Chapter 14

Annabeth's POV-,

"You know...I'm just wondering," Adam sighed as he looked toward the crowd of faces circling over his head, "why is everyone looming over me while I'm trying to sleep?" He poked his head out from under his pillow sending ominous glares to the lot of us. By us I mean me, Clarisse, Percy, and the entire Apollo cabin and a bunch of other campers as well, and yes we were all surrounding his bunk, but for a good reason.

"Adam...," I said batting my lashes at him, "Tonight's the night, our rematch against the hunters, and last time all you did was help with the injured." I was trying my best not to sound desperate, but we needed him.

Adam arched his brow as his pillow still covered the lower half of his face, he groaned out, "So…?"

Clarisse nudged me and I just blurted it out. "We need you this time, we need to win." And we did, I was tired of those man haters wiping the fields with us every time they come through. "We need every able camper to play tonight and you are our best shot for any kind of victory this time."

He deadpanned sliding the pillow down to his chest. "I'm not going to be left alone until I say yes, am I right?" Everyone was nodding their heads; it looked like a room filled with eerie smiling bobble head dolls. He then sighed and rolled over so his back was towards us. "Let me sleep on it and I'll get back to you."

"Please, Adam…," Kayla whined.

Adam didn't budge, he groaned, "I…need…sleep!"

"You slept for three days," said Percy like it was nothing, which earned him a slap to the back of the head from his girlfriend, that's still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

"I was in a coma, I didn't have a choice," Adam exclaimed, his back still turned to us. He pulled the covered over his head. "Now let sleep or I'm going to show you what I did to that automaton first hand."

Percy didn't take the threat that seriously, "Ad-," Just as Percy opened his mouth to comment, Adam's arm shot out from under his sheets revealing the gleam of his special knife, "I say we let him get a few more winks."

With that the campers filed out the door as fast as they could leaving the two us behind which I was okay with. Since last night I had a lot of questioned to ask, one of them being why was he sleeping with his knife? Those questions had to wait, not only because I didn't know how to ask, but more because he had brought up a good point.

This time yesterday he was still laying in a trance in the infirmary, and still had some healing to do, both physically and emotionally. That face, I never saw him like that, so beaten, tortured by his past, how I wish I could take those memories away for him. Adam was the one who always tried to smile for me when I was distraught, to see him terrified…I don't want to see him like that again. I lowered myself down on the edge of his bed and placed my hand on his shoulder, a smile crept on my face as I felt his finger lace with mine. I was just happy he could respond to my touch.

I waited for him to lower his sheets to look at me, just like I knew he would. I softly asked him, "You okay?"

"You that worried about me?" he asked, to which I gave a simple nod. He flipped over onto his back putting up a smile for my sake, "I'm fine, Annie, never better, just after last night I'm still a little emotionally drained. It's not every night I go flaunting my battle scars to everyone." As soon as he said that his smile melted, and his eyes drifted shut.

I asked him, "Do you need to talk about it?"

He opened his eyes and gave me a look I could only take as anxiety, he sat up pulling our hands apart bringing his hands together in his lap he focused on them. "Kayla told me you were crying pretty hard over me," he said refusing to look into my eyes, then he asked something that shocked me, "Why?"

I didn't need to think about it, I place my hand back on his shoulder urging him to look at me, "Because you're important to me, Adam. I don't care if you play in tonight's game or not, I just want you to take your time to heal. You really mean the world to me."

Then he asked me another surprise question, "Annabeth, how do you feel about me?"

"What do you mean?" I asked in return, I could feel my chest tensing up.

He sighed as he repositioned himself to where he was facing me. Coyly he said, "I mean…you cry over me, worry about me like no one else, and you're always clinging to my arm," he looked at me with mixed feelings and asked me, "Do you…like me?"

I dreaded the question for a while, I mean I had to wonder about it myself when he pretended to be my boyfriend but I didn't expect actual romantic feelings to sprout. Adam was the sweetest guy I've met in a long time, so caring and who wasn't afraid to be rough when he needed to be, but was I ready to admit I liked him? My feelings for Percy still lingered and somehow I knew it wouldn't be fair to start something with him now, not after he's seen me at my worst, not. while I still couldn't let go of Percy

Taking a breath to ease myself, I told him what I could, "I love you, but…as like a brother," I told him only a fraction of the truth, I did love him but I just didn't know in what way, part of me was kicking myself when his expression dulled, "I'm sorry, Adam."

He didn't say anything; he maneuvered around me as he crawled out of bed. I was getting more anxious by the second. Did I just ruin the only good thing going for me? "Look, you don't want to me with someone like me anyway, I'm too picky, I'm easily over by my work, and you can find someone better." I'm just making myself sound better all the time.

I watched as he bent down to get into his trunk. "You're still hung up on him, aren't you?" he asked removing his shirt, I could see the top half of his chest, the scars, "Just don't do anything to drastic, Annie, if he's happy then let him be." When he closed the lid he was standing in front of me openly displaying his scars, since I've already seen them he didn't have a reason to hide them from me anymore. He looked down at me as he buttoned a black long-sleeved dress shirt leaving the top three buttons unclasped to show off part of his chest.

I reached up to fix his color and he gave me a hint of a smile. "This won't change anything between us will it?" I asked him nervously. My hands coming down to rest on his chest, my cheeks grew hotter as I felt how firm he was.

Gently he shook his head. "No, it's just something I needed to know," he said, leaning in he pressed his lips against my forehead, he whispered, "Just don't forget, you deserve to be happy too." My heart skipped a beat. Adam wrapped his arms around me pulling me closer into his embrace; he always had this touch that told me that while he was no doubt strong he was equally gentle. That's why I admired him.

Leaning into his touch I buried my face into his chest and sobbed. "You're my best friend, Adam, I can't lose you."

Rubbing circles on my back he whispered to me. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily." I wasn't, I didn't want to. So why…why didn't I tell him something else? The last thing I'd think of him as was a brother. I should've asked him how he felt about me, later…when it's not too awkward. And I didn't want him to let me go, his touch felt too nice.

Percy's POV-,

"We need him…we need him…we need him," I repeated grown over my breakfast, in just a few hours we were going to have our weekly game of Capture the flag. Usually we hold it on Fridays but since the hunters have returned the game was moved a head by a day. I hated the fact that we had never won one game against the hunters, but what I was more irate about was that the only gleam of hope we had refused to get out of bed.

"I don't think one guy is going to keep you from getting a beating in today's game, Perce," said my so-called best friend, Grover, who was showing zero support at the moment.

"I am just loving the confidence, G-man," I said sarcastically, "really, maybe you should look into a job as a motivational speaker."

He kept gnawing at his tin can, glaring as he asked, "You're taking this came a bit too seriously than normal. Maybe you should do something to relax, just have fun. You can't be a soldier all the time."

"And what exactly do you suggest?" I groaned.

"Well…," I could see his eyes motioning me to look behind me, looking back I saw a couple of campers hanging around the signup sheet for Saturdays talent night, "you could always take you shot with the talent show, a lot of people have already signed up."

The thought of me on center stage with all my friends watching my every moment, judging me hoping that I might mess up so they could laugh at me, how could I pass that up, "Yeah…not going to happen." Like that.

Grover shook his head at me, "you know just as I do that you have more talent than just being able to use a sword. I remember those nights back at Yancy, you and the guitar, strumming just before lights out. You can sing something."

"No I can't," I exclaimed, "if you don't remember there's a reason I never played in front of anyone besides you." Letting out a sigh of relief I tried to relax, "Look, G-man, I'm not really up to singing or dancing in front of everyone I know, so please, just drop it."

For a moment he held up his hands in surrender and I almost believed him. That was when Travis came by dropping of a long rectangular box on my table, "Percy, this just came for you through OPS," he said holding his hand out for a tip, like father like son.

Tossing him a drachma I examined the package, my eyes instantly landed on the miniature picture of lady liberty on the label, it's from New York. Locating the return address I felt an instant smile sprouting as I saw the name. "It's from my mom," As I tore the package open my eyes bulged open at the sight of a familiar leather case. "Grover…you didn't it," I said turning to see the fear in the satyr's eyes. That was all the confirmation I needed.

"Look at the time," he said looking at his non-existing watch on his wrist, "I better go see Juniper, you know how she worries." He jumped from the table running, but I was quick to pursue, even with the bulky package in my arms.

"Grover!" I yelled cutting him off before he could make it to the edge of the forest. He raised his arms in defense like I was about to punch his lights out, and though I thought about it I held back, "Dude, you called my mom?"

"She sends her love by the way." He said smiling nervously, "look, I did it for your own good, too much fighting isn't good for the soul, you need to express yourself artistically once in a while and that doesn't evolve a shield or sword. I'm just looking after your well being."

Before I could counter we heard a voice sneak up on us, "What are you guys talking about?" I relaxed when I saw Clarisse standing next to me. She laughed at our startled faces, "you boys are a bit too jump, and here I wasn't even trying to scare ya." I wanted to glare and say something smart ass like, but she quickly grabbed my hand putting a cork on my sass.

"Hello, Clarisse," Grover said with a not-so-much menacing smile while I face palmed. I knew he was waiting to say that to her since he accidently watched silence of the lambs. He thought it was about actual lambs.

"Hannibal," she countered catching the gist of his comment. "Tell me Goat boy, how long have you been dying to say that?"

He shrugged, "a couple days."

"So…," she said dragging her eyes over to the case in my hand, "what you got there, babe?"

"Yeah, Perce," Grover said earning another death threatening glare, "what do you have there?" mental note get him back for this later.

I sighed in defeat as I placed the package on a nearby log. Ripping the packing paper off I shoved it into Grover's vicinity, to which he starts snacking on. They loomed over the long rectangular black case watching as I undid the metal clasps, lifting the lid revealed, "A Guitar?" Clarisse said, honestly curious. She looked at me and then the midnight blue instrument, and then putting the clues together she shot a look to Grover who confirmed them.

"Yes," I mumbled, "it's mine. I use to play back before I came to camp and Mr. Underwood over here thinks that going behind my back and having it brought here would get me interested in playing in the talent show. But now I'm wondering if I should sign up for speed shaving a satyr."

Well, that was enough to make him jump. He grabbed the case in front of his in his arms and grinning more unsteadily, "I'll take this and let you two have some time alone. Hopefully I'll see you two in today's game, and hopefully in one piece." Before I could protest he bolted faster than before heading back towards the pavilion.

I turned to Clarisse and asked, "You guys didn't do that bad in your last match, did you?"

"If you were here then you would've seen what happened when Connor Stoll ticked off one of their hunting wolves, it was something to see," she said like it was a matter of fact, "luckily they were able to re attach his fingers." Actually I wasn't all that surprised.

Something was off, usually when the subject of the Stoll brothers and any sort of pain being inflicted on them would bring a smile to her face, 'mine too,' but she looked nervous. Then without warning I found her lips on mine, and my mind almost went blank. If this was her new way of breaking the ice then I'm all for it. Once our lips parted I had a gut feeling that she had something she wanted to talk about, but what came out of her mouth was, "Are you planning on signing up for the talent show?"

I blinked twice, is that what got her all anxious? At least it wasn't anything serious, so as I pulse calmed I told her. "Grover wishes, I think I have more pressing stuff to do, like making sure I'm ready in case one of those automatons show up," by her restless reaction I could tell that wasn't the answer she was hoping for, "is everything okay?"

She bit her bottom lip before uttering, "I'm actually…in the show."

I broke into a smile realizing that this was her sudden dark secret, "Really, what are you doing? Please tell me its knife throwing while blind folded with Conner or Travis as your targets- I mean assistants."

She laughed, "I wanted to do something like that but Lou Ellen using them for a magic show. But for real, I want it to be a surprise…but I wanted to make sure that you'd be there, so…will you?"

Looking at me with those hazel rings, how could I resist. "I wouldn't miss it," even if I hadn't told her yet I had fallen for her and the thought of me confessing such a thing to her made my jaw clinch shut. That didn't stop me from claiming her lips. With each kiss I felt a little less nervous about letting the word slip, and also with each kiss I lose the will to speak and all that's left is the grinning idiot I call myself.

"I have to go meet Annabeth, we're trying to come up with some sort of plan to trump the hunters," she says giving me small peck on the lips, "See you later." Watching her leave along with my chance, I sighed letting my shoulders slump. How was I going to tell her?

I needed a way to clear my head, and there was no better way than lashing out at someone who deserved it, and only one person came to mind. "Where's that Satyr?" I scanned the area for his furry hind courters, only to see him gawking at the signup sheet, "Grover!"

The satyr jumped at first then let out a heavy breath when he saw it was only me. "Dude, chill." He said ignoring the fact that I wanted to strangle him, "Hey I want you to see something," he pulled me closer to him and pointed halfway down the talent roster, "your girl's performing." Sure enough there was Clarisse's name and for her talent…

"She's going to sing?" I said, my jaw dropped, I scanned the list from top to bottom to make sure I read correct, being dyslexic and all, then I saw another name that jumped out at me. "Annabeth…is singing too?" My jaw was hanging like from a broken hinge, "I never heard either of them sing before, I didn't even know they could sing."

"Well, now's your chance," Grover said, then with a snap of his fingers he chuckled, "Hey, you can make it a duet."

I grabbed the guitar case from his grip trying to suppress the urged to smack him upside the head with it. "Yeah…not going to happen, there's such a thing as stage fright," I reminded him of my phobia.

He snorted, "You've stood before the gods, fought in a number of battles and stared down uglier things than your moms ex. How can you be afraid of performing in public?"

"Because…I just am," I said with a shrugged.

He patted me on the shoulder while nodding to the signup sheet, "Well if your girlfriend has the courage to let loose in front of the whole camp, then maybe you should too. Nut up or shut up, what would Clarisse do?"

I deadpanned at the phrase, telling him, "She'd kick your ass for saying nut up or shut up." I shook head of Grover's meddling long enough to notice a figure in black wandering around the other side of the pavilion. Adam was walking by looking lost in his own thoughts, giving Grover a nudge on the shoulder I told him, "We'll talk later."

I didn't expect to be up at the time, the way he acted I would've thought he'd sleep till the next morning. Now part of me felt guilty having to wake him this morning. He still had the same half asleep look plastered over his face. "Hey, Rosebud, shouldn't you be taking it easy?"

He smiled tiredly stretching. "I feel great, I feel like I can take on Hydra," letting his arms drop he nearly lost his balance, leaving me to hold him up, "or maybe its little brother."

I pushed towards the nearest table, "Take a seat, dude."

Lowering on the bench he quickly noticed the long case dangling from my fingers. "What's with the case, you revving up for Saturday?"

I let out a dragging groan as I took the seat next to him, "They all want me to enter, but I don't know. Clarisse says she's in it and that I have to be there. I just found out she and Annabeth are singing."

"Oh, I can't miss that," he laughed more than likely at my expression, "Something tells me that there's another reason Clarisse wants you there, and I believe they say that music is a great way to express your feelings. Maybe you should think about doing the same."

"I would…but-," I hesitated not wanting it to explain it all over again.

Adam though could read me with ease, "I see, stage fright. I know what you mean; it can be a little nerve racking the first couple of times."

"Do you play?"

"Drums, bass, piano, flute, saxophone, and guitar," he counted them off one by one, "Someone a long time ago told me that only learning to fight will lead me to a life with nothing but fighting. I picked up a guitar and I started to play, soon I started playing out in public and then did a few open mike nights. Soon I got so use to playing in front of people that it became a second nature."

"But this is front of people I see almost every day." I cringed just thinking about it, "I don't know if I can."

"How do you know if you don't try? I sang in front of you guys last night and I wasn't afraid, I wasn't aware that you were watching me either, but I still did it. You're afraid of singing in front of the others but what you should do is just sing to her. In a way…that's what I was doing before you guys showed up."

Thinking back to the night before I could only think of one person that stood out, the only person he seemed to pay attention to, Thalia, adding that to the sudden coy expression on his face my eyes grew wider as it hit me. "Thalia?" I asked my mouth agape.

He let out a defeated sigh not even bothering to deny it. Instead he smiled turning his sights across the camp to where the hunters were gathered. A gleam of light reflected off the silver circlet on Pinecone faces head. "When she asked me to sing for her, it made me feel better, a lot better." I saw him smile as the hunters laughed, even though he was only noticing their lieutenant.

He did know that Thalia was a hunter; I could tell that by the way his expression quickly melted. Even if he liked her, she took the oath, no men, and that means no Adam. I was torn in two, one half wanted to see him get the girl he wanted, the other wanted him to be with the girl that I thought wanted him, Annabeth. Funny, I never thought I would want someone to take my ex off the market, but then I'd feel easier whenever she and Clarisse were around each other. If I had the choice, I'd want Adam to get the girl he wanted, not the one everyone thought he should be with.

"Just don't give a crap what the others might think, Percy," he said pulling me out of my thoughts, "just do it for her, do it for Clarisse." For once I was actually debating the pros and cons in my head. How was he able to talk me into it when Grover failed?

"Another little secret…," he whispered drawling me closer, "sometimes it helps if you play with a friend."

I was intrigued, he could sing, and being a son of Apollo he had to have some other musical talent. "What about your half brothers and sisters?"

"Apparently they came to a solution and decided to share me, I'm their backup singer slash musician. Chiron already gave his approval, and all without asking if that's what I really wanted." He said matter-of-factly.

What I got out of that was, "They shanghaied you."

"Pretty much," he said with another defeated breath, "but technically I'm not a contestant unless my name is on that signup sheet. And I kinda would like to sing something myself."

"Let's do it like this, if you sign up and sing a song for Clarisse I'll not only back you up in the show but I'll also play in today's game. I'll even tell them that you talked me into it."

"Really?" I asked somewhat hopeful.

He laughed at my expression. "You gave me the shirt off your back," he calmed down instantly as we both turned our sights towards the hunters and their smug faces, "and I think that the hunters need to be knocked down a peg."

How could I say no to that? "What will I sing?" I asked as my agreement to the terms.

He snickered as he shot to his feet without faltering, "I'll help you out with that after the game, if we still have our fingers," he leaned over and chuckled, "whatever you do don't tick off the wolves."

My eyes shot open wide, "I thought that was a joke." I wanted to laugh when he shook his head. Next time I see Conner I have to ask him about that, but for now I had to get ready for the most anticipated game of Capture the flag I've ever played. Then after that…I had to rehearse, gods help me.