A/N: Oh my gosh. Guys, I'm so sorry. It's been 4 months? Gaah!

I've been SUPAH busy with my school. Exams and summatives and tests and working and exams and studying and working and exams... Too much. So I have not had ANY time for myself lately, so that's why no one has seen an update.

So here it is! I'm sort of winging it right now, but I really want to update, sooo..

On with the show!

-SLTF

(P.S. YOU GUYS RULE! 353 REVIEWS?)

(P.P.S. it's pronounced "Doo-key". You'll know what I mean.)

..:..:..

The Next Wednesday

Percy's P.O.V

..:...:..

There are a few things that I want right now. At this moment, McDonald's fries. But more seriously, I would say that if I could cut off my cast, I totally would. It's become a burden, and I would give anything for it to come off as soon as possible. It also wouldn't be too bad to ask for my grades to come up a bit. But the thing that I really wish for the most?

To see Annabeth Chase.

I dressed slowly in a white wifebeater and a light, denim coloured collared shirt. I rolled up the long sleeved to my elbows and I struggled into a pair of black jeans. I forced on my socks and shoved my feet into white Adidas with the black stripes. I thump down the stairs, and come to the dining room table. A simple bowl of cereal greets me compared to the pancakes, waffles, French Toast, hashbrowns and other glorious breakfasts that I've had for the past week. I raise my eyebrows but plop down in the chair. My mom appears at my side and sits across from me.

"Something is telling me that you need to not go to this school anymore."

I let the spoon slip from my grasp and splash into the milk, a Cheerio cheerfully landing on my not so cheerful cheek.

"You've got to be kidding me, Mom." I said hoarsely.

"I'm not joking, Perseus." She stared at me sternly, her mouth set in a strong line.

"Mom. Please. This is maybe my third day back at school. Nothing's-" I clear my throat. "Nothing's happened. And you can't switch me out in the middle of a semester."

"I can, actually. Percy, I don't want you to be around people you convince you to go to a club, get smashed and then that can result in you being-" her eyes began shining with tears, and her voice caught.

"Mom." I got up and walked over, embracing her.

She let out a small sob and then covered her mouth. "I can't let that happen to you again, Percy. You are what I have left." She tightened her grip on me. I

"Mom. I... That's not going to happen again."

She let me go but took hold of my upper arm. "Percy. You will have your cell phone on you at all times, ON. Charged to full battery. I don't care if you have to bring your charger to school. Do what you need to do."

"Okay, Mom." I patted her hand reassuringly. "Look, I'm going to go – I'll be late for school."

She squeezed hard before letting go. I put away my bowl, after have two bites, and was walking out the kitchen when I stopped.

"And Mom?" I said, turning to look over my shoulder. "Please, please reconsider. Please."

"We'll talk when you're home." She shakily replied.

I let out a sigh and went to get my bag. My cell phone lay on the table. Already, 3 new text messages. I pocket it, knowing I'll check it later.

"I'll see you later, Mom."

"Love you, Percy." I heard her call faintly.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out the front door.

..:..:..

The first thing I do when I get to school is hunt down Tyler Stevens. I've been playing nice for a few days to let everything settle down, so I haven't sought out this bastard yet, but now it's time to pay.

I make a quick pit stop at my locker to throw my Math and Civics binder into my bag and then locker it back up before wandering the halls with a vengeance. I spot one of his friends, who everyone just calls Dukie, low-riding his jeans with a backwards baseball cap and a light gray t-shirt.

"Hey, Dukie!" I call out, putting my arms through my shoulder straps of my bag to let my hands be free (even though one of them is in a cast). "You know where Tyler is?"

Dukie's eyes widen, looking like a deer in headlights as I approach him. I'm satisfied to see that I have a good 6 inches or more on him, and I'm more fit because of swimming, while he's a beanpole. Good. Be terrified, you little shit.

"Uh, no man, I don't think he's here yet. Sorry, brah." He tells me nervously, not able to hold my steely gaze.

"C'mon man. Just need to ask him something about Gym." I grin at him, trying to have him be more comfortable, yet scared at the same time. Somehow, I don't think those two feelings mesh, because he steps backwards and clears his throat three times.

"Dukie." I lower my voice and tuck my hands into my pockets as best I can. "It's only a question. Just tell me where he is."

He ducks his head and says, "Probably the caf, man."

"Thanks." I give him one last look before turning on my heel.

"Hey, wait. He isn't taking gym this semester." I hear him realize, but I'm already increasing the distance between us. "Percy?" he calls out, his voice cracking at the last syllable.

Too late.

A minute later, I'm in the caf and I'm scanning the tables that are scattered throughout the room. My eyes land on the greasy brown head of Tyler Stevens, his back towards me. Perfect. And now I'm off to the races.

"Hey, man." I force my voice to be cheerful and excited as I clap a firm hand on his shoulder. "How you doin', Ty?"

Tyler tenses under my hand. I see the tendons stand out on his neck as he turns to face me. "Oh, hey Perce." He runs a greasy hand through his greasy hair.

"Can I talk to you for a sec? I got a question about Math." I force a smile. I need him away from his friends so there won't be too many witnesses when I threaten him. I can't be getting in trouble for a month or two, minimum. My mom will make me move schools.

"Uh, you can ask it here." he shrugs off my hand and sneers at me.

You think you're cocky just because you're surrounded by three other losers? Oh, bro, do you have it coming.

"I really can't. My notebook's in my locker." I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. "Sorry guys, I gotta borrow Tyler for a bit." I heave him up by the neck of his shirt and he makes a strangled noise. I swing my arm around his shoulders and practically drag him out of the caf and into a deserted hall. That's when I snap.

"Yeah, so I just wanted to say – " I cut myself off and shove my good arm up against his neck, pinning him to the wall. "If you ever, ever, talk shit about me, my girlfriend, or any of my friends, we won't be just hanging out here in the halls. And it won't be just me that's going to have a little chat with you. So you keep your fucking mouth shut," when I say 'shut', I push harder and he wheezes. "And there won't be a problem. Because you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, unless you were there in the shadows and saw the whole damn thing yourself. Did you see it? Were you there?" I hiss.

"No – I – Please – " he coughs, struggling to push away my arm.

"Keep. Your mouth. Shut." I snarl, before bringing my arm back to my side. He starts a hacking cough and slides down the wall, holding his throat.

I start to walk away, then come back and crouch down in front of him.

"In fact, don't even talk to Annabeth. I see you even look at her, and shit's going down." I smile and pat him, hard, on the head. "See you in Math, bud."

I practically skip up the stairs. When I walk towards my locker, I see Nico there. And he still looks like shit.

"Nico." I say as I come closer.

"Percy!" he manages a weak smile and coughs a bit before embracing me in a manly hug. "Have you seen Annabeth yet?"

My heart quickens at the sound of her name. "No. Not yet. Is she here?" I ask desperately.

"Yeah, I think she just arrived. Bianca went to meet her outside with Callie."

"Thanks! I gotta go – see you in Civics!" I break into a run and fly down the front steps and out into the morning sun. It's bright, and had to see at first, but I spot her near Bianca, and it's not even half a second before I'm running again.

"Annabeth!" I call out as I pound towards her.

She turns towards me, gray eyes searching, landing on me, and the smile breaks out on her beautiful face. Then my arms are sliding around her waist, lifting, spinning her around as her own arms wrap around my neck and squeeze the breath out of me. I set her down, but I don't let go. My face is buried in her neck, her hair spilling down her back in waves of spun gold, and she's smelling of citrus. I hear her whisper my name and I smile, because I can't believe I'm holding her right now in my arms.

We couldn't be holding each other any closer, and I don't want to step away. I could stay here for hours, just breathing her in, and feeling the softness of her skin, her hands, on my arms, my neck, my face. I regain my breath and hug her tightly, and she tightens her hold on me too.

"Percy. I'm so glad you're okay." She whispers in my ear, and I hear the tears in her voice.

"I've missed you so much." I reply softly. "I wanted to call, but my mom – "

"I understand. But I made it that much worse, with Tyler, and – "

"No." I stroke her hair reassuringly. "The only thing that was worse was that you weren't here sooner. But now you are. And that's all that matters now."

The only reason I pull back is to take her face in my hands and press my lips to hers.