Disclaimer: I don't own the PJO series

Percy's POV

I heard an oh so familiar voice coming towards me.

"My shoe!" I turned around, hoping the person was talking to me. I gasped. Annabeth, oh no. This is going to be immensely awkward. Wow I didn't expect her to have this fancy of a shoe. I expected an Aphrodite girl definitely not Annabeth, but as they say 'expect the unexpected.' We just kind of stood there, staring at each other when Emily's voice broke the awkward silence.

"Ok guys, for this one song, not all of you have to dance, you can get to know each other, talk, you know mingle." Thank gods. I don't think talking would be a very good idea; we would probably end up killing each other. I sat down in the nearest chair. Annabeth did the same, but she made sure there was proximity between us.

"So . . ." I said. "How's Olympus?"

"Like you really care." She answered, icily.

"Annabeth, I know you hate me, but ease up on the icy comments. I apologized, what else do you want me to do?"

"Absolutely nothing." She answered immediately. "My life is good." I knew for a fact that was a complete lie. During breakfast her face is always red and blotchy. She cries while she sleeps.

"I'm sure that's right." I muttered.

"What did you say?" She asked.

"Nothing." I answered quickly.

"That's what I thought." This was not the Annabeth I knew. I don't know what happened to her.

"Ok guys you've had enough talking time now it's time to hit the floor." Emily informed us. I got up slowly and Annabeth followed. I was really dreading this. I can't dance, like at all. I just did the disco with my finger and hoped that counted as dancing. The song ended and a slow song came on. All the pairs started slow dancing, we were the only ones not dancing. I hesitantly reached forward and put hands on her waist. She flinched, but didn't back away. She hesitantly put her arms around my neck. It felt so right but she just had to ruin the moment by whispering.

"Hope your girlfriend's ok with it." I so wanted to slap her but I just gritted my teeth nodded and replied.

"Well of course she is. Rachel is very understanding when it comes to these things." Right when I said that I wished I hadn't. Her face hardened. "Who'd you think I was talking about?" I asked, smartly.

"I was kidding, it's called sarcasm."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, look it up." After a few minutes of awkward slow dancing the song ended and we instantly broke apart. For the rest of the dance I just sat in the corner pretending to eat, which I learned gets you out of dancing. Well there goes phase two.

The next day I went to the Athena cabin. Malcolm opened the door.

"Annabeth's not here." He answered quickly before closing the door.

"I'm not here for Annabeth. I need your help."

"Why would we help you, you broke Annabeth's heart. No one in the Athena can get a proper night's sleep she's always crying."

"If you help me, she won't cry. I swear on the River Styx."

"What do you need?"

"I want to make a truth spell and I need you to put it on my as a 'prank' so I can tell her my feelings."

"And what makes you think that will work?"

"Well if I say I love her then she can't refuse can she?"

"Oh ok. I'll make the potion today and give it to you tonight." He closed the door and I got ready to be humiliated in front of everyone.

Right before dinner I drank the potion and suddenly I couldn't keep anything to myself. I got Travis and Conner to tell everyone about my dilemma. Get ready for humiliation, I told myself before heading into the pavilion.