It's now Chapter 27, you guys! We're almost to chapter 30! Ok, let's get straight to the introductions: Poll update- Preyna is still leading by six votes. Reviews- For the guest Lexiiiii, yes I do love Percabeth! It is my favorite ship. Preyna is a close second, though. I wouldn't say that I hate Jeyna, though it's for sure not my favorite ship throughout the Riordanverse. Oh- and a couple of people (specifically guests) have asked me if I can write sexual content. I'm sorry to disappoint those people, but that is not what this story is about, and I apologize to those of you searching for that. I realize that some of you may stop reading my story because of this lack, and I understand, but I hope that those willing will continue to read my story either way! Just to be clear, there will be kissing, touching, and maybe a guy taking off his shirt. If any of this offends you to your core, please let me know. I want to make this a clean, but still romantic fanfiction. Does that make sense? Again, if you have a problem with any of this, take it up with me as a review! Ok, enough of that! Let's begin! (Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot line!)

Reyna's POV

Reyna tossed and turned in her bed. She didn't know why, but she had the impending feeling of doom in her gut, and it wouldn't go away. Reyna couldn't place why exactly she felt this... way, but the feeling was there, sitting deep within her, and it wouldn't leave her alone, disrupting all other thoughts.

Of course, this wasn't uncommon for most demigods. They usually had restless sleep. Even when they did sleep, most demigods had somewhat terrifying, prophetic dreams, or nightmares, anyway. Most of Reyna's dreams had lately consisted of memories from her childhood. Running away with her sister Hylla, working for Circe, living with pirates, and stuff like that. Sometimes, she even dreamed of Percy, but she tried to believe that those dreams weren't relevant. Occasionally, she would even have dreams of the giant army, or of the earth goddess herself.

Nevertheless, Reyna wasn't dreaming these things. She wasn't even sleeping at all. She was in bed, and she couldn't fall asleep. Eventually, she slipped out of bed and checked the little alarm clock that she kept in her praetor cabin. It read 12:17 AM. Reyna groaned frustratedly. She hadn't even been in bed for two hours. Usually, Reyna would solve her inability to sleep by going somewhere like the Little Tiber, or the arena. Though today, Reyna wanted to be sure that no one would bother her, and there was a small possibility that Percy would show up. The Fates were often cruel, after all.

She sat down at her desk and pulled out some documents that she had been holding off for about a week. She signed one after another, trying to clear her thoughts. Luckily, she wasn't tired. Reyna hated feeling groggy and disoriented, especially when doing "legal" stuff.

Eventually, Reyna came to the last document that was sent from the Second Cohort. She read through it quickly and vetoed it. By that time, it was nearly 2 in the morning. Maybe she would go for an early morning stroll after all.

Reyna took off her shorts and shirt that she used for pajamas and grabbed a regular T-shirt and jeans. She would put on her praetor regalia later.

As soon as Reyna slipped on the shirt, she realized that it was much too big for her. It was a Camp Jupiter shirt that she had dug out from the bottom of her drawer. (Most of her shirts were Camp Jupiter based, anyway.) Reyna soon realized that this was a men's shirt. How it had gotten in with her clothes was far beyond her knowledge. Suddenly, a disturbing thought popped into her mind. Maybe it was one of Jason's shirts? Reyna refused to believe this. How on earth would one of his shirts get in with hers? She didn't remember ever wearing one of his shirts, or any men's shirt for that matter. She didn't know how it had ended up in there, and she didn't want to think about it. Reyna took off the shirt and put it back in her drawer, for she didn't know what else to do with it. She could've asked Jason if it was his, but that would be far too awkward. She pulled out a women's shirt and put that on instead. It was a much better fit, and it didn't remind her of Jason, thank the gods.

As soon as Reyna finished getting dressed and doing her hair in a loose ponytail, she slipped outside. She wanted to avoid being spotted by any lares or even venti. They usually didn't care that a praetor was out jogging, but she was extra on edge this morning. If one could even call 2:00 AM the "morning."

Reyna soon found a good and steady pace to run with. She often did this as an alternative activity when she couldn't sleep. Reyna thought it was nice to run around the camp while everyone else was asleep. She would just jog with no destination until she finally became somewhat tired, cold, or the camp was awake. Reyna's long raven hair whipped behind her and hit her back as her feet hit the ground. She listened to the empty night air. The good thing about living near New Rome is that it was usually very quiet and peaceful. Especially at night. Occasionally, Reyna would stop and admire the stars and constellations. That was another perk of living near New Rome; there wasn't a ton of light pollution, unlike huge metropolises with no lack of artificial light.

Reyna came around the barracks and mess hall to find the Little Tiber, though she didn't plan to stay. Suddenly, she saw movement. She slowed her strides and looked closer near the bank of the river. She saw the silhouette of a person, though it didn't look like a boy's figure. Thank the gods.

Reyna walked closer to the Tiber and saw that the figure was Annabeth Chase. Technically, Reyna could get Annabeth in trouble, being the praetor that she was. This didn't stop her from wondering what Annabeth would be doing at a time like this. The same thing you're doing, she told herself.

Against Reyna's better judgment, she inched closer toward Annabeth though in hindsight, she probably just wanted to be alone.

Annabeth must've heard Reyna's oncoming footsteps because she turned around. Her eyebrows raised in question as she saw Reyna.

"What are you doing here?" Annabeth asked, curiously.

"I'd like to ask you the same thing," Reyna said, sitting at the bank. "Mind if I join you?"

Annabeth patted the ground next to her, gesturing for Reyna to take a seat by the bank of the river. "I guess I just wanted to be alone," Annabeth answered. "I couldn't sleep."

"Same here," Reyna said. "I was planning on just jogging for a bit, but I didn't expect to find you here."

"Yeah, I figured I could learn a thing or two from Percy. He was right when he told me that water helps calm nerves. Being near water, I mean."

Reyna nodded silently. She could testify that the Little Tiber helped reduce her stress levels. Of course, the solace of being in the presence of a flowing river wore off soon enough.

"I've noticed that you and Percy have become very close friends," Annabeth said, her steely eyes fixed on the water. Reyna tried to read the daughter of Athena's expression, though she couldn't pick out one singular dominant emotion. There seemed to be a mix of curiosity and friendliness playing on her face. But Reyna could also point out suspicion and even jealousy swirling as well.

"Well, I suppose. We do work closely," Reyna answered. She wasn't sure what else to say, or what else needed to be said. She hoped that she could keep the dishonesty out of her voice. Percy and Reyna were growing to become more than simply co-workers and friends. Now that Reyna thought about it, their "friendship" had been a little too obvious! Anyone could see that, especially a child of the Wisdom Goddess herself.

Annabeth nodded in turn. She seemed to hesitate before speaking once more. "I figured that praetors usually become good... friends."

Reyna anxiously wondered why she had paused before saying "friends." She even spotted Annabeth's jaw clench tightly. Her intimidating grey eyes shone. Reyna chose her next words cautiously. "What do you mean?"

"Well, nothing really. You guys are just spending a lot of time together," Annabeth said, shrugging. Reyna couldn't ignore the fact that Annabeth still looked tense and on edge. Reyna assumed that this is how she usually looked when preparing for a fight. She desperately hoped it wouldn't come to those terms.

"Oh, well, does this bother you?" Reyna asked.

Annabeth turned to her and sighed. "Not really. And, I'm not trying to offend you in any way-"

"It's alright. If you think I'm spending too much time with him, then I understand," Reyna said, slightly disappointed. She didn't want to be restricted from seeing Percy just because of his girlfriend. Though, she could understand her concern. It wasn't fair to Annabeth that she was caught in the middle of this "love triangle." She had done nothing wrong to Reyna or Percy, yet if she figured out what was going on, it might nearly break her. Reyna wished that Annabeth wasn't in love with Percy. This didn't entirely have to do with the fact that Reyna was attracted to Percy as well, but that she didn't want Annabeth to be hurt. That's why it was best that Percy and Reyna stop this.

"No, no, I'm not trying to be that girlfriend," Annabeth said, holding up her hands as if in surrender. Reyna suddenly realized that Annabeth was wearing a Camp Jupiter T-shirt instead of a Camp Half-Blood shirt for once. Reyna didn't know whether to be excited or downcast about this discovery. At any rate, maybe Annabeth wasn't beginning to have as many suspicions as Reyna had originally thought.

"It's... ok," Reyna said. "You're a good girlfriend." Reyna desperately tried to hide the jealous tone seeping through her voice. She had shockingly only realized now that she did want to be Percy's girlfriend. She wanted it more than she had desired to be Jason's girlfriend. It was a driving passion. She wanted to be able to kiss and hug and even snuggle Percy in public without being judged. She was tired of keeping her feelings inside; hidden. Even when she had heard Percy mumble "I love you" on that fateful day with Scipio, she had so desperately wanted to say it back. (Yes, she had heard him say it, though still, Percy didn't know.) But Reyna only knew that this would grow into more complications. Deep inside her though, she wondered if complications were the only way to be with him. To be with Percy. Alas, she understood far too well that she couldn't be in a relationship with Percy unless she wanted Annabeth on her bad side, which is something Reyna didn't want to bring upon herself. Besides, Percy would just leave. When Percy left on the Argo ll Reyna knew that she should just pretend that this had never happened. She had never fallen hard for Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon. She had never kissed him, hugged him, or ridden a dang pegasus with him. Every road that started with Percy ended in something bad or disappointing for Reyna.

The two girls remained sitting, content in their solitude, for a few moments longer. "What time is it, anyway?" Annabeth asked after a little bit.

"When I came outside, it was around 2:10," Reyna replied.

"When I came out here, it was about 1:50," Annabeth said.

They sat in silence for a little longer, not willing to follow up on what time it was. Reyna couldn't help but feel like she and Annabeth were actually becoming decent friends. They were both leaders and confident fighters. They had a lot in common. (Not to mention their feelings for Percy.) This would all end when Annabeth found out. Not if but when she found out.

Soon, after a few more minutes, Annabeth yawned. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually tired now," she laughed.

Reyna was feeling a bit exhausted herself, though all she had been doing for the past fifteen minutes was sitting. "We'd better go back."

The girls stood and brushed off their jeans. They nodded respectfully to each other as they left for their destinations. Reyna jogged back to her praetor cabin. As she was opening the door, she heard another door open behind her. Reyna turned to find Percy standing in shorts and a T-shirt by his door.

"Did I wake you?" Reyna asked apologetically.

"No, I was already up," Percy said, looking, well, groggy and disoriented. "I just heard something and wanted to see what was going on out here." He rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes in vain.

"Well, I was actually just talking to Annabeth," Reyna said. "By the Little Tiber."

Percy looked worried and a little bit shocked. "About what?" Reyna could tell that Percy shared the same concerns that Reyna had first felt when Annabeth mentioned Percy.

"Well, she was just mentioning how we've become close... friends," Reyna explained. She paused before she spoke her next words. "And how we've been spending a lot of time together."

Percy took a step closer to Reyna. This sent an instinct to take a step back in return. She felt bad about this later. "Praetors usually become close friends," Percy said. "Don't they?"

"That's what I told Annabeth, too," Reyna replied, trying to ignore how adorable Percy looked right then. "She just brushed off the matter eventually."

Percy shrugged. "I love spending time with both of you," he said. "I thought she knew that." This little comment made Reyna feel giddy inside. He loved spending time with her!

"I'm sure she knows that you enjoy being with her," Reyna answered. Oh, there was the jealousy, creeping in again.

"Which makes this hard," Percy muttered under his breath.

"What?" Reyna asked. She wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. What makes what hard?

"Nothing," Percy shook his head. "I'll leave you be."

Reyna must've had a disappointed look come upon her face because Percy said, "What, you don't want me to go?"

"Huh? Sorry," Reyna said. Did she want him to go? She did like spending time with him, and he felt the same way, apparently. No, she needed to get him out of her head. Being with him was just setting herself up for disappointment and regret. The feeling of betrayal- Jason all over again. "Good night. Or morning, or whatever."

This time it was Percy's turn to look disappointed. "Night." Maybe he didn't want to leave her.

The two walked back into their separate rooms. Reyna shut the door behind her and flopped on her bed, all sense of feeling tired having vanished when she saw Percy. The two had clearly wanted to stay and hang out with each other for a bit longer, so why didn't they? Usually, Percy was the insistent one. Maybe he was falling out of love. If so, what was the disappointed expression he bore when they had to part? Boys' made no sense. Then again, neither did girls' and their feelings.

Reyna forced herself to turn her thoughts toward something else. Or someone else, like Ezra. What type of poison had he gotten into his system? If not even the healers at Camp Jupiter could identify it, this venom must've been ancient. The healers had access to medical records dating hundreds and even thousands of years back, but they couldn't find anything on this mystery toxin. Reyna would've consulted Terminus, their local boundary god, on the matter, but the stone bust was still mysteriously absent. Ok, now that Reyna thought about it, even thinking about Percy would be better than thinking about her current topic of thought.

Reyna eventually fell into a dreamless sleep. Luckily, she stayed that way for the rest of the night.

Percy's POV

Percy had admittedly wanted to stay and chat with Reyna for a tad bit longer, but he had told himself that he would leave her be and stop seducing her for a bit. Hopefully, this would make Reyna happier. Maybe, perhaps, she was happier with him and enjoyed his company and adoring affection. Maybe not. There was only one way to find out. However, deep down, Percy did hope that Reyna wanted to be with him, for he wanted to be with her. She sure seemed to feel the same, but he couldn't be sure. Percy was in no way a genius on girls and their feelings. Annabeth had been the first girl he had ever really felt romantic feelings towards, and this situation had never happened. This situation wouldn't have happened if Reyna wasn't so attractive! She was gorgeous, confident, and strong. Unfortunately, Reyna and these qualities might become his own downfall.

This one was slightly shorter than my more recent ones and there wasn't loads of action, but this chapter conveys Annabeth's first signs of suspicion towards Reyna and Percy's relationship, which makes this a very important chapter. Not to mention the fact that there was less dialogue, and more individual thoughts between Percy and Reyna, expressing their emotions even further. I would've put more stuff in this chapter, but I wanted to save it for Chapter 28. Again, we are so close to thirty chapters, and still going strong. Writing these is so much fun for me, and I hope you guys enjoy reading them. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter, and make sure to vote in the poll. Review, review, and review!