Percy sauntered down the corridor to Annabeth's room, his face slightly red. A kiss from Rachel! Well, not really. More like a friendly peck. But hey, it was something. Though Percy was happy, he did feel some remorse for an unknown reason. The black haired teen cleared his mind. He needed to tell Annabeth about this.

The bubbly feeling ended when he reached Ananbeth's door. Instead of his best friend answering like the usual, a girl with dark hair and a slim figure was standing in the doorway. Dana, her tag read.

"Who is it-?" Dana said, scratching the back of her head. When she relalized it was the the Prince- the Prince Perseus, she stumbled back in surprise.

'Everyone seems to be surprised to see me these days, huh?'

"P-prince Perseus!?" She squealed, jumping up and down in excitement before bowing. "What are you doing here?"

'Damn it..' Percy cursed, not wanting to make a scene. Percy was certain that this was Annabeth's room. Two more girls popped up beside her.

"Um hello, do you mind telling me where Annabeth might be? This is her room, right-?" Percy's rambling was cut off when the one and only Annabeth Chase stumbled into his vision, wearing an oversized white T-shirt that reached mid-thigh and grey sweatpants.

"Seaweed brain?" Annabeth stood there, surprised. Then she relalized that Dana, Julia, and Elizabeth were there. Annabeth put a hand on her mouth. "Guys! Its not what it looks like!" Annabeth stammered.

"Yeah, what she said."

"Oh, whats this? Julia stared back and forth at the two.

"Do you two have something going on?" Elizabeth giggled as she eyed them suspiciously.

"No!" The two yelled in usion.

"I just came to... visit." Percy lied. The three other girls rolled their eyes, seeing right through him. They did that respectfully of course- he was the Prince and future king after all.

Annabeth sighed, rubbing her temples together. "Guys, can you promise not to tell anyone about this? I'm desperate."

"Hm..." Julia thought.

"Well alright. I have one condition." Dana said smugly.

"And what might that be?"

"You tell us what going on between you two." Elizabeth swirled her finger between the two, pointing.

Annabeth shot a look at Percy, like 'You tell them.' He rolled his eyes and smirked.

'No way!' Percy mouthed back.

It pained Annabeth to do this, but Annabeth started explaining.

"Prince Percy is... My friend. Best friend, you can say. We-"

"YOU'RE FREINDS WITH THE PRINCE!?" Elizabeth gawked, intterupting Annabeth mid speech.

"I thought you said you've never met Prince Perseus!" Julia recalled.

"Yeah, that was just a lie." Percy laughed nervously.

The three squealed in pleasure and excitement.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Julia laughed.

"You know, you two would make a great couple!" Dana clapped her hands together.

"Just get married alre-"

Annabeth glared from under her brow at them, tilting her head slightly. Her expression read: Keep on talking. See where that gets you.

"Are you going to let me finish?" Annabeth moaned.

"Ah, sorry." The three girls quieted down.

"I'm terribly sorry," Percy began. "I need to talk to Annabeth about some matters. Would you excuse us?"

"Aww. But anything for the prince!" Dana, Elizabeth, and Julia looked like they were about to faint.

Annabeth groaned jokingly and dragged him to her room once again.

"Those three seem so energetic today." Annabeth said.

"You look like you haven't been having a good day." Percy joked, looking at Annabeth's attire and untamed hair.

"Well neither do you! I just wasn't expecting you." Annabeth shoved him to she side a bit, blushing from embarrasement. They arrived to her bed, Percy immediately plopping down and stretching his arms out. Annabeth followed suit, sitting on the side of the bed across from him.

"How'd your date go?"

Percy grinned ear to ear. "Great." He pointed to his cheek where Rachel pecked him.

Annabeth looked confused, then she relalized. "Oh, that's..Fantastic. I'm glad the date went well." Annabeth drew circles on the bed sheets.

Percy frowned. He sat up, his elbows supporting him. "You don't sound glad. Is there something wrong?"

She looked up, avoiding his gaze. She looked at the ceiling above them. "N-no... I'm glad, really." Annabeth plastered a forced smile on her face.

"If you insist. Anyways.. how was your day? Anything happen while I was gone?"

"Haa, nothing much. But, you do know that you'll have to ask out more people, don't you?"

Percy groaned, earning himself a playful punch form Annabeth.

"Yeah, I know. Got anymore recomendations?"

time skip~

Thankfully, the three maids never did tell anyone about the situations with Percy and Annnabeth. She thanked them for that, ordering loads of cakes and sweets for them which they happily enjoyed.

"Delicious~" They all agreed.

A few days past and almost everyday Percy asked another girl out. Calypso, Rachel, and a few others- those were the ones who caught his eye, he said to Annabeth. And everyday, the small feeling of jealousy settled in Annabeth's stomach.

Not once did he even think of asking Annabeth out. She was strict about that, because it was Annabeth who enforced it herself. Still, though, she had to admit that it definitely hurt.

The time came when Percy had to eliminate others. It was an early Sunday morning when the announcement arrived, calling all the girls in the lounge. Annabeth could practically feel all the tension in the room.

Percy was there, as much as he dreaded it. Annabeth stared at him, judging his expression.

"Thank you for coming, Prince Perseus. And welcome everyone." Ms. Usoro tapped her fingers on the hardwood desk beside her. "The time has come to eliminate some of you, as you were informed."

"I'm so nervous," Calypso whispered to Annabeth.

"I feel bad for everyone who's going." Piper's leg bounced up and down in anticipation. Annabeth knew she didn't mind if she was eliminated. As Piper informed her, she had eyes on another in her home kingdom. Annabeth thought to tell Percy that if she wasn't eliminated sooner into the Selection.

"If you hear your name, please stand up." Ms. Usoro started slurring out a few names. "Marigold Bay, Kelly Dame, Wendy Marvel, Hamilla Campos, and Yuri Cin. You have been eliminated. Please pack your bags. Your carriages will arrive shortly."

Everyone who wasn't eliminated sighed with relief. Calypso smiled a bit. Annabeth saw Rachel across the room, beaming brightly was well. That wasn't the case for the others, though.

The five girls faces twisted with sadness. And a short cut off sob was heard echoing through the room. Annabeth really did feel bad for them, and she could feel that Percy did too. The girls got a chance to talk to Percy before leaving the room.

"There, there." He comforted.

"Please, don't be so sad."

A few of the eliminated sniffed while Percy guiltfuly hugged them. He patted them on the head, a sorrowful expression. Gods, he was way too loyal even when he just met some of them. She didn't know whether that was a good trait or a bad trait. Loyalty was rare after all.

"What a bunch of crybabies." A girl snickered, a hand on her mouth covering her cruel smile. At that moment, Annabeth's blood began to boil. She had zero tolerance for such people- making fun of others pain. How did they sleep at night?

Ridiculous. Annabeth cursed.

A few were also smirking, which did nothing but fuel her anger to the max. She wanted to do something or anything about that, but she knew better to not try to cause a scene. Attention was the very last thing she needed or wanted.

"Everyone else, you are dismissed. That is all." Ms. Usoro wrapped up the session, her heels clacking on the floor as she exited the room.

Piper, Calypso, and Annabeth walked out of the room, still a bit surprised about what happened. Everyone else had also left the room, the sound of footsteps getting silenter.

"My heart was beating a miilion times per minute!" Calypso laughed.

"Eh," Piper put two hands behind her head as the three walked down the hallways. "Where are we going, exactly"

"Dunno." Annabeth replied.

"In that case would you three like to get some food? I kinda forgot breakfast." Calypso admitted.

"Sure, I'm in!" Piper said ensuthiastically.

"Annabeth?"

'I might as well.." Annabeth thought. 'It's not like I have anything much to do anyway.'

"Sure thing."