Chapter Nine:

February 14th

Annabeth was overwhelmed by all the pink and red she saw as she walked through the school halls. Valentine's Day was never her favorite holiday but she did have a special appreciation for it, now that she actually had someone to celebrate. Speaking of, as she neared her locker, she saw Percy leaning against it looking at something on his phone.

"Hey," she said, as he raised his head, "what are you doing?"

His face split into a wide smile and he stepped aside to allow her to unlock her locker, "I just wanted to stop by and say Happy Valentine's Day!"

Annabeth returned his smile and replied, "Happy Valentine's Day Seaweed Brain! Now you really should get to c-." Her sentence was cut short when she looked into her locker and saw a bouquet of blue hydrangeas and a small package wrapped in blue wrapping paper.

She smiled when she saw their blue present tradition continued, and she turned towards her boyfriend, "I thought we were waiting till tonight to exchange gifts?"

A regretful look crossed his face, "Yeah, about that…" Annabeth felt the smile melt off her face at his words. "My mom told me this morning that she couldn't convince Gabe to go out and he's insistent on staying at the apartment, so we can't have dinner at my place."

Guilt immediately began to gnaw at her and she turned into her locker to keep Percy from seeing her expression.

It's alright, I mean, we can work something else out. My parents still think that I'm coming over to your place so we can just find somewhere to go." She pulled the present out of her locker and pushed it back towards Percy. "So you're not getting out of this Valentine's Day bullshit that easily. I can't unsee the flowers, but I'm not opening that till later."

Percy smirked and took the gift from her. "Whatever the beautiful girl wants, she shall get."

The two went their separate ways to begin their school day.

It was between Annabeth's 5th and 6th period that she knew things were just going to get worse from there.

"Annabeth!" She heard as she headed to her next class. She turned to see Luke rushing to catch up to her.

She left out a quick huff but waited for him to reach her.

"Hey," he said with a quick smile, "how are you? I feel like we haven't talked in forever. Honestly, starting to think you're avoiding me."

She tried to send him a convincing look of guilt, "Yeah, sorry about that. I've just been really busy trying to juggle all my classes, college applications, the dance team… You know, just really busy."

"Don't forget about that new boyfriend of yours." Annabeth could hear the resentment in his tone.

Now she let out a scoff, "Yeah, I don't really think six months really constitutes him as 'new.' But you just can't accept that, can you Luke?"

He rolled his eyes, "Oh come on, I've done nothing. Except listen to your parents as they made some pretty good points as to why we would make a better couple than you and that idiot."

She glared at him, "Watch yourself, Luke."

"Annabeth. Just listen to me. We would be so good together. I mean, we've been friends for years so why not make it something more?"

"I can't believe you," she said in disbelief, before hardening her tone. "You listen to me. I'm only going to say this once and then I hope to never speak about it again. Percy is one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. He brings out the best parts of me and pushes me to be even better. He is loyal and hardworking and supportive and kind. And most importantly, he makes me happy. If you were really my friend, that would be all you want for me."

She took a deep breath, looked her friend in the eyes, and then continued, "And I haven't been happy in so long. Luke, please. Just let this go so I can be happy."

He looked back at her for a few seconds before casting his eyes down in defeat. With a sigh, he responded, "I'm sorry. I-I'll stop working with your parents. I never meant to hold you back from being happy. You deserve to be happy. I'm sorry." He said one final time, before turning and walking down the hall.

Annabeth watched his back disappear around the corner before she turned to enter her class and saw Percy standing by the entrance.

Suddenly embarrassed for her outburst, she walked up to him, "Please tell me you didn't hear any of that."

He let out a small chuckle, "What can I say? It seems like I showed up at the perfect time. When I saw him talking to you, I was all ready to step in and defend you, but imagine my surprise when there you are defending me."

"Yeah, I just couldn't stand him talking about you like that and he just keeps trying to undermine our relationship and it's just so ridiculous becau-"

He silenced her by pulling her in by her backpack strap and pressing his lips to her. When he pulled away, he whispered, "I love you too, Wise Girl."

Annabeth smiled up at him and a quiet chuckle left her lips. Before they entered the classroom, he pressed another soft kiss to her cheek and whispered in her ear, "And just for the record, there is nothing I could do to ever make you better than you already are."

Okay, so maybe she was wrong. Her day was already starting to improve.

Oh, if only Annabeth knew how soon she would come to regret these words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~oohhhhh, it's getting good ;)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School ended with no more drama and she drove home to get ready for whatever she and Percy would end up doing tonight. Not long after she got home, she received a text from the man himself.

Ok, so I think I have an idea. Meet me at the bakery at 6!

She smiled and sent a confirmation, wondering what her boyfriend could have planned.

After getting some homework done, taking a shower, and finishing getting ready, Annabeth gathered her purse and her gift for Percy before heading out the door around 5:30.

She made it to the neighborhood where Sally's bakery was and had to park a little way down the street and began her walk to the front door of the business.

Annabeth wore a red dress with long sleeves, covered by a long, black coat. She could feel the cold February air brush against her legs as she hurried past all the women in their nice dresses and all the men carrying flowers and chocolates.

She could see the soft lights of the bakery when she had the strange sensation she was being followed. Annabeth quickened her pace and took a glance behind her. Seeing no one of interest, she began to turn her head back, when she ran into the hard chest of a man and felt something sharp press into her stomach.

An overwhelming fear gripped her chest as she looked up to see a tall man with a baseball cap pulled low on his head, he grabbed her arm and quietly said, "Don't make a noise. Come with me or I'll slice your throat right here in the street so that your pretty little boyfriend can find you."

Oh god, Annabeth thought, they know about Percy, who are these people?

Trying to contain her panic, she nodded urgently and the man pulled her along and began heading to a dark alley that was a couple of doors down from the bakery.

The pair rounded the corner into the alley and Annabeth was pulled to a stop. She cautiously turned to her attacker but his face was the last thing she saw before a heavy weight struck her head, bringing an intense pain with it. And then everything went dark.

A/N: Uh-oh. Hopefully, I will have the next chapter up soon, but no promises lol. Let me know what you think. There probably won't be too many more chapters, which is crazy! Thanks for all your support! xoxo, stay safe everyone!