Head Under Water

Chapter 19

The movie was terrible. Both Percy and Annabeth left laughing at the terrible special effects and how far it strayed from the initial source material of the book.

"What the heck was that?" Annabeth laughed "Peter Johnson isn't supposed to kill Kronos till book 5!"

They walked down the sidewalk, back towards Percy's house, Annabeth had told her parents she was staying the night at a friend's house.

Annabeth leaned her head on Percy's shoulder, taking his hand "Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you happy?" Annabeth asked

"Yeah, why?"

"I'm just curious I guess. You let people walk all over you at school, you never fight back. You don't deserve those beatings yet you take them anyways." Annabeth asked confused

Percy took a deep breath and thought about the question. "I guess I'm used to it. I could probably defend myself, but then I'd just be inviting more problems. If I act weak, they think they are hurting me more than I can bear, but they can't really hurt me."

"I guess that makes a little sense, but one more question. Why don't you try out for the swim team? You could probably outswim every person on the current team. You don't have to act weak, you can show who you really are. Maybe then people will accept you, and see you for who you really are. Like I did." She sighed and clung a little more to Percy's arm.

"I am who I am, and anyone who can't find the time to know someone before judging them, I don't want them to be my friend." Annabeth decided to drop the subject after Percy's comment.

"What are we gonna do tonight?" Annabeth asked, trying to redirect Percy's attention.

"I was thinking we could take a walk on the beach." Percy replied

"But it's dark out, we won't even be able to see anything!" She laughed.

"There's a full moon tonight, and the water is calm in the bay, I think we'll be fine. But we don't have to go if you don't want to"

"I think I'd rather just head back to your place and watch another of your mum's chick-flick romances. Its cold out here" Annabeth said as she shivered a bit

"Ok, let's head back then" Percy replied as he took his coat off and draped it over Annabeth's shoulders.