When Annabeth was a young girl, it was difficult for her to communicate her feelings. This led to several issues, mainly with other classmates - who didn't want to play with her because they thought she was weird or unsociable. It wasn't that she didn't have emotions, it was that she had too many and didn't know how to express it. Her parents constantly argued, and it echoed round her brain even when they weren't present. All the 'not now Annabeth!'s and 'go to your room!'s left her feeling unwanted and alone.

So, this was a new feeling for her. Locker boy not only wanted her, but was also someone who she held in high regard. Luke Castellan was every girl's dream, so why didn't she feel good? Why was her stomach twisting and turning in uncomfortable knots that made her feel lightheaded?

'Are you sure he's the guy?'

Percy was sat her on couch as she nervously paced back and forth. He had rushed over as soon as she phoned to try and help calm her nerves - but so far hadn't done anything than sit in her apartment and panic with her.

'They have the same paper! That can't just be a coincidence!'

Percy scoffed. His hair was still wet from the shower and he was wearing his pyjama pants and a hoodie, like he dropped everything and came straight to her after hearing the news. It made her heart flutter slightly at the thought.

'Yes it can! Lots of people have the same paper!'

Annabeth shook her head from where she stood in front of him.

'Maybe, but the chances are so slim! It would explain why he's taken a sudden interest in me too, maybe he's working up the courage to finally reveal himself.'

Percy frantically shook his head.

'He's taken up an interest in you because you are partners on a project! That's it!'

'Really? Then why has he been texting me most nights?'

Percy stiffen and narrowed his eyes at her.

'He's been doing what?'

She sighed, and threw herself down next to Percy frustrated.

'I wish he's just tell me already! Now, i'm just going to feel awkward.'

It was silent for a moment or two, before she felt a pressure on her shoulder and looked up to see Percy had wrapped an arm around her.

She froze for a second, before relaxing and placing her head on his shoulder. The sunset was visible through her window, causing a orange glow to fill her room.

'If it is Luke, how do you feel?'

She straightened and looked at him. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean,' he looked nervous, and his gaze focused on anything other than her, 'would you be happy, if it was him?'

His words sank into her as she contemplated what he just said. Would she be happy with it? Sure, Luke was attractive, and all she had been focusing on recently was the butterflies that locker boy gave her. But something felt off. It's not what she imagined at all.

She sighed once more and looked back at Percy.

'I really don't know. He's a great person, really - and i get on with him amazingly. Something just feels weird.'

Percy nodded slowly, processing what she said - before a small smile appeared on his face.

'Well then,' he spoke, tapping her shoulder with the hand that was resting there, 'we'll just have to see what happens - won't we?'

She bit her lip and nodded back. 'I guess so.'

——————————————————————

Will hadn't spoke to her in a solid ten minutes. He just kept shooting her looks of betrayal across the library table and occasionally sighing to himself.

She rolled her eyes at his theatrics, and lifted her book up to smack him in the arm.

'Stop being pathetic!' She exclaimed.

He gasped and blocked her attack, snatching the book from her hands.

'Excuse me if i'm annoyed you told Percy Jackson about locker boy before me!'

'I tried to call you! You didn't pick up!' She argued back. 'Where were you anyway?'

His face flushed. 'With Nico. I didn't hear it ring. We were -uh- busy.'

She gagged to herself. 'Spare me the details.'

'So you really think Luke is your guy?'

Annabeth deflated and glanced around the room - seeing Luke on the table in the corner with a few of his soccer friends.

'I have no clue. I don't know how i feel about anything anymore.'

Will nodded understandingly and sent Luke a look out the corner of his eye. 'I don't know, it just doesn't seem his style.'

Her brows furrowed. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean-' he motioned towards Luke, 'he's literally the captain of the soccer team, he could probably get any girl he wants. Why be so secretive?'

Annabeth shrugged. 'Maybe because he's embarrassed to have a crush on a nerd like me?'

Will scoffed and smacked her arm gently with her own book.

'Not true! Well - maybe it used to be true. But not anymore - you've changed in the past few months, and it's not a bad thing!'

She frowned and took her book back from his hands, opening it to the right page. 'I don't know Will.'

'Well i do. You've become quite the topic in the boy's locker room.'

She pulled a face. 'Gross.'

He pulled one back. 'It's true.'

She paused as she snuck another glance at her potential lover. 'Percy doesn't think it's him either.'

Will rolled his eyes. 'Yeah well, of course he would say that. He doesn't want it to be Luke.'

Annabeth looked at him in confusion. 'What do you mean?'

The bell rang and Will gathered his stuff.

'Doesn't matter. See you later, yeah?'

She nodded as he stood up and left, trying desperately to ignore Luke also leave out the corner of her eye.

When did life get so complicated?

————————————————————-

Annabeth didn't hate school. She was smart, and enjoyed her classes - learning came naturally to her. However, there was one class that she couldn't stand. Gym.

Don't get her wrong, she enjoyed working out. But this class was mixed with girls and boys - and they weren't exactly the most gentlemanly.

She tried to ignore the cat calls and whistles as she made her way over to the bench to sit with her group.

'All right class! I want everyone to pair up with someone of the opposite gender! We will be doing laps round the field and i want it to be fair!'

Annabeth exhaled and stood up, meeting Percy's gaze. He sent her a smile and starting making his way over.

'Annabeth?'

She would recognise that voice anywhere. It's the voice that's been haunting her dreams for the past week.

'Hey, Luke.'

Percy came to a pause in front of them and shot a look between the pair. She couldn't read his expression - but it was definitely not good.

Luke noticed him, sent him a grin and little wave.

'Sorry Jackson, i've claimed this one!'

Luke met Annabeth's gaze and sent her a small smile. She tried to ignore her heart picking up pace.

Percy didn't budge for a moment. She turned to him and gave him an apologetic smile, before he deflated and turned on his heel - making his way over to Katie.

'You've been avoiding me.'

She sighed and began making her way over to the field. She couldn't argue with him because it was true.

'Why?' He continued.

She groaned in frustration. It didn't help that he looked really good right now, with his t-shirt clinging to his arm muscles and blonde hair shining from the sun.

'I don't know.'

He rolled his eyes. 'Yes you do. And i can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong.'

It was silent for a moment while they walked. She could see Piper and Percy talking urgently out the corner of her eye, but ignored them.

'Is it because I said Hades was better?'

She scoffed and let out a little laugh, finally meeting his eyes. 'Of course not! That would be silly!'

He laughed back and seemed to calm down a little. 'Good, you're right, that would be super stupid.'

'Athena is still better though.'

'Your still delusional though.'

They paused walking and stared at each other blankly for a moment before breaking into laughter.

'Seriously, tell me what's wrong. I value your friendship and don't want to mess it up.' He placed his hands on her arms, causing her to look at him.

She sighed.

'Well, it's a long story. In short, there's this guy-'

'Pardon me!' Piper exclaimed as she hurriedly rushed in between herself and Luke. Poor Jason who was being dragged along behind sent Annabeth a smile and quick nod to Luke.

'Piper?' She asked questioningly.

'Sorry Luke, need to borrow your partner for a minute! Won't be long.'

She was promptly dragged away by Piper, leaving behind a confused Luke and Jason who began speaking to him about god knows what.

'Annabeth, think for a minute.'

She narrowed her eyebrows at the other girl. 'About what?'

Piper prodded the inside of her cheek with her tongue. Her trainers were super dirty from the mud on the field and her blue gym top was two sizes too big for her.

'There must be a way you can test if Luke is your guy? Right?'

Annabeth looked back over to the pair of boys.

'How?'

Piper bit her lip like she didn't want to say too much, then rolled her eyes.

'I don't know! Surely he's told you something about himself?'

'I guess? But i don't know wha-'

'Oh come on!' Piper exclaim frustrated, gathering some attention of passer-by's. 'Work with me here!'

Annabeth thought hard, mind racing of every note he ever sent her.

'He likes blue?'

Piper's eyes lit up and she nodded. 'Perfect! Ask him his favourite colour.'

Annabeth bit her lip. 'Lots of people like blue.'

Piper pushed her back towards the boys causing her to slam into Luke's side, she smiled sheepishly at him, before scowling at Piper.

'Anyway, i'll be off. Come on Jason.'

The two hurriedly disappeared leaving Luke and Annabeth alone.

'What the hell was that about?' Luke asked.

'Oh you know,' Annabeth tried to brush off casually, 'Just Piper being Piper.'

He shrugged, satisfied with the answer, before continuing walking.

They made small talk for a while as they walked the outskirts of the field. He seemed to have forgotten about their previous conversation but the air still felt thick. Her gaze landed on the purple flowers that had begun blossoming for spring.

'You know,' she spoke coyly, 'I love those flowers.'

Luke raised an eyebrow and focused on the petals like he was just noticing them for the first time. 'Oh yeah, very pretty.'

'Purple is actually my favourite colour.'

'Is this your discrete way of asking me to get you flowers?'

'No!' She exclaimed, fighting a smile.

'Because i will if you want me to.'

'Oh my god. You are not making this easy.'

He looked at her blankly.

'Lucas can you please just tell me your favourite colour.'

He furrowed his brows.

'Why?'

She shrugged. 'We are friends, right? Friends should know this type of stuff.'

He looked at her a tad weirdly but probably put her behaviour down to the fact that girls were just strange. She noticed Percy watching them from a few paces behind and sent him a kind smile.

'Maybe red? Or black - that's kinda edgy right? Ooo - i quite like green too because -'

'What about blue?'

He stopped walking and shrugged slightly. 'It's okay?'

She sighed and found Piper's eyes from across the field. She shook her head slightly.

Luke was not her guy.

'Was that the wrong answer? Did i just fail some sort of secret test or-'

Annabeth forced a smile and shoved his shoulder gently. 'Of course not. Obviously you would choose black. Almost as bad as picking Hades.'

'Hey!'

They carried on walking and she tried to hide her disappointment. She had warmed to the idea of Luke being her guy, even though their friendship leaned more towards that of siblings than dating - but she definitely thought he was attractive.

Anyway, now she was back to square one and had absolutely no idea who locker boy was.

Coach Hedge blew the whistle to signal end of period and she smiled at Luke before walking past her friends and making her way back to the locker room, wondering what locker boy was doing right now.

——————————————————————

In the past year, Annabeth could count on one hand how many times she saw her dad. Christmas was the first memory that sprang to mind - but even then she had only popped round for a short while to see her younger siblings. They had grown quite a lot - almost as tall as her now.

Her and her father were polite with one another, but it lacked depth or meaning. Small talk the same way you would with a stranger in the subway, or barista as you ordered a coffee. To be honest, the counter boy at the local cafe probably knew more about her than her own blood did anyway.

She missed having a parental figure. She had grown to enjoy living freely and alone - but missed being looked after when she needed it the most.

Like now, for example. She was ill - so much so that locker boy had even noticed and left some more blue cookies from his mom along with a new note.

'to annabeth,

respectfully, you look like shit - you should go home and rest. i hope you feel better soon beautiful.'

She scoffed and closed her locker, pocketing the cookies in her bag and shrugging it on her shoulder.

She saw Nico and Jason making their way down the hall towards her and forced a smile in their direct.

'God Will wasn't kidding huh? You don't look good at all Beth.' Nico commented, causing Jason to shove him slightly.

'What he means to say is, you seem super ill. You should go home.'

She nodded and opened her mouth to talk, but ended up letting out a monster sneeze.

'Gah- that was on me!' Nico exclaimed, pulling a face.

She sniffled and wiped her nose. 'Sorry.'

'Cmon, i'm taking you home. Give me your keys.' She handed Nico her keys and gave Jason a little wave as the former ushered her out the building and towards her car.

Her and Nico had become pretty good friends recently. They found out that they liked a lot of similar things; games, books, Will (sometimes). Nico reminded her of her younger brothers, and she thinks he felt the similarly which was good. She knows he lost an older sister a few years back (Will has a blabbermouth) and she was happy to fill that role for him.

She got in the car and coughed a couple times, causing Nico to mutter under his breath as he put the car into drive.

He turned up the music as they drove in comfortable silence, and it wasn't until they were within a few miles of her house he began to talk.

'So, it's mine and Will's one month in a couple days.'

She nodded along, aware of the occasion. Will had already written it in the calendar at the apartment.

'Yeah, what are you guys doing?'

He sighed slightly as he turned a corner. 'We have this fun date planned and i think he wants to go to the beach,'

'But?' She asked.

'But, i don't know what to get him. Like i know he'll be happy with anything - but i want it to be perfect, you know?'

Annabeth smiled softly.

'You really like him, huh?'

Nico grinned. 'So much. He makes me so happy.'

She couldn't help but grin herself. She was so happy that Will had found his person, he deserved it.

'I'm sure whatever you think of will be great Nico. But don't stress. That man is obsessed with you. You could get him a rock and he'd love it.'

Nico's smile grew as they pulled up outside her house. 'Thanks Beth. I hope you figure out your situation soon too, you're actually pretty cool.'

She flipped her hair jokingly as she climbed out the car. 'I know right?'

Nico scoffed to mask a laugh. 'Whatever. Now, please go and rest okay? I'll get Will to bring the car back later.'

She nodded as she opened the building door, shooting him a smile. 'Thank you for dropping me home Nico'.

He smiled as he reversed out the driveway, and she watched as the car made its way down the road before it disappeared round the corner.

She really had the greatest friends.

She spent the remainder of the day curled up on the couch watching reruns of Harry Potter with snacks on her lap. Will joined her around 5pm, and she received texts from several people with get well soon messages. Percy, Luke and the girls group chat - plus some memes from Nico.

It's crazy that less than six months ago no one would have even noticed her absence.

He ended up leaving around 8pm as his dad needed him for something. She waved him out and went to sit down again when not even two minutes later the door knocked.

'Oh my god, what did you forget now?' She exclaimed as she pulled open the door. Instead of being greeted by Will, Percy Jackson stood at her door.

'Is this a bad time?' He asked.

'No no, sorry i thought you were Will. Come in.'

She pulled the door wider and he stepped past her, kicking off his shoes and making his way into her living room.

She closed the door and noticed her school bag on the floor that she had abandoned earlier, so she picked it up and hung it in its place - taking out a couple books and locker boys cookies and bringing them with her.

'So whats up?'

She placed the books and cookies on the table in front of the couch and sat next to him. Percy followed her with his eyes.

'I just wanted to see if you were okay. You seemed pretty sick earlier.'

'Yeah it's fine. I would keep your distance though. Wouldn't want you to get ill too.'

He nodded, eyeing the cookies from the corner of his eye.

She smiled as she noticed this. 'You can have one if you want.'

His eyes darted back to her like a deer caught in headlights and he shook his head.

'Nah- it's fine'

She laughed and picked up the tub, opening it and placing one in his lap.

'Here. Please help me finish them or i'll get fat and blame you.'

He smiled and picked it up, taking a bite.

'Are you watching Harry Potter?'

She grinned. 'Yep, i'm on Goblet of fire. Just started it.'

His eyes lit up. 'That's my favourite one!'

Her smile grew. 'Me too! You wanna stay and watch it?'

A glint entered his eye and he nodded.

'Okay fun! I'll grab another blanket.' She stood up and went to grab it as he got comfy on her couch, pulling his hoodie over his head and resting back into the seat.

She made her way back over to him, chucking him the blanket and flopping down next to him. He chuckled as she landed on his side, lifting an arm to put it round the back of the couch.

She debated curling into his side, and around 10 minutes later she caved and shifted closer to him. She didn't look at him, but could see him grin out the corner of his eye and move his arm onto her shoulder.

She liked this. She couldn't help it. She liked it and felt beyond guilty. She pictured how her locker boy would feel if he saw her like this, cuddling with another man, but then cursed herself. She wasn't doing anything wrong. They weren't dating, and until he revealed himself to her there is nothing they could do about it.

She laughed at Percy's stupid comments throughout the film, and tried not to view this as any more than just friends hanging out. Although, she couldn't picture doing this with Nico or Jason, or even one of the girls for that matter. This felt domesticated, more intimate.

She could get used to this.

It was weird. Lately, she had stopped viewing Percy the same, and almost daily had an internal conflict on whether or not she had developed a crush on him. Even if she had, she refused to acknowledge it. She was hardly in a place to start pursing a relationship, when locker boy was so prominent in her mind. It wouldn't be fair to either party.

She shook her head and tried to silence her thoughts. Right now, she was happy, and as she glanced at Percy who was munching on blue cookies and focusing on the TV, she thought to herself - thats all that matters.

——————————————————————

She had an epiphany the next day. Will made a joke about three ghosts visiting her in the night but she just scoffed and continued to write.

Most the time, it seemed like locker boy just slipped the piece of paper through the cracks in the door. But on two occasions, there had been objects way too big and placed way too neatly to have been slotted like the rest.

The cookies gave him away.

He knew her locker combination. Or, at least, was a very skilled lock pick.

Either way, he had access to her locker - which gave her an idea. She had been sat here complaining for months about the guy making no further moves to reveal himself, maybe he was waiting for her to reply? Maybe he wanted acknowledgment that she was okay with what he was doing before he proceeded any further.

Anyway, here she was sat on the floor in front of her locker scribbling down a note to post in her own locker.

'I want you to know how ridiculous you look right now. Seriously, the nurse might pull you aside for a drug test or something to make sure you aren't cracked out.'

'Shut it, Will. This could be a pivotal moment for me.'

He laughed and shook his head. 'You're ridiculous. I love you though.'

'Thanks, you're half decent too.'

Annabeth ripped out the page from her notebook and frowned at it. Should she say more? Less? Gah - she was going to lose her mind.

'Okay, I'm taking the initiative.' Will snatched the note from her hand and read it quickly.

'to locker boy,

i don't know if you will think this is weird or whatever but can you make a move already? You're driving me insane.'

He chuckled and posted it through her locker. 'Straight to the point. I like it.'

She heard it hit the shelf and panicked for a second, debating opening it and taking it out again.

Instead, she sent him a weak smile and held out her hands so he could pull her up.

She brushed some dirt off her legs and looked at the locker. 'I just hope it works. I don't know how much more I can take.'

Will grinned and threw his arm round her shoulder, leading her down the hall and to science.

'I guess we'll find out, won't we?'

——————————————————————