Here's the surprise. Merry Christmas everyone, because of this festive season I'm going to do a special chapter. Have fun.

Percy POV

I can't believe she actually followed me into the changing room. It was pretty funny but I managed to contain the laughter at that time.

Anyways, I thought that maybe she wanted to work on the project so I went to her room after I cleaned up. She was shocked to see me at her front door, the look on her face was priceless.

We work on our project at her table, it is about the independence day. She is pretty smart and I couldn't catch up while she rambled on about how we gained independence.

She took one look at me and knocked my head. "Are you listening?"

I laughed "Can't catch up with the genius here"

She puts her head on the table "How did you even pass your exams"

"Luck obviously"

She knocked my head again "Luck can run out you know."

She lied down on the floor. "How about we stop here for today"

"Agreed" I started gathering my stuff and stood up to leave.

Annabeth suddenly sat up "Are you leaving already?"

"Yeah, I'm just here to work on the project after all"

She stood up and pulled my hand "I want to get to know you more"

I pushed her hand away and shook my head "There's no point. We're not going to talk again after we're done remember?"

She oushed me "See? There you go again. I hate this side of you, why can't you just be the Percy I met in town that day."

"I can't let myself be so carefree, I might hurt someone."

"If this is about the incident again, I know, I understand. But you can't keep pushing people away from you."

"I can if it means everyone else is safe"

"At the cost of your own happiness, I'm not satisfied about that."

"My happiness mean nothing if everyone else is happy."

"Well, I'm not happy." Tears were appearing at the edge of her eyes.

I turned away. "I'm sorry, I just can't do this." I walked out of the house.

When I reached my house I just slid along the wall onto the floor and pondered about it. This is okay right? She is safe if I'm not around her.

But she was crying, my resolve about this matter is shattering. I'm about to lose my mind about what is right thing to do.

-Line Break-

A doorbell ring woke me up, should I get up, it's probably Annabeth. I will pretend I'm not home, I'm not ready to face her yet.

After I returned I must have slept while thinking about everything that has happened. I am still in yesterday's clothes and I'm sleeping on the floor.

"JACKSON I know you're in there." A voice screamed out. That voice, Thalia Grace.

I kept quiet, she must have found out about the talk between me and Annabeth. They seem to be pretty good friends.

I heard a loud sound on my door. Once. Twice. My door burst open, and there stood a furious Thalia Grace and a messy looking blonde girl behind her.

Thalia POV

I've got to tell Annabeth about this, the three of us will be great friends. Bianca is just awesome, I still can't believe she is that gloomy Nico's sister.

I knocked on Annabeth's door excitedly. It took a while too long for her to open the door and what I saw messy blonde hair, dried tears on her face and clearly very gloomy.

All my thoughts about Bianca disappeared. I hugged her tightly, and when I finally released her I asked "What happened to you?"

"Nothing happened"

"Is it Percy?"

She looked away.

"So it is him. Where is he?"

She pulled my hand "It's not his fault, I just stepped over the line."

"But he made you like this. I am not going to forgive him"

"Please Thalia, it isn't his fault"

"It's clearly his fault, where does he live? Somewhere in this building right? I'm going to break down every door if I have to so you better tell me which is his room."

She pointed next door. "There but Thalia, please don't do anything to him"

"He lives next to you?"

She nodded and I headed over and knocked on the door. No answer. I screamed "JACKSON I know you're there"

I kicked the door. Annabeth pulled me back "What are you doing?"

"I need to have a talk with him"

And I kicked it again hard and the door flew open with a shocked Percy behind it.

From the looks of it, he hasn't bath yet from yesterday.

"Hey Jackson, I want to talk"

"There's nothing to talk about."

I walked in crouched down beside him and slapped him. Annabeth rushed in and held my hand before I slapped him again. "Thalia, what are you doing?"

He was grinning, this arrogant boy dared to grin after I slapped him. He touched his cheek where I slapped him. "I deserved it for hurting someone."

I was taken aback "Glad you know that."

I stood up and left for the front door but stopped midway "You better find a way to make up for this"

Annabeth crouched down and touched his face "Are you okay"

"I'm fine" was his reply

Annabeth stood up and followed me out but not before taking one last look at him. Once she closed his door, she faced me "How could you do that to him?"

"He needed to wake up"

"You saw how he was when we entered, he's clearly been through just as much as me."

"I needed him to face reality."

"He has a harsh reality. I had you beside me at my worst moments, he has no one"

I shook my head and walk away. "The worst is yet to come and he knows it."

"He has faced enough for a lifetime, I can feel loneliness aura around him."

"You're too nice Annabeth. Just make sure he apologizes to you properly."

I walked back to my room. I convinced myself I did the right thing. He needed to wake up from that world, he needed a push. I hope Annabeth can make a bigger push than me.

Annabeth POV

Thalia slapped him, I can't believe she actually did it. Percy looked so gloomy when we entered his room, he wore the same clothes as yesterday. From the looks of it, he slept on the floor too.

Maybe Thalia is right, maybe I'm too kind. But Percy is my friend, he is a friend who is going through a tough time in life. He needs someone by his side like when Thalai was there for me.

I entered his room again, since his lock is broken, he can't lock it anymore.

I saw him still there where we left him but now he has his leg is pulled up and his head down. I walked over to him. "Percy, Thalia didn't mean to slap you."

"She woke me up, I'm glad about that."

I pondered for a while. "Can I know more about you?"

He hesitated. "Sure" He pats the space beside him.

I walked over grinning. "I'm from San Francisco. Where are you from?"

"I was born in New York, but raised in Kansas. I came back a few years ago."

"Oh what about your parents?" the moment that words came out I regretted it. What was I thinking, his dad is missing. I covered my mouth with my hands.

I looked down "I'm sorry I asked. You don't have to tell me"

He shake his head "No, I want to tell you. It was 2 years after my birth, my dad was in the navy. One day, he went out into the sea and never came back. Many presumed he is dead but I don't think so. My mom, well she is in Kansas. She visits a few times over the year. During the school holidays, I would go back to Kansas and meet her."

"It must be tough on you that your dad is missing"

He playfully pushed me. "Well probably not as much as you, . How is it like getting chased by your mom's bodyguards all the time?"

I knocked his head. "Don't call me that ever again"

We laughed together for the first time since my first day here in New York.

I learnt a lot about him after that. He is a great swimmer, he loves going to Montauk beach, his studies are not good, and he wants to become a marine biologist.

"Won't you hate the sea, since it made your dad go missing?"

"Strangely, no. Maybe because the sea is so beautiful, I want to try my best to protect it."

I told him about myself too. I love studying and I aspire to become a architect like my mom.

"Why a architect?"

"I want to built something permanent. A mark to show that I have been here, in this world"

"Oh, do you know that you have sparkling grey eyes?"

"Sparkling? I'll call them dull, I inherited it from my mother and I hate it. I hate my grey eyes"

"Why do you hate it, it's sparkling like stars in the sky, or like a jewel"

Nico POV

Bianca is one year below me, we were living in Houston before we came here. I came here first because Bianca wanted to spend a few more days back in Houston with her friends.

I led Bianca into my room after our chat with Thalia in the cafe, it's mostly just Bianca and Thalia talking though.

Once she sat down on her bed she asked "So, do you like her?"

"Like who?"

"Thalia"

"Her? No no, I'm just working on a history project with her"

"Well one thing can lead to another you know"

"That's not going to happen"

She laughed. "Everybody says that at first"

I helped her unpack her stuff as we catch up on our times apart, which was just a few days. I explained school to her, and how I have been getting through, though I left the part where I was late to school on the first day out.

We went out after that because Bianca hasn't had any food since breakfast. We ate at a Italian restaurant near my apartment.

We were raised in Italy for a few years before coming back to the United States so we know a bit of Italian. When we spoke Italian to the waiter, he just stood there confused and we laughed.

The walk back to the apartment was nice and relaxing. I'm glad to have Bianca here beside me again, I feel more secured having her around.

When we were outside the apartment, Bianca suddenly stopped and look at one of the rooms. "How can it be?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing" she smiled and walk towards the building.

I was worried but decided not to pry.

-Line Break-

We arrived early at school on the next day because of Bianca. She went to the receptionist to get her schedule.

The receptionist looked at her name and looked up, "Oh, did you know your brother was late on his first day, I'm glad that you are not."

Bianca turned around and glared at me. I showed her my innocent smile.

After she was done we walked to homeroom "You were late on your first day?"

"Umm, the alarm clock was broken"

"Ughh, I can't believe you"

We entered our homeroom and Thalia was already there. Bianca walked over to her so I followed her. "Hi Thalia"

"Hello there Bianca, and hello Nico"

I walked to my seat and sat down to finish my unfinished homework. I'm going to get in trouble if I don't finish this and it's all Thalia and Bianca's fault who talked in the cafe for ages.

Well, at least it's not that hard. After a few minutes, students started coming in and it started to get noisy and harder to concentrate.

I noticed Percy and Annabeth hasn't arrived yet, I wonder how those two are doing. Percy seems to be avoiding Annabeth for a few days already.

Then, Percy came in with Annabeth behind him. Bianca suddenly looked away from Thalia and stared at them.

"Percy?" was what came out from her mouth.

How did you like my Christmas gift to you? I may not be Santa, but I hope I made everyone happy for Christmas, Have a joyful one. MERRY CHRISTMAS! HO HO HO