Hey! Sorry, it's been a few extra days, but I SERIOUSLY needed a mental health week. Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the song "Invisible".

"Come on, it will be fun!"

"I doubt that."

"Annabeth, I promised them that you'd come." I looked across the car incredulously at my boyfriend, who was giving me what he must have thought was a winning smile.

"That's your problem!" I said, glancing outside the window at the dark, brooding navy sky.

"Fine. Then I guess next time that there's a spider, that'll be your problem."

"That's not fair!" I cried.

"I'm not going to kill anymore for you."

"Yes you will, Seaweed Brain. You know you won't be able to just stand there while I'm in mortal peril."

Percy rolled his eyes, but I could tell that he knew it was true. "Will you please just come?" Sighing, I decided not to answer.

Percy had been asking me to come meet his AP Greek Mythology class for weeks. Nico, who was in Percy's class, had let slip that Mr. Jackson had a long term girlfriend, and ever since his class had been pestering him to meet me.

Pestering that Percy hadn't caved into...until now.

"Why do you want me to come, anyway?" I said, delicately rearranging my scarf as I avoided Percy's gaze. I stared out the car window at the sheets of rain that had began to pound upon Percy's new car. After years of driving around a heap a scrap metal that Percy called a truck, he finally got a nice, new SUV.

"Because," he said, making a sharp turn. "I love you."

Turning to look at Percy, I raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Fine. They don't believe Nico that I could possibly have had the same girlfriend since high school," he said guiltily. I burst out laughing, careful not to spill the Chinese takeout we had just gotten.

"I'm serious!" he said.

"I don't doubt you one bit," I chuckled, and started laughing all over again at the slightly hurt look on Percy's face. We pulled into the parking garage of my apartment complex and circled the lots, finally finding a spot on the third level. Dimly lit by the fluorescent glow of the lantern on the wall, I turned to look into the biggest puppy dog eyes in history by Perseus Jackson.

Groaning, I threw my hands up in defeat. "Fine! I'll come." Percy grinned.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, pecking me on the cheek. "They'll love you," he said. "Now come on, I prefer my Orange Chicken warm."

The next day, I walked into Goode High School right as the seventh and last period began. I had just come from work, wearing blue and white nautical stripped dress with a loosely knit shawl, along with my favorite brown Grecian style sandals. I had pulled my hair back into a messy bun, which had periodically released tendrils of my hair thought the day, making the messy bun look messier than normal. Laptop and blueprints shoved haphazardly into my brown leather purse, I climbed the stairs and turned down the hallway that Percy taught in.

I had been to Percy's classroom before; many times in fact. When the furnace in my apartment building broke last Christmas break, Percy and I had hunkered down in Percy's classroom and survived off of an assortment of Ramen Noodles, Jimmy Johns, and hot tea. Bored out of our minds, we had rearranged the room hundreds of times, brought in an old couch from our college days, thoroughly redecorated, and made lesson plans through March. Of course, I had popped in before or after school many times, but had never come near a student. Until today, we had decided that it would be for the best if we kept our relationship private from Percy's students.

Except from Nico di Angelo, who had a mouth bigger than Mrs. O'Leary's.

I could hear Percy's class before I could see them. As I approached the solid wooden door, I could hear peals of laughter and shouts issuing from the room. Evidently, Mr. Jackson had left them alone, presumably off making copies or conducting other acts of the teacherly nature. I pressed my ear against the door to try to hear what they were yammering on about.

"Do you thinks she's really... Real?" a kid asked.

Ah. Yammering on about me.

"What do you think she'll be like?" I heard one girl say, voice full of curiosity.

"Oh, come on," one particularly rowdy voice said above the clamor, which quickly died down on order to hear what the boy had to say. "This is Mr. Jackson here. Sure, he's cool and stuff but he's all into a bunch of people who lived zillions of years ago and made up weird gods. She's going to have to be nuts to date him."

Yeah, I get that a lot.

"Aw, no, Mr. Jackson seems like a sweet guy! I'll bet she's great. Chill out, Reilly," another girl said, addressing the boy who had just spoken.

"Well, why don't we ask di Angelo here?" Reilly asked. "He was the one who knew about her in the first place."

I heard the rustle of twenty some heads shifting at the same time. There was a space of silence following by groaning, suggesting that Nico had given one of his signature noncommittal shrugs.

"Oh, come on Nico!"

"Nico..."

"You'll all find out eventually," the cool voice of Nico do Angelo said with ringing authority. It was a sign of respect when nobody challenged him.

Straightening my sweater and squaring my shoulders, I decided now was as good time as any to meet these seniors. I turned the knob to the classroom and the door swung open, I peered in cautiously. There, on the opposite wall of the room, was the entire class, minus Nico, crowed around the window. Nico was plopped on the couch ten feet away, nonchalantly playing Angry Birds of his cell phone. Glancing up, he waved lazily at me but made no move to alert his classmates of my arrival. He merely remained settled into the couch, his long legs propped up on the armrest.

I tried not to think of everything Percy and I had done on that couch.

"Which car do you think is hers?" a girl said, craning her neck to get a good look out the window at the parking lot.

"I'll bet it's the Prius," said the boy whose voice I recognized to be Reilly. I silently padded up behind the mob

"Doubt it. She probably drives that Chevy over there," another one said, pointing to the far corner of the lot.

"Actually, she drives a Honda Accord," I said, causing twenty one teenagers to whip their heads around in shock. "It's nothing special, but..." I shrugged. "It's a good car."

There was a moment of pretty awkward silence.

Okaaaaaaay then.

"All right, why don't you all go back to your seats?" I said brightly, and made my way to the front of the class. They seemed to be in shock, which I admit was pretty bemusing. I perched myself on the edge of Percy's desk, looking satisfyingly into the faces of the awestruck kids.

"Well, I hear that you don't quite believe your teacher has a girlfriend," I said, seriously starting to enjoy myself. I didn't know why I hadn't start coming to Percy's classes sooner! "So I decided to come clear that up. I'm Annabeth Chase, and I am in fact dating your teacher." Immediately, the students moved as numerous wads of money were swapped as some students grinned with victory and others looked disappointed, Nico rolling in the biggest pile of cash.

Does everyone place bets on Percy and I?

"Soooo, lets see here," I said as the began to settle down again. "Since your teacher isn't here..." I said, leafing through Percy's notes. "I'll teach today." Groaning the class sat back in their seats, except for Reilly, who was looking at me triumphantly.

"Good luck with that! Mr. Jackson writes all of his notes in Ancient Greek. You'll have no clue what they say." My ADHD picked up a twitch from the back if the room, no doubt the formation of the smirk that currently played across Nico's lips.

"Well, that's not a problem since I happen to have taught Mr. Jackson how to write in Ancient Greek. Imagine that," I said sweetly, smiling wickedly at him. He looked slightly crestfallen and a whole lot irritated.

"But..." I said, scanning the lesson. "This looks to be about Hera, and I'm not really a fan. So," I said, tossing the stack of paper behind me without looking, "why don't we open this up for a little Q&A, shall we?" The room buzzed excitedly, students grinning earth ear.

"How long have you dated Mr. J?" a girl called out.

"Erm..." I counted them up quickly. "Seven, almost eight years?" They all seemed genuinely impressed. "We were high school sweethearts," I explained.

"Where did you meet?"

"Summer camp."

"How did Nico know about you?"

I was surprised by this question- I thought for sure they would've known that they were related.

"Nico and Mr. Jackson are cousins," I said. "Nico knew Percy and I long before we started dating." This statement caused whispers as students exchanged startled glances. "What else?" I asked.

What's Mr. Jackson's favorite color? Blue

Does he like pancakes or waffles? Pancakes.

What's the blue stuff Mr. Jackson drinks? Cherry Coke... Don't ask how it's blue.

What do you do? I'm an architect.

Are you two engaged? Er, no.

Why not? Because... Mr. Jackson is... slow. It took him several years just to figure out he liked me, and even longer to actually ask me out.

How did he ask you out? He didn't really ask, it just... happened.

What's the weirdest thing about Mr. Jackson? Next question.

Do you really call Mr. Jackson Perseus? No, mainly Percy... but we have a running joke that's been going on since we were twelve were I call him Seaweed Brain.

That got a few laughs.

Just then, Percy walked into the room looking a little flustered.

"Ok, guys," he said, addressing his class. "I want your best behavior for-" Catching sight of me, he pulled up short. After processing that I was, in fact, sitting in his desk, he quickly surveyed his class, who had their eyes glued on us.

"You have them quiet? And in their seats? And paying attention?" Percy asked in disbelief.

"Yup," I said smugly. He stared at me in awe for a moment.

"Figures," he muttered darkly.

"So... can we keep asking questions?" a girl in the back asked.

"Questions?" Percy asked, looking alarmed. I heard Nico snicker in the back.

"Yes, they're quite curious about your life outside the classroom," I said, grinning at him with my most devious smile. Percy didn't say anything, just retreated to behind his desk complaining under his breath about something like confidentiality and women.

"So, whose the better driver?" A girl said.

"Me," Percy and I said firmly in unison.

The kids laughed.

The rest of the afternoon went quickly. I got to know the kids- the class dynamic was light and happy, and more than once I had students tell me that Percy was their favorite teacher. I was impressed with the command he had over his classroom, though when a few of the boys took the liberty of harassing him about not having proposed yet, he adopted his usual Seaweed Brain mannerisms and bashfully scratched the back of his neck.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom with twenty minutes left in the class period. As I entered the bathroom, the first thing I heard was the strangled sound of someone trying to hold back tears. Unsure of what to do, I instinctively slipped into the nearest stall when I heard the lock turn on the only other closed door in the bathroom. I heard the girl emerge, and listened to her sneakers slap the tile floor lightly as she padded over to the mirror. Just as I was about to peer out the door to see if she was alright, I heard the swinging sound of the bathroom door being opened. I heard a sharp cry from the girl at the mirror as she ran across the floor and into the arms of the one who had just arrived. Bewildered, I remained silent, my curiosity kindled.

"Oh, honey, it's gonna be OK..."

"No, it's not!" The girl sobbed. I peered out of the crack of the stall, and recognized two of Percy's students who had been seated next to each other in class. The girl who had her head buried in the other girls shoulder's name was Lydia, but I couldn't remember her friends name.

"He-he-" Lydia hiccuped, trying to get ahold of herself.

"He doesn't see you. I know." her friend finished for her, to which Lydia's body became once again wracked with sobs, her long brown hair falling around her face like a curtain.

Ah. A broken heart.

Feeling bad that I was now eavesdropping on someone's love life, I felt obligated to leave but don't want to embarrass the poor girl. I remained in the stall, my back to the door.

"It's just that, Reilly and I have been friends since we were twelve and... It's just we've been through it all together, and all of the sudden, this other girl...!"

"I know, that bitch," her friend agreed supportively.

"I fell for him a long time ago. Hard."

Suddenly, like a ton of red bricks, I was hit with the age fifteen, fifteen years old and watching Rachel Elizabeth Dare prance around with Percy. That lonely feeling of having the one who means the most look right through you crashed over me, and my heart went out to this girl.

"She just doesn't see him the way I do," Lydia sniffled. "She doesn't even know him! And he's so into her, like head over heels, but she just treats him like he's the flavor of the month."

"It's sickening," her friend said.

"Totally. And... It's just seeing Mr. J and his girlfriend, and they're so happy, I just can't even stand it. Why can't I be happy like that?"

"Look, sweetie, screw him. He's not worth it-"

"He just looks through me, like I'm invisible."

Invisible. I remembered how it felt.

It felt like he wouldn't ever see the light, that all you wanted to do is love him like he loved her. Of course, my story ended up being a happy one, but I could still feel the deep depths of despair I would hide, those nights when I told myself to get a grip, that I was a child of Athena and that love was only trick of the mind.

I knew better now. And I knew that what this girl needed was some optimism.

"I'm going back to class now, OK?"

"OK. Thanks Mary," Lydia sniffled. I heard the bathroom door close as Mary left.

I opened the stall and stepped out, and saw Lydia standing at the sinks running her finger under her eyes. She spotted me in the mirror, and her eyes got real wide as she spun around angrily to face me.

"I'm sorry I listened in," I said. "But I didn't want to walk out while you were so upset."

Lydia remained silent.

"Look," I said, "I-"

"I don't need your sympathy," she snarled. I was taken aback by her hostility. "You don't know how this feels!" Just as quickly as her anger had come, it went away. Sinking to the floor, she said "You don't know how this feels."

"Actually, I do," I said softly, sitting down next to her.

"You do?" she sniffled miserably, sounding surprised.

"I do. Percy and I weren't always boyfriend and girlfriend." Lydia's looked up at me, possibly surprised at the fact that he and I, now clearly meant for each other, were ever not together.

"He had this thing with this one girl... her name was Rachel. She had this long red hair, and she was an artist. As good one too," I added. "Anyway, I had always liked Percy and we were best friends, so I just felt sort cheated when he started liking her. I mean..."

"I get it," Lydia whispered. "That's how I feel too."

"I know," I said smiling. "But, I stuck by him and kept being a good friend, and he came around eventually." Lydia looked down at her feet sadly.

"Hey, if its meant to be, it'll be."

Lydia nodded. "Thanks," she said.

"Anytime."

We both stood up and brushed ourselves off. As Lydia reached the door, she turned to me.

"Hey, Miss. Chase-"

"Call me Annabeth."

"Oh, ok. Annabeth? Could you... Please don't mention this to Mr. Jackson. I'd be really embarrassed, and-" I held up a hand, signaling her to stop.

"Say no more," I said, smiling reassuringly. "What happens in the girls bathroom, stays in the girls bathroom." Her face flooded with relief and she smiled at me before going back to class.

When Percy and I got in the car that afternoon, I kissed him as soon as the car door shut. Surprised but not objecting, he happily went along with it.

"What was that for?" he asked after we broke apart.

"Nothing," I said. "I just realized how glad I am that I have you."

"Aww," he said, starting the car.

"Now lets hurry up and get home!" I said. "I have to go to the bathroom!"

"I thought you went like, half an hour ago?" Percy said as he cranked the AC on high.

"I didn't really get to the actual bladder relieving part," I said, smiling to myself. "Let's just say I did some other business than the kind one usually does in a restroom."

It was a sign of how long we had been together when Percy didn't bother to ask me what the hell I was talking about, just drove five miles over the speed limit all the way home.

Tomorrow is my birthday. As a present to me, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks I love you all!