The Pool Party

Percy POV

While I shouldn't have made out with Annabeth, I didn't regret it at all.

How could I even regret something that felt so good and so right? Plus, that one make-out session alleviated so many side effects of chemo for the rest of the week.

I was scared that this deal took away my ability to get pain relief and distraction from sex. However, the truth was that sexual experiences with Annabeth worked very well, and they lasted for a longer time as well.

Damn, I was so in love with her.

Regardless, I was beyond grateful that the chemo cycle was over for the month of January. It was like a weight was lifted off of my chest. The encounter with Annabeth in that classroom certainly helped me get through the second half of the cycle.

Things between Annabeth and me sort of went back to normal. We simply ignored what happened in the classroom. Instead, we talked and bantered like how we usually do. I missed her so much over the past three weeks, so at least we were talking now.

However, my feelings were only growing for her despite how hard I tried to push them away.

I hadn't realized I was just staring at Annabeth until Piper called my attention.

"Percy, I have an announcement, but all you're doing is gazing at Annabeth. Is there something we should know?" she asked teasingly.

My cheeks reddened a little as Annabeth turned to me. I sighed.

"What's the announcement?"

"This Saturday, everyone in the squad is invited to an indoor pool party," Piper and Calypso said simultaneously.

"Okay, girls, what's the occasion?" Will asked excitedly. He loved parties.

"No occasion really. This Saturday is January 20th. It marks the date that Annabeth and Percy's deal would've ended. Um, that's not the case anymore, but we already booked the pool, so..."

"It's fine, Piper," Annabeth said softly.

"Yeah, someone had to win the deal. We can celebrate Wise Girl's victory," I said with a smile.

"I don't want to celebrate, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said directly to me. I knew that she still felt bad about what she said to me at the Christmas party.

While I had been hurt, I already forgave her.

"What, Wise Girl? So, you actually wanted to sleep with me," I said with a smirk. My eyes were probably sparkling with light-hearted mischief.

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," she said as she punched my arm.

"That wasn't a no," I said slyly while rubbing my arm. Annabeth had a mean fist.

She simply glared at me before assuring Piper that the party was fine.

Even though we were just joking, I felt strangely happy about the possibility that Annabeth was okay with sleeping with me. Any teenage guy would be happy with Annabeth, considering she was amazing.

I internally sighed. Ugh, I was trying to get away from my feelings for Annabeth. When you had cancer, you didn't like the prospect of leaving the ones you loved. Besides, I couldn't date her because Annabeth didn't deserve to have to watch me suffer from cancer.

That was just too hard for me and for her. Right?

I shook my head and returned my attention to my friends. I was looking forward to spending time with my friends again. Cancer made it hard to spend quality time and have fun with all of my friends, so I was excited about the party.

***

The pool party was at a gym near Piper's house. Grover and Juniper drove me to the party.

Even though I was in the back seat, Grover and Juniper were talking about their own personal things. While I knew most of what they were talking about (since Grover is my best friend), I still felt like an awkward third-wheeler.

"Grover, why would you do that to me?" I asked when we were walking into the pool building. Juniper had rushed into the pool party because she was excited.

"What do you mean?" Grover asked.

"Come on, man, you know how awkward that was while you were talking about all the tea between you two lovebirds."

"You already know all the stuff. It's not a big deal," Grover said chuckling.

I sighed as we walked into the pool area. Surprisingly, the scent of chlorine wasn't too strong. The atmosphere brought back a lot of good memories for me. I loved swimming, but I couldn't do it now because of cancer. Swimming put too much strain on my leg, which brought a lot of irritation and pain.

So, I stopped swimming about two years ago.

"Welcome, you're the last to arrive," Leo exclaimed. Everyone cheered at our arrival.

As soon as I got changed into my swim shorts, I realized that most of the gang was already in the pool. My eyes scanned the pool before fixated on one person.

Annabeth was stepping out of the pool slowly. I simply stared at her. She was wearing a tight gray one-piece swimsuit. It wasn't too revealing, but it hugged her in all the right ways. She was super hot and sexy, and I couldn't help but get a little excited by seeing her.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain, what are you staring at?" she asked. I was outside of the pool, and Wise Girl was standing on the first step leading into the pool.

"Hi, um, I was staring at, um," I faltered off.

"Me," she said with a smile.

"Well, yes, you look good today, Wise Girl."

"What, I usually don't look good," she teased. "Also, you just like that I'm dressed like this and wet."

"The visual in front of me only emphasizes your natural beauty, Wise Girl."

If she was affected by my words, Annabeth didn't show it. Normal girls would be blushing right about now. However, Annabeth was definitely not normal.

"Well, you're drooling, Seaweed Brain. So, stop," she said simply.

It was actually me who blushed as my hand wiped the corner of my mouth. Annabeth returned to the game of volleyball as I took a seat at the pool's edge.

The pool party was going great, and the pizza was terrific. Most of the time, I was sitting at the side of the pool with my feet in the water. Sometimes, I got in, but I wasn't going to risk having a painful breakdown in front of everyone.

"Hey bro, why aren't you getting into the pool?" Jason asked later.

"I don't want to put too much strain on my leg," I said quietly.

Jason nodded as he looked down at my right knee area. "Are you okay? It looks a little swollen and red."

"It's actually always like that. I usually just don't expose my leg."

Jason simply patted my shoulder. He was about to say something, but some commotion interrupted our conversation. Before I knew it, several of the boys were fighting with pool noodles, and they were very close to me and Jason.

"Hey, Woah Woah, guys-" I started to exclaim, but it was already too late. I lost my balance on the edge of the pool.

And, into the water, I went.

I was gasping as I lifted my head out of the water.

"What the hell, guys?" I shouted. However, Leo, Will, and the Stolls were still too busy with their noodle battle.

I ran my hand through my hair, but a splash hit my face and ruined my hair.

"Surprise, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth exclaimed.

Before I knew what was happening, all the girls currently in the pool made a circle around me and started splashing me hard.

"Hey, hey stop, stop," I exclaimed as I quickly made my way out of the pool.

Annabeth, Piper, and Thalia were laughing their butts off as I stared at them from outside the pool. I loved it when Annabeth was happy.

The party winded down after that. Some people had to leave while others were simply hanging out in the water and talking.

I was sitting on the edge of the far side of the pool when Annabeth sat down next to me. Once again, I appreciated her close presence.

"No one to talk to, Seaweed Brain?" she asked slyly.

"Grover and Jason both have girlfriends, so that's where they are."

"Aww, poor single you," she said with a smile. However, Annabeth didn't seem too disappointed about it.

"You don't seem disappointed," I noted.

"Oh, I don't care," she said quickly.

We sat there in comfortable silence for a few moments before I turned to her again.

"Wise Girl," I started.

"Yeah."

"Can I kiss you?" I asked earnestly. I wanted to so badly.

She stared at me as our gazes locked. Wise Girl seemed to be searching for something in my eyes and face. Then, Annabeth shook her head.

"No, you can't," she said softly.

I sighed as I turned back to the pool. Well, it was a long shot. Technically, I wasn't in a chemo cycle, so I didn't really require any kiss or sensual experience.

I just wanted a kiss from Wise Girl.

I froze as Annabeth's fingers grazed my jaw. I felt her soft lips press against my cheek for a few seconds before she pulled back.

Annabeth walked away after that. I wasn't sure what compelled her to kiss my cheek, but I wasn't compelling.

I had a light smile on my face for the rest of the party.

***

Grover dropped me off in front of my apartment's parking garage. I had to pick something up from my trailer. As soon as I got the extra food in my trailer, I started walking to my apartment building.

"Jackson," a voice shouted. Luke.

"What do you want, Luke?" I asked immediately raising my defenses.

I despised Luke so much. He was a jerk, and we had personal issues. Luke was the reason that Calypso and I had broken up. Luke was wearing a dark outfit, and I easily noticed the metal baseball bat in his right hand.

"I told you to stay away from Annabeth. She was my girl first."

"First, Annabeth isn't a possession. Second, you two broke up. Just get over it, Luke," I said firmly. I was getting ready to leave when Luke stopped me.

"I already warned you, Jackson," Luke said threateningly.

"Oh my god, Luke. This isn't even about you liking Annabeth. You simply are a sadist who doesn't want anyone else to be with her because she rejected you," I said.

"You're gonna pay, Jackson."

The hit with the steel bad came hard, and it came directly onto my right leg.

Pain exploded into my right knee and lower leg as I crumbled down. I screamed and groaned in pain as I crutched my cancerous leg. Right now, it was too much pain and fear. Hot tears burned my eyes. I've never felt that much physical pain ever.

"Jackson, that wasn't even that hard," Luke said. Of course, he didn't know that I had cancer in my right leg (exactly where he hit).

I was still writhing on the ground as my face constricted in pain.

I immediately saw fear in Luke's eyes as he stared at me. Then, he started to run away.

I was left trembling on the ground as I tightly clutched my right knee. I leaned back against a stranger's car as I pulled out my phone.

I called the most recent person on my call history.