Percy's POV

"Relax. I'm sure she's fine."

My knee bobbed up and down nervously as I sat outside the nurse's office, Leo and Reyna on either side of me.

"She's not fine. He fucking hurt her. You should have let me beat the shit out of him." I said, my voice low with anger and worry.

I was scared. Annabeth had really gotten hurt—to the point where she blacked out. That's not something that just happens. The pain in my hands—which were starting to bruise—didn't matter. None of the pain did. The only thing that was important at the moment was Annabeth.

I was so livid—Luke had hurt her. Just the fact that Castellan would even go to put his hands on her made me sick. I wanted to punch him in the face, and kick him where the sun doesn't shine. I wanted to hurt him. Give him what he deserved for hurting Annabeth—and everyone else he's bothered for that matter.

"For as much as I wanted to see that happen, we both know that if I didn't hold you back, you would've gotten in a lot of trouble if I let you attack him." Reyna said.

"She's not wrong bro." Leo chimed in. He looked up from the little contraption he was fidgeting with a few minutes ago. "Though, we can still get him back." Leo wore his signature impish, trouble maker grin. "And have fun at the same time."

Before he could go on, the nurse opened the door, poking her head out. "She's awake."

I was the first inside the room. Annabeth sat there on the examination bed, looking a little dazed.

"Hey, Wise Girl." I said gently, walking up in front of her.

"Shit." She rubbed the spot in her abdomen where Luke had kneed her. Anger suddenly began to bubble in the pit of my stomach.

"That's going to be bruised for a little while, just keep ice on it every once and a while and try to take it easy." She explained. "Also, I could get you some ice for your hands, that looks painful." She looked at my bruised hands.   One knuckle was spilt on each hand, and though the cuts were small, there was still a good amount of blood. It was dried now, of course.

"I'm good." I'd just wash my hands later.

"Alright then." The nurse disappeared through the doorway to her desk.

"What happened?" Annabeth looked at me, a little confused.

"Well, Luke was being a jackass—"

"As per usual," Leo added.

"Yeah, and you stuck up for me. Next thing you know a bunch of the football jocks are coming up to us and we're all fighting. You then come to help me fight off Luke, but he knees you in the stomach, and—"

"Percy was ready to handicap the asshat, but I held him back. Leo grabbed you and Percy carried you here." Reyna finished.

"Castellan." Annabeth scowled.

"Yeah, he was sent to the principal's office, along with the rest of the jocks." I assured her.

"Speaking of Militarily Captain Minerva," Leo cut in. "She wants to see us in her office as soon as possible."

Annabeth sighed, rolling her eyes. "Shit. My dad is gonna kill me." She pushed herself off the bed, hopping down. "Let's go." She goes to walk out the door, but I stop her.

"You sure you're okay, Annabeth?" I place my hand on her arm.

"I'm fine, Jackson." She smirks at me, and I notice how she makes no move to get my hand off of her arm. "Come on." Then she walks out, with Reyna behind her.

"Yeah," Leo pats my shoulder, coming up from behind. "Let's go, Jackie Chan." He teased.

"Shut it, Lighter Boy." I retort, following him out of the room.

><•><

"This is ridiculous!" Minerva screeched. "This behavior will not be tolerated! My school is not a wrestling arena!" She paced back and forth in front of where we all sat in chairs before her desk.

"Castellan started it." Annabeth grumbled. Her arms were crossed and she was slouched in her chair. A disgruntled expression took its place on her gorgeous face. Her eyes were dark and angry.

"I don't want to hear about him. He was sent home with weeks' suspension." Mrs. Minerva ranted. "But Ms. Chase, what makes you think this behavior is okay?"

"The fact that Castellan is an asshole who's been tormenting him for years," She pointed to me as she began to sit up in her chair, getting more fired up. I know this really isn't the time, but I had to say, she looked hot. "And that no one had thought to do anything about it before! And he's not the only one. Luke's been after me and Leo and plenty of other kids! Yet now you decide to give him 'weeks' suspension.'" Annabeth said in a high pitched voice. "It's okay because he came at me first, and I was defending myself and my friends." Annabeth was fully standing at this point, and she was face to face with Mrs. Minerva.

The air was still and thick with tension. Annabeth's outburst left everyone stunned—no one moved. I watched Annabeth and Minerva carefully, waiting to see what would happen next. Leo and Reyna also looked to be on the edge of their seats.

"Weeks' suspension, Annabeth Chase. Effective immediately." Mrs. Minerva's voice was quiet and dangerous. Annabeth said nothing before storming out of the office. I wanted to go after her, but I knew that she needed some time to cool off, and Minerva would skewer me if I did. So I just sat in my seat, awaiting my punishment.

><•><

"Three day suspension." I said. "That's great. My mom is going to kill me." I sighed. "And Annabeth got a week. Her dad's not gonna be too happy."

"My dad will just be happy to have me in the garage more." Leo said, his mood seeming barely effected by the prior events.

"Hylla's going to give me a lecture of a life time, and god only knows what else." Reyna sighed.

"Alright," I said as we approached the school doors. "I'll see you guys around. I should go find Annabeth."

"You want some hel—" Leo was cut off.

"He's fine." Reyna finished. She shot me a wink before dragging Leo off down the street.

I smirked, rolling my eyes, though she couldn't see. Reyna was really cool. She knows that I like Annabeth, and despite the fact that she liked me and I turned her down, she still encourages me to go for Annabeth, because it will make me happy. I smiled as I walked to my car.

I got in and started the engine, knowing exactly where Annabeth would be.

><•><

"Hey." I approached Annabeth as she chucked another rock.

"Hey." She exhaled through her nose and chucked another rock as hard as she could, grunting a bit with effort.

"You okay?" I asked, stepping up onto the dock.

"Yeah," Annabeth said sarcastically. "I'm just peachy. I mean wouldn't you be, if you got a weeks' suspension?" She shrugged and turned to me. "No Percy. My dad's gonna kill me and I wanna kill Castellan."

"I know. I do too." I paused. "I'm pretty sure half the school does."

Annabeth chuckled, but there was just barely any humor. She stopped pacing and sat down, sighing. "It's not fair."

There was a long moment of silence before I spoke up. "Thanks. For sticking up for me, and everyone else, in the office today. I thought that it was really cool." I said in hopes of making her at least smile a bit, because when she smiled she looked the most beautiful that she could. When she was happy, she looked ten times more amazing.

She looked over to me, and the corners her rosy lips turned up the tiniest bit. "Well," she shrugged. Her voice was gentler now.

I broke out into a full-on grin. "Well, telling this to Piper tomorrow will be fun." I wandered.

Annabeth laughed quietly. "Yeah it will be. I think you're really gonna like my friends, Percy." She paused before correcting herself. "I mean, my friends from San Francisco. I have friends here now too." She gave a small smile.

"This might sound selfish, but I'm really glad that you moved to New York. Because if you didn't—"

"We would have never met." She finished. "I know. But everything is coming together now. It's all gonna work out." Annabeth leaned back on her hands and looked out over the dock.

"Remember when we first met? We hated each other." I countered.

"What do you mean, 'hated'? I still hate you, Asshole." We laughed at her retort. "But, yeah. Now we're best friends." She smiled at me.

Normally, being put in the friend zone would hurt, but this was a different friend zone. It was the best friend zone. I was happy that she considered me her best friend, and even if she didn't feel the same way that I do, I'd still be happy to just be acquainted with her, because to me, Annabeth is that person. She's just that incredible. I didn't realize the huge stupid grin on my face until Annabeth commented on it.

"What's so amazing, Seaweed Brain?" She smirked.

You. I wanted to say.

But I also didn't want to scare her off so I settled for a shrug.

Annabeth sighed contently. "Who knew chucking rocks was so stress relieving?" Annabeth wondered aloud.

I laughed. "I did." I threw a rock across the pond. Annabeth laughed, throwing a rock as well.

And we threw rocks and talked about random shit until we both felt better.

Because together, in that moment, everything was better.

•••

Authors note

Wow I'm just really poppin out chappies here. It's probably because I have no life and nothing else to do and I wanna write so let's use that momentum here. And I know that this is just a little filler, but whatever I still hope you guys like it. Anyways, thanks for all the reads! Don't forget to comment, vote, etc. thanks and love you guys!
-bella💕