.

And for some reason, I felt fine with that.

"Stop it!" I shout out loud at my brain.

Sienna glanced at me worriedly from her seat but I was too busy to pay attention to her.

"You're such a Seaweed Brain," Annabeth complained, but smiled at me as she walked closer to me. She wrapped her arms around me, playing with my black hair on the back of my head. Her gray eyes locked with mine.

"But you're my Seaweed Brain. No matter what. Nothing's going to go between us," she said seriously.

I nod at her, grinning at her as I pulled her closer. Leaning down, I whispered softly in her ear, "I'm not leaving anytime soon. We're never going to separate."

She pulled back, smiling brightly at me. "You're so stubborn sometimes." She shrugged her shoulders. "But that's why I love you."

My heart stuttered as she uttered those words.

"And we'll be friends forever," she said finally.

And for some reason, my heart broke a bit.

"Stop!" I shout again, clutching my head, trying to clear these thoughts.

"Annabeth," I whined to her as we walked to class.

We were in fifth grade and it was the dreaded Valentine's Day.

"I don't want some girls coming after me again like last year. The chocolate was great but I don't like them that way," I complained to her.

We stopped in our tracks in the middle of the hallway. Annabeth had one hand on her book bag's strap, the other in her pocket. She turned to face me with an unreadable expression.

"So I guess you don't want any of my chocolate. I was planning on giving you your traditional chocolate candy like every year but since you said you weren't interested . . ." she trailed off suggestively.

"NO!" I shout. Candy from Annabeth taste really good for some reason unlike the other candy I receive from other girls. "Please give me my candy," I begged, dropping down on one knee with my hands clasped together.

She looked down on me, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "I don't know . . ."

"I LOVE YOU!" I shout impulsively.

Annabeth looked at me, surprised but her gray eyes seemed to sparkle. Lowering her face inches from mine, she smiled at me before releasing a small pile of chocolate in my hands.

"I love you, too, Percy." She said, before standing up and ruffling my hair.

Leaving me dumbstruck in the middle of the hallway while still on one knee with a pile of chocolate in my hands, she walked away from me.

Before walking into the class, she turned to face me.

"And Percy? I think you're drooling a bit."

And I didn't mind one bit.

Why was I thinking like this? I mean, it's not like I like her in that way. It's not possible.

In the corner of my eye, I could see Sienna furrowing her eyes at me in confusion.

My mind flashed memory after memory, showing me feelings I was trying to deny and squash down during all these years.

And then . . . it showed me the kiss.

"No," I whisper softly to myself. "I can't like her. It's not possible . . ."

"Hey, Jackson. If you like her so much then why are you here?" Sienna asked me, towering over me.

I look up, blinking rapidly. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking a bit.

She rolled her eyes. "It's obvious that you like Annabeth. Come on, I got a moped we could use."

She dragged me to the front door, stamping a helmet on me. I put on my shoes quickly, heart beating rapidly.

I like Annabeth.

The though floated around my head and I smiled, despite my current situation. I wonder if she shares the same feelings. I sat behind Sienna as she started the moped and we drove to the school, feeling high.

Her hair slapped me in the face and I spluttered a couple times.

"Hey, is this legal?" I shout over the wind. "Do you have a license or something?"

"NOPE!" Sienna shouted. "Don't worry! I got some good lawyers!"

Usually I would jump out and roll around on the ground to get away from the moped but it was my only way of transportation. And I had to get to Annabeth. I just had to. As we came to the entrance, a bad feeling came over me, as if something bad was going to happen.

I frowned. This keeps coming up. I shook my head. Nothing bad is going to happen. Taking off my helmet, I pushed the double doors open and headed toward the gym, my heart intent on telling Annabeth my feelings.

My mouth grew into a wide smile as I reached the gym and I opened the doors, feeling that nothing could bring me down.

Sienna was right behind me, trying to keep up but I was walking too quickly for her. My bright green eyes surveyed the gym, trying to find Annabeth. My eyes landed on the sight of Annabeth slow dancing with Laden. But that didn't bring down my confidence.

The breath was knocked out of my body as I saw what she wore. It was simple and modest but it looked . . . perfect on her. It wasn't strapless and it wasn't too short. It didn't show any cleavage. I wasn't the type of person who was experienced in the dress department but it was gray, the shade of gray that matched her eyes. But as it trailed down to the bottom, it slowly became entwined with a green. A green that matched my eyes perfectly.

I walked toward her, intent on whisking her away and tell her that I –

Stopping in my tracks, I watched with wide eyes as Laden lowered his head to capture Annabeth in a kiss. She responded when I thought she would push him away.

My world crashed around me and I fell from cloud nine. I felt the back of my eyes go a little prickly. The breath was knocked out of me, this time, from hurt.

I felt as if someone punched me in the gut as I saw them kiss. Stumbling back, I felt my heart break as every second ticked. It was like a car crash : horrible to witness but you can't look away. I held in the urge to break down there in the middle of the gym.

As they broke apart, my heart died as I saw them smile sheepishly at each other, cheeks blushing faintly under the light. Feeling broken and empty, I slowly backed away and ran out the doors, past a shocked Sienna, past the lockers, out the school and into the pouring rain.

Running for God knows how long, I stopped a few feet from the spot where Annabeth and I had caused a scene just a few days before. Where I shouted that I would fight for her. I didn't. I lost without giving a blow. And now, Laden has her.

Kneeling down in the snow, I felt myself crumble as my mind replayed the scene over and over again. Rain poured down around me as I just stared into the distance, wishing that I never found out my feelings. Because maybe if I didn't realize that my feelings, perhaps it wouldn't hurt as much. I cover my face with my hands, desperate to forget.

And I knelt there, in the middle of the sidewalk, crying with the rain, wishing to feel nothing at all.


So~ I know you guys hate me for that ending, but don't worry. You'll find out what really happened between Annabeth and Laden in the next chapter.

And question of the chapter!

Who do you support? Jason + Reyna = Jeyna or Jason + Piper = Jasper?

Personally, I support Jeyna. Don't kill me! It's just that, they have history so their feelings are based upon that, not because some stupid goddess (yeah, I said stupid! Hera, go back to the Underworld!) came in and made them get together. And I feel that their "relationship" is based upon looks, not personality. And if Jason and Piper get together, at least give Leo someone to date! Poor guy.

Anyways, until next time!