YO GUYS! It's been what, a week? HAHA Well anyway, i hope you like this chapter. I actually wanted to write down what had really happened in the past, but in the end, i changed it cuz i want you guys to keep guessing :P it's actually a pretty simple plot though HAHA

So now we're unsure whether Annabeth would trust Percy, and Percy is starting to trust others. How will it work out...who knows? ;P

WEll, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter! R&R PLS and THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! :)

Percy's POV

I could tell that something was off. I mean, if a person that you have practically been living and doing everything together with for two years suddenly decides that he or she don't want to make any sort of contact with you for the whole day, you would know.

Ever since I came back from the short practice session with my sword- which consisted of hacking and slashing through every single dummy in the training hall-, she had not even looked at my eyes once. Heck, she hadn't even said a word to me for the whole day.

I wanted to ask her what's wrong. When I had come back fro class, her eyes had looked red, as though she had been crying. Also, the constant worried glances directed to Annabeth from Nico were not helping to relieve my worry about her one bit.

I stared at the clock impatiently, counting the number of seconds left till the bell rang and school was over. My eyes travelled along with the second-hand on the clock, and my fingers tapped on my desk with every second that passes.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the bell rang. As usual, every student immediately stood up, his or her bags already packed, and rushed out of the classroom.

I glanced at Annabeth, who sat beside me in class, and was astonished to find her already standing up to leave. Usually, she was one of the last few to pack their bag, as she always wanted to write notes from the teacher till the last minute.

Not wanting to miss my chance, I immediately stood up and grabbed her arm. I could feel her body stiffen up greatly, and frowned in confusion. Was she angry at me?

"Annabeth," I called. Her back was facing me, so I could not see her face, but judging by her body language, I could tell that she wasn't happy I touched her. "What's wrong?" I asked.

We stood there for a long time, neither of us saying a word. Our classmates shot us bewildered looks as they left the class, but they knew better than to comment on us.

I waited patiently for her answer. I knew Annabeth would need time to think, to plan what to do or say. She never did anything without thinking.

"Percy." She whispered. My attention zoomed in on her.

"Yea?" I asked, eager to hear what she would say, but at the same time dreading it.

"I don't know what to believe." She simply stated, before shaking my hand off and walking out of the classroom.

"Don't pick me up tonight…I need some time to think on my own." She told me before stepping out, raising her voice a little, before disappearing from my sight, leaving me to think about what she meant.

"Hey, Nico!" I called, walking swiftly up to him. When he saw me, he smiled and waved. We were at the hallway. Students rushed about as they quickly stuffed their books into their lockers before heading out of school.

"Yo, Percy!" He greeted with a grin, closing his locker door and turning to face me. He then looked at me quizzically. "What do you need today? Usually, you don't greet people with their names." I mock glared at him, causing him to chuckle light-heartedly.

"Have some time to take lunch with me? Or you busy with Thalia again?" I asked, giving him a teasing smile. He merely huffed in annoyance.

"Hmph, nah. She's busy with some project of hers in science today. I still need to pick her up later though, so I won't be able to stick around for the whole day." He informed me. I nodded.

"Well, I don't need the whole day, just lunch," I said. "You ready to go?" I asked. He nodded, and we began walking to the school gate.

"Why aren't you eating with the rest?" He asked as we left the school. I forced myself to keep my facial expression neutral, whilst the gears in my head started to turn at a hundred miles per hour.

After some internal debating, I finally decided to tell the truth. Somewhat. I then said, "It's kinda private, so no, I do not want to talk in front of everyone else. I would also have talked to Grover, but Juniper and all…"

Nico laughed at my statement and nodded, silently agreeing with me. We then walked the rest of the way in comfortable silence.

When Nico saw the restaurant that i was leading us to, he stared at me in astonishment and disbelief.

"This restaurant is expensive as hell, you do know that right?!" He asked, his voice a little louder due to the surprise. I waved him off and entered the restaurant. Even though it was located at the roadside, it's really popular and expensive, and is usually rich and upper-class people.

When we entered, we noticed that everyone inside was dressed formally. Nico looked really uncomfortable, as we were still wearing school uniform. I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"Hey, chill a little. Don't care what the others think about us. After all, you're the son of the a big shot dad." I joked. He glared at me but nodded.

"May I help you two?" A waiter that I know approached us and asked us politely. I could tell that Nico was surprised at the waiter. Usually, waiters from high-class restaurants would immediately chase any students out, thinking that they would not be able to pay.

"Don't need to be so formal, Francis," I said with a smile. "I just wanna eat here with a friend today." He chuckled and nodded.

"I have to keep my popularity for being polite, y'know." He replied jokingly as he lead us to an empty table.

"Want me to tell them what you're like when you're gaming at the LAN café?" I asked, giving him an evil grin. His face immediately paled, and his eyes widened.

"Um, no, please." He quietly pleaded. I laughed and shook my head.

"Just joking. I'm not that evil."

"Ha. Ha. Nice joke. I have to go serve others now. Go on and choose your food." He said, giving us one last grin before turning around to attend to some bald-headed guy with an expensive-looking suit.

"What is he like when he goes to the LAN café?" Nico asked curiously. I chuckled.

"He's a monster. Scolds vulgarities every time he dies." Nico's mouth shaped into an 'o'.

"Hardcore gamer, huh." He said, nodding at Francis. I shrugged.

"C'mon. Start choosing your food." I told him, picking up the menu. When Nico looked at the costs of the food, his reaction was just as I expected.

"…Fuck?" he swore, astounded. I had to try my hardest to hold back my laughter when I saw his reaction.

"Hey, still alive?" I asked when he had stayed silent and frozen for more than ten seconds. He slowly shifted his eyes to me.

"Hey, even though I have the money and everything, isn't this a bit too expensive? You expecting me to treat you?" He asked me incredulously.

"No no, nothing like that. I have enough money for myself, and you most definitely do have enough money. Plus, this is the only place that I know the others would not think of coming, due to its high price." I explained. Nico, seeming to remember the whole reason why we had gone for lunch together, immediately turned serious.

"Hm, okay…well, let's order first, then we'll talk." I agreed silently, and shifted my attention back to ordering the food.

The food came surprisingly fast today, though the pleading look from Francis when he served me my food explained enough to me why.

"So, let me guess, Annabeth?" He asked. I looked up from my food at him in surprise.

"How did you know?" I asked. He then went on and explained about seeing me train, and wen he mentioned about the world champion in swordsmanship, she had freaked out and ran.

I frowned as he said it. What would cause her to be so panicky? Did she somehow know the world champion of swordsmanship?

So far, the world champion had been moving everywhere across the world for his training, but…

Something clicked in my brain as I remembered about him being here in United States Of America once…the Bronx…where Annabeth previously lived three years ago…

The chances were so slim, but yet everything unlucky always happened to Annabeth three years ago, according to her, so…

Could it be that he had something to do with her? Looks like she had not told me everything yet.

"Also…" Nico continued. "When I found her, I saw Micheal talking to her at the Garden where everyone usually hung out if they needed sometime alone. Micheal seemed to be telling some story, so I decided not to disturb them since Annabeth looked fine already." That caught my utmost attention, and dread started to fill my heart.

"No…" I muttered to myself. Micheal, that manipulative bastard. "I told her to avoid him…" Nico looked at me questioningly. Shit, I forgot that Nico had quite good hearing.

"Do you have an argument with him or anything?" Nico asked. I contemplated for a long, long moment.

Could I really trust Nico? He was so close to Thalia…and this…

Nico had been like a brother to me for the past few years. It would be unfair for me not to tell him anything at all.

So I decided there and then. Thalia was out of the question right now, but Grover, Nico and Annabeth had noticed my absence, had noticed my discomfort, and that would really mean that they weren't as attracted or as infatuated with Micheal for a start.

"Nico," I started. "Micheal and I are currently on very bad terms, and he fears me, and I hate him." I went straight to the point.

"What?" He asked, his voice rose a little in total shock. I winced as I noticed a few people staring at us, and smiled apologetically at everyone and a glaring Francis.

"Keep it down, Nico." I advised. He realized where he was when he heard me, and nodded, taking a deep breath to clam himself.

"Why?" He asked. I looked at him. I was about to tell him something that I hadn't been able to tell Annabeth. Then again, I didn't need to introduce my whole past with Micheal and Rachel to him, unlike Annabeth.

"Nico, swear to me, everything I'm gonna tell you, everything you're gonna hear, you will never, ever, tell anyone. Not Thalia, especially not her, and not Annabeth, not anyone." I stated with utmost seriousness, staring straight into his eyes.

I must have looked really scary, 'cause he actually blinked rapidly when he saw my face, and a little fear seeped into his eyes. He nodded quickly.

"I swear. Not even Thalia. I can do that…" he muttered to himself. I chuckled a little.

"I trust you , okay?" I confirmed. He nodded.

"Go on, then. I have a feeling what you're about to tell me is gonna make me beyond astonished."

"You're right on that." I agreed. He waited patiently as I inhaled deeply, preparing to tell something no one knows at all yet, except maybe Micheal. But even he did not know the rest.

At the last second, I changed my mind yet again. Maybe I can hint to him, but I can't tell him the whole story. At least, not now. I'm not ready yet.

"You know that Rachel and I broke up, and she left Manhatten, right?" I asked. He nodded, signaling for me to go on.

"…All I am willing to say now, Nico, is that Micheal had something to do with it." I said, looking down at my plate, not wanting to see his face as I had no mood to try to explain things right then.

"That's all I'm saying now, Nico. Don't tell it to anyone." With that, I stood up abruptly and placed money on the table, unable to handle Nico's staring anymore, and exited the restaurant, heading home as fast as I can