*Disclaimer* I do not own any of the Percy Jackson genius written by Rick Riordan. Also, this is an AU so even though the actions in this chapter are very un-Annabeth like…it's an AU. Enjoy!

The sleek black limo pulled up to the curb drawing the attention of all the bystanders. They watched as the two girls cut through the long line and simply flash the security guard a smile before entering the club.

Inside, it was all on. People danced under the blue and purple strobe lights to intense music, their eyes closed. The bar was fully occupied and people peered down upon the dancers from the balconies overlooking the first floor. Almost all of the seating arranged off to the side in burst of purple, black, and white were empty with the exception of a few couples. The artwork of black, skeletal trees on ice blue lights glowed from one wall. All of this together created a sort of magical atmosphere in which you could forget everything except for what was happening right then.

Annabeth checked her updo for looseness, smoothed down her white, sequined, one-shouldered dress then pulled Thalia into the dance floor. She forgot about Dylan. She forgot about camp. And most importantly, she forgot about him. The music never stopped and the people kept dancing. Eventually, after Annabeth lost sight of Thalia with her black, strapless, studded dress that made her already bright blue eyes brighter, she retired to the bar. No one cast her a second look as she plopped herself down on one of the cushioned stools and ordered the usual. After a few minutes of quiet sipping, the man next to her was replaced with a new one.

"Aren't you a little young to be having that?" a voice asked Annabeth. She smiled into her drink before turning to look at Luke, another one of her best friends. He was one of Hermes's sons, pretty much all of Annabeth's friends were part of the 'family'. Unlike most of them though, Luke hated being a part of the family. Therefore, he and Annabeth instantly took a liking to each other years ago.

Annabeth looked at his teasing blue eyes and his smirk before maturely sticking her tongue out at him.

"I won't tell if you buy me a drink," Luke teased.

"You wouldn't tell anyway," Annabeth replied but ordered him one anyway. The bartender simply nodded eagerly and smiled. Annabeth noticed he was gorgeous; he had muscular, tan arms, chestnut hair, milky brown eyes, and features that any male-model would kill for. Unfortunately, she decided as he walked off, he wasn't her type.

"Seems like you have that guy wrapped around your finger, seeing as he doesn't question your age and all," Luke remarked. Annabeth shrugged, downing the rest of her Manhattan in one gulp. "Are you sleeping with him?" he asked.

"No!" She exclaimed, irritated. "I'm not one of those girls."

"Good. He's too old for you anyway." Annabeth rolled her eyes as the bartender returned with another drink for her and for Luke. She thanked him.

"Hate to break it to you gorgeous, but you are too old for me too," Annabeth snapped. Luke's over-protectiveness bothered her to no end. And he knew it. Luke chuckled.

"Where's Thalia?" he asked.

"Probably drunk and sucking some guy's face off in a dark corner," Annabeth mumbled before downing her drink once again.

"Sounds like her." Luke raised his glass for a sip but Annabeth grabbed his arm.

"Dance with me," she ordered. So he did. She could feel the bartender's eyes on her all the way to the dance floor and smiled secretly. Even if she wasn't interested, she liked the attention boys gave her. It made her feel in control and Annabeth loved being in control.

During the second song, Annabeth put her lips to Luke's ear.

"I know you like me, Luke." Luke turned to her and smirked.

"Maybe I don't." His eyes raked her body from head to toe, lingering on her lips for a second longer than necessary. "I mean, there isn't much to like," he teased. Annabeth responded by doing the same to him.

"I could say the same about you."

"Well we both know you'd be lying." Before Annabeth could respond, Luke reached out to tuck a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear. Seriousness replaced the teasing in his eyes; it made Annabeth uncomfortable. She didn't expect this from him. Her heart pounded unexpectedly in her chest. Why was she nervous about Luke? She wanted to retort something witty and sarcastic.

"Ego much?" Mentally, Annabeth face palmed. That's the best you could do, she thought. Luke chuckled and tightened his grip around her, pulling Annabeth closer. The two were completely still, the only ones not moving on the dance floor. Luke's gaze held a slight intensity to it as his eyes roamed her face and momentarily paused on her lips. Annabeth noticed. His eyes flicked back to hers before he released her body, holding on only to her hand. A stray dancer bumped into Annabeth, muttering and 'watch it'.

"Let's go talk upstairs…" Luke pulled her through the mass of moving bodies, up the stairs that hid behind deep indigo curtains in a corner, and to a small alcove in the wall. The second floor was a lot emptier than the first. No one would find the two in their spot. It was the farthest from the stairs, the last little cave in the row of them on the wall. It was protected by a curtain the same rich color as the ones hiding the stairs and held only a plush black couch positioned on the curved wall. Luke closed it one quick movement leaving them in total privacy from the outside world. Luke's expression held a small smile. That smile had Annabeth's heart racing. She was sure he could hear it from his spot 5 feet away.

As he came to sit by her on the couch, Annabeth popped up.

"Bathroom," she explained before hurrying out of the room, heels clicking across the second floor to the ladies bathroom. Once the door had swung shut behind her, Annabeth looked in the mirror at her flustered face. Her blonde hair was all over the place from dancing, although her makeup was as perfect as it was when she arrived. She sighed in relief at the fact that her outward appearance did not reflect her feelings. She was a mess.

The butterflies in her stomach had faded a bit and her heart had slowed but still…she never felt like this anymore. The last time she had felt this way was with him. Therefore, she hated the feelings. Annabeth wanted to be in control. She wanted to know what was going to happen. Ever since Luke's face grew serious on that dance floor, Annabeth knew she had lost control. Losing control was…scary. She could always figure out what Luke was doing. They had known eachother for years. She was more comfortable around him than she was with Thalia. Never in her life had she felt this flustered around Luke.

Annabeth thought of Luke's face as he went to sit beside her. He looked like…he looked like he wanted to kiss her. Annabeth smiled a little at the thought. Years ago, Luke kissing her would have been a dream come true. When she was younger she had had a massive crush on him. Nothing could beat those piercing blue eyes or that amused smirk of his. But he was too old for her then…way too old. Now it was different. Now, Annabeth was almost eighteen. Now she was almost an adult. Did Luke realize that too? Did he actually want to kiss her? Did he like her?

More importantly, did she like him back? Did she want to kiss him too? As she stared into her own smoky gray eyes, she smiled.

"Hell yes!" she whispered to herself. Annabeth splashed some cold water over her arms and attempted to fix the hanging strands of blonde curls back into its elaborate bun. She applied some extra gloss, smacking her lips in approval. With one final glance in the bathroom's full-length mirror, Annabeth strutted out of that bathroom with newfound confidence. As she made her way back to Luke, she peered over the balcony overlooking the dance floor.

Below, Thalia was the wildest dancer out of the crowd. Her hair was a mess, her makeup was smudged, she was barefoot but she was the life of the party. Annabeth giggled slightly. Yep, Thalia was definitely drunk.

Just as Annabeth reached the curtain which shielded their small alcove, she took a deep breath and stepped in. Luke looked at her with expectant eyes and a confident smirk.

"Told you, you were too young to drink," he said with a chuckle. Annabeth rolled her eyes as she moved to sit right next to him.

"Believe me, I know how to handle my liquor," she shot back with a smile. Luke's intense gaze had her blushing and biting her lip. Suddenly Luke's warm hand lightly tipped her face back up to his. His pale blue eyes roamed over her face. They held emotions Annabeth simply couldn't decipher.

"You've seemed to have gotten much older since last time I saw you, Annabeth," Luke whispered. She scowled. If there was anything Annabeth hated, it was definitely getting older. Luke chuckled.

"Well so have you. What are you now? Thirty? Isn't that middle-aged?" Luke rolled his eyes.

"Twenty-five."

"Really? How about your maturity age? Isn't that like…two?" Annabeth teased.

"Probably," Luke agreed, pursing his lips. "That's what I always admired about you, Annabeth. You have always been mature for your age. Always so grown-up." Luke stroked Annabeth's cheek with his thumb. She was suddenly grateful for the lack of light in their spot; it hid the crimson rising in her cheeks. To fill the silence, she snorted.

"I had to what with Mom constantly putting me in the spotlight," she muttered.

"Yeah, well, the past two years you've been slightly less mature." Annabeth looked down at her hands, which rested in her lap. "I like it." Her eyes snapped to Luke's face. She started when she realized they were nose to nose. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, her mouth went dry. Do it, she commanded herself. Her eyes searched his face.

"Well, I like you." Then she pressed her lips to Luke's. It took only a moment before he responded, tangling his hands in her hair and returning the kiss.