A/N: Hey! I know, I know. It has been a long time. So kill me. And this will be the last of this story you'll ever read. Nah, just kidding.

TURNS OUT, I FINISHED IT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. So, here it is!

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything!

"Do you want to hear my wish? I wish that you would like me again"

That was what Annabeth Chase was thinking all the while Percy was kissing her in front of everyone watching The Half Bloods' nightly performance. That was the exact words Percy uttered to her before they started dating and every time she remembers him say that, she melts and happiness starts to engulf her in a big bubble of cloud 9. How can this popular, hot and heaven sent guy be hers? Maybe she did something heroic in another life or something but at the moment she couldn't care about it.

I'm sorry. Can you hear my heart? My already late confession, are you able to hear that too? I love you.

That was what Percy Jackson was thinking while he kissed his girlfriend. He'd been a coward all this time. Cowering behind his affection for Thalia and being consumed by his jealousy of Luke. He could've told Annabeth beforehand that he liked her. Instead, he made her believe that he's still into Thalia and because of that he'd hurt Annabeth's feelings. But now, now that they're here and that everyone knows it too, he won't let anything bad happen to her, he would protect her and do anything to make her happy.

A few minutes passed and Percy finally let go of a dumb stricken Annabeth. But he didn't let her get off the stage. Instead, he picked up his guitar, motioned for his band mates to start. He looked only at her as he sings.

Maybe it was because Percy is popular or maybe because everybody who saw the kiss thought that what they have is real that they started to accept the fact that Percy isn't in the market anymore. Because they started to sway and clap and do whatever as Percy sang. Or maybe it's just because of his enchanting voice.

Their walk home was silent. But it was comfortable. They walked hand in hand to their neighborhood, both thinking about how lucky they were to have found each other. Finally, they reached their destination. They stopped at Annabeth's front door.

"Aren't you worried about your hair getting pulled out?" Percy teased Annabeth about her being scared for her hair earlier.

Annabeth sighed, "Well, looks like I'll have to wear a swimming cap every time I go out"

Percy chuckled, "It's going to be fine. Believe me."

Annabeth looked at him with disbelieving eyes.

"Don't you believe me?" Percy frowned.

Annabeth smiled brightly, "I believe you."

Percy smiled as brightly, "Go in now"

"It's getting late. I want to see you leave before I go in" Annabeth said.

And they're back to kindergarten stage flirting.

"You go in first" Percy said defiantly. "It's very dangerous"

Annabeth laughed, "What's so dangerous? All I need to do is open the front door and go in."

"You might trip over the doorstep" Percy shot back.

"Fine," Annabeth conceded. "I'm going in"

She turned around and headed for the door. But Percy called her back.

"Annabeth,"

"Huh?"

Percy walked slowly towards her and kissed her forehead, "Good night"

When Annabeth was safely inside her home, Percy went to his own. He was smiling and whistling unconsciously. He rarely did this prior to him meeting Annabeth so his mom, Sally, was really surprised when he did.

"Did something good happen?" she asked her son. "Why do you look so happy?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing. Where's Nicole?" he asked.

"It seems like something happened" Sally murmured. "Anyway, Nicole's in her room, talking with her friends on the phone."

Percy smiled fondly, "Ok. I'll go ahead"

"Oh, yeah, Percy" His mom called back. "I've got tickets for an optical illusion art gallery exhibit. Someone gave them to me. There are two of them, maybe you can go with a friend?"

"Nicole isn't going?"

"Two tickets are simply not enough for her, so I'm not going to mention it to her at all." Sally said. "If you don't want them, I'll just give them to someone else."

"No," Percy said suddenly and grabbed the tickets. Her mom raised an eyebrow.

"I'll ask around to see if there's anyone who's interested," he said quickly.

"Okay then"

"You should rest, mom. Good night" Percy kissed her mom's forehead and went inside his room to let Annabeth know.

Annabeth, meanwhile, was still at cloud 9, smiling like an idiot, and her hands at her heart. She was knocked out of her bubble when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and smiled even wider when she saw that it was Percy. She composed herself, not wanting him to know she's excited, and answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey, do you have any classes tomorrow morning?"

"No, I don't have any. Why?"

"My mom gave me some tickets . . . and I can't throw them away. So . . . um, I wanted to ask if you were free."

Annabeth smiled and resisted the urge to squeal like a schoolgirl. Percy was shy and nervous. It's cute. She recalled their first encounter. Percy never asks a girl out. He was the one being asked out. She even remembered Percy saying that he doesn't want to go out with the girl who asked him because she was ugly. That was the cold and heartless Percy she met before. Not her Percy now. She might be the only one who he asked out, well maybe with the exception of Thalia.

Annabeth cleared her throat, "Well, it's not like I really want to go," she bluffed. "But it would be such a waste to throw them away. Meet me at the front door tomorrow"

"Okay,"

When they both hung up, Annabeth giggled. What was happening to her?

"What should I wear tomorrow?" she pondered and walked over to her closet. She scanned her closet for minutes but failed.

"I don't have anything suitable to wear tomorrow" she sadly thought.

Then she thought of a plan. She grabbed her phone and texted Percy.

My dad asked me to run errands. Let's meet at the exhibition entrance instead"

While Percy was reading the text, Nicole bursted in.

"Percy! I already heard from my friends" she pouted. "You and Annabeth kissed!"

"I know" Percy narrowed his eyes. He knows where this is leading. "The money that you would've earned from selling my signatures, I'll give them to you."

He fished twenty dollars in his wallet, "Is this enough?"

Nicole got it reluctantly, "For now."

"Don't tell mom. Do you understand?"

"I understand" But she was smiling like she had a plan.

Annabeth went out of their house early that morning to do some shopping for her date with Percy. But what was waiting for her outside brought a surprised look on her face. It was Nicole.

"What are you doing here so early in the morning?" she asked Nicole incredulously.

"Is your dad inside?" Nicole asked confidently, the old Percy would be proud. "I want to speak with him personally."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "What do you want to say to him?"

"That you and my brother are dating" she smiled triumphantly. "Does he know what you're doing?"

Knowing full well that Annabeth's over protective and dramatic dad won't approve, she suddenly felt nervous.

"Nicole . . ." she said warningly. "Why are you being like this so early in the morning?" she smiled sweetly.

"Because of you, I can't sell my brother's signature to my friends anymore" Nicole grumbled. "Without money what can I do?"

Annabeth smiled sweetly again, "That's what's good about having me for a neighbor. If we happen to run into each other, I can give you money"

She fished out a twenty and gave it to Nicole.

"Thank you!" she said happily and walked away.

Annabeth gritted her teeth, "Because of Percy. I'm only putting up with you because of Percy."

She pouted and headed for the mall.

"What are you doing?" Thalia asked as she entered Luke's office. "Where did the postcard come from?"

"It's from an actress I was close to when I was in Hollywood. It seems like she's travelling in South America."

"A woman?" Thalia asked, her voice tinged with a bit of jealousy.

"Hmm. A woman." Luke confirmed.

They both laughed. But after a few seconds, Thalia's face grew serious.

"Is it the actress you had a scandal with when you were on Hollywood?" she asked quietly.

Luke chuckled, "Did you investigate me?"

"I heard it from Hera" Thalia admitted. "Was it serious between you two?"

"Is that even important right now?" Luke asked.

"No, not at all. You know I don't mean it that way." Thalia bit her lip. "You do know that Hera has always held a grudge against you. I'm just worried that some issues will arise."

"Don't worry" Luke reassured her. "I'm not scared at all."

"After seeing Annabeth singing yesterday, there seem to have more sponsorship" Silena told Hera happily. "What's the reason for calling me so suddenly?"

"Rachel was never contacted at all yesterday" Hera told her firmly and authoritatively.

"What?" Silena was shocked. "Her mom called her. You also called and said you couldn't reach her"

"We never called" Hera repeated. "Rachel was not able to come because Luke didn't call her. Why? To let Annabeth stand up on stage. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Silena narrowed her eyes, "Do we have to go that far? Make up stuff that didn't happen?"

"Next year, a certain someone will get transferred" Hera threatened.

Suddenly there was a change in Silena's features. From distrust and disgust from fear and finally regret, "Luke is really disgraceful to do something like that. No matter how much he likes Annabeth, it doesn't mean he could just not contact Rachel. This isn't something that only I know, right?"

That being said, she immediately stood up and went out of the office.

Percy was already waiting for Annabeth at the entrance of the exhibit for exactly five minutes when she finally arrived. His face broke into a smile.

"Looks like you came early" Annabeth told him.

Percy smiled, "No, I just came as well"

"Let's go!" Annabeth smiled and walked in front of him.

Percy followed but then something funny caught his eye. He resisted the urge to laugh out loud.

"Did you run errands for your dad?" Percy asked Annabeth innocently, still resisting the urge to laugh.

"Yeah"

"What did you do?" Percy asked pretending to be curious.

"Huh?" Annabeth bit her lip. "Um, well, he asked me to get a music sheet. My dad's very busy"

Percy nodded while struggling to keep a straight face. "I see. But . . . this is the first time seeing that dress. Did you just buy it?"

Annabeth laughed, "What do you mean? I wear this very often"

"Then . . . you must have always worn the price tag too" Percy burst out laughing and wrapped his arms around her waist. "That must be the new trend, huh?"

Annabeth made a face and wriggled out of her boyfriend's grasp. She covered her red face and quickly entered the exhibit.

"Hey, you'll need a ticket" Percy called after her, still laughing.

"He'll give you the tickets" she muttered to the guards and quickly entered.

"Rachel didn't receive any texts," the university president told Luke. "Mrs. Dare said, Rachel didn't even receive the news that the sponsors were coming."

Luke laughed humorlessly, "That's not true! Will called her so many times!"

He pounded his fist on the table and stood up.

"I haven't finished talking. Where are you going?" the president asked.

"I'll go to Rachel and resolve all this"

"She's sick and she didn't come to school."

Luke sighed and sat back down dejectedly, "Do you really think I intentionally didn't contact her?"

"Is what I believe important to you? There are rumors about Annabeth flying around"

"What?!"

This time, Luke got out of the office, leaving a frustrated president, and went out to make a call.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered.

"Rachel?" he asked.

"This is her mother"

"Hi. I'm Luke Castellan, the director for the centennial performance."

"Rachel just had some medicine. She's sleeping right now."

"There seems to be some misunderstandings-"Luke started to say but Mrs. Dare cut in.

"We can talk about that later" She told him coldly before hanging up.

Luke grumbled, "She should at least have said something reasonable. Ugh. I don't know how many witnesses there are."

Thinking that, he immediately went to Will, the primary witness to it all.

"This is ridiculous. We worked so hard to find her" he told him. He fished out his cell phone and checked the recent calls. "Look at this, all the calls are recorded here. I can go to Rachel's house and clear this all up."

"Not today." Luke told him. "It seems like she got scolded by her mother. I think she made up excuses because she's afraid. Did Annabeth come?"

"I don't know." Will answered. "I'll call her and see"

"Forget it. I don't want to frighten her with such a small matter like this. Let's wait then we'll talk about it in the practice room. I'll go ahead."

"Wait, Luke, I remember. After Rachel practiced with me, she went somewhere with Nico di Angelo. We should ask him what happened. If they were together at that time, he should know if we called or not."

"Rachel, until we finish this, don't go to school and just stay at home" Mrs. Dare told her daughter, who was sitting dejectedly by the piano.

"For how long?" she asked her mother.

"Not long. What's so good about dragging it out? Do you understand what I've said?"

Rachel nodded.

"Good." Her mother turned away but stopped when she thought of something. "Don't just do nothing at home. Do some stretching exercises."

Rachel sighed. Her mother was always hard on her. Always encouraging her on diets and exercises and practices. All of these cost her her life. She has no friends at school because she hasn't got time for them. Everyone thought she's a snob and a freak. All for her dreams. Why does it have to be so hard? The only person who really saw her is Nico. Speaking of Nico, she has something important to tell him.

She got her phone and called him.

"Hello"

"Nico?"

"Rach, is everything all right?"

"My mom scolded me because I was with you. I can't go to school"

"What can we do?"

"I told my mom I wasn't with you. So, you didn't even see me that day. Do you understand? The matter about switching my phone off and about everyone trying to call me, you don't know anything about it. If anyone asks you, just say you don't know"

There was a long silence before Nico finally said okay.

"Good. It's the only way I can go back to school. Just do what I've told you too"

"All right"

"Hungry? You want to eat?" Percy asked Annabeth the moment they went out of the exhibit.

"Sure" Annabeth smiled and held her boyfriend's hand as they went to a nearby restaurant to eat. When their orders came, Percy prepared her cutleries for her.

"My mom used to do that whenever we'll eat out." Annabeth smiled at the fond memory.

Percy smiled, "Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Why do you and your mom live separately?" Percy asked uncertainly.

Annabeth smiled at Percy's uncertainty but she answered anyway, "I don't know if you could tell, but the relationship between my parents is bad. When they lived together, they fought too much. It was exhausting."

Percy nodded and reached for Annabeth's hand to comfort her and to convey her message that he's always there. Then he felt himself opening up to her. Something he never did before.

"Nicole and I have different fathers," Percy uttered quietly, head bent down and not exactly looking at her.

Annabeth squeezed his hand, "I know."

"She was really shocked when she learned about you and me," Percy finally smiled. "She complains a lot about not being able to sell my signatures anymore. I got cheated out of 20 dollars"

"What? I also gave her 20 this morning!" Annabeth grumbled. "She's a difficult enemy. She tricked both of us"

"Ah, Nicole" was all that Percy can say.

Annabeth chuckled, "What is this, Percy? I thought you were so strong, but now I see that you're really weak."

Percy pouted, "Just eat"

Katie, Juniper and Piper were all practicing the final song that Percy arranged for the performance when Luke entered their practice room and the music came to a halt.

"Hello," they all greeted Luke.

"You guys came early," Luke commented. "Where's Annabeth?"

"She doesn't have morning classes so she hasn't come in yet," Piper answered. "Why?"

Luke nodded distractedly, "No, it's nothing. Just continue practicing."

What Luke is unaware of, Annabeth and Percy just came in school. They were heading to where Annabeth's first class would be. Percy decided to walk Annabeth to class because he's sure that people would start bugging her if he didn't and he doesn't want that happening.

As expected, people started whispering and looking at the both of them. But none did anything, scared that Percy would tell them off.

"I said don't worry about it" he told Annabeth reassuringly.

"I'm working on it," she replied. "I have to adapt to date the popular Percy Jackson."

Percy smiled, "Good."

"Here I am" Annabeth said when they reached her classroom.

"I'll see you at the practice room later. Go ahead"

"It's not like there's any danger here," Annabeth laughed.

"Okay then," Percy smiled smugly. "I'll go ahead"

Percy hadn't gone that far when people started to make a commotion and Annabeth started to feel nervous about it. But she readied herself for an evident standoff.

"Oh," she muttered.

Percy chuckled and stopped in his tracks, "Go on. I'll wait."

Annabeth smiled and nodded. She walked the short distance to her classroom and entered all the while Percy waiting for her to enter safely before going to his band's practice room.

In the practice room, however, Nico was being interrogated by Will Solace.

"Nico, you were with Rachel yesterday, right?" Will asked suspiciously.

"N-no I wasn't" Nico stammered. "I wasn't with Rachel."

"I saw you two leave together,"

"No." Nico shook his head. "I asked her to eat together, but she just left. We accidentally met after that and decided that we should go to practice together."

"Is that so?" Will asked one more time.

Nico nodded. He was starting to sweat when thankfully, Percy entered, acting nonchalant to why Will was there. He was always acing indifferent when Annabeth wasn't involved.

"Did you come with Annabeth?"Will's attention was diverted to Percy and Nico was able to breathe freely.

"Yes, and?"

"Is everything okay?" Will asked.

"About what?"

"Because Annabeth replaced Rachel in the performance yesterday, some people misunderstood and trouble is brewing." Will shook his head as if in defeat. "Some people . . . they can't stand seeing good things happen to others. You should take good care of her."

Annabeth's class has just finished and she was on her way to the practice room when Clarisse and her friends stopped her.

"You bitch," Clarisse said.

"What do you want, Clarisse?" Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"They say that the dog's a saint when there are no mice about. It seems like I have to think twice about you again."

Annabeth made a disgusted face, "It's not a dog, it's a cat, idiot. I don't know what your problem is again but I don't have time for you right now, so if you'll excuse me."

"Whether it's cats or dogs is not important," Clarisse stood in her path. "She really is something," she muttered to her friends.

"Seducing Percy isn't enough, now you're even trying to seduce Luke." Clarisse accused.

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you asking because you don't know or you're really thick skinned?" Clarisse laughed with her gang and went away, leaving Annabeth to think about what they told her.

"Annabeth!" Piper's voice broke her out of her reverie. "Did Clarisse say something about you?"

Annabeth frowned, "Maybe it's because of my relationship with Percy that she's helping Rachel make things more difficult for me."

Piper bit her lip, "It's not about Percy."

Annabeth frowned and looked at her inquisitively.

"So you still don't know . . ." Piper bit the insides of her cheek. "They're saying that Luke left out Rachel for you. Because of that, Rachel didn't come to school today. Either way, everyone is talking about you."

Annabeth couldn't think of anything to say.

Piper held her friend's hand and said, "Don't go to practice today. If Rachel isn't there, you'll be the lead actress at practice. It will cause even more of an uproar. I'll stay with you."

"Why do I have to do that? Is that what you think of me, too?"

"Of course not!"

"It isn't true. So why do I have to hide? I'm confident with who I am. I have no reason to hide. I'm going." Annabeth told her friend firmly. "If I don't go, Luke will also feel uncomfortable."

She gave Piper a reassuring smile and hooked her arm with hers as she dragged her along to the practice room.

Meanwhile in the practice room, Percy was already waiting, along with the other students involved in the performance. All the talking about Annabeth is making Percy want to throw every curse words he knew at them.

"Will Annabeth come?"

"If she still has dignity, she won't come"

Percy also wished that Annabeth won't come. He doesn't want her hurt. He wants her safe and away from all these cruel people. But of course, knowing Annabeth, she will come and as if on cue, the door opened and she appeared with Piper.

Another commotion started.

"She really has no shame"

"You came"

Will Solace, who was lead actor, tapped the empty seat beside him to motion for Annabeth to sit down. Percy can't do anything about it since he's in the music team and Annabeth's in the acting team,

"Have you eaten?" Will asked.

Annabeth smiled and nodded.

"Looks like the two leads are pretty friendly with each other" some student commented. "So this is how it turns out"

Percy silenced him with a look.

Fortunately, Luke entered and said, "Listen, now the performance is right in front of our eyes."

He scanned the crowd, "But I don't see Rachel. The understudy is prepared, right?"

"Yes" Annabeth answered.

Clarisse laughed loudly, "Looks like Annabeth Chase will have to be in the performance"

Percy gritted his teeth. He's seconds away from giving Clarisse what she's asking for.

"Why can't she?" Luke shot. "That's why we have her as an understudy. Annabeth, come up to the front. Start from the 1st act."

After practice, when all of them were going out of the room, Clarisse shouldered Annabeth as she passed by her.

Annabeth closed her eyes and counted to three to steady herself.

"Don't just take it. Fight back" Luke's voice came in.

"I'm not in the mood to joke around," she sighed.

"You've heard, right?" Luke pursed his lips.

"It's not the truth, though" Annabeth said. "When Rachel comes back, I guess everything will be cleared."

"Originally . . . before the performance-" Luke was about to say when Percy showed up and grabbed Annabeth's hand.

"Let's go," he simply said and took a shocked Annabeth with him.

"Hey," was all that Annabeth said.

"I'm still talking!" Luke called after them.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth finally said when they reached Half Blood Hill. "Let go of my hand and talk"

"Can you not participate in the performance this time?" Percy asked her.

"Why?"

"It's Rachel who's going on stage anyway. Do you really have to go through all this? Just give it up."

"I don't want to" Annabeth said defiantly.

"Listen to me" Percy said, frustration seeping in his voice. "I don't want you getting insulted for something insignificant."

"Insignificant?" Annabeth countered. "I told you before. It's fun and I like it."

"Then you can join again next time. Don't you know why I'm saying this?"

"I know" Annabeth sighed. "But if I don't participate now, how would make Luke look? If I quit now, people will laugh."

"Why do you have to worry about Luke?" Vocal intensity was now evident in his voice. "Just say that I'm not letting you perform."

Annabeth frowned, "Why do things always need to revolve around you? Whether I participate or not, I'll make the decision."

Annabeth waited for Percy's answer and when none came, she huffed away.

"Annabeth!" Percy called after but she didn't look back.