Hey guys! Merry Christmas! Lillybunny70 here once again, with your kinda late (sorry) chapter 4! I know that I said that I would update by last weekend but my new house didn't get internet until yesterday and I didn't have access to a computer. I will have more internet and computer access over the next week. Read the AN below to find out when I will be updating again

Disclaimer:

Me: Hey CupcakeQueen57, want a copy of my book, Percy Jackson?

CupcakeQueen57: Um...it's not your book, it's Rick Riordan's

Me: Fine! Ruin all the fun why don't you!

CupcakeQueen57: I'm just trying to save you from being accused of stealing.

Chapter 4: Healing

Annabeth's POV

When I woke up again, sunlight was streaming through the window. I looked at my phone. It was 9:30. I had two game notifications and a text from Andromeda.

'Hey Annie, got called in2 work at 8, be back at noon. U can stay, I'll bring lunch, I'm sure Perce won't mind. See u at 12.'

'Yeah Percy won't mind,' I thought happily. 'Wait, what? What am I thinking?!'

'Well he did kiss you last night,' The other half of my mind said.

'It was probably just the heat of the moment because I was upset.' The logical section of my brain said back.

'I don't even know any more. This is so confusing!'

I really didn't know what to do. I had just gotten dumped, why was I getting feelings for another guy? This shouldn't happen, not this soon.

I had to talk to him.

I slipped off the couch and sat down next to Percy. I put my hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly.

"Percy, get up. I need to talk to you." I called, softly.

*snore*

"Percy," I called a little louder, shaking his shoulder again.

"Ugh, what? Oh. Hey, Annabeth." He said with a smile.

"Hey," I said, smiling and probably blushing again. "Come on and get up, I need to talk to you."

I stood up and walked into the kitchen. I looked back at Percy and found him staring at me.

"What are you staring at?" I asked.

"Wha-? Oh, nothing," He said shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Well then, come on. I really do need to talk to you.

"Alright, I'm coming," He mumbled, standing up.

I walked into the kitchen and sat down at the counter in the seat that I had occupied earlier. I started thinking about what I was going to say. I couldn't just ask 'Hey, why'd you kiss me last night?' That would just be rude.

Percy came in and sat down next to me.

"Hey, is everything okay?" He asked softly, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Yeah, everything's...okay," I faltered when I said 'okay' because, truthfully, I didn't know.

"So what did did you need to talk to me about?" He questioned, turning towards me.

"Um...well...it's about...uh...it's about las-, last night." I managed to choke out.

Percy looked away, obviously hurt. I hated seeing him like that and I hated being the one that was hurting him.

I'd always had a little bit of a crush on him. He was always nice and was there when I needed him. I had brushed it off though because he was one of my best friends. But hurting him was the worst thing I could do.

I reached over and took his hand, entwining our fingers carefully and slowly, giving him time to take his hand away, if needed.

He didn't take it away though. He gripped my hand a little tighter and turned back toward me, looking down at our hands.

"What about last night?" he asked softly after a moment of silence, not meeting my eyes.

"It's just that, with everything going on, especially with...Luke, I just…," I trailed off.

I didn't even realize that I was crying until Percy pulled me up off my chair and into a hug. We stood there for a few minutes until I calmed down. When he pulled back, he locked eyes with me, green to grey.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, so softly that I almost couldn't hear him.

"Yeah," I whispered back.

We were so close, still holding onto each other from our hug. His arms around my waist and mine around his neck. He was still looking at me with that soft, caring expression. I was staring back, my eyes red from crying.

We started leaning in, ever so slowly. Our eyes fluttered closed. We were about to kiss. Then my brain registered what was happening and why I couldn't, so I stopped.

"Percy," I whispered, keeping my eyes closed and resting my forehead against his.

"Hmm,"

I pulled back and opened my eyes. Percy was staring at me again with the same expression.

"I-I...I can't...Luke," I whispered, not meeting Percy's eyes.

"It's okay," He whispered back, hugging me tighter.

"Ar-are you sure?" I was so quiet I wasn't even sure that he had heard me.

He had.

"Annabeth, I understand," He said softly as he put his hand under my chin and tilted my face up. "I just want to help ease the pain. And I will be here for you."

"Always?"

"Always." He nodded, kissing the top of my head.

Over the next couple of days, I spent most of my time with Percy. He was always there beside me. At school, after school. He protected me from Luke as well.

My dad let me stay home for a few days so that I could become strong enough to handle my problems.

Percy came to see me everyday. He helped me work on what I would do if I saw Luke at school. We worked it down to a T, but I was still nervous.

When Thursday morning came, I'll admit, I was scared, really scared. But Percy was there with me the whole time.

The first confrontation that I had with Luke was just after 2nd period. I was getting my algebra textbook out of my locker, with Percy standing behind me, acting like a guard, when the devil himself walked up.

I could hear him coming down the hallway, so I shut my locker, turned around, and braced myself for impact. Thinking over what I was going to say. Percy put his arm around me protectively and muttered, "Don't let him get to you, stay strong. Just like we practiced."

"So, the little skank returns. And what's this? She's already found a new boyfriend. She must be a slut too!" Luke sneered, mockingly.

"Shut up, Luke," I said quietly, thinking 'Oh well, there goes my plan'. "And he's not…"

I was interrupted when Percy leaned down and kissed me, full on the lips. I was surprised at first and didn't do anything, but then I started kissing him back. I don't know why but kissing him felt so...right. It felt like pure bliss.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it felt much longer. When he pulled away, I could still feel his lips on mine.

"Yeah, that's right!" Percy shouted at Luke. "She has a new boyfriend, but this one is going to be better to her, unlike you were, you nasty little scumbag! Now leave her alone!"

"Oh look at that! He's protecting her! HA!" Luke looked like Christmas had come early this year. "You don't deserve that protection Annabeth. You're just a little bitch!"

That's when Percy lost it. He lunged at Luke and punched him in the stomach. Several of Luke's jock buddies lunged at them, but I grabbed Percy's hand and tried to pull him back.

"Percy! STOP! He isn't worth it!" I yelled desperately, still trying to pull him back from Luke.

"You know what?!" Luke screamed, semi hysterically. "We'll settl-"

"No. You. Won't." I growled fiercely. "You will leave me and Percy alone. Got it?"

I turned around, grabbed Percy's hand and ran down the hallway. I didn't care if didn't care if people were staring at us, I wanted to get out of there. Away from Luke, away from the fight, away from everything except Percy.

When I finally stopped, we were out of breath standing outside of the algebra room. There was no one around, so it was the perfect spot. The bell was about to ring but I had to talk to Percy, urgently.

"What was that all about?" I asked Percy, a wild look in my eyes.

"I'm sorry that I kissed you, I get it if you ha-" He was cut off when I kissed him.

"I don't hate you and that wasn't what I was talking about. I was talking about the fact that you punched Luke. Why?"

"He was being a bastard." He answered simply.

"It's more than that, Percy. And don't try to lie and tell me that it's not." I said, staring him down.

"It's kinda hard to explain." He said, smiling sheepishly.

"I don't care, tell me. Please?" I said, smiling sweetly.

"Fine. It was because he was hurting you and I can't stand to see that. I hate seeing you upset. That's also one of the reasons that I kissed you."

"One of the rea-,"

*RING*

"Damn, cut off by the bell. I'll tell you later, I promise," Percy said before he kissed my cheek and ran of to his 3rd period class.

I turned around and slipped into my class. The teacher wasn't there yet so I technically wasn't late. I made my way to my seat and sat down. I still had that warm feeling from kissing Percy. Would we start actually dating? I kind of wanted to, to be honest. Would this ruin our friendship? I hoped to the gods not.

So, not the best chapter, but I'm okay with this chapter. Again I'm really sorry about the wait. I would like to say that it won't happen again, but unfortunately in my case, this type of thing cannot be prevented. I will try to be somewhere that I have access to a computer more often so that I can write because it kills to keep you guys waiting. I will try to update again before I get back to school, whether that will be before or after the new year, I have no clue. If after, have a Happy New Year as well as a Merry Christmas. If before, then just a Merry Christmas!

-LB