Author's Note:

Hey guys, this is Chapter 15 for you all! Thanks again for reviewing and favouriting the story. I thought for this chapter, I was rereading City of Bones, there's this favourite chapter of mine, The Midnight Flower (Chapter 17, and if you ever read the book, you'll know why I wanted to add it) and the Throne of Fire (last chapter) and I thought I might like to do something like that but I pulled in a few more ideas and more (like a certain scene from HSM 3). So, hopefully, this will do well for one of the or a normal camp day chapter before the war chapters . Anyways to all my lovely readers, sorry for the late update, I was dragged to a family vacation and I was forbidden to use my laptop, I always try to update whenever I can, I love ya'll equally and so much, I try update whenever I can and post the best stories with almost original plots as I possibly can, so KEEP ON reviewing, I NEED them to know if I am doing well, it'll make my day, so anyways, without further a due, this is Chapter 15 READ, REVIEW (pls. so I know how I am doing), ENJOY! Xoxo

-thatasianwritergirl

P.S.: Expect some OOCness from Clarisse :D and yet again I don't own PJO and City of Bones. Sorry if you'll think it is badly written, I am not feeling so well after the trip, I am so sickly! :D

P.S.S.: Since I love ya'll so so so much, I decided on a longer chapter to make up for all the days I haven't updated I know you've been waiting for updates, but yeah, people keep dragging me into some certain situations, even when I am sick, so yeah I wanna say thanks to those people, since they have given me inspiration for this.

P.S.S.S.: I dont know how a Greek dance is like so if i got any deets wrong, then sorry. And yes I posted a different edition of this earlier. READ it a bit, since this is an EXTENDED edition of this chapter, if u read it earlier and were observant you'll figure out what i added :)

Laundry Day and "May I have this dance?"

(Annabeth)

SPLISH! SPLASH! SQUISH!

Those were the sounds that the water makes when I dumped some of my clothes to a ceramic basin, filled with clean, lukewarm water and a small amount of soap. Well, laundry day in camp isn't the activity people usually expect to do on the day of their birthday. But for my situation right now, this is one of the things that remind me of home.

I sighed as I kept on washing the mud-stained clothes I had. It's been a few months since Malcolm has been liberated from the Spartan camp and since I have gotten out of my first trip from the infirmary tent. Malcolm's still there in the infirmary tent, healing from all the wounds the Spartans gave him. His injuries seemed more serious than the doctors thought, so they said he had to stay longer.

While I washed and scrubbed my clothes, my mind drifted off to my many thoughts, particularly, my recent visit to Malcolm's ward, which was earlier in the morning.

~~~~Flashback~~~~

I made my way to the infirmary tent. The wind breezed through my golden curls as I walked by. I woke up early as usual, which became a habit, so I could visit Malcolm at the infirmary tent before doing my duties as a temporary second-in-command.

"Hello, Malcolm!" I say silently as I entered his section of the ward.

As soon as he saw me, he was smiling; he sat up straighter and gestured for me to sit down on the wooden stool.

"Happy birthday, Annabeth!" he whispers as I sat down on the stool, positioning myself. I admit, it is uncomfortable to sit on, but I got used to it. My eyes widened when he said that. I didn't know it was my birthday today, or did I forget it. "You forgot it was your birthday didn't you?" he chuckled, seeing my wide-eyed expression.

"Yes, yes I did…" I said softly, thinking it was impossible for me to forget my birthday.

"Well, then little sister, I have a present for you." he said, with a smile.

He reached to the nightstand and took something, when he held it out, it was a small book. I gently took it from his hands and opened it. It looked insignificant but it seemed important for him to give it to me. I flipped through the pages, there were weathered pages filled with faded writings, charts, drawings of buildings, and machines. I stopped to look at the front page and saw in Greek characters, the name, Athena Chase, written in faded print.

"This was mother's book, Malcolm?"

"Yes, it was, mom gave it to me, but I thought that since you have no memory of her aside from her name, you might as well have it, I am betting you will need it more than I do." he said with a small smile.

"Thank you, Malcolm, but what is this?"

"It's mother's diary, it had all her thoughts, ideas, philosophy, everything."

"This is one of the greatest gifts that I have ever received….thank you…"

"Your welcome."

There was a moment of awkward silence before that moment when Malcolm asked that fateful question.

"Annabeth, could I ask you a question? But I want you to answer this as honestly as possible."

I nodded, thinking it was a question about architecture or something. But that was wishful thinking because I knew that he would ask that question.

"Do you love Percy?" he asked with a serious tone.

"I don't know, Malcolm….it's….complicated…I don't really know, Malcolm, I don't know what to feel about this…." I said, knowing fairly well that it was an unintelligible answer.

He gave me a big, brotherly embrace and he said. "It's fine, I am just asking….since whenever you see him it's like you look alive…I am just curious."

"Okay, I understand, I am just hoping you aren't playing matchmaker on me." I said laughing.

Suddenly streams of orange light coming out from the slits of the tent. I looked and saw the sun rising. I haven't noticed the time.

"Look, Annabeth, the sun is rising, you must go."

"Alright Malcolm, I'll see you soon." I say as I got up from my stool and left the ward immediately.

~~~End of Flashback~~~

"Hello Annabeth, mind if I join you?" a voice said, which cut through my thoughts.

I looked up and saw Clarisse. She carried in one arm, a basin, and in the other, a basket of dirty clothes. I nodded; afraid to say anything, then she settled her things on the ground beside me. She sighed as she started to wash her clothes, aggressively scrubbing them. If there is one thing I know about trying to get along with Clarisse, is that you don't bother her unless she wants to be bothered.

"Anyways Annabeth, how is your little romance going?"

"What do you mean?" I asked absently, partly surprised by her trying to make conversation, as I dumped more clothes into the basin.

"You know, what everyone's talking about, you and commander."

"Clarisse, there's nothing going on between us, we're just…..friends." I say slightly hesitating, but I have this sudden urge to ask him about where we stood.

"Right, when the day Silena comes here to this camp to matchmake you two." she chuckled as she washed her laundry.

"Look, Clarisse, we aren't a couple, I don't think he thinks of me the same way, he's just so….obtuse." I say, slowly realizing and regretting the last part I said.

"Right…I am really sure you are both oblivious to each other's feelings." she said sarcastically. For my amusement, I splashed some water from my bin to hers, at first,

"You are going to get it little punk!" she said looking like she was going to get a dagger immediately and kill me till I bleed to death but instead she did something….unexpected.

She took a handful of water and splashed it on me, soon, we had this water fight, and we were lauging at the sight of our wet garments.

"Second-in-command Chase!" a messenger called, unintentionally stopping out fight. I stood up and went to him. "Yes?" I asked him, it's obvious I knew there was a message for me.

"Commander Perseus Jackson has a message for you." he said, pulling out a small piece of papyrus scroll. I nodded as a thank you and he went away. I put the tiny scroll in my lap as wiped my hands with the skirt of my dress.

"Ooohhh! Annabeth's got a message." she smirked as she returned to her washing.

I rolled my eyes and unfurled the scrolls. A small smile plastered my face, since it was Greek characters written in one of Percy's hurried illegible scrawls.

"Meet me at the woods, later at night, before dinner; I have something to show you." –Percy

I sighed, putting the tiny scroll into the small pocket on my skirt and resumed to doing my laundry.

LATER AT NIGHT

HOOT! HOOT!

I never noticed the sound of owls in these forests until now; I guess I wasn't paying attention. Normally, people would be nervous with their hooting noises and large, yellow eyes but I find it strangely calming. I breathed in the fresh, cold air in the forest, which also rushed through my hair and ears; I looked up the night sky dotted with stars, which seemed beautiful. I never noticed how beautiful the night sky was till now.

Now, I am meeting up with Percy just like he said in his message, I have no idea where to meet him, so I headed to the grove, our meeting place. I just don't know why people in this camp would just gossip about our lives, don't they have their own?

I finally reached the grove; Percy was there, sitting and waiting for me. I couldn't help but notice his eyes sparkling with the moonlight shining in the waters of the lake.

"Hello Annabeth." he said, with a warm smile on his face, turning to my direction, right on cue as if he heard my footsteps.

"Hello Percy," I say, smiling and taking a seat beside him. "So, why have you asked me to come here?" I asked, getting the tiny scroll out and holding it up.

"Well, Annabeth, I hear from a source that it is your birthday today, so I thought you might like a little celebration." he said, facing me, with his smile shifting from a warm one to a sheepish one, which for some reason I found attractive or handsome.

"So, what will we do Percy? We don't even have food with us."

"Well, now that you mention it," he said, smirking, he brought from his back, a covered reed woven basket that had to be from one of the trades. "We do have food."

"How did you get this?" I say laughing.

"I sneaked some food out from the kitchens."

"So, will we eat here or what?"

"Well, not really, if you want to, or are you willing to risk my choice of a different place I found deep in the woods." he says, with a playful smile.

"What is this place?" I say smiling.

"Well, you must follow me to find out." he says, standing up, holding out a hand to help me up.

I took his hand and stood up. He held my hand tightly, navigating me deep into the woods, in the dark of the night. I closed my eyes, hoping not to trip over logs, pebbles, or roots on the ground.

"Annabeth, open your eyes, we are here."

As we walked, I could feel the ground through the soles of my sandals. It was rough, dry, and there were some damp spots. I also felt Percy helping me up to which felt like marble steps. That material is only used in grand buildings, like the ones in Greece.

We walked to what seemed like the middle of the place. Each step felt cool against the marble floor. I sighed, content with the wind gently blowing against my face, also hearing the sound of rushing waves below.

"Annabeth, we are here, open your eyes." he whispered to me, his breath tickling my flesh.

As soon as I opened them, I loved the view….we seemed to be on a beautiful abandoned garden of a ruined temple. There were beautiful statues that acted as a centrepiece on a fountain that once poured water long ago, beautiful but ruined stairwells, and dilapidated columns with vines with exotic flowers entwined with them. There seemed to be no roof, so I could see the night sky.

I looked around more, and saw that we were on a ruined temple was on top of a cliff facing the vast ocean.

"Percy….how did you find this place?" I said in awe of the view.

"Let's just say I don't always go to the grove….this is my hideout, I thought I might like to share it with you." he said, slightly blushing and smirking at the same time.

"This is beautiful…." I murmured. I can't believe he trusted me to even bring me here.

I sat beside him as he got the food out of the basket. He brought out food that I supposedly suspect that only rulers or high officials or wealthy people could afford to eat but I was wrong. It seems simple, like flaky biscuits, some grapes, bread, and a couple of honey cakes.

"I know it's not much, for a birthday, but it's all I could sneak out from the kitchen." he said uncomfortably, as if he was trying so hard to please me.

"No…its fine, Percy," I say, seeing the smile on his face was filled with pride. I never knew he would work so hard to please me. "You don't have to fuss too much, I don't expect much." I say smiling, as I picked up a biscuit and popped it to my mouth. It had a flaky taste to it.

"Oh…my mother says that birthdays are celebrations, the only day when things can go your way and be given whatever you wanted."

"Really? Like what?" I said, smiling, suddenly interested in the conversation. "Coming from a middle-class or relatively poor family, during your birthday, you take what you get."

"Well, when it was my tenth birthday, I have always wanted to jump off a cliff." he said as he popped a grape to his mouth.

"Your mom let you do that?"

"Well, yes, she took me to a protruding rock that looked like a small cliff on the middle of the sea and she made me jump from there."

"Did you drown?" I asked with a curious smile, it slipped off my mouth, I am actually an idiot to say that….

"Well, almost until I started to use paddle myself with my arms to the rock, but if I did drown Annabeth, would I be here by now?"

"Oh I am sorry I must not be thinking….when I was five, I wanted to be princess of Greece for the day."

"I am guessing that never happened." he said, chuckling.

"It only happened in my imagination…." I muttered, with a blush. "So, what else have you gotten the past few years?"

"Nothing really, I never wanted anything else after I was thirteen, I ran out of things that I thought I wanted."

"Ohh…."

After that, there was an awkward silence that filled the air around us…but the sound of the wind's breeze, the rushing waves from the sea below us, and the owl's hoot, filled some sound to it. While we ate I could hear chiming and bells ringing. Percy smiled, stood up, and held out his hand for me to take.

"Come Annabeth, I want to show you something."

I took his hand and he led me through the ruins of the temple to a small ruined garden. There were chimes and bells around the place. There were fireflies that lighted the place. For a place that was ruined, it was beautiful.

"What are these, Percy?" I ask, staring at awe.

"Just midnight chimes, they only play at windy nights and when it is midnight."

"So, since we are standing here, may I have this dance?" he asked grandly, holding out his hand, for me to take.

"Of course, my good Lord." I say, taking his hand and playing along to his jokes.

He grinned, and started to waltz me around, we dance a couple of Greek dances, like the bells and midnight chimes played music that couldn't be compared to the ones that Greek musicians, I hear, could play. I got lost into this dance, I felt like I was floating on air, like I was the heroine in one of those love stories that the writers would tell.

Suddenly, while he was twirling me, rain started to pour down on us, we were both laughing.

For a moment, I looked at him; his eyes that were once carefree, strong, and fearless were replaced with some sort of gentleness, fear, and longing. I didn't know he was longing for, but somehow, time stopped around us. His eyes stood out amidst the rain, it just felt...magical in a way. It felt like something was pulling us together. Like the goddess of love was setting us up together….but I know, it sounds unusual for me to say.

But we can't be together, even if I wanted us to be, he is in higher class than I am. As I said earlier to Clarisse, he is probably is obtuse to everything I think. At this moment, he is leaning towards me, and I in just a few split seconds ago found out I was doing the same thing. No! I have to stop this, this cant be!

Before he could kiss me, I snapped out of my gaze and pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I can't Percy, I….I have to go." I say, running away into the woods, through the dark trees, with tears in my eyes.

My head hurts because I am confused, one part of me, the knowledgeable and quite logical part of me said that he isn't worth it, and that it would be probably be best to forget him and it wouldn't be the wisest thing to go back to him, maybe just letting him cool down in a bit or so, and everything will be normal again, and it was stupid of me to ever have feelings for him.

That moment at the garden, I am not sure if it's real, the only reason I knew Percy was protecting me was for Malcolm and I got along with the plan without knowing what to expect…..there wasn't supposed to be any strings attached. I wasn't supposed to have feelings for him. For the first time ever, I felt like I wanted to go home right away, be with my father and see my brothers grow to be young men, but I couldn't….until this war ends, or possibly I could never go home because of the law.

Another part of me, that I swear must be controlled by the goddess Aphrodite, says that I should back to him right at this moment, but now I already am inside the camp and I don't think I could risk getting out of the boarders again. Percy might be making his way back here, and if I did go after him it will be awkward for the two of us.

I sighed, looking back at the forest, as I made my way back to my tent, hoping to forget everything that ever happened tonight. Hoping not to slip on the puddles of mud along the way.

Yeah, guys, sorry for this chapter, I wanted a longer story so I thought it might be cool if I added like a what-am-I-supposed to feel chapter for Annabeth here so, hopefully we go to the battle soon, so make sure to REVIEW. Ok, enough said. –thatasianwritergirl