Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters they belong to their rightful creator, Mr. Rick Riordan. Just writing for pleasure and nothing else...no other incentive.

Summary: Annabeth loves her boyfriend Luke, but Luke's mouth gets him into trouble. This causes Annabeth to cross paths with the one Luke will face, Percy Jackson. Annabeth makes a deal with Percy, to save her boyfriend, but what will this lead to?

Chapter 3

It was 7:00 in the morning and I had to be ready in 3 hours. I didn't feel like getting ready, but I guess I had to shower, dress, and maybe eat something; however, I don't think my stomach was up for anything. I took a long hot shower, I felt tense and hoped the water would help me ease a little. It didn't. I brushed my hair, but let it down and just did not apply makeup. I was not looking to impress anyone. I wasn't sure if I should be wearing my swim suit on or not. I decided on wearing it under my clothes, just in case. I wasn't insecure of my body, I had sort of an athletic body, I liked to run, so that is what kept me in shape. However, Percy was going to see me in a two piece, the only type of bathing suit I had! It made me feel nervous. I went to Luke's swim matches and well, I noticed Percy's body and it was, well he looked like a Greek God. He hung around cheerleaders and other girls that were more into their bodies than I was. I ate anything, but I kept fit cause I ran. Anyways, I decide to wear a nice green shirt and shorts. After putting on my converse I go downstairs to the kitchen. I made oatmeal, because that was the only thing my stomach could handle. I notice the time and it was 9:25. I guess, I took longer than I expected. I went back upstairs and brushed my teeth.

I remembered that Percy wanted me to take a dress. I went into my closet and searched for one that would be okay, but I couldn't find one that I really liked. Finally, I decided on a nice floral dress, grabbed a matching cardigan, and some nice slip on shoes. I gathered a bag, hoped it wouldn't wrinkle and by the time I had done that, I heard the door bell. I started to get extremely nervous. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I told myself. I went downstairs and opened the door. I nearly fainted.

Percy Jackson was standing there, looking as gorgeous as ever. His hair was spiked up, his eyes were greener than usual and they even seemed to sparkle! He wore jeans, a nice button down shirt with his jacket on. It wasn't cold, but he always wore his jacket. I liked that, it made him...him. The sun was already out, and he had his aviators in his hand, he seemed like the Percy at school. He wasn't trying to hide himself.

"Are you ready to go?" He ask. I swear, I know he knows I get so nervous when I am around him. His smirk gives it away. I am an incompetent idiot or at least that is how I am presenting myself because I am left speechless and just nod. I close the door and we walk together towards his car.

"I hope you enjoy what we do today" he states

"Um, yeah" that is all I can muster. I swear, where did my brain go!

He opens the door for me, which I did not expect. That was so sweet of him. Wait, he isn't sweet, I was forced into coming here with him. Okay, so I wasn't exactly forced, but it wouldn't have been my idea. His car was amazing, it was a Mustang and black, he always kept it clean from the outside and now being in the inside, I can say it was clean here too. The smell was mesmerizing me, it just smelled like Percy.

Percy starts to drive, and I am unable to tell where he is taking us. I catch him staring at me from time to time, giving me glimpses. I finally ask..

"So, where are we going?"

"Ah, so you are capable of starting a conversation" Ugh. He just smirks. Yeah, keep smirking, I'll get payback...not.

"We are going to my family's beach home, I thought we could have a day in the sun. Maybe get to know each other more intimately" I freak, what does he mean by intimately, if he thinks...

"I think my idea of intimate is difference from yours. I just want to get to know you on a personal level. You know, your dreams and aspirations." For the first time Percy Jackson is not smirking, he said it like he meant it. I just hoped he wouldn't use me to hurt poor Luke.

We get to his beach house and it is amazing. It is big and has huge windows, and every bit of view is of the ocean. I fell in love with it. I have never been to the beach, so it would be a nice new experienced. I just never thought I'd experience it with him.

"You can just set your stuff in one of the bedrooms upstairs" he says. I look up.

"This is a vacation home, no one is here. It's just us. So don't worry, you won't bump into anyone"

I go upstairs and to into what appears to be a spare bedroom. The decoration was so generic no personal touch, like one would have in their own bedroom.

"Do you want anything to eat?" He asked. I jumped at the question and turn around to see him leaning on the door frame.

"I ate before you picked me up, so I am good." He seemed disappointed, but I couldn't be sure.

"Okay, so did you bring your bathing suit? Or do you need one?"

"Oh, I brought one, I read your text after all. I just need to take off my clothes. I wore it under."

Percy just stares up and down my body, and smirks.

"Well, aren't we eager" Ugh, there he is the jerk.

"Well, I, uh, um, I"

"Relax, I was just kidding. I know I didn't tell you what we were going to do first. I have to put on my trunks, I'll meet you downstairs when I'm done." He says as he leaves to what I assume is his bedroom. I nervously take off my shirt and shorts, and put on flip flops. I walk downstairs and take a small tour on my own. I wondered how many of his girls he's brought here. I go into what seems to be an office, and there are many pictures on the wall. It is of a lady with long wavy black hair and a man who looks like Percy, except maybe 25. I couldn't be so sure. I guess I wondered off for a long time, because Percy found me in this room.

"That's my mom, Sally. She was pregnant with me in that picture. They had just been married a year that summer."

I should have recognized his mom. I have seen her in school events, like fundraisers for the swim team and the matches, themselves.

"So that's your dad?" I ask. I shouldn't have asked. I have never seen his dad. Maybe it was a touchy subject and by the look on his face it seemed like I was right.

"Yeah, my mother says I look just like him. Attitude included." He smiles as he finishes, but then he adds, "He was a sailor, he got lost at sea. She never accepted his death. She refuses to use the D word. If you were to ask her where he was, she would tell you he is lost at sea." He looks down and then looks at me. He looks into my eyes, and then the old Percy returns.

"I think we have spent enough time inside. I feel caged in. Lets go."

He grabs my hand with one hand and grabs the towels and lotion with the other. We walk towards the beach and find a spot and lay our towels down to sit.

"Turn around"

"What?"

"Turn around"

I do as he says and I start to feel his hands on me. I freak and I get tense, but I guess he notices because he then explains, "I'm just making sure you don't get sunburn. I'm adding sunblock to your back."

"Oh, thanks." At this point I'm glad I'm turning away from him, because I'm blushing like an idiot.

He finishes and gives me the rest to put on the rest of my body. He adds sunblock, and I don't know how, but I just blurt out "It's only fair I return the favor" He seems to understand what I am talking about because he gives me his trademark smirk and turns around. I couldn't believe, I was rubbing sunblock on his back. I was touching Percy's bare skin! It was so smooth, so...STOP Annabeth. Ugh, what is he doing to my brain.

After a few minutes we both are just staring at the ocean.

"Why do you like the water so much, if it took your father away from you?" I can't believe I just blurted that out! "I mean, you can just tell me to mind my own business. You don't have to answer."

He looks into my eyes and then looks back at the sea.

"I feel connected to him. I never met him. He disappeared when my mom was still pregnant. She kept coming back here because she felt like part of him was here with us. I guess that is why she never sold this place, or went anywhere else for vacation. Besides my looks, our love for the sea is something we share. It might seem stupid, but that is why I strive to be the best swimmer."

"No, I get it. My mother died during childbirth. I never knew her either, but it is part of the reason why I want to be an architect. She was in Grad school and already designing when she got married to my dad." We are both quiet for a few seconds and then I add "She designed our home, you know. She had the plans so when they had the money, they'd make it happen. But before they could built she died; but then 10 years after she died, he built it, their dream home. He still loves her. I know that's why he works so hard. He can barely stand to see me for more than a day. It hurts him. I am her replica, I guess."

"I guess we have something in common. We both lost someone we didn't know."

He looks back at the beach and then at me.

"C'mon."

"Wait, what are you going to do?"

"We are getting wet"

"But the water will be cold!" I wine.

"You'll get use to the temperature, eventually." We run near the water, but I stop while he continues. He just jumps all the way in, he looks like he can be the son of the sea god, himself. He looks at me from a distance and signals for me to get near, but I just shake my head. He gets out of the water and starts running towards me. This gets me running away from him, but of course he catches up to me grabs me and takes me to the water. I scream and giggle. That is what we do for the rest of the afternoon. Then my stomach does something I did not want it to do. It growled. Unfortunately, Percy heard.

"Let's go back to the house and get ready for dinner."

We get our stuff and head back. We must have lost track of time because when I saw the clock it read 5:45.

"It is getting late. How about you go upstairs and take a shower and put on the dress you brought. I'll get everything ready."

I do as he says, I take a long shower again, seriously, sand gets into places that is not fun to have. I get dressed and look into the mirror, for the first time I regret not bringing my makeup bag. I do not wear much makeup, but I think it little foundation, blush, and mascara would have helped. I hear music playing and I start going down.

I guess I must have taken a really long shower because Percy was showered, dressed for dinner, and had set the table. He had set a candlelight dinner. He had soft soothing music in the background, and when I came downstairs, he handed me Tulips, my favorite flowers. I really didn't know how he knew that, no one knew my favorite flower, not even Luke! Well, Thalia knew, she had gone with me to visit my mother once, and I took Tulips because I wanted her to appreciate them like I did. I wanted her to have something of mine, something that I really liked.

"This looks very nice"

"Well, I tried to set up the table, but I can't say that I am good at decorating." He said all nervously.

"It looks perfect."

"Dinner is ready. It might not be as romantic as I wanted to, but it is all I know how to cook." He tells me. I look up at his eyes. "Wait, you cooked?" I honestly thought he would have just ordered in or had someone else make it. Why would he go into so much trouble? "Don't be surprised" He said showing me a big grin. "I cook on occasion, besides what type of son would I be if I didn't cook my mother dinner for her birthday or mother's day?" I swear, the twelve year old in me was falling again. Or maybe it wasn't the twelve year old. Oh-oh.

"So what did you cook?"

"Stake, smash potatoes, and steamed vegetables."

"Sounds amazing" and I have to say, it tasted amazing too. All through dinner there was small conversation, mostly about how he learned to cook this particular meal.

"I didn't do any desserts. It isn't my specialty. But I thought we could go out for ice scream at the pier?" He asked.

"I think that be great."

After ice scream we head back home and he parks his car. "Well, I had a very nice time with you Annabeth." "I did too" I respond. Then that is when I remember the last thing of our deal, the goodbye kiss. "Thanks for not beating up Luke" and just like that I ruined the mood. Percy's attitude changed and opened his door. I was about to open my door, but Percy managed to get around his car and open my door. He takes me to my door and I just wait there, patiently.

"I guess this is where we go back to how we use to. Everyone goes their separate ways" I was confused as to what he meant. He leaned in and kissed me, but it wasn't where I thought he'd kiss me. He kissed me on the cheek. It was sweet and short and gods I wanted him to reach my mouth, but he just whispered, "This completes the deal, wisegirl." and then he leaves.

That night I fell asleep and dreamed of Percy Jackson.

Author's Note: First, I want to apologize for taking ages to update, but I cut my internet connection at home, since I wanted to step away from the virtual world and get back into the real world...so I have to find time to actually go some place that offers wifi now. I promise to try harder to get to a starbucks or some other place. Anyways, thanks for not giving up on this story and still reading. Anyways, Thanks again, and I'll try to update sooner, since once be get to like the 6 chapter of this story, I'll be posting something in Percy's perspective.

Also, checking my e-mail there were two stories that I read and received notifications for, but are no longer available to read on the site. They are: "Just a Job" and "Say Yes to the Dress" by the same author, does anyone know what happened to cause her to delete her stories? I was sadden, since I really did love "SYTTD".