I swear, studying Biology does something funny to your brain. Just saying.

Anyway...happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter 8: Girl Talks and Bathroom Surprises

"RISE AND SHINE!"

I was rudely jolted from my sleep by what seemed like a giant spotlight shining directly on my face, and three very loud, very chirpy voices chorusing in my ear. Needless to say, I jumped out of bed immediately.

That was when I realized that it was just Jasmine, Isabelle and Alice.

I turned to go back to bed.

"Oh, no you don't!" Alice cried, grabbing me by the arm and tugging me towards the bathroom. "We're going for our Girls' Day Out!"

"It's eight in the freaking morning," I moaned. "How the Hades are you so bright and happy, Alice?"

Let me get something straight here: I'm a morning person. I can wake up at six and go for a run with no problem at all. But after the eventful night I had had, I hadn't been able to sleep till four-thirty in the morning.

"Wait a minute!" Isabelle interjected, grabbing my other arm and turning me around to face her. "I have a nightgown just like that," she said, looking me up and down. "And I know it has an outer covering. Where's the outer covering, Annabeth?"

I blushed, and Izzy swooped in like a hawk for the kill.

"Does a certain Son of Poseidon have anything to do with this?" she asked, a knowing smirk on her face.

"Holy shit!" Alice almost shrieked. "You two-you didn't-you couldn't-"

I was sure my face looked like a tomato.

"Spill!" Jasmine demanded, slamming the door shut and facing me with her arms folded. All three of them stared at me and I knew I was about to receive the Spanish Inquisition.

"We didn't do anything," I muttered, folding my legs on the bed.

"But…" Alice urged.

"Wemayhavesortofnearlydonesomething," I said all in a rush, hoping they wouldn't cotton on to what was said. Unfortunately, Isabelle had really sharp ears.

"And so the truth comes out!" Isabelle said triumphantly, a gleeful smile on her face. "What?!" Alice and Jasmine asked together, turning to Isabelle. "What did she do?"

"She said they nearly did something," Izzy replied. "But she didn't reveal what."

"Tell us everything," Jasmine said eagerly, sitting on the bed next to me.

I sighed. "Okay, I just showered and I found this in the pile of clothes Sally leant me so I put it on. Then I went to Percy's room to ask him when Paul and Sally would be back. He turned around, and he got this really weird look on his face before he went all…thermonuclear on me and we sort of made out."

"How intense?"

"Maybe…ten?"

"Holy shit!" Alice screeched. "I can't believe this. You guys nearly went to second base!"

"Let the whole world know, why don't you?" I hissed, my grey eyes flashing to the door to make sure no one heard. Hopefully, the guys were in the kitchen eating like wolves as usual.

"Sorry," Alice whispered, blue eyes bright with excitement. "But I never knew you could be such a romantic temptress, Annabeth!"

I nearly choked. "Romantic temptress?"

"I mean, wearing such a seductive gown and everything…I'm not surprised Percy went all 'thermonuclear' on you," Alice grinned. "Any guy would have."

"But why didn't you go all the way?" Jasmine questioned, frowning.

"He stopped," I replied, feeling slightly disappointed at the thought. "And then he got all responsible and everything, and I got angry at him, because he was acting like it was all his fault and well….I just don't understand!"

"Would you listen to her?" Izzy asked, rolling her eyes.

"I know, right?" Alice agreed. "She can name all forty-four presidents in two minutes flat but ask her about boys and she's clueless!"

"You guys do know I'm right here, right?" I complained.

"Annabeth, Percy feels that he has to take responsibility for everything because everyone always looked up to him," Jasmine explained. "Even at Camp Half-Blood, everyone looked to him to know what they should do, didn't they?"

"Yes…" I trailed off, not quite knowing what she was getting at.

"Well, I think he felt that he needed to be more in control of himself-which is utter rubbish, because he is an eighteen year old boy-and he thinks that maybe he forced you to do something you didn't want to do."

"That's idiotic!" I protested.

"Annabeth, this is Percy," Isabelle interrupted, rolling her eyes. "When has he ever listened to reason?"

She had a good point. "What should I do, then?"

"You should talk to him," the blonde girl told me. "You guys need to work this out between yourselves."

This was not going to be a task I was looking forward to. "Alright," I conceded, "but I'll do it after I come back."

Imagine sitting in a room with your boyfriend-whom you nearly had sex with-the aforementioned boyfriend's mother, and your overprotective older brother.

Why did anyone think this was a good idea?

I was thankful that I would soon be able to escape the apartment with Alice, Jasmine and Isabelle. I'd happily take a whole day of shopping if it meant I could get away from this awkwardness.

"Which universities are you planning to apply to, Annabeth?" Malcolm asked, bringing me out of my reverie. "I'm not really sure yet," I replied, staring at my coffee like it was the last drop of water in the desert. "Maybe NYU or Columbia."

"Well, you should probably think about sending off your applications soon," my brother advised wisely. "I'd say not to leave it too late."

"Yeah," I mumbled to the table, refusing to look up and meet the eyes of a certain Saviour of Olympus standing directly opposite me. As if things weren't awkward enough already.

"What about you, Percy?" Malcolm-thank the gods-turned his attention away from me. "Same answer," Percy replied, and I remembered how his voice had sounded so different -

Don't go there, don't go there, don't-

- just twelve hours ago.

I told you not to go there!

Why don't you control yourself?

Hel-lo! I'm your mind, remember? You control me!

Oh shut up.

Yeah, yeah.

Great. Now I was having conversations with my own brain.

I really was going crazy.

"Morning, Annabeth!" I heard Isabelle chirp. "We gotta go. Chop, chop!"

"Alright, keep your hair on. I'm going," I sighed, placing my coffee cup in the sink and turning to leave. "Annabeth?" Percy called after me. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

This raised all eyebrows. "What's going on?" Malcolm asked slowly. "You guys are never this formal." Jasmine, Alice and Isabelle shot knowing looks in my direction, nudging each other.

"Well, it isn't any of your business," I snapped, nerves stretched to breaking point.

Malcolm looked at me with a hurt look on his face, and I instantly felt bad. "Sorry," I apologized, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I was worried about the university applications."

His face brightened. "Oh, that's all? Don't worry, Izzy and I can help you." Isabelle nodded, a smirk on her face. I was going to strangle her the moment we got out of this apartment.

"Thanks Malcolm," I replied gratefully. "I'll be back soon." The last part was directed at my friends, who were now looking like they were trying not to laugh. Then I all but ran out of the kitchen and into the guest room, closing the door behind me. Unfortunately, Percy was quite possibly the one person who was just as stubborn as me, and I heard his footsteps down the hall.

And the blasted door had no lock.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I decided, and dived into the bathroom just as the door opened behind me. I locked it and sat down on the closed toilet seat.

"You can't sit in there forever, you know," I heard Percy's voice from the other side of the door. Then I decided to be a mature adult, and turned on the faucet so I could pretend like I was washing my hands.

For the next ten minutes.

But I forgot for the minute that I was Annabeth Chase, and the Fates have made it their mission to screw me over in my life. Because what did I see when I looked into the mirror above the sink?

Something big, black and hairy behind me.

Instantly, I whirled around and was confronted with the sight of what was quite possibly the biggest spider I had ever had the misfortune to meet. It glared at me with its eight beady little eyes, and I did the only reasonable thing I could think of.

I screamed.

"OH MY GODS! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Annabeth?" I heard Percy's slightly panicked voice from outside. "Annabeth, what's wrong?"

I dashed for the door, but the spider must have read my mind because it moved faster than I thought possible, positioning itself on the door handle. There was no way in Hades I was going to get anywhere near that.

"Annabeth, open the door!" Percy pulled on the door from his end.

"I can't!" I shrieked back. "It's's in front of it!"

I stepped gently backwards until I felt the wall behind my back, never moving my eyes from the black arachnid. "Annabeth, what's wrong?"

I opened my mouth to find that my brain had conveniently decided to forget that it knew English. Nothing came out.

"Annabeth if you don't reply, I'm breaking down this damn door!"

"What in Olympus is going on?" I heard Malcolm voice's, followed shortly after by Izzy's. "I don't know!" I heard Percy reply, voice agitated. "She just said something was standing in front of the door, and then she won't reply!"

"Someone's messing with my sister?" Malcolm yelled. "Annabeth!"

"No!" I shrieked back. "It's a spider!"

There was a pin drop silence on the other side of the door.

"You're screwed," Isabelle said cheerfully. "Gee, thanks," I replied sarcastically. "Like I didn't know that already." I eyed the spider carefully. It looked pretty comfortable sitting on the handle, all eight legs splayed around it. I couldn't stay in the bathroom forever, and no one else could help me. I would just have to do this myself.

Steeling my nerves, I grabbed the mop lying nearby and swung it at the spider, which went flying towards the toilet seat. Taking advantage of its disappearance, I dashed toward the door, unlocked it and got the heck out of there.

"HOLY MOTHER OF ZEUS!" Malcolm yelled, backing away.

I turned to find that the spider had made a grand entrance, clambering out of the door on all eight legs and making its way onto the carpet. "This is what you were shrieking about?" Percy asked critically.

"Can you just get rid of it?" I begged. "I don't care how small you think it is." Percy stepped forward, picked it up by one leg and threw it in the toilet before flushing it. We all stared at him.

"What?" he shrugged. "It's just a spider."

"Go wash your hands right now!" I screeched. "Or you're not coming within five metres of me!"

"Hey!" Percy complained. "Is there no gratitude in this place?"

"Just do it!"

"Fine, Mom."

I made sure Percy washed his hands (at least ten times) although I was sure I noticed a smirk on his face the whole time. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I accused.

"You going all motherly on me is mildly amusing, yes."

"You are so annoying," I muttered, folding my arms and staring at the wall.

"I seem to remember that wasn't what you said last night."

"I knew it!" I said, pointing an accusing finger at him. "I knew you would bring that up for the rest of eternity."

"Not for the rest of eternity…" Percy looked thoughtful. "Maybe just the next ten years." Then he turned serious. "Seriously though, Annabeth. You're not mad at me, or anything right?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" I asked, surprised. "If I had been upset with you, I would have stopped you. You know that, Percy."

He sighed. "It's just-I didn't want it to be like that, Annabeth. You mean a lot to me, and I want it to be special if we actually do it." This was quite possibly the most awkward conversation I had ever had in my life, but there was something which kept me from fleeing the scene.

I entwined my arms around his neck, looking straight into his green eyes when I replied. "Percy, I get that. But you need to stop thinking that everything depends on you alone. You have to stop feeling like all the blame falls on you. Because it doesn't."

His eyes were intent on mine as he replied. "Being the one to have to save the world kind of does that to a person, Wise Girl."

I laughed. "Seaweed Brain, I'm being serious here."

"I know you are," he smiled. "And I get what you're saying, but it's not that easy to stop feeling like that. But I'll try, okay?"

"That's all you need to do," I replied, leaning forward to kiss him briefly before letting go and stepping back. "And if I stay here any longer, there's going to be a brutal double murder by Alice, Jasmine and Isabelle."

"That would be bad," Percy agreed. "You better go."

I smiled and left the bathroom.

Two Months Later

"Oh gods, why did it have to come so soon?" I said fearfully, staring at the plain white envelope. "I can't look!"

"You can deal with all sorts of monsters, but you're scared of whether you got accepted to NYU?" Alice asked disbelievingly. "Are you serious?"

"This is different!" I retorted.

"Honestly," Alice muttered. "I'll check it for you."

She grabbed the white envelope off the kitchen table and slit it open, pulling out the letter and scanning it quickly. A smile appeared on her lips. "They accepted you, Annabeth! Congrats!"

I snatched the letter from her and skimmed through it myself, my grey eyes widening as I reached the end. "Holy Zeus! I actually got in!"

"Great job, honey!" Helen smiled, hugging me tightly. "Fredrick will be so proud of you."

"Thanks, Helen," I beamed.

"Where's Percy going?" she asked, curious. "NYU," I replied. "They're offering a marine biology course, and you know it's pretty much-"

Before I could continue, the doorbell rang. Alice skipped to the door, and opened it. "Hello, Percy!" Helen smiled, stepping forward to greet my boyfriend.

"Hello, Mrs Chase," Percy replied politely.

"Honestly, what is it with all of you kids?" my stepmother laughed. "Mrs Chase makes me feel so old! Just call me Helen."

"Sorry, Helen."

"Percy, did you get in?" I asked, holding my breath. If he had, my first day would be so much less scarier. "Yup," he replied, holding up his letter. "I don't even need to ask if you did, do I?"

"Her?" Alice snorted. "Please."

I rolled my eyes. "Look who's talking. You got accepted into CCA (California College of Arts) with a full scholarship!" Alice shrugged. "True, but that's just for fashion design. Do you know how many people covet the architecture course at NYU? They offer so little seats, and they accepted you!" "Just accept that you're smart, Wise Girl," Percy grinned. "After all, you never stop rubbing it in my face."

I decided to be very mature and stuck out my tongue.

"Very sophisticated," Percy complimented, although he returned the gesture.

"I learned from the best," I answered sweetly, and Alice snickered. "Good one."

"You win," Percy admitted.

"I always do."

"Excuse me?"

"Admit it, Percy."

"Do you remember that time when-"

"Sweet Jesus, could you two stop bickering for five minutes?" Alice exclaimed. "If I didn't know you, I'd say it was impossible you could ever date! The phrase 'opposites attract' was invented for the both of you."

"Wow, I'm so honoured," I replied sarcastically.

"You should be." Alice sounded so serious that my stepmother started laughing, and muttered something about 'teenagers' before she went to supervise her chocolate chip cookies, which were baking in the oven.

Matt and Bobby ran up, tugging on Alice's shirt. "Can you help us, Ali?" Bobby asked, an earnest look on his face. "We're making a house for our Lego man."

"That sounds fun!" Alice replied just as enthusiastically. "Sure, I'll help you guys!"

The three of them went off to the twins' room together, chattering eagerly. I smiled after them and turned back to Percy. "She's right, you know," I told him, brushing a lock of my blonde hair behind my ear.

"About what?"

"That we're opposites. I would have thought it impossible for us to date too."

"But then you couldn't resist," he smirked.

I hit him lightly on the shoulder. It had been two years since his dip in the Styx and sometimes I felt that Percy forgot what it was like to feel pain; to curse when you stubbed your toe, or accidentally get a paper cut. It just made me feel my own vulnerability much more when I was near him.

"Annabeth? "

I realized that I had zoned out for too long, considering Percy's concerned tone. "Sorry, what?"

"Maybe it was because of the Fates that we ended up becoming a couple," he smiled, placing an arm around my shoulder. If it had been the Fates, I decided, I would owe them every single day for the rest of my life.

That incident with the spider is based on a real life incident, and I was stuck in the bathroom for one entire freaking hour.

I kid you not.

I think that's why I have a serious fear of spiders, or maybe I'm a daughter of Athena….without the smarts.

Anyway, I have decided that I am going to write more in Annabeth's POV from now on, because I can relate to her better. Maybe cos we're both girls, or that she's one of my fav characters…but I just find it easier to write from Annabeth's point of view than Percy's. I may still insert Percy's POV from time to time though, when I feel it's necessary.