14A

Mr. Locke's voice pierced through my lovely dream.

"Ms. Chase."

I groaned, looking up from my resting position on my desk to the man standing next to my desk and another kid next to him. It took a few moments after that to realize the classroom was filled with students in the next period.

"Whoops." I said, standing up immediately to leave.

"Whoops, indeed."

What an ass. He didn't have to be so weird about it.

I swung my backpack over one shoulder then went out to go to my second period. That idiot Percy didn't even bother waking me up. I groaned taking the time to go through my locker. I was already late anyway and I wasn't really looking forward to sitting through the lecture my Calculus teacher was going to give at the beginning of class.

I got my books then slam locked my locker door. Getting a hold of my backpack again, I started down the hall to my class. Just when I got to the right hall, I heard what sounded like a girl crying in the bathroom.

I stopped, rewinding my steps to the girl's bathroom.

It was probably a random girl sobbing over a recent break up with a guy, but I must really have not wanted to be in Calculus, because I found myself making my way over and opening the door.

Walking in, I could the place the voice more clearly.

"Hazel?" The crying stopped at that, "Is that you?"

One of the stall doors opened slowly and sure enough it was her, mascara smudging around her eyes. She tried her best cleaning up her face, but it ended up smudging more.

"Here, don't." I want over to the sink and got some paper towels wet. I then went over and wiped her face for her, like I always did for Silena when she was going through one of her breakups.

"Thanks." She said, her big brown eyes looking gratefully toward me, "I— I didn't think anybody would be coming here for a while."

"No, it's fine. …You want to maybe talk about it?"

"Oh, it's stupid." She said, looking nervously from me to the floor.

"Hazel, I really don't want to have to go to Calculus right now."

She gave me a smile, "It's just boy problems. There's this guy in my Chem class. He's my lab partner and I think he just wanted to get in my pants. It's really no big deal, I overreacted, Annabeth."

I took a breath, "No, it is a big deal. You can't let a guy push you around like that, Hazel." I placed both hands on her shoulders, making her take an involuntary step back, "Especially when it's Percy."

"How'd you? No, Annabeth, he's—"

"Percy mentioned some time about you being his lab partner one time." I explained.

"Annabeth, everything's fine. I told you, I overreacted."

"Hazel, Percy's the sort of guy who won't stop unless you go up to his face and say it. He's done this with all the girls at this school and it makes sense that he'd come after you next. You're the new shiny thing to him. He's an asshole and one day he's going to get what's coming to him."

She looked at me with wide eyes through my whole spiel, "You should become a lawyer, because that was pretty damn persuasive."

I smiled, "The important thing is, are you feeling better?"

She gave me a wider grin, "Yeah, a lot better."

"Good. I guess it's time for me to go back to class."

Once I saw him leaning on the hood of his car, talking to some of the guys, I went over to him. He caught me coming over to him and seeing my expression, he got up.

"Annabeth—"

That's all he got out, before I shoved against his chest, making him stumble back a bit in surprise, "You flipping jackass! How could you do that to her?!"

His guy friends backed away knowing they didn't want to be here when I burst again.

"Do what to who?"

"Hazel!"

He stood up straight, "What exactly did she tell you?"

"Everything I needed to know in order to realize that you are absolutely despicable. How could you, Percy?"

He shook his head in bewilderment as if he didn't know what he did. The nerve of this guy!

He held his hands up in defense, "I didn't—"

I didn't let him finish, "How could you go after another one of my friends?! You knew she was my close friend and yet you still played her! You are unbelievable!"

Some people looked curiously over at us, but most ignored my raging—it spoke to how much I raged on Percy.

Before I could hit him again, he caught a hold of both my arms, "Annabeth, you need …down." He said, looking straight at me.

"Let go of me."

"Just, get in the car. Then you can give me a chance to talk and at least defend myself?"

I let out a loud exasperated breath, "Fine." I said, before moving over to the passenger side of his car. I got into the seat, watching him also come around to the driver's side and get in.

There was a slight grimace to his expression as he rubbed his chest a bit. I ignored it as he looked over at me, "Did Hazel tell you that I hurt her?"

"Yeah, she did. You're her lab partner are you not?"

He let out a sigh then looked away towards the windshield, "I haven't even touched her, Annabeth. How is it possible for her to get hurt from something I haven't even done?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What are you talking about? She was crying in the bathroom over you." I said, a bit more calmed down.

Percy looked over at me again, "She lied, Annabeth. Because it was you who walked in, she lied."

I looked at him weirdly, shaking my head, "What are you saying. Why would she lie?"

He let out a breath, "Just know that it wasn't me she was crying about."

"Then who?" I said, more confused now.

He let out a shaky breath, "Ask her yourself."

I looked him over, "Are you okay?" I asked with suspicion.

Percy shot a small grin over at me, "Fine."

I then shook my head then gave him a glare and kicked his door open and got out, "I'm still mad at you." I said to him, before leaving to get to my car.

After the first buzz of the doorbell, she came to the door. I got her address from Silena. Her house was at a pretty close distance form school. Hazel took one look at me and turned a dark shade of red.

"Sorry, I should have called but I needed to talk to you."

She stepped out of the doorway and closed it behind her, "No, it's fine. I was just—expecting you." Hazel ushered me to sit by her on the porch swing.

I sat next to her, "So, you did lie to me."

"I'm so sorry. I should have been honest from the start, but I wasn't ready when you just immediately came in like that. When I heard you call my name in the bathroom, I flipped."

I stayed silent, looking at her, waiting for her to say more.

"I—" She looked up at me, the blush still in her cheeks and I realized it before she said the words, "I'm gay. And I had a major crush on you from day one, Annabeth. From the way you and Silena interacted so closely, I thought you also liked girls. But, I wasn't sure, because, of course, you guys were best friends so… I asked Percy this morning, just to be sure. I know he's your brother in law and he would know. And then, he told me that I was very wrong." Hazel looked down at her hands then back up to me, "I don't know. Just the thought of never having you and..and the problems and stress of being who I am was too overwhelming, so that's why I broke down. And then, of all people, you came in to comfort me."

I was utterly speechless. How had I not known. I mean, granted, I only knew Hazel for what—a few weeks? Still. I was now looking back to all the interactions I had with Hazel and wondered how the hell I had never figured it out.

"I should have known, my God. I'm so sorry, Hazel."

She shook her head, "I'm not telling you this for you to apologize to me, Annabeth. Because you shouldn't. There is no way any of it was your fault. I'm just telling you so that you won't hate Percy more than needed. He had nothing to do with this either."

"Hazel, I—"

"It's fine, Annabeth. I've been in these situations more than plenty. I know how to get over it and move on from it. You don't need to worry about me."

I got the feeling she was lying again, but I left it.

"I hope we can still be friends."

I smiled at her, "Of course we can. You should have told me this before though, but not for the reason you think."

She looked over at me curiously.

I gave her another smile, "Me and Silena have been creating a list of eligible guys to hook you up with. You should have told me— there are a ton of hot girls I know at our school."

She started laughing, "How generous. I officially feel welcomed here."

"You bet."

"Thank you, Annabeth." she turned and gave me a hug.

I smiled and returned it.

"Of course."

Letting out a sigh, I walked in through the front door. As familiar a picture could get, Percy was making a sandwich for himself and having trouble with the toaster.

I went over and worked the toaster for him.

He smiled over at me, "Thanks, Annababe."

I ignored the infuriating nickname and sat at the bar counter, then let out another breath, "I owe you an apology."

He turned, leaning towards me from the other side of the counter, "Hmm, that sounds very foreign to me coming from your mouth."

"Just take the apology, Percy."

"You don't sound very sorry."

"Because a part of me knows you deserved it for the mere fact that you exist to torture the female population."

He grinned, "Noted." He said as he took his toast from the toaster onto a plate.

"But, I am sorry. For pushing you and hitting you and calling you a flipping jackass."

"Apology accepted once you help me open this darn thing." He was trying to work the mayonnaise.

"You pull don't twist." I went over to him with a playful roll of my eyes, "Here, just let me do it."

I spread the mayo then got the cheese, sliced the tomato, put in the lettuce and turkey meat. Then I cut the sandwich in triangles and slid the plate over to him.

He smiled, immediately taking a bite, "Mmm. You should apologize to me more often."

I smiled at that, making his eyes brighten up like a toddler on Christmas, "I doubt I will have a reason to apologize to you ever again. So savor the sandwich while it lasts."

He laughed as I left the kitchen. I turned to him again, making him look up.

"Wait, why are you here?"

He grinned, "Thalia and Luke make a lot of noise at night."

I grimaced at that, "Ugh."

He chuckled at my expression, "You're mom said I could crash here whenever. We are family you know. You'll let me sleep in your room, right? I get scared at night sometimes."

"You come into my room without my permission, it will be the last mistake you make."

He smiled taking another bite of his sandwich.

"Whatever you say, Annabeth." He said with his mouth full.

I turned to go up the stairs, shaking my head with a smile on my face.