DISCLAIMER: I do not own PJO, HoO, the songs mentioned, and any other familiar references in this story. All rights belong to their respective owners.

If every simple song I wrote to you

Chapter three

Annabeth already knew what was coming when she sat down for breakfast.

It was written all over her parents' faces. They both had determined and serious expressions, and really, the least they could do was look even just a little bit guilty for her. She wanted to roll her eyes at the absurdity of it all. Did her parents really think that she didn't know what was going on?

Heck, the kids from about a block away could hear them arguing every night.

Thank the gods her parents had at least prepared a decent breakfast for when she received the news. They prepared her favorites today – toast bread with melted butter and sunny side-ups. There was a glass of fresh milk, too, along with an apple.

The best part?

Her parents were actually present. Annabeth couldn't remember the last time the three of them had sat down for a meal together. Wasn't it ironic, though? That they were together to tell her the news that they were about to be separated?

Did she try hiding the bitterness?

Kind of. There was breakfast, anyway. And she was a good girl.

"Annabeth," her mother started. "Your father and I have something very important to tell you."

"But before we say anything," her father added. "We want you to know that we love you very much, and that we always have you as our first priority."

Cliché, but she didn't say anything. Annabeth chewed on her toast and stared pointedly at the people who were, unfortunately, strangers to her for the past few months.

"Annabeth," Athena said her name again. "Your father and I are getting a divorce."

She didn't miss a beat. "I know. Is there anything else?"

Okay. So maybe she didn't really hide the bitterness.

Frederick turned to look at Athena with a panicked look. Maybe they weren't expecting her reaction, or her to actually know. Her parents were smart, but really? How gone were they in the past months that they've been arguing?

"Well, uh…" Athena actually stuttered. "I'm moving out in a few days. Honey, I received an amazing job opportunity in Greece that I simply cannot decline. Your father and I… we both want different things, Annabeth."

"It hasn't been working out," Frederick said. "It hasn't been for a long time now. Your mother and I are sorry, but we both believe that this is for the best."

Athena's hand reached across the table to squeeze Annabeth's free one. "You're a smart girl, Annabeth. I'm sure you'll find it in your heart to understand."

She heard these lines before, in movies or in shows wherein the parents tell their children the impending doom that is the D-word. She didn't think that she herself would be hearing those words. She should've expected it after months of hearing the screaming through the walls. She knew this was coming.

So why was she still feeling like – sorry – shit?

Annabeth's next move probably wasn't the best, but her parents couldn't blame her, right? She stood up from her chair and picked up her backpack from the floor. "I have to go," she told her parents. "I'll talk to you guys later."

She needed to think.

When she got into her car and plugged the iPod that wasn't hers, she found herself being comforted by the music that belonged to someone else.

She was still pretty distracted by the time she entered her English class.

Percy must've noticed because he raised an eyebrow when she only waved her hand in hello. In the past two weeks where they came to know each other, they ignored the fact that they almost kissed once upon a night and actually became real friends.

It started off on the first English class right after the night he taught her how to play the guitar. When he walked in and saw her in her usual seat, he made a face that made her want to laugh, although she had completely stood her ground. When Percy pouted at her poker face, she finally gave in and sent him an amused smile. After that, it was as if it became his personal mission to make her laugh. He'd tell random (and really bad) jokes in the hallway, or he'd stick his tongue out whenever they would pass by each other.

Sometimes they would talk about music while he stood next to her by her locker, although they had yet to exchange back their music players. On the one day Annabeth didn't have her friends to sit next to at lunch, she had taken the plunge and sat at his table where he was alone, ignoring all the weird looks that the rest of the student body gave them.

Sure, Annabeth had friends, but they were more acquaintances or people who would ask her what the homework was for the next day. She could count with one hand the number of people she had an actual conversation with.

But with Percy… boy, was he something else. Underneath all the black clothing, Annabeth discovered that he was a sweetheart and a goofball and just ugh—someone she could actually call her best friend.

(He was still annoying and terribly cocky, though, but she figured those were a given and those were two things she can't really get rid of).

Oh, and of course there were the songs he wrote. He had never actually played or sang for her, but there were songs under the artist The Excursion on his iPod, and Annabeth guessed that it was Jason who was singing Percy's words. If it was Percy's mission to make her laugh, hers was finally getting him to sing for her.

But back to the present.

Percy had made a ridiculous-looking face at her, but she merely waved at him for acknowledgement at least, before sitting down on her seat a few chairs behind his. She slumped down once she made it to her usual spot, covering her face with her hands and letting her head hit the table because she was just really, really tired, okay?

She was internally groaning about her parents and her misery and about being tired for no real physical reason when she heard Percy's voice next to her.

"Hey, you're on my seat," he was saying.

"But…" Annabeth recognized the other voice to be Grover Underwood's, the guy she usually sat next to in this class. He sounded like he was quivering. "…it's not?"

Annabeth finally looked up to see Percy standing over Grover's desk, one of his hands on his jean pocket and the other clutching the strap of his backpack slung on his shoulder. He had a bored look on his face, but it was obvious that he was trying to look scary for Grover. It looked like it was working.

"My seat." Percy kicked the foot of the desk. "You're on it. Get up."

Annabeth managed to roll her eyes. Unlike Grover, she wasn't afraid of him. "Leave Grover alone, Percy. Your seat's at the front."

Percy cocked his head to the side so he could look at her. "No, it's not."

"Um," Grover squeaked out. "I'm okay. Uh, I'll… I'll move."

Annabeth sighed. "Grover—"

But the poor boy was already grabbing his things hurriedly and was bumping several other chairs so he could get away from the scene already. He ended up in Percy's usual seat in front.

Annabeth glared at Percy finally. "That was rude. Go apologize."

But he ignored her tone, choosing to drop his bag onto the floor and settling onto his new seat. He looked at her with concerned eyes instead, not sending her the usual mischievous grins he gets when he's annoying her and being cocky about how handsome he thought he was.

"So," he started carefully, ignoring the fact that she was scowling at him right now. "I looked up Bach's Air last night after listening to it on your iPod. I think I can actually play it after learning it."

She realized that he wasn't going to budge. She sighed, giving him a small smile before averting her gaze again. "That's great, Percy."

Something nudged her leg. She raised an eyebrow when she saw that Percy playfully stretched his leg towards her, nudging her thigh with his foot. "Hey." His black Converse met her jeans, poking. "What's wrong?"

"Percy." She kicked his foot away, chuckling lightly. Why was it that he already knew how to make her laugh, even though they just started becoming friends?

Their other classmates were trying hard not to stare. Apparently, they still weren't used to the odd interaction Percy and Annabeth seemed to already have. The straight A student and the scary punk kid? No way. How did that even happen?

"You're sad," he stated, bringing his foot down finally. "I'd take off my shirt for you, but I'm afraid you're not the only one who's going to be brought out of misery."

She stuck her tongue out at him, trying to tell her brain to shut up and not make all the blood rush to her face right now. "You're a loser."

"A handsome loser, but that doesn't change the fact that you're upset."

Unfortunately, that's when Ms. Hudson chose to enter the classroom, stack of last week's poems in hand and ready for giving out. She seemed surprised when the first thing she saw was Grover Underwood on Percy's usual spot, but she merely huffed and said nothing, initiating her rounds around the room.

(Annabeth's theory that Ms. Hudson had a thing for Percy still stands, but whatever. It's not like she can blame the poor teacher.)

Apparently, Annabeth really was distracted and out of it, because when Ms. Hudson finally reached her table and handed in her poem, Annabeth stared at her paper for a good five seconds, before she heard Percy speak beside her.

"Uh, I'll take her poem, Ms. Hudson," Percy said, reaching towards Annabeth's table and snatching the paper held by the teacher's outstretched hand.

Ms. Hudson raised a questioning eyebrow but moved to the next desk without another word.

"Nuh uh," Percy chastised her when she extended her hand towards him and asked for her paper back. "I'm keeping this while you try to function for the rest of the class."

She did as she was told.

Once class was finally over, she stood up like the rest of the students and began to pack her things. She suddenly froze when she felt two arms wrap around her frame.

She didn't know what to feel, and thankfully she had his back turned to him so he couldn't see that she was practically red all over her tan face.

"What is up with you today?" Percy asked before pulling away and ruffling her hair (because that became his thing, for some reason). The bell rang, not giving her any time to answer, so he just grabbed her backpack before she could and carried it along with his own. "Come on, you're going to be late to your next class. Uh… Biology, was it?"

"Yes," she answered. "But you're going to be late for yours. So just—"

He swatted her hand away when she tried to reach for her bag. "You're going to be late," he insisted. "Let's go."

She had long ago discovered that arguing with him when he was this insistent was almost impossible, and right now she was honestly too tired to make an effort. She followed him as they walked towards her next classroom, ignoring the almost smug way Percy was carrying two bags, one on each of his shoulders. She could feel people staring and whispering, but whatever. This handsome boy was her best friend and he was being sweet to her; who would feel bad about that, honestly?

Percy carefully slid her bag off his shoulder once they stopped at the door of their desired destination. He playfully placed both straps on her shoulder before hugging her for the second time that day. She felt like a little kid and she couldn't believe this doofus was taking care of her, and she felt even more of his gentleness when she suddenly felt his lips at the top of her head.

Oh, gods, she wanted to die.

"You be okay now," he told her once he pulled away, winking at her and probably enjoying the look she had on her face. "I'll see you at lunch, yeah?"

Annabeth nodded mutely, ignoring the ruckus her heartbeat was making and the way her classmates were gaping at her.

"Um, honey?"

Annabeth looked up from what she was reading to see her father standing in the doorway. He looked utterly confused about something, but she was honestly too surprised to see him in her room for the first time in forever to actually form coherent words.

After school, she immediately drove Percy to his house before going home herself. Her parents miraculously didn't leave for work that day – (Frederick was busy sorting out whatever, and Athena was busy packing all over stuff since she was leaving soon) – so they were home when she arrived.

She wasn't ready to talk to them, no, so she trudged up the steps almost too quickly and shut herself in her room to study. It had been hours since, and she adamantly refused to eat dinner when they asked her to. She was aware that she was being a child, but she understood that the situation was that bad, so she allowed herself to be one for once. She was tired and she was hungry and she just wanted to curl up in her bed and listen to Percy's music, but—

"Yeah, dad?"

"There's someone downstairs to see you?" It came out like a question. "I didn't recognize him as one of your friends, so he's kind of outside waiting—"

"Dad!" She gaped at him, immediately standing up from her desk and moving to put some shoes on. "Why didn't you let him in?!"

She didn't even need to second-guess whom his father meant.

Frederick had his hands up, defending himself and probably shocked at her outburst. "I didn't know him! He looked like, well, trouble and he's got this huge black bag and I don't know what's inside! Plus, your mother's got boxes everywhere and she's making a complete mess—"

"His name is Percy, dad." She managed to roll her eyes, but she hated to admit that she was trying to hide a smile. When was the last time any one of her parents fussed over her and her friends like this? "And it's probably just his guitar that he's brought. Tell him I'll be right down."

"Oh. Well, should I let him in?"

She shook her head, moving to her closet to look for a nice sweater. "No, that's okay. We'll probably go somewhere, anyway."

"But… it's a school night."

Annabeth pulled away from her closet just so he could see her raise an eyebrow.

"Right." Frederick changed his mind. "I'll tell this Prissy you won't be long."

"Percy, dad."

"Perry. Okay."

"Percy."

But he was already long gone, muttering something about "scary teenagers" under his breath.

Annabeth double-checked her appearance before finally heading down (and, no, it wasn't because she wanted to look good for him, shut up). Her mother and father merely watched her as she sprinted towards the door and opened it.

Percy was sitting on her porch steps with his back turned to her. Sure enough, he had his guitar case right next to him.

"Hi," she greeted him, walking up to where he was sitting and grabbing a fistful of his hair playfully. "What are you doing here?"

He pretended to glare at her, grabbing her hand in his hair and pulling her down to sit with him. He didn't let go, however. "Just thought I'd check up on you."

"You were with me the whole day," she reminded him, nudging his legs with their entwined hands. "What's the real reason you're here? Shouldn't we be going on at least a few dates before you meet my parents?"

He pursed his lips as if he were considering. "That would be too late, though. I already met your dad."

She huffed as she remembered. "Oh, yeah. I'm sorry about that. He's just kind of—"

"Scary?" He visibly gulped, glancing back at her front door and dropping her hand suddenly. "Intimidating? My original plan's cancelled, by the way, since he asked me to not keep you out so late. You know, school night and all. I wish I thought this through."

"Wait, what?" Her eyebrows met. "What do you mean? Where are we going?" And what in the world did his father say to make this seemingly scary boy in front of her terrified?

"Nowhere," he said, determination crossing his face, before his broke into a sheepish expression. "We're staying here and I'm going to be hoping that your parents aren't listening to us right now because oh gods that's going to be embarrassing—"

"They won't," she told him, although she was also sort of assuring herself. She felt like her parents owed her the privacy, anyway. She'll just have a whole other reason to mope if she found them watching by the window, or worse—with their ears pressed up against the front door to eavesdrop.

"If you say so," he said, shrugging and reaching for his guitar case to free the instrument inside. He pulled out his blue guitar and set it on his lap. He also pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "Here."

"What's this?" she asked, curiously unfolding the crumpled sheet. When she did, she immediately recognized her handwriting. "Is this—"

"Your poem." He nodded. "The one Ms. Hudson returned today. I hope you don't mind; I tinkered with it a bit."

Then he started plucking the strings of his guitar, and Annabeth's ears were filled with a melody that she did not recognize. Her eyes were wide as she kept staring back and forth between his eyes and his fingers, her mouth forming a small "o" and just pure amazement overwhelming her. She once saw him play at the bar long ago, sure, but this time he was actually playing for her.

Just when she thought the moment couldn't get any better, he started singing.

Percy Jackson, the boy who annoyed her for writing better poems in class, was singing for her.

Except—

The words he was singing weren't his own. Annabeth looked down at the paper she was holding, and sure enough, the lyrics matched the words she wrote for her poem.

And that was all it took for her to gape at him for the entire song.

Percy sang without breaking eye contact, smiling slightly at the reaction she produced. He even added a small guitar solo, plucking like the professional he was and not even bothering to look at his fingers as he continued with his riffs.

He bit his lip as he finished with the last chord. Her face was probably a mess of different emotions; she wanted to throw his blue guitar onto the grass and hug him as tightly as she could.

"You…" She started, shaking her head in disbelief and biting her own lip to keep herself from smiling too widely. "You put melody into my words."

"The term here is your words." He grinned at her. "This is your song, Annabeth."

"But you made it into one," she breathed, still not believing the amazingness the boy in front of her seemed to possess. "Oh gods, Percy. That… that was…"

"Hey, now," he teased. "Am I making you speechless? Now this is a sight to behold."

"Shut up," she laughed, really wanting to hug him. "That was beautiful. You're so awesome at this. And you did it all this afternoon when we got back from school?"

"The melody was stuck with me for a while," he admitted, shrugging. "I just needed the words and when I read your poem after English, well, let's just say I thought it fit. I hope that's—hey. Are you crying?"

Annabeth would've laughed at him if it weren't for her pathetic reaction. He was suddenly all over the place, his panic evident by the way he frantically and loudly placed his guitar onto the porch floor. He closed the space between them, hugging the life out of her and allowing her to bury her face onto his chest.

"S-sorry," she choked out, chuckling at herself and forcing another sob down her throat. "Ew, I'm so gross and I'm making your shirt wet—"

"It's okay, babe," he laughed quietly, and Annabeth wanted to smack him for the nickname. He'd jokingly called her that in the past few days, and even more so when it was obvious that it annoyed her. He lived to embarrass her, honestly.

"I'm sorry," she said again, pulling away slightly so she could look at him. "It's just—ugh. Rough day." And you made it better. So, so much better oh gods you're the most amazing and sweetest guy to ever walk this earth.

"I could tell. Did you like it?"

"What?"

"The song. Uh… did you like it?"

"Are you kidding me?" she laughed. "I loved it, Percy. Thank you."

"Anything for my new best friend." The smile he gave her was so genuine she wanted to cry all over again. "Now, are you finally going to tell me what was up with you today?"

"Percy Jackson, did you make that song to bribe me into telling you?" She joked, but she shook her head almost immediately and glanced back at her house. "My parents. They just told me they were going to get a divorce. My mom… she's leaving for Greece. She's packing up as we speak."

He nodded, hugging her again and resting his chin on top of her head. "That explains all the boxes I saw. Have you talked to them?"

She shook her head. "I haven't. I don't know what to say, honestly. I've been expecting it to happen, and now that it's here…" She sighed. "I'll… I'll be fine. I just need to talk to them, I promise. I took care of myself all these past few months; I'll be all right."

"Hey." She felt him kiss her hair. "You've got a cool and handsome best friend now too. You're not alone."

"He's also extremely full of himself," she snorted, finally pulling away and wiping her tears. "Ugh, I'm disgusting."

"No, you're not." His hands moved to her face as he tried to help her fix her hair. She ended up swatting him away and laughing. She picked up his lying guitar afterwards, pushing towards him and replacing it on his lap.

"While you're at it," she said. "Play me some of your songs."

"My, aren't we demanding?" He stuck his tongue out. "Sorry, babe. There's a reason Jason's the lead singer of the band."

"But you sound just as great!" She argued, holding his hands and forcing them onto the guitar. "There's no turning back now; you already sang for me! Please?"

He stared at her for a second, taking in the way her eyes were shining brightly and the way she was smiling shyly but playfully.

Finally, he sighed. "Which one?"

He made it look like he was annoyed, but he sang for her, anyway, and there were two more songs after that.

By the time he was running off to his house with his guitar case flailing at his side, it was already past eleven and she had the widest grin on her face.

Her parents were in the dining room when Annabeth shut the front door.

Boxes were strewn all over their house, so she had to carefully walk to not making anything topple over. Athena and Frederick were looking at her expectantly, and they both smiled slightly when they heard Annabeth's stomach grumble in the silence.

There was a box of pizza in the middle of the table, and Annabeth eyed it before clearing her throat.

"Hi." She ignored the way her voice cracked. "Are there any more left?"

Athena nodded. "Go ahead, honey. Your father and I already ate."

Annabeth didn't hesitate to sit down and open the box. She practically inhaled the first slice she got her hands on.

"So…" her mother started. "That boy who came. He had a nice voice."

Annabeth nearly choked. "You heard?"

"Just the singing, we promise," Frederick said sheepishly. "And maybe some laughing, too. That kid your boyfriend?"

"Dad." She rolled her eyes, but she could feel her cheeks betraying her. "No, he's not. His name is Percy and he's really nice."

"He probably is, dear," Athena agreed. "We're glad that there's one other person who's looking after you."

"There is us, of course," her father continued. "Honey, you know we love you, right? And that what we're doing is for the best?"

Annabeth swallowed before sighing. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry for storming off this morning."

"Oh, you had every right to storm off on us, Annabeth." Athena grinned. "We are… what's the appropriate term?"

"Dicks?" Frederick offered.

"Dad!" Annabeth gasped, mirroring her mother's horrified expression. "I mean, yeah, okay. You guys were, but I'll be fine. We're going to be fine."

"Why are you surprised?" Frederick asked her. "Doesn't that Perry guy swear a lot in front of you?"

"His name is Percy and he's actually really polite." She was laughing now. "He only dresses that way because of the music he's into. He's in a band."

"A band!" Frederick gasped at the same time Athena asked, "Are they any good?"

Annabeth spent the rest of the night talking to her parents until she remembered that she had school the next morning. Despite the rough start her day had, she fell asleep on her bed with a huge grin on her face.

part three of five

tumblr: itsscaryyoke. The link is on my profile.

Thank you for reading! Questions? Comments? Criticisms? Leave a review! :) -YJ