Chapter 3 - Falling In Love

Okay, I haven't done a fanfic like this yet, so please review and tell me how I'm doing. I was reading some of the super cheesy stories and rants about super cheesy stories. This is going to be like those in some ways, but not in others. Sorry if you hate that stuff, but please give me a chance. For example, Luke isn't going to be the bad guy who's an ex. I mean kinda, but I'm trying to keep him relatively good. Sorry if you find this terrible and cheesy anyway.

Percy is the incredible swim team captain, as well as a lifeguard. Sorry. And the backstory for Percy is his past. He's fought the Titan war and everything, just without Annabeth, who doesn't know she's a demigod. HoO hasn't happened. And YES, Anestin is a OC.

Thank you for 230 reads! I'm also considering doing a fanfiction contest. If you would like me too, please PM me.

~ Thebestofbestfangirls

Percy

I like Annabeth. She's spunky but clueless. She thinks she's a genius, and she kinda is. And she's a sixteen-year-old demigod. But the fact that she's not connecting the dots between me and Luke and the Titan war… Well there's so many hints. I fought the Titan War alone, when Grover became occupied with nature stuff and Thalia ran away with the hunters, I was left to shoulder the prophecy alone. I battled Kronos until Luke asked for my sword, having a moment of himself. I nearly lost him, giving no hope to Kronos's defeat, but I finally caved, and Luke killed himself and Kronos. Annabeth feels right and every time I think about it I can totally see her fighting the war with me.

I don't notice I'd gotten home until I was in my apartment. I flopped onto my bed and sighed. I need to tell Annabeth but I don't know how. I need to tell her the truth.

Lost in my terrible, hopeless thoughts I drift quietly off to sleep.

I wake up at five, and from there I just go through the motions. I get ready for swim team morning practice, drive to Starbucks from 6:30 to seven, then I go to school and run a mile or two, then go to the pool and swim ten to twenty laps and wait for the rest of the team to get there.

After practice I shower and wait for the bell to ring. When it does, I go to the door of the school and freeze. Annabeth is talking to Luke, whom I already knew were dating. I ship it. But I watch, still frozen as their fingers twine together and Annabeth rests her head on Luke's shoulder as they walk away.

"She's a long shot, you know. Even for you." I jump at the sound of the voice behind me. It's Thalia. I sigh.

"Yeah. Yeah, I know." I turn back to watch Annabeth round the corner and vanish from my sight.

"Have you told her?" Thalia continues. I shake my head. "Well dang it." Thalia grins at me. I raise an eyebrow at her. "I hadn't cause I dunno how." Thalia explained. Thalia stands up, shifting her weight off the wall. "Anyway, Jason, Piper, and Anestin are coming, and I would rather not be there. See ya Percy!" And Thalia skips off, leaving me to face my best friend, his girlfriend, and mine.

Anestin caught me. I was talking to Jason about Annabeth, and she walked up and heard me. So I had to explain it to her, and now my girlfriend is accompanying me to meet Annabeth in the library during lunch. Perfect, is it not? Note the major sarcasm, please. And I am no longer looking forward to it, but trying to find ways to make it seem normal and not like more.

"Alright, it's been like, five minutes! Stop stalling and take me to your tutor." Anestin finally says as I dig in my locker for something I'm 'missing'. I sigh, relenting. We walk down to the library. I'm nervous, and Anestin notices.

"It's okay. I'm sure you're not that bad at math." She says, twining her fingers with mine and smiling gently. I smile back gratefully. No, that's not why I'm nervous, but Anestin doesn't need to know that. We step into the library, hand in hand, where Annabeth is waiting for us. She's smart. It takes her five seconds to see our fingers twisted together, and another two seconds for her eyes to light up with recognition that we're dating. Annabeth raises an eyebrow.

"Hello, …?"

"Anestin." Anestin replies coolly. What is this automatic dislike? I squeeze her hand and let go, sitting down. I'm sorry, she made me. I try to tell Annabeth. Annabeth smiles and gives the briefest nod of brief nods.

"I'm Annabeth. Nice to meet you, Anestin. Okay, today I thought we'd review the stuff from yesterday. The Algebraic Reasoning Notes, yeah?" Annabeth trails off into a lecture, but I can't help wondering why Anestin is still scowling.

When we left the library, Anestin's scowl fades, and she's silent.

"She's… charming." Anestin says, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah… I suppose." I say. This is so awkward. I regret bringing her. Anestin sighs and stops me, pulling me to the wall so we're out of the way.

"Do you love me?" Anestin asks quietly. I'm stunned into silence. Why is she- "Don't lie to me Jackson. I saw the way you watched her every move. Do you love me? Or her?" Anestin's voice is the barest trace of a whisper. I take her hands in mine, watching the silent tears slip down her face.
"Is it okay if I don't know, Anestin? I don't love Annabeth, but-"

Anestin stops me with her lips. It's a gentle kiss, but that's what it is. For a moment I'm too shocked to kiss her back, but then I kiss her back with the same delicacy. We stay there for just a few moments, then she pulls away.

"I- I- I'm sorry, I-"

I press a finger to her lips to silence her.

"It's okay." I pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her. "It's okay." And although I say this, I can't help feeling a shimmer of guilt somewhere in my mind. I keep messing up, and just like everything else, this feels right, but also wrong. I just don't know if it will end up being the right or wrong choice. Life has way too many choices. So I don't try to decide if I love Anestin or not. I just sit there until the bell yanks us apart.