For the First Time- A Percabeth Story

Chapter 26- I Don't Even Know What's Going on Anymore

Annabeth Chase

It had been three days since the Hot Tub Incident- when I thought Percy had tried to kiss me. And of course, I didn't tell Travis about it, even though I wasn't totally sure. I hated not being totally sure. His towel was right behind him and he seemed like he was telling the truth. He seemed like a pretty trustworthy guy. I thought about for a long time and I decided never to tell anyone.

1. I'd lose a friend.

2. Percy might tell the Secret

3. Percy was really nice

4. I almost let him 'kiss' me

I hated the fact that I didn't know what Percy was feeling. I tried to study his movements, but I didn't get anything. He was perfectly normal.

"Thanksgiving is tomorrow!" Mrs. Stoll said, knocking on our door. It was about nine o'clock, and I was sitting in our room with Piper, Thalia and Rachel. She wasn't that bad, actually. She was just really territorial of her boyfriend, although she went for Connor, which was really messed up in her own way.

"Come on," I said, hugging my pillow to my chest. 

We all had wet hair because we just got out of the shower. I had a white t-shirt on and Spongebob shorts. Piper had long fuzzy polka dotted pants, a pink tank top and the feathers were out of her hair. Even though it was wet, her hair still looked really pretty even though she wasn't even trying. Rachel's hair was twisted in a bun and she still had her towel on. She hadn't bothered to go back to her room to change (she'd have to pass the boy's room to get to her own. In a towel? No thanks) Thalia had a black shirt on and grey sweat pants.

"Do you girls want some cookies?" she asked. Mr. Stoll, Mr Hermes, actually (he'd rather be called Mr. Stoll though) was down the hall in the boys' room.

"Yes, ma'am," Piper said. "Thank you."

 She reached up for a gooey cookie. Everyone took one, including me, and Mrs. Stoll left. We sat around and talked about the usual stuff, the dance and dresses.

"I was thinking we could hit some stores on Friday or something," Rachel said after she took a bite out of her cookie.

"Friday is Black Friday, Rachel and unfortunately, we're going shopping with the boys," Thalia said. "We could go Saturday."

"I'm not going to the dance," I admitted. "They're not really my thing."

"What?" everyone cried, except Thalia who was happily munching on her cookie. 

All heads turned to me.

"First of all, Travis didn't ask me," I said, "and second of all, I told you dances aren't my thing. I already told you that."

"Oh yeah, that's right. He's going with Lacy," Rachel said with a tsk.

"Hey, dances aren't really my top priority either," Thalia told me nibbling on her cookie, "but it's a group thing, and even though most of the time I stand around the snack bar, I still have the teensiest bit of fun because my friends are there. And look at me, I'm not looking for a date, so it really doesn't matter if you have one or not. But hey, here's an idea. You could go with Percy! As friends, y'know. That would be awesome."

"No," I said almost immediately, shaking my head. 

Now that would just be kind of awkward. He probably thought I was a totally nut because I was so paranoid about him kissing me. It's not that I wanted him to kiss me, I mean because of Travis and all. It's just... very complicated.

"Dang, Annabeth doesn't want to give up her boyfriend too easily," Piper giggled, which was kind of weird because I never heard her giggle before.

"No, it's just... It would be weird," I said eating the last of my cookie. I was tempted to lick my fingers because it was so good, but instead I just grabbed a tissue and wiped them clean.

"No, it wouldn't," Katie said, entering the room. 

She had just gotten out of the shower, so she had a towel in her hair and around her body. She walked over to her suitcase, which was on one of the two beds and pulled out some clothes to change into. "Percy is a great friend. I'm sure he'd go with you."

"Do you think that Travis would mind?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Would Travis mind what?" a voice said, entering the room.

"TRAVIS!" Katie screamed. She was putting her green top on when Travis walked in. "WE'RE GETTING DRESSED!"

"Oh, schist," he said, scrambling out of the room.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOCKED!" Katie screamed back. Luckily, she had a towel over everything so he hadn't seen anything. And anyways, she wasn't facing him.

"I'm so sorry!" he called from down the hall. 

I heard some of the boys hitting him and yelling his name angrily.

"TRAVIS STOLL, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!" Katie shrieked. 

We couldn't contain our muffled laughter anymore. We were laughing so hard and sprawled out on the floor. I was laughing the least. Had he actually seen Katie? I doubted it, but was it just a coincidence he walked in? And anyways, what had gone on with the two of them?

"What are you worried about?" Rachel asked, "it doesn't bother him," she snickered.

Katie turned beet red. "What are you saying?" she wailed.

"Oh, that have been the wrong brother, then," Rachel sneered.

"Rachel, you're being a butt again," Thalia pointed out like a first grader would.

"I'm sorry, what are you guys talking about?" I asked. 

I was so confused beyond belief.

"Connor and Katie used to date," Piper said quietly.

"Shut up," Katie said from the bed. She was completely dressed now.

Thalia sighed. "She deserves to know."

"Not with me in here!" Katie protested.

"Then go to the bathroom and blow-dry your hair or something," Thalia said. 

Katie obeyed, shuffling in her lace-up mountain boots and closed the bathroom door tightly, and then we heard the sound of the blow-dryer start.

"They used to date?" I asked. That would explain why Katie asked Travis if it would be okay with Connor if she came. It also meant that their relationship had ended badly.

"Yes. And then Travis started liking Katie," Thalia said slowly. "So Katie started liking him back, but she cared too much about Connor to break it off with him."

"So she cheated?" I asked.

"Katie cheated on Connor with Travis. They kept it a secret for a while, too. It started last year this time and ended this summer when Connor found them in the fields on a horse, kissing," Rachel said. "Percy and I were... Together then. We left here early because of it. Connor was really mad."

"So they were riding a horse, kissing?" I asked, bewildered. 

Who does that? I pictured Travis sitting behind me, on top of a horse and me leaning back to kiss him. Was that what Connor had seen? After Connor had been cheating on, he helped Rachel cheat on Percy. This was all too crazy... Stuff like this only happened in the movies. 

"Yeah," Piper said. " I mean it was kind of cute, but it was really bad. Connor and Travis didn't talk to each other for months."

"Connor stayed with Percy for a while, during the school year instead of staying at their house. Percy and Connor were always seen together. Now, since Connor took Rachel, they aren't friends. Sad, isn't it?" Thalia explained. 

Rachel looked down at her feet in silence.

"So... The guys have fought over girls before?" I asked.

"Yes," all of them said together. 

Being a teenager is freaking hard. 

I don't recommend it.