ten·sion\ˈten(t)-shən\
noun
: a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax

There you go, guys. Right up there is the word "Tension" defined by our good friend Mr. Merriam-Webster, though he goes by The Dictionary a lot.

The point is, I found it humorlessly funny (if that makes sense) that one word was able to describe my whole life right at that moment.

Tension was what I felt when I tiptoed cautiously into the house the afternoon after that—I know you know what I mean—happened, hoping to avoid one person, but feeling oddly disappointed when my wishes were granted.

Tension was what I felt when I collapsed onto my bed, barely able to form a thought because it seemed as if what had just happened was taking my sanity bit by bit.

Tension was what I felt when I thought about that thing that just happened, the thing that made butterflies roar in my stomach. The thing that starts with a "K", if I wasn't clear enough.

Tension was what I felt when I laid in bed that night, my tummy grumbling because I refused to leave my room for food in fear that I might stumble upon the person who started this tension in the first place.

And tension was what I felt when I woke up the next morning after a rocky night of sleep, my mind peaceful until the "K" word flitted through my brain. It acted like a trigger, detonating a bomb in my head that sent my thoughts reeling and the room spinning.

It took a lot of willpower to overcome said tension and throw the covers off of me, getting up to face the world. Or more like Percy, who seemed to make me more nervous than the world right now.

I checked my phone real quick, my veins seeming to turn to ice as I saw nothing. No word yet about what the consequences were after all that happened in town. I prayed my mom or Piper would text soon to relieve just a bit of my nerves, but I was scared to see what the text would say.

I was also so confused. I wanted to stay here in Colorado so badly and be with Percy and his friends and family, but I didn't know if I just made everything here awkward. So did I want to stay and try to brave my way through this tense layer, or should I just accept the fact that I probably don't belong here and I messed everything up and I should just go back to California?

I didn't know where my thoughts were. They were too jumble and panicked.

Throwing on a pair of jeans but leaving my t-shirt, I stepped out into the hallway. My feet descended the stairs with trepidation, then entered the kitchen with even more worry.

Poseidon stood in the corner, talking to Sally. I didn't know when she had come, but I was glad to see her. Maybe I could go somewhere with her and avoid seeing Percy.

Speaking of which, Percy sat cross-legged on the ground, playing with Mrs. O'Leary. A lopsided grin adorned his face as he tugged on the small rope, the other end of the toy held in the puppy's mouth.

He looked so painstakingly adorable in his pajamas and his hair sticking every which way, that smile doing weird things to my stomach.

But that smile dropped as he caught sight of me entering the kitchen.

Once again, the dread and tension returned, placing a burden on my shoulders.

He gave me a tight nod, and I returned it, my heart clenching. Normally we'd smile or offer a joke. I'd gotten used to coming down everyday to a cheery "Good morning, Wise Girl!"

Guess I was the cause of this blanket of awkwardness covering us both.

"Hello, Annabeth!" Sally chirped as I neared her. She reached out and gave me a quick hug. "I heard what happened. I hoped everything is okay."

For one, heart-stopping moment, I thought she was talking about the kiss. My muscles relaxed, however, when I realized that wasn't the case. "Thank you. I hope so too. It's surprising it's taking this long, though."

"That's what I was thinking," Poseidon chimed in. "I thought there'd either be magazines with your face plastered over the front or your mom would have contacted you by now."

"Well, let's just not think of it," Sally said. "Let's eat some pancakes, hm?" She smiled brightly, ushering me to a seat at the counter. "Percy, come on, we're eating."

I didn't look back as Percy silently got up, ignoring the puppy nipping at his heels and walked over to the counter. He slid into the only vacant seat—the one next to mine, so close that our knees were almost touching.

I was used to the butterflies that would go crazy every time Percy touched me, but this time I also got an unbearable amount of crushing guilt for what I'd possibly messed up, a shaky feeling as I thought of what had happened the last time we were this close, and—of course—the word of the day: tension.

Almost imperceptibly we both leaned opposite ways, avoiding each other's eyes.

Gods, this was so horrible. I just wanted to run up to my room and cry like a baby. I hated being uncomfortable with Percy. I just wanted to be best friends who would joke around and tease each other constantly.

"So, Percy, anything on the agenda for today?" Poseidon asked his son, cutting the blue pancake on his plate.

Percy shrugged. "Not really," he mumbled.

"What'd you guys do yesterday? Any chores or lessons?"

Percy and I froze. I knew each of our minds were racing back to what had happened yesterday, but I didn't know what Percy was thinking about. My knee was bouncing, and I tried to stop it with a shaking hand.

"Nothing interesting," Percy concluded firmly.

Then I did look over at him, incredulity widening my eyes. Was he serious? Was that unexpected kiss really "nothing interesting" to him?

I realized I was staring weirdly, and the two adults were watching me with raised eyebrows. Swallowing harshly, I turned back to my food, releasing some of the pent up emotions in me by stabbing at my pancake.

Percy hadn't looked at me, but he proceeded to stuff his face with pancakes.

"Well," Poseidon said slowly. "Are you guys planning on having a lesson today?"

"No."

Both Percy and I had said that quickly at the same time, my heart pounding. Just thinking of spending a lot of time alone with Percy outside . . . no, that probably wouldn't end well.

Sally and Poseidon exchanged confused glances, then gazed at us.

"Everything okay?" Sally ventured warily.

"Yeah, fine," replied Percy gruffly. I nodded in halfhearted agreement, not meeting their eyes.

Percy shifted in his seat, making our elbows touch. We both jumped back at the small contact that sent lightning bolts through my body. It was like every tiny touch from Percy sent my head into overdrive—all thanks to that stupid, amazing kiss.

I took a deep breath, avoiding his eyes again as I reached for a mug to pour coffee into. My palm wrapped around the warm cup, accepting the slight burn that came with it. I didn't care, for it took my mind off of other things. Like a certain thing sitting right next to me.

"Um, I gotta go," Percy stuttered, getting up from his chair. "I've some chores." His mumbled words were barely decipherable before he practically bolted away to his room to change.

I couldn't help the little twinge that pulled at my heart. Was he really that anxious to get away from me? All these questions invading my brain were not making things better for me.

"Annabeth?" Sally's voice entered my ears, and I quickly wiped away the hurt look on my face, replacing it with a questioning one.

"Yes?"

Sally opened her mouth to say something, but a sharp ringing interrupted her. Three pairs of eyes shot to the phone sitting on the counter. The persistent sound urged my hand to reach over and answer my phone.

"Hello?" I asked timidly.

I heard a deep sigh before words were spoken. The voice was recognizable immediately.

"You better be thankful for your older brother, young lady."

A deep thumping noise was cutting across my focus, so I turned away from Poseidon and Sally and whatever that noise was.

Then I realized that the sound was my heartbeat. "What do you mean, mom?"

Another exhale. "By the time Piper got back here, we were in quite a mess. Every magazine across the world was ready to publish that one picture of you the paparazzi got, and therefore revealing your identity and location. We got a few to be convinced that it wasn't you, only a now-traumatized look-alike. Unfortunately, by a few, I do only mean about three—and you know how many magazines there are. With one click from them all, you'd have to come back to California to just wait for tryouts, the little town of West Burge would be ruined, you'd never get to see your new friends again, and the rumors would be plentiful. It wouldn't be pretty, Annabeth."

My mom's voice was stern but exhausted. I felt bad for her. I mean, she had to clean up all this mess for me.

"But," she continued, "your brother intervened. And let me say this again: you better be thankful for him."

"Why? What happened?"

After a pause, she said resignedly, "He paid off every single magazine publisher to throw away the stories and convince everybody it was a mistake."

My mouth dropped open. Out of my peripheral vision I spotted Sally and Poseidon looking at me with eagerly curious faces, but I just stood there in shock.

"He what?" I demanded. "That must've cost him . . . Oh, my gods."

"Yes. I tried to discourage him from it, saying we could try to find another way, but he was adamant about it. Might I say again, you are very lucky to have a brother like him."

I bit my bottom lip, a slight smile growing on my face. She was right. I was extremely lucky to have Malcolm.

"So you are free to stay until tryouts, which are schedule late August," my mother continued in a tight voice. "I expect no more trouble, Annabeth. I was lenient enough to keep you there like you requested, and even now, but don't make me regret it."

"I won't," I promised, fiddling with my curly hair. "I swear to the gods, I'll be careful. And mom?"

She hummed in response.

"Thank you. For helping me with this."

My mother was silent at my sincere words. It's not everyday that I tell her something with heartfelt gratitude.

"It's fine, Annabeth," she finally replied. Her voice had softened. "Now I have to go, a meeting awaits."

"M'kay. Bye."

"Goodbye."

The line went dead, but I stood still for a moment more, my brain practically falling apart with relief. It was all clear. I didn't have to go back.

But then that familiar tension returned as I thought of what happened yesterday.

The tension only intensified as Percy tromped down the stairs, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. How he managed to look like a model in such plain clothes beat me.

"Well?" Sally prompted. I broke my stare directed towards the black-haired boy, looking at the two expectant parents.

A grin spread across my face. "It's all clear. The magazines are ditching the one picture they got, and I can stay." They both let out cheers, surging forward to wrap me up in hugs. I laughed, hugging them back.

"Percy, she can stay!" Sally said upon noticing her son. She waited for him to whoop like they were doing and rush forward to give me a hug as well.

But Percy just smiled politely, though I could see the tightness in the crooked lines of his curved lips.

"That's great," he replied, dipping his head toward me.

Ouch.

For the second time I tried to hide my hurt face. He sounded so unenthusiastic. Did he really not want me to stay? Did he want me to go back to California and never come back? Did I really just mess everything up that badly with that one kiss? Gods, stop with the questions!

Sally frowned, exchanged a glance with an equally baffled Poseidon, then looked towards me and my schooled features.

"Well, uh," she said calmly. "Annabeth, could I use your help outside real quick? I need your advice on one of my gardens."

I nodded jerkily, not trusting my voice as I followed her to the door.

The sun was already hot, despite the earliness of the morning, and I slung my hair up into a ponytail to get it off of my neck. Mrs. O'Leary had followed us outside, and now she was running around, chasing bugs with a cheerful bark.

We trudged over to the gardens in silence, until Sally said, "Anything you want to talk about, sweetie?"

I swallowed, clenching and unclenching my fist as I answered in as steady as a voice possible, "No, I'm good."

She looked at me, unconvinced. "Are you sure?" I bobbed my head, keeping my eyes fixed on the dirt ground beneath my feet. Seeing I wasn't going to talk, Sally just switched her own gaze to the garden shed we were approaching, leaving me to walk in peace.

Well, as much peace as my mind could be in during the war raging on in my head.

"Annabeth, I think you should get a lesson today."

My head shot up at Poseidon's words, giving him a skeptical look. In the corner of my eye, I saw Percy do the same.

We were sitting at the lunch table and Sally was collecting some dirty dishes from the recent meal.

"Uh, what?" I asked, even though I heard him fine.

"You should get a lesson today," he repeated, inspecting his fingernails casually. "I know you said you weren't today, but we better put the time we have with you to good use and get you comfortable on a horse."

"I think she's doing well enough, dad," Percy stepped in, obviously trying to find a way out of this. I didn't blame him. Sitting next to him during lunch had been awkward and tense enough—but a whole couple hours out alone with him? No way.

Poseidon spared a quick glance up. "Is she? Can she canter confidently? Or gallop?"

I chewed my lip, twiddling my thumbs in my lap at his words. Actually, I couldn't do either of those. I had tried a few times, but ever since I had fallen off of Porkpie, my cautiousness had skyrocketed. Now I was sort of scared to try and speed up.

"Well . . ." Percy trailed off, still searching for an excuse, when Sally piped up.

"I think that's a good idea!" she chirped, a bright smile on her motherly face as she braced herself with a hand on her hip. "Go on out, Poseidon and I will finish the cleaning."

"I didn't say when," Poseidon grumbled, grudgingly grabbing his plate. "They could help clean." Sally rolled her eyes, giving Poseidon a little swat. He sent her a rueful smile as Percy and I glanced at each other. His bright green eyes bore into mine, my heart clenching until I felt it was rolling into a tight ball and bouncing around my ribcage.

I managed to squeak hurriedly, "We—we don't have to have a lesson. If you want."

Percy's jaw hardened as he looked away from me. "It's fine," he said. There was a harsh tone to his words, and I flinched. Gods, this boy was just out to make me feel worse about everything, wasn't he?

But Percy saw my reaction and his face softened. "Come on," he said in a kinder voice. "Let's go saddle up Porkpie." He got up from the table, and I stumbled to follow him. I waved to Sally and Poseidon before throwing my feet into my shoes and exiting the house into the beating hot sun.

We walked quietly up to the stables, me trying to resist the urge to look at Percy. Once inside, the horses nickered a greeting. Percy went to go get my tack while I headed over to Porkpie's stall. The blond horse tossed his head when I opened the gate, and I grabbed the halter off the hook on the wall to latch it around his head. A smile graced my lips as I pet his head affectionately before leading him out the door.

Percy was already waiting for me. He threw the saddle on, then reached down to grab the girth strap. I stood beside Percy, watching the muscles in his arm shift as he pulled it taut around the horse's belly, then secured it and handed me the reins slung around his shoulder. I slipped the bit into Porkpie's mouth gently. Right as I finished, I felt a pressure on my head.

I whipped around to see Percy's hand retracting from my head. He had placed the cowboy hat he had given me all that time ago onto my blonde curls. I nodded my thanks, and he dipped his head in response.

Turning away, I grabbed the lead rope and walked out of the barn towards the oval arena, Percy trailing behind me.

"What are we going to work on today?" I asked, opening the gate and leading the horse inside.

"Getting you more comfortable at a normal trot."

I put my foot into the stirrup, then grabbed the pommel as I hauled myself onto the back of Porkpie, suddenly feeling a lot taller.

Percy ran a hand through his black locks, making them stick up before he told me to walk a lap around the outskirts of the arena.

Bringing Porkpie into a tight circle, we set off at an even pace. I had been working on riding with one hand, so I gripped the reins in my right hand, my left resting at my side. Horses in the paddock a little ways away lifted their heads to look at us like periscopes before returning to chomp lazily on the grass. The sun seemed to heat up my shirt and jeans and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. I swiped it away, then patted Porkpie as we made it around the arena.

Percy was leaning against the fence in a relaxed position, one of his knees bent so his boot-covered foot could rest against the wooden fence behind him. His green eyes never strayed from mine as I approached, increasing the sweat on my forehead.

"Okay, now you're going to post while trot," he explained as I got closer. Soon Porkpie was stopped and Percy walked over to stand by me, his head craned to look at me. "Basically, as Porkpie trots, he'll bounce up and down. With each up, you use that momentum to push yourself up, so you're going up and down at a smooth pace. Don't push yourself up with your feet, though." He reached his hand up, placing it on my thigh. "Use your inner thigh to get yourself off the saddle."

I barely heard that last sentence. He was either trying to get me to lose focus, or he was totally oblivious to the fact that his hand on my thigh was like a signal to all the butterflies in my stomach to start going crazy. Actually, screw the butterflies—the whole zoo was rampaging about in my body.

However, Percy seemed to see what he was doing, and he brought his hand back quickly, like I was poisonous snake he just realized he was touching.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"What?" I answered challengingly. I don't know why him apologizing for just touching me irked me so much, but I was tired of avoiding what had happened yesterday, especially when it was the big neon elephant in the room.

"I—I just thought—" he broke off, looking away.

"Thought that . . .?" I said questioningly. "Thought that after yesterday we can't be comfortable with each other like friends?"

"Annabeth, I didn't mean it that way—"

"I understand," I said, talking about yesterday. "I do. And I'm sorry if I—stepped out of line. But you don't have to act like it was the worst thing on this earth."

"I'm not—"

"Yes!" I practically shouted. Porkpie, upon sensing my attitude, skirted nervously to the side, throwing his head. "You are. I mean, okay, you don't have to be all fine and dandy, but you could be at least be a little happy that I can stay! Unless, of course, you don't want me to."

"That's not true," he protested with a spark of anger. "I'm glad that everything is cleared up, but I'm not exactly unscarred from the past few days."

"I know. And I apologized for doing the wrong thing!"

He frowned slightly, thinking before saying, "It wasn't exactly wrong—"

I groaned in exasperation. "Gods, you are so frustrating!"

I knew I was taking everything out on him. All my anxiety and tension, my worry from the previous days, the terrifying thought that I may have messed up everything—all of it. And it wasn't fair, but I couldn't stop.

"I'm frustrating?" he repeated with an indignant tone, his voice growing louder. "Really? All I did was tell you the truth, and you can't accept that I'm being a moral guy and not moving on too fast?"

"I said I understood," I spat, "but you don't have to be so mean to me."

He threw his hands up in the air, his shoulders tight as he scoffed. "How am I being mean to you? Ever heard of the word 'distant' or thought that I just wanted some time?"

"So you don't want me here?" I asked venomously.

"You know, since you're obviously not happy here," he said darkly through gritted teeth. "Maybe you should just run back to your precious Luke and stupid movie try-outs. It sure as Hades would make my life a bit easier right now."

He stood there fuming, hands in fists at his side with anger blazing in his beautiful eyes. All the while, my heart which had rolled into a tight ball suddenly deflated and fell flat against the bottom of my ribcage.

"Really? That's what you want?" I managed to croak, my voice not cracking until the last word.

Suddenly Percy's eyes went wide, as if he just realized what he said, and a hint of guilt started pouring into his orbs. "Annabeth, I didn't—"

"No, it's totally fine," I said contemptuously, twisting the reins around in my trembling fingers. "After all, you wanted me to understand. Thanks for explaining."

With that, I wheeled Porkpie around, trotting back towards the gate. All I wanted was to just go back inside and collapse on my bed. Maybe a few tears would leak out, maybe I'd just sit there and contemplate my messed up life.

I heard Percy resignedly call out my name, but I didn't answer.

This morning I had wanted to know what he was thinking. Now I was wishing that I had never wanted that. I was wishing that everything that happened yesterday was just a bad dream, and I'd wake up to Percy banging on my door and calling me lazy, telling me to get my butt outside and help him. I'd be able to hear the playful, lopsided grin in his voice as he added that he was going to get breakfast first and eat everything, and I'd come out and shove him behind me to prove that statement wrong. We'd race like little kids over to the kitchen, laughing and giggling.

But the whole scenario fell apart as I realized this was all real.

I'd just have to try on the big girl pants and hope they fit.

So sorry for the late update! I would've had it up sooner, because many of you did those fast-forward buttons (ha, that was awesome, thanks guys! :)) but I LOST MY IPOD. I do practically all my writing on my ipod, and I lost it for a week and a half. So I finally got my new ipod, and I'm so sorry you guys had to wait. Especially on the cliffhanger. Muahaha. ;)

Thanks for the multiple reviews—they always make me so happy!