Published 15th November

Annabeth POV

A loud scream echoed across the camp, followed by shouts of "GET SOME WATER!" and "WHERE'S PERCY?!". Annabeth sighed. If another girl has pretended to drown to get Percy to notice her, so help me I will- Her thoughts were cut off by a very male voice shouting, "HELP HIM! QUICKLY!" Realising this wasn't a ruse, Annabeth ran down the hill from where she had been reading against Thalia's pine, only slightly annoyed that she had been interrupted.

Sprinting down into the camp, she spotted the source of the chaos at the firepit and made her way over. Getting closer, she stopped and observed the situation...

...before doubling over in laughter.

There, at the firepit was a freaked out Tom and Leo, rolling on the floor. Leo, of course, had set himself on fire, and very badly pretending to be burning, which Tom surprisingly bought. Tom turned and looked at Annabeth with panicked eyes.

"Why are you just standing there?! Annabeth, do something! Get Percy, or- or- I don't know!" Tom was really freaking out now, so Annabeth called out to Leo.

"C'mon Leo, give it up." She said with a sigh. The boy abruptly stopped his 'writhing in pain' act and grinned over his shoudler, getting to his feet.

"Awww. Annabeth don't be such a party pooper. It was funny, you have to admit."

Annabeth rolled her eyes but gave a small chuckle. Tom was looking at both of them with an increndulous expression.

"Ok, what the hell is going on here?!"

"It's Hades, not hell, and I used my magical awsomeness-" Leo started.

Annabeth cut him off, knowing Leo was being dumb. "-and what he means is that Leo here is a child of Hephaestus. God of-"

"Fire, forges, blacksmiths, hottest people alive (like me), all that jazz."

"Yes, as Leo stated, forges, blacksmiths and fire. Leo is, dare I inflate his seemingly large ego, a very special son of Hephaestus, as he can... well he'll show you."

Annabeth gestured for him to demonstrate. Tom seemed extremely confused but watched as Leo called a flame to his hand. The scrawny boy let it run along his arm, travelling over his shoulders and landing in the other hand. Tom's eyes were wide as saucers, his mouth hanging open.

Leo grinned. "Better close your mouth, buddy. Don't wanna catch flies."

Annabeth slapped Leo on the arm, muttering 'idiot' under her breath.

*present day :)*

Annabeth smiled softly at the memory. Despite Tom's anger afterwards, it was a funny prank. Annabeth went over the events of that summer: romantic walks with Percy along the beach, laughing with Leo and Piper, who'd shown up for one day on her way through to a family holiday (her dad had been trying to bond with her. Annabeth wasn't sure if it was working or not). It was so good to be back home, though she was excited for a new school year.

Stepping back inside the school gates, Annabeth felt an unexpected wave of nostalgia. Of course, this place would never come close to comparing with CHB, but there was something about it that made Annabeth feel... normal. Don't get me wrong, she loved being a half-blood, but being constantly aware of danger at any moment got a little tiring.

She held a wide grin on her face and scanned the crowd for the gang (well, mostly Percy). Eventually her eyes stopped on Tom, who was standing with Hayden and Jasmine, talking in hushed voices. Annabeth made her way over, but crept silently to listen in to their conversation.

"-ou should do it. What's the worst that could happen?" said Hayden with a shrug. Jasmine shook her head.

"Hayden, she has a boyfriend. A boyfriend who has been with her for, like, at least a year. This is a terrible idea!"

Tom flicked his eyes between the two of them, a thoughtful look on his face. He was holding something behind his back.

Hayden patted him on the back. "Look, worst case scenario is she says no. Big deal."

"No, worst case scenario is that she slaps him and destroys their entire friendship! Besides, there is no scenario when she would ever say yes!" Jasmine indignantly hissed in a low voice. Tom took a deep breath, then firmly said,

"I'm gonna do it." He squared his shoulders and brought out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Ahhh. Annabeth thought. That's what he was holding. Annabeth did the maths. A teenage boy holding flowers and looking nervous - definitely asking someone out. Maybe it was Olive? No, she didn't think Tom liked them. That pretty girl from her maths class? Aleyna? (random person idk) Jasmine had said 'she', so it was obviously a girl, or someone who used she/her pronouns. Annabeth couldn't figure out who it would be. Wait and see, I guess.

Annabeth decided to approach the group. She smiled. "Hey guys! How was your summer?"

Tom paled visibly, and Hayden and Jasmine gave a little wave before backing away, the latter giving both Tom and Annabeth a sympathetic look. Annabeth wore a puzzled expression, trying to put the pieces together.

Could it be- No. Right? No. She thought, and opened her mouth to speak, but Tom beat her to it.

He held out the bouquet to her with a tight, nervous smile.

"Uh- um- Hi Annabeth. I was..." He swallowed. "I was wondering if you wanted to, uh, go out with me sometime?"


WE'RE BACK EVERYONE

PART 2 IS HERE
THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING UP ON THE STORY I LOVE YOU ALL OMG
AND SORRY IT'S BEEN SO FRICKIN LONG

ILY!

ENJOY KIDS

also from now on im giving you guys a poem every update so here's todays:

You are who you are,

and that's enough

if other people don't like it

well, then tough

because that's on them you're you

you see,

be whoever you want to be.

Written crappily by me :) also happy transgender awareness week! 3