A/N: This chapter sucks, don't yell at me.

Ashley:

Ashley was ready for answers. No, not about being a demigod. She totally got that. Even though it was weird, she still had a grasp on that whole idea.

What she didn't understand was why Nico kept disregarding her.

And no, she wasn't just batting her eyelashes and crossing her fingers. This was the 21st century! Feminism! If she liked a guy, she could totally make the first move. The only problem was, she had made the first move, the second move, the third move…

It was tiring.

So during dinner, she ignored Will's story about drakons and hatched a plan. Well, it was more like a one step movement in the right direction.

When dinner ended, she scanned the pavilion for the freshman at the Hades table; only the table was empty. She caught a glimpse of someone running toward the forest.

"Nico!" she called out. But the boy didn't turn.

She followed. After about 50 feet into the forest, she was surrounded by nature and the sound of distant monsters. But someone's voice caught her attention. She hid behind a tree and held her breath.

"... fine," a boys voice said. It sounded like Nico.

"No, you're not," said another guys voice. It was either Jason or Percy.

Nico sighed, but didn't answer.

"Look," Jason said. Yup, it was definitely Jason. "You need to stop beating yourself up-"

"It's not like I have a choice!" Nico snapped. Ashley had to remember that she was hidden so she wouldn't jump backwards. That was very un-Nico, he never raised his voice. "There's no one to blame but myself!"

But instead of backing down and letting him be angry, Jason answered back with just as much force. "That's the thing Nico, you're always looking for someone to blame. Think of this: maybe there is no one to blame! Maybe there's nothing wrong with you."

"Then why can't I…" Nico's voice faltered and he took a deep breath. Jason sighed loudly.

"There's nothing wrong with you," Jason repeated smoothly.

Ashley heard Jason stood up and begin to walk towards her. Oh crap, of crap. She scooted to the side of the tree so Jason could pass without him (and hopefully Nico) seeing her.

When Jason was far enough away, she heard Nico begin to cry. Her heart sank. Before she could stop herself, she spoke up. "Nico?"

The son of Hades held his breath and then slowly turned around. "Holy Hades," Nico whispered and wiped his cheek.

Ashley suddenly felt flustered. She ran a hand through her long hair, pushed her glasses into place, and tapped her heels together. "I'm sorry, I'll… I'll go," she whispered.

"No," Nico sighed loudly. Ashley pursed her lips in anticipation. He pat the log next to him. "You can sit down, you know."

She gave him a weak smile and sat down.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "I might ask you the same question."

He mustered up a weak laugh and wiped the corner of his eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about."

Her chest lifted. Gods, he cared about her, didn't he? "I'm fine."

He nodded with pursed lips sarcastically. "Uh huh, you just found out that the Greek gods are real and your dad is one of them."

She shrugged, trying to mask her racing heart. "All in a days work, right?"

He smiled and playfully knudged his shoulder against hers. "For brave hero's like us? Tartarus yeah."

She laughed and nodded. "So…" she fumbled, trying to chose her words carefully. "If we're so brave, what has you down?"

Nico's face drooped and she suddenly regretted asking.

"I…" he stuttered. "I gotta go."

He stood up. He didn't make eye contact. And before she could blink, he was gone.

Percy:

Percy had made up his mind.

"Alright, alright. Circle up, guys," Coach called to the swim team. "Everyone out of the pool!"

One by one, muscular guys pulled themselves out of the pool and grabbed towels to dry themselves off. Percy sighed. Towel drying was getting really annoying. Percy noticed Mike watching him, so Percy walked over to him. "Yes," he said, rubbing a towel against his hair. "I use a towel."

"But why?" Mike asked.

Percy lifted a brow. "I can't just magically dry myself, people would notice."

"Oh," Mike said simply, "duh."

They circled up around Coach and listened in. "Alright guys, so first things first. You guys did really well on Saturday, even though we lost." His eyes innocently drifted to Percy. Percy could feel many pairs of eyes on him.

"Yeah, about that Coach…" Percy began.

"No, it's fine. No one blames you Percy," Coach said.

"I blame me," Percy said. "Look, guys, as a captain, it wasn't cool of me to just leave in the middle of a meet."

"You had a rea-"

"No matter what the reason could be," Percy cut off Mike. "A captain should be someone who puts their heart and soul into this team. Lives and breathes for this team." Percy shrugged. "But honestly that's not me."

Everyone seemed taken back by his words. Even Percy was taken back by his words. But he continued anyway.

"I mean, don't get me wrong," he defended himself, "I love being on this team with you guys. I just…" he fumbled for the right words, "have a lot going on at home. I respect you guys enough to step down from my post as captain."

Percy could see Andrew standing in the back, smiling wickedly. There was a silence between the students for a moment before Tyler, a small sophomore in the back, broke it. "But Percy, it was just one meet."

"Yeah, don't beat yourself up," Alex added.

Percy forced a smile. "Guys it's not just about that, but thanks."

There was another silence. Percy could hear water drip from the wet swimmers. Coach took a deep breath. "Are you sure about this, Percy?"

Percy pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah, I am."

Coach clapped his hands together. "Okay guys. Hit the showers. Good practice. Tomorrow we'll have a re-vote for captain, so think about who you're gonna vote for."

The team dismembered and walked back to the locker room in small groups. Mike walked with Percy. "So," Percy asked, "Have you told Burny and Felix yet?"

Mike shook his head glumly. "No. What am I supposed to say? 'Oh, by the way, my dad isn't actually an absent drunk, he's an absent god'? I mean seriously, Percy."

Percy chuckled. "Okay you win." We entered the locker room and ran clean water through our hair. We walked to our lockers and started drying off. "So," Percy said. "He hasn't asked questions?"

Mike turned his shirt around and pulled it over his head. "Yeah," he sighed, "they were worried sick over the weekend, but when I showed up to school on Monday, they felt better."

Percy could tell that there was still something that Mike was holding back. "But…?" Percy pressed.

Mike shrugged and shimmied into his jeans. "They're just questioning the hell outta me, Percy. I'm running out of lies to tell them."

Percy thought for a moment. Maybe they should take Chiron's advice and stay at camp full time, not go to school. Maybe this was all too much and Mike and Ashley couldn't do a double life. But it didn't feel right, having them leave their friends at school.

Percy tried to shake the thoughts out of his head. They got dressed in silence and went to the front of the school to wait for Annabeth to pick them up.

Annabeth:

Annabeth decided that Percy needed a roundhouse kick in the head. Who better to deliver that than his loving girlfriend, right?

He layed on her bed with his hands behind his head grinning like a jackass.

"It's not funny!" Annabeth yelled.

He immediately hardened his expression. They had a 5 second stare down before Percy flashed a lopsided smile. Annabeth gave in and started cracking up.

Annabeth flopped down onto her bed next to her boyfriend. He enveloped her in his arms. He nuzzled his face into her neck and mumbled something inaudible. Annabeth laughed. "What?" she asked.

He mumbled again, louder, but Annabeth still couldn't understand him.

A smile crept on her lips. "Percy," she laughed, "I can't understand you when you're talking to my hair."

He sighed into her neck and pulled away. "You smell nice."

Annabeth laughed and turned around, straddling him and pressing their foreheads together. "Oh Percy," she swooned sarcastically, "you have such a way with words."

He gave her a cocky grin. "A lot of people say that."

She pecked his lips, then raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, I bet they say a lot of things.

Percy rolled his eyes.

They laid there smirking at each other for a moment, before anger infused into her expression. "Oh gods…" Percy said.

Annabeth tightened her face and backed off of him. "And you tried to distract me!" She got off the bed and crossed the room, holding her head. She paced back and forth.

He let out a light chuckle. "Forget what you were made about?"

She held up her finger. Hold on.

He laughed again.

She stopped pacing because she (finally) remembered why she was mad. "That's it!" She walked over to him and began lightly smacking his shoulders. "You. Stepped. Down. As. Captain?!" She hit him between every word.

Annabeth could tell that he was holding back laughter, which just made her angrier. He tried to grab her wrists to calm her down. "Annabeth! I don't need to be captain, let Andrew have it."

"Why?!" She was baffled. How could he just roll over and let that asswipe have the team back?

Percy casually shrugged. "He needs it more than me." He let out a small laugh. "That team, that school, that's all he has."

Her heart softened. Annabeth jumped into her boyfriends arms. "You're such a seaweed brain, you know that?

He pressed his soft lips against his. "I love you too."

A/N: So I know I said I was gonna do a lot of Percabeth with Andrew, but I had to put some Ashley and Nico in their.

Sucky chapter I know.

Forgive me children.