Thanks to those who reviewed! Here's chapter three. I know Clarisse and Chris will sound a bit OOC, but that's part of the plot. Anyways, hope you enjoy! R&R!

ANNABETH

For some time, the Nico-and-Clarisse-were-dating issue stopped bothering me. Maybe Clarisse had a change of heart? Or maybe Nico confessed and Clarisse thought he was worthy of her? I don't care.

All I care about is Percy (yes that's the sad truth) who is acting really weird lately. I mean, he's not acting seaweed stupid. I'm not sure if it's just me, but he seems to be avoiding eye contact. (yes that's another sad truth) I think it's just personal issues with his quest or his dad. So I just ignored him for a while, hoping that he would come back. Well, the seaweed brained Percy.

Thalia paid me a visit last week. I told her about Percy being dodgy and she acted as if nothing was wrong.

"That's normal," she said.

"Thalia!" I snapped.

"Annabeth!" she said in the same tone which annoyed me. "Boys are not worth of you! Join the hunt."

"You're not of any help, you know," I grumbled.

"I'm just stating the fact, Annabeth. Percy just further proves that I'm right."

"Don't use my boyfriend's behavior as an excuse!" I snapped back.

"Then why did you talk to me about him?" Thalia snapped back.

I was so tempted to say softly, "Because I love him and you're my best friend." But that won't work. That's so not me.

So instead I retorted, "You don't understand. You're a hunter!"

"I do," her tone suddenly softened. "I do, Annabeth."

I slumped into a chair. "Then stop persuading me to join you. My love is not yet completely lost, like yours."

Okay, I wanted to take that back.

Thalia shot me a look of hurt and anger mixed together. Then she stormed out of my cabin. My siblings scanned me from head to toe as if I was some kind of Martian.

Unable to take all the attention, I rushed to the forest.

CLARISSE

"Do you like me, Nico?" I poked the sucker in the ribs. Nico di Angelo was staying for a while in Camp Half-Blood.

Anyways, I don't understand why I've never notice Nico before. He was awfully cute and then he holds grudges. Just like me. He dwells amongst the dead, and I love the dead. Well, I love my enemies dead, so I was wondering, if Prissy was dead, won't that be paradise? Wait, don't change the topic. So, yeah…

I have officially announced that I am dating Nico.

Ha, that boy's face looked funny when I said it to the whole camp at dinner. He actually blushed, I mean, blushed! Oh gods, he blushed at me! Which, apparently, means that he likes me too! I'm no daughter of Aphrodite, but that's like common sense, dude.

Ah-ha-ha-ha! Nico is tickling me. You see, he can be a fun person. That's why I like him.

Nah, I love him.

What's the problem with that? It's not like it's illeg—wait! Now he's pressing onto me as I'm writing this into my diary. What did you say, dear?

"I want a k-i-s-s," he's pouting at me now.

Just so awesomely a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!

"Fineee," I mimicked his pout. "No one will see us, right?"

"Who cares? You announced it already!" Nico leant in.

"Oh yeah right," I muttered half-heartedly before his lips crashed into mines. Mmmhmmm… It was the best kiss I've ever had. Better than Chris's, at least.

Nico was… real to me. Not like that liar.

This reminds me, I've heard that Chris was having an interest in Seaweed Princess. Uh-huh. Chris is for losers like her.

Hastily, Nico broke the kiss. I groaned. I widened my eyes to my best puppy-eyes effect. Guess it doesn't work for Ares and his kids…

Nico di Angelo kissed me on the forehead and said, "I've got things to do, Princess of War. See you later at campfire."

I nodded eagerly. "Don't forget to bring the beer!"

ANNABETH

I realized that I was crying. I hid in the well-covered bushes, sobbing my despair out. Memories of me and Percy together flashed through my brain, each opening a new scar. From the first time we met, the underwater kiss, different battles we've pulled through… All of them seemed like a distant dream to me now.

As I was sobbing on and on, Chris Rodriguez suddenly popped up beside me.

So much on being the son of Hermes. I hate stealth.

"Whazzup?" he said, wrapping his arms around my neck slowly. I felt the hair on my neck bristle.

"I'm not Clarisse," I snapped. "Leave me alone!"

"Of course you're not Clarisse, Annabeth. Of course you're not!" The distance between Chris and I was getting threateningly close.

"Stop it, Chris! Go back to Clarisse! She'll be heart-broken if you don't!" I brushed his caressing hand away.

What's gotten into him?

"She's not the one who's being dumped! I'm the one. She left me. Abandoned me," his tone was unexpectedly cold. I flinched.

"Who did she go with?" I knew the answer already, but I was just trying to confirm my suspicion.

"Nico di Angelo. I have no idea why she fell for a pale vampire like him," Chris muttered, still determined to not let go of my neck.

"Oh," I said, which was probably the lamest reply I'd ever given.

"Yeah," he said.

"Yeah," I repeated, processing the clues slowly. Something fishy is definitely going on in Camp Half-Blood. "Soooo, do you have any idea why you're falling for me?"

"Why, that's easy to answer! That's because you're dazzling and nice! And beautiful and hot, oh and—"

I gave a small cough on purpose.

"Okay, okay. I just have a crush on you. Ever since we've met. Take that as a valid reason. Got it?" Chris finally released my neck.

Now that was awkward. His hands were on my waist in the blink of an eye and I had a bad feeling.

"Uh…Chris? I don't—" I was cut off by his lips.

Darn! What got me into this mess? He was playing with one of my blond curls, tugging at it every so and then.

I groaned involuntarily.

"Stop it! Chris! What's wrong with you?" I gave the boy a good shove on the chest. He stumbled backward.

"I…I'm sorry," he stammered before turning and bolting away. I raised my eyebrows in surprise as I registered what I was seeing.

Chris Rodriguez was weeping because I rejected him.

This was, of course, absurd.

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