Chapter 2

A/N: Okay, I got a lot of hate for the whole Piper and Percy thing, but seriously, you've seen that Percy doesn't love Piper in his conversation with Poseidon. They're not going to be together by the end of this story, don't worry, I'm not too sure where this is going, but I know that Piper and Percy won't end up together. So, the point is, guys, chill out, and just remember, it's all part of the plot. If you don't like it, I'm not changing it just for you.

Anyways guys and gals, I hope you like this chapter, which I also have no idea where it's going.

Idk what reviews will be for this one since it's sort of short and boring, but I made up for it by being early right?

Also, tell me if you want quicker updates and shorter chapters, or slower updates and longer chapters. The schedule will change from time to time, so don't be worried if it doesn't show up

BTW, this could be the last chappie I post before going on vacation, so I might not post next week or the week after that, but I'll come back with two chapters if that's the case. Thanks and enjoy!

Annabeth had tried everything. She tried to read, but her dyslexia seemed to get worse when she was agitated, she had tried to eat her favorite foods; peanut butter and olive pizza, she had even tried watching a bit of TV, which was always overwhelming for the average demigod, but nothing could take her mind of the events earlier that day.

Annabeth had turned around and run as fast as she could after what she now called "the most embarrassing and horrible incident that happened in the past 3 years and should never ever be thought about again."

The rest of her mind clearly did not agree as it replayed the moment over and over again.

A daughter of Athena who doesn't even have control over her own mind, Annabeth thought bitterly. No wonder Percy had dumped her so long ago. She was nothing special. Percy probably didn't even understand half the things she said to him.

Annabeth groaned. Percy, Percy, Percy. He had always been a thorn in her side since he left. It bothered her, of course, but she could deal with it, the pain had dulled over three year's period of time. Now when she saw him again, it was like the thorn had been pushed much deeper into her, reminding her that it was still there, and it had never left. The healing wound was now as bad as ever.

Annabeth groaned. Why did her life had to be so complicated? Without Percy, she would never had suffered through so much heartbreak, the thorn in her side would never have been there to begin with, maybe she would be a world-renowned architect, hero of both the mortal world and the mythical world. Of course without Percy, the demigods would have never won the war, and they would all be dead, and Annabeth would never feel that emotion known to mortals as 'love' at age 16. Or maybe she could have gotten together with Luke.

But Luke was a different case entirely, Annabeth thought, he had been controlled by his anger long ago and joined Kronos's side. Without Percy, Luke may never have turned back to the gods' side… And maybe Annabeth would have suffered an equal amount of heartbreak, but towards Luke instead of Percy.

Grr, some part of her seemed to contradict everything she thought. Was it possible that Percy's existence was in any way good for her? Sure, he saved the world and all, but what's the point of living if life is without joy and light. The reason they'd fought Kronos in the war was to protect the light and joy in the world.

Annabeth paced the length of her bedroom, unable to understand a thing.

She needed a way to bring the joy and light back into her, she needed a way to make life worth living. She was tired of being by herself all the time, with nothing to look forward to except make blueprints and deliver them to mount Olympus. She needed more to her life than just architecture, she was an ADHD demigod, not a mortal who spent their lives locked up inside, obsessed with work.

Over the past three years, Annabeth had missed more than Percy. She had missed fighting, feeling the surge of adrenaline in combat, knowing that any moment, life could be over. She missed the thrill of doing something dangerous, proving that it was possible. She missed simply relaxing and enjoying the sunshine on her skin, maybe with her favorite ice cream, maybe wearing a real dress… with nothing at all to worry about, as if for a moment, all of her problems were solved.

Annabeth shook her head; she couldn't do that; she was Annabeth Chase, she couldn't just forget about her job, her horrible past, her family, and her far off dreams and goals. If she relaxed for a single day, what if everything was lost? If pretty much every great leader is right, work leads to success. If she wanted to reach her goals and dreams, she would have to work to get it. Sitting back and relaxing was not an option. That would be equivalent to watching her dreams go down the drain, saying goodbye to all her goals in life. She had already gone so far, she couldn't stop now and watch everything go downfield.

But does work lead to happiness? Annabeth plopped on her bed, hating the little voice more and more. If you're successful, you are happy! Annabeth wanted to say, but she knew it wasn't true. Success didn't really matter if you weren't happy. There was no point in being successful if you didn't enjoy it.

But… Annabeth began to think, but her mind changed course. Come on Annabeth! Man up! You're a demigod, for Zeus's sake! Take a risk every once in a while. You've been cooped up for too long, and your thoughts have become clouded.

Annabeth took a deep breath. Maybe, if she took a chance, she would be thinking clearer; perhaps it would be beneficial to her.

But taking risks wasn't like Athena, or her children. They were about careful planning, and skillfully working their way around barriers and problems. Perhaps wasn't a good word. It indicated that there was another possibility that would be much less agreeable.

But you're stuck, the voice returned in Annabeth's head. You can't work your way around it this time, or else you're just digging yourself deeper into a hole.

Annabeth had a sneaking suspicion that the voice had some outside influence, but nonetheless, it was correct. Annabeth had a problem that she couldn't just think or work her way out of. Annabeth couldn't help but remember the war with Kronos, where she had gone on life-threatening quests, fought seemingly impossible battles, and experienced love in its gentlest, kindliest form. Life had been so exciting back then. She was a hero, and she felt like one too.

Where was the old Annabeth? She wondered. Maybe it was time to go on a date, and get over Percy once and for all.

But she couldn't just walk up to some random guy and ask him out; no, Annabeth had more sense than that, online dating seriously gave Annabeth the creeps (you never know who's on the other side!), which left her with one option: Camp Half Blood.

Well, she actually had two options, Camp Half Blood or going to a bar, getting drunk and ask other people at the bar out, except she wasn't 21 and those kind of people weren't her type anyways. But did she actually know what her type of guy was?

Annabeth pondered that for a moment before her mind moved on to the dreaded location of Camp Half Blood. She hadn't been there in a very long time, and for good reason. First off, it reminded her too much of Percy. Her favorite place had been the canoe lake, where she and Percy had shared the underwater kiss, and the rest of the camp reminded her too much of the good times she'd had with him as well. Everyone else at camp wasn't helping either. They seemed the remember her as "Percy's ex-girlfriend", which may be fine to a slut who just wants to be remembered as someone's famous girlfriend or ex, but Annabeth wanted to have her own reputation as a strong, independent woman with great intellect and fighting abilities.

This should be easy enough, Annabeth thought. She wasn't as famous as Percy, she was already a heroine of the war. Now all she needed to do was rebuild that reputation.

And so Annabeth did what she would have never done a day ago. She cancelled all of her work plans for the following day, and tried to live like a normal demigod for one day, if normal demigods even existed.

This is your new chance, Annabeth, she told herself, checking for the bus times to Long Island. Hey, some things, like always being prepared would always be part of her.

So, I hope you like this new chapter, and remember, I might be going on vacation soon, so this may be the last time I update for another two weeks or so. But I'll make up for it! Don't worry. R & R, and no more about Piper and Percy, cuz the love between them isn't quite as it seems, especially now.

I'm also sorry this is really short, and maybe boring for some of you, but I needed to get her thoughts changing out there. I'm honestly kind of scared for the reviews for this one.

But it's early, so there!