11P

I couldn't decipher the look Annabeth had given me at lunch. She had never stared back at me for that long before.

Some part of me appreciated the fact that she didn't turn away in disgust like she always did. But I could never really read what she was thinking. Will was of course giving me the death glare. He was going to get back at me for punching him very soon—he was always like that, always needing revenge.

"Um, Hi. I think we're lab partners." A shy voice said beside me.

I looked over at the source of the voice and saw the girl who I saw sitting with the two golden girls of the school at lunch.

"Great." I said with a smile.

There was an instant blush on the girl's tan skin. I guess she was pretty cute.

"I'm Percy."

"Hazel, I'm new here." She said, smiling back, her blush lowly receding. She couldn't hold my eyes for more than a second. Typical shy girl fanatics.

During P.E. my eyes watched the girls playing volleyball. There were at least five courts going on and the last one to the right was the most intense. Probably because Annabeth was there, playing spike position.

She spiked balls so fiercely, I felt terribly sorry for the girls on the opposing team, who couldn't get on defense quick enough.

I smiled inwardly.

Always so competitive.

I turned back to the guy's basketball game when I heard a yelp on the girl's court. I whipped my head around just in time to see Hazel slipping and about to hit the pole at a speed too quick to follow.

Annabeth was there though at the split second's time, she caught the brunette just in time with her arm slamming against the net pole—softening the blow.

My eyes widened-
heart skipping a beat as I took a step closer towards the volley courts.

I watched as Annabeth turned Hazel around, probably asking if she was okay. I started walking over to them as did Coach Hedge.

"You okay, ladies?"

Coach asked.

"I am, but she hit her head. She should stay out for a bit." Annabeth said. Nobody caught it, but I saw her hiding her arm behind her back a bit.

Hazel was looking admiringly at Annabeth and she started to protest, but everyone was already crowding around her asking if she was okay.

Coach Hedge soon ordered Katie Gardner to take Hazel over to the infirmary.

Annabeth called break for herself and sat on the bleachers and I immediately came over and sat next to her. She looked at me weirdly, uncapping her water bottle, sweat glistening on her skin, "What's with you?" She asked, narrowing her eyes my way in that familiar annoyed gaze.

I simply stared back at her, looking to and fro from her arm to her face. I then touched her arm which she was hiding, "Tsk, you should get this checked out you know."

There was a slight grimace to her expression as she glared at me.

I ignored her glaring and examined her arm. There was already bad bruising climbing up her forearm.

If she pulled away it was going to hurt more, so she kept still, letting me hold her arm.

She let out a defeated sigh, "Let go, Percy."

"You're not playing anymore."

"I know that. I'm not an idiot." She practically growled at me.

I chuckled at her annoyance, "Fine then. Are you waiting for me to pick you up and carry you all the way to the infirmary then? because I'm not going to."

"Of course you wouldn't. Why would I ask that of you of all people." She said, more to herself than to me.

I gave her a smile, then let go of her arm. She gratefully took it back.

"Just leave Percy. I'll be fine."

"It must hurt a lot. Like a bunch of needles stabbing your skin or like a—"

"I know what bruising feels like-" She snapped, making me smile slightly at her outburst.

"You know, it's okay to take care of yourself once in a while, instead of taking care of others."

Her silver blue eyes turned to me, doing that stare that made me feel weirdly warm on the inside, "Thank you for those wise words, grandpa. Fine, I need an ice bag."

I smiled wider then helped her up and walked her out of the gym.

"I thought you said you weren't going to take me to the infirmary."

"I'm not carrying you, am I?" I said with a smirk.

She smiled, her annoyance fading bit by bit away. Her smile made me smile even wider.

a/n:
Hey, lovelies. Here's two short chaps since I haven't updated in a while.
Thanks for keeping up with me still. I love you guys! You're the best readers in the world.
See you in the next update. BYEEeee