A/N-Hey guys! By the way, the first five chapters are basically fillers. It's just building tension (a bit of romantic interest-next chapter) and the beginning of chapter five is when they go to Westover Hall. Just in case you're wondering and enjoy reading!

Annabeth stopped by that night, and even though I wanted to tell her that my time with Percy wasn't all shits and giggles, I lied. I told her that he was great. That she should break the silent treatment and send him a recording of her voice every night. I almost felt bad for lying when she sounded happy.

The next week crawled by. Annabeth and Lee were hanging out a lot more and were kind enough to include me but I wasn't feeling it. Left alone and bored out of my mind, I started practicing on my powers. I managed to consistently get a few sparks flying but wasn't able to create a storm or summon a bolt like before. It was early Saturday evening when Percy unexpectedly showed up at my door, hands shoved into the pocket of his jeans. His back was to me, head tipped back as he stared up at the cloudless blue sky. A few stars were starting to appear but the sun wouldn't set for another couple of hours. Surprised to see him, I walked outside. His head whipped down at my arrival.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Several seconds passed then his lip tipped up at one corner. He cleared his throat. "I like staring at the sky. There's just something about it." His gaze returned to the sky. "It's endless, you know."

Percy almost sounded deep. "Who was IM-ing you yesterday?"

He stared at me for a long moment, then jerked his chin towards the woods. "Wanna go on a hike?"

"I'm not too good at hiking."

A grin appeared. There was an edge to it. Rough. Sexy. "Just a harmless little trail. I'm sure you can handle it."

"Isn't Annabeth talking to you again?" I asked, suspicious.

"She is."

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't have a reason." Percy sighed. "I thought I would just stop by, but if you're going to question everything, then you can forget it."

I watched him turn to leave. I bit my lip. This was crazy but I'd been dying of boredom for days. Rolling my eyes, I called out, "Alright, let's blow this Popsicle stand."

"You sure?"

I agreed. "Lead the way."

We stopped off at Percy's to grab a couple of water bottles and then took off. We walked on in silence for a few minutes and then he said, "You're very trusting, Thalia."

"Are you giving me a reason to not trust you?"

"Not at all. Not many people trust a son of Kronos. It's...refreshing, Sweetheart."

"Stop calling me that." I said, trying to catch up to him.

He glanced over his shoulder. "No one has ever called you that before?"

I made my way around a large, prickly bush. "Yeah, people call me sweetheart or sweetie all the time. But you make it sound so..."

"Sound so what?" He asked, taunting me.

"I don't know, like it's an insult." He'd slowed, and now I was walking beside him. "Or something sexually deviant."

He turned his head away, laughing.

"Why are you always laughing at me?"

Shaking his head, he grinned down at me. "I don't know, you just kind of make me laugh."

"Whatever." I kicked small rock. "So you're not going to tell me who IM-ed you?"

"I don't know if I can trust you." He muttered.

I shook my head, bewildered. "Trust me with what? Your virtue?"

Percy barked out a laugh, and it took him a few moments to respond. "Yeah. I can't trust a beautiful girl who has the hots for me."

"What?" I tripped over an exposed root. Percy caught me easily, setting me back on my feet the minute was steady. The brief contact had my skin tingling through my clothes. His hands lingered on my waist only a few seconds before he dropped them. "You're joking, right?"

"Which part?" he asked.

"Any of that!"

"Oh, come on. Please don't tell me you don't think you're pretty." He considered my silence. "No guy has ever said you're pretty?"

He wasn't the first person to say something nice about me, but I guess I never cared before. One other person avoided that indifference but it no longer mattered now, he turned out to be a traitor. Looking away, I shrugged, "Of course."

"Or...maybe you're not aware of it?"

I shrugged again. I was more focused on denying the other part of his statement. I most definitely did not have the hots for this arrogant guy.

"You know what I've always believed?" he asked softly.

We were still standing in the path, only the sounds of a few birds echoed around us. "Do I care?" My voice drifted away in the slight breeze.

"I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect." His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. "The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is passing. It's just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness."

I did the most inappropriate thing possible. I laughed. "I'm sorry, but that was the most thoughtful thing I've ever heard you say. Did Kronos freeze me and take the Percy I know away and replace him with this one? If so, can I keep him?"

"I was being honest." Percy scowled.

"I know, but I just didn't know you had that in you." And here I was, ruining the nicest thing he would ever say to me.

He shrugged and began leading us down the trail again. "We won't go too far."

After a few minutes, I spoke. "Hey Percy?"

"Hmm?"

"How are you alive?" I blurted out. When he raised a brow, I started to restate my question. "I mean, you're half mortal, half god, and half titan. That shouldn't be possible."

"You know how Kronos was chopped into pieces by your dad right?"

I nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"Fifteen years ago, he still didn't have a physical form so he possessed Poseidon when he and my mom were having a well, rather intimate moment." Percy's eyes smoldered. "Poseidon tried to fight the possession and won a few times but after so many switch ups, I was conceived. Half Poseidon and Half Kronos."

"Did your mom tell you that?"

"She's been indisposed lately..." His eyes widened suddenly. "Sweetheart?"

"Would you stop calling me-?"

"Be quiet," he hissed, gaze fixed over my shoulder. He placed a hand on my arm. "Promise me you won't flip out."

"Why would I freak out?" I whispered.

Tugging me toward him, he caught me off guard. I placed my hands on his chest to stop from tumbling over. His chest seemed to...hum under my hands. "Have you ever seen a bear?"

"What? There's a bear-?" I pulled out of his grasp and spun around.

Oh sweet baby Zeus, there was a bear.

No more than fifteen feet away from us, a big bear, brown and furry, sniffed the air with its long whiskers muzzle. Its ears twitched at the sound of our breathing. The animal moved closer, stepping closer under the rays of light. The bear made a half bark, half growl as he rose onto his hind legs, standing at least five feet tall. The next sound was an honest-to-Gods roar that sent shiver through me.

Uh oh.

Percy moved his hands out in front of him to stop time but before he could, the bear rushed us.

I squeezed my eyes shut and summoned all the power I had within me. Even though my eyes were closed, a blinding flash of light pierced my thin eyelids. There was an accompanying blast of heat that blew my hair back. Then the flash came again, but darkness followed this time, swallowing me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, there was a strange sweet taste in mouth. Ambrosia, my brain seemed to tell me. It was the drink of the gods that also healed demigods. My skin seemed to vibrate and I knew the air surge with a fine current of electricity. I drew in a shallow breath, confused.

My shoulder was pressed against something warm and hard. Turning my head, I felt the object rise up sharply then slowly ease back down. It took me a second to realize it was a chest my cheek was pressed into. Percy and I were on the porch leading up to the Poseidon cabin, his arm around my waist keeping me securely pinned to his side. I didn't dare move.

Every inch of my body became aware of his. How his thigh was molded to mine. The deep, even breaths moving his stomach under my hand. How his hand curved around my waist, his thumb moving in idle, soothing circles at the hem of my shirt. Each circle inched the material up a little, exposing my skin until his thumb was against the curve of my waist. Flesh against flesh. I was hot and shivery. Suddenly, his hand stilled.

Pushing up, I looked into a pair of startling golden eyes. "What...what happened?"

"You used too much of your power and passed out." He answered, pulling his arm away from my waist.

"I did?" I moved back, putting distance between us as I brushed my tangled hair out of my face.

Percy nodded. "I had to carry you back."

"All the way?" Dammit. I missed that? "What happened to the bear?"

"Your lightning scared it. It ran off." Percy frowned as he watched me. "Are you feeling okay?"

Suddenly, I noticed how my clothes clung to my body. "Why am I wet?"

"Oh, you started a storm." Percy reached out and touched my clothes, drying them.

"You let me look like a drowned cat while I was unconscious?"

"You looked fine. Better than fine, actually." Percy smirked. "The wet look works for you."

I scowled. "Now I know you're lying."

The son of Poseidon and Kronos shifted beside me, and without a word, his fingers lifted my chin toward him. A crooked smile lifted his full lips. "I wouldn't lie about what I thought."

I wished I had something sarcastic to say, maybe a little flirty, but his intense stare sent my wit flying.

Confusion flashed in his eyes as he leaned forward, his lips parting slightly. "I think I understand now."

"Understand what?"

"I like to watch you blush." His voice barely a murmur as his thumb traced circles on my cheek.

He lowered his head, resting his forehead against mine. We sat like that, the two of us, caught in something that hadn't been there before. I think I stopped breathing. My heart seemed to take several stuttered steps and then freeze, anticipation welling through me, threatening to spill over at any moment. I didn't even like him. He didn't like me. This was insane, but it was happened.

While as I was contemplating whether I'd lost my mind, Percy's crooked smile disappeared. His own eyes were confused and desperate, searching mine. Time seemed to slow, every second stretching out before me, tantalizing and torturing every breath I took. Waiting, wanting to show him whatever he was looking for. His face strained, as if he were waging an internal battle. Something in his eyes made me feel unsure. I knew the second he made up his mind. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I felt his breath against my cheek, slowing moving to my lips.

My brain screamed no, but my body stayed in place. I knew I should pull away. He was bad, bad news. His lips were so close to mine, I desperately wanted to meet him halfway, to test if his lips were as soft as they looked.

"Hey guys!" Annabeth called out.

Percy jerked back, sliding in one fluid movement and putting a healthy distance between us on the porch.

I sucked in a sharp breath, surprise and disappointment churning in my stomach. My body was still tingling, we'd been so absorbed in each other that static danced across my arms. Annabeth came up the steps, her smile fading as she looked from Percy to me. My face was blood red, making it obvious that she'd interrupted something. She only stared at her best friend, her lips forming into a O.

Percy grinned at her. "Hey, there, Annabeth. What's up?"

"Nothing," she said, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he replied, a hand on his cabin door. He glanced at me over one shoulder. "Just earning some brownie points."

His words whipped through the pleasant haze and he went into his cabin.

"Was almost kissing me a part of the deal to get you to talk to him again?" My voice was tight.

Annabeth sat down on the porch. "No. That was never part of the deal." She blinked slowly. "Was he about to kiss you?"

"I think." I felt my cheeks burn even hotter.

"Wow," she murmured, her eyes wide. "That was unexpected."

After a long period of silence, Annabeth frowned. "What were you and Percy doing earlier...before the almost-kissing-part?"

"We went on a walk. That's it."

"That's odd," she continued, watching me closely. "I stopped the silent treatment."

"Yeah, thanks for that, by the way." My face scrunched. "There's nothing like a boy being blackmailed into hanging out with you to boost the self esteem."

"It wasn't like that, I swear!" Annabeth said, holding her hands out as a plea. "Sometimes, Percy needs...motivation to be nice."

"I can see why."

A curious look crossed her features, and then she smiled. "Did you guys have a good time?"

I shrugged, unsure of how to answer. "Yeah, he was actually pretty decent. I mean, he has his moments, but it wasn't all bad." I tapped my foot absentmindedly-stupid ADHD. "We saw a bear."

"A bear?" Annabeth's eyes widened. "Oh my gods, what happened?"

"I, uh, started a storm, I guess. One of the lightning strikes scared it off."

"So are your powers coming along?"

I held out my palm and caused static to dance along them. "I'd say so. I passed out though."

"Used too much power?" She guessed.

I nodded. "Yeah, Percy carried me back and well, the rest is whatever."

Eventually, the both of us headed back to our respective cabins. I pulled on my pajamas, still confused over Percy. He'd seemed likeable during our hike before flashing back to Super Douche. Flushing and frustrated, I flopped on the bed and stared at the bunk bed above me. My mind replayed the events leading up to the almost kiss. My stomach flipped thinking about how close his lips had been to mine. Worse yet was the knowledge that I had wanted him to kiss me.

I hoped to the gods that like and lust had nothing in common.

The next day, after breakfast, Annabeth and I went to class. Around fall, a new addition had been built across the ampitheather-a series of small classrooms, intending to teach campers life skills and due to the fact that the campers were of various ages-there were some from 5 to 21 years old-there weren't specifically grades but Chiron did manage to lump most teenagers in the same class.

In reality, the classes were intended for less powerful demigods like children of Aphrodite. Eventually they could leave camp and not be threatened by monsters but needed some degree of skill sets when they did. Thus, a few sets of classes were designed and everyone had to take them.

The class was somewhat full, about fifteen kids in total. Michael Yew, a son of Apollo, spoke to Annabeth and I when we first entered. Eventually, I was introduced to everyone in there and I began feeling quite comfortable. Shortly, Chiron strolled in and we all took our seats. I sat in the second row, behind Annabeth and across from Lee Fletcher. Most of the seats were filled except the one behind me and a few others in the very back row. The class was Ancient Greek, which we were all hardwired for reading since we were demigods but Chiron felt that we should be able to write in Greek as well.

The door opened, and Percy Jackson strolled in-late-with an easy smile on his full lips. Conversations practically ceased. Percy had a sort of rock star entrance with that deadly swagger. He had everyone's attention especially when he shifted his textbook from one hand to the other and then ran his fingers through the tousled waves of his thick hair, letting it fall back over his forehead. His jeans hung low on his hips, so when lifted his arm, he flashed a row of golden skin that somehow made ancient Greek all the more interesting.

A girl with reddish hair sighed next to me and said under her breath, "Gods what I wouldn't do for a piece of that. A Percy sandwich should be on the menu."

Another girl giggled. "I'll have two Percy sandwiches then."

I hastily averted my eyes to my notebook, but I still knew he'd taken the seat directly behind me. The entire length of my back tingled. A second later, I felt something poke my back. Biting my lower lip, I glanced over my shoulder. His smile was lopsided as he twirled a blue ball point pen in the air. "How was your night?"

"Slept like a baby." I replied, tucking my hair back. "And yours?"

His lips twitched and for a moment, I thought I saw fear in his eyes. Before I could decipher his expression, a lazy grin was plastered on his face. "Just peachy."

The two girls had stopped talking, watching Percy and me with opened stares. Percy leaned forward, his warm breath danced along my cheek when he spoke. "I don't suppose I starred in any of your dreams, Sweetheart?"

"Nightmares, Percy." I rolled my eyes. "Nightmares."

He smiled, his eyes twinkling, and I almost smiled back, but luckily Chiron starting calling roll, putting an end to, well, whatever was going on between us. I turned back around, letting out a slow breath.

Percy laughed softly.

The class dragged by and when it was over, I turned back to Percy who was smirking. "You weren't at breakfast today." I noted. "Now that I think of it, you're not breakfast often."

His smirk faded and for a moment, he looked uncomfortable. "Like I said, I sleep in."

I nodded and was turning back around when Grover walked in, "Hey guys." He trotted over to Annabeth, Lee, Percy, and me. "I just wanted to say bye before I left. I'm heading out to guide some demigods back to camp."

"Oh, where are you headed?" Lee asked.

"Westover Hall, down in Maine. It's a boarding school."

"Good luck man," Percy patted the satyr on the shoulder. "I'll be rooting for you."

"Same here." Annabeth and I said, nodding an approval.

"I'll see you guys soon." Grover looked between Percy and me. "Hopefully, you guys won't kill each other while I'm gone."

We both scoffed, my blue eyes clashing with his gold ones. With the almost kiss and the annoying remarks yesterday, I was already close to killing him.

A/N-Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys on Saturday for the next update.