Late Nights and Annabeth

"C'mon Percy! You're so slow!" I teased as I opened the door to cabin 6, the Athena cabin. It was the morning of the day after my big fight with Annabeth, I had gotten a week of washing dishes with her. And I thought cruel and unusual punishment was against the law.

"It's not my fault your bags are so heavy." Percy defended as he trudged up to the front porch. The hunters had gotten my stuff after I had fainted.

"I'm carrying more than you are!"I answered.

"What do you have in here anyway?" he asked. I just shrugged.

"Books." Percy rolled his eyes.

"Of course."

We walked into the room and I dropped all my bags.

"I don't think they needed to bring my books." I said as I ran to the bookshelves that lined the walls. The whole room looked like a studio for braniacs. All the beds were pushed up against the wall and there were about 8 desks near the bookshelves.

"I could get used to this." I said. Then I looked up at Percy. "Who's your dad anyway?"

Percy strolled over to me and shrugged. "Poseidon."

Just then Annabeth walked out of the bathroom with a blue toothbrush hanging out of her mouth and humming I'd Lie by Taylor Swift. Her hair fell around her shoulders in a tangled mess. She wore a baggy t-shirt over paint stained sweatpants. Her eyes grew wide when she saw Percy with me and she rushed back into the bathroom. Percy looked over at me and we burst out laughing.

I started placing all my bags on an empty bunk and sat down. In a couple minutes Annabeth came back out looking… presentable. When Percy saw the tension between me and Annabeth he looked over at me.

"I'll see you later tonight." Then he left.

Annabeth looked like she was about to explode.

"What are you and Percy doing tonight?" she asked.

"Stuff."I answered casually.

"What kind of stuff?"

I sighed. "Look, Grover's gonna be with us, you don't need to worry."

Annabeth looked like a bright red tomato. "Like I would care what you do with Percy, he's just a friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure."

"Hey Percy!" I said as I ran up to him on the Fireworks Beach. I looked around and noticed there was nobody else here. "Where's Grover?" I asked sitting down on the sand.

"He couldn't make it. Juniper wanted to talk to Grover about her 'feelings' and how she thinks their relationship isn't up to their 'full potential'." He answered.

I laughed. "So Juniper is this infamous girlfriend's name."

"Yep."

I looked out at the ocean. It had always fascinated me for some reason, how it just seemed to go on and on.

"So, you and Annabeth haven't killed each other yet?" Percy asked.

I splashed Percy with the water coming in from the tide and much to my dismay, he caught it. I let out a small gasp.

"That's cheating!" I yelled playfully.

"Is it?" he mocked. Then he splashed me. His laughter rang throughout the night air. "You're wet."

"Way to point out the obvious!" I teased. Then I got up and chased him into the surf. I snuck up behind him quietly, or as quietly as you can when you're in the water. I scooped up some water and dumped it over his head. This time he allowed himself to get wet.

"Ha ha." I teased.

Then he summoned a huge wave that knocked me under the water. I came back up gasping for breath and spitting out saltwater.

"Ha ha." He mocked.

I got up quickly and chased him toward the beach. I don't know how long we were there, chasing each other and splashing each other, but eventually we got tired and made our way back up to the beach to rest and dry off. I lay down on the sand and stared into the night sky. The stars were glittering against the black velvet of the sky like diamonds.

"They're beautiful aren't they?" I asked.

Percy nodded. "See that one over there, that's Zoe Nightshade."

"I've never heard of that one before."

"It's new. She went on a quest to save Artemis with Thalia, Bianca di Angelo, Grover, and me. Her father killed her."

"That's horrible."

"The Titans are evil. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it means killing their own daughter. They're good at deception too. You should never fall for their traps. Although, Luke did."

"Who's Luke?" I asked.

"He's a traitor, but I know you would never do the same thing."

I looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks Barnacle Butt."

"Barnacle Butt?"

"It's your new nickname."

"Fine Owl Poop."

"You better run Barnacle Butt!"

I never knew Percy could run that fast. I actually broke a sweat trying to keep up with him. Finally I was right behind him and I jumped onto his back, making him give me a piggy- back ride all the way to the cabins. He dropped me off outside the Athena cabin. I pulled him into a hug.

"Thanks Barnacle Butt."

"G'night Owl Poop."

I turned around and noticed a figure move the curtains. I didn't need to guess who it was because I already knew. I watched Percy until he was in his cabin then turned to face Annabeth inside the cabin.

"Where have you been?"

"I was having a tea party with Kronos and all the other Titans with their fluffy teddy bears all named Mr. Fluffybutt. Where do you think I've been?" I answered sarcastically.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Real mature. I thought you said Grover was supposed to be with you guys."

I shrugged my shoulders. "He couldn't make it."

"So you were with Percy alone?" Annabeth asked quizzically.

"Excuse me while I gag. We were just talking! I could never ever think about Percy like that. All though you seem to do a good job about it."

"I do not!" she defended.

"Do to!"

"Do not!"

"Do to!"

"Okay we could go on like this for hours or we can speak rationally. Annabeth, everyone knows you have a crush on Percy. I mean, nobody would act that jealous if somebody went to the beach with their 'just friend'."

Annabeth looked down. "So what if I do. You won't tell him will you?"

I snorted. "Of course not! I'd love to see you make a fool of yourself on your own!"

Annabeth looked close to tears. "He doesn't like me back?"

I felt really bad, she really liked him and I had just told her that he could never like her back. "Annabeth, I know for a fact he likes you. All he ever talked about at school was you. 'Natalie, there's this amazing girl at this summer camp I go to'. He has three pictures of you in his locker!"

"He does! Do you think I should tell him?"

"Of course!"

Annabeth smiled at me. "Thanks, I'm sorry we didn't get along before."

I smiled back. "Me too." I held out my arms for a hug and Annabeth returned it.

Somebody from a top bunk threw a pillow at us. "Shut up! It's two in the morning!"

"Goodnight Annabeth."

"Goodnight Natalie."