A/N: Sorry this is coming later than I wanted it to, but I just went on vacation. I also wanted to write another chapter to get ahead which I did last night... until 3 am. But good news, it's the chapter with the presentations! Look forward to chapter 18! For now enjoy chapter 16!

Before homeroom started, Annabeth found Jess in the hallway.

"Hey, there, Annabeth. How was that really important thing you had to do yesterday?" she asked.

"It was fine. We got back really late, though, so Percy's mom let me stay at their place," Annabeth replied, shrugging.

"She must really trust you two," Jess said with an impressed look.

"We were in separate rooms," Annabeth reasoned.

"For most of the night anyway," Percy added.

Annabeth hit his arm. "Way to make it sound innocent, Seaweed Brain."

"We didn't do anything," he protested.

"She has a point, Percy. People already think that she's pregnant; if anyone heard that, it would just seem like a confirmation," Jess said.

"Finally, someone sees reason!" Annabeth laughed.

"Hey, slut!" they heard someone shout. "You sure it's even Jackson's?"

Annabeth sighed and rolled her eyes. Percy squeezed her hand in reassurance.

"You okay?" Jess asked.

"I'm fine. I was right about people knowing by homeroom," Annabeth said then faked a laugh. "I don't understand how this is supposed to ruin me, though. Why should the current state of my uterus concern other people?"

"Because you're Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson's infamous girlfriend," Jess said sarcastically as the bell rang. "See you in first period."

Annabeth nodded then kissed Percy before going to homeroom where she was met by stares and whispers.

The boy who sat next to her hesitantly asked, "Are you actually pregnant?"

"No," Annabeth said with a sigh.

"Oh, sorry," he said.

"It's fine. Do me a favor and tell everyone you know that, okay?" Annabeth said, annoyed.

He nodded and the bell rang to go to first period.

Annabeth walked down the hallway, avoiding people's glances as she went. Once in her class, she moved towards her and Jess' seats, but was stopped by Ms. Bell.

"Can we talk for a minute, Annabeth?" she asked and Annabeth nodded. "I've noticed that you haven't really been participating as much as the rest of the class."

"I've been trying. Shakespeare and I don't really get along. Have I really been slacking that much?" Annabeth asked.

"Not really. I notice things, that's all. I've also noticed some other interesting things, and I wanted to know if you needed someone to talk to."

"What do you mean?"

"Kids talk a lot during my classes, and normally I don't listen, but recently I heard your name."

"Can I ask what you've heard?"

"Well, yesterday I heard that you were pregnant, and this morning I heard that your parents kicked you out and you have to live with your boyfriend and his family. I know that it's none of my business. However, I want to get all of the facts straight."

"If you knew who my boyfriend was then you would only have to talk to Mr. Blofis to get your facts straight, but I am not pregnant, I have not been kicked out of my home, and I really hate high school."

Annabeth didn't even realize that she was crying until Ms. Bell pulled her outside the classroom.

"Read or something," she instructed the now quiet class before shutting the door. "I'm not going to ask you to tell me anything at all. I just want to make sure that you're okay."

"I should be okay," Annabeth sobbed. "This shouldn't bother me. It's a dumb rumor that's not true, but everyone seems to think that it is. Even you did!"

"I didn't believe it. I'm an English teacher; I fact check. Just try to calm down. Do you need anything?" Ms. Bell asked.

"I don't know," Annabeth cried then slid to a position on the floor. Why was she crying? She's been through much worse than this. She's seen death, destruction, and the deepest pits of hell. How was one girl going to cause her to breakdown?

"Should I go get someone? The nurse or...?"

"Percy. I want Percy."

"Where is he?"

"Paul's class." Annabeth couldn't help the sobs from coming out anymore. Pull yourself together! she yelled at herself.

Ms. Bell walked to Paul's door and knocked. When he opened the door, he immediately saw Annabeth and told Percy to come out into the hall.

He seemed confused at first, but then he saw his girlfriend sobbing on the floor.

"Oh my gods, Annabeth," he said then ran over to her. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"I thought I was, but I'm really not," Annabeth said quietly, tears streaming down her face.

"Shh, it's okay. Is this because of a flashback or because of Daniela?"

"Remember what you said yesterday. Even if it were true, it wouldn't be that bad. I think that you've been trying to build this wall up because you don't want to seem weak from the flashbacks, and this Daniela/pregnancy thing just caused all of it to come crashing down. But we can pick up the pieces. Do you know why? Because we are Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson. We've been trained to be strong. We've fought in two wars and saved the world both times. Want to know the icing on the cake? We are also soul mates who can help each other through anything and everything that comes our way. One petty teenage girl may have broken your wall, but we can build it again together so that it's so much stronger."

Annabeth was still crying a little bit, but what Percy said really helped. Looking to where Ms. Bell once stood, she noticed that the teacher was gone.

"I really love you, Percy," Annabeth said softly then moved to kiss him. Light yet backed with so much emotion.

"Think you can go back to class now?" Percy asked after pulling away.

"Yes, thank you," Annabeth answered.

"I love you, Wise Girl."

"I love you, too, Seaweed Brain."

Percy helped Annabeth up and walked her to the door of Ms. Bell's room, and she hesitantly walked in. All eyes were on her, but she looked down and walked towards her seat.

"You okay, Annabeth?" Ms. Bell asked.

"Yep, all better. Go on with whatever you were doing before."

Annabeth spent the rest of class sitting silently while everyone else discussed Shakespeare around her. The bell rang, and Jess held Annabeth's hand as they walked to calculus.

"You don't seem quite here, Annabeth," she pointed out.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth replied absently.

"Do you want to talk?"

"Percy and I already talked."

Jess became quiet after that and led Annabeth to her seat.

"You can still talk to me," she said softly then went to her seat directly behind Annabeth.

Annabeth sighed, knowing that she hurt her friend's feelings, but Jess was mortal. There was no way that she could tell her everything going on in her head. It was upsetting for Annabeth as well because she finally had a good girl friend that wasn't Thalia. Sure, she had Piper and Hazel, but they were all just thrown into a life-threatening situation together. Then, they had to win a war. Not a lot of quality bonding time.

"Annabeth," Jess whispered. "There's something outside the window. Can you see it?"

Annabeth looked out the window to see an empousa. She was dressed in a Goode cheerleading uniform, and she seemed to be pacing around the courtyard just outside the classroom.

"Jess, in a minute, I'm going to scream, and you're going to offer to take me to the nurse," Annabeth instructed.

"What, why?" Jess questioned.

"Just go with it. We need to get out there," Annabeth whispered harshly then felt where her baby dagger was sheathed under her shirt.

Not sure how to approach faking a flashback, Annabeth started to picture the scariest thing she'd ever seen: Percy controlling the poison and focusing it all on Akhlys in Tartarus. Then, she screamed.

It got everyone's attention, and she kept up her facade by saying, "Percy! No, Percy!"

Somehow, there were tears left in her eyes because she was able to convince everyone that she was crying. That, or she actually was. She wasn't quite sure.

"I'll take Annabeth to the nurse!" Jess announced as she grabbed Annabeth's arm and "coaxed" her up.

Annabeth continued to "cry" until Jess shut the classroom door. They both promptly began to laugh.

"Oh my gosh. That should not have been funny, but it was," Jess laughed as they ran down the hallway. "Where are we going?"

"We need to find Percy," Annabeth explained as they slowed down.

"Looking for me?" a familiar voice asked.

I wonder who it is *cue eye roll* I have been talking to my sister about the reaction this story is getting, and I would really like to thank you guys. This story has over 25,000 views. That's so many! And I have slightly over 200 AMAZING reviews. Thank you so, so much!

I need a couple other high school situations to put these guys through, so feel free to suggest anything high school-ish you want to see!

Until next time!