Annabeth walked into school on Monday determined. She was going to prove Thalia wrong. But did she want to? Her steps faltered. Did she really want Percy to not be the one putting the notes in her locker?

Yes.

Because she knew it couldn't be him. She would not get her hopes up and think that Thalia might be right. Percy was one of, if not her only, best friend, she would not risk that by putting a name to the feeling she got around him. No, she would not risk it.

Her steps became assured once again. She made it up the steps and was about to join the flood of teens into the school when hands grabbed her waist pulling her back into a chest. She was about to punch the guy when she noticed the hoodie clad arms around her and smelled the ocean. Percy.

Annabeth couldn't help the grin on her face as she looked up to see Percy grinning at her. "What up shorty?" He teased. She fake pouted but he just raised an eyebrow before she couldn't help giggling.

"Nothing much, how about you?" Annabeth said back as Percy pulled her over to the side of the hallway once inside, he still had his arms around her and her back to his chest. He leaned on the lockers and damn Annabeth if she didn't think he looked hot today.

His hoodie was unzipped and she could barely see the black shirt under it with how she had to turn her head. His hair was it's usual windblown mess that Annabeth wanted to run her fingers through. And his eyes . . . Don't get her started on his eyes.

"School. Or as I like to call it, hell with hormones." Percy smirked and loosened his grip so Annabeth could turn to face him. He rested his hands on her hips as she gripped a few books in her arms and looked up to his face.

Annabeth giggled again. She couldn't believe it she wasn't one to giggle but she couldn't help it when Percy was around. "What's going on with you after school?" She really wanted to hangout with him but she also had to study for a math test coming up.

"Nothing. But I do need to get some work done." He sigh and took one hand off of her hips to run it through his hair and looked at her with a tired expression.

"I can help you." She squeaked. Not cool Annabeth, not cool. But god dammit he looked so good when he did that, and the hand he still had on one of her hips wasn't helping the situation at all.

Percy grinned. "Really?" Annabeth nodded a bit at loss for words. Because Percy's hand pulled the coffee out of her hands and took a drink after asking. His throat bobbed up and down and Annabeth had to look anywhere but his face, anywhere. She decided his shoulder was interesting and took a breath.

"Yeah I've tutored before so it shouldn't be too hard." She made the mistake of looking back to his face and was ensnared by his smile.

"Thanks Wise Girl." Percy gave her back her coffee and wrapped an arm around her shoulder so they could walk to class. Annabeth didn't miss the glances she got from people.

"Percy wait for me after we change." Annabeth said as they walked to the locker rooms swinging their held hands between them. After he agreed to she changed really quickly and ran out still pulling her brown boot on. "Okay here we are."

Percy slung an arm over her shoulders and they walked to his locker than hers. She took a deep breath. This was the moment.

She had stuck to his side all day, and when she couldn't she made sure Grover did. And she told Grover to tell her if Percy went anywhere near her locker. He hadn't. Apparently because Grover never reported back.

She opened the locker to see a note flutter out. It wasn't him. She didn't know how to feel about that. But she just smiled and hid the note, that she hadn't read yet, in her pocket so Percy wouldn't see it and got her things.

They agreed for Percy to come over in an hour for studying. Plenty of time for Annabeth to tell Thalia I told you so. When Percy parted with Annabeth he gave her a goodbye hug and left on his bike.

She turned only to have a red head in her face. She was pretty with green eyes and freakles. Her old Beatles shirt and paint splattered jeans let Annabeth know who she was facing. Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

"Whoa! A hi?" Annabeth said in confusion. Rachel frowned a bit at her. The red head messed with her hands as she looked Annabeth over.

"Are you and Percy dating?" Rachel asked, getting straight to her point. She had seen the two of them in the halls and heard rumors of a certain bike being in a certain blonde girl's driveway and not leaving until the next day.

"No." Annabeth said still confused but putting pieces together. "Why?"

"Just . . . Be good to him?" Rachel said surprising Annabeth further. "He . . . He is a good guy and don't make the mistake of loosing him." The red head gave a sad smile and walked off to her group of friends.

Annabeth blinked and tried to think. What was that about? She shook her head and walked to her car and left. She couldn't think about Rachel, Percy was coming over and she had to talk to Thalia.