Annabeth was definitely jealous.

The girl smiled down at Annabeth, her freckles crinkling as the corners of her lips turned up. She had a pretty face, with vibrant red curls dancing crazily on her head, and green eyes just as bright as her hair. The overalls she wore had paint splattered everywhere, giving her a hippie vibe.

"Woah," she laughed. "Kind of aggressive, aren't you?"

Annabeth tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, smiling shyly. "Sorry, I thought you were Drew for a second."

The girl sat opposite from Annabeth, her smile still evident on her face. "I'm Rachel." She said, and Annabeth narrowed her eyes, she'd heard that name before.

"Annabeth," she replied back, smiling a little. She didn't know whether 'Rachel' was actually being kind, or if she was just as the devil herself, Drew.

They talked, and Annabeth found Rachel nice, a bit too much, but she was okay. Just then, Percy came walking over, though Annabeth had no idea why.

"Rachel?" He hesitantly asked, a small smile on his face. He looked surprised. Why is he surprised? Annabeth thought.

"Percy!" Rachel cried, giving him a tight hug. Annabeth's stomach tightened, and she clenched her jaw, noticing the faint blush on Percy's cheek as Rachel kept her arms around him. "I didn't know you came here."

"You two know each other?" Annabeth pointed at them both, and they nodded eagerly.

"Met her at my old school," Percy answered, then turned to her. "I still can't believe you're here."

"I came here near the end of the school year," Rachel laughed. "Last year, obviously."

Annabeth fiddled with her lettuce, not sure what to do, she felt like the biggest third wheel ever, and there wasn't even any dating involved. How come Percy didn't tell me about her before? Annabeth asked herself, then shook the thought out. He doesn't have to tell me everything.

"We should totally catch up," Rachel said, and Annabeth rolled her eyes. Catch up? That's exactly what they were doing now, why not end it altogether?

"Smoothie place, tomorrow. That alright with you?" Percy asked, and Annabeth wanted to protest. That's where they were going, and she didn't want to waste her time with Rachel cuddling Percy.

"The one opposite the school?" Rachel asked, and Percy nodded in agreement. "Sure," she smiled softly and Annabeth wanted to barf.

She might as well have a sign that says 'I have a crush on Percy!' if the non stop flirting wasn't enough. Annabeth wrinkled her nose, what a great lunch, she thought. New friend turns out to be a best friend stealer.

"That's where we go, Percy." Annabeth informed him, and he turned to her.

"Come on, Annabeth." Percy begged. "It's boring when it's just the two of us."

Ouch.

Annabeth nodded, smiling on the outside but the inside was quite the opposite. She liked it just being them two, laughing and talking as if they didn't have a care for the world, she didn't know Percy didn't feel the same way. You see, she thought. If he doesn't agree with that, he sure as hell doesn't agree with your feelings.

Percy stayed there, chatting to Rachel while Annabeth read her book, eavesdropping on their conversation and grimacing when needed.

. . .

"You've got a lot of nerves being in my team for gym, Annabeth," Drew smiled, and Annabeth made a face.

"Coach literally put us into teams, Drew." Annabeth clarified. How dumb can she be? Annabeth thought.

Drew rolled her eyes, as if what Annabeth said disgusted her. "Just stay out of the way, Chase."

"Wasn't it you who walked over to me?" Annabeth smiled.

Drew was about to reply, when coach's voice rang through the gym, sending everyone silent.

"Time for some dodgeball!" He shouted, smiling maniacally at the students. Annabeth shuddered, he always chose the contact sports for a reason.

She went over to her part of the area, wincing at some of the players on the other team, it was like they were taunting her, their eyes narrowed and mouths wide in a grin.

"Go!" The whistle blew, and Annabeth ran to grab a ball, throwing it at some boy who cursed loudly.

"Watch your mouth!" Coach Hedge shouted back at him. That nearly made Annabeth laugh, as sometimes when there were fights at the gym, Hedge would curse himself, not caring that the students were right in front of him.

She was too busy thinking about that to notice the ball hurtling at her, gasping as it smacked the side of her hip. That's going to leave a bruise, Annabeth thought, as she waddled to the 'Out' area, smiling hesitantly at the boy she hit earlier.

It's going to be a long day, Annabeth thought.

. . .

Thalia raised an eyebrow at Annabeth, whilst simultaneously chewing on some chocolate almonds.

"So, Rachel has a crush on Percy?" Annabeth nodded in reply. "How do you know?"

"I just know," Annabeth shrugged.

Thalia laughed. "So now you two are basically going to fight for Percy?"

Annabeth scoffed, "no," she said. "I'm not desperate."

"By the looks of it, Rachel is," Thalia laughed at Annabeth's sudden frown. "She's going to get him before you do."

"Oh thanks Thalia. Your support really helped me," Annabeth joked, throwing an almond at her.
"And guess what?"

"What?"

"Percy and I were supposed to go to the smoothie place today, and he invited Rachel." Annabeth groaned. "And she said "yes.""

Annabeth's phone rang, and she picked up the call, smiling at Percy's voice.

"You coming?" He asked, and Annabeth raised her eyebrow, completely forgetting that he couldn't see her.

"It's only one pm, we were going at two." Annabeth checked the clock on the wall for verification.

"Rachel wanted to go earlier, is that alright with you?" Percy asked, and Annabeth tensed.

"Yeah, it's alright with me," Annabeth lied, ignoring Thalia's raised eyebrows. It definitely wasn't alright with her. Then again, the whole 'Rachel coming with them' wasn't alright with her.

"Hello?" Percy said, and Annabeth forgot that he was still there.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"Nothing." She could hear Percy sigh. "Bye."

"Bye." Annabeth said and ended the call, sighing and flopping her head on the table.

"He likes Rachel." Annabeth said. "He really likes Rachel."

"As a friend." Thalia assured her. "Nothing wrong with that."

. . .

Annabeth smiled at Percy and Rachel outside the smoothie place, already having a conversation.

"Hi," she said to them,and they both replied, walking in.

They made their way to their seats, Annabeth sitting alone whilst Percy and Rachel sat together. That irritated her.

They ordered their smoothies, Percy and Rachel 'miraculously' choosing the same ones and laughing like it was an inside joke. Annabeth didn't find it funny at all, annoying? Yes, funny? Anything but the sort.

"Remember back in middle school when . . . "

Annabeth zoned out after that, not wanting to hear all the great things they did without her, it was almost like rubbing salt in a wound.

"You knew there's that new film in cinema?" Rachel smiled.

Percy nodded. "You want to watch it with me?"

"I'd like that," Rachel's voice was incredibly soft, and Percy was beaming.

Annabeth decided to interrupt their little 'moment' by slurping her drink really loud. They both turned to her.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth waved her hands. "Keep going."

Rachel blushed a little, and turned back to her drink.

"So Percy!" Rachel quickly said. "When did you meet Annabell?"

Annabeth nearly bit her tongue, her face completely red. "It's Annabeth you -"

"When we were twelve," Percy shot Annabeth a look, his eyes narrowing. "We met when we were twelve."

Annabeth shrugged. "Yeah, what about you?"

"Fourteen," Rachel seemed uneasy. She should be, Annabeth thought, smiling as she downed her cup.

"How'd you guys meet?" Annabeth asked. Rachel smiled, as if remembering a fond memory.

"He nearly threw a rock at my face," Rachel laughed, and Percy scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"I was an idiot back then," Percy laughed it off.

Annabeth wanted to reply with a 'still am' when Rachel decided to take her cue.

"Yeah but you're my idiot," she laughed, ruffling his hair and Percy blushed bright red like a tomato.

He's not yours, Annabeth thought to herself. I mean, he's not mine either but he isn't hers. Why can't I be confident like that? Annabeth didn't realise her straw was scrunched up till it was now a tiny ball inside her fist. She's got no right to say that, Annabeth thought. Waltzing in and stealing Percy away from me, should've brought a book here if all I was going to hear were her desperate blows of flirting.

"Well, we met after he fell down," Annabeth said, Rachel and Percy both turning to her, as if just noticing she was there.

"That sounds kinda boring," Rachel shrugged, and Annabeth made a face.

"So yeah, me and Percy were best friends for four years," Annabeth smiled at her. "How long were you friends with him again?"

"Two years, but we're best friends so it doesn't really matter."

Annabeth raised her eyebrows. "I'm best friends with him too, you know."

"Yeah, but in middle school, we were like two peas in a pod," Rachel laughed. What the heck is so funny about that? "We really were the bestest of friends."

Desperate, much? "For a couple of months? I highly doubt that," Annabeth laughed, not noticing Percy's frown.

"I mean, sure, we didn't get in touch after that, umm, thing," Rachel blushed, Percy as well, and Annabeth raised her eyebrows.

"What thing?" She asked, and Rachel quickly changed the subject.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Don't have one."

"Really?" Rachel said, and Annabeth nodded in reply. "I remember Percy's favorite color is blue."

"I know."

"Did you know he's really good at swimming?"

"Yes, Rachel, I know." Annabeth then whispered, "I've known him longer than you."

Rachel arched an eyebrow at Percy, and he turned to her. "You're not speaking at all, what's wrong?"

You.

Percy was just staring at Annabeth, a small yet still visible frown on his face. It was like he had been switched on to off mode, and Annabeth was finding it uneasy.

"What?" Annabeth turned behind her, but there was only a wall. "What's wrong?"

Percy snapped out of his daze after Rachel slightly shoved him, and he shook his head as if trying to lose those thoughts.

"What happened?" Annabeth asked him, and he continued to frown.

"Nothing," he said, though his eyes were still staring at Annabeth, and she shifted uncomfortably.

"We're all finished right?" Rachel didn't wait for an answer, dragging both Annabeth and Percy out of the smoothie place. "Let's go to some stores, I'm bored."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I didn't bring any money for that."

"Who said we were actually going to buy anything?" Rachel scoffed. "It's called messing around."

Annabeth smiled to herself, she actually was starting to like Rachel. Only a bit though, only a bit.

"So what do we do first?" Percy asked as he walked side by side with Rachel, Annabeth lagging behind.

"There!" Rachel pointed at a massive mall, small or big shops decking the area. There were tons of people there, and lights strewn across the mall.

They all walked over to it, and Annabeth was finding it hard to keep up. The mall was extremely packed, and tons of people were barging her as she came in. Rachel and Percy were nowhere to be seen, and she cursed inwardly.

Where could they go? Annabeth thought to herself as she nearly banged her head on a random palm tree- probably fake, that was inconveniently placed right in the middle of the doors.

"Watch where you're going, kid!" Some random man with a steaming cup of coffee shouted as he literally pushed her, I mean, Annabeth knew people were mean, but she didn't know it was on that level.

She spotted Rachel and Percy smiling and talking outside a shop, and Annabeth strode over to them, a slight frown on her face. She was pretty sure someone had dropped something on her hair, and with what everything that happened now and in the last few couple of hours, Annabeth was having a great day.

"What took you so long?" Rachel asked, and Annabeth kept her hands in her pocket so as not to strangle her.

"Come on, let's just go to wherever you want to go," Annabeth said, "and then go home." The sky was starting to darken, and Annabeth frowned, not realising she would stay this long.

Rachel led them to a small arts and crafts store, and she marvelled at the different products. "See that?" She pointed at a large pallet filled with watercolours. "I really want to get that, but I'm saving up and it's taking ages."

Percy frowned, "I thought your dad could buy it for you?"

"I don't want to take his money, it will feel like cheating," Rachel shuddered, and Annabeth tilted her head in confusion. What was so wrong about her dad?

"How would it feel like cheat-"

Annabeth was cut off by Rachel half-squealing and half-shouting. "They've got the new paintbrush," she gushed. "The one where you don't need to wash to get a new color."

Annabeth wanted to complain at getting cut off, but Rachel and Percy didn't seem to care, and she settled on thinking, rather than saying.

"After this, could we go to the bookstore?" Annabeth asked shyly. "There's this new book and I've been meaning to get it for a while- "

"I thought you said you didn't have any money?"

"I have some change, and that's better than wasting it on clothes," Annabeth contradicted, Rachel wasn't going to be the leader of this group and that was final.

"Ok, cool. We'll do that after I'm done," Rachel smiled, and Annabeth dug her fingernails into the palm of her hand. For a girl so kind, she could be really infuriating.

"But we might not have any time left to -"

"Relax, Annabeth," Rachel waved her hand. "I'll be quick, I promise."

"And it's a signed copy, it's going to be sold out if we wait for you to finish, so could -"

"Two minutes, Annabeth, two minutes and I'll be -"

"Could you stop cutting me off and let me finish my sentence?" Annabeth had had enough, Rachel had been talking this whole time and all she wanted was some peace and quiet . . . and also the signed copy of the book but that wasn't the point.

Percy sent Annabeth a frown. "Could you go easy on her, please?"

"I am," Annabeth insisted. "All she's done is look at some stupid art things and not even buy anything." Annabeth crossed her arms. "I've actually got a reason to be here, she doesn't, so let's use our time to good use and go to the bookstore."

Rachel looked down at the floor, and Annabeth felt the tiniest bit of guilt, but it was soon swallowed up by her anger.

"You can go to the bookstore, sorry," she said quietly, and Annabeth smiled to herself, walking to the bookstore by herself. She wasn't sure if Percy and Rachel were beside her, but Annabeth didn't care, she was getting that book even if it did mean being rude to someone.

"Annabeth, aren't you going to say something?" Percy insisted, and she shrugged.

"What?"

He nudged her lightly on the arm. "Sorry? Five letter word?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I spoke the truth." She stopped at the entrance of the store. "And anyways, we're here so it doesn't matter."

Percy sighed, but didn't say anything as she opened the door and went inside.

"You guys can go if you want," Annabeth offered. She figured she was being too harsh. "I don't mind."

Rachel gave Percy a look, and he turned to Annabeth with an apologetic glance. "See you tomorrow then?"

As long as she's not there.

"Yeah," she gave them a wave as they left. "Bye."

Annabeth went over to the stand where all the newest books were placed, and she frowned as there was none left. Just then, Annabeth noticed a sudden flash of light, and she realised that there was thunder outside.

"Excuse me, but those new books on the desk, the ones that were signed?" Annabeth said to a worker. "Are they finished?"

The worker frowned. "Last book got taken just minutes ago," she turned to Annabeth. "Sorry dear, we'll tell you when they're restocked?

Annabeth shook her head. "It's okay, but thank you," Annabeth called out as she left the store.

The mall was still packed despite the time and the weather and Annabeth quickly walked out of there, shivering at the sudden change of temperature.