Percy's POV

I took her hand and led us toward the rest of the castle. I was starving so I was kind of rushing. After about what seemed like forever, we finally got to the dining room. I didn't care how long it took, or how many times we got lost, I had Annabeth with me so I am happy. She always made fun of me about how I got lost in my own castle. I know, I know. I live here, but I mean it is still pretty big. You could get seriously lost in there.

So Annabeth and I walked into the Dining room, hand in hand. Everyone was already seated.

My Mom and Dad were at the head of the table, looking at us weirdly. There was also Rachel. She was sending Annabeth death-threatening looks. Suddenly my protectiveness switched on. I put an arm around Annabeth, and gave Rachel a look that clearly stated, "Don't even think about it." I led Annabeth to a seat that was next to the one where I usually sat, and we both started to eat. My dad cleared his throat. Everyone looked at him.

"Uh….Percy? Would you like to introduce us to your friend?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh, right!" I said. I kind of lost myself into my amazing food. The cooks always outdid themselves. I glanced over at Annabeth who was trying hard not to laugh. It was pretty obvious. Smooth, Jackson. Very smooth.

"This is Annabeth Chase. She needs a place to stay, and I told her that you guys would be happy to let her stay here." I gave both of my parents a look that clearly stated that I liked this girl, so I needed her to stay at the castle. My mother smiled at the two of us.

"Of, course you can stay with us. Susan…would you go and get Annabeth a room? She may stay here for a little while." She grinned at the two of us again. My Father nodded.

"Oh, Queen Sally would you do that for me? Thank you so much. You too, King Poseidon." My parents smiled at her, and said stuff like, "anytime" or "Sure thing, sweetheart."

I looked at Annabeth, and smiled. She grinned back at me. I grabbed her hand from under the table and squeezed it. She squeezed back. I felt myself get kicked in the shin. I looked up to see Rachel, glare at me, and Annabeth. I shook my head at Rachel, making it clear that if Annabeth gets hurt, then she gets hurt too. I made a silent vow to myself that I will never let anything bad happen to Annabeth. I will do anything it takes to keep that vow.

After about a good thirty minutes of everyone talking and eating, we left the table. I was about to get up, when I tripped over the table cloth, and sent food everywhere. I ended up having some sort of casserole on my head. Annabeth had an apple pie in her face. She was laughing hard though, so I knew she wasn't mad which, I let out a sigh of relief for. I looked at my parents, and Rachel. They were covered with food too. My parents look really mad. Rachel didn't look any happier.

"Perseus Jacks—!" My father started.

"I'm sorry! It is not my fault! I tripped over the table cloth!" I shouted back at him. He took one last long mad look at me, and left the room, my mother followed him. It just left Annabeth, Rachel, and I staring at each other. Annabeth broke out laughing.

"Nice job, seaweed brain! That was hysterical!" She said, smiling at me. Rachel turned on her.

"How was that funny at all? Percy just ended up getting his father, and mother mad, and he covered us from head to toe in food! And seaweed brain? Really? That is such a dumb thing to call him!"

I stiffened and walked over to Annabeth, and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "I think that seaweed brain is cute."

Annabeth smirked at Rachel. "Ha."

Rachel's face got as red as a tomato, and she left the room. This left me and Annabeth staring at each other. "Well. Why don't we go clean ourselves up?" I said. She smiled and nodded.

Annabeth's POV

Percy and I were covered from head to toe with food, because Percy is a klutz and decided to trip on the table cloth and send food everywhere. It was pretty funny actually.

Though, I kind of felt bad for him because his family and Rachel were ganging up on him when he tripped.

Percy suggested that we go and get cleaned up. He took my hand and we walked over to the bath room.

We spent awhile getting cleaned up. Mostly cause we weren't really focused on it.

"I'm sorry how Rachel is acting. I have to warn you though, when she gets jealous….things get…..well, ugly. I promise I won't let anything hurt you though." Percy said to me.

I smiled at him. "Thanks, Percy. You know…I still don't get why you are being so nice to me. I mean I'm sure that you don't go around looking for homeless people and invite them to stay in the castle. I've always heard that you were nice….but I didn't know you were this nice. Please, just tell me why you are doing this." I said.

He stared at me for awhile. She took a blonde strip of my hair that was sticking out and tucked it behind my ear. "I just…..okay, your gunna think that I'm crazy, but I saw something special in you Annabeth. I don't know what it is, but I know that you are special. I'm glad that I took you in because you're my best friend. I know it's ridiculous for you to be my best friend when I've only known you for like a day, but it is true. You're the only friend that I've had who likes me for me, and not because I'm the prince. You don't know how much I adore you, Annabeth. It's why I didn't want you to leave. I didn't want to lose my best friend." He was looking down as he said all of this. Like he was embarrassed. Like he was afraid I would start laughing in his face. I took my hand and put it under his chin and lifted his head up so his beautiful green eyes were looking into my grey ones.

"Percy, I didn't want to leave, and now I'm defiantly not leaving. I'll do whatever it takes to be with you. You're my best friend too. I love you so much…..but in a friendly way." He smiled at my last comment.

"We need to make a promise." He said smiling.

"About what?"

"I will never leave you, if you never leave me." He said. He held out his pinkie.

"Deal." I wrapped my pinkie around his. I know that we are sixteen, and pinkie promises are a little childish (A/N: Not really. I still do pinkie promises. :D), but I would hold on to that promise like it was my lifeline.

He brought me in for a hug after that. "Oh, and I love you too….in a friendly way." He said as he wrapped his arms around my waist, and I put my arms around his neck.

He pulled away from the hug and said. "Come on. I bet you wanna see your new room." He said holding out his hand. I intertwined my fingers in his and said, "You betcha."

We were walking through the castle, and came to hallway that had two doors in it.

"So, I requested that we would have our rooms next to each other, if you don't mind. I want to be as close to you as possible, without it getting a little awkward." He said, running his hand through his hair.

I laughed at his comment. "Ya. Thanks. So which one is mine?"

"This one." He said, pointing to the right

He opened the door, and I swear my jaw actually hit the floor. I heard Percy laugh from behind me.

"A little nicer than the other one, eh?"

"Try, a lot nicer." I said. I guess its cause people actually knew about this part of the castle so they treaded to it. The set up was a lot like the other one, but it's just that everything is so much more elegant, and stuff like that in this room.

"Do I really get this room?"

"Yep." Percy said.

"Oh, well thanks…this is….wow." That is how amazing it was. I could only say 'wow'. Percy chuckled. "And I think they have new clothes for you too." He told me.

Sure enough, when I looked in the closet and dresser there was a whole new wardrobe.

"Wow." I was especially happy for this. I kind of have been wearing the same clothes forever. I hope it wasn't that noticeable, but Percy didn't say anything about it so I was happy.

"So…..where does Rachel sleep?" I asked.

Percy laughed. "Oh, don't worry. Her bedroom is on the other side of the castle. I don't think she even knows where your room is."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I mean….I don't really have anything against her, besides the fact that she really needs to give you some space. I just don't want her to come in my room and decide to pull a little prank on me."

"Ya. I guess I would be kind of freaked out about that if I was you."

We stood there for a while, until he asked a question that kind of caught me off guard. "Do you like gardens?" he asked.

"Um….I guess. I mean I haven't been to many gardens in my life time."

He nodded. "Well do you want to see the most amazing garden in the world?" He started to smile as he said that.

I grinned too. "Sure." He smiled and led me to the garden.


When we got there I was blown away. It was amazing. There were flowers that I didn't even know the name of. Millions of flowers that I didn't know the name of. Percy picked one that was purple and red, he called it Night lock. (A/N: HAHA….HUNGER GAMES!)

He turned and gave me the flower. I blushed and hugged him. It was truly a beautiful flower.

We spent hours talking about stuff. He asked me why he thought the villagers at my last home, treated me so badly. I told him it was because my mother was Athena, and everyone hated Athena. He kind of tensed when he heard it. I understand why. Poseidon and Athena have been rivals for thousands of years. I'm happy Percy brushed it off. It would have ruined our relationship. He actually found it pretty funny. He said, "No wonder your such a wise girl." which I slapped him on the arm for. Hard.

We eventually came to the subject of him becoming king.

"I don't even want to become king!" he shouted. I kind of tensed. Once he saw that hr freaked me out, he apologized.

"Why don't you want to become king?" I asked.

"I don't know. There are way too many responsibilities, and I need a wife to become king. The only problem is…..I don't know who in this world is cool enough to be married to me." He glanced at me. I gave out a laugh. Typical Percy. I swear, in a very tense moment like that, only he can break the ice and make it into something funny.

"You're such a dork, seaweed brain."

"You're such a nerd, wise girl."

"I don't know. I'd rather be a nerd than a dork."

"Well, I'd rather be a dork than a nerd."

I stuck my tongue out at him. Percy rolled his eyes. "Very mature Annabeth."

"Oh, shut up. It's not like you haven't stuck you tongue out at anyone have you?" I asked

"Not since I was like, eleven." He said.

"I bet not." I told him.

He stuck his tongue out at me. "Haha! See I told you!" I said smiling.

It was getting late outside. I heard to the bugs chirping, and the owls hooting. I sighed. I loved owls. They the amazing animals. Just amazing. I used to have a pet owl. His name was Athens. He was beautiful.

Athens never lived at my house, but he was always on the run with me. I could also speak to him. I guess it is because my mother is Athena, and her sacred animal is the owl. Athens was such good company.

One day I stole some food from a villager, because I was gunna die of hunger if I didn't. The villager tried to shoot me, but he missed. He killed Athens instead. I cried for hours. He was my only friend.

I know, I know. It's pretty pathetic to have an owl as a friend, but I guess I'm pathetic, then.

I shivered. It was freezing.

"Oh, are you cold?" Percy asked me.

"Y-ya. K-kinda." I said through chattering teeth. Percy laughed and whispered to himself, "Kinda."
He took off his jacket that I didn't even notice him wearing and out it around my shoulders. He started to button it up.

"Thanks." I whispered. "Can we go inside? It's getting kinda late."

"Oh, ya. Of course."

He got up, and held out his arm. I smiled and looped my arm through his.

We walked in silence he whole way back to the hallway with both of our rooms to it.

"Thanks for showing me the garden, it was amazing. Thanks for the flower too. Oh, and the jacket." I had a lot of things to thank him for. There were much more things that I didn't mention because I think he is getting tired of me thanking him for it. But there is still letting me stay at the castle, and the clothes, and the food, basically everything good that had happened to me lately is because of him.

"No problem. See you tomorrow." He said. He held out his arms and I walked into them. After about a minute we broke apart.

"Night, Percy. I love you…..as a friend." I said, smiling.

He walked over to me and kissed my forehead. "I love you too….as a friend." He said mimicking my tone. I slapped him lightly on the arm, and was about to go to my room, until I heard someone clear their throat. "Oh, so we love each other. Do we?" Percy and I glanced at each other, and then back at the person.