14: Touch It

Percy POV (in Annabeth's body)

So, I guess that I broke up with my girlfriend. I didn't really know how I felt. I was upset, and I was glad at the same time.

The party ended with me having a few drinks actually.

The news of the power couple, Percy and Rachel, breaking up spread like a wildfire during the party. Rachel seemed completely fine though. I was fine, too. At least, that's what I told myself.

"Okay, Annabeth, I think that you drank enough," Thalia exclaimed.

She grabbed my red solo cup and threw it in the trash. Annabeth's best friend turned me around and pulled me towards the house.

"Thalia, what are you doing?" I asked, harshly pulling away.

"Annie, what the hell happened? Why are you acting like this? This isn't you at all," Thalia shouted over the noise in the backyard.

"I'm fine, Thalia," I said.

However, the alcohol caused me to trip over my feet. I fell on my butt, and the red dress slightly slid me on the marble tiles.

"Annabeth, come on, we're leaving now," Thalia commanded.

She pulled me onto my feet, and we started walking towards the house. Her car was parked several houses down the road of Rachel's magnificent community.

I hadn't realized how much I had been drinking. Of course, my normal body would've been able to handle the alcohol. However, Annabeth's body (1) wasn't used to alcohol and (2) couldn't handle as much as a grown man's.

"Okay, Annabeth, tell me what happened with Percy," Thalia demanded.

I was standing against her black Toyota, but she hadn't unlocked the door so I was stuck outside with her staring me down.

"Nothing happened. He just helped me," I snapped.

"Annabeth, why are you so drunk and so emotional right now? This isn't like you. You actually seem like a crazy person, who doesn't have anything together."

Her voice and expression were confident as she spoke. Thalia clearly knew her best friend, and she knew that I was not her.

I realized that I was looking weak to her. I was looking weak and disappointing, and that was certainly letting her down. Gods, that was so not like me.

It wasn't like Percy Jackson to lose his shit (at least, in front of others). People always counted on him, so he had to keep things together, most of the time, by himself.

I straightened up and cleared my throat.

"I'm fine, Thalia," I said firmly. "Now, can you give me a ride home?"

Thalia simply stared at me in shock as I waited. I kept my eyes directly on her to emphasize that I was fine, at least on the outside.

"All right," Thalia expressed with a sigh.

The car ride back to Annabeth's home was quiet and awkward. When I got home, I barely paid attention to Helen's screaming.

I was too lost in keeping my composure like I would do if I were in my own body.

I am fine. Everything is okay, I repeated to myself.

***

The next day held a different aura in the air. A lot of people were staring and whispering as I (Annabeth) walked through the school.

I knew exactly why.

Annabeth was now known as the girl responsible for splitting up Percy Jackson and Rachel Elizabeth Dare. That was either good or bad depending on people's perspectives.

However, I knew that nothing wrong happened.

I was not disloyal, but of course, no one else knew the truth.

"What do you want?" I snapped.

A nearby jock flinched before turning away but not before smirking at me. Gods, I hated this situation. Of course, Annabeth would be eyed down for this.

Rachel was probably making her out to be a monster in the eyes of the school. However, I knew that she did nothing wrong.

She shouldn't be at fault for the rest of her high school career. This was all just petty teenage drama instigated by gossip.

I quickly found Annabeth's locker and entered the combination.

I gasped as several papers unexpected fell out. I couldn't catch all of them, and they flitted towards the floor.

I picked up the papers to read comments on them. Comments that I'd rather not relay out loud because no girl should be called those things.

No girl's personality should be attacked like that, especially a girl as amazing as Annabeth.

"Annabeth, what are those?" Piper asked.

Piper and Thalia walked towards me as I handed them the notes. Their eyes widened as they took the papers from me. "Annabeth, I'm so sorry."

"Look don't listen to them. Clearly, Rachel is making everyone be awful to you out of spite. We know that you didn't do anything wrong," Piper expressed genuinely.

"I didn't do anything. Throw those away," I said firmly.

"Annabeth, I know that you said Percy and you are just friends now. He was helping you after that bastard, Octavian. Ugh, but Rachel thinks otherwise," Thalia explained.

Yup, she certainly did.

However, I knew exactly how to make this right for Annabeth even if that meant making things worse for Percy.

Technically, we were in each other's lives right now. However, when we switched back, Annabeth wouldn't have to deal with this heat if I made things right.

"Guys, I need to talk to Anna-, err, Percy. This isn't right," I stammered.

Both of them nodded before letting me pass.

It was fairly easy to find Annabeth (ie Percy). He was just walking out of morning swim practice. I was grateful that Annabeth was at least taking my body to practice.

"Percy, I need to talk to you," I said firmly.

My own body turned to face me, and a few of the other swimmers whispered to themselves about our interactions. I didn't care though.

"Annabeth, yes, I agree," Percy said quietly.

We walked down the hallway and out of the sports department. An empty classroom was where we decided to stop.

"They're treating me awful aren't they," Annabeth commented solemnly. "I'm not stupid. I know how high school works."

"Yeah, but I know how to fix it for you," I said firmly.

I liked the strength in Annabeth's voice when her body was saying something confidently. It felt nice to use her powerful voice to speak.

"What are you talking about?" she asked through my voice.

I hated the sound of my confused voice. Unfortunately, I was usually confused a lot.

"Tell them (everyone) that it was me pursuing you," I said.

"You mean, tell Rachel and everyone that Percy had pursued Annabeth and that she had done nothing wrong," she said surprised.

"Yes, blame this whole thing on me," I demanded.

"Percy, it wasn't your fault. Why would you suggest this?" she asked.

"Because this will take the blame off of you. People will stop treating you like your a freaking skank or something," I said.

"No, Percy, this will make things complicated for you. This isn't-"

"Annabeth, no one will even dare attack me, at least to my face. I'm fine with this. Just do this for your own sake," I pleaded.

"You're not fine Percy. You keep saying you are, but you legit cannot be fine right now. Just talk to me. You don't always have to be fine for everyone else," she said earnestly.

I simply stared at my own face. I could see Annabeth's personality shining in my eyes, and I understood where she was coming from.

However, I wanted to do this.

She visibly sighed using my body. "Why are you doing this for my sake? We have never even been close."

I gulped as I thought about her question. She was right. We had never been close, but now, I couldn't imagine her not being in my life.

Sure, we were stuck with each other at the moment. But, even when we swapped back, I couldn't imagine not talking to her about my life.

"I don't know, Wise Girl. Just do this. Trust me, my life will barely be affected by 'Percy' taking the blame for the breakup," I said.

She simply nodded my head.

"I don't like this, but this is your body. I'm just controlling it," she expressed. At that point, I knew that she'd listen to me. I trusted her with my actions and my body.

We parted ways after that. I had to go to all of Ananbeth's advanced classes while she had to attend all of my average courses. However, the effect of 'Percy' taking the blame was pretty quick.

Gossip spread around Goode High like fire.

The story was no longer Annabeth targeting Percy Jackson, who already had a girlfriend. The story became Percy Jackson losing interest in Rachel Elizabeth Dare and (instead) flirting with some other girl that he saw at a party.

People no longer stared and whispered at me (ie Annabeth). Instead, some even came over to admire my perseverance despite getting stuck in this drama.

Annabeth would be all right. She was clear.

I was sitting at lunch with my friends. We were all talking about how the news, which closely "ruined" my life, now twisted into something else.

They were all grateful that Annabeth was out of the negative drama.

"Annabeth, you're lucky that my ex-boyfriend covered for you," Rachel said.

I turned to face my ex-girlfriend. It was strange to face her, especially given the circumstances of how we ended. I wasn't necessarily sad or disappointed, but I certainly wasn't happy. After all, Rachel and I had dated for several months.

"Rachel, nothing happened," I said firmly.

"Whether you are innocent or not doesn't matter to me. You are still my enemy," Rachel said cruelly.

With that, she walked away. Her heels made loud clicks on the cafeteria floor. I simply stared at her retreating figure, but I wasn't that phased.

However, something was bothering me. I was not disloyal, and I looked down on those that were. I hated that others were seeing me as a disloyal cheater now. I guess that's what hurt and disappointed me the most.

I was not that person.

However, if it was saving Annabeth of teenage cruelty, then I was okay with that. I was making my life harder for the sake of hers.

I guess I did that a lot in life. I took on stress and pressure and pain (so that others could be satisfied and happy) even when it was a detriment to me.

I didn't want others to see me as not okay.

And, I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.