What Do You Mean?

Percy POV

The weeks passed by quickly and busily. My life had become hectic, especially after swimming competitions started in October. I was doing quite well as my times were improved beyond last year's times. I've broken the school record twice already this year alone for two separate categories of swimming: 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.

The entire gang had also gotten a lot closer over the last two months. In fact, even though it was only the first week of December, we were already planning to meet on Christmas Eve for a secret Santa.

My relationship with Annabeth was complicated, to say the least. Sometimes, we were great and other times we would argue (jokingly of course). And, a few times, there was this intensity or fire between us that was hard to decode.

The past few weeks of rehearsal were working on acting, which I was pretty poor at. It took a lot of practice and a lot of help to memorize and act each scene, especially on days when my dyslexia would rise up, but we were getting there.

***

My arms burned as I powered through the water on the first Saturday of December. We were at a home swim meet, and it was my last race of the day: a relay. I went last in my team of four because it was up to me to catch up to anyone who was ahead of us. Not surprisingly, we finished first in the heat.

After several minutes of talking with teammates, coaches, and recruiters, I made my way towards the locker rooms only to be blocked by Rachel.

"What do you want, Rachel?"

"Just wanted to congratulate you, Perce. You did amazing. It's actually not surprising considering that body of yours. Those arms, those legs, those abs, that face," she finished by leaning forward and whispering huskily into my ears. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to her at that moment. However, my manhood had more respect than to fall for her manipulative words.

"I pulled away from her. Rachel, I've told you like a thousand times that we're over."

Her smile disappeared, replaced by anger and aggression. "This is because of her, isn't it? You're rejecting me for that worthless Annabeth!" she screeched.

"Woah. First of all, nothing is happening between me and Annabeth." But, I wasn't completely confident in my words that I didn't have any feelings for her. "More importantly, Annabeth is not worthless, and she's intelligent, kind, beautiful, and talented."

I could see the venom on her face and in her eyes. I gulped as I immediately realized my mistake. Wise Girl was now in this mess. Although Rachel was the one that was dragging Annabeth into it, I pretty much oiled the fire with my words just now.

Rachel huffed in anger and stormed off. Damn it.

***

Later that day, I found myself at the grocery store. It was my week to do all the shopping, so here I was waiting in the grocery line with a cart full of food and other things.

As I made my way out to the car, my eyes spotted a familiar face.

"Hey, Wise Girl. What are ya doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious, Seaweed Brain? I came to pick up some groceries," she said as she approached me and my car.

"Well, you're not exactly wearing Giant Eagle attire." She was wearing jeans with a flowy purple dress top. She looked quite amazing, honestly.

"Close your mouth, Seaweed Brain, and stop drooling," she teased. My face immediately felt hot as I wiped the corner of my mouth that did have a hint of drool. But, if you saw her, you'd probably be doing the same.

"Anyway, I was having a dinner-date with Luke before heading over here."

I resisted the urge to lose the smile on my face. She was on a date. With Luke. I didn't like the news I just heard, but I wasn't quite sure why.

I was about to respond when all thoughts were knocked out of my head because of the sight behind her. Oh NO, NO, NO.

I quickly turned to Annabeth, "You have to get out of here."

"What do you mean, Seaweed Brain?" She started to turn around, but I stopped her. "Wise Girl, please, you have to go." He was getting closer.

"Percy, are you okay? You look really wild. Just tell me what is going on right now."

"Wise Girl, please, just get inside my car." I practically dragged her confused self into my car. "Annabeth, no matter what, don't come outside. If you need to, drive away."

My voice was bold and strong despite the shake I was feeling inside. "Perc-" I slammed the door shut just as he approached. Gabe.

"Why are ya hiding your pretty little girlfriend, boy? She looks like a sweet thing," Gabe spat. The alcoholic stench coming off him was suffocating.

"Don't talk about her, Gabe. What do you want?"

I held my ground despite not wanting a confrontation with him. This was terrible news. Gabe not showing up in the last two months sent us into a false sense of safety, but now he was back wilder, angrier, and drunker than ever.

"I told you: I'm making you and your stupid mother pay."

I dodged his first punch, but the second one hit hard in my stomach. As we fought, I managed to get a few hits in myself. But Gabe was so drunk that I doubted he even felt them because he kept coming with more. Too bad the alcoholism didn't make him uncoordinated when violent.

Fight. I was fighting for my life, my family's life, and for Annabeth, who was sitting in the car a few feet away. Her horrified expression vibrated in my head as Gabe clocked my head.

I felt the side of my head bruising and the blood drip down slowly. The dizziness and lack of defense allowed him time to kick me hard on my thigh, causing me to fall onto my back. Fear was what I was feeling as Gabe towered over me with a knife in his hand.

"You and your stupid mother got me arrested for scarring your leg. Well, now let's put another one. A deeper one that makes you bleed slowly," he laughed evilly.

My eyes closed as Gabe came forward and down, but a loud bang snapped my attention again. I watched in slow motion as Gabe fell to the side clutching his head.

Then, I watched Annabeth with a fierce expression and holding a broken glass bottle. She was standing straight with a look of anger and care. Her stormy grey eyes were dazzling in the moonlight. Never before had she looked so beautiful, so strong, so intelligent, and so flawless.

It was in that moment that I realized I liked her, and I was falling for her.