Percy was indecisive.

Second day of school, and there were already problems happening. His math teacher had a sudden hate towards him and let's not forget the 'little' chemistry explosion, after Percy wanted the end product to be blue, and not red.

Now, it was time for gym, which Percy didn't mind. It was the only subject where he thought he was actually good at, where he could go without annoying the teachers.

Annabeth met him on the way there, and he smiled as she came over. "Heard you made an explosion in chemistry?" Annabeth laughed.

Percy smiled. "It wasn't even that big, rumours spread fast here."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, though she didn't ask any further, and Percy was grateful for that. He noticed a long cut on the side or her arm, and the cut was still bleeding. "What's that?" Percy held the injured arm up, and Annabeth put it back to her side. Her cheeks were a slight tinge of red, and she didn't meet his eyes.

"Nothing," she said. "It's just a small cut."

"By accident?"

Annabeth paused, then looked back down. "Y-yeah, by accident."

Percy could definitely hear her stuttering, though he knew she wanted to end this conversation now, and he didn't want any arguments with Annabeth. They silently walked into the gym, the large painted red doors creaking as they stepped inside.

"See you later?" Percy asked, and Annabeth smiled.

"See you later." She replied, going the adjacent to Percy, and into the girl's locker room.

Percy opened the door of the boy's locker room, and noticed Leo over in the corner. He figured he could go there and talk, they were somewhat friends, right? As Percy made his way over, Leo looked up and smiled.

"Percy!" He said, looking up.

"Hey, could I change here?" he asked.

"Sure thing, man." Leo replied, moving some of his stuff so Percy could change.

Leo slapped the back of a blonde boy, and he turned in frustration. "You've got to stop doing that, Leo," the blonde boy groaned in frustration.

Leo laughed. "This is Percy by the way," the blonde boy turned and smiled.

"I'm Jason." He answered, and Percy smiled back. The boy was an inch taller, which was kind of unbelievable since Percy was tall, or at least that's what Annabeth told him, and she wasn't one to lie. Jason also had closely cropped hair, which did suit him. The scar above his lip ruined the image, though it was so small you could barely notice.

Another boy was sitting next to Leo, and he looked downright angry at the latino boy. "This is Frank," Leo pointed at the red-faced boy. "He's mad because I pranked him last night." Percy swore he could see Frank's fist clench.

"Hey, you were with the new girl, right?" Frank asked, and Percy nodded in reply.

"So- ," Leo was cut off by a man's yelling.

"Get your butts into the gym!" He roared, "the girls have been waiting for over five minutes!"

The boys scrambled to finish, and quickly went into the gym, the girls laughing at their discomfort. They must have heard the yelling, Percy thought.

"Hey," Annabeth said as he sat down next to her. He noticed she was sitting quite far from the girls, but he didn't protrude further. She was wearing the typical Goode gym uniform, a white t-shirt with Goode's colours for the shorts, with their logo imprinted on the front.

"Well, today you guys will be doing dance," the whole class groaned in reply, and Coach Hedge's face burned red. "You think I care whether you like it or not?!" The class remained silent, and he smiled.

"This isn't going to help us learn anything, except what to do at parties," Annabeth mumbled, and some of the class laughed at her comment.

The coach noticed, and he turned to Annabeth. "Stand up," he ordered. She shrugged, but still listened.

"What did you just say to your classmates?"

"I said that this is pointless," Percy was trying to send Annabeth a warning glance, but she wasn't looking his way.

"You think you're smart, -"

"I didn't say that," Annabeth was calm, even despite the class laughing.

"Detention." Coach Hedge said, and Annabeth's jaw dropped.

"But what did I do?" She asked.

"Acting smart -"

"What else was I supposed to do, act dumb?" The class all shouted 'oooh' and Percy rolled his eyes, though he was itching to say it too.

"Fifty push-ups," the coach said whilst smiling. "If you can do fifty push-ups, I'll let you go. If you can't, detention."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, and got in the position. The class started whispering to each other, and Percy watched worriedly. He didn't want Annabeth to get humiliated.

By the first ten, the class were watching silently. Now onto twenty, people were trying to catch her out. By double the previous, Coach Hedge was wide-eyed in disbelief. Once she did the last one, the class roared in approval, Percy included.

She got up, and Percy could hear all the whisperings.

"Such a show off."

"I bet you she cheated."

"Her hair's fake."

"So is her eyes, must be contacts."

"She's ugly."

They were all said by jealous girls, Percy thought to himself, and he scowled. She had done nothing, he thought. Why are they so mean? They were clapping for her before.

Annabeth sat back down, either ignoring the comments or she couldn't hear them. Percy decided not to tell her, not wanting to make her feel any more upset than she already was. He was confused though, why were they only picking on Annabeth?

"Right then," Coach Hedge said, "get up, Dancing time!"

. . .

Percy laid on his bed, ready for a nice few hours of sleep. It was already two am, and he had spent the last couple of hours doing last-minute homework that was due a week ago. Just then, a knock came from the front door, and Percy jumped in alarm. He knew that Mom and Paul were already at home, so there was no one that he should've been expecting. Chills ran down Percy's spine as he opened the front door.

What he saw was nothing of the ordinary, and he let out a gasp. Annabeth stood in front of him, tears running down her face and she had the hiccups, trying to stop sobbing. Percy opened the door wider for her, and he pulled Annabeth inside.

"I had a fight with my dad." Annabeth said as she finally managed to stop crying. "I thought everything was going good, and then, th-then he said th-that- " Annabeth's voice was shaking, and she started crying again. "This always happens," she mumbled with her face in her hands. "What's so wrong with me?"

"Hey, hey," Percy draped a blanket over Annabeth. "There's nothing wrong with you, your dad was just being stupid."

"Why is it always me with the problems?" Annabeth questioned herself, then quickly shook her head. "Do I give you problems?"

"Not at all." Percy said.

That was a lie.

Of course she did, it's just that it wasn't entirely her fault. Like when she let her hair down every millenia, Percy had to will himself to stop blushing, or when she hugged him, Percy felt like melting on the spot right there, he didn't know why she had that kind of effect on him, but he loved it.

So yeah, of course she gave him problems, just the good kind.

Percy was about to ask her something, when his mom and Paul came running down the stairs.

"What is it?" She said, holding a lamp. "Who's there- oh, Annabeth?"

Annabeth blushed a little. "Sorry for making some noise, I'll go now- "

"No no, you stay here." Sally must've noticed the tear marks on her face. "I'll go make you guys some hot chocolate, and then we can all talk it out."

Percy knew that Annabeth loved hot chocolate, and he sent a smile to his mom, who returned the thanks and went to go make the steamy drink. Paul went over to Annabeth, giving her a small smile.

"Family troubles?" He asked.

"Family troubles," Annabeth sighed.

Paul sighed as well, running his hand down his face. Percy loved that Paul and Sally both knew about Annabeth's disputes with her dad and step-mom, it showed that they too, cared about her. She deserved none of this, and sometimes it would be hard for Percy to just watch her cry and not do anything.

"You want to talk about it?" Paul asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll wait for Sally," she responded and Paul smiled in reply.

Sally came in a couple of minutes later, with four hot chocolates, and Annabeth drank hers gratefully. Percy looked at her, and she gave him a worried glance. He nodded in reply.

She set her cup down. "So, my dad just came into my room, and told me that," she took a deep breath. "Th-that he's leaving again, and I asked why a-and he went out of my room, went to Helen and put his hand on her shoulder for support. He looked at me with a slight frown, and I realised that he was leaving because of, b-because of me." Annabeth couldn't hold the tears back, and she let them flow freely, looking down at her cup.

"Oh, honey, no," Sally went over to Annabeth and rubbed her back as Annabeth started to shake. "It must've been something different. He wouldn't ever do that."

"He hates me, he loves the twins so much but he hates me." She shook her head as if trying to lose those thoughts, but the tears rushed even more, and Percy figured she couldn't get them out. "But I can't hate him, sometimes I want to, but I can't because he's my dad." Annabeth sobbed, clasping onto Sally for support.

Percy clenched his fist in fury. How dare he? He thought. How can someone do this? His face was probably red with anger, but Percy didn't care. Annabeth was strong, determined and fierce, and now she was reduced to this. He's horrible, Percy scowled. A disgusting, son of a -

"Percy, go grab some of Annabeth's things, she's sleeping with us tonight." Sally continued to hug Annabeth, and Percy realised that she was much more of a loving parent Frederick Chase could ever be.

"Oh no, it's alright, I just came here to -" Annabeth was cut off by Sally, and she smiled at Annabeth.

"You can't go back there all upset, you're sleeping with us and that's final." Annabeth smiled in reply, quickly wiping the tears off of her face.

"I'm sure Mr. Chase won't mind if you stay here," Paul added proudly, though Annabeth's smile soon fell. "Oh no no, not like that I just meant that -"

"Paul?" Sally laughed. "Just grab your car and take Percy to Annabeth's house and grab her things."

Sure, Percy could drive, but as a sixteen year old, driving at two am? That's a big no no in the driving book.

They both jogged over to the car, and Percy hopped inside. The atmosphere was calm as they rode past the mostly empty road, until Paul decided to break the ice.

"Annabeth must be having a hard time," Paul shook his head.

Percy nodded. "I mean, what kind of a person does that? If I were her, I would sucker-punch him in the gut."

Paul chuckled. "And that's why you're not her, Percy."

They made it to the house, what with it being only a couple of houses away. Then again, walking alone at two am in New York, again, it's a big no no.

Percy knocked on the door, and Frederick Chase- Annabeth's father- opened it, his face alarmed.

"Where's Annabeth?" He demanded, and Percy rolled his eyes.

"She's with us." Annabeth's dad sighed in relief, but kept the door partially closed. "Um, we need to get her stuff."

He averted his eyes to the floor, and gestured for Percy to come in. Percy smiled to himself, no awkward conversations? Check! He thought to himself as he ran up the stairs, opening Annabeth's door in record time.

Looking through the drawers, Percy grabbed any clothes he could find. Except for the underwear, he was blushing way too much to touch Annabeth's underwear, and she would too once she realised. Her scrapbook lay on her bed, and Percy tilted his head to the side and smiled. He remembered that, his heart warming as he realised she still had it.

Should I bring it? Percy thought, then shook his head. That'll be invading her privacy.

After legally looking through Annabeth's stuff, he ran down the stairs, past the door, and into Paul's prius, sighing.

"You got her stuff?"

"Sure do." He pointed at the now heavy bag.

They drove back to their apartment, and ran into the house. Annabeth was whispering to Sally, and Sally was whispering back encouragingly, once in a while giving her a hug. She turned to Percy, and smiled once she saw the bag.

"Thanks," she was still whispering, and Percy slowly walked over to Annabeth and noticed her eyes drooping.

"Do you mind sleeping on the couch?" Sally asked Percy hesitantly, and Percy quickly shook his head. He didn't mind it as long as Annabeth was happy.

Annabeth widened her eyes, and sleepily shook her head. "It's okay Percy, I'll sleep on the couch."

He smiled at her. "You're sleeping on the bed."

"Couch."

"Bed."

"Couch."

"Bed."

Annabeth raised her eyebrows, and grabbed the nearest blanket and laid down on the couch. She sighed triumphantly. "Sorry Percy, I'm already sleeping. Couch for me." She laughed, and closed her eyes teasingly.

Percy laughed too, though he was not going to lose the argument. Think, Percy thought. He smiled as he finally conjured up an idea. Practical? Yes. Annabeth won't mind? This'll probably be his death wish. He swiftly picked up Annabeth from the couch- she was quite light, wincing as he expected her to yell. Instead, she snuggled further into Percy's chest and he suddenly found it hard to breathe. She's already asleep, Percy thought as she stayed in that position, giving him a warm feeling in his cheeks. Yep, he was definitely blushing.

He laid her down on the bed, pulling the covers over and left the room. Once down the stairs, his mother gave him a smug look.

"What?" He asked, though he was smiling too. Why? He didn't even know.

"Hmm, oh nothing," she lied, and picked up her lamp and a book, and went up to her room. Percy raised an eyebrow at her, but she merely just smiled and he sighed, getting ready to sleep on the couch. It wasn't the best, but it was still comfortable and Percy wasn't a picky sleeper. He closed his eyes, and let the thoughts engulf his mind as he went into a deep sleep.

. . .

"Percy, wake up." Annabeth's voice rang in his ears, and he immediately sat up, knocking his head on Annabeth's.

"Ow!" They both cried in unison, looking at each other's faces and laughing.

"I don't even know what I am going to do with you two." Sally joked as she made breakfast.

Percy smiled, and got up from the couch, going into the bathroom to freshen up. After a while, he was ready, and Annabeth stood expectantly at the front of the door. She had already eaten breakfast, and Percy had just finished.

"You tired?" She asked, looking at him.

Percy nodded his head slowly. "Definitely."

Annabeth didn't meet his eyes. "Sorry about the, little commotion last night, must've taken all of your sleep."

Percy laughed. "It's okay, Annabeth. It was nothing, really."

She smiled. "Good, because I don't want to have a five hour conversation with you about my dad."

"You overreact."

"Are we going to do this again?" She shoved him, and he shoved her back a little too forcefully, causing her to ram into another junior.

"Watch it." The girl quickly said, and she pushed past Annabeth.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "She's annoying."

"She's in your classes?"

"Yeah," Annabeth sighed. "For some of them, and she likes to tease me the whole time we're there. It's funny though, because most of her jokes are from the Internet." Annabeth scoffed. "Mathew and Bobby could do better than what she says. Then again, they probably can't because most of what she says uses a variety of swear words."

"What's her name?"

"Drew, why?"

Percy's heartbeat increased, and he could feel it coming out his throat. That was the girl Piper told him about, the one who would for sure bully Annabeth. He didn't really believe her, but now? Percy shivered and tried to lose those sickening thoughts.

"What's wrong, are you cold?" Annabeth asked as they stepped into the school. "It's still August."

Percy smiled and shook his head. "I'm okay."
He noticed Piper walking over to him, and he glanced at Annabeth worriedly, yet she didn't realise her sudden arrival and he sighed a breath of relief.

"Percy?" Piper asked, and both Annabeth and Percy looked up.

"Could I speak to you?" She glanced at Annabeth. "Alone?"