You don't know how frustrating it is being half-awake.

My conscious would flick on and off like a dying candle, and each time I could hear people talking yet I couldn't respond. I wanted to say something, but every time I tried nothing came out.

Slowly I regained control over my other senses. The next to come after my hearing was feeling. There was a soft cloth over me, keeping me warm. A sharp, pungent smell washed over me and it took me a few seconds to recognize it-rubbing alcohol.

I swallowed tentatively, tasting stale spit and something else. Something bitter that left an aftertaste. Medicine was my guess. Why?

Wait. The car crash. I was arguing with Percy and we hit something. I blacked out.

My mom's gonna kill me.

With that thought raging about in my head, my eyes flew open, searching wildly around.

A bright, blinding light hit my irises, sending an ache of pain to my head. The little jab seemed to kickstart a repeating pulse of pain, otherwise known as a headache.

Blinking a few times to adjust my eyes, I paused, breathing deeply before looking around.

I was in a hospital room, laying on a clean white bed that was the same color as the walls and ceiling. It was quiet except for a small beeping by my head-one of the few machines surrounding me.

"Annabeth?"

My eyes shot over to the direction of the familiar voice. I tried to not move my head too much for fear of the pain increasing. But I couldn't help it as a grin broke my face at the person sitting in a chair beside me.

"Malcolm!" I croaked, my voice dry.

My brother's face stretched in a similar smile, his grey eyes sparkling with relief. "Gods, you're awake! How're you feeling?"

He got up and came over to me, grabbing my hand-the one without an IV sticking into it. His sandy blond hair was cut formally, a custom-tailored suit adorning his body. If it wasn't for the boyish grin on his face with his bright eyes, I would've thought he was a stern business man.

But he was my brother. The one who helped me with math homework when I was young; the one who teased me for the role as a tree I had on a play back in middle school; the one who gave me hugs whenever Mom would frustrate me, patting my back and telling me it was all going to be okay; and most recently, the one who saved me from being revealed around the world in Colorado.

"I'm okay," I replied.

He frowned, giving me and unconvinced look.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, Mal. I missed you. What're you doing here?"

Malcolm gave me a Are you serious? look. "Annabeth, you were in a car crash. And trust me, it wasn't pretty. I came as soon as I got word."

A thought struck me, jarring my heart, and I started to babble in panic. "Oh, gods, Percy! Is he okay? Where is he? Did he-"

"Woah, woah," Malcolm said, holding up a hand. "Hold your horses, sis. He's fine. Geez, what with the way you two worry about each other I'd say you were married."

I attempted to stop the slight blush, saying, "He's okay? Really?"

Malcolm nodded. "Yeah, he's fine. A few scratches and a minor concussion, but you got the brunt of it. A car t-boned you-on your side. The car is totaled. You had a bad concussion, you sprained your wrist and lost an extreme amount of blood." He paused, biting his lip. "It was-It was really scary, Annabeth. When I got here and saw you, you were so pale and looked like-"

"Hey, I'm fine," I told him reassuringly, giving his hand a squeeze.

"Yeah, well, tell that to Percy."

"What do you mean?"

Malcolm sent his eyes to the sky. "We had to practically drag him out of here. He didn't want to leave your side. He didn't eat anything, he didn't sleep, he barely even talked other than the occasional 'Gods, I'm so stupid.'"

I frowned. "Really?"

"Really," he said. "We finally got him out just a little over an hour ago. Last I heard he was sulking in the cafeteria."

Before I could reply, the door opened and in walked Poseidon and Sally.

Upon seeing me awake, they both smiled warmly, rushing to my side.

"We thought we heard voices!" Sally exclaimed happily, leaning over to give me a gentle hug. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"I'm good," I said, taking a deep breath. My mind was still racing with questions and memories and most of all-Percy. "I'm sorry about the car, Mr. Jackson."

He immediately shook his head dismissively. "Forget about the car, Annabeth. I'm just glad you're okay. It's a miracle you weren't hurt as bad as you should have been from that hit."

"Where's Percy?" I asked suddenly, unable to hold it back longer.

Poseidon smiled kindly. "He's downstairs. I can go get him-he'll be elated you're awake."

I nodded, telling him thanks and watching as he turned and left.

"Mom wanted to come," Malcolm said sympathetically, "but she couldn't make it."

I bit my lip, biting back words I wanted to say and instead simply replying, "Okay."

Sally rubbed my arm, giving me another smile. "Hopefully Doctor Apollo will let you get out of here soon so we can take you back home. I'm sure Porkpie is missing you."

My eyebrows drew together. "Why? How long was I out?"

"Two and a half days, sweetheart."

"Two and a half days?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes, Miss Chase." A new voice entered my ears. "You've been catching up on your beauty sleep." I turned to see who was talking and was met with the sight of someone who looked like a Greek god.

He had perfect, windswept blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a physique that looked good even under scrubs. When he smiled, I thought I would go blind from the stark whiteness of his teeth.

"How are you feeling, Miss Chase?" he asked, coming over to stand by me. "I'm Doctor Apollo, by the way."

"I feel fine, just a headache," I answered. "Wait, you know who I am?" Fear started to grow in me as I finally realized I was in a public hospital and I was a world-wide known movie actress. Hey, give me a break. I just was in a coma-like state for two days, you can't expect me to register everything at once.

"Don't worry," he assured me, jotting something down on a clipboard he was holding. "Nobody but me and my nurse know your identity, and we'll keep it a secret."

"How did they not recognize me when I was brought in?"

He glanced up, elegant eyebrows arching like an upside down golden Nike sign on his forehead. "Well, to be painfully honest, you were rather bloody when you were brought in. It was hard to recognize you."

"So . . . what exactly happened?"

While Apollo went around and checked my wounds and the machines, taking out the IVs, Sally recited the incident. Apparently the car (I remember seeing it now-a big truck that was heading to the stop sign ahead) didn't see us. The person inside, who I figured out to be Octavian, the dirty scum, was apparently texting, not paying any attention. He rammed into us going forty miles per hour, shattering the side of our vehicle. He had hit a few mere feet from where I was sitting-any closer to me would've resulted in fatal injuries.

We hadn't flipped, just skidded to the side. There thankfully was a car behind us that witnessed the incident, calling for help right away.

Octavian was currently in another hospital room, suffering from a broken leg and ankle, along with a concussion from the airbag. He and I were knocked out on impact, but Percy was still conscious.

"When the police and ambulance cars got there, they found Percy holding you and crying your name, Annabeth," Sally said softly. "They told me he looked absolutely panicked, and he wouldn't let you go. They had to coax him to let go of you so you could get medical assistance."

I sat still, silent the entire time. My headache was pounding relentlessly and when I told him, Doctor Apollo gratefully gave me a few painkillers to swallow. It helped take my mind off of the pain, but there was still just one thing.

All I wanted to do right now was see Percy.

As if the gods were answering my plea, the door to my room opened, emitting Percy and Poseidon.

Percy's eyes immediately met mine, and right away I noticed something was off.

Instead of them being that fierce green that would glint like the sun shining off the ocean, they looked dull and tired, bags hanging under his orbs that made my heart clench. Still, he was a sight for sore eyes.

"We'll leave for a little bit," Sally said, nodding at my brother who dipped his head back. Malcolm gave me one last smile before following Sally out the door, Poseidon in tow.

"You've healed up pretty well over the few days you've been here," Apollo commented, giving me a grin. "I expect you'll be discharged within the next few days. Just call up the nurse if you need any more painkillers, and make sure you stay hydrated."

I told him I would. Then Apollo bid me farewell, walking to the door. He pat Percy's shoulder lightly as he walked by, then swung the wooden door open and exited, leaving me and Percy alone.

The green-eyed boy hadn't moved except for his eyes, which had dropped to the ground in front of him. His hands slid into his jean pockets and he shuffled his feet, taking a deep breath. I saw a cut running along his forehead, as long as his eyebrow. It wasn't bandaged; it had already mostly scabbed over. Still, it looked painful.

"Are you okay?" I asked tentatively, my fingers lacing and unlacing themselves.

He let a humorless breathy laugh. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Well, you weren't saying anything."

He sighed, looking to the side at the blank wall. I studied his sculpted jawline, watching it shift as he clenched his teeth. He looked really tired-his hair was even more unruly than normal, his shoulders drooping like the fatigue was setting bricks on them, and his eyes were red and puffy as if he'd been rubbing at them a lot, trying to get the exhaustion away.

"Malcolm told me you didn't sleep or eat," I said. "Why not, Percy?"

He threw his hands up in the air, the quickest of the sluggish movements he'd shown so far. "Maybe because you were here, laying on this bed hurt and unconscious and it was all my fault!"

"It wasn't your fault!" I protested. "It was Octavian's, he wasn't looking. And besides, if you want to put blame somewhere else, put it on me. I was the one arguing and distracting you."

"You aren't to blame, Annabeth," he said, balling his fists. "It was my fault. I should've been paying more attention to my surroundings. It was my fault, and I hate myself for it."

His voice had lowered to an anguished whisper full of guilt. My stomach clenched. It hurt me worse than any headache seeing him like this.

We were fighting, and that was stupid. So what if I messed up and accidentally kissed him? That doesn't mean I have to act so badly about it. I knew he would need his space. Even Rachel said so. All of what I had said was true. This was my fault. I was the one who caused the fighting in the first place.

And now, seeing Percy beating himself up like that, it tore at my heart.

I raised a hand, beckoning him forward. He hesitated for second, then urged his feet to take steps over to the bed, sitting and facing me.

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him.

For a second he didn't respond. But after that, I felt his arms slide around me, holding me even tighter. He was warm, his body hard with muscle yet it felt cozy in his embrace. Each time his front rose and fell with deep breaths it seemed to pull the anxiety out of my own body.

"It wasn't your fault, Percy," I said, my words muffled against his chest. "Don't you ever think that. I was the one who started it with that stupid kiss. I don't know why I acted like that and then acted like a jerk afterwards."

He made a shushing sound, rubbing my back soothingly. "You didn't act like a jerk. And the kiss wasn't stupid just . . . Unplanned. And like I said, I just wasn't ready. Besides, I was the one acting like a jerk. What I said about me wanting you to leave?"

My stomach tightened just thinking about it.

"I didn't mean that," he whispered into my hair. "I'm so sorry for even uttering those words. I never want you to leave, Annabeth, and I hope you remember that. I was just acting out in anger."

I took a deep breath, nodding once to let him know it was okay.

"It's fine, Percy," I told him.

"No, it's not." I could feel his hot breath in my ear as he said that insistingly. "Annabeth, right after the crash when I turned to see you . . . Gods, there was so much blood. And you were just lying there, motionless. I couldn't see if you were breathing, and my hands were shaking too much to try and find a pulse . . . Annabeth, I can without a doubt say that was the worst time of my entire life. I-I thought I'd lost you."

He buried his face in my neck, his arms tightening like he was scared I was suddenly going to disappear and leave him.

"Percy," I said softly, scooting closer to him. It was like I couldn't get close enough. I couldn't get enough of his hug. "I'm right here. I'm okay."

"Yeah, but the last thing we had done was fight," he said, his voice cracking. I ran a hand through his hair, my palm cradling his head. "And I hadn't done anything to make it better, just argued back."

"Percy, let's just forget about us fighting and all. Can we just go back to being friends? I've missed that."

"I missed that, too."

"So we're good?" I asked, leaning back to look at him. He sent me a lopsided grin, the first I'd seen in days. My heart picked up slightly and a smile came on my face as well.

Percy brought a finger up and slid it down my nose, ending with a small tap. "We're good, Wise Girl."

Oh, gods. That nickname was so endearingly adorable-but only when he said it. My grin grew.

Even though I was sitting in a hospital bed with a pounding headache, tired beyond belief, I was the happiest I'd been in days.

The rest of the day was filled with so many visitors.

Jason and Leo were first, coming only ten minutes after Percy and my heart-to-heart conversation. My talk with them consisted of Jason stoically asking for details and seeing if I was okay and Leo gobbling up the lunch the nurse brought me and trying to think of the many ways he could kill Octavian.

After they left, Frank and Hazel slipped in, their questions much more subdued and instead just making sure I was healthy.

Rachel came, too. I was grateful for her checking up on me, even though it was rather awkward with Percy in the room. She just gave me a hug, whispering reassurance in my ear that it'll all be okay.

The whole time Percy never left my side. He just sat, his silent presence an immense comfort to me.

After Rachel had closed the door, a yawn drew my mouth wide.

"You tired?" Percy asked, me from the seat beside the bed. His green eyes had brightened since we made up, the bags disappearing a little more with each smile I gave him.

"Yeah, I'm getting there," I replied, snuggling deeper under the covers. A thought struck me. "Wait, what day is it, Percy?"

He scrunched his eyebrows up together in thought. "Um, August sixteenth."

"Your birthday is in two days!" I said, sitting up in alarm. "I'm gonna be stuck in the hospital." A sound of frustration tore out of my throat. "I'll ask the doctor if I can get out early."

Percy stopped me, putting a hand on my shoulder to push me back down onto the pillow. "No, Annabeth, you are not stepping out of these doors until you are fully healed. We'll just skip my birthday this year."

I snorted. "That's ridiculous. We are definitely celebrating your birthday. Now, what do you want?"

He shook his head, sighing. "You don't need to get me anything. I don't even feel like celebrating."

"Is that because I'm sitting in a hospital bed?"

His deflated shrug proved my statement to be true.

I huffed, turning on my stubborn voice. "Perseus Jackson I absolutely forbid you skip your birthday because of me. You can celebrate it without me, and it'll be fun. But no skipping. Nopety-doo."

He rolled his eyes, a small smile alighting upon his face. "Annabeth, you're one special girl."

I grinned, winking at him playfully. "You know it. Now can you please go get me my brother? I want talk to him. And you eat something and get some sleep." I gave him a serious look. "Okay?"

"Okay." He paused, then said, "Wow, that was that cheesy line from that chick flick that everybody cries about, right?"

"It's called The Fault In Out Stars, Seaweed Brain," I said, sending my eyes to the ceiling. "And it was a book first."

He shook his head, getting up and heading to the door. "Of course the book is the more important one to you, Wise Girl."

"You know the title was stolen from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, right?"

"Back to spouting out random facts of uselessness?" he called over his shoulder.

I muffled a yawn with a huff. "Nothing about Shakespeare is useless, you piece of classic-hating poo."

He chuckled, sending me a wave before exiting. I couldn't help the little smile that appeared on my face at our small bickering I had missed.

A second later, the door opened again and my brother walked in.

"That was quick," I said, eyebrows raised.

"I was sitting outside," he told me, going to place himself in the unoccupied chair, "waiting for you two to finish talking. What were you talking about?"

"Shakespeare."

"Ah, a topic worthy of many sophisticated conversations."

A half grunt half laugh came from my mouth. "Nothing is sophisticated with Percy."

Malcolm turned to me, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to study me. I shifted in the bed, frowning back at him. "What?"

"You like him, don't you?"

"Excuse me?" I spluttered, shocked. "What are you talking about?"

"You like Percy. I know you do. I listen to the way you talk about him, and you always get this little smile when you say his name," he told me, his eyebrow raised in amusement. "Just like you did right then. And whenever you talk about him, you have this sort of adoring exasperation in your voice."

I rolled my eyes. "Since when did you become the love expert?"

"I just remember it being the same whenever you were around Luke," he told me. "But now you barely even mention Luke. It's all about Percy."

A yawn escaped my lips. "Well, we're just friends," I said, laying back down and adjusting to a comfortable position.

He shrugged. "Just so you know, I like Percy better than Luke."

I rolled my eyes. "I wanted to ask you a favor."

"Changing the subject, are we, Beth?"

I ignored his smirk, saying, "Percy's birthday is in a couple days, and I know what I want to get him."

"A teddy bear? A kiss?"

Sparing him a glare, I continued with, "I just need you to purchase something for me."

"And that would be?"

A grin spread across my face as I told him. Percy will love this.

Hey, my lovelies! How was that for a relatively fast update? I felt like I owed all of you for being so supportive.

So, what do you think Annabeth is going to get Percy? :)

Love you all, and thanks for the fun reviews!