Hello there readers! Finally...an update... I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to update it sooner...coz well, life is throwing a lot of lemons at me recently...um not those lemons...in case you have a sexy imagination... ANYWAYS, enjoy the chapter! AND OF COURSE, REVIEW~~~

PERCY

Navigating through the woods has always been an easy thing to me. But today, my thoughts were so jumbled up that I couldn't even think or control my feet. Scenes of what just happened gushed into my head like a relentless torrent of water, threatening to drown me. That was absurd, of course, since I can't drown. Nonetheless, it felt like the embarrassment was attempting to suffocate me.

I wondered whether the other demigods thought even more poorly of me now. Probably yes. I could see the vague scenarios in my head. The whole Hermes cabin spreading the word and burdening us both with teasing, the Aphrodite kids who have nothing better to do would laugh and jeer at us...Great. Just great. Well, thanks to me, Annabeth was put into an even more embarrassing situation. Gods…What did I do? Would she hate me even more now?

Approaching footsteps snapped me back to reality. I wouldn't be surprised if it were some Hermes kids, interviewing the couples for tomorrow's Demigod Daily. Those reporters. Can't they give us a break? My schedule is filled up already. Obviously, they haven't attempted to steal my schedule book from my cabin yet, but it's only a matter of time.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn't realized that there was a looming tree in front of me.

BAM!

I swear my head was shaking from the impact and the world had turned upside down. I blinked as I lay down, groaning in agony. Won't that just be hilarious to the reporters. I can see the headline clearly in my head now:

PLAYER PERCY JACKSON ATTEMPTS TO KISS TREE NYMPH!

Just what I needed.

Speaking of the reporters, there was no one in sight. Didn't I hear footsteps just now? Where were they?

"Percy? Percy Jackson?" a hesitant voice sounded though the forest softly.

I spun around to see Annabeth emerging from the woods.

A fuzzy feeling swelled in my chest, but it was quickly replaced by remorse and guilt.

"Annabeth," I whispered as she approached me. "I'm sorry."

Her grey eyes reflected confusion and distraught and her blond hair was the in the messiest fashion I've ever seen.

Oh Annabeth…

"You abandoned me to the crowds," she said, holding back relief from her tone.

"Nuh-huh-huh…sure…I mean, yeah… I'm sorry." I barely managed to say.

"You know, you should be."

"What do you mean?"

"I said, you SHOULD be sorry," she gave a small smile," Abandoning me to the loud crowds like that!"

"Aw, Annabeth! I swear, I'm sorry! Please forgive me?" I pleaded.

She looked at me with a smug smile and an eyebrow raised. The way her hand sat on her hip I knew she was enjoying this.

She did not answer; there was no need for a reply. Instead, she closed the distance between us and kissed me.

My mind went numb and I couldn't process what was happening. It has been a long time since we last kissed… Well, not really that long, I still remember that it was on the beach, while we were watching sunset.

Before I knew it, Annabeth withdrew, breathing in fresh air.

"Been a while?" she asked, corners of her lips lifting slightly.

I winked at her.

She gave a smile in agreement and satisfaction.

"We could stay here for some time…you know..." my voice trailed off as I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"No way!" she protested instantly. "We have to get back! Chiron would be worried."

"Worried about what?" I asked jokingly. "Annabeth Chase is safe in Percy's arms."

She rolled her eyes. Typical. "The coast is clear by the way. We'll leave now."

"No!" The word came out before I could stop it. "I mean, hey, you never know! There might be another Annabeth Chase wearing the Yankees cap!" I suggested helpfully, shrugging as she turned to study me.

"Did the confession leave you a bit crazy?"

I laughed nervously.

"Oh well, I guess it did. Don't worry; I'll treat it once we get back to your cabin."

Somehow, that line made me want to get back to my cabin quicker. I nodded enthusiastically.

"Come on, let's go then." I was about to rush out Grover-style when Annabeth pulled me back abruptly.

"Wait," she whispered, tone rushed. "Someone's there."

"Ah, Annabeth and Prissy. How nice to see you together again."

POSEIDON

"I told you not to mess with my boy!" a loud, demanding voice rang on the other side of the telephone.

"Mr. Poseidon, for the hundredth time, one does not simply mess with another Olympian's child unless they have a good and valid reason to. And I see no reason in hurting my own daughter. Why, maybe it's YOU who caused this chaos. You irresponsible, selfish parent."

"Excuse me, Athena. You have no right to say that! I'm not irresponsible at all. I care for Percy, I care for Tyson, I care for all of my other kids. I see no reason in harming my son too, so think before you accuse me, will you?"

"Pardon? You seemed to be the one who judged me first," Athena's voice had a dangerous edge to it. "Do not deny it, Poseidon. I know it is you."

With that, the line went dead. Poseidon sighed and placed the phone gently back to the unsteady stand.

Be strong, son. I'm proud of you.

ANNABETH

I glared intently at the dirty-blonde haired girl. She returned the glare.

"What do you want?" I demanded after a minute of static electricity sparks being exchanged from our eyes.

"Nothing," she giggled, breaking the tense atmosphere that clouded all of us. "We just wanted to have some fun teasing you, right, Nico?"

"You bet."

I felt immensely sickened by this relationship between the two and the loss of child innocence from Nico's perspective. Just what on earth is happening to all the love issues in Camp Half-Blood?

"Soooo...you two didn't seem to be affected eh?" Nico continued in an alarmingly deep voice for a kid his age. "What a strong bond."

"Is that an insult?" Percy snapped at the younger boy, demonstrating a vicious side that was usually concealed. I didn't even know that he had the capacity to snap at people.

"Not really, Prissy. You should be smart enough to know that I'm praising your remarkable strength to pull through this love chaos. Good job indeed," Clarisse answered.

Meanwhile, my brain gears were whirling at top speed. Is it possible...that these two are possessed? As many of the others were? Was Percy controlled before he snapped out of it? Was I?

"Clarisse. What's wrong with you?" Percy interrogated hesitantly. "It isn't like you to...interfere...with trivial romance matters."

"What do you mean, trivial? It's not trivial at all!"

I could see Percy flinch at her sudden fierce tone. I tried to put together the puzzle in my head...

Sea foam...Dolphins...

Were there any other Olympians that these items symbolized? I struggled in my mind, feeling something unveiling at the corner of my brain.

I just have to reach out and yank the mysterious blanket off. I put some more effort to it.

Aphrodite.

The one who was born from foam.

Seems legit to me.

Please R&R :)