Here's Chapter 9 for you guys! And no, I still haven't decided whether it will be Thalico or Thaluke so you guys better tune in. lol. Thank you for all the reviews though. Giving back much love to all of you :)

DISCLAIMER: I'm a girl, therefore I am not Rick Riordan, so no. I don't own Percy Jackson.

CHAPTER 9

ANNABETH's POV

My weekend was great! I had a lot of time to spend it with my friends and get to know them a bit more… well, Percy I mean.

I never really told him about it but I really feel so comfortable with his family. They're so warm and very welcoming; not that my family isn't but it's very different. They treated me as if I was part of their family and spending time with Percy for the last two days made me discover things about him. For example, he loves—and when I say love, I mean, really loves!—blue foods. He told me that it was his and his mother's thing. Then, his dad was a marine biologist who's in Asia right now doing a special research; they both love the water and the only time they really bonded was whenever his dad would take him to his private yacht—yeah, I know, he's dad is rich!—and would go fishing, swimming or even play poker.

There was a part of me that wishes to stay there and, you know, become part of their family but of course, I can never leave my family; especially my dad. He's my fortress.

Today was Monday and I woke up extra early because wanted to go jogging today. I've never done it again since… well, since I left Frisco.

I got up and wore a grey tank top, shorts and my favourite running shoes. I pulled out my Yankees cap and wore it and got my iPod so that I won't get to bored jogging.

Our apartment was near a park so I decided to jog there.

I noticed that not all people love jogging. It was a peaceful morning at the park. Sure, there are people who were jogging too but not as much as I expected to. When I reached the small pond near the playground, I saw a familiar figure, stretching. I slowed down to focus on his appearance; he back was facing me so I don't really recognize him until I focused on his hair. It was sandy just like…

"Luke?"

He spun around and looked from left to right until his gaze came into my direction. He smiled. Wow. He has a nice smile.

"Percy's new friend! Annabelle, is it?"

"No, but close enough." I smiled at him and went closer.

I reached out my hand and he took it. "Annabeth."

"Oh, right! Sorry about that." He grinned as we both let go of each other's hand.

"So, you jog every morning?" He asked as he continues to stretch his arms.

"Nah. Just for today but I used to jog when I was back in Frisco. How 'bout you?"

I sat on the nearest bench.

"Yeah. Even if it's not basketball season, I try to keep myself fit."

He looked at me and smiled. "I was supposed to meet Percy today since we jog together every morning but I think he's too sleepy to get up."

"Yeah. I bet he was tired from yesterday."

"You guys were together?" He looked at me, not surprised but more of amused.

I nodded. "I got locked out of our apartment so Percy's mom told me that I could stay there."

"Oh." He grinned, like he found what he had heard very fascinating.

I just ignored it.

"So, you want to jog together?" I asked.

"Sure, Annie."

I glared at him. "Don't call me, Annie."

"Woah there. Sure. Just don't look at me like that. If looks could kill, I'm probably dead right now."

We both laughed at that and started to jog.

After 30 minutes of jogging, we finally said our goodbyes and went on separate ways. I headed back to our apartment and gotten myself freshen up. I ate breakfast and started to go to the door until my dad called my attention.

"Annabeth, don't forget your keys again." He held out my keys and I sheepishly smiled at him.

"Sorry, got to go dad." I gave him a kiss on the cheeks and went off.

As I walk down the stairs of the front door or our building, I looked up on the 4th floor window and saw a boy frantically moving around his room trying to find something.

"Such as Seaweed brain." I smiled and went off to school.

THALIA's POV

This weekend has been a total dump.

First, Luke's back so I don't know whether or not to go to school or just drop out; second, when I came home Saturday night, out of my frustration and anger, I accidentally broke my mom's vase so my allowance was cut short ; lastly, Jason didn't cleaned up his pile of dump and left me do all the cleaning. Really Jason? Does it really kill you to clean up your own mess? Ugh!

It's already 7:30 and school starts at 8 and I'm still here, lying on my bed, thinking. Unfortunately, my thinking was interrupted with the sound of my phone ringing.

"What?" I said and I made sure that my voice sounded very irritated so that the person who's calling knows, he or she has interrupted me on my thinking.

"Where are you?"

I paused for a moment. I know that voice. Damn it! I forgot to change my number. I better hang up.

"Don't you dare hang up, Grace."

"Oh, so we're on last name basis now huh?" I heard my voice crack. Damn this guy!

"Look, Thalia. Go to school. I have a feeling that you'll ditch school today and I won't let that happen."

"Why are you so concerned, Luke?" After you broke my heart and spirit; why?

"Because…"

I waited.

"Because, I… care for you." I felt like my heart pounded faster. He still cares for me?

"Yeah right. Like I'll believe that." After breaking up, he didn't even try to talk to me the whole summer. As stupid as it may sound, yes. I waited for his call; I waited that day where he comes up my doorstep and saying sorry and that he still loves me. Guess I'm the idiot here.

"Just come to school, okay? I won't bother or come near to you, unless you want me too-"

"Like I'll ever do that." I shot back.

He sighed heavily. "Just go to school okay. I'll just… I'll see you." Then he hang up.

I looked at my phone. I sighed heavily as well. Curse his effect on me! Damn it! I wish I stopped loving him when he broke my heart. Apparently, I didn't.

I got up and went to the shower and got dress. As I opened the door, much to my surprise, Nico was leaning back on the wall.

"What are you doing here?"

"Pick you up. Come one, we've already missed first period."

I looked at him warily.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's go."

ANNABETH's POV

It was break time when Thalia finally showed up. We were on our way back when we saw Nico and her walking up to our side. When we asked why she was late, she just looked at me and gave me a sad smile. She's still probably not over about what happened last Saturday.

Anyway, Nico had a different class than ours so he went off. Percy, Thalia and I went to our next class, and boy do I hate it. Yep! It was swimming. Curse my inability to swim. I just sighed and went to go to the shower room and got changed.

In our school, we can't wait bikinis or any two piece bathing suit so we wore a one piece but that didn't stop Rachel and her 'friends' to not wear those.

She was, well, she looked like a porn star. The boys were gawking at her, well, some boys. Percy said he couldn't care less what she wore. And I quoted him, "She looks like a porn star." That's Percy for ya.

We were grouped into five teams since we're twenty in our class. Fortunately for Thalia and Percy, they were group mates. Unfortuantely for me, I was grouped with Rachel. Oh joy!

She looked at me with disgust and I even heard her say, "bitch". Yeah, I'll get her for that later. Right now, I have to focus on not drowning.

We did warm up first; the coach said we need it so that we won't get cramps while we're swimming. After thirty minutes, we were now in the water. I tried my best not to drown and not to look like I swim like a dog.

Apparently, I failed to do both. Half way my second lapse, I took a breath and unluckily for me, water came into my mouth and it choked me. After a couple of minutes, it was all black.

The only thing I remembered was that someone jumped into the pool and got me by the waist before I sank deeply into the pool.

So, what you guys think? Boring? Sorry about that. I just had to put Thalia's story there since she's absent for the last chapter or two and because I miss her.

Anyway, The Luke-Annabeth scene in the park DOES NOT mean that there will be a Lukabeth in my story. Luke's not going to be the third wheel here and neither does Rachel ;). I just added that scene 'cause I based their relationship/friendship in the book where Luke and Annabeth were really close before, you know, he became a loyal servant of Kronos. LOL.

Hope you guys have fun reading! School starts next week but I'll update as soon as I can! Please review. Thank you :)

xx