Percy's POV:

Finally, 1 day until Annabeth moves in with me in New York! It's been about 3 months since we defeated Kronos, two and a half months since we left camp. Ever since, I have yearned for her presence. I craved the warmth and comfort of her arms, the savory taste of her lips on mine, and everything else about her. She was my Wise Girl I thought to myself and grinned.

Annabeth had gotten kicked out of her school in San Francisco. I feel bad, but honestly, did she really expect me to remember its name? Anyways, I've been attending Goode High for the past two-ish months. After the fiasco of my last school year at Goode it was a miracle I was allowed back. And to be honest, it hasn't been the best of times. I remember walking in on the first day this year to the whispers and staring like the other students couldn't believe I'd had the nerve to come back. I thought it was amusing at first, but as the days drew by the humor ceased and I was still an outcast.

My lack of close friends, friends in general actually, made me a target for the jocks and there was nothing I could do about it. I promised Paul I would try my best to not get expelled and I intended to honor my word. I only lost my temper once, but I knew at the time I wouldn't get in trouble.

Ryan, you know, the stereotypical high school douchebag the ladies fall over for? Yea, he hated me. One day as I was leaving school Ryan and his best friend made the mistake of confronting me out of sight of any bystanders. This was about a month ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Here's how it went.

I turned down an alley intending to take a shortcut home. I was on my phone, oblivious to the fact that the two jocks were right in front of me, waiting. It wasn't til I was within 10 feet of them that they made their presence known.

"Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. Would you look at what we have here" he said with a smile. I smirked at his overconfidence, which apparently offended him. "Wipe that smirk off your face or I'll do it for you" he snapped.

Once again, I smirked, which eventually turned into laughter as I watched the rage rise within him. Next thing I knew, he was in my face. Our noses were almost touching. I thought about giving him a kiss, just for shits. That would really get him going. However, I decided against it.

Ryan's friend, Tommy, I think, finally piped up "Just kick his ass Ryan I've got shit to do."

Ryan, of course, chuckled to himself, then swung. I was ready for it. I saw it coming from a mile away. A big football player in combat? Surly his only move was the one hit knock down. I ducked avoiding his club like arm. Not that it would've hurt, on the contrary it would've hurt him, but I wanted the satisfaction of beating him up, not him beating himself.

Instinctually I swept out his legs from under him. He went down hard, as all giants do. I pinned his arm behind his back, the bottom of my shoe crushing his jaw into the pavement.

Tommy stepped forward to intervene by I shot him a look that said back up or you'll be next. He seemed to get the message and held his ground.

I leaned down and whispered into Ryan's ear "You can leave now or I'll break your nose in round 2."

I let him up and he backed up, assessing the situation. He was muling over his options before Tommy said "Let's get out of here Ry, another day."

"Yeah, another day" Ryan replied "You'd just better hope it doesn't come Jackson."

"Time and place Ryan" I shot back. "Just let me know."

I watched as the two defeated jocks left the alley.

I had expected Ryan to at least back off after that, but if anything, it made things worse. Ryan seemed to know that I wouldn't risk doing anything in school, so that's where he targeted me. Day in and day out he would ridicule and insult me, often in the lunch room with a majority of the student body watching. What a stand up guy.

"Percy, Percy!" my mom shouted.

I shook myself out of my daze and came back to reality.

"You're already late, you don't want to miss class completely," my mom said.

"Yes I do" I replied. Going to class was probably the last thing I wanted to do. I kissed my mom on the cheek and said goodbye.

I didn't mind showing up to school late; in fact, sometimes I did it on purpose. Most days I would take a late penalty to avoid the rush of the morning. As I walked up the steps and through the empty halls, my mind couldn't drift from Annabeth. She'll be here tomorrow. Finally, after months apart, we would be reunited once more. As a nice bonus I would finally have a friend at school, one I could trust unwaveringly.

I entered first period and headed to my seat. "Mr. Jackson, this is the second time this week…" my teacher began.

"Yeah, yea, my bad" I replied. I didn't actually care. I'd already accepted a normal life in the real world wasn't for me, so there was no point in overachieving. All I wanted was to graduate, to make my mom happy.

Naturally, I zoned out for first period, then second, then third, fourth, and fifth. Finally I thought to myself. Lunchtime. I dreaded and loved it at the same time. On the one hand, no class and food. On the other, odds of encountering Ryan were pretty high.

I sat down at a table with a couple of other kids that I knew somewhat well. Jack, Julia, Tori, and Henry were their names. We sat in silence most of the time, but we all knew that we were the closest thing to friends that the others had.

Five minutes in, right on cue, Ryan, Tommy, and a handful of others whose names I hadn't bothered to learn approached.

"Oi! Jackson-5" Ryan called; that's how he addressed my table, or as the "Misfits." I turned, annoyed. If they wanted to pick on me that was fine, but it bothered me when they did it to the others.

"Ryan." I said with a glare.

He smirked "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

"Everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed when you come to say Hi, it just ruins the day" I replied.

Heads started turning. It was an unwritten school rule that nobody spoke back to Ryan. It just made things worse. Countless kids got beat up trying to defend themselves. I usually just let it go but today I really wasn't having it. Normally, Ryan would get in anyone's face who chirped him, but he's been hesitant to invade my personal space after what happened last time.

He opened his mouth to say something, but just before he could one of his friends tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Ry, check out this new girl."

Mine and Ryan's heads turned in sync. There, standing in the middle of the room, early as always, was Annabeth.

I smiled and started to stand up. Ryan put his hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down into my seat.

"You seriously aren't thinking of going over there, Jackson. You? And her? She's the hottest girl in the school and you don't even have any friends. Let me show you how it's done."

I stood with Tommy and his gang and watched Ryan cross the room with an overconfident swagger that made me want to knock him on the spot. He reached Annabeth and started chatting. I couldn't make out what they were saying over the lunchroom noise, but less than a minute later he turned and started walking back towards his friends and me.

He looked pissed. Like real mad. He came back over and didn't say a word, so I took the opportunity.

"Looks like you almost had that one Ry." I chirped.

"She wouldn't even look at you Jackson, don't give me that shit."

"I could do better than that for sure. That was a straight rejection. I don't think it's possible to do worse."

"Alright Jackson, why don't you get over there and show me how it's done."

He has no idea what's coming, I thought to myself. Ryan and his crew started laughing at the prospect of me and Annabeth. In their eyes, I've probably never come close to even talking to a girl. His mood lifted temporarily as I made my way towards Annabeth.

I could barely contain myself to a walk. Her blond, curly hair, mysterious grey eyes, her tanned and toned body; she was perfect. And that was before you even got to know her.

When I was ten feet away she finally turned in my direction. We locked eyes and a smile grew a mile wide across both of our faces.

"Supris-" was all she could managed before I locked my lips with hers. It was everything I had imagined and more. The faint taste of cherry chapstick, the silkiness of her hair as I ran my fingers through, her soft purr as I caressed her lower back. This was Elysium.

As we pulled apart, our gasps for air were the loudest sound in the room. I mean you could hear a pin drop, literally. Everybody was looking at us, confused, bewildered, unable to comprehend what just happened.

Annabeth nestled her face in the crook of my neck. "Why is everyone staring?" she whispered.

"I'm not exactly what one would consider popular." I replied. "The opposite, actually. I think everyone feels the same way I did when you kissed me under St. Helens."

"And what was that feeling" Annabeth replied.

"Confused, surprised, and utterly bewildered" I whispered back

"Nothing else?" she replied.

"Well, now that you mention it, I guess I was happy, in love, and still bewildered"

"You guess?"

"Was my answer not good enough for you?"

"Just making your life difficult, as promised."

"I missed you wise girl."

"You too Seaweed Brain."

I looked around again. The silence was filled with whispers, but all eyes were still on us.

"Want to meet my friends?" Percy said.

"I thought you didn't have any?" Annabeth replied.

"I said I wasn't popular, not that I didn't have any friends."

I grabbed her hand and walked towards my table. Ryan and his crew were still standing there, in shock with the rest of the room.

"How'd I do?" I asked him before I sat down.

He didn't answer. He turned and stormed off, a crew of jocks in his wake.

Annabeth watched him walk out "Lemme guess, popular douchebag, thinks he gets whatever he wants?"

"Gee Annabeth, what gave it away?"

"Just a hunch."

I laughed. I can't remember the last time I laughed at school. Last year? Maybe. It felt good to have Annabeth back, to feel whole once more.