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(A cute video I found!!)

"Yeah, Percy." I smile. "That would be nice."

He comes into the room and walks over to my corner. He squashes himself under the desk and because he is so tall, his neck is cranked at an odd angle, trying to get comfortable.

"Annabeth, are you okay?" He asks.

I laugh at the irony, because in the position he is in right now, out of the two of us, he is obviously the least okay. "Yeah, I'm fine. You realize you don't have to sit over there. You can sit by me."

"Oh thank the gods," He says, coming out from under the desk, though not before hitting his head a couple times. He stretches and sits down next to me.

He looks over my shoulder and says, "All the Bright Places? That's a good book."

"Percy, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"I came to check on you. Why did you run out like that?" He responds.

"I don't know," and that's the honest answer. I have no idea why I ran out of there so fast or why I am getting goosebumps from him being just inches from my face, still glancing at the pages of my book or why I have been so disorganized recently.

"What's been up with you lately?" He asks. "You just seem...off."

"Percy, I don't..." I start. I stop, then start again. "I got a new job."

"You did? You're the busiest person I know. I don't understand how you handle this kind of stuff." He responds.

I chuckle. "I guess I just deal with it."

"What do you do in your job?" He asks.

I think about how much I should tell him, "My step-mom got me the job."

Percy's eyes snap up at me and pierce me with their fierce sea green. "Your step-mom?" He tenses.

"Yeah. She's been...better...since I got the job." I say.

"Annabeth," he says sternly, "where do you work?"

"I... work at the downtown Lotus Bars. My mom works there and got me the job. It is owned by the Ugliano brothers. That family has come to own all of the bars and clubs in town. They're millionaires AND have pull at the local and some out of state colleges." I say, explaining my situation.

"Annabeth. You need to quit right now." Percy says, his eyes that were once warm, now cold and unblinking.

"What are you talking about, Percy? I'm using this job to get some money for college and my step-mom promised that as long as I held this job, she wouldn't..." I drop my voice to a whisper, "abuse me."

"Annabeth. You don't understand. The Uglianos are bad news. Which of the three brothers do you work for?" Percy asks.

"Dave or Gabe, depends on the day." I reply.

"Crap." He says. I can tell that his mind is spinning. He mutters something about getting out of jail and curses in... is that Greek?!

"Percy. Don't worry about it, all I do is clean up at night. I haven't even met either of my bosses. It all goes through my step-mom." I get out, trying to backtrack.

"I...I need to talk to my mom about this. She'll know what to do. If you haven't even met him, then maybe you're okay. Just... be careful, Annabeth. Stay away from the Ugliano brothers. Please." He says, urgently.

He gets up and there is a cold spot at my side, where his body had been moments ago. He reaches out a hand to help me up and I take it.

"Annabeth," he says, "I'm sorry to worry you. You seemed to be pretty stressed already, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. Let's head back to class."

"Don't worry about it, Percy. Sounds like a plan." I think for a moment. "Percy, I have a question. I have been going to the Savior of Olympus' swimming meets for a while now, and he seems like a really nice guy. I think you two would get along really well (swimmingly.) Do you think you'd like to come watch?"

"Sunday? I'll check with my mom, I think I have... baking club... that day. Yeah. My mom and I are going to bake cookies for the club." Percy stutters in reply.

"That's too bad. Well, I guess I'll see you around, Percy." I say.

"Yeah." he beams, "See you around, Wise Girl."

My face warms and my eyes widen. I can't help but think, what it wrong with me?!

That night...

Percy

"Mom, I need to talk to you." I say to her, very urgently.

"Percy, what's the matter?" She asks me.

"Gabe is out of jail and here, in New York." I tell her.

Her jaw drops.

"Gabe's brothers pulled some strings in jail, and somehow managed to get him released. I was doing research all afternoon and it sounds like, once we got Gabe put in prison, his brothers started building an empire. His brother, Easton, was in Vegas and bought out a Lotus Casino Chain in the area. That business became very successful and got them enough money for Dave to start a chain called the Lotus Clubs. They must have used the money that he had gotten to bail Gabe out of jail, when he started the Lotus Pub. Now, the three of them are the richest people in New York and Vegas." I explain.

"Percy, what does this mean? What can we do about it?" My mom asks.

"Mom, here's the problem. Annabeth is working for Gabe and I'm worried for her." I say.

She sits up a little straighter and begins, "She works for him? That is not good, Percy. I will try to figure something out, but the problem is right now, Gabe isn't doing anything wrong. He can't be sent to jail or anything. Unless he has harmed Annabeth, he is abiding by the law, right now. I will try my best to figure something out, honey."

She gives me a hug a I nod, "Okay. Thanks mom."

"You really seem to care a lot about this Annabeth girl! You haven't brought her home since that day we watched movies together. Make sure to tell her that she is welcome over any time." My mom continues, smiling brightly.

My face turns red and I turn away from her. "Mom," I start, pulling up my sleeve, "There's something else I need to talk to you about..."

Later that night...

Annabeth

It is approaching 1:00 in the morning and I am just beginning my shift. Tonight, or rather today, I am working in the bar section. There is never anyone around and it is honestly kind of peaceful. The bright city lights make the windows glow with a warmth only seen downtown and every time a car goes by, the headlights hit a rainbow prism on the ceiling, casting the entire color spectrum onto the walls. 

I have my headphones in and am listening to the audiobook of I am Number Four, which is actually a really good book and series about crazy adventures, with an overarching plot. 

Overall, I am peacefully cleaning up, when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, quickly holding up my mop in defense, thinking the person behind me might be a Mogadorian, only to find a stoutly, older man sternly raising an eyebrow at me.

I take out my headphones and smile at the man. 

"Kids these days, always on their phones, never listening to a word anyone says." He says. His eyebrows scrunching together and pushing the reeking scent of ale from his mouth, in my direction.

"Sorry, sir. I didn't hear you come in. I'm Annabeth. You must be my boss, Mr..." I start.

"Gabe. Gabe Ugliano." He says.

Percy's warning from earlier rings in my ears, "Just... be careful, Annabeth. Stay away from the Ugliano brothers. Please."

Why would he say that? What is wrong with the Ugliano brothers and how is Percy involved? Am I in danger?

"Well, Annerbeth, your mother has told me a lot about you. She said you would like to go to a really good college and don't think you can get in their on your own merits." He questions.

"My step-mom, yes." I respond.

He steps closer to me and I back up slightly towards a table, "My dear, you stick with me and all of you dreams will be a reality. I have more power, money, and strings I can pull that anyone but me could ever handle."

I gulp. "Of course sir, I will try to do my job to the best of my ability."

"Thank you, my dear, say, you go to Goode High, correct?" He asks.

"Yes, I do. I am a senior." I reply.

"Ah, yes. Now I remember, your mother did say that. You don't by any chance know a boy named Percy Jackson, do you?" He questions.

"I do. He is a good friend of mine." I say.

"Interesting. That boy stole somethings from me that I can never get back and I would like to teach him a lesson. Do you think you could bring him here sometime?" Mr. Ugliano asks.

"I...don't know. This is pretty late for someone to be out." I say.

His face softens and a sickening smile takes shape, "Bring him on a weekend, that will be fine. Just tell him to meet you in the alley out back. If he can't make it, well I suppose you won't be able to make it into... even the local community college. Do my bidding, my dear."

"I-I will try." I stutter.

"Good. Very good." Gabe Ugliano then turns and saunters out the front door, leaving me shaking in the empty room that no longer feels so peaceful.

What have I gotten myself into?

Sunday

Annabeth

It has been a little less than a week since my first encounter with Gabe. I had been trying to avoid him whenever I was at work, by hiding in the bathroom or "picking at gum under a table." I had been wanting to confront Percy about him and Gabe, but part of me is scared of his response, so I suppose I had been inadvertently avoiding him too. 

Lucky that I did though, because last night, I was distracted and Gabe caught me off guard. He came up to me and asked me if I had told Percy to come over and 'reunite' with him. Thankfully, I could truthfully tell him that I hadn't talked to him in days. I think he was a bit suspicious, but he believed me and let it go for the moment. 

Today is a new day, though. I am off work and I get to go see another one of the Savior's swim meets. I am starting to really understand swimming and the rules better. It is actually pretty interesting to watch now. The Savior still has not lost yet and honestly, nobody has even come close to beating him. 

I have a feeling he is longing for a challenge and kind of feels bad about even going to these meets when he wins every time. I know he is also getting sick of the same annoying jocks "beating him up" in the locker rooms after every meet.

After the meet, we meet in the parking lot and start to walk over to a strip mall across the street. The Savior's hair is inexplicably dry having just swam for an hour, but that happens every week, so it is nothing new. In the mall, there is a Chinese restaurant that we go to for a late lunch.

As we get seated, a woman comes and takes our orders and heads back to the kitchen.

"Good job today!" I say smiling at the Savior.

"Thank you, Annabeth. I also want to say, that I really appreciate you coming to all of my matches. I know you are always really busy, but you always come to these. It means a lot to me." He replies.

I look at him and see a bruise blossoming on his cheekbone. "Again?" I ask "Are you ever going to teach those boys a lesson?"

The Savior chuckles, "All in good time, Annabeth. All in good time. Some day it will catch up with them. I know it."

"Okay, if you say so." I pause, "Actually, I have a question for you."

"Shoot." He replies.

"Why do you hide your identity?" I ask, having been wondering for a while.

"Well, I have to. You see what people do to me for winning. Imagine what they would do if they knew my friends or family. Best case scenario, they would be bullied or blackmailed at school." He tells me.

"You're trying to look out for other people? How noble of you." I chuckle.

"I know, I am the noblest in all of the sea, dear Annabeth, the evil queen is constantly jealous." He winks. 

"You're jokes are horrible." I roll my eyes.

"Horrible, maybe, but noble all the same." 

"Geez." I laugh.

Our food arrives and we spend the rest of the time chatting about various things under the sky.

As we talk, I can't help but to notice my stomach doing some flips. The same way it did with Luke and... recently too... with Percy. What? I expel that though from my mind as quickly as possible. Percy is just a very good friend of mine. Nothing more.

We walk out of the restaurant and his hand brushes mine. Before I know, it, our fingers are intertwined and we are walking hand in hand.

What is going on? Holy Hera, am I holding hands with a celebrity? What am I doing? What if someone sees us? I don't know what to do. Breathe, Annabeth. Just breathe...

We walk towards my car, hand and hand, a faint smile on our faces, cheeks painted a light shade of pink. We stop next to my car and let go of each-other's hands. 

"I had a really good time with you today." I say to the Savior.

"Me too. Until next week?" He says. 

"Sounds like a plan." I smile at him and am about to get in my car when he grabs my hand again.

"Annabeth, wait. I... really like you. I-" he stops and both of us begin leaning towards each-other. He closes his eyes when our lips meet and for some reason, I don't right away. 

This kiss is sweet and warm, almost familiar. After a second, I allow my eyes to flutter shut, only to be met with a horrifying image. 

When imagining the man in front of me, all I can see is a guy with raven hair and sea green eyes, who pours his soul to me and listens to everything I say. A boy who, at the beginning of the year, I hated. The boy who seems to always be watching out for me, yet never pushes too far. Somehow, I don't see the savior as the guy who I had been developing feelings towards the last couple of weeks. Now this leads me to question what I thought I knew already. I don't like the Savior, that was just a ruse to hide the truth...

I'm in love with Percy Jackson.

(As per request:

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Thank you all for reading, sorry for the late update. I will try to be better. My hope is that I will finish this by January 1st. DON'T worry. That does not mean there are only a couple of chapters left. I still have many ideas to add, but I will try to start updating more regularly.

Love,

Leah