Percy P.O.V

Just after P.E., I found Annabeth walking out of the shower. Why she looked so beautiful, with her intelligent eyes and curly blond hair, I would never know.

We were together at school for the last two years, and she didn't even notice me until today. I had a crush on her since last year, but I would never tell her that. So I just kept walking and went to find Grover.

But I found Jason instead.

He is my cousin and a very good friend, blond hair and blue eyes. He was built of the athlete he was. He had a sister named Thalia.

They were twins, but she, unlike him, had jet black hair with electric blue eyes. But they weren't crystal blue like Jason's. Thalia and I may be cousins- but never as close like I was with Jason.

"Hey, Perce." He waved at me.

"Hi, what are you doing?" I titled my head guessingly.

"Just looking for Thalia," He said. "And Piper." He added.

Piper is Jason's girlfriend since last year. I always thought they were perfect together. "Let's look together, I'm looking for Grover anyway." I said.

"Yeah. I can say Thalia and Piper are probably together."

"But where the hell is Grover?" I asked.

"If I needed to guess, I would say to the cafeteria, eating." He grinned.

It wasn't really a guess. If you were looking for Grover, the cafeteria should be the first place to look. If he's not there then you will probably find him with Juniper, his girlfriend.

"Let's start from there. Maybe the girls are there too."

Sure enough, there he was, eating – I don't even know what- in the same table with the girls. They were all laughing about something.

Then I saw her.

Her. The blonde, beautiful as ever.

I followed as Jason walked towards them. He kissed his girlfriend and gave Thalia a warm smile.

"Three times in a day? You are a lucky girl." I grinned at Annabeth. She gave me a small smile

"Or you are just a stalker" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, right. You just happen to be where I'm going."

"Dream on, Jackson." She laughed.

Jason looked at everyone on the table. "Do you want to do something later? After school?"

Thalia nodded, agreeing with her brother. "Yeah, maybe come by our house?"

"Nah," I said, shrugging. "I have swimming practice."

"I'd like to, but I have to go shopping with Susan and the twins," Annabeth said, her face scrunching on the name of her stepmother. But it faded away as she turned to look at me. "You're in the swim team?"

"Yeah," I grinned, upbeat. "I'm the captain."

Annabeth returned a smile for my grin.

"Hey, Annabeth," Thalia called, looking at her. "I could go with you, if you'd feel lonely. Plus, I could use a little shopping."

"Ugh, I would love to," Grover said. "But Juniper and I are going out. I think we'd be out all day."

Jason shrugged, then kissed Piper's hair. "Guess it's just you and me, Pipes."

Piper laughed, and kissed her boyfriend back on his cheek. "I guess so."

That's when we all stood up from the table, and everyone said their goodbyes as we left.

Annabeth P.O.V

As we said our goodbyes, I glanced at Percy one last time- and I found him looking at me. I quickly looked away.

What is wrong with me? I just met the guy. It couldn't make sense if I liked him or had a crush on him or whatnot.

As I drove off with Thalia, the urge to know about him was too much. Before I could stop my mouth from rambling, the worlds were out of my mouth.

"Hey, Thals…" I said not even thinking about it. "What do you know about Percy Jackson?"

She looked and me with confusion but answered anyway. "He is my cousin actually, along with Jason's best friend. But I guess you could say we were never close." She tapped the wheel of her car.

"He's the most popular guy I know in school, and the captain of the swimming team. Every girl I've heard talking at school wants him- but he only had one girlfriend that I know of. They broke up but because they loved each other, but like, wasn't in love with each other any more, so they stayed friends. I think she cheated on him but that's just a rumor…"

There was silence in the car for a moment before she asks "Why, you like him?"

When I didn't answer she looked at me, bewildered, and I blushed.

She almost yelled. "You do like him, Annabeth! I knew it."

I shot her a look "I don't know yet, Thalia. Don't be rash. I just met the guy."

She looked surprised "Just met him? Don't lie, Annabeth, we've had classes together for two years now."

"What?" I was shocked. Two years? Why didn't I notice a hot and cute guy like him?

"So you like him or not?" Thalia asked, raising an eyebrow.

I looked at her "I don't know yet but does it matter? He is the most popular guy at school, like you said. Why would he look at me of all people? I'm just a nerd. And you said it yourself, Every girl at school is after him. Especially the popular girls. Why would he look at me instead of them?"

I really didn't get it, but Thalia surprised me with an answer I didn't think she'd say "Because you are real. The others? They are fake! All make-up and lip-stick-they don't show their real character and they are acting like bitches. I don't think they really are, though. Not all of them at least. But you do what you want. Not what the others make you. Why wouldn't he choose them over you, when you're different, and real? He likes you over them. I can see it."

I tried to process what she was saying.

What? Percy likes me? Me?

That is so not what I expected to happen when I got out of bed this morning.

Percy P.O.V

I couldn't believe it.

I was staring to hang out with the girl I had a crush on.

I was glad and sad at the same time.

Glad at first- because we could talk and hang out.

But then again- I was sad. What would I do if she sees me only platonically? But now I have to stop thinking about her. I have training.

Swimming. Yes.

The one and only thing that makes me relax. In the water, everything is peaceful. It's the only place where I can think straight. I was trying to beat my record for some time now, but today I was feeling lucky and in good shape.

An hour and a half later I found myself grinning like an idiot in the shower, because I did it. I broke my record.

I also got a text from Jason, to meet him at his house. He said that the girls would be there too, and he needed me.

My hair was still wet, even when I got there. I shook my head off once before I knocked front door.

Thalia opened.

"Hey, Thals." I greeted.

"Hey, Percy! Grover, Jason and Piper are in the basement. I'm gonna go upstairs and bring Annabeth down."

"Why is she upstairs? Is she okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, she is upset about something Susan said."

I said it before I could stop myself. "Can I talk to her? I may be able to help."

Thalia looked confused, so I added, " You know, my mom is re-married, too."

She thought about it for a second and then she nodded. "She's my room."

I almost ran up the stairs before I found Thalia's room knocked the door.

"Go away, Thalia, I'm not going downstairs." Her voice cracked, like she was crying. I opened the door slowly and stepped inside. She had her back to me.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, and Annabeth quickly turned around.

"Percy." was all she said as she started wipe tears from her cheeks. I sat down next to her and asked, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

She stayed silent. "No."

"Is it about your stepmother?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Thalia told me," I said sheepishly.

Annabeth rolled her eyes."I'm gonna kill her." She wiped some more tears before saying, "Yes it's about her."

"What happened?"

"You wouldn't understand."

I felt kind of hurt when she said that. But I was totally okay with it- she probably thought I was one of those people just trying to understand without any background."

"I will understand better that anyone," I said soothingly. "My mom's remarried, too, like your dad."

Annabeth P.O.V

He wouldn't understand, would he?

Even though if he had the same situation as me.

My life is too complicated for someone to understand. But somehow I felt that I could tell him.

"My family is very complicated. My mother, Athena, and my father Frederick got divorced when I was seven My dad then married Susan about six months after the divorce. I used to live with my mom, but about three years ago she had to do something. She wouldn't tell me what, so she just sent me to my dad. Susan and the twins have made my life a living hell since then. She keeps treating me like I'm the house maid, ordering me to do things. And today at the shopping, Thalia came just to be there for me. I know she hates shopping. She insisted that I should buy a dress, you know for the dance in two weeks, but when I went to try it on, Susan started yelling that we didn't come here for me- that the twins need clothes. Thalia got so mad at her- she looked like she was going to slap Susan. I stated dragging her to the car but then Susan told me that I didn't deserve anything she'd given me the last three years. I was shocked. Thalia brought me here and told me to stop listening to Susan."

I didn't know why- but I felt better telling him what happened. I couldn't meet his eyes. I was afraid that he would look at me like a kicked puppy or something.

"Annabeth" was all he said.

When I didn't respond he said my name again and I looked up at him.

"Don't you ever, ever tell yourself that you deserve than what you have. You deserve way more that what your father and stepmother give you."

That made me smile.

"Thank you, Percy."

"Now, lets get some fun." He said as he stood up. He offered his hand to me. When we got downstairs the others were laughing while watching TV. I sat on the couch and Percy sat next to me.

I was feeling a lot better around him.

And that moment, I just knew I liked him.