Annabeth really wasn't kidding when she told Andrew she might be gone for a year. If he was being completely honest, Andrew thought she would return in the next week but no. She was absent for a whole month then that turned into two months and soon she hadn't been in school for five months.

Andrew became worried and instead of sending her a text every day, he started to call her every night. Sadly, no one ever picked up. Of course, he always left a voicemail, saying how he missed her and that he was waiting for her to come back.

Soon, the pain of being alone again filled his heart and he once again became the quiet brooding person, watching people from afar. When this all became too much, Andrew convinced his parents to let him transfer to Goode High School. He needed a new start.

He enrolled in Goode halfway through junior year and he immediately fit in. He was the captain of the swim team and the leader of mathletes. People actually started to look up to him and some called him popular! Andrew won't hesitate to say he also had a glow up. All the girls were after him.

The popularity got to his ego and almost his whole personality changed. He became arrogant and bitter, dating one girl and dumping her next week. The only girl that stuck in his mind was Annabeth. Andrew was still waiting for her to come back to him.

Since his little brother, Jacob, now went to that old boarding school, Andrew often visited his old stomping grounds. He wasn't there to see his brother, no, he was there to find out if Annabeth came back or not. So far, she hadn't.

Now, it was the first day of senior year and Andrew was glad to be back in his school. He was excited to be back in the swimming pool and to lead mathletes to another victory. And maybe he was a little eager to have the girls all over him again.

Little did Andrew know that his titles were soon going to be stolen.

That morning, Andrew met up with his friends near his locker. One of his buddies were talking about a girl he dated over the summer then dumped her the day before school. Andrew laughed and fist bumped his friend because that wasn't a bad idea.

They continued talking about sports, girls, and just gossip in general when Andrew heard an angelic voice behind him. He turned, expecting to see another hot brunette chick (that was his type) but what he saw shocked him.

Annabeth Chase.

Oh, and Percy Jackson but who cares about him?

They looked different, Andrew noted. They were both more muscular and their bodies were littered with small scars. Their eyes held this broken look like they'd been through something no human should ever experience.

Anyway, Annabeth stood with her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend and his friends. She held on to his hand like her life depended on it, which Andrew found ridiculous.

They all stood in a circle, much like Andrew and his friends, and laughed at something Percy said. Really? What did he say that was so funny?

But Annabeth being back wasn't the biggest surprise. What shocked Andrew the most was what Annabeth had said to Percy: "I love you." They were still together? After all this time?

Andrew was suddenly angry. Annabeth was back and she didn't think to text him back or return his calls, even listen to his voicemails? She had sent him no sign that she was okay!

Taking a deep breath, Andrew stomped over to the laughing group of teenagers and stopped beside Annabeth. She glanced up at him with wide eyes. "Andrew? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Andrew seethed. "You are the only one who didn't text me back. You're the one who didn't return my phone calls. You don't even give me any kind of contact to let me know that you were okay!"

Annabeth looked around awkwardly. "Nice to see you again, too."

"Don't be sarcastic." He glared. "And, Jackson." Percy raised an eyebrow, silently telling him to continue. "This is my school. I do what I want and I get what I want."

Percy rolled his eyes. "And what do you want?"

"Your girlfriend." Andrew smirked.

"Yeah, not going to happen." Percy wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist protectively. "And don't try to break us up because it won't work."

Andrew scoffed. "What did I say, Jackson? I get what I want."

"What's gotten into you?" Annabeth asked, looking genuinely hurt. "You used to be so kind and sweet. What happened?"

"What happened?" Andrew laughed humorlessly. "You left me alone for almost two years for this jackass." He gestured to Percy. "And when you come back, you don't even think to tell me? And apparently you love Percy now? I waited for you Annabeth! And how you thank me for waiting for you is by staying with this guy?"

Annabeth held up a hand to stop him. "Okay, first of all, that made no sense whatsoever." She stepped out of Percy grasp and stood right in front of Andrew, staring him dead in the eye like she did a couple years ago when she told him that she needed to leave. "And second of all, you respect my boyfriend or else you have to deal with me. And believe me, you don't want that."

Then, without a word, Annabeth grabbed Percy's hand and they walked away until they were out of sight. He was about to follow them when his friends stood in front of him and shook their heads. "Let them be, Andrew," His friend, Ben, said. "Besides, you don't want to catch them making out, now do you?"

Andrew gritted his teeth before answering. "Fine." He looked around the hallway and spotted a girl he dated in June and waved at her. "Hey, Amelia! Wanna get back together?"

---

Later that week, Percy walked into swim tryouts and almost everyone trying out, much to Andrew's confusion, rushed to give him a big group hug.

That evening, Percy made his "rightful" place as the team captain of the swim team. Apparently, during his sophomore year, Percy was already the captain and the only reason Andrew had earned that spot on the team was because Percy wasn't around. That took a blow to his ego.

Then, that same week, Annabth stole his spot as the leader of mathletes.

Now, Andrew had to live with seeing Annabeth cheering on Percy at every swim meet and Percy supporting Annabeth at their competitions for competitions.

Why didn't he just leave them alone? He could have stayed popular if he had. No one would have started to look down at him when they heard about how he blew up on the new girl. Instead, he let his big mouth do whatever and lost his popularity.

And where did that popularity go?

Why to Percy and Annabeth, of course.