A.N/ Hey guys… I'm back with Ch. 3! Hope you enjoy this one. It's relatively short so I may post a Ch. 4 sooner than next Sunday hehe... Don't forget to review regardless of your liking it or no. It would mean a lot to me!

Also, sorry I forgot to update yesterday. I was out of town for a short vacation and I didn't have my laptop or network, so sorry.

Without saying, HOO and PJO are owned by Rick.

Chapter 3:

I watched her walk away. It was easier, now that I knew I would see her again. Once I couldn't see her anymore, I turned back around and went inside. I instantly fell on the couch and threw my head back closing my eyes. The feelings I was ignoring and suppressing for so many years were now coming back slowly and I was in no power to stop them.

"Percy, dinner's ready." My mom said and I opened my eyes. She was standing in front of me with a gentle smile on her face. I returned it and got up, heading to the dining table.

"Me and Paul have already had dinner. So, I made you some sandwiches. Is that okay?"

"Of course." I said, staring into open space.

"She's beautiful." I nodded. "The name Annabeth suits her."

"Yes, it does." But to me, she'll be Wise Girl.

"Is this hard for you? Her coming back?" Her words brought me back and my eyes focused on her.

"No, absolutely not, Mum. It's just that…"

"You're afraid she'll leave again."

"Yes." I sighed.

"Percy, she did not leave of her own will at the camp. You were both babies, and stupid enough to not ask for names or addresses or phone numbers. Its fine, happens sometimes. But now that she's back in your life, you should hold on to the bond you have with her which is still intact after all these years rather than the insecurity of her leaving."

She was right. I smiled. "Okay. Now gimme those sandwiches before my stomach makes embarrassing noises."

She laughed. "Fine, fine."

After dinner, I laid down on my bed in just my boxers, staring at Annabeth's picture in my wallet. She had changed. At that point of time, she was cute. But now she had become seriously beautiful, so fucking beautiful. A smile creeped on my face. Wise Girl, still as endearing as she was before. I remembered talking to her all night until we fell asleep in the strawberry fields itself and Chiron had scolded us in the morning. But he couldn't do anything other than that because it was the last day.

I closed my eyes. Me and Wise Girl, both of us didn't cry till the end. I was sure at that time that I would see her again. She became my best friend in the matter of just hours and no one ever matched up to her. The way she listened every word and animatedly told me everything she wanted to tell me. She trusted me. And even though we didn't know each other much, I knew that she found it hard to trust because of her family. That meant a lot to me.

Mom was right. Now that she was back, I should hold on to her rather than the fear of her leaving. Because Annabeth was important to me, more than anything. The fact really surprised me. Because I had known her just for one day before we departed and became my best friend. But even when I was apart from her, I fell in love with her. I didn't know that was possible before this.

But I had. From countless nights of remembering her and the mere hours with her, resulted in me falling for her. It was effortless, just like falling asleep. It was hard and unbelievable that I could fall in love when I didn't even know her name. But I quickly understood that love doesn't work that way. It just happens.

Next Day in School:

"So, you're saying that she's the girl you've been simping over for so long?" Jason said.

"The one and only wise girl is Annabeth Chase!" Hazel exclaimed. "Damn."

All the 4 of us were standing by my locker and they were grilling me. "I wasn't simping over her." I frowned and the others gave me a disbelieving look. "Really, she was and is still just my best friend after all these years."

Big fat lie. But I didn't want to admit that I had feelings for her to them just yet. The first one to know would be Wise Girl.

"Whatever you say, Seaweed Brain." Jason smirked.

"Don't call me that." I shoved him.

"Touchy, are we?"

"Oh yeah, who turns as red as a tomato when Piper walks by?" Now it was my turn to laugh. "That's what I thought." I smirked as the bell rang.

I hadn't seen Annabeth yet but I would now as it was Math. I felt internally happy. This kind of happiness was too much and I was nearly overwhelmed. It was not like I wasn't happy when she wasn't near me. I had amazing friends and parents and a stelar life. But now everything was perfect. I smiled again like the lovesick fool I was.

I entered the classroom and saw that Annabeth was already seated besides me. She was staring down in the book, that nerd. She looked up at me and smiled the smile that was only reserved for me. My heartbeat sped up. Gods, I wanted to kiss her. But that would be moving to fast. But you know her already. Ask her out. Better yet, just kiss her. The impulsive voice in my mind spoke. No, that would me moving fast. You're just making up for the lost time! I shook my head. It was a thing to think about later.

I walked over to her and smirked. "Hey Wise Girl. How's your day been?"

"So far, so good." She smiled.

"Listen, what are you doing after school today?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Probably read a book. Why?"

"Do you want to hang out with me?" I asked, hoping that she would say yes. I wanted to spend with her.

"Of course. I thought you'd never ask, Seaweed Brain. Now that I've met you again, I want to know you all over again. I want to be best friends again."

"We still are, Annabeth. I'm the same Percy. Well, I've just grown taller than you." I smirked.

"Shut up, I was taller than you before. Its not my fault that you had a growth spurt."

"Just admit that you don't like that, Annie."

"Don't call me that." She shoved me and I almost fell off.

"Hey! I could have fallen over."

"Aww, afraid to hurt your handsome face?"

"So, you admit I'm handsome." I asked, staring into her grays.

She blushed crimson. It was a good look on her. She rarely blushed. It was really hard to make her squirm. But she recovered quickly.

"Wow, your ego must be cramped up in this small classroom."

"Whatever."

"Why, can't think of a comeback now, can you?" She laughed.

I instinctively leaned in closer and she stopped laughing. I tilted her head away from me and turned her ear towards me. "I think we should pay attention to the class now, Wise Girl." She shivered and I loved the effect I had on her.

She looked away and blushed again. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I seducing her? Because you, doofus, Seaweed Brain, you love her, already. Love doesn't wait for any time to pass. It just happens at it remains, you idiot.

I froze. What that voice just said in my mind was true! Why to waste time? Five fucking years I've waited; I should just make up for the lost time.

The class stretched on and I didn't even pay attention to what the teacher was saying. I was too busy thinking about what I would say to Annabeth. I decided to lay it out, bare it all. That was what she deserved.

I knew that she deserved better than me. But instead of waiting for someone to sweep her out of my arms, I should become better.

She was mine.

As the words rang out in my mind, I realized they were true. They were true all along. I had never hoped that my childhood crush would be my love. Maybe even the love of my life. But it was all true. I knew she felt it too, something in the least. Her blush was in favor of that. I smiled. Maybe Wise Girl wasn't mine yet, but I would make her.

"Is there anything pleasant in your mind rather than studies, Mr. Jackson?" The teacher's voice got me out of my thoughts. Fucking eh.

"Everything is pleasant than you face." I murmured and Annabeth kicked me from under the table.

"No sir. I was just smiling because I didn't know that this sum was easy. I thought it would be hard." I lied straight.

He opened his mouth to say something but a sound rang through the school. I was literally saved by the bell. Everyone immediately got up and began to get out of the classroom. I, however waited for Wise Girl to gather her stuff. I hadn't even spread out my stuff to gather it today.

"Where do you want to hang out?" I asked her once we set out to leave.

"I am okay with anywhere. But you probably won't want to hang out at my dorm because I don't my roommate drooling over you."

"What?"

"My roommate, she kind of has a crush on you."

I groaned loud and clear. "I might not even know her name, but just pass on a message that I'm not interested and never will be."

"Hey, that's what she told me you'd reply if I ever told you."

"Because that's what I reply to every girl."

"Why!?"

"I don't want them." I shrugged. As simple as that.

"Then who do you want?"

You, Wise Girl. "I don't know yet." Lie, lie, lie. "I'll tell you once I do." Today itself.

"Fine." She laughed.

"We can meet today at my place. Mom can bake us cookies. We can do whatever."

"Sure. At what time?"

"Whenever you want. Say 4?"

"Sound's great. See you then Seaweed Brain. We don't have any classes together now."

"Yeah." My face fell and she noticed.

"Aww, miss me already." She teased but her eyes were soft.

"Ha. You wish." I snorted, and she laughed as she turned around and left.