Chapter 3:

We Need To Talk

PREVIOUSLY

"ANNABETH? WHERE'D YOU GO?"

And then my Seaweed Brain exploded out of the River Styx.

"Percy!" I screamed, running toward where he'd landed on the ground.

Now...

Annabeth's POV

"Oh my gods, Percy, are you alright?" I asked him, bending down on my knees next to him. I quickly scanned his body to see if there was any permanent damage.

His skin was bright red, and he was steaming slightly. But there was something different about him. He looked... well, strong. His skin looked as though nothing in the world could possibly penetrate it.

"W... Wise Girl?" he asked, looking stunned. His eyes opened a crack, and I felt as if the weight of the world was off my shoulders, knowing he was alive.

"Yes, it's me, Seaweed Brain," I answered, relieved that he could speak.

It might've just been my imagination, but his face suddenly looked as if it became redder, like if he were blushing.

"I'm alive," he said, amazed.

"Yeah, you are! Are you feeling okay?" I asked again, smiling.

He ignored my question, saying, "I'm alive... thanks to you." I gave him a confused look. What is he talking about?

"Huh? Percy, what are you-"

"Hey, Seaweed Brain! You made it out!" Thalia came walking over, Nico at her side. I became slightly annoyed after she called him 'Seaweed Brain'.

"You alright?" Nico asked, concerned.

"Yeah, guys, I'm fine." Percy replied, sitting up next to me. He suddenly held my hand, and I could feel him trembling slightly. I blushed. His hand was tough and blistered from being in the Styx, but still soft.

Thalia noticed that he'd grabbed my hand, saw me blushing, and gave me a look that said, I know that you like him.I stuck my tongue out at her. But seriously, why was he holding my hand? Not that I didn't like it…

"What's wrong, Seaweed Brain?" I asked with real concern. I figured he was scared or something.

"Well... um..."

"A lot of pain? That it?" Nico asked.

"Uh, yeah, that's it. Nothing more," he said, still trembling. He stared at the ground.

I sighed. "Percy, I can tell when you're hiding something. Are you sure that's it? Nothing more?"

He looked at me. "Can I talk to you….alone?"

"Uh, sure." I replied, surprised.

"We'll be back, guys." he said to Thalia and Nico.

We got up, Percy still holding my hand. We walked out of earshot, behind a big black chunk of rock so that Thalia and Nico couldn't see nor hear us.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Was he going to tell me a secret? What was going on?

He let go of my hand. "Annabeth, I... I have to tell you something."