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chapter five

"Please Annabeth" Percy practically begged, we were walking home now, his hoodie still wrapped around me, my flimsy shirt and jeans in one hand and the book in the other. He had been grovelling for the past five minutes which had been interesting "You are the smartest person I know"

He cut in front of me, stopping me dead in my tracks. Unfortunately – or fortunately. Depends how you want to look at it – he had done it so fast that I banged into his chest, which knocked me completely off balance. My stuff fell into the sand and so would have I if he hadn't caught me.

There we were, on the beach, me in his arms, his hoodie wrapped around me. If Thalia and piper would here they would scream. And then completely embarrass me. Thankfully, it was just Percy and I. And this was actually happening. And he wasn't letting go.

"Annabeth please" he whispered, using puppy dog eyes to try and get his way. It was working, my resolve was slipping. And I would have to build up a defence to those puppy dog eyes or else I would never win an argument. And this was me. I always won. "Fine" I whispered "Send me a copy of your timetable and we will work around it. But" I said, his face lighting up with glee "You have to be serious about this. You're there to work"

"Okay, I promise." he let go of me, and I instantly missed the warmth. Picking up my things, I left him standing on the beach as I made it back into my house.

I woke up in a bad mood the next morning, having not slept much the night before. My pain meds wore off half way through the night, leaving me to wake up with a sore face and a headache at 2am. I couldn't get back to sleep until my meds kicked back in but that took a while. And then I couldn't get back to sleep properly.

So a bad night then

at least today I would be going back to school. Something I know I'm good at. Growing up, knowledge came easy to me, learning was interesting and my brain wanted to soak up information like a sponge. What I liked most, was loosing myself in my work. It happened all the time, weather it was a history or fiction book. The outside world just seamed to disappear, all problems would go away and I would ignore the world. Which was great on a day like today. Everybody had heard what had happened in Gym, and with the nose brace to prove it, people were whispering about me. I could stand it, it wasn't the first time someone had called me a name behind my back, but by the time lunch rolled around it was starting to get on my nerves.

And then there was Jason who would just not stop apologising "Annabeth"

"Seriously Jason" I sighed, shoving stuff in my locker "It's okay"

"Okay? I almost killed you"

"But you didn't" I said, leading up both towards the lunch room. I was starving enough to put up with all the whispers that would generate in there. "But I could have" he insisted. I was going to kill him if he didn't shut up and I could. Living in New York, in a not so good neighbour hood you tend to pick up some skills. I could take someone down twice my size. Once we had moved to Cali, I enrolled in kick boxing and self defence classes. Something I don't really advertise. It was something that I did outside of school and friends. And even though I can take on a man, doesn't mean I want to advertise it. Surprise is always a good element to have.

I also have a dagger in my desk draw for emergencies. It belonged to my great grandmother, passed down generation by generation. Mum had taught me how to use it, and I kept it for security reasons.

Walking into the lunch room slightly pissed with Jason trailing behind me, I headed straight over to our table. Which was fuller then usual. Percy and Grover had taken two seats, along with Piper and Thalia.

Butterflies again, and after a quick glance I left quickly to get my lunch.

"Hey" someone said behind me, it was Percy, apparently he had followed me to the lunch line "Hey yourself" I said back, picking up a sandwich and studying it, then putting it back and going for pizza instead. I love Pizza but you can never be too careful with Cafeteria food.

"So my schedule" he said, passing me a piece of paper as he grabbed a slice as well "You're really serious about this?" I asked, watching as he nodded his head "You know what that means right?"

"No social life?" he guessed. I nodded. He needed to take this seriously if it was going to have any effect. I didn't really know what his social life outside of school was, but this would take time, dedication and a huge miracle if he was going to get into Mr. D's good books.

"Good, you get the picture" I smiled, tucking the piece of paper in my pocket and turning to pay

"Annabeth" he said, grabbing my forearm gently enough to get my attention "Thank you"

"Don't thank me just yet"

We ended up back at the lunch table, and even though Percy and Grover where there, I found myself acting as normally as I would do on three cups of coffee and half a nights sleep.

"Hey Annabeth" Drew called as we sat down "loving the brace" she smirked as all of her followers laughed. Her eyes cut to Percy sitting next to me, raking her eyes over him with a hungry look, stirring something in me that I had never felt before.

She was what we – as in my friends and I – liked to call the queen bitch of the school. She was popular, drop dead gorgeous – though I'm pretty sure she's had plastic surgery already – and crazy rich. Her dad invented some computer software that had now gone global. It also gave Drew a huge ego to go with it.

"Aww thanks" I laughed sarcastically "Its actually a fashion statement. Would you like a matching one? Because I'm sure I can hook you up at the hospital" I threatened. The pain medication was obviously wearing off which meant I would start snapping at people, that coupled with my bad night meant I was a bomb waiting to explode. I hated going to school tired.

People started laughing at my thinly veiled threat, which meant Drew would most likely try to retaliate with something else "At least I don't have to die to get a boys attention" she smirked, obviously thinking she could hit me where it hurt.

I couldn't have stopped what I said next even f I wanted to "We already know you're a slut. No need to advertise" With one evil look from Drew I knew I was screwed.