Okay, first of all I would like to apologize for my absence in three weeks. this month has been hectic and for those in marching band, hopefully you guys would understand that October is the month of football games, homecoming, and most importantly competition. Thus, I haven't had a time to do anything. So I hope you readers can forgive my apology.

Anyway, thank for those who reviewed last chapter.

Enjoy!

3rd Person POV:

After the running away scandal, Percy and Annabeth returned to the band room receiving horrid glances of disgust. It was an understatement to say the band was worried and furious at the two. The band, especially the drum line, lost all hopes of winning when they found out Annabeth was missing too, whether or not she found Percy. Even if she did, the band was positive it was the test of the survival of the fittest: the drum captain versus the guard captain. The thought of seeing those two together was a horrible and impossible image to picture. Nevertheless, the second Percy and Annabeth walked through the doors, it was a weight lifted off their shoulders. Now imagine how the band would react if they found out where Percy and Annabeth had been the entire time.

Mr. D, on the other hand, was internally grateful for the return of Peter and Annabelle. He would never admit it, but he was close to a nervous breakdown if he found out that not one, but two of his featured soloists missing.

The shouting stopped and from the look of Mr. D's expression, the reunion turned into a distant memory. Percy and Annabeth vaguely turned to each other, sending a silent message. The message was short in fear for it to be too noticeable for the band. But long or short, the message stated one thing, "We're screwed."

Without another word, Mr. D returned to his office. But before entering the room, he turned to Percy and Annabeth giving them the dreaded "we need to talk" look.

Now, Mr. D was never a scary looking man. In fact, his roundness and diet Coke [or diet Pepsi, depending on his mood] made him look quite the opposite, but the moment somebody crossed his line, there was no going back. The whole band knew it and never tried to cross it. Now Percy and Annabeth would get the first hand taste of what happens when you do.

With one last exhale, Percy opened the door for Annabeth then stepped in himself. Mr. D was sitting in his chair, making him shorter than normal. It seemed to them that the only times all three of them were in that room together were during a debacle or some sort of fight. They've never been in the office when it was a good situation.

"All I want to say is…" Mr. D began with a rough tone, but he softened as he continued, "Thank you."

Percy raised his head, unsure if he heard Mr. D correctly. That was completely unexpected to them.

"I don't often say this, so listen up well because I won't repeat it, but thank you Annabeth for finding Percy. I knew you would be able to," he finished and remained silent.

The two of them stood there in utter disbelief that Mr. D wasn't going to kill them, or worse, kick them off the band.

"But hmmf-" Annabeth began to protest, but before she was able to finish, Percy covered her mouth in fear she might make things worse. Annabeth glared at Percy for covering her mouth but Percy ignored it because he was sure she was going to kick his ass later anyway. "Uh we will be going now Mr. D," he said sternly, glaring at Annabeth the whole time. Mr. D nodded absently and turned away.

Without another word, Percy dragged Annabeth out of the office, still covering her mouth.

"Ugh, get your hand off me," Annabeth grunted until Percy released her mouth. Her cheeks were red, whether from embarrassment or anger was difficult to tell.

"Sorry, I didn't want you ruining things with the little luck we have."

"I ruined things? Look who's talking! You're the one who ran away!" Annabeth was appalled by Percy's half-apology.

"I'm sorry for that too, but I thought we settled that already," Percy sighed defeated and somewhat confused by her again.

"Technically we didn't. Because of your hiding place I was unable to beat the crap out of you, but now I can." Annabeth grinned innocently at Percy. He, on the other hand, was frightened how she could go from a sweet angel to a mischievous devil. Nervous, he watched her rub her hands in gleeful [and sadistic] anticipation. Annabeth, of course, thought he deserved to suffer and squirm after having been such a seaweed brain.

"Yeah…" Percy muttered, walking backwards to the locker room.

What the two didn't notice was the band room was empty. It had been empty the second Percy and Annabeth walked inside Mr. D's office. And of course, the band had sped off to the locker room, where they could eavesdrop on Mr. D via a vent. They had not wanted to miss hearing Percy and Annabeth get yelled at by the band director.

When the band realized that they were heading their way, the band bolted out the front door before Percy and Annabeth made the corner to the locker room. But Annabeth knew better, thanks to her recent journey to the office and quick thinking. Percy, on the other hand, was oblivious and didn't notice that the room was suspiciously empty. His thoughts were elsewhere.

"This band is one of a kind," Annabeth said amused.

"What do you mean?" Percy cocked his eyebrow.

"Nothing," she teased and walked outside to the parking lot, heading for her car, which was conveniently parked next to his.

Yet again, Annabeth did not fail to confuse Percy. It took a moment for Percy to understand what she had said. Annabeth was smirking the entire war, making Percy mildly annoyed and half amused. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts and get a grip on himself. She stopped in front of her car and looked up to see Percy in front of his as well. There was something in his expression that bothered her, but she pushed it away and looked back at him.

"Later, seaweed brain," Annabeth smiled and hopped in her car and sped off to her home.

"Same goes wise girl," Percy waved to her and drove away more slowly.

They both were in denial, acting as if the moment on the roof was nothing, a distant memory now, wishing the issue would resolve itself and leave them in peace. Of course, that never happens, does it?

The following day, the two kept their distance from each other, doing everything possible to avoid each other. Annabeth found it awkward after her unintentional kiss on the check to Percy, and she found it more difficult to ignore these feelings she was having towards the silly boy. Meanwhile, Percy focused solely on drum line instead of on princess-curled-blonde who had been in his mind for a while now. They each drove drum line and the guard harder than ever, focusing on that rather than themselves.

Unfortunately, Annabeth found herself in a dilemma during the after school practice. Thalia had broken the band into sectionals, but considering the band was so huge, each section had to fight for a good spot on the field. In Annabeth's case her spot was on the visitor's side of the field, next to the drum line, which caused some heated arguments over who claimed which spot.

"Hey, Jackson! We were here first," she called to the drum captain, forced to halt their practice.

"Sorry but there aren't anymore spots so I guess we just need to look out for flying objects," Percy smirked with his mischievous grin firmly in place, and the drum line snickered. Annabeth rolled her eyes, frustrated at the setback and with herself for loving his smirk.

She returned to the big bundled group that she agreed to be the captain for, ignoring Percy and his drummers. Like always, the sluts were in the back, which happened to be the closest to the drum line.

"The people in the back move to the front," Annabeth demanded.

"Excuse me? Sorry but there aren't any hot drummers over there," Drew exclaimed, winking at one of the Stoll brothers.

"I don't care, now move!" Annabeth was beyond irritated.

She felt all eyes on her, from the band, Thalia, and Mr. D. They were watching Annabeth's reactions to the amusing situation, not bothering to help her just yet.

Annabeth led them through their warm up, and she kept demanding to count louder. But out of nowhere, the drums dominated the guard. Annabeth glared at Percy though the flags. Percy was leading the line until he felt eyes on him. Percy met Annabeth's stormy grey and obviously angered eyes with his amused sea greens. Percy stared back, the very picture of innocence. He couldn't help himself but find the whole situation to be hilarious. To further his amusement he winked at her.

Annabeth felt her face heat up the second she saw that wink. She tried to hide it but from the look of Percy's expression, Annabeth wasn't doing such a great job.

Throughout the practice these little incidents would happen and the two would go pretending it never happened, then teasing each other again, to see who would last the longest. Luckily, the band never noticed and even if they did, they probably wouldn't believe it either because a guardo can't date a drummer. It was a simple, undeniable fact.

That's it for now and my apologies if it was short. I promise the next update will be a lot longer and reveal a secret or two...so please stick around for that.

I hope for those in marching band are having a fantastic marching season. It is so sad that it ending soon, but that just means we are closer to indoor season!

Please review and tell me what you thought, liked, hated (hopefully not).