A/N- Sorry for the late updates, I have been so busy. As usual, you guys are great ugh.

Chapter 14

Percy couldn't stop smiling. Which was stupid, because he had been in other fights with his other friends besides Annabeth, and he didn't feel giddy when it was resolved. It was weird, for him, to say the least. He didn't question it further and once home, texted Grover, smiled at his mother, and ran to his room.

Hi - Grover

Hello - Percy

What happened? - Grover

We're fine - Percy

That's cool - Grover

I just wanted to check up, I'll see you tomorrow - Grover

Bye - Percy

He relaxed against the bedsheets and fell asleep.

The next day at school, he grudgingly trudged up the school steps, like he had been doing for the past four years. He made his way to his locker and pulled out his books. Percy closed the locker door and came face to face with that annoying asian girl, Drew.

"Hi," she said brightly.

It was too fucking early in the morning for this and he didn't have it in him to be really nice and courteous.

"Hi, what do you want?" He said blandly.

"Nothing. I just wanted to know what you're doing," she said, not at all fazed with his bluntness.

"I was putting my books in my locker..."

Drew opened her mouth and before she could reply he saw a flash of blonde curls and prayed that she would come and save him. Thankfully, she was already striding over, a determined look on her face mixed with something he couldn't quite name.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth asked Drew.

Drew perked up even more, if it was possible, and sported a smile. "Oh, just talking to Percy. What are you doing?"

Annabeth crossed her arms, "Why? You don't like him, he doesn't like you. Just go away."

Damn.

Drew took a step towards Annabeth, "You don't know anything about me."

Annabeth laughed maliciously, "Please, don't resort to the 'you know my name, not my story' bullshit."

Drew opened her mouth to retort but they all heard squeals of the asian girl's name. She straightened up and turned to Percy.

"Bye, Percy. I'll see you later."

When she left toward her friends, he saw Annabeth studiously looking at his locker. He hesitated, he never really had girl friends before, except for his friend Rachel, and didn't know if he was supposed to ask her what's wrong or ignore it.

"Um, are you okay?" He almost winced at how timid he sounded.

She stood straighter and plastered on a smile, "I'm fine."

Skeptically he nodded and opened his mouth to say something when he heard footsteps approach him from behind. He turned around and saw a girl with obsidian black hair looking at him.

He waved, "Um, hi?"

She ignored him and turned to Annabeth, "Annabeth, I need to talk to you."

Annabeth mouthed an apology to the confused boy and nodded her head at the girl, "Yeah, Reyna, what is it?"

She flitted her eyes up to Percy and Annabeth regarded her shrewdly.

"You can tell me in front of Percy."

Reyna's gaze grew even colder and whispered something in Annabeth's ear. Annabeth, still looking at Percy, said something back to Reyna. She seemed satisfied for the answer as she started to walk away.

Percy watched her go and looked back to Annabeth, "Who was that?"

"Oh, that's one of my friends. She's really nice once you get to know her."

"Uh, alright. I mean you look kind of freaked out right now…"

"I'm fine. Go to class, I'll see you at lunch."

He smiled, "Are you going to sit with me and Grover today?"

She nodded then waved him off.

At lunch, he saw Annabeth already sitting at his usual table and claimed the seat next to her.

"Hi, I didn't know if you would actually sit with us," Percy said, which in hindsight was probably stupid to say.

She tensed and frowned at him, "Why would I lie about sitting with you guys?"

Percy shook his head, "You don't have to. I mean, your friends over there are staring at you, wondering why you're talking to me."

Grover appeared 'round the corner and made a beeline straight for them.

She sat up, "Let them wonder. It shouldn't concern them. You guys are my friends too."

They conversed, in between bites of food, and it was great. Towards the end of lunch, when they were all laughing at one of Grover's recap of an enchilada incident, another one of Annabeth's friends had walked over and coughed.

Annabeth looked up, a tad annoyed, "Yeah?"

"We were just wondering if you were going to sit with us tomorrow."

"No, I think I'll stay with Percy and Grover if that's okay."

The girl nodded, shooting her a look that Percy couldn't decipher. It obviously upset Annabeth but she tried to play it off, smiling brightly and continuing on the conversation as if something weird didn't just happen. After lunch, Percy pulled Annabeth aside and she stared him.

"Okay, what's wrong?"

She arched an eyebrow, "What makes you think anything is wrong?"

He made an annoyed noise in his throat and turned back to Annabeth.

"Because I know you. We're friends, remember? So, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to pry it out of you?"

She sighed and rubbed her temple, "Percy. Just leave it alone. Don't go all overprotective on me, okay?"

He glanced towards a freshman blatantly gaping at them and sent a scowl towards the boy. He looked towards Annabeth and nodded curtly, not liking the idea at all.

She untangled herself from his grasp and started to walk away calling out a goodbye over her shoulder.

Percy sighed and marched back to Grover. He recounted the whole exchange with him and the acne-filled boy stayed silent.

"Look, Percy, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. If she wants to talk about it with you, she will. Don't try to force anything out of her. About the 'weird' looks, I think deep down you know what they are. Unless you really are an idiot." With his spiel over, he walked away, leaving Percy to his thoughts.