Author's Note: Hey guys, this is Chapter 8 for you all! I was planning to post this at the same day I was posting Chapter 7 but my mom told me to stop using the laptop , I hope you'll like it better….thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed, and favorited…keep the reviews coming so I know what you think, I need to know what people think, since I get curious on what people think of my writing for each chapter…as I said, as long as it doesn't wound me. All for you guys! ;) Anyways, you know what to do guys. PRETTY PLEASE read, review, and enjoy! xoxo –thatasianwritergirl

P.S.: This is my LONGEST CHAPTER EVER! 2000+ words! And without further a due(sp?) Chapter 8…

Exchanging Stories, "I found the girl…"

(Percy)

I waited inside my tent as Annabeth ran out of the tent into the night. Malcolm followed her. Maybe I shouldn't have been harsh or stiff. But I can't stop thinking about her…she was like no other girl I have met before. Sure, she looks like one of those girls that Aphrodite had blessed to look beautiful but there is something….more to her than I could see in any girl I met in all of Greece. But I am particular about her grey eyes; they seem familiar…like a little girl, my little damsel in distress, that I used to save and carry when I was a little boy, the one who inspired me to join the army, to protect people….

~~~Flashback~~~

I was walking through the streets of town in the south western district of Atalanta. I used to go there when I was a little boy. My father used to be stationed there before he became a commander. I was walking home from a stroll around town when I saw a big girl who seemed to be my age, strangling a little girl smaller than her. The little girl had terrified grey eyes, her hair was like golden curls like I've never seen before, and was wearing a blue peasant's frock and on the ground was a basket of food. I knew right away who that big girl was, Clarisse La Rue...the tavern owner's daughter.

"Leave her alone, Clarisse." I said in a determined voice.

"Why should I little Perseus? You are quite small little punk, what makes you think I would?" she said with a venomous wrath in her voice.

"Because, I will beat you up." I said in a voice with a fearless tone.

"What makes you think that, punk? Want to play hero?" she chuckled as she tightened the grip on her.

I acted fast, throwing a small rock hitting her forehead hard, so she was knocked to the ground. She loosened the grip on the girl's neck, who too, fell to the ground, lying unconscious. Clarisse was about to stand up and fight back when I took a large, heavy club and knocked her out too.

"You'll pay for this, pu…." she said before she fell unconscious.

I looked at the little girl, with a peaceful look on her face, she looked like she was having a sweet dream, even after she was strangled by Clarisse, and she was covered in bruises. I don't even know a thing about her, but she was very pretty to me. I lifted her up and carried her into my arms, wandering around town whom this daughter was. I wandered the countryside and saw a small cottage, I wonder if the people living there was her family. I knocked on the door, using all the remaining strength I have in my arms, since I was carrying her. A tall boy opened it and said in a voice saying that I am not welcome. "Who are you, what's your business here and what have you done to my little sister?"

"I am a boy from the village, someone knocked out your sister. I found her being strangled and I attacked the person who did." I said nervously.

"Who is at the door, Malcolm?" a man asked as he went to the tall boy's side. He had a stern look and he asked. "What is that young man doing here and with your sister?"

"Papa, he says that a certain person strangled her, he found and saved her, and just brought her home." The boy, Malcolm, said.

"Well, then young boy, thank you for saving my daughter, I will take her from here." The man said, as he got the little girl from my arms and said. "May I know your name, young man?"

"Perseus….my name is Perseus. Well, please don't mention it to anyone, especially your daughter when she wakes up." I said as I walked away.

~~~End of Flashback~~~

That incident changed my life, I wish I had the time to thank that girl, but she can be anywhere in this small world, but I am not sure if it is Annabeth…..I don't remember much on what happened after that. That day was my last day in Atalanta, since my father was made as commander of the army, we had to move to Greece, and that is when everything changed. After a few moments, Malcolm came in to the tent.

"You shouldn't be so harsh or cocky on her. She is sensitive and, has been through more than I did." he said.

"Sorry, Malcolm, I thought she was like all girls in Greece." I said resentfully.

"Percy, I know my sister, and she isn't like them, she is different….well, sorry for using your tent, and I must go, it is late."

"Alright, good night then, Malcolm." I said as I went to my bed, drifting to unconsciousness. Before I did, I swore to myself that tomorrow, I will apologize to Annabeth.

THE NEXT DAY/NIGHT

I passed through the camp, looking around for any sign of Annabeth. The sun is about to set and I haven't seen her anywhere. She must be a swift person, like a spy, but she's not in Sparta's side, or is she? I decided to go to the woods, try my luck tomorrow. The wood is a secluded spot just outside the camp, I go there sometimes to think and since I need to. I love the place, it has a grove with trees and a lake with clear, shining water when the moon's light hits it.

I ducked and dodged through the trees and branches, making my way through the forest. I finally reached the grove. I sat in a big boulder and watched the muted orange sky as the sun was setting, emitting beautiful rays of sunlight.

"What brings you here, commander Perseus?" a woman's voice said. I turned around and saw Annabeth, just the person I wanted to see, reading a papyrus scroll. She wore a green peasant's dress, a long brown skirt, and a pair of black rubber flats. She was sitting in a big heavy boulder and the falling sunlight hit her hair just beautifully making her golden curls radiant.

"Actually I was looking for you, and you did know you are breaking the laws by going outside camp." I said with a smirk, as I walked toward her, sitting on a large boulder across her.

"Well, commander," she said dejectedly as she put down her scroll. "You, yourself are breaking the rules. So what are you doing here?"

"It's nothing, when I needed to think, I just go here. I like being near the water, it calms me down. This is the only nearby place I could find it, and it is peaceful, just how I like it, so what is your purpose?" I said with relish, or was that the word…

"I also enjoy the peace and quiet, the moon, and the ripples the water makes. I also come here to study architecture and philosophy." she said with a smile.

"Nice, when Malcolm said he had a sister, I didn't know she was intelligent as she is beautiful." I said as the words slipped of my mouth…I didn't intend to say it. But since it was quite dark and the moon just rose, I could see the blush she was trying to hide.

"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment." she said as she smiled and her eyes turned to the scroll she was holding.

"Last night, I apologize for my arrogant behaviour last night, let us start over, I am Perseus Jackson, your…commander and the son of Poseidon." I said in an amusing accent.

"Well, I am Annabeth Chase, the daughter of Athena and Malcolm's sister." She said, giggling at my accent. Her laugh is musical, reminds me of the beautiful melody that the harps play back home, if she didn't know about it.

"So, Lady Annabeth, tell me your story." I said keeping up with my accent.

"My story? What do you mean by that?"

"You know, your life story."

"Oh…you don't want to hear it, Lord Perseus. It is a long, miserable, and dull story." she said, playing along.

"Please, call me Percy, and it is alright, I have all the time in the world to hear it right now."

"You are not giving up, are you Percy? And that's a beautiful compliment; nobody ever said that to me, even from where I came from."

"No, I am not, Annabeth." I grinned

She sighed then told me everything about herself. I learned she lived in a small cottage the outskirts of the town in the south western district with her family. She has a philosopher father and two little stepbrothers, aside from Malcolm. She told me about her friends and their happy marriages, how she was different from all the other girls since she liked to study architecture, mathematics, and philosophy on her free time at the fields. The little stories about her town she fondly remembers, especially about some boy saving her life from a strangler, but she told me she was unconscious most of the time. As she talked, I couldn't help but notice that her hair glows in the moonlight, her mysterious grey eyes shine brightly like stars when she talks about the things she loved about her home, and her voice, like her laugh, is like a beautiful melody.

"Well, so that's my story…so what's yours?" she asked, as she ended it.

There is this certain thing about her, something I have never felt or seen in anyone before. I felt like I could trust her. So I told her about my childhood in Atalanta and life in Greece, about my friends and family, everything about me. She had a wistful look in her eyes filled with ambition, as if I was talking about a beautiful city she wanted to live in, someday.

When I finished, she said. "You have a beautiful life…" she looked at the sky and saw the moon high up and had a frown plastered on her face.

"We have to go, you know they might catch us." she said as she put the scroll inside her scroll sack.

"Alright, Annabeth, but you won't get in trouble. Remember who you are with." I said cockily.

"Okay, let's just go Commander Perseus…." she said as she stood up and mad her way through the forest.

"Wait for me!" I said as I followed her through the woods.

After a few moments, we got to the boarders of camp. Her hair was messy with leaves and fallen shrubs, so I reached out to her and got them off of her hair. I noticed her with her face down, trying to hide a deeper blush.

"I had a wonderful time, Percy…good night." she said before she walked away to the night.

"Good night…Annabeth." I said silently as I made my way back to my tent.

On my way there, I can't help thinking, since there were many thoughts running through my mind. She had the same grey eyes and golden curls as the little girl I saved before. The girl lived in the outskirts of the town in the south western district, she had a brother named Malcolm, and her father was a philosopher. I can't believe I am saying this but I think I found the girl….my damsel in distress…