Tutoring Chapter 4

Annabeth hopped up and down behind her blocks keeping her legs warm. Her meet started soon and she needed to keep warm, doing some high knees and swinging her arms around she quickly scanned the stands before getting ready to enter her blocks. She saw the two college scouts sitting a couple feet from each other writing things in their notebooks. Percy was sitting with Thalia and Luke who were smiling and talking with each other, while Nico sat with his arms crossed and a large scowl on his face. Percy saw her looking their way and smiled, making Annabeth smile in return. She quickly moved her eyes somewhere else she really didn't need to be distracted by his smile right now. At the end of the bleachers closets to where Annabeth was getting ready there they sat. Eyes wide Annabeth did a double take looking at the same spot to see both her father and mother sitting next to each other in the bleachers.

They actually came, and they came together, her father smiled and waved at her, while her mother just nodded her head. Blinking Annabeth turned around stepping into her blocks, kneeling down she got her footing right but she was distracted she was thinking about how her parents actually came, something that in four years of high school and countless years of sports and awards they never came to. Shaking her head Annabeth scolded herself she was letting herself get distracted, right now all that mattered was her race. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath Annabeth got herself positioned in her blocks.

"On your marks" the referee called.

Annabeth sucked in a breath "Set" the referee called lifting the air gun in the air. Annabeth released her breath instantly calming herself and blocking everything out.

Bang

With the sound of the gun Annabeth shot out of the blocks, instead of going straight for first place Annabeth stayed in third but only until she was halfway to the finish line, only focusing on her steps and the finish line Annabeth kicked it into full hear. Passing the girls in second and first Annabeth moved into first and only steps from the finish line.

Crossing the finish line Annabeth let herself slow down breathing hard. Setting her hands on her head Annabeth took deep breaths, her other team mate came up and hugged her congratulating her on her first place finish. Together all the runners walked to the side of the track were the coaches sat with clipboards writing down the different numbers.

Annabeth stood the behind the other girls talking with her team mate Hailey who came in third. Annabeth had already beaten the school record and she was the top sprinter in the school's league and the school's athletic size. But that didn't mean she didn't want to improve her time.

Her head coach stood up ready to announce the places and their times. "Annabeth Chase first with a time of 12.37" the coach continued announcing the people after her but Annabeth wasn't listening, she had beaten her best time by three seconds.

Her sprinting coach Kyle came up and hugged her congratulating her but also reminding her that she had her 200 sprint in thirty minutes. After receiving congratulations from her team mates and coaches' Annabeth walked into the stands, at first she was going to go straight to her friends, but then she remembered her parents.

Before going to her parents Annabeth was tackled into a hug by Thalia.

"Oh my god Annabeth that was the best I've ever seen you run, the scouts looked pretty damn impressed to" Thalia said smiling largely.

Annabeth smiled "I beat my time by three seconds to".

Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder squeezing her into his side "That was some pretty sweet running Annie".

Annabeth laughed pushing him off and turning to the bleachers so she could put her tennis shoes on but Percy was standing there smiling largely at her. Shocking Annabeth and everyone else around them Percy pulled her into a hug.

"Congratulations Chase, that was some pretty impressive running" Percy said after he pulled away.

Shocked Annabeth nodded her head "Uhh thanks Percy" she said sitting down and putting her shoes on "I need to go talk to my parents" she said standing up.

"Actually were right here" her father said from behind Percy and Thalia.

"Dad, mom I didn't think you guys could make it today" Annabeth said.

Her mother smiled stepping forward to hug her "We both knew today was important for you so we both agreed to clear our schedules and at least come for the beginning of the meet. I'm very proud of you Annabeth".

"Thanks mom" Annabeth said.

Her dad set her hand on her shoulder "That was really impressive sweetie, what race is next for you?"

"The 200" Annabeth said, taking in the feeling of having both of her parents together at her track meet and congratulating her. But when she looked at her mother, she was staring at Percy who was talking to Thalia and Luke.

"Who is that young man talking to Thalia?" Her mother asked.

"Uhh that's Percy, he's in some of my classes" Annabeth said frowning slightly.

"He looks very familiar to me, what is his last name?" Athena asked.

"It's Jackson" Annabeth said completely confused. Athena frowned but continued looking at Percy "Why are you asking about Percy mom?" Annabeth asked.

But Athena didn't answer her "Do you have anything to do with that boy Annabeth?"

"I started tutoring him today and we have some classes together but that's about it" Annabeth said frowning.

"Good, make sure you keep it that way. I'm sorry that I could only see your first race but I have to get back to work. Keep up the good work Annabeth" Her mother said hugging her again and kissing her head.

"Good bye Frederick" Athena said before walking away.

"Okay what was that?" Annabeth asked turning to her dad.

Her dad shrugged "I have no idea that was kind of weird. What happened to your wrist?" her dad asked.

Annabeth shrugged "I feel in the cafeteria, sprained my wrist so the school nurse wrapped it for me".

"And it's okay to run out of the blocks with it like that?" Her dad asked.

"I asked the nurse and she said it was fine" Annabeth said.

"Okay, Susan and the kids are coming soon they were really excited to come" her dad said.

Annabeth smiled "That's good; I have to start warming up for my next race".

Her dad smiled kissing her head "Go get um' sweetie I know you'll do great".

Annabeth smiled "Thanks dad".

Grabbing her spikes she started for the track but Percy quickly caught up with her "Were still getting food with everyone right?"

Annabeth smiled forgetting about what her mother told her "Yeah were still getting food after this".

Percy smiled "Good, well uhh good luck with your next race".

"Thanks Percy" Annabeth said smiling and heading to the track to check in for her race.

Smiling Percy walked back to his friends, sitting next to Thalia and Jason on the bleachers.

"Alright what's up with you and Annabeth?" Thalia asked turning on Percy.

Percy shrugged "There's nothing going on".

Thalia narrowed her eyes "Yes there is, I can see it, you never gave Annabeth the time of the day, but all of a sudden you're asking her to tutor you, you're coming to her track meets, and your hugging her. What are you doing?"

"What I can't be nice to someone for a change?" Percy asked turning to actually look at Thalia.

"When it comes to my best friend no you can't be nice. What are you up to Percy?" Thalia asked again.

"I'm trying to change, is that a problem Thalia, I didn't know I needed to ask your permission before I talked to your friends" Percy said starting to get angry.

"I don't buy that crap for a second Percy, I don't know what you're up to but I swear if you hurt her I'll make sure you never get a date again" Thalia said dead serious.

Percy stood up starting to feel extremely angry not trusting himself to say anything he turned and walked away towards the concession stand. Shoving his hands in his pockets he thought about what Thalia said. It was true he'd never really spoken to Annabeth before today, but that didn't mean he didn't want to. Since they got back from Christmas break Percy had started noticing Annabeth, how even though she never tried she always looked extremely beautiful. The only reason he stayed with Rachel for so long was because he didn't know how to end the relationship.

Over Christmas break his mom pointed out that he had changed a lot since he started dating Rachel. And it made him think about everything, and how he started acting like a jerk, he wanted to change, and he was hoping Annabeth could be the girl that really made him change.

Stopping at the concession stand he bought a bag of popcorn and a water, turning around to walk back to the stands Rachel stepped in front of him.

"Hey babe" Rachel said smiling.

Percy sighed "I already told you Rachel, were done, I don't want to date you anymore".

Rachel's smiled faltered but she stepped closer to him running her hand up and down his jest through his open letter men's jacket.

"I know you didn't mean it Percy, come on my parents are gone for the rest of the day we'd have the house to ourselves".

Percy stepped back putting distance between them "No Rachel, I am being one hundred percent honest I'm done, We. Are. Done" Percy said slowly pronouncing the words.

Rachel huffed "You're only doing this because of that stupid Annabelle girl".

Percy stepped closer to her but only because of anger "Her name is Annabeth, and this has nothing to do with her. I've wanted to break up with you since Christmas break I just didn't know how. Leave Annabeth out of this Rachel" he said stepping around her and walking off.

"You're going to regret this Percy" Rachel yelled from behind him.

Percy ignored her and kept walking back to his seat. But what he didn't know was that Annabeth and Thalia had seen the entire thing.