So.. I'm back! Hope you like this chapter! Thanking all my followers for their support! Happy Reading!

Annabeth carried the pile of clothes to her bag. She was almost done with her packing. Now, she just had to help Thalia. She heard a voice call."Annabeth! Have you seen my socks anywhere?" Annabeth smiled. Well, it could take a while. She called back."Just a minute, Thals!"

She went into Thalia's room which was, as usual, a mess. Today, it was even more of a muddle because of the packing for the trip. The trip. It sent shivers of excitement down Annabeth's back. She scanned the room with her eyes looking for the missing socks. She found them under the lampshade on Thalia's dressing table.

Annabeth went to the table and handed the socks to Thalia."Why on Olympus were they under your lampshade?"

Thalia grinned."Now, I remember. I put them there so that I couldn't forget about them."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. On looking at the amount of mess in the room, she began folding the dresses and keeping them back in the cupboard. At last, all was done. Thalia closed the door of her cupboard and sighed."Well, that was something."

Annabeth was lost in thought. She had remembered her fight with her step mother. The words still echoed in her head. "Don't you dare come back! Don't you dare!" She closed her eyes and blacked out.

"Annabeth!" cried Thalia, while sprinkling water on Annabeth's face. Annabeth slowly sat up. She could remember packing clothes but after that.. it was blank.

"What happened?" she said weakly, as Thalia helped her up.

"Oh, I don't know. One moment you were fine and then whoosh... you blacked out." Thalia said with weird hand movements.

Annabeth laughed. Thalia stared blankly and said,"Are you.. okay?"

Annabeth understood Thalia must have been feeling worried so she hastened to reassure her."It's okay, Thals. I'm okay. Nothing serious. Must be...the stress."

Thalia nodded uncertainly. Then, her mood seemed to lighten. She said brightly,"Okay, if you say so. But if anything happens, you tell me straightaway, okay?" Annabeth nodded. "Okay, the others might be here any moment.."

Suddenly, the door bell rang. Annabeth grinned at Thalia, who said,"Speak of the devil.."

"And the devil appears!" finished Annabeth as they both ran down the stairs to open the door. Percy, Nico, Jason, Frank and Leo were there along with Reyna, Piper and Hazel. They stepped into the house, grinning while greeting each other.

The group had agreed upon meeting at Thalia's house for the night and then moving for the trip together. And it worked out as well as Thalia had imagined. Annabeth smiled at her friends and then at Percy.

Percy returned the smile with his usual smirk."Hey, Wise Girl!"

"Seaweed Brain." Was the the reply. All of a sudden, Annabeth felt a dizziness drift over her and she swayed in her step. Before a moment had passed, Percy wrapped his arms around Annabeth to steady her. She heard his clear voice and at the same times her eyes, which had filled with colored spots, cleared."Annabeth, are you okay?" He saw his sea green eyes filled with distress and worry as she got to her feet.

Everyone was looking at her in utmost concern. Percy let go to allow her to stand on her feet. Annabeth hated the attention."Guys, I'm okay. It's nothing. Really."

Thalia had an unreadable expression."Yea.. Except she blacked out before because of.." Her voice trailed off as she noticed her friend's glare. Percy grabbed Annabeth's arms."What? She blacked out? Why isn't she in bed?" He glared first at Annabeth and then at Thalia. The rest were looking at scene with their eyebrows raised. But Percy didn't care anymore.

Thalia sighed as if she had anticipated this coming."Well, you should blame yourself. You came just after she woke up." Percy opened his mouth to protest but Annabeth interrupted him."Percy.. It's okay. Honestly, I don't need any medical attention. So, please.. just clam down."

Percy nodded and let go of Annabeth."Okay, if you say so. But if anything happens, you tell me straightaway, okay? What? Why are you laughing?"

Annabeth was laughing at the coincidence. "You said the exact same thing as Thalia did when I first blacked out. You guys are so similar."

This lightened the mood a bit and the group settled down for a movie. Titanic. By the end of the evening and start of nightfall, all of them had enjoyed a great deal. Percy had been sure to ask Annabeth about her health at least a hundred times, if not a thousand.

In spite of himself, Percy had become overprotective of Annabeth, and they both knew this. Yet, neither were surprised. They had found a firm friend in each other, one who would support and care at the same time.

Meanwhile, Annabeth had told the girls what had happened at her house. She hated concealing this fact from Percy, but even she didn't know why she was hesitating. She was making plans for her stay after the trip. She had arranged to go to a known hotel but that wasn't until days later. So, she had to include someone in her plan. Piper had agreed to take her over for about a week and so had Hazel. The rest would be decided later.

They were going on about the matter when Percy knocked on the open door. The girls hushed into silence. Annabeth forced a smile. "Hey.. Percy."

Percy frowned."Hi.. I just wanted to check what time we were leaving tomorrow so that we can get up a little early for breakfast."

Thalia thought for a moment before replying."Wake up around seven. We have to reach there by eight."

"Right. Uhh.. Annabeth.. mind if you can show me..where the microwave is?" He quickly searched an excuse to get Annabeth alone. He hoped it would work.

Annabeth was going to contradict his point when she saw Piper's expression which somehow clearly told her to go and talk to him. So, she agreed."Sure. I'll just be back in a minute, guys." She looked around at her friends, who nodded.

She set off to the kitchen with Percy at her side. Once they reached the microwave, Annabeth turned to him and said,"Okay, what do you wanna talk about?"

Percy was caught in surprise."How-how d'you know I was going to ask you something?"

"You call me Wise Girl for a reason." Annabeth said, curtly.

Percy smirked."Well, I was just about to ask you whether you are -"

"-fit enough to come to this trip? Yes. Yes, I am." Annabeth finished his sentence, without a tinge of doubt in her sentence or mind. Turned out she was right.

Percy nodded sheepishly."Well, yea. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Quite sure?"

"Yes."

"Fine." Percy sighed and raised his hands in surrender."You can come."

"As if you can order me about. More than that as if I would listen to you. Anyways, can we go? I'm feeling sleepy." The first part of the sentence was true, unlike the second. She wanted to end this conversation. Every second she was with him, she felt guilty. But there is no reason to be guilty, she argued with herself.

Percy frowned."Okay. But one last thing. Are you hiding something from me?"

Annabeth went in shock. How did he know? She forced herself to calm down and reply as smoothly as she could."No. No, why would I? You're my friend, aren't you?"

Percy nodded, not quite convinced."If-if you say so. Well, see you in the morning. Good night." He walked up to his room.

"Good night." Annabeth replied silently as she walked up to her own bedroom. Another discussion with her friends placated her. Before going to sleep. She convinced herself that she had no reason to feel guilty. She had almost done so, but just as she was whisked into a distressed dream, guilt drained into her again.

Here was the next chapter! I won't be able to post for some time because of school.. but I will post as often as I can in summer holidays in May! I promise! Please leave your comments/reviews! See you next time!