I'm sorry that this chapter took a bit longer to write. Originally I'm not supposed to be on the computer right now because my mom doesn't like me using it. Something about it hurting my eyes and rotting my brain, stuff like that. She doesn't know I have a Fanfiction account (or even that it exists) so she thinks that I'm on Facebook or etc.. Anyways, here's the chapter! Just for you!

ANNABETH'S POV-

Percy seemed to be having a late junkie, because when I searched the classroom for him, he wasn't there. We only had Greek mythology and P.E. together so I had a limited amount of time to search for him during class, which kind of put me down a bit because I was very much looking forward to bashing on him for stuffing me in the car like that yesterday.

Everyone knows that Percy has bit of a short temper, but he's never taken anything out on me, even in his worst of moods. Trust me when I say that an angry Percy is something you should never cross with. Somehow, he can turn cookies into weapons when he's like that. The difference between yesterday and the times before that though, is that he has never before lashed out at his friends. At me.

I tapped my pencil on my notebook, pondering about what could have enraged Percy so much, when someone walked into the classroom. I looked up, along with the rest of the class, and saw Percy stride up to Mr. Brunner, our Greek mythology teacher, and whisper something to him.

Mr. Brunner nodded his head in confirmation and gestured for Percy to sit at his designated seat, which just so happened to be next to mine.

Percy kept his head down, even as he sat, causing his dark hair to cast shadows across his face. It was hard to read his expression, but based on his body language I was pretty sure that he was troubled.

I turned my attention back to Mr. Brunner, once in a while casting sideways glances over at Percy, only to see him staring off into space as if searching for an unseen solution to a complicated problem.

The rest of the period went on like this, seemingly normal, but the illusion was broken when the bell rang.

I got up from my seat and slipped on my backpack. Percy was still in his daze, so I took this as my chance to haul him to his feet and drag him across the floor, into the hall.

Percy seemed to have snapped out of his trance, but he wasn't struggling. Not even when I pushed him into the janitors closet with me and shut the door behind us. Cliché I know, but it was either here or the nearest girl's bathroom.

I grabbed two plastic crates and flipped them over to make makeshift chairs. I sat on one of them and glowered at Percy.

"Sit." I said plainly.

He sat in the crate across from me. I waited.

"You're going to tell me what's going on, and you are going to do it now." I said, when Percy didn't speak. "We've never kept secrets from each other and I don't want to start any time soon, if ever."

Percy's eyes roamed the small and cramped room. His jaw was clenched, and something in his face told me that he would rather be anywhere else in the world right now. I was starting to be a lot more worried than angry.

"Percy, you know you can tell me anything." I said this as a statement; there was no doubt about it.

The only response I received on Percy's part was silence. I reached out and touched his shoulder, and only now realized that he was shaking slightly.

"Percy….." I said in a hushed voice. I trailed off because there seemed to be nothing else I could say.

This time I finally got a response. Percy looked up at me with strangely sad eyes and shook his head.

"Please, just tell me what's wrong. I know I can help." I could hear the desperation in my own voice.

Percy sighed. "It's nothing. Problems at home, not something to freak out about."

"Really? Because you were sure freaking out about it yesterday."

Percy looked back down again, this time in shame. I instantly felt guilty because I hadn't meant to sound so accusing.

"Look, Percy, I won't get mad about what happened yesterday. I just want you to tell me what I want to know." I raised an eyebrow in a slightly teasing manner. "You more than anyone understands that I hate not knowing things."

The ghost of a smile crossed Percy's face. "What do you want to know?"

I crossed my arms. "Do I really have to repeat myself?"

I sheepish expression crossed Percy's face. "I guess not." He met my eyes. " Look, Gabe is being a jerk again, even more than usual, and that's saying something. I took it out on you when I shouldn't have and I feel terrible for doing it because I don't want to stoop to his level. I am so sorry Annabeth." His eyes were pleading as he said his next sentence. "Can we just put this behind us? Please?"

I studied his expression. I knew he was hiding something from me, and by the way he was trying desperately to steer away from the subject, I could tell that it was something imperative to our friendship, but for now I shrugged off my suspicions. I had a horrible feeling that I would find out what Percy was holding back soon enough, and that the outcome wasn't going to be good.

"Fine, but you owe me something." I said.

Percy visibly relaxed. He raised an eyebrow, offering me a wry smile. "And what do I owe my dear Annabeth?"

I got up. "Something. Surprise me."

I opened the door and motioned for Percy to follow me into the empty hallway. We both knew that we were already late to our second period.

"I thought you hated surprises?" Percy had a bewildered look on his face.

"I do." I said. I turned to face him before we went our separate ways. "But I like yours."

I walked away before I could see his reaction.

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"Come on Annabeth! Tell us what your topic is already!" Thalia was trying not to yell, but she was failing.

Percy, Tyson, Thalia, Nico, and I were sprawled in our usual spot under an oak tree in the park in front of the school. Percy had arrived later than everyone else because he had picked up Tyson, and now he lay down off to the side.

"Why do I have to go first?" I asked indignantly.

"Because you always share things last, and its only fair if you go first this time." Replied Thalia in a slightly smug tone.

I let out a big breath and unzipped my backpack. Our middle school was given a writing prompt during English class today that was due at the end of the semester. Since I was late to my English class today, I wasn't aloud to choose the topic and ended up getting the one that nobody wanted.

After less than a minute of searching, I found the slip of paper that contained my chosen topic, and took it out. "Here it is."

"Don't you have it memorized?" Asked Nico. Everyone knows that I have a great memory.

"I haven't read it yet." I said slightly embarrassed. "I was afraid of what I would get."

"Well you've got to read it sooner or later!" Thalia was getting very impatient. "Might as well do it now before I take out my eagerness by punching Nico!"

Nico sent me a pleading look, so I did what Thalia said to do (more like demanded) and read the slip of paper out loud. "My topic is; the difference between love and destruction."

Everyone paused whatever they were doing for a moment.

"No wonder that topic was a reject." Percy sat up. "It's bitter."

"Like milk gone bad." Agreed Tyson, nodding his head with vigor.

"Well," I said, still staring at the paper, "the point of this writing assignment is to challenge ourselves to think outside the box."

"Oh, please Annabeth." Thalia scoffed. "You always think outside the box. This assignment shouldn't be any different than any other you've ever done."

"This time it is." I put away the slip of paper, and turned to Thalia. "Your turn to share your topic."

"My essay will be on," Thalia paused for effect. ", How words can compare to a natural disaster."

"Let me guess," said Nico while rolling his eyes, "You're going to use lightning as your natural disaster."

"You know me so well!" Thalia replied, smiling widely.

"Okay guys, my turn." Percy took out his slip with a flourish.

"Oh no." Nico said dramatically. "I can only guess what that boy chose."

"For once, I agree with Nico." Said Thalia. "Percy probably chose something like; the woes of having a raisin sized brain or the daily life of a sushi-tarian."

Everyone started cracking up, but Percy.

"Wow, that was so funny I forgot to laugh." Said Percy sarcastically. "Anyways, fish have feelings too. They don't like to be eaten."

"Then why do you eat meat?" I asked. "Cows have feelings too."

"Yeah, but cows are stupid." Said Percy. "Now, do you want me to tell you my topic or not?"

"Fine. Go ahead." Said Thalia, after she had gotten herself back together.

Percy narrowed his eyes at his paper. All of us had Dyslexia, but Percy had it the worst. "Its-the difference between a stupid decision and one that is seemingly stupid."

Thalia burst out laughing again.

"What's so funny?" Percy seemed genuinely insulted.

"I just think that-hahaha-" Thalia was clutching her stomach."-it's going to be-hard for-hahaha-you to be able to tell the difference!"

"What do you mean by that?" Percy replied.

Thalia tried her best to calm down. "Psh-what I mean is, that its probably going to be a challenge for you to write about the difference between a stupid decision and a seemingly stupid decision when you can't even tell the difference yourself!" Thalia let out some stray laughter. "I mean, come on Percy! You're a few fries short from the happy meal, to say the least!"

Percy looked down. "Maybe I'm smarter than I let on."

"Yeah, ok. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Thalia didn't seem to notice the look of poorly hidden hurt on Percy's face.

Nico decided to break in. "Alright! My turn!"

"You know what? I need to leave before Gabe notices I'm not home." Percy was already getting up.

"Percy!"

He ignored me and shook Tyson awake. "Come on-we're leaving."

Tyson grumbled, but got up anyway.

"Wait-"

"Annabeth just let him go if he wants to. He probably has a bunch of secretly-genius stuff he needs to do anyway." Thalia said mockingly.

I glared daggers at her. For one, always being interrupted, and two for not noticing that she had crossed the line between teasing and being a complete jerk.

"Bye Percy." Nico said.

"Mhm, bye smart stuff!" Thalia did not know when to stop.

Percy didn't reply, and instead opted for fast-walking away. I smacked Thalia on the shoulder. "That was completely uncalled for."

"What? I was just joking around!" Thalia defended.

"That was way past joking around!"

"Guys…." Nico didn't seem took keen on interrupting us. That would be stepping into the war zone.

"You're just too sensitive." Thalia retorted.

"You're just too insensitive!" I could feel my face getting red. "You called him stupid!"

"Indirectly!"

"You said that he was incapable of being able to tell the difference between hidden intelligence and outright stupidity! "

"Again, indirectly!"

"You are impossible."

"Annebeth-"

"Nico, tell us your topic." I demanded. "I don't want to hear what Thalia has to say."

"Erm…" He looked from me to Thalia and then cleared his throat. "I got-um-The stage of adolescence in which a child expresses themselves with a certain object."

"That certain object is your stack of mythomagic card, isn't it?" Thalia said, in an; I should be used to this by now, tone.

Nico smiled proudly, although the tension between Thalia and I was still fairly obvious.

"Great, just another way for you to express your geeky self." Thalia stood up. "I'm leaving too. Let's go Nico, your sister's my ride."

I didn't say bye to either of them as they walked away.

Words can compare to a natural disaster;

Yeah, ok. Leave it to Thalia to go all literal.

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Thats the end of the chapter! I tried to make it longer, so please tell me if you like the old or new length better.

Review, favorite, follow, or none?

Either way, I'll still love all you people reading this story!