CHAPTER 1

The Bully

Annabeth Chase's PoV

"I heard he has a huge crush on you." Thalia tells me as she points at Percy Jackson. Thalia is my best friend, but she teases me always. We were at the cafeteria, eating our lunch. Pizza and soup, as always. It's Manhattan Science High School, and you'd expect something a little more decent. I never liked Pizza.

I look over at Percy Jackson's table. He was alone. What. A. Total. Loser.

I guess you would call me a bully. But look at him. He's sitting by himself at his own table, eating on his own. Nobody would be friends with him. Because he's a loser. I mean, look at him. His clothes are hand-me-downs. His black hair is messy. He couldn't even afford to get decent shoes.

Look at me. I'm pretty, smart and popular. Compared to him, I'm a lot better. And now there are rumors that he has a crush on me? It's probably true. I am pretty. But I totally don't want a guy like him. He's shy, solitary and less talkative. He's not even smart at all. Not my type really.

And it burns my head how people say things about us. He's the reason my friends are teasing me always. Because he has a huge crush on me. Luckily I can change that.

"Oooooohhhhhh…." Thalia adds with a teasing sound. "I sense you return the feelings he has for you, Annabeth." What? That's just plain wrong.

"What? Ew, no. Me and a guy like him? Uh-uh." I reply. "Never in a million years I would be with Percy Jackson. Never."

"I think it's your pretty blonde hair that's got Mr. Percy all riled up." Thalia teases with a happy tone in her voice. "Besides…." Thalia pauses then looks and examines Percy. "He's not bad…. Sort of. And you need a date for the dance."

The Dance. The Dance of October, I remembered. It was a ball in our school, and I still have yet to find a date.

"I don't. But I don't plan on going with Percy Jackson! That's for sure." I told her. Those last seven words I spoke were loud enough that the entire cafeteria heard. Even Percy Jackson.

Thalia looked around the cafeteria, then whispered at me. "You might wanna lower you voice, Annabeth. The guy heard."

"I know." I replied.

I've had enough. Everyone in class has been teasing me back and forth about Percy Jackson. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF IT. You know what? I'll just ignore the guy. He doesn't have a chance with me no matter how much he likes me.

The bad news was: Everyone in the cafeteria was now in the impression that I wanted to go with Percy Jackson to the dance. AS IF.

School was over. I open my locker and put in my books. I had no homework tonight, which meant I was free for the day. As I locked my locker, Thalia came running up to me, with books in her hands. She stops in front of me, panting to catch her breath. She's been running a lot.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I just got a date for the dance!" Thalia squealed.

That was surprising. Thalia got a date for the dance already? That quick. I have to give her some credit. But I gotta ask who she got as a date first.

"That's great, but who is it?" I asked again.

"You might not like him." She replies.

"Maybe. But I gotta know WHO first. Just tell me."

"He's cute, not really that handsome. But cute. He's a good person, and he…. Uh…. Kind of walks funny."

NO WAY. I know exactly who that is.

"Grover? Grover Underwood? That's your date for the dance?" I almost shouted.

Grover Underwood. I gotta admit, like Thalia said, he isn't handsome, but he's cute. He was tall and had a little beard in his chin (which he shaved, now it's gone) and was a good person. Average Popularity. Not a big time popular guy, but not a loser, either. Thalia could've done better though.

"Well, he's okay. But you could've done better, though." I replied.

Thalia frowned.

"Oh, like you have a date for the dance." She replied sarcastically.

She pondered her own question for a bit.

"How about….. Luke Castellan?"

Luke Castellan. I'll tell you what I like about him. He was handsome, tall, muscular, had sandy blond hair. He was charming. His physical looks were every girl's dream. I hate to admit it, but he's the most handsome guy I've ever seen in my entire life. Now, I'll tell you what I don't like about him. He's a jerk. He's had 4 or 5 (I lost count) girlfriends by now. Every time he breaks up with the previous, it's because he was caught cheating on her with the current. He also has a HUGE crush on Thalia. He's handsome, but REALLY not my type. He's in the football team and he's your typical dumb jockey. I would die rather than go to the dance with him, honestly.

"Hell, no. Wait. I sense a pattern here." I reply.

Then I realize why Thalia chose Grover as her partner.

"That's why you chose Grover. To avoid going to the dance with Luke!" I told her.

It was pretty obvious. Luke was stalking Thalia ever since she stepped foot in this school. Thalia's attire was always punk rock, which maybe what turned on Luke on her.

"If you tell any of our friends, I swear…." Thalia was making threats now.

"If I tell any one of them. I swear I'll give you the order to kill me." I replied. That's why we were the best of friends.

Thalia stopped talking then turned around facing the other direction. Then she saw something like a ghost, which sent a chill up her spine. She hurried toward me and whispered something.

"Incoming." she says.

I didn't know what she was talking about, then I faced in the direction she was looking at.

It was Percy Jackson. With his books. Coming towards me.

He stops in front of me and kind of stutters when he talks. He DID have a huge crush on me. Now's my chance to finally rid him of any feelings toward me. Thalia tried to be casual and said. "Well, guys. Have fun. I'm gonna go to the bathroom." She boosted towards the CR. Thanks a lot, Thalia.

"H-h-hey, uh, Annabeth." He asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

People were looking towards our direction.

I gave him a stern look and replied "What?"

"So, uh, I was wondering maybe you'd like to go with, uh, me to the dance?" He asked me. Wow. I cannot believe this loser had the guts to ask me that.

People all over the hallway were laughing at us now. I've had about enough.

"Listen, Seaweed Brain!" I said. I called him that. He liked water a lot and hung out at the beach, so why not? "I don't know where you get your delusions from, but you're WAY out of my league. Take a shark with you to the dance." I said with fierce anger.

Everyone in the hallway erupted to extreme laughter. He silently ran to get out of their sight.

Now no one will ever tease us again. Well, not me. But I don't care about him.

That felt good.

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Next chapter is later in the day or tomorrow!

Next on: The More You Hate, The More You Love...

Chapter 2: It Hurts

How does it feel, when the girl you love hurts you? Percy knows how it feels, and he's trying to struggle that feeling. COMING SOON!