Annabeth's POV

"Just leave me alone, Castellan." I heard someone growl as I turned the corner. I looked up from my music and what I saw pissed me off.

It was Luke Castellan holding Jackson against the lockers while the dickhead's cronies watched, laughing. A crowd of people had gathered. I had to remind myself that I couldn't send anyone to the hospital, so I needed to cool it a bit. I watched the scene a little longer.

"What? Little Percy can't handle it?" Luke asked. He slammed Percy into the lockers again.

"Just fuck off, Luke." Percy said.

"Now why would I want to do that?" He asked mockingly, shoving Percy again.

"Because," I stepped forward, and felt everyone's attention shift to me. A look of fear passed over Castellan's friends' faces. "I'll kick your ass. Again."

A few people snickered at that. Luke didn't find it very funny. "Oh look. You're little girlfriend's here to save the day." Luke mocked Percy and slammed him again.

"I'm not his girlfriend. Number one, and number two, let him the fuck go. Now." My words were laced with authority and firmness, making myself sound dangerous. It was a trick I picked up a while back, in middle school.

"What if said, 'no'?" He asked, still keeping Jackson in his grasp.

"Then I'd think that you're a real fucking dumbass because clearly, you didn't learn your lesson the first time." I stepped closer and pulled Luke away from Percy. Percy seemed to sigh in relief.

Luke scowled at me. "You really are a bitch." He surged forward to push me against the lockers. I waited until the last second to side step, throwing him off. He ran into the lockers with a painful thud.

"Nice try, asshat." I taunted.

Luke turned to face me. He slowly walked forward, and on instinct I stepped back. "You really are embarrassing your little boyfriend over there. He should be able to fight is own battles." Luke kept rambling as he walked closer, cornering me to the lockers. I looked over to Percy. He was being held back by Luke's cronies, struggling to get out of their grasp.

I swear. Everything I do goes to shit all the time. I rolled my eyes, but kept them on Luke.

He was now inches from my face, and I had backed into the lockers completely. He placed his hands on either side of my head, leaning on the lockers. He started to lean in, a hungry look in his eyes. I realized what this was and thought one thing;

Oh fuck no.

He leaned in to kiss me, and I did the only thing that came to mind; I brought my knee up and hit him right in the crotch. He immediately fell to the floor, grabbing his soft spot. His cronies momentarily forgot about Percy and rushed to help their leader. Percy smirked as I walked over to him, away from Luke.

Castellan's friends picked him up and hauled him away, the crowd parting for them. Everybody stayed silent.

"This isn't over!" Luke yelled.

"Alright. Show's over! Get outta her!" I yelled. Everyone quickly scrambled away. The hallways quickly emptied, for the bell had already rang. I turned and was met with sea green eyes.

I took this moment to finally look at his face. His left eye was black and blue. His lip was swollen, and his right cheekbone was bruised, along with his right temple.

"I can handle myself, you know." He mumbled, going to pick up his backpack.

"Clearly not. And I'm not playing this game with you. So don't." I said.

"What game?" He looked at me.

"The, 'I can handle myself.' 'No you can't.' 'Yes I can so don't help me.' Game." I said, grabbing my book bag, which I had thrown on the floor prior to this entire encounter.

"But seriously, don't help me." He finished and looked me straight in the eye.

"Sure, Asshole." I waited a moment before talking again. "He do that to you?" I gently poked his lip. "And what about everything else." I couldn't help it as my eyes drifted to his arms to see if there were any other injuries I could spot. His sweatshirt sleeves were down, covering his arms.

Damnit. I cursed to myself.

"No." Percy's voice was small and quiet, yet it gave off a 'don't ask' vibe. He avoided eye contact, he always did when something was up. It was something I'd picked up on. I could practically feel him putting up his walls. I decided to let it go. "Unfortunately, I will see you at lunch, Wiseass." And with that, he walked off.

"Later, Asshole." I called down the hallway. I started on my way in the opposite direction.

On my walk to biology, I found myself thinking about what had just happened. A few things stuck out; Luke tried to kiss me, and I was extra angry with this situation.

The fact that Castellan tried to kiss me made me want to puke in a bag and shove that bag down the asshat's throat. He hates me though. And if he hates me, why'd he try to kiss me? I sighed at my loss for an answer.

And then I was really angry with this encounter. Was it because of Luke's actions? I knew that I was hella pissed and disgusted about that but, it wasn't it. This anger was different. It felt more.... territorial. Protective.

But why? Over Jackson?

No. There's no way.

Maybe though...

No. No.

I rubbed my temples to try and soothe the headache that now racked my brain. All this shit was too much. I walked into the classroom and plopped down into a seat, ignoring the teacher when he scolded me for being late.

If only he knew the day I'd had so far.

><•><

"Guess who." I said throwing a napkin at Percy's face.

"Hmm. Leo?" He asked.

"No, dumbass. It's only your most favorite person in the world ever. Your savior." I said.

"You're not my 'savior', Chase." Percy pulled the napkin from his face.

"Uh, I so am." I said, plopping down next to him in the grass.

He laughed annoyedly. "You really are irritatingly relentless."

"Who knew that Perseus Asshole Jackson,"

He sighed.

"Don't think I forgot about that one—used such big words?" I asked mockingly.

"Shut up, Wiseass." He took a bite of his sandwich.

I pulled out my own sandwich and dug in. Percy looked over at me.

"Peanut butter and jelly?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Um, yes." I said, taking a bite of the sandwich. "It's, like, the best fucking thing in the world."

"Meh. It's okay." He shrugged.

My mouth dropped open, and I wore an offended look. "P.B. & J. is my best friend so you shut the fuck up right now, Asshole." I defended.

Jackson laughed. "It's your best friend? That's sad."

"No it's not. P.B. & J. has been here for me since day one. The one consistent thing in my life for the past 14 years everyday." I finished.

Percy looked over to me and completely turned his body to face me. "You mean to tell me that you've eaten peanut butter and jelly every single day for your entire school experience?" He asked, astounded.

"Yep." I said, taking another bite of my sandwich.

"You don't ever get tired of it?"

"Nope."

"Never?"

"Ever."

"Wow. And I thought I was boring." He said, facing outward again.

"I am not boring." I shoved him. "And to think you'd be so rude to me after I saved your ass today." I took another bite of my sandwich. "Singlehandedly against multiple jocks, might I add." I said through a mouth of bread, peanut butter, and jelly.

"I really could've handled it." He insisted.

"Yeah, no." I shook my head.

"I can't win with you, I swear." He mumbled before pulling out his phone and turning on his music.

Stuck in the jet wash
Bad trip I couldn't get off
Maybe I bit off more than I could chew
And overhead of the aqua blue

"Fall Out Boy?" I asked.

Percy just nodded. "You know 'em?"

"You're kidding me right?" I asked. "Have you met me? I like other things than 5sos you know." I pointed out.

"Favorite Panic! song?"

"LA Devotee."

"Favorite Fall Out Boy song?"

"Jetpack Blues."

"Nice, nice." Percy seemed impressed. "I'm surprised that I would have something in common with.... you." He said 'you' as if I were the most disgusting thing on earth.

"Oh put a sock in it, Jackson." I nudged his side. "I'm pretty sure that you like what I did first. I started liking all those bands when I was 12."

He stayed silent. "Damnit." I heard him mutter.

"Ha! Gotcha there." I pointed at him.

"You really are a Wiseass." He said, poking my side.

"Yes I am."

><•><

"You suck, Jackson." I threw my board down and rode off smiling, practically hearing Jackson's smirk.

I made my way home and thankfully to my room without any interruptions. No Helen, no fatherly lectures—it was perfect. I went into my room and threw down all my stuff, closing the door.

For a while we pretended
That we'd never have to end it
But we knew we'd have to say goodbye

I was just laying on my bed, procrastinating doing my homework, when a brilliant idea hit me.

I knew how I was going to prank Jackson.

And it was going to be fucking beautiful.

><•><

"Sorry."

I had to say that a lot as I wove between crowds of people on the busy streets of New York City. It was really hard not to come close to hitting pedestrians when you're in a rush.

I finally made it to the dollar store and walked inside.

Before I knew it, I was waiting on line with two 25 packs of water balloons. I needed 50 in total for my attack, and the stupid store didn't just have a 50 pack.

"Next." I walked up to the cashier. He scanned the balloons. "Your total is $5.34."

I handed the boy six dollars, taking my balloons. He handed me my receipt. "Keep the change." I practically flew out of the store. I threw down my board and hopped on. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. 4:53.

Great. Helen said to be home by 5 for dinner. If I was even a minute late, I would be getting the lecture of a lifetime.

Helen was going to be very pissed at me, unless I could ride 7 blocks hustling and bustling with people in seven minutes.

•••