Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and others. Nope. I don't.. . . . . Hope you like it. Sorry in advance for any errors or what not.

AN: This is set after Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian.

Chapter 1: Aphrodite's Curse on Luke

"If you'll just let me explain, please Annabeth." Luke pleaded as he tried to follow her around. Annabeth paid no attention to him and continued on walking briskly. Begging left an awful taste in Luke's mouth, and her ignorance left a painful pang in his heart. She didn't even glance at him.

"Annabeth, please!" Luke pulled Annabeth's wrist as he caught up with her, forcing her to face him. He should've seen it coming. He felt his head twist by the force of her slap. He held his left cheek and closed his eyes as he tried to regain his composure. He knew he deserved it, after kissing her a while ago. But couldn't she at least express some joy in the fact that he was alive? Really, after being a hero and killing Kronos.

He opened his eyes. Annabeth's stormy gray eyes were staring at him; surprisingly there were no sign of tears in those orbs. They only held hurt, confusion and anger. He thought that he could see a bit of regret and sadness too. He gazed at her form. She stood there in front of him, her arms folded in front of her. He hadn't had a chance to observe her earlier, given his impulsive action. Her beautiful curly blond hair grew longer up to her waist and she no longer wore her hair in a ponytail; an eyeglass was perched on the front pocket of her blue blouse; her dark jeans fit against her legs. She sure has changed after a long time. She was no longer the little girl who was infatuated with him.

"Well, welcome back Luke. I think a welcome kiss was enough for you. What do you want now? A welcome hug too?" She asked him, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She sure was feisty as ever. He never knew he was so lucky to have another chance to be with them again, with her. On the second thought, he wasn't as lucky as he thought to be.

"I'm sorry Annabeth. I didn't know what I was doing—" He tried to think of any reason to justify his action, anything, something, as long as it wasn't the truth. Because the truth didn't set him free, it hurt him and killed him. And we all know that Luke has had enough of the dying part.

"Of course you didn't. You never really think Luke." Annabeth's words couldn't pierce his heart any more than an eraser could. His frustration didn't stem from his lack of intelligence, it was quite the opposite. He was too smart for his own good. He glanced behind Annabeth and saw something that made him more frustrated. "It wasn't supposed to be this way." Luke thought. He gazed at the gray eyed girl once again. He was too smart that he forgot to include the single fact in his plans.

"It's just that I was so happy that I saw you again and –" "I was so happy to see her again but it wasn't really a reunion that I expected." He was cut off again by Annabeth's snarky retorts.

"So happy, that you would kiss me in front of them? You're lying. It's good that Percy wasn't here, or else you'd find yourself in Elysium once again." He wished that what Annabeth said about being in Elysium was true, but he didn't think he like the fact that he'd be there again sooner than expected.

"Annabeth. . . . do you love me?" Luke suddenly asked her. He couldn't bear being alone. The loneliness made him wish that he wasn't revived after all. It was ungrateful of him to think so but his plans were going awry especially when she was being uncooperative. He glanced again, only to find that person gone. He'd have to do it in some other way then but he still had to continue what he was doing now.

"You've already asked that question, and my answer still remains the same." She shook her head, she wouldn't stare at him. "I have Percy, Luke. Stop lying. You can't do this. It's unfair, to him. . . . toher." Her voice cracked. She looked at the ground between them and she fisted her hands at her sides. He wasn't surprised at Annabeth's deductions. She was living up to the name of being a daughter of Athena. Nevertheless, he acted as if he understood nothing of what she has just said.

"What are you talking about? Unfair to whom? You do know that there is nothing fair when it comes to love." He severely declared as he thought about his misfortunes. Aphrodite must hate him very much for him to be this so unfortunate.

"Stop it Luke. Stop acting as if you don't know anything. Just stop. Okay? You love her. Not me. You love Thalia. Thalia Grace. Not me, Annabeth Chase who is in love with Percy Jackson. Get it? You don't need to be a son of Athena to know that right? Right?" Annabeth apparently hasn't lost her temper even after these years. Tears slid down her face as she lifted her head and glared at Luke. Luke couldn't help but feel guilty and depressed.

He reached out to wipe her tears away with his thumb. She slapped his hand away. Luke then did something unexpected. He just smiled at her. He smiled a bitter smile, deciding that the game was already up. His secret was laid out in the open, though only a part of it. He was in love with the girl who couldn't love him back.

"Yes. I know that." "Yet knowing doesn't make anything hurt less. Not at all." Luke just stared off to where Thalia was standing moments ago.

"Then why? Why are you being so irrational? Why?" she demanded answers from Luke. I don't know, Annabeth. I don't know either was what he wanted to say. His lips moved on their own accord.

"Because love is irrational, that's why." Annabeth wiped her tears away. He felt so guilty once more but he decided that there was nothing else he could do, for he knew that the whole truth would be harder for Annabeth to handle.

The truth that would soon be shocking everybody.

Author's Notes: So. Uh. Yeah. Pairing is still undecided, and details are a bit unclear but I'll try to clarify things later on. Reviews are greatly appreciated. :D