Thanks to (Magic 8 Ball of Zen) who reviewed 9 times! Thank for also adding me to their favorite authorss list and adding this story to your favorite stories list. ^^
Thanks to (Annapercy1) who added to their Author Alert and Favorite Authors List. Thank you for also adding my original Choices story to your favorite stories list and reviewing twice. Thank you for adding this story to your favorites and story alert list and reviewing my third chapter.

Okay, I should probably say sorry for not posting anything over the weekend. I left on Friday and didn't come back until late Monday night; we drove all the way to Bristol, Tennessee to watch the NASCAR race. ^^; I'm so sorry you guys!

"Get up, Annabeth."

I opened my eyes and looked up, Pello was standing over me, and thankfully Altair was up and moving. The rain was still slamming against the roof of the canopy, but then I had to talk to my father, no matter how scarred and hurt I was. I would tell him what I was really doing, he had saved camp much more than once, and now it was my turn to walk in my father's footsteps.

I stood and walked to the canopy opening and looked outside, and then at the sky. The sun was still well hidden and there was no possible way I could ever create a rainbow without it. I shook my head, and Annabeth showed beside me, "It's your own fault."

I turned to her with a confused look on my face, "What's my fault?"

"The thunder and rain. You're upset, and so Zeus and Poseidon are trying to protect you, trying to tell you that they're here for you. Unless you become happy again, this place will flood," I studied her and thought of what she was saying. Was I really causing this?

I turned around at Pello and Altair, who were quiet, nibbling on some chips. Pello stood and gave Altair the rest of the chips, said something to him quietly and left. I moved towards Altair, forgetting what Annabeth said as she disappeared. "What's going on?"

"Hm?" He looked up, obviously not too interested in my conversation; but he had heard when I listened to his answer. "He's just going to see if he can find anybody," he muttered. He pulled a sword from behind him and studied it; I spoke nothing of it though. It was silver, but made of celestial bronze and colored, with a leather grip and a jewel in the handle. He placed the sword in an awkward position, with his right hand on the handle, and the tip of the sword right on his left. He pulled his left hand up and touched the jewel. It changed.

In his hands was now a guitar. My eyes widened, "It reminds me of my father's," I laughed.

Altair smiled; "Yeah, my father gave it to me." he shrugged. Our voices turned to silence, and Altair started to strum a couple of chords. I sat back and watched, his fingers stretching across the neck of the guitar, and a small smile spread across my face. He looked up, and we studied each other, I looked deeply into his eyes as they sparkled.

"What I said before," I whispered, my hand bringing up the dust, wiping it within my fingertips. "About how I liked Pello, I'm not sure if even I was right," I looked back up at him again, "Being beside you, once more, finally talking to you. It makes me happy. It makes me want to be with you again. But I'm not sure what it is that's dragging me back; something's holding me away from you. I'm not sure if it's Annabeth, trying to save me from something; or maybe it's me. Maybe─maybe I'm just afraid I'll hurt you, that Zeus and Poseidon, they'll finally come together, they'll finally break me apart and I'll hurt someone. And I'm afraid─I'm afraid that person will be you."

I looked into his eyes, and finally, his smile that I hadn't seen since before the summer appeared. It brightened my heart, made it jump and skip a beat. He started strumming once more, a little faster and started to whistle. I smiled, watching his hands, moving up and down. He stopped a note and looked at me, "What are you saying?" he asked me, in a inquisitive voice, "That you want to be with me?"

"I don't know," I spoke honestly, turning my gaze away from him. I picked up a small, glittering rock. It was the arrowhead, which must have fallen from my pocket. I examined it carefully and drew small heart, on one side of the heart, I drew a swirl, like a wave. On the other side of it, I drew a forked lightning bolt. "I'm only fourteen, and I have more than I can think ahead of me."

"How do you know?" I looked at him. "Annabeth Chase died at sixteen. How do you know that you won't do the same?"

I took that into consideration. Annabeth hadn't lived very long, and I had grown to be much like her, followed her, she had even taken over for me in the school yard. She was sitting beside me, even if I didn't know it, she was trying to protect me. But I realized my mood wasn't helping the weather much, it was starting to lighten up whenever I heard Altair's voice. "Because," I spoke, "I'm not Annabeth. I'm me." I decided, "I'm who I want to be, and I'll try not to turn against you guys, that's what killed Annabeth."

Our conversation ended, slowing down gradually.

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-Dj