CHAPTER 2

A Plot Twist

MAY 2, 2017

Tuesday

meet me cafeteria

Was the text Percy received from Grover. Gods, couldn't he meet him somewhere nearer? Because Percy was currently riding his two-seated bicycle (he still doesn't know why his mother bought him one with two seats), and was nearing Goode High, and he couldn't even bear to face the people at the entrance, hallway, and the classrooms.

He was gonna be a laughingstock once he enters the school, he knows that. The small percentage that wouldn't laugh at him would be the people who would cast looks at him and whisper it to their friends, and maybe even giggle. Worst of all, he had to face Annabeth frickin' Chase.

Dozens of scenarios flooded his mind. Would she come out and say she hates him? Would she come out and say she has to ignore him? Would she laugh at him and tell him he was nowhere close to being with her? Or would she kick his ass?

He couldn't even bear thinking about it. He knew one thing for sure, and it was that Jason Grace, his cousin and one of his bestest friends, had ruined his life.

And speak of the devil...

Percy. Meet me at Chiron's. We gotta talk.

Chiron's was a fast-food restaurant two blocks away from school, and Percy was gonna passes through there every time he went home or went to school. The place was the 'best-friend-hangout-place' of Percy and Rachel.

Checking his wristwatch, he decided to go there, since there was still 45 minutes before school. He had texted Grover that he'll be a little late, and went to park his bike at the back of the restaurant. And boy, Jason motherfucking Grace was waiting for him there.

Percy was so angry that before Jason even tried to say "hi", he got out of his bike and punched him right in the face so hard, that Jason doubled back and screamed "Ouch! Jesus Christ!". Jason may be taller than Percy, but Percy was older and bigger, and he had some muscles from swim class every summer. Him wearing glasses certainly doesn't make him small.

Jason's nose was bleeding, and as he wiped blood off, he mumbled some words. "Huuuhhh. I guess I deserve that. But Perce, let me expla-"

"Explain what?! That you leaked to the entire school that I liked her? That you ruined my life?!" Percy shouted, but composed himself after two minutes. He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for getting mad, I'm not usually the mean guy, but before I get even angrier, explain why you filmed that, and why you posted it." Percy crossed his arms, and Jason laid back standing on the restaurant wall, still wiping his blood.

"Look, you know I'm a YouTuber right, I upload vids through JasonThunderGrace, and well, I needed a vid."

Percy was about to throw another punch until Jason raised his hands and pleaded.

"Wait, wait, wait! Let me finish! Look, I can't explain much further, but didn't I say I had information that will help you in the future?" Jason said "Well, that information, will be uploaded tonight. Another video. Not of you, man, but it's info. I did all this for you, dude! It's to help you with Annabeth! Look, do you trust me?"

Percy sighed, and looked at him. Jason was a plan-first, kind of guy, and he had the whole leader thing to him, so Percy knew there was something bigger than all of this. And besides, they've known each other practically since birth. He trusted him.

"I do, Jase. But I'm done with Annabeth. Crushing on her is nothing but trouble." He hugged Jason, and Jason hugged him back. They were basically brothers, and they patted each other's back.

"Just wait for my vid later at night, okay? Piper's hosting this time, and you, sir, are gonna like it." Jason said to him and smirked at him.

"Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever. Just chat me up when it's online." Percy absolutely had no clue what the video was about, but he was not sure he was excited for it. After all, Jason could be messing with him, but he decided to confront that problem once it arrives.

Jason finally said, "By the way, I called you to meet her because I have no ride. Let me ride with you at the back."

Ah, so his mother had a reason for the two-seated bike.

Basically, after arriving at school, Percy was surprised no one was laughing at him. Yet. But he was not surprised that everyone was staring at him and giggling-slash-whispering to their friends. Annabeth, Thalia, Piper, and the rest of their crew was nowhere to be seen yet, thank gods, Percy thought.

It wasn't until Calypso of the chess club passed by him and patted him on the back and shouted "Good luck with Annabeth, Percy!" that annoyed him so much he started to cringe. He hadn't even yet stepped at the hallway entrance of the school that somebody was already shipping them. Or maybe not, maybe she was messing with him, who knows?

Jason left him, and went to the yard to find Piper, his girlfriend, and while he was left to deal with the entire school, as soon as he entered, a girl surprised him.

"Bwa! Watch it, Perseus!"

Percy almost tumbled because of that jumpscare, and a mess of red hair was on his sight and he saw none other than Rachel, or Red, standing in front of him.

"Red! Oh, boy, what the fuck was that for?" Percy asked, clutching his chest. "Oh my goodness, give me a fucking heart attack why don't you?"

"Messing with ya. You know you love me." Rachel winked at him, and Percy rolled his eyes in the process.

"Well, if I didn't, I might have punched you, y'know." Percy said, and he was really grateful Rachel was here, because he couldn't handle his fellow schoolmates without someone by his side. "Hey, um, Grover's meeting me at the cafeteria, and class doesn't start in thirty-two minutes, so wanna tag along?"

"Sure. Art class is an hour away, and I got nothing better to do anywa..." Rachel trailed off, saying anywa, instead of anyway, as she looked behind her and saw them, and of course, Percy saw them too. It was Annabeth Chase, with Piper McLean, Silena Beauregard and his cousin; Thalia.

She was always pretty, and this time might be the prettiest he'd ever seen of her. She was wearing a blue sweater (his favorite color) with her hair down. They were staring at him, and Thalia whispered something at Annabeth. Annabeth was looking at him, directly. And it was a glare. They whispered to each other as they proceeded to go inside the classroom.

Great, Annabeth Chase hates him. So much for talking to her. The best he could do know was ignore them for the rest of the day. But then again, he couldn't ignore the rest of his schoolmates, so he knew this day was off to a bad start.

"Ignore them. Don't pay any attention to her, especially. That's the way she is." Rachel told him as she rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Nothing, nothing. So, cafeteria?" she asked.

They were currently in the cafeteria with Grover, and they talked about what had happened last night, early morning, and just moments ago. Percy explained him punching Jason, the whole school talking behind his back, and of course, Annabeth Chase's death glare she sent him earlier.

"But she can't hate you. That's... impossible." Grover said, as he munched an egg sandwich.

"Not that much, Grover. It's possible. You know how she is, grades and everything, always looking toward the future, and never the present. Seriously, girls like that are why corrupt people breed everywhere." Rachel says, and mocks Annabeth. "'Oh, gosh, jolly, I am superior, I had a piece of paper that tells me I'm smart!' Can you believe that shit?"

That sent Percy and Grover into a turbulence of laughter, and Percy kind of decides right now, that he doesn't need Annabeth Chase. Maybe she did show her true colors earlier when she glared at him, but he didn't care. But maybe he did. Somehow, he can't help hoping that she's really the nice Annabeth he always had a crush on, and maybe focusing on one moment doesn't define who she is.

"I've known her since third grade, I know how she is." Rachel proclaims until Percy butts in.

"Rachel, everyone around here knows anyone since third grade. I've known almost everybody except you, Annabeth, and Silena." Percy said as he removed his glasses and wiped them with the hem of his shirt.

"Yeah, well, both of you can shut up, we just have to wait for Jason's new video later. He said it's still about 'hashtag, Percabeth', but doesn't include you, or anything about you. I wonder what it is, and his girlfriend's hosting it." Grover explained, and took the last bit of egg sandwich into his mouth. "Gonna be posted on Jason's personal accout on Facebook and JasonThunderGrace in YouTube."

Both on Facebook and YouTube. Percy couldn't figure out which one was worse.

The only thing that distracted them from their conversation is Clarisse; Student Council President, giving orders to her council members and pinning a huge sign at the wall at the back of the cafeteria. All eyes were at the sign, and then whispers grew large.

Goode High School

JUNIORS-SENIORS PROM

June 10th, Saturday. Save the date!

5:00pm - 1:00am

Juniors and seniors can ask sophomores and freshmen!

Huh. Prom. Percy was a junior, so he was eligible. Then again, he was the glasses-wearing nerd everyone thinks, so he's not gonna show up. And last time there was a JS Prom, not one senior or junior asked him out, so he's backing out of this one.

"Hm. Prom. Thinking of going?" Rachel asked.

"Going with who, Red?" Percy asked disbelievingly.

"With me! It's gonna be fun, I promise." Rachel confirmed as he patted his shoulder.

"I don't mind you as a date, Red. I'd ask you out of anyone, but then again, I'm not going to Prom." Percy said, and did a small "humph!"

"There goes my date. Fine, if you won't go to prom, I won't, too." Rachel replied, replying the same "humph!" Percy did.

"To be honest, that's a good idea. Don't go to prom. Stay at home. Read some books, play some video games, and maybe for me, go to swim class." Percy announced at the table, and then he and Grover high-fived. Rachel laughed at the both of them.

Then the bell rang.

"Time for class, man!" Grover cried as he ran to his classroom with his knapsack.

"By the way, can you give me a ride later?" Rachel asked.

Percy thought the entire day was going to be a nightmare, with Annabeth in a couple of his classes, so he ignored her as he entered and sat on his usual seat and he had no doubt she was glaring holes into his back, and Jason sat beside him. He could feel the entire class looking at him, metaphorically, and thinking, oh, it's this loser. And he could hear some girls talking to Annabeth from behind it about the video.

Classes were a nightmare, but the end wasn't.

Classes started out normal, with Mrs. Dodds shouting at every student, Paul teaching usual English, and so on, bla bla bla, the usual. Then there was the occasional gag about Percy like "Maybe lover boy can answer that!" or "Nerdy McPercy's Love Story begins!" and finally, his all-time favorite "Percabeth will prevail." He knew Annabeth was going to hate him more for it, and he wanted to get out of class as soon as possible. Or maybe stay during the end of class and eat his packed sandwich inside, because he doesn't want to go to cafeteria for another humiliating session.

He's a qualified nerd. He's used to the bullying. He kept glaring at Jason, but Jason kept reassuring him saying "Don't worry, all this will pay off once the vid's uploaded."

It wasn't until the end of classes that Percy thought he was the fucking luckiest guy in the world.

The bell rang, and everybody left. Leaving Percy inside alone. He shooed off Jason as he said that he was gonna give Rachel a ride, and the last thing Jason said was "watch the vid!" as he left. Percy never had lunch, so he was going to eat his tuna sandwich (Poor fishes, he thought), and stay there for a while. He was looking at the window for a while, admiring the generic beauty of nature, and needless to say he dropped his sandwich at his desk when someone said-

"Hi."

That someone was Annabeth Chase.

The sandwich was still on his desk, he turned to his right, and she was sitting there, smiling awkwardly at him.

"H-h-hello." was all he could muster. Jesus, he knew he already fucked up. He had zero experience talking to girls he liked and Red was the exception.

"Hi, Percy." Annabeth said, and the cute smile she showed him already made his stomach turn over. Damn, he was glowing redder by the minute.

"Y-y-you know who I am?" Percy asked, and he regretted it.

Annabeth frowned at him. "We've been classmates since 7th grade, of course I know you." she said, and he just realized how stupid he was. Sure, he talked to her, like borrowing a pen, or something, or asking about an assignment, but he thought it was something like, classmate-tolerance. Way to ask the wrong question.

"Oh yeah..." Percy drifted off, and they stared at each other for a moment. It was a really awkward moment, and Percy didn't know where this conversation was going, so he decided to break the silence. It was now or never. He had to do it. "Um, look about that video-"

"It wasn't your fault, I know. You were just being honest amidst a really, really, really private conversation." Annabeth chuckled a bit, and Percy thought he couldn't fall harder for her. "You were being honest, were you?" she asked as her face shifted from mildly joking to mildly serious.

Percy immediately answered. "Um, yeah. Yeah, I was..." he was scratching his head, the things he does when he's in an awkward situation.

Then the next thing that happened was something he never saw Annabeth Chase do before. She turned red and blushed. "Oh! Oh, good! Not good, as in, you know, good, but good as good... Geez, I'm such an idiot..." That was another thing Annabeth Chase never did. She never stuttered or got tongue-tied, or called herself an idiot.

Percy wondered... did Annabeth Chase...?

Annabeth immediately composed herself by coughing an 'ahem', then randomly stared at him and smiled and said "You look cute in your glasses." Percy blushed, but before he could say a thanks, she muttered "Fuck."

Percy didn't know where this was going. No one did. So he asked the most obvious question, gaining a little confidence. "So, um, what brings you here? Erm, with me, I mean?"

He realized she was staring at him. And he turned as red as Atrocitus because of that. His question snapped her back to reality. "Hm? Oh, that. Yes. That. Me being here. Yes. Um. As you know, Prom's coming up, right?"

No, no, no, no. This wasn't happening. He's not thinking this would happen. It's not happening, isn't it? What Percy thinks is gonna happen? Or maybe she's part of the Prom committee, and she's here to promote-

"So, Percy, I'm asking you..." she drifted, and looked at her knees and said "tubemadeit."

What?

"Sorry, Annabeth Chase, I mean, Annabeth. I didn't catch that."

"I said, 'to be my date." Annabeth clarified, and Percy? Well.

He thinks he should kiss her now and then, and be done with it. He thinks of fainting right now, and even thinks of killing himself. Because Annabeth Chase, the love of his life, asked him to be her prom date. His glasses almost fell off just thinking this. It was impossible. It was a moment of glory, and it was-

"Percy?" Annabeth asked, as it was him this time how went to Wonderland.

"Oh, um, sure. I got no one to go with, anyway." Percy replied those words with a little confidence. A little, but it was enough.

"Really? That's great! So you're not going with Ra-" Annabeth stopped and shook her head. "Nevermind."

"This isn't some pity party because of that video, right?" Percy asked with full confidence, to know she's not playing with him or just asking him as a prom date because she felt sorry for him.

"No, it isn't. I'm 100% asking you as my prom date was the right cho-" Annabeth was gonna finish, but was interrupted.

"Percy! You're my ride home, let's go ho-" Rachel entered the empty classroom, running to Percy until her head abruptly turned to Annabeth. She sent her a glare and said one simple word. "Chase."

To Percy's surprise, Annabeth glared back. "Dare."

"So, what brings you here with Percy?" Rachel asked as she crossed her arms. "Because he promised to give me a ride, and no offense, you're kind of wasting my ti-"

"Oh, don't worry about me wasting my time, Rachel." Annabeth said her last name with toxicity, and Percy read both girls as having an old rivalry "since third grade". "I was just asking him as my prom date, and he said yes. You can have him. I'm going home too." Annabeth said those words with a little smug smile, and Percy doesn't even know what's going on.

"You said yes?" Rachel asked with bewilderment.

"I did, yeah." Percy said, and he just grabbed his bags, because he begins to feel awkward seeing his best friend and his crush fight. "Look, let's just go, Red, it's getting late."

The three of them got out of the empty classroom and walked towards the hallway and towards the exit, with almost no student around except one or two, and teachers roaming the hallways. Percy rode his bike, and Rachel was behind him in the second seat, and her arms were wrapped around his torso as she wore his helmet. Annabeth was beside them, walking them to Percy's bike, before saying. He noticed Annabeth twitch a little when Rachel wrapped her arms around him.

"Oh, thanks for the accepting me as a prom date, Percy. I'll... see you tomorrow." She smiled at him, and glared at Rachel.. "Bye, Percy." she added, then added again. "Rachel." as she simply nodded at her.

Rachel held tighter to Percy, and said "Annabeth." while glaring at her back. "Bye, Annabeth!" was the last thing Percy shouted as he and Rachel rode to the Dare Mansion.

Percy couldn't even contain his thoughts of today's events until Jason uploaded the video he said he would. Percy didn't even get dressed and sat on the couch, opening his Facebook app and saw Jason's post. Jason Grace posted the video entitled #Percabeth: Official Prequel with Piper McLean as today's guest host.

Percy was a little excited, a little nervous, and maybe a little curious. He played the video.

Once played, Piper McLean's chocolate skin and choppy hair appeared before him, smiling.

"Hello, Goode High! This is PiperBombshellMcLean here hosting JasonThunderGrace's channel for today. I know this isn't the regular host, this is his girlfriend, but let's begin!

"As you all know, yesterday, Percy Jackson was revealed to have been in love with Annabeth Chase since 8th grade! I know, right? If I didn't tell my crush I liked him for four years it would kill me! But that was the original video. Percy's confession of his feelings, this, of course, is the official prequel!"

Percy didn't know where this was going, and he was already embarrassed of having his name thrown like that.

"The following video I'm about to show to you was taken on April 27, on Thursday. That's two days before Percy's confession. The following takes place at the Grace residence, where we had a little slumber party. The recorded video is Jason's, and he happened to intrude into his sister's room when we were playing Battleship. Here's the video."

The video cut to a different one, and it was one that was taken on a cellphone that happened to be on. It was Jason, and he recognized the surroundings as Jason and Thalia's house. "Is this thing on? Alright." Jason was entering Thalia's room, and inside were the girls, Piper, Silena, Thalia and Annabeth, playing Battleship 2v2. "Helloooooo ladies, This is JasonThunderGrace! Intruding your usual playtime!"

"Get the fuck out of my room, Jason." Thalia shouted, and Piper said, "Hey babe. Love that your here, but we're playing can you get out for a sec?"

"This is for a random vid, and... Thalia, I need your book about Dark Souls." Jason asked her, knowing Dark Souls to be a video game, and he needed the guide.

"Sure, grab it by the other girls' backpacks and stuff. It's on the table. Just don't disturb us." Thalia said as she continued playing, and Jason faced the camera at his face again. "Ooookay!" Jason said, as he went towards the backpacks.

"What the...?" Jason said as the camera lingered on to an orange Jansport backpack, open with a gray book that has a lock that seems to be unlocked and opened. The front page was open. "Oh, it's Annabeth's diary..." Jason said, and he whispered a strong "WHAT THE FUCK? Holy shit."

The camera lingered on the diary and it said

Property of ANNABETH CHASE-JACKSON

"Jackson?!" Jason whispered with strength again, and the camera lingered on diary. Jason quietly turned the page and on it, was a huge, drawn heart with the word PERCY JACKSON written on it. "Holy fucking shit, this is gold!" his whisper almost had enough strength to be heard. He turned another page, and...

Percy was already surprised at the pages, but the next page was even more surprising.

"Holy mother of-wow. She's good. It looks exactly like Percy."

It was a drawing of Percy Jackson, him, with his glasses and all, sitting in a desk and smiling. Friiiick. Annabeth Chase drew his face.

Jason turned the page again, and it was a diary entry. Jason giggled and read the first line, which couldn't be read because of Jason constantly moving with the camera. "'Dear Journal, Percy looks cute in his blue jacket, he wears a lot of blue stuff, and my staring at him hasn't stopped. He looks just so friggin' cute and handsome that...' Ohohoho! This is neat! And this is for you, Perce. Shhhhhhh." He was still whispering, and finally, he took the Dark Souls book beside it and ran towards the door and shouted "Thanks, sis!"

The door behind Jason closed, and he kept on recording because he could hear them talk behind it.

"Pipes, you didn't lock my journal?" Annabeth asked with a frantic voice.

"Oops, it appears I didn't..." Piper replied.

"Pipes! What if Jason read that?!" Annabeth asked.

"Trust me, Annabeth. He didn't. I know him." Piper reassured, and that was the last thing Jason heard.

Jason giggled at the camera. "She knows I did. This was her plan, after all."

The video ended, and Piper's face was back on screen.

"There! Percabeth is real, Goode High. And Annabeth, please don't kill me, but it's already been years, and you need to admit it! Let it all out! You'll be thanking me tomorrow! Don't kill me. That's all for today, everyone, bye! See you next time on Jason Thunder Grace!"

The full video had ended, and Percy was still staring at his phone with an open mouth, and because a stunning revelation was revealed. This was what Jason meant.

I've got information that will help you move toward the future.

Annabeth Chase had a crush on him for years.

Somewhere, not a couple of blocks as far, Annabeth Chase was at her laptop, watching the same video, and shouted.

"Fuck!"

A/N:

I apologize if there are any mistakes, but... how did I do?!

REVIEW PLEASE! I do pump out faster chapters when I get more reviews, they make me feel more energized to write.

Also, don't ask how would A have a crush on P if she glared at him at the beginning. It will be revealed on the next chapter, and if you're a true PJO fan, you'd know she wasn't glaring at Percy.

Like I said, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW please! Much appreciated, thanks!

CHAPTER 3

Origins

No official sneak peak, but this is the first ANNABETH-CENTRIC chapter! Yes, it's all Annabeth, so the earliest I could upload is this thursday or friday, and the latest on sunday. I will upload earlier if more reviews encourage me.

Stay tuned!