Annabeth's Boarding Tale

Blue

Annabeth sat on the table part of the wooden bench with her legs bouncing up and down on the seat whilst she waits, looking for him in all directions. Surely he would be out soon? She was sat at the back of the school on the field watching all those who were out of the game hand their equipment back in to Mr Brunner at the desk. She could have sworn she had seen him numerous times handing his back in but it never was.

Shortly after Clarisse and Chris had found her, she got shot out. They got caught in an ambush by the Greens that she was certain was intended for the Reds, fortunately Chris noticed in time to pull Clarisse back but it was too late for Annabeth, she was completely oblivious and walked right into it. She blamed him. The guy in blue. She was still thinking about him and she didn't want to. That's why she was waiting, she was angry with him, he had ruined her focus.

Leo went and sat next to her, she continued to stare ahead, keeping an eye on the forest

"I sacrificed myself and that's how you honour me? You get ambushed!"

"You didn't sacrifice yourself, you were too slow"

"That's not what people are saying, they're calling me a hero, a knight in shining armour" he beamed proudly, Annabeth tried to ignore the obnoxious comments but the mention of armour jolted her mind

"Talking of armour, why was there a guy with blue shoulder pads? I thought there were only 3 teams" she asked sceptically,

"Brunner said there would be surprises" He chuckled and then turned his head to face her because the penny had just dropped, "Wait you saw the guy in blue?" She nodded her head "I thought you got out because you were ambushed?"

"I saw him before the ambush, right after I left you actually"

"Wow, you must be good"

"Why?"

"You didn't die at the hands of blue, everyone who comes across him gets shot out"

Annabeth was about to tell Leo that she did get shot by him, twice, but then it dawned on her that he didn't shoot her the 3rd time, he could have, probably should have but he let her go. And from what Leo was saying, he's not the type of guy to just let people go so she kept her mouth shut and produced a smirk instead.

"So why is he in blue?"

He started explaining how there are 3 individuals who play as a secret group, they have different colours, blue, yellow and white. This group play a more advanced version, they too have to gain the objects, however it's more of a free for all for them, they can shoot anyone and they have to be the sole survivor to win where as the 3 teams can win as soon as they have all 3 objects.

"Last year was blues first time in the secret group and he won" Leo added,

"His first time and he won" Annabeth repeated gobsmacked

"Yeah, that guy made history"

"Do you know him? Well I mean, like are you friends?"

Leo lifted one eyebrow up and smiled mischievously, "Best friends"

Annabeth was about to ask who blue really was when she saw the rest of the black team emerge from the forest with Hazel marching over to her and Leo.

Leo stood up "Woah Hazel what happened?"

"Blue" she answered coldly, refusing to meet his eye

"Of course"

She slammed her gun down on the desk opposite so it could be checked back in. The rest of the team did the same, she moaned as she and Leo sat down. "I hate him when we play this game, I hate the whole secret group"

Piper sat next to Annabeth. "Did you see him?" She muttered under her breath,

"Who? Blue?" Annabeth whispered back

She shook her head, "Not blue, the guy in yellow?"

"No I haven't seen him"

Piper anxiously looked away, who is the guy in yellow? Who is blue? WHO IS THE SECRET GROUP? Were the questions on Annabeth's mind, she stopped herself from shouting them at the top of her lungs.

"He can't help it Hazel" Rachel replied as she stood in front of the group,

Hazel rolled her eyes "Of course you'd defend him". Rachel let out a light hearted laugh and pushed her hair behind her ears. "How long do we wait?" Annabeth asked, eager to change subject because she did not want to know the answer as to why Rachel would defend Blue. "Until there's a winner" Piper told her, "Last year we stayed up until 3 in the morning"

"What's the time now?" Leo asked,

Hazel looked at her watch, "12:30"

Leo looked at Annabeth and laughed, "Couple more hours to go"

Apparently someone had heard their conversation because their timing could not have been better, Mr Brunner gave the order for the horn. "The game is over" he shouted, everyone rushed to gather in the middle of the field where they had all stood before the game. Eyes were all over the place wondering who had won and what direction they would appear. Annabeth noticed 2 figures standing on the edge of the woods, barely visible and she wondered why they were hiding over there rather than joining in with the crowd when a ripple of gasps were made and then followed by loud cheers and clapping. Annabeth turned to see someone walking out of the woods, holding a small pouch in the air with 3 different colours lighting it up; Blue, Yellow and White. She pushed her way through the front of the crowd to see if her suspicions were right, if it was him.

As always, she was correct. It was him. The guy in blue had won. As he walked over she had that gut feeling again, her stomach was rolling over again and again. All the anger she channelled towards him just melted away, instead she was worrying about what to say to him. She could see his face more clearly now, those loving deep sea green eyes were looking straight at her and he smiled, a nice flirtatious smile. He was mobbed by the crowd but kept his eyes on Annabeth, he was slapped on the back and exchanged hand shakes until he reached her, she pushed her hip to the side and crossed her arms "This does not make us even",

"I'm sure I'll find a way to make it up to you" he smiled.

Before Annabeth could say anything else Leo jumped on his back "Congrats man!"

He started laughing and dropped Leo and gave him a man hug, "Thanks Leo"

Piper congratulated him with a hug and Annabeth could have sworn she had whispered something to him but she couldn't hear what because when he looked up from that hug, sadness filled his eyes. Piper stood next to Annabeth whilst Hazel, Clarisse and Chris spoke to him, Piper lowered her voice "I strongly suggest we get out of here" Annabeth ignored her because she wanted to stay a little longer, she was enjoying the atmosphere and most importantly the company of him. That all changed when Rachel ran up to him and wrapped her legs around his waist, he immersed his arms around her and then she planted her lips onto his. Annabeth felt sharp pains in her chest, she stood there, unable to move, she couldn't take her eyes off of them. She understood why Rachel was defending him now, she was his girlfriend.

They pulled away from one another when Mr Brunner made an awkward fake cough, Rachel jumped off grabbed his hand and stood next to him all whilst he stared at Annabeth, the sadness was still there in his eyes. She felt sick. "A huge congratulations to this young man who has won the last 2 years, I am extremely proud of you Percy Jackson". Percy smiled as he pulled his hand away from Rachel to shake it with Mr Brunner, he was then lifted into the air by a group of male students who started chanting "Percy, Percy, Percy". Piper grabbed Annabeth's hand and they started walking back to their room. Leo chased after them and made them stop "Aren't you going to celebrate?" he asked pleadingly,

Annabeth turned back to the crowd where she could see Percy still being treated like a king and she could sense him looking for her within the mob. Then she looked to the edge of the crowd where Rachel stood looking so happy for her boyfriend and Hazel was now talking to the guy in White, whom she suspected was Frank. The guy in yellow who she had figured out to be Jason, was no where to be seen which is why she believed Piper wanted to leave.

"Sorry Leo, not tonight" Annabeth answered, Piper flashed Leo a smile before putting her arm around Annabeth's shoulder and they carried on walking.

Neither of them were in the party mood.