Annabeth's Boarding Tale

Breakfast

Annabeth and Luke stayed in that position for a couple more hours, he eventually stopped crying but they remained seated for a while longer. Luke made the first move, he jumped off and brushed himself down "Thanks for... Tonight... but we should probably get going now"

Annabeth remained seated and pressed her lips together whilst nodding, he reached out for her hand, which she accepted and scrambled to her feet. Luke walked her to the top of her stairs before heading back to his room, she figured it must still be painful for him to walk down the corridor. When she entered Piper was tucked up in her bed fast asleep, Annabeth decided not to disturb her and went to bed as well.

In the queue for breakfast Annabeth was bombarded by Piper's questions,

"Who were you with last night?

Where did you go?

What did you do?

When did you get back?

Do you prefer them over us? Oh god you're going to ditch me as best friends and we'll just be roommates who see each other when we're going to bed!"

"With any luck, not even then" Annabeth smirked as she tried to decide what she felt like eating, Piper scowled at her causing Annabeth to chuckle.

"Relax Piper" Annabeth reached over for an apple and turned to face Piper "we're best friends, you should trust me"

Piper was about to respond when they both noticed that everyone had lowered their voices and was looking behind them, they turned to see Percy leaning over the table and being confrontational towards Luke. The girls exchanged glances,

"Why's Percy talking to... him?" Piper asked quietly, Annabeth detected a sound of disgust when she said 'him'

"I don't know but it can't happen here" Annabeth said scanning the room, everyone's attention was on the boys. "We need to separate them"

Annabeth went to walk over but Piper pulled her back "Hang on a minute"

Annabeth reluctantly hung back where she watched Percy and Luke exchange heated words, after a few minutes the dispute seemed to be over and Percy appeared to be walking away when suddenly he stopped. His head looking at the floor and his hands clenched into fists, Annabeth could see it and so could Piper,

"He deserves this. Trust me, he's had this coming" Piper said smugly

Annabeth was too late to react as Percy turned back around with his eyes narrowed and walked over to Luke, he swung back and punched him just below the cheekbone and hit his jaw. Luke stumbled back holding the side of his face and once he found his balance wiped his mouth clean and spat out the blood on the floor. This time Annabeth and Piper found their feet and ran towards the boys before Luke could take a punch at Percy, Annabeth launched herself in between them and pushed Luke back a little, not a lot but just enough to startle him. She turned to Percy and saw his eyes pleading for her to walk away with him but Piper tugged at his arm and insisted that they leave. Annabeth nodded and Percy walked outside with Piper. Annabeth turned her attention back to Luke who was watching Percy leave, "You, let's go" and they left in the opposite direction.

Annabeth remained in the empty corridor whilst Luke cleaned up in the toilets, when he came out she pushed him against the wall,

"What the hell was that?"

"What was what?" He asked guiltily

"Don't play dumb" she stated angrily, "I want an explanation"

"I'm the guy who got punched and you're asking me? Go demand one off precious Percy"

Annabeth stayed silent and eventually Luke caved, he rolled his eyes and sighed

"I don't know, Jackson just went crazy on me, it was unprovoked"

She folded her arms and scowled at him before turning on her heels, she didn't believe him but she needed to check on Percy, she walked away but just before she opened the door she shouted to Luke

"Keep your head down today, we don't want the other side damaged"

She found Percy sitting outside on one of the benches by himself with his head in his hands, Annabeth took a deep breathe before striding up and taking the seat next to him.

"You ok?" She asked

"Piper congratulated me, said that I had done the right thing and that if it wasn't me then it would have been Jason"

"So you wished it had been Jason?"

Percy shook his head and looked at her "No because then I would of been forced to choose sides, my friend or my cousin"

"It looks like you chose a side today"

Percy shoved his hands through his hair pushing it back,

"It wasn't about Thalia, I'm assuming he told you?"

She gave a slight nod unsure how Percy knew he had told her

"It was about you"

Annabeth asked nervously "Me?"

He nodded, "Me and Rachel were sitting on the field and I thought I saw 2 people standing on the secret terrace"

Annabeth's face dropped, he had seen them together.

"The one that only me and Luke know about so I said walked Rachel back to her room said goodnight and headed to the terrace to see who it was..." He trailed off unable to finish his sentence

Annabeth wanted to apologise but no words came out, Percy swallowed and continued, refusing to make eye contact with her

"I was.." He sighed "confused to say the least so I went back to my room where Leo informed that you had been asking questions about Luke" his tone of voice changed, he was angry and frustrated now "What you saw this morning was me warning Luke"

"Warning Luke? Are you kidding me? We're friends Percy! He needs one in this place after the way you lot have treated him after the last few months"

"Way we've treated him? You've got to be kidding me! He did tell you that he cheated and broke up with Thalia when she was diagnosed right?"

Annabeth got defensive "He didn't! Luke did not cheat"

"You weren't even here! How can you believe what he says?"

Annabeth raised her voice and funnelled all of her pain and anger through it

"How can I believe you when you say you have feelings for me and then the same day go on a date with your girlfriend celebrating your first kiss?! How am I supposed to believe that one Percy?"

He was lost for words for a moment or two, he looked into her eyes and she could of sworn she could saw tears in his eyes. "I just need more time" he confessed, his eyes pleading with hers and Annabeth could feel her heart racing all she wanted to do was comfort him and bury herself in his warm chest.

"Me and Luke are just friends but we have to figure out what we are because I can't continue like this Percy"

He nodded "I'll see you in History, last lesson" he smiled and left, leaving Annabeth alone wondering who he would choose.