Well, you guys can be pretty vicious when you want an update. I won't hold it against you, though, because the harsh comments motivate me to write. My life has been pretty hectic lately, but I'm getting back into the swing of writing. Remembering why I love it so much. So updates should come much more frequently, especially now that summer vacation is almost upon me. Yay!

{{{ DUDES. READ THE OTHER THREE CHAPTERS BEFORE YOU READ THIS. IT'LL BE MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. TRUST ME. }}}

Josh sputtered, his face bright red. I just stared indifferently at him, feeling superior. Look at him now, he isn't laughing, is he?

"I'm so sorry, Annabeth," he offered lamely.

"I'm sure you are, Josh. Why was it again that you bullied me?" I feigned curiosity.

This whole time Percy was struggling to keep his temper at bay.

Josh mumbled something to the ground.

"What was that?" I asked innocently.

"I thought you were an ugly nerd."

"Mmm hmm. You're a shallow, incompetent, useless excuse for a human being, Josh. You bullied me because you were insecure about yourself. And I'll never forgive you, simply because you don't deserve it. Only the Gods know how you figured out about my home life, but it wasn't morally sound to tell the whole school about it. So please, save your breath, and stop apologizing. Because you're not forgiven."

For effect, I flipped my honey blonde curls over my shoulder, and spun on my heel. I stalked down the hallway before realizing my mistake: I left a livid Percy alone with a defenseless mortal. Well, technically not ALONE but, still, what was one extra mortal gonna do to stop Percy?

Sighing, I halfheartedly turned around, not at all surprised by the scene in front of me. Percy had his hands in fists so tight, they could be the hands of a corpse. He was visibly shaking in an attempt to withhold his anger. I could see Josh and his still nameless other friend cowering in fear.

I started toward the trio of boys in hopes of dissolving the situation before it escalated to the cops being called and Percy getting kicked out of school. I had barely taken a step before a water fountain burst along the wall. I sprinted towards Percy, getting there in under fifteen seconds.

Laying my hand on Percy's arm, I told him to calm down. He didn't respond so I dug my nails into his bicep.

"Percy," I whispered threateningly, " Cut this out!"

He jerked, and the water fountains spray of water somewhat decreased. He looked me in the eyes.

"Did he ever hit you?" He asked me quietly.

I shook my head, then decided to tell him the truth, "He never flat out hit me, Percy. Just little pushes in the halls or nearly shutting my locker door on my hand. You know I would have hurt him if he did anything worse."

"Why didn't you stop him?" He asked me incredulously, eyeing Josh suspiciously.

"Percy, I didn't want to draw attention to myself. It was dangerous enough being a twelve year old you-know-what in San Francisco. There was no better option than to just deal with it," I explained wearily.

Percy looked about five years older. I shifted nervously with my shirt sleeves, dragging them down over my fingers. He reached out and tugged one of my curls halfheartedly.

"Did you say you were twelve?"

"Well, yeah, when else did you think it happened?" He looked bewildered and I just wanted to draw this conversation to a close. Talking about my past was definitely low on the "things I love" scale.

"Why didn't you IM me? I could have helped you!" He sounded so hurt I physically winced.

"Percy- we were twelve. You were in New York. We were barely close friends, and I had a crush on you. No way was I going to call you and show you how weak I was. Besides, how would you have gotten there? You didn't have Mrs. O'Leary or Nico to shadowtravel you," I explained apologetically.

He thought for a second, and then his face broke out in a grin.

"You had a crush on me since we were twelve?" He asked slyly.

My blood flew to my face and I stuttered and stammered out a no. He didn't believe me.

After a couple minutes of dancing and singing and announcing to the whole hallway that I had been in love with him for four years, he turned toward me with his eyes gleaming. When Percy was happy, he was definitely the most handsome guy in the world. His eyes seemed to churn like the ocean and his smile lights up his whole face. He looks like he's glowing, like he's a god. Not to mention, his happiness is infectious.

After grudgingly allowing a hint of a smile to grace my face, he hugged me tight and whispered that he loved me more than blue cookies, so he must love me a lot.

I laughed at that and shoved his shoulder. He lightly looped his fingers through mine and we turned around, about to stroll down the hallway, when we realized we couldn't leave just yet. There was a bully two feet ahead of us, a water fountain had exploded ten feet to my right and no one had any clue what to do about it.

With one hand to my head, I strolled toward Josh. I had a flash that I might look a little like Sherlock Holmes going to his mind palace, but I refocused before I could let out a laugh.

After a moment or so I had an idea, so I called out "I've got it!" In the fashion that one might say 'Eureka!'

Percy turned his head to face me, and asked, "Did you just say that in a British accent?"

Oh, Hades. I really watch too much BBC.

"Don't judge me!" I told him in my normal, American voice.

He just shook his head slowly.

"Can you take care of the water fountain if I distract people?" I asked him suddenly.

"Duh. I am a son of Po-" I slapped my hand over his mouth before he could finish. He really was so clueless sometimes.

"Okay. Then get ready."

He slipped his hand out of mine and headed to the guys bathroom, which was right next to the water fountain. He had the door open a crack, and peeked his head out to wink at me and give me a thumbs up.

I rolled my eyes, but was happy nonetheless.

After doing a little makeup work in the small compact mirror Silena had used all her years at camp, I was ready. I headed toward Josh with a determination to get payback for what he'd done to me.

"Josh, how could you?" I wailed at the top of my lungs.

Everyone within a twenty foot radius jumped out of their socks. Josh especially.

"What?" He turned around and saw me, with tracts of mascara running down each side of my face, fake tears flowing freely.

"I TRUSTED YOU!" I shouted, then broke down in more fake sobs.

"Is this about the bullying thing?" He whispered in an attempt to bring down my volume, his hands in a placating gesture, "Because if it is, I'm really sorry."

"I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO THIS TO ANYBODY, MUCH LESS THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE!" I started hiccuping, pretending to choke on my own cries.

Josh looked so confused I almost laughed. Almost.

"IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE TWO PERSONALITIES. AND RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE IF I LIKE EITHER!"

If glanced around to make sure my plan was working. It was. There was a crowd of people around us, and no one left surrounding the water fountain.

Josh was still whispering frantically, pleading with the people around us to believe that he actually hadn't done anything.

"YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THAT YOU HURT ME, BUT SOME SCARS ARE ONLY ON THE INSIDE!"

When I looked back, Percy was standing on dry floor next to the water fountain, laughing his head off.

"YOU KNOW WHAT, JOSH? WE. ARE. DONE. I NEED A REBOUND. HOW ABOUT... PERCY JACKSON!"

The hall was suddenly quiet. Percy looked up with a twinkle in his eye, held out an arm that was bent at the elbow, and said in a perfect British accent, "I'd be honored, mi'lady."

I sniffed with my head up, being as pompous as possible. After stalking to Percy's side, I turned around and said, "Oh yeah, Josh, I forget to mention..." And I held up my hand with a certain finger risen. The whole crowd burst out laughing as Percy and I walked to math.

But I wasn't done with Josh just yet. Oh, no. I had a much worse fate in store for him.

Good? I hope so! Thanks for reading. Love you guys! :)