I hope you guys enjoy this! As I said in the last chapter, a pretty important plot point is coming up in this chapter and the next!

Disclaimer: Look, I haven't researched enough about the greek myths to write three entire book series about them, Percy Jackson (and several other books) are to my knowledge… so, take that as a clue.

Percy didn't realize how hard it was to teach lessons to kids he didn't know as well. They flailed about, and Percy had no clue how to calm him. His fault for having courtesy and being cool with taking over lessons. Good job me, Percy frowned, trying to shut them up.

They were in the shallow end, and thank goodness they could touch the bottom of the pool with their small feet, because if not, Percy would be screwed, having to save kid after kid.

He stood outside of the pool, instructing the kids how to freestyle, and how to stay safe while swimming in general. He liked teaching, bringing a smile to parents and kids' faces when they finally learned they could swim, or that their kid was swimming. It was wholesome.

He scanned the area, looking to see a group of people his age, he didn't get a good glance at them, as he was focused on the kids. They were probably going to one of the workout rooms. Most adults either swam laps, or lifted weights and did exercise.

He continued with the lesson, talking to each kid, trying to figure out what they were having trouble with. Most of them seemed to know the basics, but there was this one kid, Percy was pretty sure his name was Harely, that just could not swim.

But the kid was bright, Percy could see it in his eyes. It was quite obvious how he wanted to learn, but he just couldn't. Percy was lucky he hadn't drowned. Percy didn't have the heart to tell him he couldn't swim though, that this class was too advanced, because he wasn't a jerk. Plus, maybe with the actual instructor he could swim.

He walked the kids through their lesson, and decided to end with a relay race, just as he had with his normal classes. Lifting his hands up in the air to grab his whistle, he put it to his mouth.

Before he could blow in it, a loud splash at the other side of the pool made his head turn. It was the deep end- about twelve feet, and if you couldn't swim, you were doomed. He looked over, to see Annabeth, desperately trying to grasp the side of the pool.

Shit, her hand was falling from it, and she was sinking. The one thing about Annabeth was that she couldn't swim very well. Whenever they went in the water together, usually to make out (Percy wasn't going to deny it), he'd always hold her up, being the gentleman he was.

This was bad, very, very bad. "Get out of the pool real quick guys," He said quickly, "This'll be a second." He took off his lifeguard t-shirt, and jumped into the water, swimming as fast as he could (and he had the county record for free-style).

As he swam, the water droplets splashed around him. The shock of getting into the cold water wasn't great, but Percy was used to it by now. He swam as fast as he could, and dived down to grab and sink Annabeth, who was trying to swim up, her eyes wide open and shot, and her mouth open.

That was even worse. He grabbed her, and dragged her to the surface as fast as he could. Percy was pretty strong (scratch that, very), from the days in the gym, so he was able to carry her without much complaint from his muscles.

His mind went blank as he stared down and touched her cold face. Her eyes were not closed, but thank god her heart was pumping. It was weird to think this, but how did she still look amazing?

When he looked up at her friends, all concerned, he snapped out of it. Protocol, protocol, his mind begged, scanning through the various choices he could make to help her. That is, until a memory of an article he'd read came up, "for instance in near-drowning and opiate overdoses," it read.

It was now or never right?

He gently tilted her head back, using one hand to hold her chin up and open her mouth a bit wider. Placing his other hand on her forehead, he pinched her nose with a pointer finger and thumb. God, what the hell am I doing, almost romanticizing trauma. What the hell was this? This didn't mean anything- it was stupid of him to even think that.

He continued, covering her mouth with his, and blowing into it for a second. Her chest rose up, and then back down. Percy blew again, and then once more, until her eyes opened quickly, startled, alert. He pulled away, and she looked at him, "Holy shit," She said, shaking her head, in shock. "I love-" She stopped herself, and then shook her head.

What the hell? What was she saying, that she loved him? Holy shit, that changed a lot. Still, he had nothing to confirm but his own heart to confirm what she was actually going to say, so it was best he let it go for now (or not, because that was probably what he was going to do).

She stopped herself, and then got up. "Thanks for that," she breathed, and then swayed from side to side. Percy looked at her concerned, "It's fine," Annabeth waved her hands in the air, "Clumsy me, look away guys. I'm good. We're all good." She swayed even more.

"Do you want me to-" Percy cut in, before he was interrupting.

Annabeth looked at him, "I'm good." That cold, harsh tone was back, the one that made Percy back away and stop. She'd had the tone the other night, when she'd gotten mad at him. Probably because he'd baited her, said something stupid, hopefully looking for a positive response. Which he hadn't gotten, but that wasn't the point.

"Sorry." Percy muttered, and Annabeth looked to Piper. He took this chance to look at the group, and saw all of his friends from high school- from their clique, their group. When Percy had broken up with Annabeth, they'd sort of fell apart. At least, in Percy's point of view. He hadn't hung out with them in a while.

But it seemed Annabeth was getting herself acquainted.

He forced himself not to get jealous, and looked away. "Okay well, bye." He waved his hand awkward, and walked over to the kids he was teaching. Each child, out of the water per his instructions, looked him up and down, confused.

Harley was the first one to speak. "Why'd you kiss that girl?" He snorted, and giggled, "Is she your girlfriend?" He dragged the word out, and to be honest, who was he? Getting half hurt by an eight year old. Pathetic, that was it. Absolutely pathetic.

"No, I was just helping her." Percy said, "She was drowning, if you want to become a lifeguard or swimming teacher like me when you're older, you'll have to learn how to do it." Percy wanted to laugh. Who wanted to be stuck like him when they were older. No one, that was the answer.

"Ew." Harley wrinkled his nose, "That's gross, girls have cooties." He continued, and then was promptly slapped Billie, a girl in the class.

"Girls don't have cooties," She said, and then turned away, and looked at Percy innocently, her eyes wide. "That's boys, except you." She said, "You're cool."

Percy held out his hand for a fist bump, and Billie softly bumped her fist against his. He felt himself still shaking from what had happened, but forced himself to put on an earnest face for the kids. The lesson was almost over anyway, he could handle this.

He shook his head, looking at the exit Annabeth had left in, remembering how she had bolted away as fast as she could. He had to talk to her now, seriously. Just get this entire thing sorted out, so he could have the record straight.

I know I'm cliche. I know I'm cliche. I know I'm cliche. I was actually really nervous about posting this chapter, because I thought it might ruin the story... some might say it's out of the blue (pun intended), but I'm just going to say that I've been setting this one plot point up for so long, and this was finally the chapter I could add it in… so yay!

(but truly, I'm sorry I've fallen for the cliches and I hope I haven't ruined the story…)

On another note, thanks so much for all the support! I really appreciate it!

TheLil'Lion