Summary: He didn't want it to happen, it just did. Everything that meant something to him just left. Vanished. Disappeared. He threw everything meaningful aside. He ignored society, the community and his 'so-called-friends'. He ruined his own life, built up a mask to protect himself, to protect others. But he wasn't happy. Not at all.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND/OR THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS. I REPEAT! DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON OR THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS! ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO RICK RIORDAN.

Harsh Words

She Who Tried

Annabeth stared at him, waiting patiently for an answer or any sort of sign that he'd contribute. However, he didn't respond yet again and avoided eye contact with her. It had always been like this with Percy, Annabeth had noticed. Though she's never been partners with him before, she's heard that Percy always left the group work to the others, usually ending with them to just about pass. There was no reason apart from him being a delinquent.

Until the other day, Annabeth was like everyone else, just assuming Percy was attention-seeking but when Percy had slipped up and won in a debate against her, it gave her proof that something was up. Even if he doesn't let it show, Annabeth was sure that he was letting out less than keeping in and she was going to find out what.

"I'm not helping you out." Percy said finally and got up, leaving class early.

Mr. Sue shouted at him but didn't report it to the principal. That was the teacher's weakness. He was too kind to do that, even though he does seem strict. After Percy's response, Annabeth wasn't going to give up. She was going to make Percy participate, even if she has to go to his house…

~O.O~

"Wait, wait, wait. You're partners with Blofis?" Luke asked, almost at a shouting level.

Annabeth winced at the surname. Percy had been telling her constantly last year that he was a Jackson and that got to her. Her boyfriend, Luke Castellan, had aftermath injuries: two black eyes, bruises on the cheeks, a broken nose and a cut on his lip. He was holding an ice pack where the bruises were.

Annabeth had always disapproved of the violent fights that Luke got into, mainly because he always came back with injuries. If her mother had an insight on her high school relationships, she would have looked at her in shame. Frankly, Annabeth was disappointed in herself too but couldn't bring herself to do anything about it. Luke was her first love.

"Yeah. It's not a big deal. I can do better on my own." Annabeth said, her bag slung over her shoulder.

"Damn right you're doing it on your own! That good-for-nothing brat's gonna get beat up if he touches you." Luke muttered.

Surely Luke would have been the one getting beaten again but being his girlfriend, she didn't want to say anything. To be honest, Annabeth was quite scared he'd do something. Luke didn't seem the type to hurt people but then again, Percy seemed to be the cause of the fire the other day, but the next day there was proof that he hadn't started it.

"Are you going to help with my studies today, babe?" Luke asked, now holding her hand.

Sometimes doing something romantic or couple-like would make Annabeth shiver or blush. Right then, it caught her off-guard, making her blush madly. Luke had told her that it was cute when she blushed but she had her suspicions that he was lying. He had a good poker face and had always been able to get away when lying.

"No, I have to get started on the History project, Luke. It's due next week." Annabeth said.

"So? You can do it the night before it's due, right?" Luke said, as if he solved the problem.

The thing was, he never made good decisions. Everything he did was just to benefit him; asking her to help with his homework, making her wait for him after school…Before, she didn't mind but when she doesn't have time to study, her grades would drop. Usually it never would but now that she was on the verge of going below 90%, it was concerning her. Annabeth didn't want to tell Luke any of this. She was scared of what Luke could do.

She forced a smile, knowing quite well that it would fool Luke. "Yeah. I can do that."

"Great. Walk with me." Luke said, dragging her out by the hand to his car.

Luke's car was as appealing as anything could get. His father was apparently richer than Luke made him out to sound like and was able to afford a Lamborghini in black for him. Preferably, it was the color that Annabeth didn't want her father to see her arrive out of. He was always convinced that boys with black vehicles uses the color to do bad at night. Annabeth found it silly but now that she thought about it, the car would camouflage in the night and if Luke were to do trouble, it would be an easy escape.

Annabeth would have gotten in if not for someone reaching out a hand to grab her wrist. She turned to see a pair of sea-green eyes staring at her; an expression to ask if she was crazy. It was shock that showed on her face and also fear. Shock that Percy had stopped her and fear that Luke and him would get into another fight.

"Where are you going. You do realise we have another lesson, right?" Percy asked, his voice seeming to be forced calm.

Luke pushed Percy back, which made him release his grip on Annabeth's wrist. Her voice was in audible as the boys shouted over each other. She heard Percy say that he needed her since she was his partner and Luke bawling over that he had higher authority since he was her boyfriend.

"Get the hell away from us!" Luke clamoured.

Noticing Percy look at her, Annabeth knew he wouldn't back down. He pushed Luke aside and grabbed Annabeth by the hand, which inflicted less pain than the wrist. She wanted to turn back and apologise to Luke however knowing him, it would make him more furious than he had already sounded.

A lot of screaming and cursing was made behind her, aiming towards Percy and Annabeth could have sworn she heard Luke curse her under his breath. She would have to talk about it to him some time. Percy seemed to have managed it, containing his anger and for once, Annabeth admired that part of him. It was weird that he was walking with her. Throughout last year, all he did was avoid or walk past her – not with her. It was a nice start to their partnership. Maybe he would even cooperate…

"Per—"

"Shut up. You realise that you're late for class, right?" Percy muttered.

Suddenly all her joy – which wasn't much – fell and was replaced guilt. How could she let her mind slip that she still had lessons? Was it Luke? No, she couldn't blame him. It was her own fault for thinking too much and letting Luke lead her out. A part of her wanted to believe that Percy had a kind enough heart to go find her on his own free will but he probably was forced.

A guy like him would never be kind enough to think of others.

~O.O~

In English, Mr. Blofis was walking around, discussing project again. He already did it yesterday but because some people were "absent", he had to repeat. The project was – yet again – on one of Shakespeare's or Charles Dickens' plays. Last year, their class performed Romeo and Juliet and Annabeth played the leading role, along with Luke. It was the reason why they had gotten closer and was the time when Luke's grades were higher than this year. This year, the project they pick and was voted the most would be the play that they'd work on for the literature festival.

Yesterday, Mr. Blofis announced that Annabeth would group up with 6 other people. First was Percy, then Katie, Travis, Drew, Silena and Connor. Everyone in the group was okay with Annabeth but Percy was a very big problem. Katie and Drew minded very much but Silena, Connor and Travis didn't care. To not fail, she would have to force Percy even more.

"Okay, get into your groups. This will be the only time you are allowed to work as a group for the project considering many people were away yesterday. However, starting tomorrow, we will focus solely on Midsummer Night's Dream." Mr. Blofis instructed them.

Immediately, everyone stood up and rushed to their tables, like in History. Only, Percy this time, stood up and looked around. He seemed to have known that he was grouped with Annabeth and minded a lot too.

"Percy, come here!" Travis shouted, only to be punched by Katie for his volume.

Annabeth was suddenly surrounded by people bringing their desks to her. Percy, being only a metre away, slide his desk in next to her, sighing. Silena was blowing Beckendorf kisses and Connor was laughing at Travis being abused by Katie, as usual.

Drew seemed distant, quite unlike the normal Drew. She was the popular girl. She was smart and beautiful but also a bitch. Maybe it was that she finally found a boy who held her down. Annabeth heard rumours of her talking to a boy from another school going by the name Jason.

"So, we're doing Twelfth Night?" Drew asked boredly.

Everyone looked at Annabeth expectantly but in all honesty, she didn't have the mind to carry out a plan at the moment. Her brows furrowed as she looked down at her notebook. They had already briefed what to do yesterday yet it didn't seem to fit together.

Drew must have noticed the stress because she turned their attentions and also Annabeth's to her. She took out her notepad and a marker pen, writing in bold "TWELFTH NIGHT STAFFING".

"Since you're all not going to help, I'm going to be the one casting the roles." Drew said.

No one said a weird as she started writing. It took her at least two minutes to finish and close her lid. Her book was flipped up so that they couldn't see who was doing what. Until Drew turned it around, Annabeth had held in her breath.

CAST

VIOLA – Travis

SEBASTIAN – Connor

DUKE ORSINO – Katie

OLIVIA – Drew (obviously)

Prop guy – Percy

Playwright – Annabeth

Letting out a breath, Annabeth smiled at Drew. She helped a lot and didn't make her a role in the play. However, knowing the others, she would have to manage things too so her and Percy would work closely together.

"WHY AM I A GIRL?" Travis demanded, glaring at Drew.

Katie was trying so hard not to blush and was hitting Travis a couple of times. Connor was winking at Drew too much, trying to get her attention whilst Drew herself was calming Travis down with her bossier voice. Percy – Annabeth noticed – was silent and looking at the list.

They worked on the project for the rest of the lesson and as it neared the end, Katie and Travis argued again. Percy was in his own world and Annabeth, Connor and Drew decided what to do for the performance.

"When are we going to work together on the project?" Travis asked, rubbing his cheek and he was finally knocked in the face by Katie's fist.

Katie seemed satisfied even though Travis wasn't.

"We'll come to my house on Sunday to work on it." Drew announced.

"I'm not going." Percy said, looking at all of them. "And you can't stop me."

Standing up, Percy left the classroom. After him, the bell rang and all the students ran out of class. Unfortunately, Percy didn't pick the same last lesson as Annabeth so she wouldn't see him to convince him, unless she actually went to his house and forced it out.

So she asked Mr. Blofis his address before leaving class.

As promised, one more chapter for the June month. Whew! Deadline was today and now I have to get working on the next chapter for July!

Annabeth's now plotting to stalk Percy home? Crazy or nah?

I really appreciate the reviews and opinions on ships but as a writer, I can't promise who will end up with who. Just that Percy would face a lot of romance and conflict in the following chapters.

Like the story so far? Comment how sucky or good it is!

Think Stupid (~.~)