Him or her? (A Pipabeth story)

Chapter Two

Annabeth's POV

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DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO RICK RIORDAN. PLOT IS MINE

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Annabeth pulled her drachma out of her pocket. She was getting ready to Iris message Percy, standing in the Poseidon cabin in front of the small fountain. Percy was supposed to be arriving at camp later but had yet to tell her exactly when he would be arriving.

Tossing the coin into the fountain, she spoke the words.

"Oh Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, Accept my offering and show me Percy Jackson, uh, wherever he is."

The mist from the fountain shimmered, revealing an image of Percy lying asleep on his bed with various books and papers spread out around him. Normally Annabeth would have laughed at the sight, but she couldn't help but think about how distance her and Percy had gotten lately. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"Uh, hey Percy."

Percy sat up sudden, books scattering around him as he looked towards the Iris message screen that had appear. "Hey Annabeth." He smiled goofily, but the smile didn't seem to reach his eyes like it always had. "What brings you to Iris message me?"

"Well," Annabeth started, hesitant, "You said you were coming to camp tonight." She looked around what she could see of his room and it didn't look like anything had been packed. "You are still coming, aren't you?" She asked hopeful. Percy lowered his gaze so that he was looking down at his bed.

"Well, I kinda decided to stay with my mom for Summer. So I can study more and all. I really need to pass school. And I haven't spent time with my mom much."

"How long have you known that you were going to stay instead"

"Uh.... Two weeks?"

"And you didn't tell me?!" Annabeth couldn't believe it. Sure they were slowly growing further apart despite how much she wished they weren't, but this was Percy. He told her everything. Annabeth watched as a guilty looked crossed over Percy's face.

"I'm sorry Wise Girl. I should have told you. I thought that, it would be better for a bit if we were apart to figure things out, ya know?"

"NO-" Annabeth stopped herself. She sighed. Wanting nothing more but to yell at Percy about everything, she stopped herself. Unfortunately, I understand where he is coming from.

"I understand, Percy. I got to go check on Piper now. The whole ordeal with Jason and stuff." He nodded in understanding.

"Right well, see you.. Later then Wise Girl."

"Later Seaweed Brain," She answered back, swiping her hand through the mist screen, cutting the connection.

She couldn't help but think, on her way to check on Piper, how little power their nicknames had held. As if they were now no more than instincts that held no meaning.

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(A/N: I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered writing Annabeth's POV for talking to Piper so I've skipped that XD Sorry not sorry)

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Annabeth left the Aphrodite cabin with questions. She was still concerned about Piper, but something seemed off about her. She had seemed to drift off multiple times, but not with the same look that she often got when thinking about Jason and his death. It was a different look, one of confusion and... interest? Annabeth couldn't tell and it was bugging her.

Piper had also seemed concerned about what Annabeth had said about Percy. Considering Piper was a daughter of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Annabeth was certain Piper could tell something was up between her and Percy.

And to top it all off, her eyes had met Piper's stunning eyes that changed constantly at one point and- Did she just describe Piper's eyes as stunning? She had to admit that Piper did have nice eyes.

Shaking her head, Annabeth and continued walking down to the beach where some other campers had set up a game of volleyball. Anything to keep her mind off her questions.

She'd just reached the beach and saw that some of the campers had started a game. Walking over to where Hazel, Frank and Reyna were sitting, she noticed their faces soften in concern when she sat down.

"Are you okay Annabeth?" Hazel asked.

"Yeah I'm fine," She replied. Hazel and Frank didn't look convinced. She couldn't tell what Reyna was thinking. "Hey," Hazel piped up, "You were checking on Piper right?" Reyna looked mildly surprised.

"She's still grieving over Jason?"

Annabeth nodded. "I think it's more of the fact she feels guilty about breaking up with him not long before he... passed. She seemed odd when I was in there though... she didn't seem... off by any chance when you were talking with her earlier Hazel?"

"No... I don't think so. Why?" Annabeth contemplated saying what she noticed, especially about Piper's weird drifting off but something in the back of her mind was telling her not too. Shaking her head she responded. "Doesn't matter. It was nothing."

A short bark came from one of Reyna's dogs that she hadn't noticed before, Aurum she remembered, and Reyna lifted her eyebrow. Annabeth sighed. Sometimes it's annoying that those dogs can detect lies.

"Fine. It wasn't nothing... Just something I noticed. It doesn't matter at the moment, though. I'm just over-thinking, like always." Annabeth turned away from the others to look at the volleyball game that was still going on. Although the three sitting next to her started watching the game she could tell Hazel wasn't letting Annabeth's stay unnoticed by the worried glances she kept giving her.

It's fine, she thought. I'll figure it out properly later.

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Percy's POV

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Percy sat on his bed, rubbing his face in his hands. As much as he wouldn't like to admit it, He and Annabeth had started drifting further apart. And as much as spending time with his mom and getting work done to pass school were reasons why he had chosen to stay home for Summer, the main reason was what he had told Annabeth: So they could distance themselves and work it out.

His mom chose that moment to walk in. She had made a batch of blue cookies and carried them into the room. Percy looked up, and the look on his face must have showed something as Sally instantly stopped smiling as brightly and her face turned to looking worried.

"Is everything okay, Percy?" She sat down on the edge of his bed and offered him the cookies. He took one but didn't eat it.

"Annabeth Iris messaged me," He spoke. She looked at him sympathetically.

"Is this about you deciding to stay here for Summer? I could always take you to Camp-"

"No, no," He stopped his mom. "I feel bad but I feel like it was the best thing to do. Annabeth looked like she could tell as well. I still love her, I do, but, I don't know.." He trailed off laying down backwards onto his bed. Sally still looked down at him. "We've been through so much. Friend's since we were 12. And we've been through Tartarus. But it's like we've grown further apart you know?" He looked towards his mom hopefully. She looked back with a small, sad smile on her face.

"I wouldn't know, I'm sorry Percy." She paused. "Annabeth was a sweet girl. The only thing I can tell you, is whatever happens, I hope you two still stay friends at the very least." Her face brightened sudden and a semi-forced smile spread across her face.

"At least have some of these cookies. They always cheer you up."

She left the room, leaving the platter of cookies on Percy's bed. But despite what she said, nothing could stop the deep feeling of despair at the thought of losing his girlfriend, and the thought that both of them knew the fate of their relationship was inevitable.