I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Yeah, after like 7 months or something. Sorry about that. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with this story and school and stuff but yeah, here's the next chapter!

Shout-out to Im Dead-Gone-and-Over-With, SeaBreeze Daughter of Poseidon, thestralsheartmaltesers, Larsturbo, MyNameIsn'tBOB, Remember 911, livelovellamas, DoubleDimension and BrazilianGirl (even though I didn't really understand her answer since I don't speak Brazilian, it looked right) for answering with Thalia and Percy during the Titan's Curse!

This chapter is dedicated to thestralsheartmaltesers and JayForen for winning the other stuff, which you know about already, so yeah, there you go!

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO, but honestly if I did, I probs wouldn't write fanfic coz I wouldn't be a kid. :D *excuse my rusty rhyming skills*

Chapter 6

It can't be.

He took her. He took mom.

I stumbled back, my thoughts clouded and fuzzy. I couldn't think. I have to get out of here.

I carefully walked out of the Front House, trying to be quiet, but knowing me I should have realized that wasn't going to happen. I tripped over- well, nothing, it was just me- and froze, trying to make out if Chiron and Mr. D heard.

They did. Oops.

I ran out, rushing back to my cabin and noiselessly up the steps (oh yeah, now I'm quiet). I took off my shoes and dived into my bed, listening out for the adults. Hearing nothing, I turned my thoughts back to mom. How could he-?

I shook my head clear. Now wasn't the time for this. Tomorrow, I'll make a plan. Tomorrow, I'll do something about it. But right now… I'll sleep.

I woke up in the morning happy, stretching my arms out towards the roof. I opened my sleepy eyes and took in the warmth from the light outside.

Then I remembered.

Frowning, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and having a shower. "I need to make a plan," I said to myself while changing. "I've got to do something."

I left the cabin and jogged towards the tables, still thinking deeply. "Ok Percy, you know what you need to do. But until you figure out how to do it, just pretend everything's fine." I muttered to myself. I sat down next to Thalia, who immediately shoved me playfully. I sooo wasn't in the mood.

"What's up Perce? Why so sad?"

Wow. So far pretending like I was fine wasn't working. Come on Percy.

I smiled at her. "I'm good. What makes you say that?"

Thalia grinned goofily. "Oh, nothing. You know, the usual eternally stupid smile you have on your face, like they're serving blue food for breakfast, or like Annabeth's just kissed you or something."

I immediately went red. "Shut up."

"Make me."

"Ummm… actually, I'm okay."

"That's what I thought, Kelp Face."

"What's up with all the ocean nicknames?"

"Ehh, I don't know. You look like a Kelp Face, though."

"Thanks, Thals."

"No problem, Kelp Face. Oh, and here comes your girlfriend."

I turned excitedly. "ANNABETH? ...I mean, what?"

Thalia almost fell off the bench laughing. "Hahahahha, you really are a Seaweed Brain. Speaking of your girlfriend, here she comes."

"I'm not stupid Thalia. Annabeth's not-"

"Hey Seaweed Brain! Talking about me?"

I turned quickly, blushing furiously. "H-Hey Annabeth. Nope, not at all."

"Cause it sounded like you just were."

Thalia finally decided to help a bro out. "Oh Annie, we were just discussing- "

"THALIA SOMETHING GRACE, DO NOT CALL ME ANNIE"

Thals and I cracked up.

I was sitting on my bed in the cabin, pretending to read some book. Really, I can't read. But seriously, I was thinking about what my plan was. I had to do something.

Annabeth walked in and called out "Hey Seaweed Brain, let's go for a walk."

"Uh, not right now Annabeth, kinda busy."

"You can't even read Percy. You've got dyslexia. Come on! Let's go!"

"Annabeth, I'm not in the mood right now!"

"What do you mean? Come-"

I blew up. "ANNABETH, I SAID NO. NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO FOR A WALK WITH YOU. OKAY?"

Annabeth stepped backwards. She looked hurt. "Whatever, Seaweed Brain." She quickly walked out the cabin.

I sighed. All this stuff about my mom was getting to me, and I was taking it out on my friend. I put down the book (who reads anyway?) and ran outside to talk to her.

"Annabeth, wait. I'm sorry. I'm just really worried about something."

"What, Percy? You should have just told me."

I hesitated, wondering if I should tell her. It was too dangerous. "I can't tell you."

Annabeth shrugged, but I could see she was frustrated. "Fine, Seaweed Brain." She started walking away again.

"Wait! Are we cool?"

"Yeah, sure Percy. It's all good."

I knew she was still slightly annoyed, but I couldn't help it. No one could know about this. I have to keep it a secret.

I smiled slightly and turned back, walking to the cabin and stretching on my bed again. I picked up the book and gazed at the words meaninglessly, my thoughts wandering back to my mom.

A plan was slowly forming in my mind, but I still had to sort out some details.

"Gather round, you annoying creatures! Or it's 50 pushups!"

We all scrambled out of our seats to get to Mr. D before he actually made us do it. I mean, sure, we were Camp CIA, but 50 pushups, really?

"Now, shut up and listen. Chiron here has suggested that you play Capture the Flag tonight." A cheer erupted from the crowd. What was Capture the Flag?

"Shut up! Now, while I couldn't care less about your entertainment, I'm hoping a few of you will die. That would be nice." Mr. D zeroed in on me. Yeesh, I get the hint. Jeez man.

Chiron shuffled uncomfortably. "Umm, Mr. D, the kids won't actually be using any real guns or anything- we're using paintball guns."

Mr. D's face dropped like a toddler being told he has brussel sprouts for dinner. "Oh, well. All I have to say is… no shooting unless it's within 5 metres of your target! Aim to maim, or at least injure!"

Chiron patted Mr. D on the back. "Uhh, with that, enjoy! Split into your teams!"

I just joined one of the teams, and lucky for me, they put Annabeth and I on the attack squad. Our mission was to get the flag specifically back to our side. Gulp.

I approached Annabeth quickly but cautiously. "Hey, Wise Girl". She looked at me, eyes flashing. Guess she wasn't really over our fight.

"What?"

"Any strategies for getting to the flag unseen?"

She rolled her eyes. "Stop asking stupid questions, Seaweed Brain. Of course."

She quickly explained that the other team were big on attack, whereas our team cared more about defence. There would only be a few guards near the flag, but they'd be the biggest and strongest members.

I shuddered. "Clarisse." Annabeth nodded.

She explained her plan to me, and it seemed pretty easy. We were to get to the outskirts of the woods, on the other side of the camp, and break through to the other team's location. The path was the one we had followed yesterday, so I knew which one she was talking about. We got ready, and headed out.

We reached the outskirts when Annabeth motioned for me to be quiet. So, of course, that didn't happen.

I stepped on a huge but flimsy twig that snapped so loud, the whole camp probably heard it. Annabeth's eyes widened and she looked at me angrily. I looked down, ashamed, and we hurried on before anyone saw us.

"What's the matter with your brain, Seaweed Brain?" she whispered harshly. I decided to play along.

"Oh, I'm not sure, but I think it's made of seaweed."

She tried not to smile, but a small chuckle escaped her lips- those perfect lips- before she pursed them and scowled. "Very funny. Come on."

We reached the enemy's base and, fluttering in the wind, I could see the red flag tied to the trunk of a thick tree. In front of it were two guards: Clarisse and some guy with huge biceps.

Oh no.

Annabeth crouched down and beckoned me closer. She whispered "Okay. Here's what we're gonna do…" She told me the final stage of the plan and I exclaimed, a little too loudly. "Are you crazy?!"

"SHH! Shut up Seaweed Brain! Oh my gods!"

"Sorry."

"Look, just follow the plan, alright? I'm trusting you."

"That's probably where we're gonna go wrong."

Annabeth laughed softly and shook her head. "It'll be fine. Here, for good luck." She pecked me on my cheek and got up slowly, watching ahead.

Meanwhile, there was me. On the ground. Utterly shocked. Utterly love struck.

"Come on!"

I shook my head and got up quickly, hitting Annabeth's head in the process. What is wrong with me?

"Oww! Oh my gods Percy, you are so annoying!" She pointed forward, pushing me. I got a grip and focused on the plan, though in the back of my mind I was still thinking about her kissing me…

"Seaweed Brain! Do I have to do everything by myself?!"

"Right, sorry! Coming!"

I slowly walked around Clarisse, Mr. Muscle and the flag, targeting it from the back. They would've seen me, except for one thing.

Annabeth.

She charged at them from the front, paintballs flying from her gun with every press of the trigger. Splats of blue, pink and yellow covered Clarisse and- I could see his face now- Chris. Some even reached me. Clarisse, of course, blew up and I prayed silently to the gods for Annabeth. I reached the tree and slowly slid the flag around so I could untie it. Annabeth looked at me, signaling for me to hurry up. I quickly untied the knot (I'm good at knots) and ran back as softly as I could to the outskirts, when Annabeth ran to meet me.

"Now what, Wise Girl?!" We still had to make it back to our base, and Clarisse and Chris were closing in on us, having realized the flag was gone.

"Run!"

Wow. Great idea, Annabeth.

We ran back the way we came, but Clarisse's team realized what was happening and rushed to stop us ahead. We were doomed.

"Percy!"

"What? What do we do?"

"Follow me!"

I ran behind Annabeth, hoping that she had another idea, one that's slightly better than "Run!"

She leads us to the barbed wire fence on the very edge of the forest, and I looked at her crazily. Now, we might be agents-in-training, but did she really expect me to climb a 30 foot fence?

Nuh-uh.

"Annabeth?"

"Shh! Be quiet. Come here." She leads me towards a bush, where there's a squirrel on a tree stump. Helpful.

"Annabeth?"

"Seaweed Brain, just trust me!" She strokes the squirrel on its back once, and it opens out- wait what?- into a panel. She punches in some numbers, and a hole appears in the fence.

"Whoaaa-"

"Come on Seaweed Brain!"

We dive through and it closes on us. I turn to face Annabeth.

"How'd you know about that?"

"Not important right now. Let's go."

I follow her along the fence on the outside, until the sounds of Clarisse and her team shouting gets quieter and we hear our own team members.

"Connor, have you set up that trap yet?"

"Working on it Travis, wait!"

"Charlie, my hair's getting ruined!"

"Silena, it's Beckendorf. And yeah, we're playing Capture the Flag."

"These battle scars, don't look like they're fading, don't look like they're ever going away, they ain't never gonna change, these- "

"OH MY GODS SHUT UP WILL. WHY ARE YOU APOLLO'S SON."

"Sorry Thalia, I can't help singing. Do you want me read a haiku instead?"

"ARGHHHH."

Annabeth and I snickered at our friends before moving on.

"Umm, Annabeth, how are we going to get back in?"

"Don't worry, Perce. Here we are."

Annabeth pressed in the digits -2468586- into another panel, and another hole opened up.

"Ladies first." Annabeth grinned, gesturing for me to go through.

Grumbling, I ducked under and carried the flag through, Annabeth right behind me.

"We got it! We got the flag!"

My team looked up at us, confused. A second passed. Then the cheering started. They carried Annabeth and I up to Chiron, whooping and shouting while Clarisse and her team looked on sourly, covered in magenta, turquoise and canary yellow. Lol.

I felt an immense sense of joy and pride; more importantly, thanks to Annabeth, I had found the way out of camp.

I was leaving tonight.

So what do you think? I know, not amazing, but I just wanted to get this out there, otherwise I'd probably never do it! No promises about when I can update next, I'm super busy with my end of year exams and all so follow/ favourite and you'll know when I'll be back :) Don't worry, I most definitely will finish this story, even if it takes ages so I'd really appreciate any support/ criticism in the reviews!

Here's the question of the chapter:

What kind of plane does Annabeth's dad talk about when she and Percy go to visit him in *I think* Titan's Curse?

Answer in a review, and it would be great if you could give some feedback too, as always *correctness* will get you a shout-out in the next chapter!

BYE!