A/N: Thank you all so, so much for the lovely reviews!

The reason I haven't updated lately is because my brother-in-law passed away on the 19th after a five year battle with cancer, so writing hasn't really been my top priority. To me, family always comes first, especially in times like this. He was like a real brother to me and I knew him for almost ten years...so it's been very difficult. But I went back to writing this because it helps take my mind away just for a few seconds.

So, do me a favor and go give someone in your family a hug. Please? You don't know how long you're going to have someone in your life so make sure you tell them how much they mean to you!

Ok, sorry for being all cryptic and sappy. Please enjoy chapter 13.

Sunburn

Chapter 13

The last few weeks of camp seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. Percy would again be thrown back into the normal mortal world, where he would begin his senior year of high school. Most kids would be excited to start their senior year, but after all Percy had been through it didn't seem like that big of a deal. It didn't help that he knew his teachers (and his mom) would be hounding him about college, something which he hadn't even thought of.

The only thing Percy was excited about was his 18th birthday. Turning 18 was a milestone for any demigod, seeing as most demigods didn't live that long. Somehow Percy had made it, and he was incredibly grateful. However, he was slightly nervous because he and Apollo had finally decided to tell Percy's mom about their relationship. He honestly had no idea how his mother would react to it. But, despite his worry, he was excited nonetheless because his mom and Paul were taking him out.

There was another, more erotic, reason why Percy was excited for his birthday. Only a few days before, Apollo promised him something wonderful. The god's words still sent a shiver down Percy's spine.

"I'll make you feel wonderful, Percy," Apollo had said, his thumb tracing small, maddening circles on Percy's hip, almost tickling him. "I'll spread you out on my bed and kiss every single gorgeous inch of you."

A hot shiver raced up Percy's spine just at the thought. He breathed deeply trying to calm himself, but there wasn't much he could do about the squirmy feeling in his chest. It was like there were whole platoons of butterflies fluttering around in there, tickling at the inside of his ribs.

Percy's mind again traveled back to that night, and the back of his neck prickled as Apollo's words washed over him like the god was actually there.

"So sweet and slow, baby," Apollo had uttered as his fingers hooked in the collar of Percy's shirt, dragging it down a little to press a kiss to his throat, "and in the shower afterwards, my hands all over you while you're all wet, shaking because maybe it's too soon but you want more anyway. You'd let me press you up against the tile and let me love you again."

Percy sighed with frustration, wishing that Apollo was in his cabin to do exactly what he promised to days before. But Percy was leaving camp tomorrow and his birthday was only a couple days away. He and Apollo had decided to spend those few days apart. Because when they parted (even if it was just for a day) the sex was incredible. When they were together again, you would think they had not seen each other in weeks. The feelings between them were so hot and needy it was practically explosive.

Despite his mind being in lust-induced frenzy, Percy couldn't help but notice the way Annabeth had been acting. Ever since telling her about Apollo wanting him to be immortal, Annabeth had been distant…and even a little cold. That was not like the Annabeth Percy knew, and it was starting to get to him. Despite everything that had happened between them, Percy always felt that he and Annabeth were still fairly close. Now it seemed like their friendship was fractured…and Percy was afraid that if he didn't talk to her, they would be completely broken.

So, the final night of camp, Percy pulled Annabeth aside, hoping to find out just what was going on. She seemed surprised when he came up to her asking her to talk, "I'm sorry, Percy, but I still have to pack…"

"Please, Annabeth?" Percy asked, grabbing her by the wrist. "It'll only take a few minutes, I promise. Then you can pack."

Reluctantly, Annabeth agreed to go along. Percy led to her the back of his cabin so they would have some privacy from the other campers. The last thing he wanted was for Clarisse to start bugging them again (Clarisse had a knack for that, despite being on good terms with them now).

Percy turned and faced Annabeth, resting his shoulder against the cabin wall. Annabeth was visibly uncomfortable and kept fidgeting with the beads on her camp necklace. "So, what did you want to talk about? I really should be getting ready to go home…"

"You've just been acting…weird around me lately. You're not like yourself…it's like you don't even want to be around me."

Annabeth's fidgeting hands moved to play with the ends of her blonde hair, "Of course I want to be around you, Percy. I'm sorry if it seems that way."

"Then what's up? I know I'm not over exaggerating either. Grover noticed too. He says he's never seen you act this way before."

Annabeth shifted her gaze from the ground up to Percy's eyes. A familiar faraway look appeared in her eyes again, but then suddenly it looked as though she were about to cry. Percy was always uncomfortable around crying people, but seeing Annabeth cry was never a good thing. It usually took a lot for the daughter of Athena to cry.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth replied, wiping the solitary tear that feel from her gray eyes. "I'm being an idiot. I don't even know what's going on with my head lately. I'm supposed to be rational."

Percy was confused, "What are you talking about?"

The blonde sighed, desperately trying to keep herself in check, "My feelings are completely irrational. I shouldn't being feeling and thinking the way I have been. It's not healthy and there's no point for it."

"You're not making any sense right now…and it's kind of freaking me out," Percy said honestly. Annabeth was never like this.

Annabeth looked incredulously at Percy then, "You really are obtuse, Seaweed Brain."

Then, in a blink of an eye, Annabeth was standing right in front of Percy, only mere inches apart. Percy's eyes widened, realizing just how close Annabeth was to him. They were so close Percy could feel Annabeth's body heat radiating from her body. Annabeth continued to inch closer and closer until her lips lightly brushed against Percy's.

"Whoa!" Percy said as he quickly backed away from Annabeth. "What are you doing?"

Annabeth seemed to jump back at least a foot, her hands covering her mouth like she couldn't believe what she had done. Percy could hear muffled cursing coming out over her covered mouth. Percy was just as shocked as she was…he was in complete disbelief that Annabeth had just kissed him. She actually kissed him!

Annabeth began apologizing in a frenzy of words, "Oh gods, I'm so, so, so sorry, Percy! I don't know what I was thinking…I wasn't thinking at all! This isn't me!"

Percy, still in shock, replied calmly, "It's ok. Just…why?"

Annabeth looked like she was going to start crying again. "Percy can't you see? The reason I've been avoiding you is because it's just too hard being around you knowing…knowing that you love someone else now. I've been trying so hard to get over you."

"Annabeth, I-"

"Please let me finish, Percy. When I found out about you and Apollo, I was happy for you. I still am, but it's hard. After everything we went through together, I thought we would be together and everything would be wonderful. But when you told me that…that you wanted to end things I was surprised. I hid it though...because I knew it was hard for you to open up to me like you did. I was proud of you in a way, but it still hurt. Then…when you told me about Apollo…I don't know. It almost made me feel like what we had was nothing."

"Of course it meant something to me," Percy said softly. "Why would you even think that way?"

"Well…we broke up and a month or so later you and Apollo started…seeing each other. If that's what you want to call it. I sort of felt replaced in a sense."

"That's not the case at all," Percy added, placing a comforting hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "Apollo and I just sort of happened. I was surprised too."

Annabeth sighed, "I know I sound ridiculous, but all of this has been eating away at me. I haven't been able to tell anyone either. I'm sorry to hurl all this at you…and gods, I'm sorry I kissed you. I don't know what came over me."

"Stop apologizing, there's no need to," Percy said, his hand still on Annabeth's shoulder. "You've been bottling this up for way too long and I'm glad you told me. But listen, you're an amazing person and you are going to make someone really, really happy someday. I know you are."

"Thank you for understanding…I don't think I deserve it though," Annabeth said as she wiped the final tear from her face. She was determined not to cry.

"Stop beating yourself up, Annabeth. Do you feel any better though?"

Annabeth smiled softly, "I really do. Thank you, Percy. For everything."

Percy pulled Annabeth into a friendly hug, "You're my best friend; nothing's going to change that, ok?"

Percy released Annabeth, and after a few more words they said goodnight to each other. Percy let out a huge breath of air once Annabeth was back in her cabin. He never expected something like that from Annabeth, but he was glad that they had reached the closure that she needed.

Percy was just glad Apollo had not been there…that would have made things about a million times worse. But he still planed on telling the god what happened; he didn't want to keep anything from him. But it still wasn't going to be pretty.

But as Percy walked back into his cabin for the night, he had no idea that Apollo had indeed seen the entire thing from Olympus. It wasn't often that Apollo would watch Percy that way, but he was missing his lover badly at that point. What he saw when he peered down at Camp Half-Blood shocked him to say the least.

When Annabeth's lips touched Percy, Apollo swore he felt his blood boil. For a split second, he thought of all sorts of terrible things he could do to her, but quickly pushed the thoughts away. He knew Percy wouldn't be too happy if he went down there and vaporized his friend like that. That would be in poor taste. Plus, Athena would be quite angry…and she's wasn't pleasant when she was angry.

He wasn't mad at Percy, but jealously welled up within like he had never felt before. He was the only one allowed to touch Percy.

And he was going to remind Percy of that fact. In very pleasurable ways.

A/N: Again, sorry this was a little shorter than the other chapters. I intended this to be a bit longer, but the words weren't coming to me. I hope the whole sequence with Percy and Annabeth was relatable. I get irritated when I read stories about these two and they are completely OOC. Most fics depict Annabeth as a bitch and Percy as a complete jerk when they fight/break up. I don't think they would act that way with each other.

Next chapter: birthday fun with Apollo ;) Should be good times.