Chapter Six: Something Dark in the Air (Annabeth POV)

You're probably thinking that the story's over by now. Truth is, it's far from over. Our great adventure has just begun, but from here, it starts to get a little intense.

The day after the dance, I woke up feeling really exhausted. Percy and I had danced all through the night. I got out from underneath my desk (because my classroom is where I live, remember?) and found myself staring into his sea-green eyes.

"Hi," he said, dropping down to sit next to me. "Last night was fun."

"Yeah," I said, "but now I'm a little tired."

Percy chuckled as he traced the black bags under my eyes with his fingers. "No kidding."

I sighed. "Now I have to endure another day of teaching."

"Why not become a student?" Percy asked.

"Because they'll have to find a new science teacher. Also, I was previously a student but they made me be a teacher because they said I had a frustrating amount of intelligence."

He laughed and patted my head. "Look, you'll do fine—and if you don't, just give me a call and I'll be there to help you up." He smirked as he played with my hair. Stupid seductive idiot.

"Whatever," I said, standing up and walking over to the chalkboard. I picked up a piece of chalk and wrote, Homework today: write a short essay explaining a scientific subject of your choice and its many purposes. Include a few examples if possible.

"Ugh, you're giving out homework even though we're all exhausted from the dance?" he complained.

"Yes," I said.

"Aw maaan!" he wailed.

"Sucks for you," I said.

"Why? Why? Why? Why? WWHHHHHYYYY?" he cried. Ah, I love making little boys upset.

He jumped up and tackled me wildly. Man, he was strong. "Get off, Percy!" I was screaming.

"Not unless you change the homework assignment," he whispered in my ear. His voice was tantalizing. I just couldn't resist it.

Suddenly, I got an idea in my head.

"Fine, I will change the assignment," I said, getting up and walking over to the chalkboard.

"Thank you!" Percy breathed a sigh of relief.

I erased the word short and changed it to long.

I smirked at his horrified face. "Is big bad Seaweed Bwain afwaid of a wittle homework?" I teased.

"You're… about… to… die…" Percy said.

I'm pretty sure he was about to kill me, but at that very moment, the door to the classroom opened and Harry Planns, the social studies teacher, walked in.

"Hey, Percy! Hey Annabet—" He froze in his tracks and his face lit up. "Hahahahaha! It's Percy and Annabeth! I bet they've been doing something naughty under the teacher's desk! Percy and Annabeth, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" he sang, dancing around like a little kid.

"Mr. Planns…" I sighed. "What are you doing here?"

Harry calmed down. "Yeah… I need about fifty sheets of lined paper and ten file folders."

I walked over to my supply closet and grabbed the supplies. I handed them to him.

"Thanks, Annabeth," he said graciously, and he left the room.

I immediately turned to Percy. "That sure was weird."

"Whatever," Percy said, shaking his head and walking out of the classroom. "I've got to go. Classes are starting really soon. See you in science class, Wise Girl, and you'd better have that homework assignment removed by the time I'm there!"

Pssh. No way in heck would I ever do that.

I waved goodbye anyway and settled down at my desk, preparing for my first class.

At lunch, I met up with Percy once again. He grinned as I sat down next to him. "See? You made it through teaching," he said. We laughed and I pulled out my lunch—fried rice and ham. I grabbed a spoon and shoved it into the rice, taking it out with a giant mound of rice on top of it. I was about to eat it, but it never reached my mouth because Percy leaned in and ate it himself.

"Percy! You idiot!" I said, spanking him with the spoon.

"I is sowwy, Annabeff," he said.

"Bad boy! Bad! Bad!" I yelped, continuing to hit him with the spoon. "You don't deserve to eat my food!"

He smirked at me. "Well too bad—"

He was cut off by the presence of something tall and menacing looming behind us. We turned around to see Clarisse la Rue, holding a knife.

End of chapter 6! Thanks to all of you for reviewing and following this story.