Okay. So here is the next chapter. I know I was supposed to update sooner but umm I didn't, well. Sorry.

There is a big thanks to be inserted here for JamieAnimeLover. I will dedicate a chapter to you, later for sure. One that I actually like. :)

So we had finally made our way to a bench and were sitting down. Lie. He had made our way to the bench and we were sitting down. Grover, I mean. I had rambled on the entire episode into his ear in a high-pitched, hysterical voice. Currently, I was staring into a distance, still trying to process it in my brain. Grover had his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Sunshine couple, we looked like.

Finally he lifted his head and stared at me and said, 'you know this isn't over right?'

'What?', came my intelligent reply.

'He won't give up this easily'.

I did not have an argument against that. What could I do? Or say?

'Why me?', I said complaining.

He smiled at me dryly. 'I think you know the answer'.

'The answer is not good enough, Grover'.

'Oh it is', he said looking at me with a serious expression. 'You know his story?'

'Yeah. His parents were never married and his mother left when he was young'.

'Yeah', he said, looking sad. Why was he looking sad? I didn't understand what the hell was going on here!

'Two mothers. Yet no love', he said. I stared at him -

'What in the world are you talking about?' I said.

He looked at me confused. 'Which mother are you talking about?'

'Silvia Robb, Percy's mother who wasn't married to Kyle Stevenson', I said. Nice name, I had thought.

'Who told you that?', Grover asked with a disgusted expression.

'Rachel and the internet', I replied with equal disgust. Or so I hoped. I wished I didn't know anything right now. I dunno why. But I did.

'Okay so listen carefully. Kyle was married to Silvia. She never wanted a child, I think. Too selfish she was and still probably is. He got really drunk one night and he had an affair or rather a one-night-stand with Sally Jackson, a waitress or something there. He didn't even remember what he had done till one day, three months later, Sally contacted him saying she was pregnant with his child. Silvia freaked. I think she was anyway looking for an opening to give him a divorce, take his money, and run away and an opportunity like this wouldn't come twice. Kyle somehow convinced her to stay. For a while anyway. When Percy was born, he took full custody of the child since Sally didn't want him. He wanted Silvia to be the mother. But she wouldn't of course and left him. This really left a mark on Kyle both emotionally and financially and he blamed Percy for it'

I was too shocked to say anything after I heard this. I mean I've always had two loving parents. Angels. This guy was practically marked unwanted by all three people who were supposed to be his 'family'.

'Grover I -', I began but he cut me off -

'Don't say anything about this to anyone, alright. Especially not Percy and nothing goes out to the media'.

'I don't intend on talking to him anytime soon. So I guess you're fine and media? Don't worry', I replied. As if. Then I thought about it.

'What about Rachel?' I asked. His expression was a little, well exasperated.

'I guess that is a no', I said.

'You are coming for my birthday, right?' Grover asked. Oh shit! I had completely forgotten about it! He was having a cute party with the zoo animals. Sigh. I couldn't do that to Grover. He was a good friend. And what happens between Percy and me shouldn't affect him. In a big way, I mean. It already was. And I can't make him choose between us. I know I would push him towards Percy.

'Yeah, of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world', I said, standing up.

'I'll talk to him. But I can't promise you anything. He'll do what he pleases, when he pleases, and to Hades with the consequences. He always has. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him or of what he does'.

'I can't do anything about it then, can I? Just wait and watch and hope for the best', I said. Grover nodded, getting up. I had kept him here too long. 'And Hades?' I asked, smiling as I got up as well.

'Yeah Greek mythology. You know the God -'

'Of the dead. The Underworld. Controls riches as well. The Big Three. Brother of Poseidon and Zeus, married to Persephone', I finished. He grinned.

'You geek!'

'Back at ya!'

We stood there grinning for some time and then remembered everything suddenly. The grins cleared and we said byes and went our separate ways.

I didn't. Tell Rachel much, I mean. I told her very very very briefly about the Proposal but nothing beyond that. It was so sad that I didn't want to repeat it to anyone else.

She was concerned. And she agreed with everything I had said to him. She might get crazy at times, but she wasn't overly stupid, thank the Gods. About something like Percy Jackson, as well.

So we got ready. The idea of the party was great. It was gonna be so cute. I was wearing a light blue dress with a big black belt, black flats (cause I was so tall and Rachel won't lemme wear heels when I am with her) and black single bead earrings. My hair was loose around my shoulders. Rachel loved to dress me up this way and called me her 'Blonde Model'.

She, on the other hand, was wearing a bright pink fluffy dress, giving me the illusion of her being a giant strawberry cake which the animals at the zoo would eat. She had laughed at the remark when I had voiced it and said thank you. I had kept quiet cause I had actually meant that sarcastically. Sigh. I guess I needed to work on that.

The party was as cute as I had thought. And Grover's zoo friends were so funny, the humans, I mean. We wished him, cut and ate the vanilla and pineapple cake and everything else that was there. I even met his girlfriend whom he claimed had agreed to dating that day only. Juniper was her name. She had a petite figure and a cute face and she was really nice.

Percy was there too. Looking absolutely delicious in his casual and usual blue jeans and a white tee. I tried to avoid him as much as I could. We acknowledged each other and were polite. And I guess that was partly because I was carefully avoiding conversations which exceeded two sentences.

But just as we were about to leave, he grabbed my elbow and gently pulled me aside saying 'walk with me'. He hadn't given me much choice and Rachel had given me that expression which meant just give the word and I will run the guy down. So I guess it was safe.

We were sitting in front of the giraffe enclosure when he said -

'So... Did you reconsider?'

'No, Percy'

'I don't understand you, Annabeth. I am offering you everything a person needs'

No he was not and yes, he didn't understand. And he never would, I thought, remembering my conversation with Grover. Things like that leave a deep impression on people.

'Percy let it go, alright? Move on', I said.

He just stared at me with those sea-green eyes. He looked so handsome sitting there looking at me like that.

'I am weird. Okay? Am not like the rest', I continued, trying to, well, shoo him away.

'Yeah I know', he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Hmph. Some guy, he was.

I got up.

'I have to go now'. I said making it obvious this conversation is over.

'You can always change you mind', he said making no move to get up.

'But my answer is not going to change'.

He looked at me again and I think this time, if nothing, he understood that the answer was final.

He got up and walked with me back to Rachel and the party.

Without saying anything to him, without saying goodbye, without a second glance, I walked away.

Next chapter is gonna be a major. They will probably get engaged. Dhen te na! Now, I won't tell anything more of course but it definitely will be among the last chapters you are supposed to hate. Then the awesome part will come :D

-Zevervia