Disclaimer: No one is as awesome as Uncle Rick. Especially me. Characters belong to him.

Warning: slight cursing.

"What is your problem?!" she demanded, following him. He continued walking, ignoring her calls.

"PERCY JACKSON, YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS RIGHT HERE OR I SWEAR I'LL SLIT YOUR THROAT IN YOUR SLEEP! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!" Annabeth smiled in triumph when he finally slowed down.

Most of the people in the halls were gawking at her as if she had yelled she would castrate him. They kept looking between her and the retreating figure, wondering what would happen next. She glared and most of them scrambled out of her way, pretending like they were going about their business. But she could see them peek over their papers at her or their reflection in their locker mirrors. It didn't matter. It never mattered to her.

In long strides, she was beside him within seconds, her hand gripping his arm as hard as she could. He could easily escape her grip, and they both knew it. But he didn't make any attempt to escape.

"Why are you ignoring me?" She asked softly. His eyes darted around. "Can we go somewhere else?" He asked under his breath. She shook her head stubbornly. She didn't care if people saw them together in public. He obviously did. Maybe she could use that to her advantage.

"Percy, what is your problem? You've been ignoring since yesterday. Why?" He once again hesitated, looking around. Did he really even have to look? It was obvious everyone was watching them; it just made her more pissed with the fact that he wanted her to be his secret.

He grabbed her arm and gently tugged her to the side. "Answer me or I swear I will kiss you in front of everyone." To her dismay, he paled, looking as if that was the worst thing in the world. "Oh," she said dejectedly. "I didn't know kissing me- much less being seen with me- was that bad."

"Look, can we please go somewhere private? Just a few minutes ago you were threatening to kill me. I'm sure teachers are already looking for the culprit. So I advise you to - oh, look, there goes one now." He quickly grabbed her arm and ducked into a smelly janitorial closet.

"What is wrong with you?" She demanded the second the door closed. She was normally one to beat around the bush, but at the moment her anxiety was running so high she had no idea what to do.

"There's nothing wrong with me," he stated blandly. There it was again. He was shutting her out . He'd been doing it since Friday night after the party and...

The party.

"Is it about the bash Jake Mason threw Saturday night?" She asked. She took his silence as a yes. "What is your problem?" She demanded, suddenly defensive again. "I went home after my third drink."

He finally looked at her, conflict written all over his face. "It was who you went home with..."

Her eyebrows knitted. As far as she knew, she walked home. And then someone came and offered her help. But she still didn't know what this had to do with Percy.

"I can tell you're still confused. So let me explain; a certain guy was bragging in the locker room about how he ...did something with you." He didnt sound mad. Actually, he sounded a bit...disapointed. No, his calm face was forced. She notcied him shift from foot to foot, not exactly sure of what to do with his hands, his face revealing a wave of emotion from time to time.

Her face immediately flushed. In rage, or from embarrassment, she would never know. "WHAT?! WHO?" She remembered a guy giving her a drive home, and then he tried to ...do things. Even in her drunken state, she was perfectly capable of judo flipping him and threatening his life.

"Michael Varus."

She silently seethed, balling her hands into fists. Her nails dug into her palms, drawing a little blood, but she hardly noticed.

And then, as quick as it came, the rage was gone. A tiny nagging at the back of her head returned and she let it, feeling it gnawing at her sides. "You actually believed him?" She asked quietly.

He seemed surprised by the question. "Um...yeah. You were acting weird and I assumed-"

"Exactly. You all assumed that Michael Varus got 'perfect Annabeth Chase' in bed, and suddenly, my reputation is trash. But no one asked for my side of the story, did they? I mean, that makes so much sense because he's a stupid jock and I'm a nobody. Therefore my opinion dosent matter." She cocked her head, smiling like an airhead "Right?" she asked with fake cheery smile.

He looked down. "Look at me," she said. He obliged.

"What happened to you? To us? You finally get the balls to ask me to be your girlfriend and suddenly you're ashamed? You didn't seem to be be ashamed to be seen with me when you were crushing on me from a best friend's point of view, did you? No. And then everything's turned upside down and my dream is turn into a nightmare. Why? And why does it matter what rumors are going around if you know that I love you?"

He didn't answer. She waited patiently, watching him coolly, not letting her calm facade crumble. Her mind was reeling, and she wanted so bad to kiss him, and at the same time beat the crap out of him.

"I don't...Annabeth, too many people expect too many things from me. Some people have a certain image and expect me to fulfill it ,and others...they don't care what I do. Either way, I'm a screw up."

"So this is what it's all about? Your image. Wow, I never realized how shallow you are..." she said, laughing in disbelief.

"No, it's not that simple. If I...tell people about us, they'll give you hell. And they'll...Annabeth, I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I know how you feel about me, and I feel that same way. Its just...not yet." She searched his eyes, looking for any indication of a lie. She saw nothing.

And, like an idiot, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "That's strike two. Hurt me again and I'll beat the crap out of you." she mumbled, breathing in his scent of chlorine.

And like that, everything was forgotten.

"What's this I hear about your Prom date?" Percy dropped into the seat next to her. She looked at him disinterestedly, wanted to return to her book on architecture. But she set it aside, sensing an argument brewing.

"What about it?" For a second she was wondering why he wasn't looking around for any wandering eyes like usual, but the she remembered that they where in a secluded area in the back of the library, where she sat, trying to get her report finished.

Her response only seemed to push him over the edge. "I mean, why the hell are you going with Joe Bob?"

She scrunched her nose in disgust. That name seriously fit him, classifying him as a stoner- which, he was. And everyone knew it. "Where the hell did you get that from?" she asked.

He stared at her. "You're going to the Prom with Joe Bob, right?"

"Hell no!" She was glad that there was no one else around, especially the librarian. She'd already received dirty looks because she was too engrossed in her book before- as in, yelling things when something surprising happened- but now she'd definitely get kicked out.

She sighed. "Percy, what did I tell you about listening to rumors-"

"But you are going with someone else, right?" She remained silent, longingly gazing at her book. "Annabeth?" There was a slight tremor in his tone. She forced herself to look back at him. "You don't..." she didn't know how to continue without provoking him. If she says no, he'll know she's lying, and if she says yes, he'll flip out. So, really, she was trapped in a lose-lose situation.

After going through a million ways to approach the situation, she decided to fuck it and just spit it out. "I'm going with Bryce Lawrence." He stared at her. Then, it seemed to sink in what she just said. "Why? When were you planning on telling me?" he said harshly. She actually had no thoughts of Bryce Lawrence, other than the fact he was a guy who asked her. But telling Percy that would just be pushing her luck.

"Percy, if I can be your secret, you can be mine too. If you thought I as going alone just to watch you dance with Calypso, you were wrong." His mouth opened, unsure how to answer. "And, yes, I know about you and Calypso. Did you not think word would get around? And, when were you planning on telling me?" She didn't really have anything but envy for Calypso. She was a nice person, good-natured, and down to earth, along with drop dead gorgeous. As much as she wanted to hate her, she couldn't.

"So this is how it's going to be? Getting back at each other and keeping secrets?" He sighed, running his hand through his hair.

She stared at a spot on the table, slightly zoning out. She didn't want to look at him. "I wouldn't have said yes to being your girlfriend if I'd known what I'm getting myself into."

"What are you saying?"

"I...I don't know, Percy. What is this? This is not a relationship, if you're stupid enough to call it that. I can't even stand next to you in the halls, Percy. Or when anyone else is around."

"I thought we went over this already."

"Yeah, and I thought you were going to ask me to the Prom." She hugged herself, willing herself to float away, anywhere but here. "Seriously? Annabeth, I know for a fact you don't care about petty things like that."

"So?" She asked angrily, cutting her gaze back at Percy. He seemed surprised at her sudden anger. "You don't get it, do you? You're supposedly my boyfriend, yet I have to share you with the world. If I want to kiss you, I can't because someone might see. It's not about the prom itself. I just want one fairy tale moment where everything is okay, my Prince Charming is actually mine, and I don't have to worry about everything going wrong and I lose you."

"Annabeth..." He reached out for her hand but she reluctantly pulled it back, resting it in her hand. "Percy, Its fine. If you want to go with Calypso, you can. Just...if anything happens between you, promise me you'll rip the band-aid off quickly, okay? I'm strong; I can handle it."

"Calypso and I are not, and will neve-"

She laughed humorlessly. "You know, I think this happens to be the second time I thought you were into someone else. Why is that?"

"I'm going for three. I need to get you back and even the score." He gave a small smile. "What? When did I ever-"

"Grover Underwood, Jason Grace, Narcissus and now I may add Bryce Lawrence."

"What? Jason and Grover never really counted. You were just extremely thick headed as a child. You still are, but a little less." When he first met her, he thought that Grover was her boyfriend. When they were 14, he punched Jason in the face (and broke his nose) because he thought he was flirting with her- he wasnt. They were just really good friends ( mainly through the connection of THalia). When she demanded what his problem was, he stupidly stated that he was watching out for her in case he tried anything.

He pointed an accusing finger at her. "You never denied Narcissus." She shrugged. "He was hot. But he wasn't my type. And, besides, he must be like, 30 years old now. And his name isn't Narcissus."

"Then what is it?" She stayed silent. "Ha! You don't even know."

"So?"

"I'm still on my second. I'll wait for my third."

"Yeah right."

"No ,I'm serious. When you least expect it, somewhere in the near future, I'll completely catch you off guard and get you back with a new girlfriend. I promise," he said jokingly. "I'll call it my project. It'll be named the: See what shade of envy Annabeth Chase will turn."

"What?"

He snorted. "Please. Do you think I'm stupid? I can see how pissed you get when I even talk to a girl thats not you. Especially when they flirt with me." He held open his arms, pouting slightly. It was a clear sign of forgivness.

"So, you're going to the Prom with someone else and you're ashamed of me. What else could a girl ask for?"

***End Of Flashback****

It always amazed Annabeth how quick Percy can get out of a situation with her. It infuriated her to no end, yet he somehow had her practically eating out of his hand.

She had no idea why the memories were coming back. They resurfaced so quickly, she was left with a slight sense of vertigo. Maybe it was seeing Percy's face after he saw her with Apollo...

She leaned on a wall by the swimming pool, trying to regain her senses. Maybe she should go back to the suite. She just saw Percy by Chiron's office, so maybe he wouldn't be there for a while.

But something possessed her to go into the pool room, sitting on a bench out of sight of someone who'd be looking through a window. A sign near the door said whoever's trespassing after hours would be fined ( gods knew she couldn't afford that) and she did not want to face the wrath of the hotel.

And yet, she still stayed. She hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, staring at the water. It sort of put her in a trance, reminding her of things she wanted to forget. Yet her feet still didn't want to move.

Why did Percy Jackson come into her life? She could have said no to showing the new kid around at camp- everything would have been different. Percy was like a drug- she new he was bad but she couldn't stay away. She was addicted. Those years she was away was kind of like hell for her, however cliche that sounded.

She bit her lip. Grabbing a pen out of her pocket, she started scribbling on her hand.

"Oh. Erm...Hi," She said awkwardly.

Percy barely glanced up at her. He was reading something on his laptop, looking extremely stressed out and tired. It was about five a.m. They both knew Chiron would have a fit if they come in to the studio late and looking exhausted, but that didn't seem to matter to any of them.

He waved his hand toward the kitchen, a few feet away from where she was standing. She assumed that that was meant to be for her. "Percy? What's wrong?"

He looked at her, and Anabeth finally saw how horrible he really looked (he still looked handsome enough for her to ravish him on the spot, but still far from how he normally looked). His hair was mussed, and disheveled, falling into his (still) dark eyes. His face was pale and grim, as if he'd seen something horrible.

"Huh?" He asked. Annabeth's eyebrows knitted in concern. "Oh, I was just reading...things. Don't freak out. It was nothing important." Reluctantly, she nodded. She turned to start walking away, but he called her back.

"So...you and Apollo, huh?" She bit the inside of her mouth. The thought of her and Apollo seriously revolted her. Apollo is not- and never will be- her boyfriend. But Percy didn't know that.

"Um..yeah."

"Oh, I didn't know. I wouldn't have..." Kissed you a few days ago had I known. It wasn't said, but it sure was implied. She nodded slowly. "So I guess we both did something we shouldn't have..."

Percy uncomfortably shifted in his seat. "So where were you last night? I know its not my place to ask, but I thought-"

"I was working on a new song," she said quickly. Whatever Percy thought she was doing last night, she needed him to stop. She didn't want him thinking she was...like that.

"You don't seem so happy about it." She shrugged. "Its about someone that I'm kind of close to." She pulled her hair int a ponytail, figuring that she probably looked like crap.

"Hey Percy, do you want to...go get breakfast?" They had a couple of hours before they had to report to the studio. He gave her an odd look and she stumbled over her words. "I,um, I mean we both need a...distraction. And I thought why not beca-"

He smiled. "Sure, Wise Girl. As long as you don't talk my head off."

A/N

Yes, I am aware that this chapter was kind of missing the Percabeth I promised. But there was a slight explanation ( You kind of have to squint and look at their words closely, but its there). I guess we're at the point where everything is in riddles (idk). For some reason I'm in a vague mood.

I'm sorry if there are mistakes. I was kind of rushing so I could update this as a birthday present. Happy birthday RandomFanChick22!

Thank you for all of the positive reviews and support!

Someone asked me a while ago if Annabeth can be a singer ( I'm too lazy to go back in the reviews to see who). I know I'm kind of late, but when I was writing Annabeth's POV, it reminded me of a song I liked, so yeah.

Not really sure where I'm going with this story anymore, but there will be a few more chapters. I have a gift for procrastination. I know you all probably hate me for not letting the Percabeth ship sail, but it will. Soon.

I'm really sorry for the sucky chapter.

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~Greekfreak302