"Percy, you've got to see this," Annabeth gaped at a book. It had been harder for her before to make out words because she was stressed, but with Hazel's help she could make out 'The Mark of Ath' on the cover was a picture of what looked like Jason and Percy on horses, swords raised. Piper had told her about this scene before.

"Percy, look, its you!"

"Annabeth, haven't we already declared this? We've been through four books already." Percy threw down his book.

They were sitting inside of a local library. They had wanted to keep moving, so they searches the blocks and found it the perfect place to sleep for the night, as long as nobody noticed them before they locked it up. The next morning they had found more books and couildn't help but run through them.

"Look at this," Nico pointed at his computer screen. "That's Percy, and Annabeth again, and Leo, and... is that me? Do I really look that retarded?"

"Let me see," Percy stood up and looked at Nico's screen. Annabeth could see it was the same kind of artwork as the picture Nico showed her at the school.

"You look so young in that picture," Annabeth stated to Percy. "It must have been when you were twelve."

Percy nodded sadly. Annabeth understood. She could tell he was stressed. A library was the last place he wanted to be, especially with everything going on, and the fact that he was horribly dyslexic.

Nico scrolled down his page with his mouse. He squinted at the screen. "What does that say? Pe- Perc... "

"Let me see." Hazel stood up. Annabeth bit her lip. She felt so bad for her, she wanted to scream. She was thankful Percy was okay, but she could only imagine how Hazel felt about Frank's death. She didn't know how that girl could manage keeping all of her feelings locked up all the time.

Hazel studied the screen. "I think... Perca... Percabe..."

Nico finished for her. "Percabeth?"

Percy raised his eyebrows, impressed. "Wow, you two are good at this. What does Percabeth mean?"

"What does it sound like, Seaweed Brain? The first part sounds like you and the last part sounds like me. Our names are mashed together."

Nico nodded. "Lots of pictures of you guys." He scrolled down. He looked almost irritated. "Lots of pictures. Do you two really kiss that much?"

"What?" Percy leaned so he could get a better view of the screen. "Oh my gods."

"What?" Annabeth said.

Percy hesitated, and Annabeth almost thought something was wrong until he said, "Is that me as a mermaid? Who drew that?"

Hazel sighed. "You two are pretty popular. Hey Nico, what's that?" She pointed to the screen. Nico clicked something. Annabeth moved next to Percy so she could see.

It was a picture of Hazel and Frank having their first kiss.

Hazel stiffened. Annabeth was almost sure she would burst into tears, but instead a single drop rolled down her cheek.

"Excuse me for a moment," She said before rushing to the bathroom.

"Hazel- oh, no." Annabeth said. She saw Percy looking down at the floor, hugging himself. She rubbed his arm.

Nico rubbed his arms and neck uncomfortably. "Um... should someone, ah.. comfort her?"

Nobody said a word.

"Alright then." Nico silently continued his research. Annabeth couldn't help but notice how much of a toughie Nico was.

Percy picked his book back up and pretended to read. Annabeth looked at Hazel's direction, but decided to let her be alone. They could talk about it later.

Annabeth turned to Nico. "So, what is 'Percabeth?'"

***

Piper's eyes fluttered open. "Huh?"

"Morning, Beauty Queen." Said a voice.

"Leo?" Piper sat up and rubbed her head. "What... there was a bloodhound... and Jason...."

"Don't worry, that's all taken care of." Piper looked around and saw she was in a garage of some sort.

"Are- are we at camp? Is this the Heapheastus Cabin?"

"Ha ha, no, this is a repair shop. Why don't you wake up your boyfriend?"

Piper looked over to see another body laying next to her. "Jason!"

She shook Jason's shoulders. "Come on, wake up..."

She looked at Leo, who was sitting on a table in front of them. 

"Leo, what happened?"

Leo shrugged. "According to Frank, you and Jason were attacked by a bloodhound."

Piper jumped up. "Where's Lesley?"

"No idea. Frank said she ran off somewhere."

Piper nodded. "What about Jason? Will he be okay?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah, that kid's got a thick skull. He'll be fine."

Piper sighed, relieved. "Good,"

She stood up and brushed herself off. "What are you doing?"

Leo tapped the celestial bronze plate he was working with. "Project. If I can build it using Mark's tools, I might be able to find our friends, or maybe even camp."

Piper tilted her head. "Mark?"

"He's my boss."

"Boss?"

Leo grinned. "Yup. I've got a job."

Piper smiled. "No kidding."

"Yeah, well, we all knew I was special." Leo bit his lip. "Speaking of jobs, I've got to get back to my shift..."

Piper frowned. "You were serious?"

Frank walked in. "Leo, I'm-"

"Frank?" Piper asked.

Frank smiled. "Yup. Glad to to see you're awake. Remember much?"

Piper nodded. "You've got a scratch." She pointed to her own jaw.

Frank nodded. "I know. That bloodhound was tricky."

Piper gaped. "You beat the bloodhound? For us?"

Frank frowned like it was obvious. "Well, yeah, you thought I was just going to sit and watch?"

Piper smiled wider. "Thanks, Frank."

"Anyways," Leo said. "What do you need, Frank?"

Frank turned to face him. "I'm going way out far to town, back at the graveyard. I figer it might be close to where the others are. I might be gone a few hours."

Leo nodded. "Fine." He rubbed his eyes. "Ugh, what time is it? I need my beauty sleep. 'Night." Leo left outside the garage door.

Piper looked at Frank. "I thought he had to return to his shift."

Frank shrugged. "It's almost minnight, and today was suppost to be his day-off anyway. Mark will understand."

Piper looked at Frank. "You should get going."

"What about you?"

"I'll sleep here."

"Alright." Frank left Piper.

She shivered and sat down at Leo's seat. She pulled her jacket sleeves over her hands. It was cold at night.

She looked at the slab of celestial bronze Leo was using. She tapped on the table nervously.

Bored, she played with her zipper, tugged her hair, fiddled with Leo's tools, hummed a tune....

A scene appeared across the celestial bronze.

Piper watched curiously at the scene of Annabeth sitting outside, muttering something under her breath, a book in her arms.

***

Annabeth cuddled with the stair railing outside of the library. She had left the others. She needed time to think.

Annabeth flipped through the pages, and even though she couldn't read it, she felt like something in there would give her hope. Maybe a picture, or a hint, or a chapter title...

"You okay?" A voice said next to her.

She was half-expecting Percy, but the voice was too deep for that. Instead, a tall boy with pale skin, freckles, and shaggy brown hair loomed over her.

"Go away." Annabeth hugged herself. If anyone was going to talk to her, it would be Percy, and not even he could lift her spirits. it had been two days now. No answers.

The boy still stood over her.
"I said, go away." Annabeth said. "Can't you hear?"

"I can hear just fine." The boy said. Annabeth sighed. This boy was more impossible then Percy.

"You look cold," The boy stated. Annabeth huffed.

"Thanks for noticing." She said.

The boy looked at her book. "Good read?"

"Will you just go away? I don't want to talk." Annabeth refused eye contact.

"Are you sure?" The boy asked.

"No, I was just kidding. Hahahaha." Annabeth hugged the book and put her face in her arms, hoping to block the boy out. It failed.

"My name's Charlie," The boy said.

"That's nice."

"Whats yours?"

Annabeth hesitated. "Annabeth. Why?"

The boy shrugged and sat next to her. She scooted to the side.

"Your name sounds like the Annabeth from Percy Jackson." Said Charlie.

That sentence sounded really weird until Annabeth remembered what it meant.

"Yup," She sighed. "Lucky me."

"My little sister Lesley is obsessed with that series."

Annabeth jumped. "Say what?"

Charlie looked confused. "My sister, Lesley. You know her?"

Annabeth did a half-shake and a half-nod. She really wasn't sure.

Charlie laughed. "Alright then."

"Um..." Annabeth said. "Who is this... this sister of yours? Lesley? Is that Lesley Yomath?"

Charlie perked up. "So you do know her."

Annabeth made a little whiney sound under her breath. "Yup."

He smirked. "Cool,"

"Uh, like, where is she? Like, right now? Anywhere near here?"

Charlie shrugged. "I have no idea. She's always so mysterious. She's always bribing me into doing weird stuff, some that I think is illigal. She even tricked me into kidnaping a girl from the hostpital the other day."

Annabeth stiffened. "Really?"

"Yeah. But don't tell anyone that." His eyes twinkled with hidden mischief, but Annabeth could tell he was brain dead.

"Right. Um, could I get your number?" Annabeth asked.

Charlie looked excited. "Sure!" Annabeth hoped he didn't think she liked him. She had already deditated herself to Percy.

He scribbled a number down on a scrap of paper. "Here, this is my cell."

"Uh, could I get your home number?" Annabeth asked.

Charlie frowned and wrote down another number on the back. "Here. But my cell's on the back."

Annabeth smiled as sweetly as she could. "Thank you,"

Charlie grinned. "Could I get your number?"

Annabeth bit her lip, and to avoide further conversation, said, "Sorry, no." And rushed back into the library before he could say a word.

She didn't want to break the guy's heart, but she already had a boyfriend! As sweet as the guy was, she would only have her Seaweed Brain. Besides, it looked like he was hitting on her. It made her uncomfortable.

She entered one of the library rooms and approached Percy, who was looking up things on Google.

"Percy, you won't believe what just happened."

Percy turned to face her. "Yeah?"

"Lesley has an older brother named Charlie. I met him outside on the steps." She realised why he had been so interested in talking to her in the first place. He was hitting on her! She decided not to metion that to Percy. "Anyway, we talked a bit, and he told me about how Lesley loved the series, etc. Then..." Annabeth pulled out her stip of paper with the phone number. "I asked for his number so that we could contact Lesley. I got his home phone and cell."

Percy lit up. "That's brilliant! So, what do we do, prank call?"

"No, Seaweed Brain, but its a start."

Percy flashed a smile. "I knew things would get better. They always do."

Annabeth wanted to laugh. Percy's optimisim and stupidity always seemed to cheer her up in a strang way she couldn't explain.

That's love, she thought giddly. She followed Percy to tell the others.

Finally, things really were looking up!

***

Piper watched as the screen dimmed.

Wow, totally useless scene of her friends. But she knew where they were now! They were at the library, checking out books about.... Percy Jackson. Eeep.

Piper leaned back in her seat. She remembered what Lesley had said about her being a book character before the bloodhound attack. Piper had forgotten all about it, but now she saw she was telling the truth. Piper shivered. Scary.

Although she wasn't all that surprised. When you're the daughter of a famous acter you kind of expect to be known as a person, even though Piper had hidden herself from that fact for years. It was like a hidden sense born with every child celebrity. Go figer.

But it was still creepy. Piper couldn't help but think of all the secrets that were shared in those pages. Everybody knew everything about her just by reading a book. It almost made her want to hide away, maybe forever. Lock herself inside a box and never let anyone in. Except for maybe Jason.

Piper looked at him. He was still out cold.

Piper looked at the empty celestial bronze plate. Leo was coming in for a surprise when he woke the next morning.

Which reminded her - she was exausted. It was past minnight, and she hadn't slept a wink since the restless night a the hospital. And apparently getting knocked out doesn't fill your health bar, either.

Piper laid herself next to Jason and fell asleep the moment her eyes closed.

For the first time in her demigod life, she had a dreamless sleep.