AN:

So here is the first chapter within two weeks as I promised. I do not own any characters they belong to Rick Riordan. The plot is mine, and please do follow and mark favorite if you like it. Reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 2

Percy POV

I woke to the opening of the lock of the prison door, "wake up punk" the guard called out. "Someone bailed your sorry ass". I got up instantly which made me feel dizzy.

"Oh! The damsel in distress" the guard mocked. I went out giving him a glare.

When I saw that Luke had paid my bail, I hung my head low in shame. His eye was still blue from our last night's encounter. "Thanks, man," I said stopping beside my friend with guilt heavy in my voice.

"How could I let my man stay the night in a cell," he chirped throwing his arm around my shoulder. We both walked out of the police station as the cold air of the evening teased my skin as I was just wearing a half-sleeve shirt. I hugged myself, he just smiled and took out my jacket from his bag and handed it to me. "I knew you would need it," he said seemingly satisfied by his deduction.

"Dude, I am sorry. I was freaking out when you came to tease me and I just..." I tried to apologize, but Luke beat me to it.

"No, I am sorry I should have given you space after your argument with Annabeth." He said looking at me with his guilty face. I smiled at him which he returned genuinely. "Speaking of Annabeth, I am sorry about what happened earlier. You gave Nakamura a good lesson, but maybe you threw in a couple of dozen punches more than required".

I stopped suddenly remembering the earlier events, "How is she?" I asked desperately. His sparkling blue eyes suddenly lost all the energy, and I thought of the worse. I fell to my knees and started crying with my face buried in my hands.

"Dude don't give up, and she needs you to believe in her. She will be well soon" he said encouraging me.

"So, she is not dead," I asked ecstatically. Luke smiled at my sudden change of mood. He brought his hand forward, I took it, and he pulled me up.

"She is alive but not good," he said with seriousness creeping into his voice. I nodded glumly.

"I need to see her," I said with my voice wavering with sorrow. Luke took a few steps away from me, eyed me skeptically, then shaking his head in disapproval.

"You need a shower and food" he paused still pondering, "and then a good and long nap in a proper bed," he said, with his voice full of authority taking out any chances of an argument. "Then we will go see Annabeth first thing in the morning, together," he said gripping my shoulders. I just nodded simply, "As you say".

We both then walked back to our apartments silently. Just before breaking up at the crossing I stopped Luke by putting my hand on his shoulder, he turned towards with a puzzled expression. "Thanks, bud," I said. "No need man, that's what friends are for, right?" he said smiling sadly.

"Ya, but still after what happened last night. I thought we were…"

"You know what, you still owe for that punch to the eye. I am only putting it off until a better time, and you need a friend right now. So here I am" he said matter of fact tone. I pulled him into a hug, and he hugged me back.

"Now go, your mom must be freaking out," he said laughing.

"Oh shit! I forgot about her" I answer visibly terrified as I ran for home. "See you in the morning" Luke shouted. "You got it" I shouted back.

I reached home, and I got in silently making a point of not making any noise. I looked at the watch which was showing 'five past ten'. I had promised to be back by 'eight-thirty'. I am very dead I cursed to myself. Does she know about the accident, if yes then what about my stay in the cell? She was not the one who paid the bail, so I assumed she did not know at least about my stay in prison.

"Mom Percy is home" Tyson yelled from his room. I gave him a death glare, as I readied myself for the encounter. What would I say? I was racking my brains.

My mom came into the hall, and she was visibly fuming with anger. Seeing her like this snapped something inside me. I started rambling about me and Annabeth, then the accident and so on… Tears were flowing without any stop from my eyes.

Mom just rushed towards and engulfed me in her arms, and she was rubbing my back and saying soothing words to me. I just cried into her hair. Paul and Tyson too came to see what all the commotion was.

"Go have a bath as I prepare dinner for you and Paul puts Tyson to bed," she said pulling out of the embrace. "But I am big enough to go to sleep myself" Tyson argued folding his arms in protest. Mom sent a glare towards Paul, a look of understanding passed over his face. "Son, how long it has been since I last read you a bedtime story," Paul urgently said while putting his arm around Tyson's shoulders and dragging him to his room against his wish.

After the shower I told mom everything that happened today, I was bubbling up telling how we got together but started crying again talking about the accident. She listened to it patiently then put me in bed, sat with me patting my forehead till I fell asleep.

Flashback

It felt like just another day, getting ready, boarding the bus, chatting with some friends. But once I entered the class, I knew for sure it was going to change very soon. I saw Annabeth talking with her best friend Thalia, and I did not feel the time passed I got lost in how she looked. She was smiling widely, and joy was visible in her startling gray eyes. Her blond hair was tied in a ponytail, a few which popped out showing her curls. I was rudely brought of my daze when someone grabbed me by the neck from behind, whoever it had dragged me to the washroom and just threw me in. He then blocked the door and checked if anyone else was in there. I recognized it was Luke one of Annabeth's best friend.

"What do you think you were doing in there," he said trying to control his anger.

"Wha..." I tried to reply, but he cut me off.

"Don't play the fool with me, why were you staring her?" he said.

"I was not staring her," I said my voice was shaking with fear. Not that I could not take Luke one on one but that he is her best friend, she was more gullible to anything he could make up to portray as a bad guy to her.

"I saw you with my own two eyes, you were ogling Thalia" he barked.

A sense of relief washed over me, and I unconsciously started laughing. Luke was taken aback by my sudden outburst.

"What are you laughing at?" he said getting confused.

"Dude, chill it out it wasn't Thalia" I replied regaining my composure.

"If not Thalia then…" he stuttered. I beat him to the conclusion.

"Yup, Annabeth," I said getting up and dusting my clothes. He shook his head in disbelief.

"Dude, you serious?" he asked confusing me.

"Yes, pretty much. But why does it sound like 'why are you trying to commit suicide?'?" I countered his question.

"Sorry I got you wrong," he said throwing his arm around my shoulder. "You know Annabeth's a devil. She could eat anyone raw if they hurt her in any way" he said trying to scare me.

"You are taking it too far in that head of yours" I replied chuckling as we entered the class. Thalia was eyeing us suspiciously to which Luke just gave her a look, and she went back chatting with Annabeth. We went to my seat and sat together.

"So, you and Thalia," I asked him in a whisper. He just raised one of his eyebrows as if evaluating me.

"We are just friends" he sighed "sadly" adding after a pause. I just merely nodded.

"So, let's make a deal" he whispered. Now it was my turn to raise the eyebrow.

"You keep my thing a secret, and I will keep your thing a secret in return," he said extending his hand towards my side still looking forward. It took it, and we shook hands lightly. He got up shortly after our deal.

"It was nice knowing you Percy," he said with a smirk that will make you hide your belongings.

"Same here" I replied returning a smile.

Soon the class was full of other students, and the bell rang signaling the first period. Things were normally going. I caught myself looking for Annabeth quite a few times. I was trying to know what exactly was on with me, the bell signaling lunch. I, Nico, and Grover were sitting together.

"What's the deal with you and Annabeth" Nico questioned.

"Where is that coming from" I countered.

"Dude, you were drooling all over her the entire day," he said chuckling.

"No, I was not" I replied getting annoyed.

"So that's why Luke dragged you to the washroom," Grover said thoughtfully.

"Hey, who told you that," I asked Grover frustrated.

"I have sources" he replied nonchalantly.

"Tell me about it" Nico chimed in,

"Who are you waiting for," Grover said looking expectantly towards me. I turned my head sideways to receive the same look from Nico. I got up from the table with my tray.

"Screw you guys," I said visibly annoyed. I sat alone and finished my meal thinking why I got annoyed so easily over a simple topic. This girl was getting on my nerves. Why in the Hades name Silena told me such a thing.

"So, students as you know your subjective assessment starts next week. You better start preparing for it today onwards" Miss Hestia announced as the class fell in chaos with everyone yelling at everyone for help with the studies.

"Perce! Will you help me out after classes on Friday" Nico asked.

"Of course, bud, your place or mine," I asked him back.

"Yours" he replied hurriedly. I raised my eyebrow to his immediate response.

"Silence" Headmistress Athena bellowed entering the class. Nico mouthed later and turned to face forward.

"Have you all lost your minds? This is a classroom, and you come here to study not chatter with others" she said fuming. She shot a disapproving look to Annabeth and Miss Hestia with the former dipping her head low as if to avoid eyes of others. Athena walked out sighing loudly.

"See what you all caused. I will have to listen to a lecture on how to control a class of teenagers, won't I Annabeth?" she asked looking towards Annabeth.

"Yes Miss" she replied timidly.

"What's going on?" I whispered so that only Nico could listen.

"Athena is Annabeth's mom" he replied.

"No kidding," I said offhandedly.

"I'm serious" was all he said as I stared at him trying to take in what he said.

"Dude that sucks" I replied.

"Yep, totally," he said as the bell rang declaring the school off.

AN:

So, should I give Annabeth's POV in the flashback?

Please review, would like to get some suggestions and some feedbacks, so the following chapters get better and better.

Thanks, Abooknerdandproud it means a great deal. Things like these give me hope to carry on writing.