Chapter 3:

ANNABETH

Annabeth was walking along the beach near her dad's house in California, thinking about that day's events.

She had planned to do the usual with her dad today, go to the beach, spend the day there, have a picnic, come back, watch a movie, and sleep. But when Annabeth entered his studying this morning, he looked quite flustered and worried.

"Dad? Whats up?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh, Annabeth! I'm afraid we can't do anything today. Chris just called. There's an emergency at work. I have to go. How about you go to the beach and spend the whole day there? You can catch the bus home rather, take the car. That'll be safer,won't it?"Her dad said, absent minded."You can come back whenever you want. Then if I have time, we can watch our movie."

Annabeth just nodded. She knew that going to the beach was better than hanging around at the house. She drove to the beach and set up her stuff - a blanket, an umbrella, her picnic basket, and her bag, which had her swimsuit. After that, she didn't know what to do.

When she came with her dad, she usually just lounged around, talking to her dad never really paying attention to her surroundings. Her dad was with her, and that was enough. But today for the first time, she looked around.

Like a Californian beach, there were palm trees around. There was an old shop, called 'Hal's', where she and her dad bought their drinks. On the boardwalk, there were many shops and stalls, which was where usually the kids her age hung out.

After changing, she usually wore a robe to hide her bikini, because it still made her uncomfortable,along with a hat and sunglasses. All the other kids used to stare and laugh at her for covering herself up, but she didn't care. There was a girl, Lindsay, who was nice to her asked if she wanted to hang out together, but Annabeth wasn't leaving her dad.

Today, Annabeth changed and went to her spot only to find Lindsay.

"Annabeth!" She yelped. "You're alone today! Wanna hang out?"

"Sure!" Annabeth replied,since she was getting bored anyways.

They talked for a while, but it was getting hotter by the minute, so they decided to go for a swim. Annabeth removed her glasses,hat and robe and jumped in the water. Lindsay followed. They enjoyed the water and soon waded out, and went to the boardwalk. Annabeth and Lindsay went to the stalls, had a soda and enjoyed a picnic.

While they ate, a guy walked over to their spot. He was sort of muscular, had golden hair and dark brown eyes. Annabeth knew this guy. He was one of the idiots who laughed at her usual getup. He probably didn't recognise her in a bikini.

"Hi." He said, in a calm way."I'm Jake. We're right over there having a picnic. Perhaps you would like to join us? You can bring your friend Lindsay if you like."

Without even thinking she said,

"No thanks." Annabeth knew that she would never leave Percy for this guy.

Just then, she heard a familiar tinkling sound.

Lindsay would have heard it too, because she said, " Ice cream!"

She grabbed Annabeth's hand and dragged her to the ice cream van. Annabeth knew that she wasn't being dragged for ice cream, and she was right.

"What was that about?"she asked Annabeth.

Annabeth shrugged. "Does it look like I know?"

Lindsay smiled." He looked pissed that you rejected him, but he deserved it."

"Yes. Yes he did."a voice said from behind.

Annabeth turned and gasped. "Luke!"

"Annabeth."he said. He looked almost the same. The same sandy hair. The same blue eyes. Except that he was a good two inches taller and that his scar, which used to run along his left cheek, was slowly fading.

"Look at you."he murmured." So pretty now. Of course, you were always very pretty. I was just a fool not to recognise it."

Annabeth took a step back. She was not a fool. This easily could have been a monster. Anyways, Luke was dead. But why did she have a strange feeling, the one she usually had when she saw Percy after a long period of time? After thirty seconds of pondering, diguised by a look of shock on her face, she accepted the fact that this person was indeed Luke.

Annabeth was faintly aware that Lindsay had left, and it was just her and Luke now. In her mind, the picture of Percy was fading. But of course, that was because of ...heck, even she didn't know what was happening, but right at that time, her phone rang, and she snapped back to reality.