A/N: This is my first Percabeth story—

So in this one, Percy isn't linked with Grover and you may notice that personalities may be a little different.

Hope you enjoy!

Chiron didn't really allow loud, booming music in our cabins, or really phones in general to play that music. In fact, Will Solace had to sound-proof the walls even though his band, the Solstices, only played dumpy classical stuff. Sure, the music may be boring, but the parties sure aren't.

This one wasn't so big. I mean, maybe there were around 30 people, but I think Will invited certain people instead of the big, blinking PARTY AT THE APOLLO CABIN sign that got us busted last time.

I hadn't even wanted to come to the party, but of course, my best friend, Percy Jackson, had convinced me to come with his stupid seal eyes.

"Please, please, please?" he asked, and I squinted at him. Okay, rewind.

Ever since Percy and I had completed our enormous quests and restored peace or whatever to Olympus, it was like he was the hottest thing to hit planet Earth and Olympus since microwavable food. When we returned, it was like he had been whisked away— all of the girls wanted him, all of the gods' companies wanted him to model for them or advertise their products. And it didn't help either that I had a huge, disgusting teenage crush on him— in fact, I had had one on him since we were both 12 years old. And once we returned, I hoped that he would maybe have feelings for me— but noooo, he was too caught up in the fame and the girls to bother with me romantically. Plain old buddy Annabeth Chase, who was like his sister.

So when he begged me to go with him to the party, of course I was suspicious!

"Go with Drew. You flirt with her all the time!" Percy rolled his eyes at me, his tousled black hair tousled and his sparkling green eyes making me feel like Jell-O like they always were.

"Oh my gods, Annabeth, I'm not going with Drew. I'm going with my best friend, my sister, my everything—" I had to admit the last part had made my heart race a little faster, but I knew better than to give in at that moment.

"Your everything?" I teased, and Percy laughed, blushing a little.

"Shut up, Chase," he said quickly, swatting me. It felt good to be with him, even though we hung out every day. I would go so far as to say we were almost inseparable. "So will you go? Why are you even hesitating?" I could hear the smugness in his voice, and I laughed.

And that was why I was at the party.

Everyone was milling around, chatting, swaying to the classical music, when Drew Tanaka shouted in her shrill, piercing voice the words that would change my life forever:

"LET'S PLAY TRUTH OR DARE!" And just like that, everyone had run to the floor and seated themselves in a circle, girls excitedly twittering to boys, boys excitedly shouting to the band players to shut the Hades up and join them.

"Truth or dare?" Drew asked Will Solace before the instrument players had even taken a seat. His face turned bright red and he blinked dramatically before quickly responding,

"Um… Truth?" Drew deflated, chewing her lips, rolling her dark eyes back to show off her full lashes. Gah. I hate her.

"Who do you like?" Drew squealed quickly, and I immediately groaned. That question was literally the most cliché question ever asked in a truth or dare game. Percy nudged me, snorting beside me, as Will glanced around quickly.

"Um…" Drew batted her eyelashes fiercely, leaning in towards him, though I saw her eyes flashed dangerously when he hesitated.

"You! Of course," Will stammered, and Drew beamed, squealing and clapping her hands. Demigods in the circle groaned and twittered before Drew picked Percy. I almost wanted to hiss at her; she was always trying to steal my man— I mean, Percy— from me, and she flirted with him whenever she could.

"Percy!" Her voice was shrill as she pointed a perfectly manicured finger at him. He gulped loudly beside me, spurring laughter from nearby demigods.

"Uh," said Percy intelligently, and his shoulder brushed mine when he shifted uncomfortably. I ignored my hammering heart and sat back, bracing myself to hear the worst from Drew— "Make out with me!" or "How hot am I? Scale of 10 to 10." Instead, Drew narrowed her eyes at me.

"Let's have some fun with our favorite couple," she hissed, looking directly into my eyes. I gulped, feeling my stomach flip. I knew she suspected I had a crush on Percy, but I never admitted it to anyone— except for maybe Grover… And Aphrodite… Which probably wasn't a good idea at the time.

"Couple?" Percy sounded confused.

"Joking, joking!" said Drew, brightening, though her eyes still flashed. "Hmmm… Okay. I got it." Percy raised an eyebrow, waiting, as Drew dragged out the suspense.

"Spit it out!" called a voice from the opposite side of the circle, but he or she was silenced when Drew shot them a cold look.

"I dare you— no, wait!" She grinned maliciously. "I double-dog-dare you—" The whole circle of demigods, including Percy, gasped dramatically— "to kiss Annabeth. And I mean kiss, Jackson." A dozen girls around the circle moaned in disappointment while Percy immediately started to splutter, protesting and throwing his hands up. I, meanwhile, was slowly dropping into a mental Tartarus. Oh, gods.

"Oh, not such a couple, are we?" Drew grinned, and Percy fell silent. "So much protesting for just a kiss. Hmm." Her eyes found mine again, as if she had proven something incredible. Big whoop, Drew. So what, he won't kiss me?

"YOU CAN'T SAY NO TO A DOUBLE-DOG-DARE!" yelped Lacey, her blonde hair bobbing in panic. The girls and guys around her muttered in agreement.

"Let's keep the double-dog-dare, then," Drew announced. She grinned even wider, like she had been planning this all along. "I dare you to get an empathy link with Annabeth." The room went silent except for my ragged breathing.

"Actually, that's not a totally horrible idea," Percy said after the silence. I felt about twenty eyes on me and the jealous glares of the girls.

"Yeah, I mean, we're best friends," I told Drew. Her smug look faltered for just a second before she stood up and wiped off her white shorts.

"Fine, then!" Her voice sounded shrill, her fists clenched. "Let's go!"

"Go where?" asked someone.

"To go get their link, of course," Drew snapped. Will stood up, too, followed by an excited group of people.

"Um," I said intelligently as Drew grabbed my hand and Percy's. She smiled sweetly at him. "Doesn't one person have to open a link to the other?"

"Whatever! I don't know. Chiron will do it then, if nobody's sure," she spat in my face, though she turned back to Percy and repeated it kindly to him. He smiled at her, and I almost rolled my eyes.

When the group arrived at the Big House, it was dark and the grass was wet. A few people sprinted up to open the door for us, and Percy nodded at Kat, the girl to the right of us who was holding the door. She swooned, and I rolled my eyes again.

"Chiron!" called Drew, and a familiar voice called back,

"Kitchen!" We all walked into the kitchen, immediately greeted by the smell of chili and the sounds of a reality show. Mr. D was sitting at the counter, sipping from a Coke can, laughing and spewing soda all over his beard.

"Are you watching Catching up with the Kar— never mind," said Drew, immediately stepping out in front of the group of campers. Chiron turned from the stove, his #1 Centaur apron stained with sauce. He set the spoon he was holding down and wiped his hands off on his apron, his tail almost knocking the chili pot off of the stove. He could already barely fit in the kitchen.

"What do you all need?" he asked, his eyes resting on all of us. They rested for a little while longer on me, and I smiled at him. Chiron took care of me when I was younger— he was like a second father to me.

"An empathy link," Drew announced, and Chiron's tail stopped swishing.

"You need one?" he asked, and Drew shook her head, pulling me and Percy forward.

"No. They do," she said with a grin as I stumbled against Percy, my shoulder flush against his chest. He froze, and I pulled myself away before I could blush. He smelled good— he always did, even though his cabin smelled like a pig sty.

"You do?" Chiron was addressing us now. "I'm not surprised. After your experiences, I would expect you two to grow closer—"

"Chiron!" I spluttered, and the group's attention was averted for a few moments. I felt my face grow hot. Oops. "Go on," I muttered, embarrassed.

"I'll do it now," Chiron said, backing away from the stove. This time, he actually knocked the chili off the burner with his tail, and it clattered off to the side of the counter. He ignored it.

"Dionysus," Chiron said loudly as he walked down the center of our group. "Dionysus." Mr. D didn't turn away from the TV, and he laughed loudly at something.

"Oh, Kim, you sassy little—"

"Dionysus." Mr. D snapped his head away from the TV set, obviously annoyed.

"What?" he asked, irritated, scratching his dirty beard. I gagged.

"We're going to make an empathy link between Percy Jackson and Annabeth," Chiron said.

"Who?" Mr. D asked, squinting into the crowd. His eyes found Percy. "You mean Peter Johnson and Annabelle?"

"Yes, Percy and Annabeth," Chiron said patiently. He motioned to the people surrounding us, including Drew. "It would help if you all went outside." Drew scoffed, tossing her dark hair. She stormed outside, followed by the others. Will winked at me as he went outside.

"Just use the new shipment," Mr. D said dismissively, waving at us like we were some annoying flies.

"Shipment?" I asked.

"Thankfully, I was supplied this morning with a new invention from Olympus— it's some sort of oil that establishes an empathy link with whoever wishes to create one. The two people must be willing to establish the link, which prevents sabotage." Chiron opened a cupboard full of spices and grabbed a small crystal bottle. Smart.

Mr. D watched from his seat, though his eyes glanced back at the screen every few seconds. Chiron carefully poured two drops into his palm— but the oil didn't touch his hand. It floated a few centimeters above the skin of his palm.

"Sick!" I said and Percy grinned.

"Floating oil. Cool." He glanced up at me quickly with a crooked smile— the one I was sure made other girls wild. I sure as hell knew that now he'd know my strongest emotions— but at least it would not be anything more than that! He was such an idiot.

Chiron muttered some serious-sounding words in Greek and the two drops of oil slithered across the open air like small snakes. One rested on Percy's forearm.

"Ew, sick," Percy said, though he looked intrigued by the drop. My own oil felt warm against my skin. When Chiron finished talking, the oil melted away into my skin. Immediately, I felt warm all over. Something flashed in my vision momentarily— almost like a figure (a rather fit and feminine figure at that)— and then everything was normal again.

I don't feel any different. I really didn't… Though I just… What? I didn't think that. Confusion washed over me, though I didn't feel that either. What was happening?

"Um," I said, and I looked down at my wrist. Was something wrong?

"I don't know, but this is weird." I whipped my head around to see Percy's green eyes wide with confusion.

"I didn't say anything, Percy," I said slowly, my mind reeling.

"I— what?" What is my favorite color?

"Blue," I said out loud, so slowly that it felt like molasses was sinking down all around us. Percy's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Um," said Percy and I at the same time. I felt panic— not my panic— wash over me. Chiron looked bewildered, his furry eyebrows raised in question.

"I can hear his thoughts."

"I can hear her thoughts." Chiron's eyes widened.

"I can also feel his emotions," I added, nervous. "All of them. Is that what it's supposed to do?"

"Um," said Chiron. "New shipment?" He fumbled for the bottle, which he had placed on the counter, but it dropped to the ground as his tail flicked it. It shattered against the tile, the last traces of oil evaporating with a small whisper. "HADES!" He stomped his hoofs, which only resulted in more smashed crystal. There was no oil to be seen.

I felt dread creep into my stomach. Percy could read my thoughts?! Yep. Get out of my head! Can't do that. His voice in my head sounded like him— I could hear the smugness. He was so annoying. I can hear you. I know!

I turned in frustration to Chiron.

"What do we do?!" I almost yelled, and Percy yelped.

"Whoah, calm it, Wise Girl! Your emotions are blowing a hole through my brain!"

"Good!" I retorted, and I whipped my head back to Chiron. "Can't you break the empathy link?! THIS IS NOT WHAT THE LINKS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO."

"It's a new shipment! I'm not sure how to break this one…" Chiron was lost in thought, muttering calculations as he stepped over the broken crystal. "Maybe you'll have to find the cure on your own."

"On our own?" Percy asked, bewildered. How in the world can I be stuck with Annabeth in my head, reading my thoughts and feeling my emotions when— The words were cut off, like he had stopped talking.

"Until we find out how this happened, you'll have to deal with it," Chiron said, flustered. Mr. D laughs from his seat in front of the TV.

"Good luck with the Annual Chariot Competition." He didn't tear his eyes away from the screen. A big bowl of potato chips dropped from thin air in front of him, and he scooped a handful to pop into his mouth. I felt anger rushing through me— this time, it was mine.

"Thanks anyways, Chiron," I said, frustrated, though I knew it was not Chiron's fault. Percy dragged me away, out the door, and right into the crowd of demigods. Drew immediately started laughing.

"How's the empathy link?" she asked. I stormed right over to her and jabbed a finger into her chest.

"This is your fault!" I yelled at her, and she actually looked taken aback. "You made that empathy oil all stupid! That's why—" I cut myself off as I saw the look on her face.

"What empathy oil?" she asked suspiciously. "What the Hades happened—?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, snapping back up to attention. Percy laughed in my mind. Shut up. Drew crossed her arms over her chest and glanced down. She gasped.

"You got your Athena filth all over my Gucci jacket!" she shrieked, turning on her heels to storm away. "Disgusting little brat." I ignored her. Man, she sure is hot when she's angry. Drew?! No— wait— what? Crap, forgot you could hear me. He sounded extremely embarrassed, and I quelled the small flame of jealousy inside of me. I couldn't bear to let Percy feel that. Feel what? Shut up!

"We need to fix this," I huffed as the demigods filed back to their cabins for the night. I guessed our little party was over. Percy nodded.

"Like Hades we do. I can't stand you being in my head."

"I don't feel any differently," I said as I pushed a blond curl from my forehead. "I can't stand you feeling my emotions." I wonder what else this thing can do.

"Let's not wait around to find out," I snapped at him, and I stomped down the hill to my cabin. Ugh! How would this even work when we had the chariot competition?! I wouldn't be able to focus with your thoughts in my brain during that either— probably 'Oh, Percy looks so hot in the chariot!' I felt myself blushing furiously as I spun around halfway down the hill. I tried to block my embarrassment from him.

"Screw you!" I shouted in his direction. I could see him as he stood at the top of the hill and I could see the grin that stretched across his face in the torchlight of the Big House. Whenever you're down, Chase. I stormed off, frustrated and embarrassed.

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