{Percy}

I could tell now Thals had accidentally put tension between Annabeth and I.

The rest of lunch I explained what happened all year to everybody. Annabeth started picking at her food around the 'Carey Kissing Me' part and so then it was extremely awkward.

So we dropped the whole school thing and talked about Christmas. After Olive Garden we met up in the park. I had brought my skateboard, so after I opened presents (I got a ReVive hoodie from my parents) and said thank you's, I decided I needed some time to myself and skated away.

I was just cruising when I saw somebody leaning against a tree on their phone. I stopped and grabbed my board off the ground. I looked for a second, and then realized it was Carey. Quickly I dropped my board on the ground and started to skate away, when a voice called.

"Oh my god, hay hottie!" Somebody yelled. I stopped, and turned to face Carey who was walking to me. I picked up my board.

"What do you want Carey?" I asked.

"Your lips," she sighed. "But apparently according to Smart Freak they're already taken."

"They are," I say. "Now get lost."

"Oh, Percy," she said. "Surely you understand..."

"I don't. Thanks." I say.

"I got you a present," Carey handed me a bag. I looked inside and saw a Bam Margera sweat shirt.

"Ok," was all I could say. "Thanks?"

The next thing I knew she had my shirt and was pulling my nose to hers. I turned my head, and she kissed my cheek. I jerked away.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked, before wiping my cheek with the back of my hand.

"Ooh, badass Percy," Carey smirked. This time it was for real. I put my board on the ground. "Bye babe!" Carey called. "I love you to Neptune and back!"

I flinched, and kept skating. "Go to Tartarus." I said when I was out of ear shot.

I put my headphones on and started playing Eminem. The park was big, and covered with trees, so I kept skating. Finally I circled around to where Annabeth was.

"Hey, Percy," Annabeth said. "Glad to see you don't need to go to the hospital."

I laughed. I put my arm around her, and she looked at me like she had no worries whatsoever. I liked it when she looked like that. But then something happened I didn't expect.

"Perseus Jackson." Said a voice. "Thalia Grace. Jason Grace. I seek your blood."

I drew Riptide, and saw in front of me a taking kitten.

"Um, you're a kitten..." I accidentally say aloud. Thalia looks unamused. Jason holds his Lance. Piper cowards behind Jason. Annabeth stood next to me, knife drawn. Nico stood beside Clarisse, his sword in his hands. Clarisse had her spear.

"Can we kill it?" Clarisse pleaded.

"Clarisse, it's just a cat," Leo sighed and extinguished the flame in his hand.

But then the cat grew. It grew huge, into the size of a lion and-

"Sh*t." Clarisse sighed. "The Nemean Lion."

"Aim for its maw-" but just then I was cut off, as the lion hit me with his paw. I flew backwards and hit a tree, which crumbled with all the force.

Annabeth took action. She went for the leftovers bag from Olive Garden. Good idea, I thought.

I picked myself up off the ground, and patted the tree for stopping me from flying. But then, the tree fell over.

"Huh." Was all I could say. But then a force roar brought me back into reality.

"I liked you better as a kitty." I decided. The lion roared in frustration and snapped at THALIA, his final mistake. She launched an arrow at him and caught him right in the butthole. Which of course, only lodged itself in there and wasn't doing damage, but the monster got a quirky look on his face, and got irritated.

"Woah, big mama!" I say as the big cat slashed at me. My whole chestplate ripped into shreds. "Huh."

But then the cat roared. It was like a sonic boom, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground holding my ears as the cat roared at everything. Then it looked at me, on the ground in front of him.

"Oh... Oh. My. Gods." I said.

Then Nico let out a howl. The Nemean Lion turned his head towards him, and I saw Nico's sword in the earth. 3 bony hands grappled out of the ground. They pulled themselves out of the earth. The lion turned his head, as if he'd never seen that. The Warriors drew their swords and shields and charged the lion. The lion narrowed his eyes even more, and closed his mouth. The warriors charged at him and seemed confused when their weapons harmlessly bounced off his skin. Just then, Annabeth got up off the park bench which my mother, Paul, and Annabeth's family were hiding behind. Thalia and Jason crossed their swords, and shot an arch of lightning out at the beast, who shuttered, shook his head, and continued trying his best to kill us. I summoned a wave, and then a wave 10 feet high piled around me. I sent it flying at the beast. Thalia struck the water with Lightning, and the demigods ran. I stayed near, controlling the water, and hoping it wouldn't electrocute me. After I was done, the beast stood harmlessly. I should've known. What a stupid way to waist my energy. The lion shook and roared in anger. That's when Thalia released an arrow. It barely missed, but now the lion was paranoid. Annabeth started teasing him with the food. He forgot about being paranoid and looked hungrily at a spoonful of spaghetti. He roared, and Annabeth flicked the spoonful in. She began hurling bread sticks and globs of Baked Ziti at the beast. He opened wide, and everything went into slow motion. The lion swooped, and Thalia dived. She released her arrow, and a silver glow formed around her and the arrow. The arrow caught right in the lions throat. He gagged, an turned into dust, leaving only his skin, which shimmered into the jock jacket with the Omega. I picked it up.

"Thals," I said. "Here." I handed her the lion skin. She took it, and when I thought she was gonna put it on, she tossed it to Annabeth.

Annabeth stared at it. "Thals, I can't-"

"You're idea. Without you I wouldn't have hit that cat." Thalia shrugged. "It's yours."

Annabeth took it, and flung her hands around Thalia. Thalia looked surprised, but then she just put her arms around Annabeth. They hugged a friendly hug, and then Annabeth walked over to me, with that look again. 'No worries.'

I'll keep it that way, I silently promised. I slipped her hand into mine, and we began to walk. She kissed me, and something stung in the pit of my stomach.

"I love you, Wise Girl," I say.

"I love you too, Seaweed Brain," she replied, before kissing me on the cheek. I must've been smiling, because she playfully pushed me.

We all started walking, when I noticed Piper had her arms crossed and Jason was talking to her as if she'd accused him of doing something that he didn't do. Then she shoved him back and wiped her cheek. I glanced at Annabeth, and she glanced at me.

What was going on? Why was Carey acting happier than usual? What did Jason do, or what did Piper think he did? Something was going on, and I could see Annabeth had some of it figured out already. She looked like she always did when pieces were missing. Confused and frustrated, and pretty cute while she looked like that. I must've been staring at her and grinning, because just then, she asked, "what?"

"You look cute when you're confused." I decided. She smiled.

"You do too, so you look cute all the time," she shrugged. I laughed and grinned.

Guys, I have no idea how to say THANK YOU! Some of you guys have read Becoming a God, and all of that. But THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Also: Comment, fan, and favorite.

Comments keep me going guys, and I try to read all of them and even if I Dont reply know I read them.

THANK.

YOU.

-Percy