Okay guys I know what you're thinking...'she's updating twice in TWO days? That's suspicious' I know I know. Let's call this a half 'I'm sorry for not updating for 4 months' half peace-offering, because I'm almost positive that after this week (Spring Break), things at school are going to be crazy. So this is me telling you that I'm sorry ahead of time if updating becomes far and few in between. BUT WE'RE ALMOST THERE there's only like...2 1/2 months of school left for me so that's a plus. ;).

Also, I know I left you guys on a cliffie, but I'm here to rectify that with the 19th chapter of Layers.

Previously on Layers...

Annabeth had planned to to just back out quietly and forgot she had just seen Nico's emo booty. However, she had forgotten that Percy was right behind her.

"What the fuck!" He yelled.

The pair instantly froze and then tumbled off the couch in a bundle of limbs.

Annabeth was just about to turn around and give them privacy when she spotted a head of blonde hair.

No.

The pale ass did not belong to Nico.

It belonged to Jason.

Annabeth boyfriend.

And the long legs with the stripper heals, didn't belong to Thalia.

They belonged to...Piper.

That bitch!

Annabeth's face became flushed with furry and embarrassment.

Her boyfriend. And the girl she gave advice to to help woo said boyfriend.

Fuckers.

"I can't fucking believe you!"

She said to the both of them trembling with bearly contained rage.

She felt Percy put his hand on her lower back and try to pull her towards the door, but she stood firm.

She jabbed her finger at Jason.

"How long?"

Jason hung his head while him and Piper struggled to get their clothes on.

"Since June."

"June! Since before junior year even ended? Jason you knew I haven't had feelings for you in a while, so why the hell did you let this continue if you had someone else?"

"Well why did you let this continue if you didn't love me anymore?" He snapped back.

"Argh! I was going to break up with you tomorrow! I was tired of us, yes, but I didn't go and fuck someone else behind your back." She glared at the both of them.

"And you." She said, stalking slowly to Piper. "I fucking gave you advice for your 'big date' tonight! I helped you because I wanted you to be happy because I thought you were a good person." She spat, her voice getting louder with every word. "But you knew all along. Every time you would mention your 'boyfriend' to me you probably felt a pang of guilt telling you that you were a bad person and that you needed to tell me. Was this your way if doing that? Huh? Did you come here on purpose so I could find my boyfriend and my friend fucking on a couch that I grew up sitting on?"

"No," Piper whimpered, "I didn't know you would be here."

"I don't want to hear, speak, or think about you two for a very long time." She spoke quietly.

"I'm sorry, Annabeth." She heard Jason whisper.

She turned to him and really looked, and she didn't see her best friend from all those years ago.

"So all of it was a lie? When you acted like you were jealous of me getting rides home from Percy...you just needed to play to role of worried boyfriend. That's not fair to me and, as much as I hate to admit it, it's not fair to her." She pointed at Piper who seemed to sink farther into the couch, "It's not fair to her because she actually has legitimate feelings for you."

Annabeth grimaced feeling how tired she was, emotionally and physically. "You know what hurts the most? The fact that you didn't respect me enough, not even as my boyfriend, but as one of my best friends that I've known my entire life. That I trusted. That's what makes me feel like shit and I don't deserve that." She finished, her voice breaking.

She felt Percy gather her in his arms and pull her away from the room and out of the house without a word.

She vaguely recalled Percy calling his mom to tell her that we weren't coming in while he drove them to his house. The next thing she knew she was lying next to Percy, on his bed, beer in hand, talking about why life sucks so much.

"I mean. S-sometimesss lifes good. But then othersss makes you real- real-."

"Realize?" Percy helped her out.

"Yeah. Others makes you realize that life is noottttt that great."

"I guess," he conceded. He didn't know what she was talking about so he figured he should just agree.

"I mean," she continued, "I know I had feelings for another guy while I was in a relationship. I'll admit that. But that doesn't make me a bad person does it?" She looked at Percy with an adorably sad expression on her face.

"No baby, it doesn't make you a bad person." He ran his fingers through her hair, leaned forward and cleared his throat. "And uh...who is this other person that you uh...have feelings for?"

Now Annabeth was pretty tipsy, maybe even a little drunk. This was her 3rd beer. But she was not quite drunk enough for her to: A, forget that Percy had just called her baby. B, ignore that hearing it made her stomach flutter. And C, that she should not, under any circumstances tell Percy about her feelings for him while she's in this state of mind.

Annabeth chuckled and poked his wrinkled nose. "Why you wanna know? Are you...jealous?" She giggled.

Her laughter stopped when she looked into his eyes. They were serious. "Yeah, Annabeth, I'm jealous as hell." His gaze intense.

She gulped and suddenly, she didn't feel nearly as drunk as a few minutes ago.

"W-what?"

She asked eloquently.

His eyes flashed to her lips. "I'm jealous, Annabeth. I don't want you thinking about other guys."

"Who do you want me to think about," she asked timidly.

Percy's smile lit up his room, "Me."

Annabeth stopped breathing as she stared up into his eyes.

She felt herself leaning towards him unconsciously when he abruptly pulled back.

Percy started stuttering The moment he saw the look of hurt flash on her face.

"No, no I'm not rejecting you. I would never." He took a deep breath. "I would just rather we talked first, I mean you just dumped that asshole and I won't... I can't be a meaningless rebound."

Annabeth's gaze softened as she thought over his words.

"Okay that makes since."

Percy was quiet for a second as he collected his thoughts.

"So...are we going to talk?"

"About us?" She asked surprised.

"Well yeah eventually, but no, I mean about what happened a few hours ago. You haven't really said anything and I don't believe that you're just unaffected" He said softly, not wanting to make her mad.

She focused her attention on the rim of her bottle. Swirling her finger along the top. "I don't love him. I haven't for a while." She said quietly. Almost apologetic.

"Okay, why do you think you stopped in the first place?" He said calmly.

Annabeth chuckled,

"Well Dr. Jackson," Percy shot her a cheeky grin, "I think we were just meant to be friends. Those feelings we thought we had were probably just platonic love and... I don't know...lust, just all balled up into one. We grew up around each other so it was just...familiar, comfortable I guess." She shrugged.

Percy chuckled softly, she could feel his body move up against hers. "You know, in a single week we've both managed to catch our significant others cheating on us."

She laughed with him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Maybe we were just supposed to be single at the same time."

He reached over and grabbed the beer bottle from her hand and placed it on his bedside table. He grabbed her smaller hand in his and tangled their fingers.

Squeezing them he said, "Probably."

Annabeth felt like her heart could burst as it thudded in her chest.

While playing with her fingers he asked, "What about Piper? What does the future hold for that friendship?"

Annabeth sighed, "I honestly don't know. She lied to me the entire time and I don't know how I could learn to trust her again."

She felt Percy still under her. "You're actually going to forgive her?" He asked incredulously.

"You forgave Calypso." She arched her eyebrow.

He sighed, "That was different. I don't think Calypso and I ever really loved each other. It was more of a platonic relationship we were just having fun it wasn't really serious unlike you and Jason. I can forgive her because I wasn't that beat up about it and because we had always been friends. Staying friends was easier than resentment."

"I guess. I...I just feel like this isn't all Piper's vault. I kind of consider her a victim." She shrugged.

Percy look at her disbelievingly, "Can you elaborate on that I'm not following?"

She chuckled, "She was a victim. Even though she helped him cheat and lied to me about it, I know she struggled. I remember this time I went to pick up chinese. I didn't realize it until now that she was there with Jason. I saw him in line and then when he left Piper was sitting one of the booths bawling. She may have contributed to the cheating, but I don't believe she wanted it, I just think she was a girl in love with a dumbass boy." She said chuckling.

Percy rested his head on top of hers. "I love how optimistic you are. You see the good in people."

She rolled her eyes and snuggled closer, "Yeah well if I didn't see the good in people we wouldn't be here right now."

Percy laughed and pulled her closer. "Thank gods for that." He sighed, "As weird as you may find this. I just want you to promise me something."

"What?" She looked up to his face.

"I know you think you aren't broken up about this, but as much as I hate to admit it, I know you and Voldemort had a lot of history. So... If or when shit hits the fan and you start to...feel. Promise me you'll come to me...okay?"

Annabeth smiled, "Voldemort?" She teased.

He scowled playfully, "Yes, he who shall not be named. Now stop trying to distract me, promise."

She smiled at him softly, "I promise." She smiled when she got an idea. "Have we talked enough for you? Are you satisfied?"

Yeah she was definitely drunk.

He looked confused for a second before the lightbulb clicked on. He smirked, "I meant that we would talk about us."

She held up her hands, "Hey you didn't specify the kind of talk."

He smiled at her for a few seconds, "I guess I didn't," he said and slowly leaned towards her to press his lips to hers.

Annabeth closed her eyes, she could feel his warm breath on the mouth. Their lips had just barely brushed each other when they heard the slam of the front door.

They didn't jump apart from each other. Just looked into each other's eyes. They stayed that way until they heard a faint knock on he bedroom door.

Percy quickly grabbed the beer from the side of the table and placed it beside the bed.

Annabeth tried to get up and move them to a more appropriate position, but Percy was having none of that.

He held her down and cleared his throat.

"Come in."

His mom slowly opened the door to his room and smiled at the sight of the two cuddled together.

"Hey guys. I just wanted to check on you. Annabeth, Percy didn't tell me why you guys couldn't make it to work, and you don't have to either, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Annabeth smiled at the sweet woman and sat up, much to Percy's displeasure. "It's okay, thank you for checking in on me, Sally. I broke up with my boyfriend today."

Percy coughed, "Ex-boyfriend."

Annabeth laughed, "Yes, I think she gets that."

"Just making sure."

Sally smiled, "Well you don't seem too torn up about it. Do you need a hug?"

Annabeth smiled and walked towards the older woman, "I will always accept when you offer."

When they broke apart, Annabeth went back to sit on the bed.

"Annabeth will you be joining us for dinner."

She sighed, "No thank you. I would love to, but maybe another time."

Sally nodded and quietly closed the door.

They were quiet for a few minutes until Annabeth spoke up.

"I should probably head home," she said quietly.

(...)

The drive home was quiet, the only contact the pair had was their entwined hands that rested across the arm rest.

Percy's parting words to Annabeth were, "Remember your promise."

To which she replied, "I will."

(...)

The next day at school was not nearly as awkward as Annabeth anticipated. Mainly because neither Piper or Jason were there. As pissed as she had been at the beginning, she really didn't think it was worth staying home for. But then again...they both skipped school for a date. She was however grateful that she didn't have to see either of them that early in the morning. Sleep deprivation and stress don't add up.

Class with Percy was normal, with the exception of a few more lingering looks than the usual.

By the time Annabeth arrived to biology, she was beat and just wanted to go home.

"Hey bitch," her Bestfriend greeted as she plopped down on the seat left of Annabeth.

"Hey," she said and sighed, crossing her arms and resting her head on top of them.

Thalia nudged her, "What's up? You look...all down and stuff."

Annabeth chuckled and rolled her eyes, "You're such a poet Thals."

"What's up?" She repeated.

"I'm just tired," she sat up and rubbed her face, "With all this shit going on my emotions are everywhere."

Thalia's eyes got big, "Whoa! Little Chase said...shit," she whispered dramatically. "What is this shit you speak of, Annie?"

Annabeth immediately felt guilty, she hadn't even thought about telling Thalia that her and Jason had broken up. She deserved to know as her bestfriend and because, even though they weren't on the best of terms, he was her brother.

"We'll talk about it later after class. We can go to my house, I don't have work today." She said avoiding Thalia's eyes.

Thalia's eyes narrowed at Annabeth's suspiciousness.

"Ummhum. Fine. I feel very out of the loop right now."

Annabeth smiled weakly.

Eventually school ended and Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief when she fell down on her soft bed.

Until Thalia started talking.

"Spill now. You aren't going to sleep,

grandma."

Annabeth let out a long drawn out sigh and sat up reluctantly.

"I broke up with Jason."

Thalia frowned, "I'm sorry buddy." She sighed, "I see you're fine. I take it Jason didn't take it well."

Annabeth let out a loud humorless laugh, "He cheated on me, Thals. The most he probably felt was guilty."

The small girl was immediately out of her chair. "That fucking bastard! Please tell me you punched him so it could hurt even more when I do! I don't care that he's my brother!"

"Oh you haven't even heard the best part," she said.

Thalia sat down confused, "What?"

"It was with Piper. It's been going on since June."

There were a few seconds of silence until Annabeth heard a sniffle. She looked up and almost fell off the bed when she saw Thalia's eyes welling up with tears.

Thalia never cried. Ever.

"What's wrong?" She went to go sit next to her."

Thalia looked up at her with glassy eyes, "I'm sorry, Annabeth."

She hugged her close. "Why are you sorry, it's not your fault?"

"I knew," Thalia whispered tears flowing down her cheeks.

Annabeth's body went rigid.

She calmly removed her from around Thalia and sat back down on her back.

"You knew Jason was cheating on me?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.

"No!" Thalia yelled and shot up. "I just knew that he had feelings for her. Or...something. That's why I've been pissed at him."

Annabeth was pretty sure her confused face perfectly on point just then. "I'm not following."

Thalia sighed and sat next to Annabeth.

"Let me start from the beginning. When we were all at the beach a few weeks ago, there was a reason I asked specifically for Jason to go with me to get the pizza. I could have sworn I had seen him watching Piper about 98% of the time she was around. I thought I was imagining things until I confronted him and you know how much of a sucky liar he is sometimes so I put it together. He swore that he just thought she was pretty, but I knew it had to be more than that. When we finally got back, that blow up? Was my reaction to him telling me that he wasn't going to tell you."

"Why didn't you tell me? You're supposed to be my bestfriend."

She asked quietly.

"Jason finally promised he was going to tell you! When you came to me and told me that you were going to end things, I figured he had told you. " She paused, "I honestly didn't think Piper felt the same way."

"Well she did. It would have been nice to have had a heads up instead of having to walk in on them bumping uglies in your house."

Thalia gasped, "Please tell me they didn't get it on in the gameroom?"

Annabeth stared at her friend incredulously.

Thalia smacked her shoulder lightly. "Oh whatever. You aren't sad about your relationship. Just about you and Jason's friendship. We can joke about this. Laughter is the best medicine you know."

"I guess." She smiled tightly.

"And don't be so sad, you have Percy."

Annabeth's head whipped around so fast the got whiplash.

"Wait what? I don't have Percy. What are you talking about?"

"Oh please," she drawled, "Everyone has seen how that boy looks at you, we've just never said anything about it while you guys where dating other people."

"Looking at me like a friend?"

"Nooo," Thalia giggled and did a little dance. "Like a lovah!"

Annabeth chuckled, "Please stop. Your dancing is making my head hurt."

Thalia finally calmed down. And layed her head on Annabeth's shoulder.

"It will be okay."

Annabeth was silent for a while. "I think Percy wants us to be together." She said, secretly smiling inside.

"Well yeah. But what made you come to this conclusion."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Well he kind of told me."

Thalia's head popped up nearly knocking Annabeth in the chin.

"What when?"

"Yesterday."

She hopped up and down, "Okay and what did you say?"

"I didn't say anything," she blushed, "I um...tried to kiss him."

"Oh my gods you kissed him!" She yelled.

"No, I didn't. Thalia sit the hell down," she scolded when her friend wouldn't stop bouncing.

She sighed. "No we didn't kiss. He stopped me and told me that we should talk about us before we went further."

"And did you talk?"

"No."

*smack* "Why not!"

"Ow! What the hell?" Annabeth clutched her arm. "We didn't talk about it because I had literally just broken up with my boyfriend."

Thalia immediately got up and started pulling Annabeth towards her bedroom door.

"Where are we going," she asked and struggled the untangle herself from the smaller girl's hold.

"I'm driving you to Percy's house so you two can talk."

"Fine," Annabeth huffed.

Thalia gasped, "What? Is the Annabeth Chase being agreeable?"

Annabeth shrugged, "I want to see him."

That's how Annabeth found herself sitting on the Percy's bed with a glass of lemonade, waiting on him to get home.

She got bored eventually and got up to look around his room.

She saw his swimming and baseball trophies that went back from 3rd grade to last month.

She walked over to the small cork board filled with pictures that he had on the wall. He had many pictures of the swim team, some with his mom, one with him standing next to a handsome older version of Percy, who she assumed was his father. There was one of him and Calypso that looked like it was from junior year. And two that were flipped over on their fronts. Without thinking Annabeth untacked them to see. She gasped when she saw what was behind the first one. It was a picture from the beach. Annabeth was on Percy's back while she pulled his hair. They were both laughing and had huge smiles on their faces. She flipped the other to once again be rendered speechless. This picture was just a close up, candid shot of her. She was staring out into the water and brushing a stray piece of hair out of her face. Both pictures were beautiful.

She was so entranced that she didn't hear the door opening to Percy's bedroom door.

"Beautiful aren't they?"

Annabeth was sure she jumped about 10 feet in the air.

"Oh my gods Percy you scared me!"

He chuckled softly, but didn't say anything as he walked closer and grabbed the photos from her hands.

Then she remembered that she was kind of being a snoop.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to snoop, I just saw the board-"

"Shh." He interrupted, "I'm not mad, if I didn't want anyone to see them I wouldn't have out them up there. They were only flipped over because I didn't know if you were ready to see them yet." He said starring into her eyes intensely.

Annabeth sucked in her breath sharply and blurted, "Thalia wants us to be together!"

Percy's bemused face was pretty comical, Annabeth might have even laughed if she wasn't so embarrassed.

"What?" He asked chuckling.

"Um...Thalia was telling me that she knew about Jason having a crush on Piper, but she didn't tell me partly because she knew that I had...you."

Percy was silent for a few moments, "That's almost exactly what Calypso said."

"What?" She asked, now she was confused. What did Calypso have to do with them?

"She told you about the job at my mom's store so that we would work together. She said she just knew that we should have been together and she didn't want to ends things with us before she had gotten us together. She told me that the day we made up."

Annabeth puffed her cheeks. "Wow. It seems like everyone thought we should have been together instead of us."

"Yep."

She bit her lip, drawing Percy's attention, "Maybe we should take their advice."

Percy smiled teasingly, "Maybe we should."

Annabeth shivered, "I mean, they are pretty intelligent people," She said as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. "It would be unwise to not listen to them."

"Ummhmm. Very unwise." he said as he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

And then he pressed his lips to hers.

Fireworks.

Soooo? What did you think? Any questions, I'll try to answer them.

*Note: I absolutely loved Jasper, they were my favorite couple next to Annabeth and Percy, to be honest their relationship got me through The Lost Hero, and having to deal with all those new characters and the fact that PERCY WAS MISSING.

Sorry off track.

But no, i have nothing against Jasper, I just needed a character for Annabeth to date that included drama and honestly, I never liked the thought of Annabeth and Luke together so...

Hope you like this chapter, please please review! :)

Until next time...
~TUTU