A/N: Yay new chapter. I went camping this weekend and wrote a lot. I'm so happy I can update again! Enjoy!
Instead of waiting until later in the day to speak to Mr. Alexander, Annabeth decided to go during homeroom.
"Excuse me, sir," Annabeth said as she walked into his classroom.
"Yes, Annabeth?" Mr. Alexander replied.
"I won't be able to come after school today."
"And why's that?"
"Uh, family emergency."
Mr. Alexander looked a little bit skeptical, but still replied with, "Okay, that's fine. You'll still be able to come next week, right?"
"Yes, this is something that just came up, and it'll be solved quickly."
"I hope everything turns out okay."
"Thank you, sir."
Annabeth turned on her heel and let out a breath she didn't realize that she was holding. Who would've guessed that talking to a teacher could be so unnerving. She never felt that way when talking to Chiron.
The bell rang to go to first period rang while Annabeth was in the hallway. She was close to her class, so she wasn't too concerned. That was, until she ended up face first on the floor. Her quick instincts helped her, so she wasn't injured at all.
"What's wrong, Blondie? Trip over your own feet?" she heard Daniela taunt from behind her.
Standing up easily and dusting off her clothes, Annabeth retorted with, "More like you pushed me. Great battle tactic by the way. I'm obviously so hurt physically and emotionally." She rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you. You would know if I was." Daniela was apparently going for the "I'm so tough and intimidating" act. It wasn't working.
"I'm sure," Annabeth replied then turned to walk away.
"Pay attention today, Blondie. You never know what you might hear in these halls."
"Goodbye, Daniela."
No one had really been paying attention to their conversation. Annabeth falling had gotten some attention, but no one actually cared. However, Annabeth noticed people talking and looking at her as she walked to her class.
Annabeth walked into English just as the bell rang, so the only thing out of the ordinary was the strange look that she got from Jess.
The class was having a large group discussion, so Annabeth put all of her attention into taking notes.
Right before the end of class, Jess asked, "Are you going to work with Mr. Alexander again today?"
"No, not today. Percy and I have something important to do," Annabeth explained.
"Oh," Jess got really quiet.
She didn't talk at all during the walk to calculus which Annabeth thought was unusual. Jess normally never stops talking about Romeo and Juliet right after English class.
"Is something wrong?" Annabeth asked once they were settled in their seats.
"There's some gossip going around. Normally, no one ever tells me anything, but this rumor is about you. People kept asking me questions during homeroom that I didn't have answers to," Jess began, but she was interrupted by the teacher starting class. "Guess I'll tell you later."
That would be what Daniela was talking about, Annabeth thought while fighting an eye roll. I wonder what she's trying to spread about me.
Class crawled by slowly, and when the bell finally rang, Annabeth was immediately attached to Jess' hip.
"Now would be a good time to explain," she commanded.
"Are you pregnant?" Jess asked.
"Wait, what?!" Annabeth exclaimed. "Is that the rumor?"
Jess nodded.
"You have to give Daniela some credit. It must seem pretty believable if even you fell for it," Annabeth laughed.
"Um, why are you not freaking out? The entire school thinks that you are pregnant," Jess questioned, confused.
"Because I'm not pregnant, Jess. They can think whatever they want, but Percy and I have never," she paused, "gone that far."
"What were you saying about Daniela before?"
"Well, you know that she wants to make my life miserable, but it isn't really working for her. Apparently this was the worst thing she could think of."
They arrived at the locker room to find a sign on the door telling them to go to the library.
"Oh boy, a study hall," Jess said sarcastically.
Annabeth laughed and followed her friend. It was surprising; she had been at the school several days and had not been to the library, yet.
Once they were situated in the comfy seats of the library, Jess asked, "Do you plan on doing anything about the rumor?"
"Probably not. I mean, if people ask me about it, I'll set them straight, but other than that, there's nothing I can do," Annabeth said with a shrug.
At that moment, a group of four very familiar boys walked into the library.
"Annabeth! Thank the gods you're here!" Percy exclaimed and quickly made his way over to his girlfriend.
The librarian shot him a nasty look, but it was ignored.
Percy knelt on the ground beside where Annabeth was sitting. "Any reason why people are asking me if you're pregnant?" he questioned.
Annabeth sighed and explained what happened.
"You're taking this awfully well," Percy pointed out.
"Why does everyone think that I should be freaking out?" Annabeth asked.
"I never said that," Percy replied then changed the subject. "Are you excited for later?"
"Ecstatic," she answered with a smile and an eye roll.
"You don't seem ecstatic," Percy said with a fake pout.
Annabeth giggled. "You act like a child, Seaweed Brain."
"I try my best," he replied with a genuine smile that made her heart soar.
She leaned over the arm of the chair to kiss his cheek and was caught off guard when his lips met hers instead.
"Are you sure that you're okay?" he asked softly when she pulled away.
"We'll talk later," Annabeth said instead of answering.
He nodded then pecked her lips again.
"Ugh, couples," Jess joked.
"We're happy. Shut up," Annabeth laughed.
Percy stood up. "I'm going to go sit with the guys. See you at lunch."
"See you Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said with a smile.
"Gods, I love you so much," he said just loud enough for her to hear.
"I love you, too. Now go sit with your friends."
Percy smiled at her before turning and walking away.
"Percy isn't like any other teenage boy I've ever met," Jess stated. "He cares so much about you; he didn't even care how these rumors would affect him. I feel like I'm observing an endangered animal when I see the way he treats you."
"That's one way to describe it I guess," Annabeth laughed.
Did you like it? I liked this idea, and I've kind of been hiding it from you guys. Did I catch you off guard? Well, if I didn't now, I will in a few chapters.
QOTD: who has exciting things coming up? I have a music camp I'm going to tomorrow, and I'm sooooo excited.