Hola everyone! I'm back with another chapter! This is more of a fun chapter but also an important one. Thank you all so much for all your amazing reviews on this story I can't believe there's over 600! Let's keep them coming! Now I have a few more important things to say then I'll get to review responses.

IMPORTANT:

I know a lot of you don't exactly like super cliché things but I just can't get enough of it so this fanfic is/is going to be filled with both unique stuff and cliché stuff so please don't judge me too hard if there's a lot of cliché stuff happening!

Starting this chapter I'm going to start putting in song tributes at certain points during the chapters when I feel like it. It'll make the story more alive and I got the idea from a few other fics I've read so no, I don't take credit with coming up with the idea. I hope you guys listen to the songs while reading because it'll mean a lot!

Review Responses:

jordanfritz10: Haha I know how you feel trust me! I have read several fanfics where I've felt conflicted because there's so much drama but it's so good! Thanks for the support!

aaquater: Exactly! I loved your review! Glad you really took the time to notice how different Percy and Annabeth are but at the same time how good they could be for each other because it balances out. Enjoy!

AliaPace-Percabeth: Oh no don't cry! I promise it's going to start getting better for Percy and Annabeth REALLY soon just hang in there friend! Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: Don't own

"Is it time to leave yet?" Annabeth complained. The loud ringing of bells accompanied by the screams of people on rides was already starting to give her a headache. All she felt like doing was taking a long nap in her bed.

"Oh come on A, the carnival's in town! How can you not be happy surrounded by all this food and all the prizes!" Calypso said excitedly, gesturing to the scene before them as they walked further along the busy pathway where people were playing the carnival games and winning cheap stuffed animals.

In attempt to make their blonde friend feel better, Piper, Calypso and Thalia had decided to take her to the carnival that was only in town for the weekend. The truth was, if Annabeth's head had been clear of all the Percy, Rachel and Luke drama then she probably would have been laughing hysterically with her friends on the tilt-a-whirl ride and eating cotton candy like there was no tomorrow. However, unfortunately she was still confused and frustrated beyond belief with everything.

She couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Percy a few days ago. The encounter made her even more confused because Percy thought he had been kissing her at the party. She didn't exactly know what to do with that information. She didn't even know if he was telling the truth. Did he really want to be with her? And even if he was telling the truth, he still kissed Rachel and that really hurt her. Her brain felt like a bunch of cords jumbled together in one giant knot that was practically impossible to unravel. Her feelings were everywhere. She missed him desperately. She hated how much he affected her, made her feel weak and sensitive.

As for Luke Castellan, Annabeth still hadn't spoken a word to him since the party. She wanted to believe that he'd changed but picturing his aggressive stance and harmful words towards Percy during their fight stopped her from confronting him. He looked so defeated and guilty whenever she brushed him off at school and a part of her wanted to forgive him so badly but she just didn't know if that was the smart thing to do.

"I'm sorry guys. Thanks for trying, really, but I just don't feel like doing anything. I've got too much on my mind." Annabeth admitted honestly. She sighed and wrapped her plaid shirt tighter around herself.

It was a nice day with the weather not being freezing or hot. They were getting closer and closer to spring in New York. Annabeth was wearing a pair of light washed ripped jeans, black converse, and a red long sleeve plaid shirt with a plain black fitted shirt underneath. Her hair was down and she had an owl pendant hanging around her neck. She had a black jacket wrapped around her waist incase she got cold.

"And that's why we need to ride that." Thalia said, pointing and smiling mischievously at a ride called 'The Claw' about twenty feet in front of the four girls.

Annabeth had seen the ride plenty of times before but had never dared to actually go on it. The ride consisted of four different claws connected so that they made a giant circle. Each 'claw' held four people and it swung back and forth while twisting in the air. It didn't flip you over but it went super high so that it felt like you were about to flip over.

"Yes, I second that idea!" Piper agreed, staring at the ride before them.

"Well you guys have fun because there's no way in hell I'm getting on that." Annabeth said immediately. She watched as people screamed and laughed as the ride started up again.

"Wha-Annabeth! You have to go!" Calypso argued. Piper and Thalia agreed, taking her by the arms comfortingly.

"It'll be fun I promise. I bet it'll even make you forget, at least for a little while anyway. Please?" Thalia begged. Annabeth sighed, looking straight into her best friend's pleading eyes.

Finally, she nodded hesitantly. Maybe Thalia was right. Maybe doing something thrilling would make her feel a little less miserable. It was worth a shot anyway. With that in mind, the four of them got in line to wait their turn.

After watching countless people go on the ride, the girls were finally at the front of the line. They would be on the next ride and Annabeth was now wishing more than ever that she hadn't agreed to the crazy idea. She could deal with smaller rides like the tilt-a-whirl or the Scrambler but this was another story. What had she been thinking?

"Uhh guys? I-I think I'm gonna wait for you on the side. I change my mind." Annabeth said shakily as the claw slowed down again and the people before them got off.

"Oh no you don't. We've been waiting for the past half hour. We're all going on it together." Thalia stated, taking Annabeth's hand and practically dragging her past the worker collecting their tickets and to a seat on the ride next to her. Thalia was fearless when it came to thrill rides. It was ironic considering she wasn't a big fan of heights but just being on the ride and moving super fast gave her a high.

Piper and Calypso laughed, following behind them and finding their own seats on the ride.

Annabeth heard the sound of the harnesses around them locking as the ride started up after everyone had found a seat. She could feel herself shaking in nervousness as Thalia waited next to her excitedly.

"I hate you, you know that?" Annabeth said through her fast breathing while turning to face her best friend. Thalia smirked.

"Love you too."

[Song Tribute- Feel So Close by Calvin Harris]

Before anything else could be said, the ride started. Annabeth gripped her harness like it was her lifeline as they swung from left to right, getting higher and higher with each passing second. Thalia started laughing next to her and she could see Piper and Calypso smiling as they gathered more speed.

The grey-eyed girl screamed after another few seconds. The claw started spinning around as they started swinging back and forth faster. She closed her eyes, wanting the ride to just be over already. Piper and Calypso were screaming excitedly and Thalia now had her hands in the air and was laughing happily.

"Open your eyes Annie! You're missing all the fun!" Thalia nudged her.

She moved like a snail, forcing her eyes open just the slightest bit. Her grip on the harness hadn't softened. Finally, she blinked her eyes open and screamed loudly when they swung down at full speed.

"This is insane!" Annabeth yelled, a horrified look on her face.

"Live a little will you! Here, put your arms up like this." Thalia ordered, showing her what she'd previously been doing.

Annabeth hesitantly released her death grip on the harness and did what Thalia told her too. Her breathing was fast and her hands were shaking.

"Now just…look around you."

Annabeth observed everything she could in her line of vision. She could see the other people on the ride next to her and across from her laughing hysterically and screaming at the top of their lungs. She looked far into the distance and realized that each time they reached the high point in the swinging of the claw she could see the entire carnival. There were hundreds of people followed by thousands of lights and noises. She didn't realize it until a moment later, but a smile started to appear on her face.

She started laughing, surprising herself and Thalia. Once she started she couldn't stop. She laughed harder than she had in a long time, feeling the cool air whip across her face and the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her hair flew in the wind and she put her arms up higher, now enjoying the experience.

And for a few minutes nothing mattered. She forgot about everything that had happened in the last week at Silena's party. She forgot about the state skating competition coming up and about how much homework she had been assigned. For a minute nothing mattered. It was just her having fun with her friends. She felt happy, she felt free.

The moment ended all too soon as the ride came to a close and the four of them got off. She never thought she would actually miss being on that crazy ride but she did.

And that's why for the next two hours, all four girls rode practically every ride at the carnival together. For some of them they even ended up going multiple times. Annabeth couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun and wasn't bothered by the stress of school or any drama once so ever. Being with her friends in such a positive atmosphere put her in a really good mood. It had been forever since the four of them had all hung out together. She missed hanging out with them.

"You should be an actress Pipes because that scream sure sounded like one from a horror movie!" Calypso teased once they were off another ride.

Annabeth laughed along with Thalia as the four of them linked arms with each other and walked down the pavement together in a line. Annabeth was sandwiched between Thalia and Piper as they walked.

"I wasn't that loud! …Oh look, cotton candy!" Piper shouted in attempt to change the subject. Thalia rolled her eyes while Piper broke away from them to go to the cotton candy stand and buy some of the pink fluffy sugar on a stick.

"Stop trying to change the subject Piper. The scream could be heard for miles and you know it!" Thalia argued once Piper had come back and resumed her position in between Calypso and Annabeth.

"Shut up! At least I wasn't the one who nearly fainted on the drop tower earlier!" Piper shot back. Thalia's smirk turned into a scowl as she shot a glare towards her friend.

"I didn't think it was going to be that high up!"

Annabeth and Calypso laughed light-heartedly as the four of them continued to walk past the various different carnival games and food. Annabeth was so busy talking to the others and laughing at their teasing remarks that she didn't notice a pair of blue eyes staring at her from a few feet away.

It wasn't until she crashed right into him and he put an arm out to steady her that she finally saw him. He had a couple of friends with him. His hair was windblown and he was wearing a quarter zip sweater with some jeans. He smiled shyly when he saw her. It was as if he was afraid of what her reaction would be to seeing him.

She knew she was going to have to talk to him at some point but why did it have to be on the one day she was trying to forget about it all and spend time with her closest friends? The world hated her.

"Luke?"

"So please Blondie, forgive me." Luke finished his well thought out speech and stood before her with eyes full of hope.

Annabeth sighed deeply. Bumping into Luke was not something she had planned. He had pulled her aside after she'd crashed into him and explained how sorry he was and proceeded to say a bunch of sweet things that made Annabeth blush. She didn't quite know what to do.

"I-I don't know Luke." She said honestly, making eye contact with her three friends across from them who were staring at her concerned. She shook her head to tell them she was ok before looking back at Luke whose expression was saddened.

"I promise you I'm still that same guy you know. The one you spend countless hours trying to teach math and keep focused. The one that's always going to be there for you when you need him. Please just, give me another chance." He pleaded.

Annabeth stood conflicted in front of him. She could tell by looking into his eyes that everything he was telling her was true. He could tell how troubled she was with the whole situation.

"Let me make it up to you. Spend the rest of the day with me at the carnival. I'll show you I'm still the Luke you remember. It doesn't even have to be a date, just as friends." He added a minute later.

"Luke- I came here to spend the day with my friends. It's not like I can just drop everything to spend the day with you. And what about your friends?" Annabeth replied, gesturing to the two guys standing awkwardly far behind them and trying to make conversation with Thalia, Piper and Calypso.

"Trevor and Justin were just about to head home. Are you sure your friends couldn't spare you just for a few hours? I mean I'm not that revolting am I?" He teased.

Annabeth laughed despite her hardest attempts not to. She focused her gaze upon her three good friends. They had been out for hours and it was starting to get a bit dark outside. She knew Piper was secretly dying to call Jason and Thalia didn't look too interested in walking any more than the many miles she already had. Calypso was the most understanding person she knew so Annabeth knew she wouldn't have a problem with it. She looked back to Luke who was staring at her hopefully.

She supposed a couple hours couldn't hurt. It wasn't like he was some complete stranger and besides, he'd already explained that it didn't have to be a date and could just be as friends.

Finally after spending who knows how long fighting a mental battle in her head, Annabeth sighed and walked over to her three best friends. Just as she'd thought, they were all very supportive of her decision even though she could sense a little hesitation in Thalia's eyes as the edgy girl looked between her best friend and Luke Castellan. She reassured them that she would be fine and with one final hug, they were gone.

She walked back over to Luke who had finished saying goodbye to his friends. He had the largest grin on his face. Annabeth noticed how his smile was perfectly straight and showed his pearly white teeth that shined brightly. She couldn't help but compare it to a certain sea-green eyed hockey player who had a slightly crooked smile and dimples that made her swoon. Wow, where the hell had that come from?

She shook it off. She couldn't think about Percy any more than she already had that day. She was taking a risk letting Luke spend some time alone with her at the carnival but she needed to start somewhere if she wanted to clean up this big mess right?

"So I'm guessing since your friends just left you're taking me up on my offer?" Luke asked, still smiling widely.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "No funny business. This is just as friends. Don't think I've forgotten about all the other stuff that's happened."

Luke put his hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok I promise. Just as friends. Jeez Blondie don't interrogate me."

Annabeth punched his arm jokingly as the two of them continued walking down through the various carnival games and rides.

"Well I have to admit. Tonight wasn't horrible." Annabeth teased as Luke followed close behind her to the front porch of her house.

"Well I aim to please Blondie." Luke replied once they stopped in front of the door to Annabeth's house. She turned to him and smiled. It was nearly ten o'clock at night. If it hadn't been a Saturday night her mother would've killed her.

"Thanks" She said suddenly.

"For what?"

"For…everything. Getting me to forget about the stress of senior year, driving me home when Thalia didn't answer, winning me this stuffed animal. All of it." She explained, holding up the small cat plush toy he'd won from a ring toss carnival game.

It kind of reminded her of when Percy had bought her that small owl plush toy from their road trip. She mentally cursed herself for letting him into her mind yet again.

Before she could think about it any longer Luke surprised her by leaning in close. She hesitated and widened her eyes in question at what he was going to do. He settled for placing a light peck on her cheek. Annabeth stood in place when he pulled away. There was an awkward silence.

"I'll see you soon Blondie?" Luke asked after another second.

"Uh…yeah. Night Luke." She said lowly.

"Night Annabeth." He turned around and started the trek back to his car.

Annabeth twisted the doorknob and stepped inside her house. She closed it and then leaned against the wall after taking off her shoes. She stared at the plush in her hands.

She realized something that night that she'll never forget.

That evening had been a lot of fun. She liked hanging out with Luke and talking to him. He was a nice guy and she knew he'd changed from the person he used to be. His flirty comments and gestures were sweet. He was a pretty perfect guy and Annabeth didn't think he would hurt her if they were ever together. It was all so easy with him but…

She didn't like him. Not in the way Luke liked her.

She didn't feel insane butterflies when she was around him. She didn't feel sparks whenever they touched. She didn't see him as anything more than a friend. She realized that she liked the idea of him, the idea of someone who wasn't super complicated and confusing. She didn't see him the way he saw her and that was because of something she'd been trying to avoid happening. It involved Percy.

Everything with the captain of the Trident's team was complicated and difficult. There was just so much drama. She was terrified but attracted to him all at once. She knew if she got too close he could break her heart. She didn't need that in her life right now but she couldn't help it.

She liked Percy Jackson. Hell, she was falling in love with him and she didn't even know it.

He was the one she wanted.

That's a wrap on chapter 28! Annabeth has finally come to her senses and figured out who she wants to be with! It's only a matter of time now right? Well you'll just have to stay tuned to see what happens next! Hope you liked the carnival. I thought it was a good break from all the drama. I love the ride called 'The Claw' it's so fun! And what about Annabeth's girl day with her best friends? Let me know your thoughts by hitting that review button! See you guys in the next update!

REVIEW, REVIEW AND REVIEW!

-M