When Annabeth didn't say anything Nico added simply, "How about you meet everyone? Next Saturday, Cornell hosts NYU for a scrimmage in Water Polo. Its fall season so I'll get to play and maybe start, even though I'm just a freshman. It's a closed scrimmage but I can bring guests. So wanna come?"

Chapter 6- Meeting Sally and A Phone Call

(Split POV this chapter both Percy and Annabeth)

Annabeth POV-Meeting Sally

It had been a week since Annabeth met Nico and also when she decided to meet Percy. Annabeth was actually kind of excited about the game today. The game itself, water polo? Well not so much. She'd get to spend most of the day with her new friend, Nico, who had been dropping daily. She liked seeing him but, geez, did he baby her.

Every day it was, "Annabeth, I don't think you should go running today," or "Annabeth let me lift that book," or her favorite, "Annabeth, let me get your door." It annoyed her to no end, but to be honest she actually enjoyed being babied. Not so much all the time, or by anyone besides Nico. Nico was like the brother she wanted. Not the two annoying ones she had now.

Silena apparently thought that he was flirting with Annabeth but according to Nico he had a crush on the daughter of Zeus, Thalia.

Annabeth thought this was awkward at first but then she remembered that the "Big Three" weren't actually related. Anyways she was excited to hang out with Nico and a couple other reasons.

According to Nico a lot of people were coming to see Percy and him. Thalia, Rachel, Sally, and some guy named Paul. She may hate Percy Jackson but Sally; well she was another case entirely. Sally was a wonderful person who just got had the rottenest luck. Why rotten? Because now she had to watch over Percy.

Annabeth pulled out her iphone, a gift from 'mother', and texted Nico.

"Hey Nico, I'll be ready in 5 mins! When do U want to get here?"

In response she received, "Open your door its cold." A second later the doorbell rang.

She laughed as she pulled open the door to see an olive toned, brown eyed, brown haired boy shivering in a hoodie and swim trunks. She was about to comment on the wardrobe but when she felt the wind hit her face she cringed. It couldn't have been warmer than 30 degrees out.

She practically yelled at him, "GET in here! It's freakin' cold!" Luckily for Nico, he had moved into the apartment as she slammed the door behind him.

Annabeth decided to break the ice (no pun intended), "Why is it so cold out there?"

Nico was really fun to hang out with but a horrible conversation starter. She tried to warm up her arms as they moved to the kitchen of the apartment. She walked over to the coat rack and grabbed her hoodie.

As Nico was about to respond however, Clarisse butted in, "From seeing what the cat dragged in 'hell' probably froze over."

To defend him Annabeth was about to comment but Nico beat her to it. "Well if hell froze over shouldn't you be out flying with the other pigs?" Annabeth could muffle her laughter as Clarisse glared at Nico. To add to the insult Annabeth walked to the window.

"Don't worry Clarisse; it looks like the other pigs' wings froze." This led to Nico snorting from trying to control his laughter, Clarisse slapping his head, and giving Annabeth her glare of 'death' as she walked back into Selina's room.

Nico had told her the game was at noon and that he needed to be there an hour early so he could prep for the game. They were going to just meet at the game but Nico had mentioned that Sally and Paul normally show up early to watch Percy more. Learning this she then convinced Nico that they should carpool, to stay 'green'. If he believed her she didn't know but now Annabeth was driving them to the game.

They talked for a few minutes with Silena and Clarisse when they came out of the Silena's room. Silena demanded that Nico watched Annabeth around Percy and his family. Nico promised that he wouldn't let anyone hurt her and around 10:45 they said their goodbyes.

The ride was filled with silence that creped Annabeth out so she turned the radio up to avoid the awkwardness. Cornell's pool was about five minutes away from the apartment but Annabeth didn't mind being early to the game. She dropped off Nico at the Players' Entrance and she parked.

When she turned off her engine she saw a group of people walk in front of her car heading towards the pool, three girls and two men. She recognized a few of them immediately. She knew Rachel Dare had red hair and Thalia Grace looked just like the photos that ended up on TV. Thalia's hair was odd but definitely punk. It was about chin length in the back but had bangs that could probably cover her face if she wanted them too.

Rachel and Thalia were talking to a middle-aged man that was 'handsome' for an older gentleman. He was tall and had salt and pepper like hair.

The other person she recognized was Percy. Her blood already felt like it was boiling underneath her skin. But, it dissolved immediately as she saw the woman linked with his arm.

Sally Jackson.

She couldn't stop the feelings that she felt at the moment. It was the same ones she saw in Sally's eyes as Sally listened intently to whatever Percy was saying. Adoration, trust, and love.

She watched them head towards the doors that Nico had instructed her to use if she wanted to come in early. Finally, she opened her car door and stepped out into the cold weather and headed for the doors. When she reached for the handle the door was pushed out at her.

Surprised she did the most logical thing she could, she let out an "Ow!" as the door pushed her to the ground. She looked up and saw the man that Rachel and Thalia had been talking too. Oh good job, Annabeth. Real good first impression.

From behind the man, "Paul? Paul why are you…?" The voice got louder until it ran into 'Paul' as well. Sally had turned the corner and ran into the man as he tried to apologize. Annabeth didn't quite hear him though, she just stared at Sally.

Sally made sure Paul was okay and then she turned to the young girl on the ground. That's when she and the girl tensed. Sally recognized those gray eyes. They were from her past, identical to her mother's. Sally then pulled herself out of her thoughts and put on a mask of worry like any good mother.

"Oh Paul, what is wrong with you? Watch where you're going! Are you alright dear?" The girl nodded and took Sally's hand that she held out to the blonde. However, Sally wasn't done with Paul.

"Paul" she scolded, "You know very well that you didn't leave the car's lights on." She gave Annabeth a wink then added, "I bet you just saw the pretty blonde behind us and wanted to 'run' into her. Uh…sorry bad word usage."

Annabeth couldn't help it as she let out a laugh; Sally just continued to scold Paul about 'watching where he puts his big feet!' A few minutes later Annabeth didn't want too but she knew Nico was waiting for her. So she tried to excuse herself but Sally looked flustered and totally disagreed.

"Oh dear, please sit with us. You just have to meet my son's friends. They're quite interesting young women. It's also been forever since a female had the nerve to talk to me besides Thalia and Rachel. You see normally I'm stuck with this oaf," pointing at Paul, she added, "and my son- who, by the way, you just have to meet. Oh my goodness, I'm so silly, I forgot to introduce myself. Well my name is Sally Blofis and this is my husband Paul. Were here watching Percy and his cousin compete. Who are you here with my dear?"

Annabeth spoke, "Well, see, I met Nico last week,"

"OH! That's him! That's Percy's cousin…well sort of cousin. Anyway that's who we came to see. I'm glad you met Nico. Probably a little over protective of you, isn't he?" She let out a laugh as Annabeth's eyes rolled from the understatement.

"He means well dear. No offense to either of you today, but you'll have to forgive me when I say; your team is going to lose. You know, I have to say those things. It's my son." Sally added a wink.

Annabeth suddenly realized that she hadn't officially introduced herself yet. So, while putting out a hand toward Sally she said, "Well no matter the outcome of today's game I wanted to formally introduce myself. My name is-"

She was interrupted by Sally however, "Annabeth Taylor Chase." Inwardly Annabeth cringed as her full name was used. No one, no one knew Annabeth's middle name. That was the proof that Sally was in fact there for Annabeth's birth.

"Your mother's name is Minerva Taylor. Yes dear, I know who you are. One look at your eyes and they screamed 'I'm ANNABETH' at me! Now come on," she said as she linked her arm in Annabeth's. "Let's go watch the boys"

Percy POV-A Phone Call

Last week, a few days after the break up.

Their relationship had ended but that didn't stop Rachel and Percy from spending time together. In fact, they got along better than they had before. Percy hadn't talked to Grover, not from Grover's lack of trying. Grover called or text him at least twice a day except for the first couple hours after the break up. Grover called constantly trying to right the wrong.

Percy however, just didn't want to hear it. Rachel tried to help Grover in a way. "Percy, why are you so forgiving with me, but yet you won't even speak to Grover-your best friend?" Percy really didn't have an answer for Rachel. The one thing he would say was, "It's different. He broke 'man-law' and that's a sin."

For all the ladies who don't know, 'man-law' is a list of set guidelines that is instilled into every young boys mind when he is born. One rule is that men never come out and tell a woman the actual rules. But everyone should know Man Law number one. That is, once a guy is dating or calls 'dibs' on a girl; until said relationship is done or the man who called 'dibs' gives up rites to the girl she is untouchable.

'Don't kiss my girl' is right around the very top of things that qualifies as untouchable.

Back to Percy and Rachel. They were still friends, best friends in fact. She was still his R.E.D and he was still her best friend.

Percy wasn't worried about being single, and in fact he looked forward to the random flirting and dates that he would go on. Rachel just happened to be one of the girls that he flirted with. Thalia was also in said group, except they flirted to piss Luke off.

*Knock* *Knock*

Who the hell? Percy thought.

Thalia and Luke were in her room. Thalia was trying to calm Luke down after a teasing season from Percy. Percy had been insulting Luke's scar which bothered Luke immensely. Thalia normally would silence anyone who insulted Luke including Nico. To Thalia however, Percy was just what Luke need a source of humility.

Either way Percy needed to answer the door as it was knocked on again. "Hey Perce, can you get that?" came Thalia's voice. He smirked as he thought of another way to piss off Luke.

"Sure, babe!" Percy wasn't positive what was said but it started with a "SON OF A BI-" and then he was at the door looking through the peep hole. He saw red and he smiled, then flung open the door and yelled as loudly as possible, "RED!"

Rachel was such an easy target that after being scared that she literally crumpled in front of Percy. She would've fallen to the ground but Percy's strong arms caught her.

She recovered and sucker punched his ribs. "Freakin' jerk!" while Percy winced in pain she smirked and added a quick. "Well, technically, I should thank you because I had the hiccups and now they're gone. She smiled, and then gave him a kiss on the cheek: their new hello apparently.

Percy finally managed to get his breath back and said, "So, what's up Red?"

"Oh, nothing, are you busy?" She said already pouting.

Rachel had that look that basically said, Look I'm dying here! HELP PLEASE! SOS!

Percy knew he was about to regret this but still asked anyway, "Do you need my help at the show tonight?"

Rachel gasped, "Percy! Not once while we were dating did you ask to help me! I should…"

Percy lost what she said because his cell phone rang, Green Day's '21-guns' at full volume, a ringtone that apparently Thalia had put on his phone. He then heard Thalia's door open and her smile widely and she said, "Your welcome!" and he returned her mock attitude maturely by sticking his tongue out at her.

He thanked her in his mind though because Rachel had seemed to have forgotten she was mad and was more curious about who was calling him.

"Percy's phone, leave a message after the beep. BEEP!"

It was his own stupid way of making sure telemarketers didn't talk to him. As a plus it annoyed everyone that called him except maybe his mom who laughed every time.

"Percy its Nico, and you're an idiot."

"Nico! You never call, write, or even drop by just to chat. I was beginning to think you died."

"That's why you're an idiot. Now shut up I need you to do me a favor."

Percy stared at the phone with an eyebrow raised, Nico needed him? Wow, apparently Nico had girl troubles.

"Anything man… girl troubles again?"

"Remember what I said Percy? Shut it…before I lay down some serious ass kicking!"

Okay, so Nico was upset. "Seriously though Nic, what's up?"

"Cool, there's this person I met tonight that wants to meet you. She's had a rough night and she wants to come to the game next week. Make sure Rachel knows, I don't want to be the reason you all break up." Percy laughed, another way to screw with Nico.

"Uh, thanks Nic, but umm…we broke up Wednesday, and I'm kind of really messed up still."

The line went blank for a minute.

"Oh god, Perce, man. I'm so sorry…"

"Nico, man! I'm just kidding. Well we did break up but were fine. Red's with me now."

Nico let out a breath. "Let me guess, Luke and Thalia are in her room?"

"Yeah man, I'm sorry."

"Well tell her I said hi. Talk to you later Perce."

"Yeah, see you Nic."

Percy put the phone back in his pocket and simply thought, I wonder who wants to meet me?"

"Hey Thalia, come here! Red, wanna come to the game next Saturday?"

At the game

Paul had turned around to make sure his lights were off and Sally went with him. Percy had invited Thalia and Rachel just in case the person Nico brought was creepy.

Thalia was a scary person to piss off and Rachel was a good cover 'girlfriend'. Thalia, Rachel, and he were talking outside the locker room for the visitors when Paul, his mom, and some blonde girl turned the corner. When his mom yelled at him though Coach Ares slammed the door open nearly hitting him. "JACKSON! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE NOW!"

So he waved to his mom and then kissed Thalia and Rachel on the cheeks. He heard his mom say something like, "Wait." But he couldn't Coach Ares had spoken, and well he was someone not to piss off.