As we relaxed by the pool with me on Percy's lap, him kissing along my neck, and his arms around me, it was peaceful. Well, not really. You could hear shouting from inside which indicated yet another argument from the Grace siblings and both of us were getting pretty tired of it. Ever since they moved in last week, all they did was fight. Fight over the little things and I have never seen either of them so annoyed by the other. "Are you seriously just saying that?" Jason screamed at her sister.

"Well, what else do you think I said?"

"You can say anything you want about me, Thalia, but you don't have to bring up my girlfriend. It's not her fault!"

Thalia looked like she's about to explode. "Well, whose is it? It can't be me since I don't want anything to do with her."

"Why don't you just blame me? I'm the one who told her."

This was the same argument as yesterday. They were trying to see who brought them to this situation in the first place. Whatever this is about, I don't want any part of it because I made that mistake before and I'm not doing that again.

Bella came running towards us, tears in her eyes and her hands on her ears. She's been bothered by the noise ever since the first day and I guess she just couldn't keep it to herself that she had the decency to run to her brother for help. She sat on my lap and I kissed the top of her head just for her to stop crying. "What is it, Bells?" Percy asked, his hands holding the little girl's.

But he's smart enough to know the reason why.

He's been tolerating Thalia and Jason ever since they first met but seeing his sister cry over it for the first time just crossed the invisible line he somehow drew. "Guys!" he screamed, deafening me. Thankfully, he realized that I was also affected and gave me an apologetic grin. "If you're going to fight, please don't do it in front of Bella."

Really? Is that the best he can do? Then again, they weren't in the mood to start fighting with someone as temperamental as my Percy. He can beat them just as easily as him beating me in a swimming competition when he wants to but when he doesn't, he would start whining like a little girl. It was annoying when that happens but what can you do to stop something that is officially part of someone from happening?

Silence.

Bella stopped crying and was now playing with a dandelion she found somewhere. We were glad to feel the peace and quiet once again but I still felt like there was something missing, something out of balance. Well, that was when I realized that the siblings weren't around anymore, probably to continue their argument elsewhere.

"You were saying" I mused, tracing patterns on his palm as he muttered sweet nothings to my ears.

I could almost feel him smile at me. "Well, before we were rudely interrupted, I was about to compliment you on how beautiful you are" he whispered, his tone barely even audible.

But I heard and my heart clenched at his sincerity. "Well, I was about to tell you to start reading in advance and maybe we have a quiz on Monday" I teased lightly, giggling at how he looked at me.

"Yeah, whatever Annabeth"

We told Bella to go inside because we both had this sudden urge to kiss the other. When his little sister was nowhere in sight, his lips were instantly on mine, moving in a way I have only experienced before. Yes, he kissed me like this before and that was before we did the act. In any other occasion, I would have willingly done it with him but I just wasn't in the mood for it. Thankfully, he was Percy Jackson so he understood me.

"I love you" he mumbled through my lips.

I smiled and circled my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. "I love you" I echoed with the same amount of sincerity and maybe even more, if that was possible.

Everything was perfect. There was no one to disturb us, no one to stop us but ourselves. The only reason as to why we had to pull away was because of the fact that we needed to breathe. It was actually cursing my lungs for not being able to hold it just a little longer. "Hey, Wise Girl" Percy said as he stroked my hair.

"Hmm" I hummed in response, my lips tracing his jaw

"Can you do something for me?"

Being the blinded person that I am, I found that there was nothing wrong with the request. Plus, he's Seaweed Brain. He only makes me do things he knows benefits me. "What is it, Perce?" I asked, looking at me in the eye.

He looked embarrassed, as if what he's going to ask me took him a really long time to consider. "Well, my homework had something to do with the person you care about the most. I asked my mom before and she told me that it would be best if it's all about you"

"And you only thought of this now?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I didn't think you want to do it" he smiled

I nodded. "I will"

My boyfriend looked at me gratefully and stood, telling me to wait before running to the house. What was he going to do? I don't remember any homework regarding that kind of topic. Thankfully, he was here about five minutes later and told me to stand by the tree. I was confused at first but I learned to trust Percy so I did so, keeping my feelings to myself.

I leaned on the trunk and he nodded in approval, pulling out his sketch pad that I never thought he would ever touch. "You're gonna draw me?" I said in disbelief, trying to hide the laughter in my voice. He can never draw. At all. He can barely even make a straight line, much less a person.

"It's something Ms. Johnson asked me to do just for me not to fail." He answered simply. "Now hold still"'

He was asking too much. Being ADHD, I can never hold still but I did my best just for him. And I know he understood as to why my fingers kept on playing with the hem of my shirt.

After about five minutes of barely moving at all, watching him concentrate, and having him look at every single part of me just to see if he did it right. He knew that I could judge him but he didn't know that in those moments that he was drawing, I was thinking of the many words that I was going to tell him.

But what I saw surprised me.

There I was and the way he drew me was perfect, beautiful. The way the shadows stressed only the most important features of my face, my eyes twinkling as if he really did want to make me like that. I would have mistaken it as a real artist's handiwork and until now, even when I know everything about him, he was still full of surprises. I was beautiful in his hands, almost ethereal.

"What do you think?" he whispered to my ear, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

It took me a while to process the question. What do I think of it? Would I lie just to let him do better or do I tell him that this was good enough? Of course it was good enough but we have a system regarding that specific question that we answer a "This is good but you can do better" or something like that.

But I found myself kissing him softly. "It's perfect" I muttered, "Just like you"

"Thank you" he pulled me close to himself and placed a soft kiss on the top of my head.

Regardless his nature, I still found a lingering question that was now flooding my brain. Since when did Percy start drawing that well? I've known him for so long and he has never shown such talent. Was he hiding it for me or did he just find out now? Who found out first? Was I finally rubbing off on him? Was he finally rubbing off on me? Did he love me enough to start discovering his talents just for me? Do I love him enough to do the same thing?

"I know what you're thinking" He placed me lightly on his lap and started playing with my hair, "Mom found out first, when I was five and she wanted me to start practicing since that age. For a while, I did but I eventually got tired of it and gave up at the age of ten. I wanted to tell you but I didn't think you needed to know until our art teacher forced me to do a portrait of you."

"You really do have a talent in the arts"

Percy laughed heartily, placing his chin on my shoulder. "I still can't dance though" he mumbled modestly.

"Sure you can!" I exclaimed playfully. "You just have to practice it! Plus, dancing and sword fighting aren't really that different. You were actually dancing really well when you had the chance" He blushed and I managed a smile. I liked seeing him blush. I've always found him so cute when he did so.

"I really can't"

"Percy, I can start singing right at this moment just to get you on your feet"

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow but shook his head. So I stood up and cleared my throat, stretching my hand out to him. "Take my hand… Take a breath… Pull me close…" I sang, in a voice I didn't own. I especially made it out of tune because I knew he was going to give in.

"Fine, fine, I'll do it" he mumbled curses under his breath. "But you lead"

I beamed triumphantly before wrapping both of my hands around his neck, him instinctively wrapping his around my waist. "Just sway" I replied in a tone much smoother than the one I used before.

So we did, swaying under the cloudy sky to absolutely no music. He would often whisper words to my ear and I would smile and kiss him, enjoying how everything just seemed so perfect. "See, I knew you can do it" He laughed again and pulled me closer to himself.

"But we're not really dancing now, are we?" It was my turn to giggle.

"I guess not but it's pretty close"

That lasted for a long while, having no one but the man I love beside me. We would have stayed like that forever if it wasn't for Thalia calling us for lunch. Percy didn't look too happy about it but once she tells us to do something, our only choice is to do it. I gave him another kiss before pulling him to the dining room, with him whining along the way.

"Where is it?" Mrs. Jackson asked.

Percy smiled and pulled out the paper from behind him, "Here"

Sally's eyes widened in surprise but nodded contentedly. It was like she knew what he can do but didn't expect that it would be that good. She decided that right after he gives the drawing to our teacher, she would frame it in the middle of the living room when he already colored it. He seems pretty happy with that idea and places the portrait in his bag, humming a song to himself before returning to my side.

Surprisingly, my boyfriend helped his mother in cleaning the dishes afterwards. I would never think of him as the kind of person who does his chores but maybe he wanted to surprise me even more. He finds it amusing to see me so amused. The main reason was because he rarely sees me in that state for I expect the unexpected. But this, this is too unexpected for me to expect.

That night, I got ready rather quickly. When the girls and I went shopping the other day, well, they found out that I needed a new nightgown just for my boyfriend to see and I was rather self conscious. I have never revealed so much skin to him before, not including the times that I really do have to show him how I look like with no clothes on, and I was rather afraid of how he would think of it. Percy's a gentleman that way, not wanting to touch me unless I wanted him to and even then I still have to beg for his warm hands over my skin.

I got out of the closet wearing a robe on top of the stupid excuse for an article of clothing. As much as I hate to admit it, it was pretty comfortable.

He was watching me intently in nothing more than a t-shirt and boxers, an eyebrow raised at my attire. "You trust me, right?" I asked softly, blushing. I would only do something as silly as this for him and I don't even know if he would enjoy this like other guys would. Plus, I would rather sleep beside him wearing his clothes than this.

"Of course" he replied sleepily, smiling at me.

My hands deftly untied the front of my robe, gulping visibly as it fell to the floor. At first, I couldn't really pinpoint the exact emotions that would cross his face but once it settled to what looked like surprise, I realized that I shouldn't have asked him if he trusted me but if I trusted him. Of course I did. But I just have to admit it to myself before I tell him. "What do you think?" I said with a small smile, bouncing on my heels.

"Well…" he stuttered, running his hand through his hair as if this embarrassed him more than it did to me. "You look stunning, as usual, but don't you think it's a little too... revealing?"

True to his words, my outfit was pretty slutty. The deep v-neck ended at a red ribbon just under my cleavage, showing all too much of what I was trying to hide for such a long time. Also, the length wasn't that decent. It probably reached mid-thigh if I was lucky and I was kinda glad that I decided to wear panties with this. "Silena asked me to buy it." I murmured, unable to look at him in the eye.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around me, placing a soft chaste kiss on my lips. "Don't worry about it." He whispered to my ear, "Come on. We should go to sleep. I'm pretty tired" I nodded in agreement and let him carry me to bed, placing me gently on the mattress as he climbed in beside me.

"Night, Seaweed Brain"

Percy smiled one last time, pressing his lips to the top of my head. "Night, Wise Girl" he said, "My Annabeth." I grinned at the last statement, unable to argue because I know that it was true in every way. Before, I hated it when someone possessed me, especially when that specific someone were my parents but now, now that I felt how it is to be loved by a man so much that it hurts, I'm making him the exception.

I followed the usual routine the next morning. Wake up before he does, get ready, force him out of bed, end up making-out, push him inside the bathroom with some teasing comment, greet Percy's parents good morning, greet Bella good morning, eat breakfast, go to school. This was the only thing that happened over and over again but I didn't argue. It became some kind of tradition for us, something that only we shared. And I learned to accept that as a part of who I am.

"What do you think happened to Lisa? Dad hasn't told us anything about her condition" Jason said with a sigh as we walked through the halls.

Thalia snorted, unable to keep it to herself. "Who care about Lisa? She's nothing to us, remember?"

Her brother looked sad, his gaze falling to the floor. "Well yeah but still, she's our mother. We have to at least care about her, even just a little"

"If that's what you believe in, fine. But I don't give a damn about her. Not anymore"

And at that note, she left the four of us standing in the middle of the hallway, frozen in shock.

It was during History class that it happened. They didn't mean to start chaos in the school grounds but you're not always sure with people like them. You see, I was taking down notes while Percy was playing with my hair, as always, when the fire alarm was activated. Most of the class started panicking but the only thing I could do was grab my boyfriend's hand and run to where we know it started. I know this was a plan from the Stolls just to get us out of class but it wasn't just that. You could already smell the smoke coming from the Chemistry lab and all ten of us were running towards the entrance.

"Travis! What the hell did you do?" Katie screamed at her boyfriend, coughing.

The said boy didn't answer. He looked horrified as he stared inside, where everyone was running to where we were, a mixture of students and teachers and staff. "It wasn't me! I swear! Connor and I, we were messing around when he accidentally knocked down the alcohol and it somehow caught fire. It was an accident!" he looked scared for the first time that I have ever seen him.

We all looked helplessly at his twin and even he shared the same expression. "Look, there's nothing much that we can do now" I gagged as I inhaled a dangerous amount of smoke.

That was when the man beside me froze as if something just hit him like a knife to the heart. "The kids"

"What?"

"Bella! She's in there! Remember, her class took a trip to our school. Mom mentioned it to me yesterday and I can't believe I forgot it. She's probably still in there!" he screamed at me.

My eyes widened in fear but before I could stop him, he was already running back to the fire. I have that feeling, that terrible feeling, that something bad will happen to him and there was nothing I or anyone else can do about it. But I learned to believe in him, know that he was brave enough and strong enough to get out of there alive with his little sister.

Meanwhile, I was searching, hoping to find a trace of the specific black haired girl that I so desperately needed to see. I looked and asked everyone around me. With the help of my friends, we spread out, making sure that we didn't miss a single corner unlooked and asked every single person that we could see. But they didn't know where she is. We talked to her teacher but even she looked worried.

There was dreadful silence for a minute. Everyone was waiting. Percy hasn't come back yet and I was praying that he was alright. I couldn't afford losing him. I would die without him. Sally and Poseidon were waiting right beside me, looking hopefully at the doors that maybe their son would crash through them holding their daughter.

But there was nothing.

I fell to the floor, my heart feeling as if it was willing to stop beating. My breathing turned erratic, every single nerve in my body felt as if they were going to die. We were all holding our breaths, Thalia hugging me as she muttered reassurances to my ear. To my left, the chemistry lab exploded, spewing debris everywhere. And there was this sickening cry from the inside, the sound that was all too familiar to me. She was alive but not for too long. There was still no sign of him, not even a single call that could make me hope for the best.

Nothing.

The teachers lowered their heads for the boy who was brave enough to save a little girl where his chances of surviving were very limited. Everyone was in the verge of tears, praying for one last miracle. Firemen were arriving in tens, already drenching the remains of our school. Me. I couldn't even describe what state I was in. I felt as if I was dead, not physically, but emotionally. Just last night we were so happy and now, he… he was gone. For good. I didn't know how I felt.

I would never accept the fact that he was dead. No. Percy and I have suffered through enough just to prove that he wouldn't leave so easily. If they found his body in there, still holding on to Bella, his heart pierced with glass, his skin burned to the bone while the little girl was left unharmed, I would never forgive myself. I love him and now that there was this possibility that he was gone for good, I don't know if I was still alive.

Many things happened at once. The doors burst open and a man with black hair and striking green eyes was running towards us, carrying the little girl with the same raven hair with eyes as blue as the ocean, filled with tears. I didn't care if many people were watching. He was here. Alive! Very much alive. "Percy?" I never thought my throat would ever feel this dry.

He looked at me and smiled, falling to his knees as he placed his little sister on the ground. I sobbed in relief and hugged him tightly, kissing him as if the world would end tomorrow. And he held me as I cried and cried and cried like a lost girl searching for a home. "Don't you ever do that to me again" I screamed at him.

And he laughed lightly, kissing the top of my head. "I love you" he told me

"I love you, too" I replied, "So much."

The medics tended to his wounds but I never dared let go of his hand. Bella was shaking beside him, as if traumatized, but she wasn't at all hurt. No scars. No burns. Not even a single scratch. She was just afraid but she was left untouched. Seaweed Brain, on the other hand, looked as if he took every single blow for his sister. His left arm was scorched but not serious enough for me to puke. There was a long cut on his leg, indicating that he must have fell and landed on something sharp enough to wound him through his jeans. Thank God that his face wasn't at all harmed. Well yeah it was covered in soot but a little cleaning up would be good for that.

"Percy" someone cooed from behind me. I winced at the voice, knowing all too well that it was the school slut. "You were so brave, saving Bella like that." She giggled and placed her dirty hands on my boyfriend's arm.

But he didn't seem affected. He just looked at her in that way that he did and muttered five simple words. "Rachel, thanks but no thanks" And with that, he shrugged her hand off and told her to go away.

That made me smile, placing a soft kiss on his cheek as I sat beside him. They left a bandage around his arm after they put the ointment and they also managed to disinfect that wound and some other cuts on his leg before leaving him. "You scared me to death" I whispered to him, my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry"

"You don't have to be. I'm glad you chose to go back in for Bella. I just didn't want you to leave me especially when all the other people I loved did."

My boyfriend placed a finger under my chin, making me look at him. "I will never, ever, leave you, Wise Girl. Remember that" He kissed me passionately, letting all his emotions show in that single action. And when he did, he cupped my cheeks, holding me close as if I was the only thing he has from falling to a hungry pit of tigers.

"I trust you, Seaweed Brain" I whispered when we pulled away, with him wiping the tears from my eyes.

Our principal, Mr. Gristle, said that as they were making the repairs in our school, we students a responsible for our own education. So, my friends and I (excluding Percy) agreed to give at least one hour of our free time for group studying. He expects everything to be back as it is by the end of the month and that is still three and a half weeks from now so we have plenty of time.

And maybe, just maybe, this was a learning experience for all of us.