So…I'm not dead. Sorry for the long wait, again! My computer just doesn't like to be used and it's been giving me a really hard time! But lucky for you guys I have started writing the next chapters of my stories in advance so the next chapter should be up soon! This story is doing tremendously well! LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET TO 100 REVIEWS!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series Rick Riordan does.

Annabeth's POV

As I looked in the mirror at my grey sweat shirt and denim jeans, I thought about what I was going to say to Thalia.

You see Thalia, the reason your cousin was straddling me was because we challenged each other to a wrestling match to see…No! That won't work!

I sighed frustrated. There's no way I can tell her the truth and I can't think of a lie that doesn't sound stupid! God why did that idiot have to get on top of me?

I was so nervous about speaking with Thalia, that I couldn't even eat breakfast. My parents gave me odd looks, but didn't question me. Things were tense after last night. No one mentioned anything about the whole boyfriend fiasco, but I could tell by the way they spoke to each other that things were far from over.

"Did the mail man come?" Dad asked and my mom rolled her eyes slightly.

"Why don't you go out and check." Mom said curtly. It was obvious dad was comfortable and didn't want to make the small trip out the door.

"Never mind." He sighed. I looked back and forth between them before deciding to wait outside. I'd rather face Thalia than sit in a tense room with my parents. Out of curiosity I looked inside the mail box and saw that the mail man didn't come after all.

I paced around waiting for Thalia. I guess I just have to wing this one and pray that she'll believe me…I hate not having a plan!

Soon enough Thalia's car slowly pulled up and my nerves shot through the roof. I didn't pretend to be happy to see her, knowing that'd only make her angry. I prayed before opening the car door.

I expected to see an angry Thalia staring me down when I got in the car, but instead I saw a side of Thalia that I'd only seen a few times in my life. Thalia was staring at me apologetically when I entered the car, and before I had the chance to even open my mouth she said

"I'm so sorry! I know you must be super mad at me right now, but just let me explain! When I came in and saw you two together I couldn't think straight! I know you'd never betray me like that and I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions! Percy explained everything to me and when he did I felt so bad so I thought about calling you, but then my dad started yelling at me caus-"

"Wait!" I interrupted her confused.

"What did Percy tell you?"

"He told me all about the extra credit experiment and how you had to see how the other's pupil dilated in certain lights and…it completely makes sense! I guess it helps to get on top of each other to see the pupils clearly but-"

"So you're not mad at me?" I concluded internally jumping for joy.

"No…Are you mad at me?" She asked. In her electric blue eyes, I could see she was nervous and was feeling a tremendous amount of guilt.

"No, I'm not mad at you. I'm more relived if anything! I'm glad Percy set things straight!"

Thalia's shoulders visibly sagged as she relaxed. She started the car engine and since we were on the subject I decided to ease the topic in.

"Yeah…it must've been a real shock to walk in on Percy and I!" I forced a laugh, anticipating her reaction. She laughed too, completely oblivious to my test.

"Hell yeah it was! I wanted to boil my eyes! I don't think I've ever been so disgusted in my life!" Thalia made a fake (at least I think it was) gaging sound. Why did I feel like I was talking to a stranger?

"Really?"

"Yeah! I felt like I had a mini heart attack! Seeing you two together like that was just…wrong!"

I gave her a strained smile before turning my attention to the window. I remained silent for the rest of the car ride.

When we parked in the schools parking lot, I wanted to scream. I groaned repeatedly banging my head on the dashboard. Thalia pretended she didn't notice as she got out of the car to meet the arsehole waiting for us.

"Hey Thalia…Annabeth."

I ignored Luke's greeting leaving Thalia behind as I walked into the school alone. By the time I reached my locker, I was pissed.

She wanted to scream at me about having a 'secret relationship' with her cousin, but then she goes sneaking around and talking to her ex, who tried to get me to have a secret relationship with him!

My phone buzzed interrupting my angry mind rant. It was a text from Percy.

Forgot to tell u! I cleared things up with Thalia!

I wanted to scowl and smile at the text at the same time. I typed back

Thx for telling me in advance…

"Sarcastic even when you're texting! Do you ever take a break?" A voice behind me laughed. I turned around to see Percy smiling at me.

He looked nice with his black denim jeans and his light blue hoodie. I also thing he did something with his hair cause for some reason it looks fuller and fluffier. I was tempted to reach my hand over and play with it.

His smile turned into a tiny frown.

"Annabeth? You okay, what's going on up there?"

Realizing I was staring I turned back to my locker pretending to busy myself.

"Yeah! Sorry um…Hi." What was with me today?

Percy chuckled.

"How did things go with Thalia?"

I frowned at the mention of her name thinking back to what happened outside and remembering why I was angry. The little hypocrite!

"Uh oh. I'm guessing not so good-"

"No, everything went fine it's just…She's hiding something from me and I don't know what?"

"How do you know he's hiding something?" Percy asked as we started to walk. I sighed.

"She's been talking to Luke for some reason and yesterday she bailed on me like three times! She hasn't even told me what they've been talking about-"

"Did you ask?" He questioned and I shook my head.

"I don't have to ask, she should've just told me?" I replied. Percy gave me a confused look.

"How can she answer a question that hasn't been asked?"

"Have you ever heard of the expression, 'There's an elephant in the room'?"

"What do elephants have to do with anything?" Percy stared at me even more confused and I rolled my eyes.

"There's not an actual elephant, it's a saying! An elephant is huge and if it was in a room it would be very noticeable right?"

"Right." He said still not understanding where I was going with this.

"Everyone would see it, right?"

"Right."

"The only reason people wouldn't acknowledge the elephant would be maybe because they're scared of the elephant or maybe because they don't like the elephant! But regardless of the fact that everyone knows there's an elephant, nobody's saying anything…" I hinted and his eyebrows scrunched together.

"Are we still talking about the elephant?" I felt like face palming.

"Yes-I mean no! The elephant represents an obvious problem! Everyone feels the tension of the problem, but no one wants to acknowledge it."

"So…Thalia is the elephant?"

"No, Luke is the elephant!"

"How is he the elephant?"

"Because he's the big problem that no one wants to talk about!"

Percy paused for a second and I thought he'd finally got it when he pointed out

"You're a very bad explainer!"

I glared at him trying to get rid of the violent thoughts surfacing.

"No, you're just a very bad listener! It's simple-"

"How come it couldn't be a whale?" He asked ignoring me. His green eyes sparkled with an emotion I couldn't identify and if it wasn't for his current stupidity I would've stopped to find out what it was.

"What?"

"Why did it have to be an elephant? Why not a whale?"

I stared at him for a few seconds.

"I'm starting to think you're messing with me?"

Percy finally dropped the confused look on his face and broke into a big grin.

"It took you long enough! C'mon Chase you should've known that I was just pulling your leg!" He laughed. I frowned.

"What do you mean you were 'pulling my leg'?"

"Like you don't know what that one means! You're just trying to trick me into giving you some long boring explanation like you did!"

"Boring?" I glared and Percy rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, I meant educational. Either way I'm not falling for it!"

"I'm serious Percy! I've never heard that saying before?"

"Sure you haven't!"

"Percy I'm not-"

"I'm sorry Annabeth, but I have class to go to! Unlike you some of us value our education!"

He walked into his classroom leaving me to sulk at his back. Turning around I walked into my class and got my stuff out. I couldn't focus. I still don't know what it means!

Time Skip

Walking out of my first period class I feel anxious. Maybe Percy's right? Maybe I should just ask Thalia?

I waited by her locker so we could walk to second period together. Time passed by and we only had a few minutes' left before class starts. I was beginning to wonder if she stood me up again when I saw her down the hallway making her way to me.

She was smiling as she approached me and I would've returned the smile if I wasn't fuming. Hell. No.

"Hey!" She greeted me as if nothing was wrong. They stood next to each other as if nothing was wrong!

As of right now I'm thoroughly pissed!

"Seriously?" I asked shocked that she'd have the audacity to flaunt him around and pretend it's nothing.

"Are you serious right now?"

She looked at me as if she was confusing, but we both know she wasn't. Luke shifted beside her.

"What-"

"So this is what we're doing now? We're all going to pretend that this is okay?" I said gesturing to the two of them. Thalia raised an eyebrow and mimicking her I did the same.

"I don't know why you're acting like this-"

"Oh don't try and turn this around on me! What are you doing with him?!"

"That's none of your business!" She spat and I looked at her incredulously.

"It is my business! He tried to cheat on you! With me!"

"You don't know anything! So just butt out!"

"I know you're still hung up on an unfaithful, egotistical, jerk!"

"Screw you!" She growled her face red.

"I'd say it back, but Luke probably has-"

"That's none of your damn business!"

"The it's none of your business if I date your cousin!" I finally screamed back.

Thalia was about to retort when something caught her eye. She looked to the side before looking to the ground cursing. It was then I noticed the utter silence in the hallway.

Looking behind Thalia I saw over twenty pairs of eyes staring at me, shocked by my outburst. Turning around I saw the other fifty staring at me as well. At that moment I wished that the ground could just swallow me up. What have I done?

Pushing through Luke's friends I walked to my next class doing my best to ignore the whispers and stares. The abundant amount of guilt I felt was practically crushing me.

The bell rang as I walked into my social studies class. I took my seat and opened my notebook on autopilot. I couldn't even listen to the lesson cause I was so worried. What will Percy think?

Time Skip

Thalia didn't show up which honestly doesn't surprise or sadden me. I don't want to see, hear or talk to her right now. I have to find Percy so I can at least explain what happened before he's bombarded with a bunch rumors.

He was already on the radar cause of his confrontation with Luke and now everyone thinks we're dating. It's not easy being the new kid and I just made his life ten times harder!

I rushed to my next class so I could get a chance to talk to him before the other kids came in.

"Slut!" A girl coughed as she passed me. Her friends laughed and I turned around to face her.

The girl couldn't have been older than sixteen and her face looked glossy with all the makeup she was wearing. She was wearing a crop top that showed her cheap obviously fake belly button ring and her shorts were less than halfway up her thigh. My rage spilled over.

"I'm the slut? You're the one with the clown makeup all over your face! You're appearance screams 'whore'! And at least I'm not getting a belly button infection because of some cheap ring I plunged into my stomach!"

Her so called 'friends' hooted and hollered at the girl as I walked away. I didn't allow myself to think about it because I'd only feel guilty and mad. Word about Thalia and I's fight is already starting to get around. It won't be long before everything starts to fall apart like last year…

I got to my science class with a few minutes to spare. I looked for Percy and groaned. He wasn't here yet! I was gonna take my seat when someone bumped into me in the doorway.

I opened my mouth to apologize when I saw it was Percy. Our eyes met for a second when he forcefully looked away. My spirits fell when I saw the irritation in his eyes. He heard about the rumors.

"Percy I-"

"Excuse me." He muttered ignoring me. He pushed past me as the rejection settled in. I let out a shaky breath before following him to our seat.

"Okay, I deserve that! But it was an accident-"

"There's always an accident with you!" He snapped suddenly. His eyes blazed with anger, completely different from the playful glint I saw in them this morning.

"My words were taken out of context and everyone's twisting them-"

"Oh cry me a river Annabeth! Why is it that you're always the victim? How come you can't just admit you're wrong for once instead of blaming other people?"

"That's what I'm trying to-"

"Maybe you'd have more friends and not have to worry about Thalia so much if you stopped being so self-centered!"

That one definitely struck a nerve. The truth is I don't have a lot of friends. I don't like to be vulnerable or weak so I don't let too many people in. I don't know why I shut people out, I just do. What's wrong with me?

"You're right…I'm sorry." I said to him trying to swallow back the tears. He didn't look at me.

The worst part is that I thought we were friends, Percy and I. At least now I know where we stand and what he really thinks of me. I feel so stupid!

I turned away from him as a tear fell from my eyes. I quickly wiped it away. I let out soft, barely audible sniffles as the class started to fill in. I heard some of their snickers as they came in and knew that they were directed at us.

I heard Percy sigh and the guilt I felt tripled. I couldn't take it anymore and abruptly got up from my seat. Pretending that I didn't hear them I walked to the front and asked Mr. Lewis if I could use the bathroom. He grunted at me and I took that as my yes.

I pretended not to feel everyone's eyes on me as I walked across the hall to the ladies' room. Luckily for me all the stalls were empty, but no I wasn't about to start sobbing in the bathroom! I just wanted some time to regroup and gather myself. Yes a few tears were shed here and there, but that's all they were. Tears…

Leaning over the sink I looked in the mirror. If one was looking closely only then would they be able to tell that I was crying, but other than that and my reddish nose, I looked the same.

The door opened and I looked from the mirror to see him come in. I quickly wiped my face then stared at him surprised. There Percy was in all his glory, looking at me with those eyes.

"What are you doing? You're not allowed in here!" I said trying to wipe away any trace of sadness from my face.

"We have to talk."

Ohhh! What's gonna happen? And poor Annabeth! Things just aren't going her way, but who knows? Maybe things might take a turn better than expected. I have to give credit to a certain reader/reviewer who inspired me to write the 'elephant in the room' scene! Your review brought the idea into my head so a huge thank you for that! And for all those who read all three of my stories, whoever can tell me the similarities in the ending of all three first, gets a shout out in the next chapter! (I just figured 'why not') PERCABETH IS FANTASTIC AND SO IS THE NEXT CHAPTER SO STAY TUNED!

See ya!