Chap 4

Annabeth's PoV

The next morning, Percy and I went to Liberty Island to have a picnic. We bought two bananas, two sandwiches with ham, mayo, and cheese, and a couple of blue cookies. We sat in the sparkling green grass of Liberty Island staring at the statue of liberty. Percy let me choose where I wanted to be and I chose to be where most of these statues were. ( I live in California but I visited Ms. Liberty and her state)

"Have you ever come to Liberty Island before?" my seaweed brain asked. I shook my head. "Well when we are done eating, you want to go look at the architecture inside?" I nodded happily.

When we were inside, I gasped. The architecture was just so beautiful and delicate. It was more amazing than the Empire State building. Just then Percy cut my thoughts from pulling me over to a booth. "Two please." he said. The man from the booth nodded and came back with two headphones and a guide box attached to it. "That'll be $4.00 please" the employee said. My seaweed brain reached out the money and gave it to him. He pulled me back inside and gave me one set of headphones. He kept the other on for himself. We walked inside the delicate statue. (for people who have been inside, please tell me if I'm wrong) The bars held the statue together making it not fall down. We went up the stairs to go to the torch. I wasn't sure if Percy blushed but I did because people kept saying weird stuff about us like "Aww.. They're too cute" and "wow, look the girl is about a couple centimeters taller than the boy…he he". I wasn't sure if Percy heard because he had his headphones on. I nervously put on my headphones.

"Umm Percy" I asked awkwardly as I nudged him.

"Yes" he replied as he took off his headphones.

"How tall are you?" I giggled.

"Uhh… 5' 6". Why?"

"Because seaweed brain, I'm 5' 7"." I giggled. He sighed.

"How are you taller than me? How is Thalia taller than me? How is Grover taller than me?" he said.

"Grover isn't taller than you."

"Only if he bends his legs he's not"

"Oh"

"Uhh.. Annabeth?"

"Yes"

"Behind.. you"

I turned around and there was an empousa behind me. Percy took out his sword as I took out my knife. Behind me a familiar voice was behind me. She was screaming. I guess Percy heard it too because he turned around. Then he froze. I turned around and at that very second, I knew I never wanted to see her and started regretting that I ever heard or turned around. It was my enemy. It was Rachel.

"What is she doing here" I gasped.

"What are you doing here Rachel!' Percy asked.

"Well, I was kinda… uh… watching… you?" she replied.

"Yah sure STALKER!" I yelled. I charged toward her but seaweed brain here held me back.

"Wise girl, monster first. Monster first." He said.

"Fine" I muttered. And I charged. There were six empousa. Three for me and three for Percy. I killed one. Percy already killed one too. But right now I was so mad I killed the other two. Percy froze with his mouth open, staring at me. Then he continued. But it all happened so quickly. The monster scratched him and threw him to the other side of the room. Rachel came to his aid. I was getting so mad now. I killed the other two reminding myself monster first, monster first. When I finished , I ran to seaweed brain.

"Back off girlie!" I warned.

"Annabeth, calm down." Percy whispered. The scratch was deep but luckily no poison.

"We better get you to Chiron."

"What about Blackjack?" he muttered. I whistled. Only two Pegasus came. Blackjack and Porkpie.

"What about Rachel?" he asked.

"Seriously? You want a stalker to come with us!" I exclaimed.

"Naw, it's okay. I can walk and take the ship." Rachel put in. I don't know what happened. It was either me or I was smiling so big. Until Percy chimed in.

"No Rachel, you don't have to do that. I could ask Blackjack to get Guido."

"Rachel if you want to go on the Pegasus then go ahead. You could take it."I said frowning.

"No you take it" Rachel said.

"No I'm fine. I like walking" I complained.

"Okay" she said. As she helped Seaweed Brain up Blackjack I walked downstairs. I started thinking. What if he likes Rachel more than me? It was possible but I wouldn't make myself think that. I sat down in the grass when I got down, staring at them fly away. Just then I heard a

snarl that was familiar. I turned around and there were twenty empousa. I couldn't kill all of them so I would die eventually. I took out my knife and killed two. Just then I heard a splash from the water. I knew they weren't waves. But I ignored them since right now was a matter of life and death.

" Hyahhh!" I wasn't sure who it was but I knew it wasn't me. I didn't dare to turn back until one of the empousa threw me so far I splashed in the sea. I kept on swimming to the shore until I was to tired and let myself sink in the sea. I blacked out until I felt someone's hand around my right arm. I only woke up to see that it was Percy, his blood trickling down his arm and then washing out into the sea. I blacked out again until I was in Percy's cabin on his bunk. He was sitting by my side staring at the ocean. He felt me move and turned to face me.

"Oh you are awake" he said. Then he moved down the bed to let me get up. I felt weak, as if every bone in my body was lead. Then I noticed that he had a wrap around the arm that he was scratched by.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I saw you and the empousa and dived into the Sea. I swam and got up to help you. I killed enough for them to retreat then I went looking for you in the sea." he explained.

"What did I do?" I said. He shrugged then lay down next to me.

"Where's...... Ra.... chel?" I manage to choke out.

"At the Big House." he sighed. "She's explaining to Chiron what happened. Annabeth, just please be friends with her."

"How can I after what she did me?"

"Annabeth, she does know well that we are dating. But all she wants is to be friends with you." he explained.

"But then why did she kiss you?"

"I.... Don't....... I think she's just worried that...... I might've not made it."

"Uh, whatever. I got a headache." I murmured.

"Want to stay?" I nodded. Just then Chiron came in the cabin.

"Percy?" he asked.

"Yes?" seaweed brain said.

"May I have a talk with you?"

"Uhhhh.... Sure" Then they went outside leaving me to rest