Annabeth wasn't herself.

She knew that. Ever since Percy disappeared, she'd been on edge.

But it wasn't her fault that she wanted to find him. She didn't ask for this.

So when she woke up to face another day of no Percy, she was excusably in a sour mood.

They'd been getting a lot of new campers lately, ever since the second Titan War had ended, mostly belonging to minor gods and goddesses.

But there was one that continuously got on her nerves.

This boy was full of himself. He wasn't claimed, but he liked to go around telling people how Poseidon might claim him, and how he'd always had a connection to water.

It was enough that he had no shame, but then he had to bring Poseidon into the situation, involuntarily hitting a sore spot in Annabeth. She put up with him most of the time.

But when she walked into the mess hall to find him sitting back at the Poseidon table, it was the last straw.

His spectacle was drawing the attention of many, and Annabeth's half-brother, Malcolm approached her.

“Just ignore him, Annabeth. He doesn't know better.”

Annabeth was practically seething. “Where's Dionysus? Chiron?”

“They aren't here yet,” Malcolm said. “He's a dumb kid. I'll ask him to move.”

Annabeth shook her head. She knew Malcolm was trying to help her (or maybe the poor boy), but she didn't care. At this point, she was so sick of his disrespect that he deserved whatever he had coming.

“Annabeth, be rational,” Malcolm mumbled as he was forced back.

Annabeth pushed forward, ignoring his voice.

Malcolm met her eyes one last time before giving up. He stepped to the side so she could pass.

Annabeth gave him a short nod before continuing on.

James sat relaxed, sipping his drink. He spotted Annabeth stomping towards him and smirked.

Annabeth resisted the urge to slap the smile off his face and stood tall over him. “James, I suggest you move.”

James spread his arms out wide. “Oh, Annabeth, why don't you sit with me? I heard this was something you used to do.”

Annabeth's fists clenched. “You are no son of Poseidon. You're an unclaimed halfblood who should be sitting with the rest of the unclaimed. Now go.”

James sighed. “I'm pretty sure I know who I descend from.”

Annabeth brought her hand down on the table hard. “Then please, do prove it. I'd like to know just how much water ‘speaks to you.’” She quoted with her fingers as she spoke.

James gestured meaninglessly with his hand. “I don't feel like it.” He stood so his face was level with hers, his blonde hair falling into his face. “But if you came with me, I'm sure I could figure something out.”

Annabeth stared at him.

Katie Gardner made a strange noise from the Demeter table. “You are not hitting on Annabeth Chase.”

James shrugged. “Maybe I am.”

A few scattered gasps filled the now deathly quiet mess hall.

Connor Stoll had his feet on the already overflowing Hermes table. “Dude, that's a horrible idea.”

James looked around confidently. “And why not? She seems to like making herself noticed by me. I'm just taking initiative.”

Annabeth almost growled. How was one person so clueless?

James was standing pretty close to her, and she didn't even think twice before grabbing his shoulder to hold him still and pulling her fist back.

“Excuse me,” she said, her voice completely even, “but I have a boyfriend.”

And then, with all of her frustration and desperation and exhaustion, she punched him square in the face.

When James grabbed his nose in pain, Annabeth pointed to the Hermes table. “Don't make me ask you again.”

He stumbled over, still holding his face.

Annabeth grabbed her own breakfast and plopped down at the Poseidon table, pulling her legs into a crisscross position.

She took her time eating, and when James had the nerve to stop at the table on his way out, she didn't bother looking up.

“What in Hades was that for?”

Annabeth set down her half-eaten muffin and slowly met his eyes. “That was for the Son of Poseidon.”

a / n : woohoo ! i finally updated.

did you like this one ? should i write another oneshot, like a part two, after the giant war ? when percy is back ?

so in the case that you didn't know, i posted another book of oneshots. this one's titled ‘ underrated. ’ basically i take underappreciated ships from pjo and feature them in oneshots ( for ex, tratie, chrisse, caleo, frazel, sally and paul, tyson and ella, etc. ).

anyways, here's the link if you want to check it out :
https://www.wattpad.com/story/210126160-%CB%8B%CB%8F-underrated-%CB%8E%CB%8A

thanks a ton for getting us to 1k votes here !! and over 20k reads <3

peace out in demigodishness and all that,

~ grace 💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙