Hey guys! I just want to say that I REALLY wish I could reply to all your reviews, but with school work, I barely have enough time to so much as write. Seriously, it just takes me an hour to write a chapter, but now it takes several days. UGHHH. And even if I'm free (or cramming homework) I'm too pooped to even write creatively. Uninspired, I type like: Percy ran across the grass and engulfed Annabeth in a hug. They kissed. Then Nico appeared and killed a robot. Then Grover married a soccermonkey. Whatever the fudge that is...

Chapter 24

Annabeth ran through the hedges, searching for a familiar mop of black hair. "Percy, wait!" She called, hoping he would still be there to hear her out. Come to think of it, what would she say to him? She brought Luke to the tree because she was hopelessly inlove? She would break a promise for a man she's met only thrice, giving up on her best friend since childhood? She was a fool. An idiot. A worthless little-

"Percy!" She called again as she finally cleared the heges regardless of the raspy branches that scraped across her skin. The sky was extremely dark and clouds were heavy. The rain had started to fall in small beads and trickles. One by one they fell, increasing in number.

Annabeth glanced across the courtyard, seeing Percy storming away just a few feet infront of her, back turned to her. She ran, the grass brushing againts her feet, until she caught up to him, just as the rain had started to pour in great numbers, drenching everything it can. Including Annabeth. Again, she was glad she never wore the dress.

"Percy!" Annabeth screamed desperately as she grabbed his arm. "Will you please listen?!" Bad move.

Percy turned to her, his expression made Annabeth feel like she was stabbed in the chest. It was clear that he hated her for this, but can't help but feel broken.

His bright green eyes were bright no more, overclouded with betreyal and confusion.

"What, Annabeth?" Percy growled. "What do you want to say to me, huh? " the rain poured down heavily, drenching his hair so that it hung in his eyes. "I saw you! I saw you take him to the tree! Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't try to break our promise." He glared at her as she glared back, like every other argument that they had. But for once, Percy was angrier than her.

"Percy, I'm sorry, okay?" She pleaded with a little rage in her voice. "I didn't even take him directly up there! Yes, I was about to but I didn't-"

"Because I was there!" Percy retorded, his blood boiling despite the rain. "If you hadn't seen me, if I wasn't there ...? What then?"

Annabeth wiped the wet hair out of her eyes. She stayed silent, knowing he was right. "I'm sorry." She finally said, her tone soft.

Percy's gazed softened, but hardened just as quick. " 'Sorry' doesn't cut it." He growled in a deadly calm tone before stalking away.

Annabeth only watched as he left, sinking down to her knees as her tears poured in sync with the rain. How could she have done such a thing...?

...

Percy let out a low huff as he turned his back to her. In any other case, he would have rushed to her side and comforted her, engulfing her in a hug. But now, he didn't know what to think. She almost...how could she...? She betrayed him. His best friend. The girl he lo... liked. Liked a lot.

Despite his anger, he felt cold. He felt betrayed, stabbed in the back. The rain beating down on him and the wind blowing through him didn't help.

Percy marched through the gates, arms tucked in. These and Argus were smart to stay silent as he passed. The cobble-stone street was slippery and wet as he walked back to the Den, but then he remembered- training.

"Right." Percy muttered to himself, his voice low. He turned on his heel and walked back to the training arena. Reyna wouldn't care if it rained, so training was still on. He hurried up, careful not to slip on the cobblestone ground, avoiding the passing merchants with their carts filled with goods seeking for cover from the rain.

Percy made it to the arena, his feet splashing in the water that gathered on the ground. He looked up to see a few soldiers sparring together in the rain, some were taking cover in the stands.

"Ah, care to spar, Percy?" Jason Grace called out in the rain from across the arena, aproaching him. His blond hair had darkened as it was soaking wet. Jason immediately noticed something was wrong with his cousin as he came close. "What's wrong, Perce?" He asked, lowering his unseathed sword.

"Nothing. " Percy replied dismissively, yet Jason still noticed the falseness in his voice. "Let's just spar. " Percy said, drawing his own sword.

"Alright." Jason agreed unsurely, nevertheless putting on a challenging grin as he raised his own sword.

Percy let out a low huff as he got ready. He needed to take out his anger, though he hoped Jason could take it. Probably not. Percy let out a low laugh. The younger boy had learned a long time ago, never cross swords with your older cousin when he is mad. You will end up breaking you arm and probably neck as well.

It was too late when Jason realized this. Oh Hades was he in trouble.

...

"Annabeth, please calm down." Thalia pleaded with her friend desperately. Annabeth paced across her room so furiously that she might create a rut in the silver carpeting.

"No!" Annabeth said impatiently. She hadn't even changed out of her soaking wet clothes. "Thalia, what am I going to do? I'm an idiot! He'll never talk to me again!" Her eyebrows were ruffled and her eyes shown worry and confusion. In shorter terms, she looked terrified.

Thalia sighed, grabbing her friend's shoulders firmly as she came to her side, stopping her from her frequent pacing. "First, you should calm down." She told her. "Then change out of your clothes, and have a cookie. Or two."

Annabeth nodded, her shoulders relaxing, but Thalia could still feel her tension. "Good." She said, leading the princess across the room to the grand bed where she was made to sit. The velvet cushions were soaked with water as soon as Annabeth sat down on them. Thalia made her way to the oak wardrobe. She pulled out a simple, white dress with short sleeves and a silver circlet around the waist. "Wear this." The older girl ordered, her electric blue eyes glimmered with concern. Annabeth could only nod, looking like she was trying not to scream.

"What then?" Annabeth asked, her lip quivering as she shinnied out of her boots.

"Then," Thalia crossed her arms. "You apologize. Sincerely. And if it comes to it, bake some blue cookies." She paused for a while, rethinking her statement. "On second thought, bake the blue cookies before you apologize."

I am sorry for the quite short chapter. If you call that short... but anyway, from this point, I suffer from writer's block. I have almost no idea what to write next. If I should do like a small "make-up' chapter or time-skip to war day or not even write any "make-up" chapter until... a point in the story.

Help me out here guys! Thanks! :)

~Apollo'sPirateDaughter

#SparrowLogic

#HazelApproves

#NicoSaysNoToWritersBlock