Annabeth's flashback

"Hum, hi. Annie"

Annabeth cringed on the inside, but didn't let it show.

"Hi, George"

"Hum"

Without raising her head, she stole a glance of the boy sitting nervously in front of her, and returned to her essay.

"Hum"

"Yes, George?"

She was trying to mask her impatience, but wasn't sure how much longer she could do it.

"What are you doing?"

"An essay"

"Ah, good"

Do you know what he's trying to do?

Yes.

Are you not going to make things easier for him?

I don't even make things easier for Percy, and I love him.

"So, Annie, I was thinking..."

"Yes?"

"You're really good with math"

Come on, boy, you can do better than this, believe in yourself!

Do you want him to do better? Why?

It won't work on us, but maybe with some other girl.

"Yes, I know. You're too, George. Otherwise, we wouldn't be part of the Mathletes"

"Hum, yeah, right"

I'm starting to feel sorry for him.

He clearly has no idea how to do this.

"So, I was thinking..."

"You said that already, George"

Stop being so mean.

I just want this to get over quick. A merciful kill.

That's a terrible way to say you're going to say no when he asks us on a date. We're not going to kill him.

He's going feel like it.

"Hum, right. Sorry. Well, hum... will you... well, if you want... maybe, hum, go on a date with me?"

"I'm sorry, George, but no. You're not the guy for me, but I'm sure you'll find the right girl for you"

You COULD have been a little more nice.

Hum... what do you want me to say? Sorry?

No need to worry about that now, let's go back to our essay.

Fine.

Before she could write one word, her phone vibrated.

Really? No one cares about our grades anymore?

Annabeth chuckled and opened the text.

P: Hi, Wise Girl.

A: What are you doing, Percy?

P: Nothing much.

A: Right. Aren't you supposed to be in detention?

P: I am. It's barely the second week of it and I'm already dying of boredom.

A: That's why you're texting me?

So, no one cares about our grades anymore. Not even you.

Sorry.

A: Percy, I have an essay to finish, bye. Love you.

P: Love you too, but I have something to ask.

A: What?

P: Can you tutor me?

A: What?

P: School is boring, I have dyslexia... I need something to look forward. Maybe studying with you?

A: I'll talk to Annie and let you know.

Flashback over, back to present

Please?

No.

Why not?

Because I don't trust you.

You can trust me.

With everything else, yes. With him, no.

Please?

We have being arguing this since yesterday, I won't change my mind.

Come on!

You might as well give up, because I won't give in.

"Hi! Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Annabeth turned to find herself face to face with an unknown asian girl.

Who is she?

I have no idea.

"I'm sorry, who are you? I don't think we met before"

"Oh, we saw each other on the hallway, but no, we weren't introduced, I'm Jodi"

"I'm Anniebell"

"I know, that's why I want to talk to you. Do you have time to go get some coffe?"

I know I saw her before, however I can't remember where...

Do you need more time?

I need her to say what she wants from me!

"So?"

"Sure, I have time. Lead the way"

***

"Can I be blunt with you?"

Finally!

"Of course"

Jodi smiled. Annabeth took a sip of her coffe.

"What are your intentions toward Peter?"

Oh.

Annabeth choked with her tiny sip. When she said Jodi could be blunt, she wasn't expecting something so personal and straight-forward.

"I'm sorry *cough* I'm sorry, WHAT?"

"Do you need me to repeat myself?"

"No, I heard you perfectly clear the first time"

"So you just didn't like my question"

"Tell me WHY are you so interested in him?"

"I asked first"

"And I asked now, so what's the point? If you want your answer, give me mine"

They had a little stare off contest, before Jodi blinked away and shrugged.

"He's my friend"

Right, there's where I saw her, besides Peter and that weird red-head. She was the only girl in their group. I think she still are.

"So you came to talk to me because you're worried about your FRIEND?"

"Yes"

"JUST friend?"

"Yes, and what... oh my God, you're jealous, I can see it in your face!"

Great job! Now my reputation will be ruined forever!

Hush! I have a matter of real importance in my hand right now!

"I'm not convinced. A girl just surrounded by boys, and Peter is easily the handsomest of them"

Jodi nodded slowly, not looking at Annabeth.

"True enough"

Annabeth had a huge urge to aim for the girl's neck but reined it.

COME ON! Another one??

Calm down!

First he was too slow. Then came Rachel. Now she's cool, but I hated her. Hera took him from me, Reyna tried to make a move on him...

Really? I did't know that.

And then an amazon hit on him...

I thought they hated men?

And my stupid mother - sorry Mother - gave me a terryfing mission, then Tartarus - which still give me nightmares when I'm too stressed out - and we got out of there just to fall in that war with endless complications, and sub missions, and deaths, and monsters... finally I came here, in a MORTAL life, and Percy already had a girlfriend that it wasn't me!

Technically, she was Peter's gir...

He broke up with the skýla, who decided to torment me as revenge, and now this one come here, as'Peter's friend' because she's concerned about what are MY intentions toward him? Can I have my boyfriend for my own, PLEASE!?

Do you think he would leave you?

Of course not! After all the we have been through, not even death could do us part.

I'm pretty sure death is a little more complicated to handle than some girls hitting on your boyfriend.

You forget where I came from, and what I did. Thanatos, or Death is nothing.

"Are you finished?"

Annabeth looked angry at Jodi, breathing hard.

"Finished with all that ranting you were doing inside your mind? Can I speak now?"

"Fine"

"Sure, Peter MAY be the handsomest, but he's not my type. I like another guy"

Thank gods!

See, all the anger for nothing.

Shut up.

"Who? The red-head?"

"Jordan? God, no. I don't know how I'm still friends with him. No, I like more... sensitive guys"

"Such..."

Jodi was staring at Annabeth for a few seconds before reaching a decision and shaking her head.

"You're not my friend, but what the hell! I don't have any girlfriends to tell my secrets to, and it might easy your worries. Here we go. I think I like Felix"

What!?

Wait, the chinese demigod?

"Felix?"

"Yes. He's so cute, like a red panda.Fluffy, so sweetly clumsy, clueless and easy to surprise. I really like to be around him, he makes me so at ease"

Wait, isn't he...

Dating Hazel? Yes, he is.

Oh.

Yeah. Oh.

"Anyway, don't tell him. I'll make a move when I'm ready. Now back to you. I saw you got jealous when you thought I had something for Peter. I had no idea you liked him so much"

Don't you DARE answer that!

"Why did you come to me?"

"I watched that video. You did that to piss off Sirena, everyone could see that. I just wasn't sure why Peter was there. Sure, he's that bitch's ex, so I could see why you picked him. What was bugging me was why Peter didn't run away when you approached him. The last time I checked, he was terrified of getting in your way. But I guess something happened and brought you two closer"

If you can call 'two spirits from another reality getting inside and controling our bodies' something, sure, something happened.

"I tried asking Peter, but he was dodging my questions, more slippery than a..."

"Fish"

"Yes! It was like trying to hold a fish. When I told him I would come and talk to you, he got really angry and pratically prohibited me from getting near you. I had to lay low and wait for the weekend, so he would lower his guard. And I couldn't talk to you yesterday because you leave almost at the same time as he leaves detention and he would be watching over you like a hawk. But on Tuesdays you leave earlier than him, and it was the perfect opportunity"

Wow, she had a sensible strategy.

And a plan completely figured out.

I like her. She can continue, I'm listening.

She kinda remind me of myself.

"What I came here to say is: I think you two should date"

What!? Never mind, I don't like her anymore.

Well, we're already dating, kinda.

"Why do you say this?"

"Because I know you hate Sirena as much as I do. And I have a few ideas about her..."

I'm listening again.

"I'm listening"

"You don't have to really date, just spend time together looking at each other like in love"

"That's not difficult"

WHAT? How could you say that!?

Jodi was smirking with her arms crossed and an eyebrow up.

"Reeeally?"

"Yes, really, I'm a good actress. What else?"

"You forgot I KNOW Peter, and in a way, I also know Sirena. I know things she was dying for Peter to do for her, which he refused. If we could get him doing those for you..."

"She would explode of anger and jealousy"

"Now you're getting it"

I'm liking her again. If she can come up with a plan that doesn't involve kissing, I'm all ears.

What about hugging?

Hum... I guess that hugging is okay. If I can hug my brothers when they're crying, with a runny nose mixed to slobber all over their faces, I can hug Peter.

Annabeth propped her elbows in the table and her chin in her hands.

"You had my curiosity, now you have my attention"