A/N: Summertime? Hellz yeah. I'm in Florida right now and soaking up the sun (and getting a tan. WOOPWOOP!) It's great. And right now I have free time, so STORIES WAHOOOO! And I know this story is again in high demand... so I'll try to write up this chapter quick =]

OMG there's gonna be dramaaa.. and some of you are probably going to hate me again.

Jus' saying.

By the way, I am mortified to find like 3 or 4 spelling mistakes in the last chapter. My most sincere apologies. *facepalm*

ON WITH THE SHOW!

-SLTF

..:..:..

Soon, too soon, the bell rang signalling for us to head inside for our first class. I lace my fingers with Annabeth's and am rewarded with a bright smile from her. I feel my heart start to pound harder against my chest and I grin back at her.

"I missed you." Annabeth said, a little wistfully.

"I know. I missed you too. But now we're here." I squeezed her hand as we climbed the stairs. We entered our Math room together and I could feel all eyes on us, accusing and judgemental. I ignored it as well as I could as Annabeth and I took our seats in the back of the classroom, hands still linked.

"Hey guys!" Nico came in and waved to us before sitting in front of me. "You two look happy." He commented.

"Yeah." Annabeth looked at me and I met her gaze. I thought for a second that I saw a flash of guilt, or maybe sadness in her eyes, but it was gone so quickly that it must have been a trick of the light. She turned her eyes to Nico and she frowned. "But you still don't look so good, Nico. Are you feeling any better?"

"A lot better compared to like, a week ago." He laughed humourlessly.

"I'm sorry." Annabeth said quietly, but not so quiet that I didn't hear the catch in her voice.

"Please, Annabeth. It's not like it's your fault." Nico smiled wryly at her. Her face spasmed into a look of pain before she quickly avoided our eyes by gazing out the window. Nico glanced at me, the concern in his dark eyes reflecting my own.

"Annabeth, are you okay?" I leaned towards her, ignoring the growing chatter as more students poured into the room. Mr. Miller came in and started shuffling his papers around, trying to get us to shut up.

"Fine." She said curtly, and gave my hand a light squeeze before pulling away. I sat up straight, still looking at her.

She didn't honestly think that this whole thing was her fault, did she?

I shifted in my seat to be able to grab a pen and paper, and when I looked up to watch Mr. Miller, I saw Rachel come in. I felt a spark of resentment and purposefully avoided looking at her. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her staring at me, but she turned away to sit near the front. The same seat that she was in when Annabeth first came into the classroom.

Good times.

Mr. Miller started his lesson, but it was obvious that he was keeping a very close eye on Annabeth. Every few seconds he'd lock eyes with her and stare angrily. It was kind of awkward.

For the rest of the class, I noticed that:

Rachel keeps throwing me pitiful, longing looks.

Annabeth is withdrawn and looks like she's going to implode at any moment.

My best friend looks like shit and is still totally fucked up.

I'm a mess with still visible bruises, a cast and a bad reputation.

God, high school sucks.

..:..:..

Lunchtime

Annabeth's P.O.V

..:..:..

Once the bell rang to signal the end of Science, I told Bianca that I'd see her in the caf because I had to stop by my locker. She waved bye before darting off into the crowded hallway. I shouldered my way to my locker bay and unlocked my locker. As I was putting my books away, some girl in my Math class sidled up to me.

"Hey." She said, not looking at me but instead following people who were passing us by.

I stared at her for a moment, my brow wrinkling in confusion.

"Can I help you?" I asked a little coldly.

"I just wanted to say that I'm glad you finally put Tyler in his place." She shrugged.

"Um. Okay." I said lamely.

She shrugged again and slinked back into the crowd.

That was weird. I shook my head and closed my locker. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart dancing. Percy? I thought, before my stomach dropped. The mere thought of him made me want to cry. I am the reason he was hurt. I am the reason that all of my friends are hurt, and probably scarred for life. God, I'm an idiot. I pressed my fist against my temple, fighting to control my breathing. It's just a text message. Calm down. I told myself before opening it.

It was from Luke.

Meet me in room 228. Gotta talk.

About what? I wondered as I replied that I was on my way, albeit reluctantly. I really just wanted to go sit in a corner and cry then dig myself a hole and live in the dirt. I also sent a quick text to Bianca that I'd be a bit late. I didn't say why.

The mass of students swarming the halls lessened, so I didn't have elbows in my face as I made my way to room 228. I finally arrived, and when I stepped inside the unfamiliar room, I saw Luke standing with his back towards me. He was staring out the window. I could tell he was looking outside, even if I couldn't see his face.

I silently padded up to him. "Luke?" I said tentatively, tapping his shoulder. He jumped a little, then turned around.

"Oh, hey." He let out a gust of air. "You scared me."

"You knew I was coming. You were the one who asked me to come." I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I know." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly before dropping his arm so that both of them hung by his side. He seemed to be conflicted about something. His face scrunched up, like he was internally fighting himself.

"Luke, what's up?" Frowning, I reached out and touched his arm lightly. "Are you okay?"

"Shit, Annabeth!" he clenched both hands into fists so hard that his knuckles went white. "I'm sorry!" He was gritting his teeth together too. Holy frig.

"Luke!" I took a step back, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

He reached out and grabbed my upper arms and shook me. "You don't understand. I don't even understand. And I'm sorry – "

"Luke, what the hell are you talking about?" His grip on me was starting to hurt.

"I can't stop thinking about you!" It all came out in one big whoosh. And once he started, he couldn't stop. "Even though I know I'm dating Callie and you're dating Percy, but I can't get you out of my head. I hear your voice, and I see you and it's like a nightmare that I don't want to wake up from. This whole thing is totally fucked up, because we're both in other relationships, but I can't get that night out of my head. Not the bad part, in the – " he cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "In the alley. But before, in the club."

"Luke – " I started, desperate for him to stop. I tried to get away, but he pulled me closer.

"Don't hate me," he pleaded. "Please. I'm sorry. I just – I couldn't not say something. I can't pretend. I'm breaking up with Callie. Even if you won't be with me, I can't be in a relationship with someone who I don't love."

The last word caused me to freeze. I gaped at him, shock immobilizing my body.

"I think I love you." He whispered, his blue eyes wide, like he couldn't believe that the words were coming from his mouth. "I love you, Annabeth." He crushed me to him, his lips coming down hard on mine. His grip on my arms lessened slightly for one to slide to my waist and the other to cup the side of my face. I reached up and took his face in my hands to push him away. But he didn't take it as that – to him, it was a response. And it was the response he wanted. With a wild gasp, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me harder, his other hand finding the small of my back. Tingles ran up my spine as he trailed his fingers up my back.

I let out a noise of protest and managed to free my lips enough to say, "Luke –" before he cut me off again. A feeling of despair gripped me as I felt my resistance against Luke start to falter. I had told myself I wouldn't do this again! That this was over between me and him. But... it also feels good to be with him. I gripped his shoulders and pulled him against me. In my kiss, I ran my tongue along his bottom lip and felt him shiver. A low groan escaped his throat as his hand tightened in my hair. Memories of that night in the club resurfaced. Throbbing music. Bodies moving in sync. Kissing.

Then he pulled away. "Annabeth," he breathed. I slowly opened my eyes and met his gaze. His eyes were glazed with excitement and desire. Did mine show the same? I didn't care. All I wanted was his mouth on mine. I was leaning up to do just that when I hear a scuff of a shoe, then a huge exhale of breath.

"Annabeth?" someone said, their voice cracking. I froze.

No, not just someone.

Percy.

..:..:..

Earlier

..:..:..

After the bell rang, Nico and I went to our lockers and I tossed my Math book and binder into mine.

"I hate school." I remarked darkly.

"Oh, who doesn't, ya moof." Nico waved me off.

"Moof?" I stared at him like he had two heads.

"It's my new slang for motherfuckah. I guess. I don't know, it just came out!" He threw his hands up in the air in confusion. I just laughed at him. The first time I laughed in a while, it seemed.

"Hey guys!" Bianca was suddenly there. "Ready to go to the caf?"

"FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN!" I shouted, dancing in a circle in a mock parody of Rebecca Black's song Friday.

"C'mon you freaks." She rolled her eyes at me.

"Where's Annabeth?" I asked as we went down the stairs that led to the basement.

"She said she'd meet us there. Oop! Hold on, I just got a text. It's from her! Uh, she says she'll be a bit late."

"Why?" I peeked at the message.

"I don't know." Bianca snapped her phone shut.

"Well ask." I stated, staring at her.

"Why don't you?" she glared at me.

"Cause she didn't text me, she texted you." I pointed out.

"Oh shut up. Just chill. She'll come soon."

We found Callie, Grover and Juniper at our table and joined them. Grover still had his arm in a cast.

"Hey man, we match!" I grinned at my other best friend.

Grover ran his fingers through his curly hair and let out a deep sigh. "Perce, I don't know how you manage to live your daily life with this thing on. I had to get my mom to help me dress this morning. It was almost as humiliating as that time that I came to school drunk and when the morning announcements were being made on the TV's, I somehow managed to come on and I then said 'Children of Goode High School, I wish I could give you all the stars or the sun, but I can't. So you get the moon instead!' and then I proceeded to pull down my pants and bare my bum to the whole school."

While everyone else stared at Grover like he'd lost his mind, Nico and I were roaring with laughter.

"Okay, yeah, I guess that the whole 'moon' thing was a bit more humiliating, wasn't it?" Grover muttered.

"You are a freak." Juniper shook her head with a smile before planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Holy shit, Grover!" I wheezed, my stomach cramping from laughing so hard.

"Why do I hang out with you all?" Bianca rolled her eyes exasperatedly.

"Oh, God." I chuckled, wiping a tear from my eye. I met Nico's eyes and we went into another round of laughter. Something then clicked in my head. Nico. What about Nico? What classes did we have this morning? Math, then Civics. Civics. Why was that bothering me? I had brought all my books and binders and thrown it into my locker. Had I? I remember throwing my Math binder and book into my locker. But not my Civics. I checked my bag. Not there.

"Well shit. Guys, I forgot my Civics binder in the classroom. I'll be right back, I want to go get it before I forget again." I said, standing up. I slung my bag onto my shoulder.

"See you in a bit, Perce-Perce!" Grover called as I walked away. I laughed and waved at him as I exited the cafeteria. I leisurely strolled the basement hallway then made my way up the stairs to the second floor.

What room is Civics in again? I wondered as I passed classrooms. Room 2...224? 220? Then it came to me. Oh, right. 228!

I finally arrived at the right room and I was just about to step in when I heard a voice. Spooked, I didn't enter, I just stood with my back against the wall just by the doorframe. It seemed like I was now eavesdropping on a love confession.

" – But I can't get you out of my head. I hear your voice, and I see you and it's like a nightmare that I don't want to wake up from. This whole thing is totally fucked up, because we're both in other relationships, but I can't get that night out of my head. Not the bad part, in the –" then the boy's voice dropped low enough that I couldn't hear what he said.

I was ashamed that I was listening in, so I got off the wall, about to depart when I heard the girl's voice say a name.

"Luke –"

Luke? My body froze. I slowly turned and gripped the doorframe, using it to swing my body around to stand in the entrance to the classroom.

There stood Luke, gripping the arms of a girl I could recognize a mile away. My girlfriend.

"Don't hate me," Luke was begging. "Please. I'm sorry. I just – I couldn't not say something. I can't pretend. I'm breaking up with Callie. Even if you won't be with me, I can't be in a relationship with someone who I don't love."

Love? My breath caught in my throat. 'That night'? He's breaking up with Callie? What the FUCK is going on?

"I think I love you." Luke was saying now. "I love you, Annabeth." And then, he kissed her. He kissed her. And she wasn't pulling away. She wasn't yelled, slapping, or kicking him in the balls. She wasn't doing anything that I was expecting. In fact, she did the exact opposite of what I was expecting. She reached up and took his face in her hands. She was kissing him back.

What the fuck is going on? I couldn't move. I was actually paralyzed with shock. I could only watch as he trailed his fingers up her back. She pulled back and said his name. He silenced her with another kiss. Then he groaned. I suddenly tasted bile on my tongue. Finally, he pulled away and whispered, "Annabeth." She leaned up to kiss him again.

That seemed to break me out of my state of shock. I felt myself falling forward a little, and my foot automatically shot out to regain balance. It scuffed and made a noise against the tiled floor. I knew they would hear it. Her name fell from my lips; "Annabeth?"

They both froze, like I had in the doorway. Annabeth spun towards me, her face flushed and her lips bright pink. Luke straightened up, his blonde hair messed up. Because my girlfriend's hands had been running through it. My vision became tinged with red.

"Percy." She croaked. "Percy, no – " She started towards me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I spat out, my fingers clenched. Annabeth stopped in her tracks, her hands curled up against her chest.

"Percy, please. I – Don't – I'm sorry." Annabeth cried, the tears starting to pour.

"You're sorry?" I said numbly. A cold, humourless laugh burst from my mouth. "You're sorry? You're sorry that you were just making out with my friend? My "friend"-" I made quotation marks in the air as I spoke. "-Who must have also forgotten that he's dating someone. Just like you. So you're sorry about that?"

Luke stepped forward, his hands held out in front of him in surrender. "Look, Percy, this wasn't Annabeth's fault. It was me."

"Oh, right, because she's just so powerless that she can't push you away? So powerless that she actually responded and was kissing you back. Yeah right." I barked out another laugh.

Annabeth just stood there, face red, tears running down her cheeks.

"Yeah, Annabeth, I can just tell that you missed me a LOT." I said. "But hey, apparently I've been missing out, because there was another night hat something like this must have happened. Maybe even other nights. Do I even want to know?" I felt completely depleted of energy, like it had been sucked out of me. I shook my head in disbelief.

"Percy – " Annabeth stepped forward and put a hand on my arm. I jerked back so hard that my elbow slammed into the doorframe.

"Don't touch me." I growled. I whirled on Luke. "I can't believe you would do this. You, Luke, my friend of how many years now?" He just stood there, mute. "And you, Annabeth!" I turned on her. Tears now pricked my eyes. "I have nothing to say. I'm... I just... Not you. I never thought that it'd ever be you." I guess that got her; she started sobbing. I spun on my heel and got the fuck out of there. Who gives a shit about a binder when you found out that you've been cheated on by your girlfriend and one of your closest friends?

It was only after I was crossing the parking lot of the school that I realized that I had done the exact same thing.

I never thought it was possible to feel so much hate for yourself at one time. But the hate that was stirring in my chest and stomach was so violent and terrible that I ran to the bushes and heaved into the leaves. I coughed and spat the bile from my mouth.

I'm a hypocrite.

I'm a fucking hypocrite.