Hey,y'all.

Hope you liked the last chapter!

I know it was pretty sad but that's how it be sometimes.

I love writing sad things, though. So. yeah.

I really never have any idea what to write here. I want to get soda.

Also, I have been obsessed with youtube video essays, so if you have any to recommend, please let me know.

Happy reading!

(Disclaimer: I don't own these characters)

ANNABETH POV:

A dumb blonde.

A dumb blonde is what he had called me.

My step mother Helen always called me that ever since she had married my father when I was seven. I had fun away for a short period of time to get away from her and her comments about my worthlessness.

When I came back, she did nothing to welcome me home.

She just glared at me, muttered something about me being ungrateful, and walked away.

She had always called me dumb and boring. A disgrace to the family.

I had done everything to prove that I was more than just some annoying vapid step daughter.

I had pushed myself in school, been nothing but polite to her and my step brothers, and done everything I possibly could to have a family again.

A mom again.

But Helen has stayed cold. Still calling me an idiot, useless and annoying as soon as my dad left the room.

I heard it all every night. Disgraceful. Ugly. A dumb blonde.

And to hear it again from the guy I was falling in love with… it was devastating.

I stormed out of my room leaving Percy there alone. I didn't care that it wasn't his room. I needed to be alone and in the fresh evening air.

I didn't register that I was crying until I noticed a tear fall onto my sweater.

Wiping my eyes, I was surprised to see my hands come back with salty tears on them.

I sat down on a bench in the corner of the courtyard. It was one of my favorite places on campus. I could see most of the buildings from here, with my favorite columns lined up in front of the library.

It was a sanctuary.

I sat there for a couple of minutes, silently crying and wondering what the hell I was going to do.

He was Thalia's cousin. He was friends with Jason. I would definitely have to see him again. See his sea green eyes that lit up every room he was in…

But I didn't know if I could bear it. Being insulted in the way I was most vulnerable by the guy I was becoming closest with?

I didn't know if I could face him again without breaking down. And I needed to be strong. Because that's what Annabeth Chase did when someone hurt her. She held her head high and stayed strong.

For the first time in a while though, I felt like leaning on someone. Usually that would be Thalia or Percy, but neither of them seemed like a great option at the moment.

Laying my head back and staring at the grey-ish blue sky, I sighed and closed my eyes.

Could I deal with seeing Percy again? Why has he led me on, called me gorgeous when what he really thought of me was just a dumb blonde?

"You okay?" A voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked over to where it originated. It was Luke. I was kind of glad to see him, but disappointed I couldn't be alone a little longer.

"Yeah," I said with a fake smile. Luke raised an eyebrow. I sighed. "Not exactly."

"Do you maybe wanna grab a coffee and talk about it?" His hopeful smile was charming, and I grinned.

"I'd be down for that if we could talk about literally anything else," I smiled.

Luke stretched out his hand, and I gratefully took it. He pulled me up and didn't let go, instead intertwining our fingers.

I blushed a little. I didn't feel butterflies like I did with Percy, but I felt safe around Luke. Luke seemed like the easier choice, the one who wouldn't hurt me.

We walked over to a local cafe with floor to ceiling mahogany bookshelves filled with old tattered copies of classics. It was cozy and perfect.

I gaped. "This is amazing. How did I not know this existed?"

"Wait until you try the coffee," Luke smirked.

I smiled up at him. This was a nice distraction from my feelings about Percy.

I ordered a caffé mocha and Luke got an iced black coffee. We went to sit down at a small table by the window. Succulents of different sizes and candles lined the windowsill.

"How do you drink that?" I asked when he took a sip and sighed happily. "It's so bitter."

"I like it bitter. Have you had fair trade dark chocolate?"

I shook my head.

He tsked. "You're missing out, Anna. It's the best bitter thing around."

"I think I prefer spicy and sweet."

"Maybe I do too," he whispered, narrowing his eyes playfully at me. I blushed.

But somehow I couldn't get into having a romantic conversation with him. He was easy to talk to and I liked conversing with him, but every time he made a subtle comment about romance I felt wrong.

I felt like somehow I was cheating on Percy. Which was crazy, because we weren't together. Never had been, and never would be.

Still, it felt kind of awkward to flirt with Luke.

Luke seemed to understand when I never really replied to his advances, rapidly changing the subject to something random.

By the time Luke said he had to go, I had gone through three mocha coffees and a croissant. I looked out the window and found it dark outside.

I turned to Luke in shock.

He laughed. "Time flies when you're having fun. Do you want to hang out again sometime?"

I hoped he didn't mean it like a date, because he seemed like an awesome friend to have. "That sounds great. See you later."

He winked. "See you."

He walked out the door and it closed behind him with a soft jingle.

When he was gone, I was once again left alone with my thoughts of Percy.

You know that old saying? 'Speak of the devil and doth shall appear'?

It's freaking true.

Because as soon as Percy's perfect face entered my mind, Percy entered the coffee shop.

He spotted me without looking, and when he found me he marched over to me with a determination I hadn't seen in him before.

"Can we talk?"

Sup y'all. That was chapter 8, and I hope you liked it.

We reached 148 views last I checked, and that really means a lot to me. I'm excited!

So if you could follow review and favorite, that would be freaking amazing.

Okay, love you!

-wdw