Hey guys, Lillybunny70 once again, here with the 3rd chapter of "Take It Easy On Me". I am really sorry about the wait, I am currently moving and I don't have a lot of time to write. I hope you guys have enjoyed it so far. Reviews are appreciated and sometimes needed (look at A/N in last chapter)

Oh my gods, I was reading my last two chapters realized that I forgot to put in a disclaimer, so here it is:

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HOO (though I wish I did) Rick Riordan owns it and I'm glad that he does because, think about it, where would we be without him? There would be no Percabeth fanfics to read/write and then what would we do?

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 3: Helping

Percy's POV: Before Annabeth came to the house

I was in my room, laying on my bed listening to some music, trying to do my English homework, but I was having a ton of trouble. My dyslexia was making the words swim around on the page and my ADHD was making me impatient.

I heard the doorbell ring and briefly wondered who was here. I looked out the window and saw Annabeth's car.

I heard the door open and my sister talking to Annabeth. There was a pause then I heard Andromeda running up the stairs. She came down the hallway and opened my door.

"Hey, ever heard of knocking, Andy?" I said looking up from my textbook.

"It's Annabeth." She looked at me expectantly, with a rather worried expression.

"What happened to her?" I asked protectively as I sat up.

She lowered her voice and her face became a mix of anger and concern.

"Luke broke up with her and he wasn't very nice about it. He slapped her cheek and kicked her-"

Andromeda didn't even have time to finish. I shot off my bed and raced down the stairs to the living room.

Annabeth was sitting on the couch staring at her hands. She looked up when I ran in. I probably blushed a bit but then I saw the hand-shaped mark on her cheek and the bruise on her arm, and I wasn't blushing anymore.

I sat down intending to say something but I was interrupted when Andromeda yelled down the hall, "I'll be back at 7:30 and I'll bring some pizza with me!"

I looked back at Annabeth and knew that she felt broken again, but I was determined to help fix her, this time forever.

I looked at the clock. It was 2:30 a.m. 'I should probably get some sleep.' I thought to myself. But I just couldn't.

I was thinking about Annabeth. She was too good to be dropped the way that Luke had dumped her. She was amazing. Luke just didn't see that.

I'd always had sort of a crush on Annabeth but I didn't know if Andromeda would like it if I dated her best friend.

I was thinking about what Andromeda would say if I told her that I liked Annabeth, when I heard it. A blood-curdling scream coming from downstairs. I knew it was Annabeth, and I knew that I had to stop whatever it was that was hurting her.

I ran out of my room to the stairs. About half way down, Annabeth stopped wailing. I didn't stop running though.

I ran into the living room and saw Annabeth sitting up.

"What's wrong? What happened? Annabeth are you okay?" I asked, probably sounding a little frantic and hysterical but I didn't care, Annabeth was in trouble.

"Shh," She said, putting a finger to her lips, whispering something that I couldn't catch, then pointing to the ceiling, and to my sister, who was still sleeping. How she managed to stay asleep while Annabeth was screaming was mind-blowing.

Annabeth got up and walked into the kitchen. She sat down at the counter and I stood across from her.

"What happened?" I asked. "And don't tell me 'nothing' because you were screaming your head off."

"I had a nightmare about Luke," Annabeth started.

She got about halfway through explaining when she broke down. I couldn't bear to see her like this. I walked around the counter and gently pulled her off her chair and pulled her into a hug. We stood there for a little while, she cried and I rubbed her back and whispered softly to her, trying to make things better.

It must have worked a bit because she calmed down and I pulled out of the hug and looked at her closely.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked, still looking at her.

She took a deep breath and replied, "I'm fine now."

"Alright," I was sure that was the only thing I was going to say, but then, out of nowhere I found myself asking, "Do you want me to sleep downstairs on the floor?"

Annabeth blushed and looked at the counter.

"Maybe, if you don't mind," She said, "Just in case I have another nightmare."

"Okay, I'll go and get a sleeping bag and pillow." I said as I walked out of the kitchen to the upstairs hall closet.

I rummaged through the closet, looking for my green sleeping bag. When I found it, I grabbed a pillow, shut off the light and closed the door. I started back down the stairs, thinking about Annabeth. She was too good to be going through this much pain, she hadn't done anything to deserve it, and it hurt me to see her like this.

I found Annabeth in the kitchen, staring down at the floor.

"Are you okay?" I asked, then mentally slapped myself thinking, 'Percy, that's like the third time you've asked her that. Stop being so worried!'

But Annabeth didn't seem annoyed. she just looked up at him.

"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking."

"Ah, the good old WiseGirl, always thinking," I said with a smirk.

"Shut up, SeaweedBrain." Annabeth retorted, smiling.

She stood up and walked into the living room. I followed to set up my sleeping bag. As I was setting up my makeshift bed on the floor, she sat on the couch, looking at her hands but not quite focusing on them. I knew she was thinking hard about something.

A few moments passed by, me sitting on my sleeping bag and Annabeth staring off into space, when she finally broke the silence.

"Hey, Percy," She asked, sounding slightly hesitant.

"Yes?" I said as I looked up at her.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"Shut up, now yes or no."

"Go ahead, ask your all important question, oh inquiring one," I said, smirking.

"Why do thing that Luke broke up with me?" She asked quietly, her voice catching on Luke's name.

I thought for a second (which I normally don't do), and I came up with my answer. I got up from the floor and sat on the couch next to Annabeth. I wasn't planning on it, but I found myself putting my arm around her and pulling her closer to me. It just felt...right. I hoped I wasn't weirding her out, but she didn't pull away, which I took as a good sign.

"I don't know why, but I do know that any guy who would break up with you would be making a huge mistake." I answered, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

I was blushing, that was one thing that I was absolutely certain of. I was glad that the lights in the room were dim, I probably looked like a maraschino cherry that had sprouted legs and arms.

I looked down at her adoringly, and she looked back up at me.

"Really?" She asked. I didn't understand how she could be beating herself up like this, she was amazing.

"I'm absolutely sure of it," I replied similing down at her. "Your something special that no one would want to give up."

"I don't feel like it though." She said sadly, looking down at the floor again.

"Don't let Luke or Ethan or any of the other guys get you down. You are special, if not to Luke, than to someone else." I said, hoping that I didn't sound like I was begging.

"Who?" She asked, looking up at me once more.

'Me obviously!' my brain wanted me to shout.

"Oh you'll find out soon, maybe," I said. I tried to sound mysterious so that she wouldn't hear the sadness in my voice.

The next thing that I did was something that I never intended on doing. Maybe it was just out of the heat of the moment or something, but it surprised both of us, though I tried not to show it.

"You should try to get a little bit more sleep. Goodnight, WiseGirl," Then I leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

I slipped off the couch and got into my sleeping bag. I had just kissed Annabeth Chase. On the forehead, but I still kissed her.

Before I drifted off to sleep, I was thinking about Annabeth, of course. I hoped that I hadn't scared her off and I wondered what would happen in the morning.

So, not the best ending and kinda short but I will be updating within the next week, so hopefully you will know what happens in the morning maybe by next week, but I make no promises.