Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Whatever you’re going to ask, the answer is no.”

The figure hovering next to Annabeth paused, “Are you always this blunt, or do you save the curtness for me?”

Shit. She recognized that voice. Annabeth froze, pen hovering over the paper as she snapped to face him, “Can I help you with something?”

No words left his mouth, only a finger lifted to point at the seating chart by the front of the classroom. Annabeth’s eyes scanned the rows of paired desks drawn on the board until she found her name. Just her luck, it was right next to PERCY JACKSON in big bold letters.

“Looks like we’re seating partners.” He pressed his lips into a thin line.

Annabeth took a deep calming breath before removing her bag from the chair in front of him and returning to her work, “Oh, perfect .” 

Students were still filling the room, laughing loudly and not bothering to hide their conversations. Popping her earphones in, Annabeth focused on finishing the notes she was scribbling. That level of focus only lasted about five seconds.

“What are you writing? The teacher hasn’t even arrived yet.”

She paused her music. “I know, but I like to be prepared and stay ahead of schedule. These are just notes for Thursday’s lesson.”

“But it’s only Tuesday.”

“Yes, I’m aware.” She let out a frustrated sigh, “What part of ‘I’m trying to stay ahead’ do you not get?”

“Is that not exhausting? I can barely keep track of my notes for one day, let alone a whole week's worth.”

“No surprise there.” She didn’t even wait for a response before pressing play on her phone, letting the classical music flood her ears. And yet again, the peace only lasted five seconds before Percy reached over to her side of the desk to tap the pause button. “Hey!” 

He stared at her blankly before proceeding to ask, “Are you always this uptight?”

Gods, help me please, Annabeth thought to herself. Was this how the rest of her senior year was going to play out? “We just met, you can’t ask me a stupid question like that.”

“Correction, we met in 7th grade. But I don’t expect you to remember that.”

Oh she remembers. She remembers him calling her a nerd and constantly pestering her for answers to the homework. She remembers how, once they got older, Percy would always be the center of attention at parties, getting black-out drunk every other night. Not that she went to those parties, but word spread fast in school. In conclusion, she remembers that he was annoying. And still is. 

“I know we met in 7th grade. I’m just saying we’ve only spoken like three times since then, and I have no intention of changing that.” 

He scoffed as he opened his bag, revealing a notebook and pen. “Well fuck, I’m just trying to start a conversation. No need to be abrupt.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes so far back that she was surprised they didn’t disappear. “If calling me uptight is your idea of a conversation starter, then I’ve got some bad news for you buddy.” 

Thankfully, the teacher entered the room before Percy could ask another dick-ish question that would definitely cause Annabeth to scream in his face. 

“Hola class, welcome to senior year Spanish. I will be your teacher, Mrs Dodds.” Her voice was cold and stern, as she made eye contact with each member in the room. “I want to start by stating my expectations of you this year.”

“Oh, brother.” Percy said under his breath. 

“I expect nothing but respect from each and every one of you, not only towards me but towards your classmates. This way, we can hopefully have a smooth final year with no disruptions.” Mrs Dodds reached for her folder bringing out a stack of papers, “I’d like to thank all of you for handing in your tests yesterday, I know a lot of you weren’t happy with the summer assignment, but I guarantee it's essential for progress.”

Carefully, she flicked through the papers and looked back up at the class. “As you know, I set this exam so we can see how much you remember from last year, and it’s safe to say that I was very — what’s the word — oh yes, disappointed .”

Panic rose in Annabeth’s chest. She hated how heavily the last word was emphasized, and being terrible at school is something Annabeth is very unfamiliar with. 

“I’m expecting you all to put extra effort into this year, and then maybe we will have some fun.”

Was that a threat?

“Anyways, I’ll be handing your tests back so you can correct your mistakes, and then we’ll start with some refresher worksheets. Shall we?”

The silence in the room lifted as one by one the students received their papers, discussing with each other their marks. Mrs Dodds finally reached the last desk and placed a test flat against the wooden surface.

“As always, well done Miss Chase.”

Annabeth scanned the ‘A+’ drawn on the top right corner, and her shoulders physically relaxed.

“Mr Jackson.” Mrs Dodds' tone was sharp, “I assume you’ll be working extra hard in my class this year. Otherwise there will be consequences.” 

It was hard not to pry but Annabeth stole a quick peek at his grade and found a large ‘F’ circled in red bold ink. When she moved her eyeline from the paper to Percy, she noticed his eyebrows scrunch together and his teeth chew at his bottom lip. Was he upset?

She waited for the teacher to return to her desk before deciding to say something, “It’s not the end of the world. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“Be quiet, Chase. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Excuse me? I don’t think you can be saying that to me when you’re the one holding the ‘F’.”

Percy ran a hand over his face, as he glanced over the questions marked incorrect. Whatever he was thinking was clearly triggering him. “Look, I’m not smart like you, okay? My brain isn’t wired like yours, answers don’t just naturally come to me. So I have to work extra hard to even get a fucking pass. And I need this pass.”

Annabeth didn’t know what to do. She didn’t expect him to be so passionate about a summer assignment that didn’t really count for anything. It was extremely unanticipated and not what she predicted from him. Reluctantly, clearing her throat and using her pen to point to his page, Annabeth responded, “Number two.”

“What?”

“The correct answer to that question is number two. The reason the first option is incorrect is because they spelled ‘Trabajo’ wrong. So the sentence still makes sense, but the spelling’s off. You just need to be careful with details like that.” 

Percy watched her closely in disbelief, waiting for a catch. But when he realised there wasn’t one, his blue eyes widened. “Did you just help me? Willingly?”

“Only so you’d stop sulking like a child.” 

“Maybe I should sulk more often if this is the outcome.”

“Don’t get used to it. This is just a one time thing, I didn’t want it weighing on my conscience.”

“How heroic of you.” 

He writes down the correction into the margin of the paper, and then moves onto the next question. Percy works silently for 30 minutes, occasionally drumming his fingers on the table while assessing the letters of each word. Eventually, Annabeth steps in when the test gets harder and the problems aren’t just the spelling but the grammar as well. He’s silent while paying attention to every comment she makes, writing it down before forgetting.

Once Annabeth realizes he’s gotten the hang of it, she moves onto her own worksheets and in lightning speed fills in the blanks. They didn't speak until Percy finished his corrections and nodded approvingly at the adjustments. Placing his test to the side and starting the new task.

“Can I copy your answers?”

“No.” She replied flatly, “You can figure it out yourself, it’s a lot easier than the test.”

“Yeah, for you maybe. But like I said I’m pretty slow and it will take me hours before I understand.”

“Gods, you’re not actually stupid.” Annabeth sighed. “You just think you are because you’re incapable of not cheating, which is exactly the reason why you’re struggling right now.”

“You know, I thought we were getting along, but I should have known you’d ruin the mood, as expected.” 

“Why do you talk about me like I’m disgustingly mundane? For your information, I have a very busy life.”

Percy lets out a sarcastic laugh, “Yeah, busy catching up on work that hasn’t even been set. Seriously, who writes notes for classes that haven’t even happened yet? This is meant to be the year you spend around your friends, making memories. Not a time you have your nose deep inside a textbook.”

It takes every part of Annabeth not to raise her voice. “News flash, Percy. Some of us have plans to go to college and prepare for the real world. So I’m sorry if I’m not a nightlife freak like you.” She buried her face in her hands, in attempts to calm down. “Do you think I like being known as some nerd who spends every single lunch on her own? Obviously not. But would I rather keep my pride and just push through high school so I can leave these shitty people behind? 100%. It doesn’t matter if there’s things I wish I did differently growing up, that’s in the past now, and it's time to move on.”

Percy’s face suddenly changed, and his harsh features softened as he processed what she’s unloaded. In hindsight, Annabeth realizes that she’s completely overshared but she couldn’t bring herself to care. He doesn’t say anything, which panics her a lot more than it should. Instead, he just cautiously watches her.

“You sit alone at lunch?”

Annabeth blinks. Was that seriously the only thing he paid attention to? 

“Uh, most of the time, yeah. Only when Thalia has to practice with her rock band, which is starting to be everyday… but that’s not the point.” She fills in the rest of her worksheet to avoid his gaze, “The point is, I realize what people — like you — say behind my back, and thankfully, I don’t give a fuck anymore. But that doesn’t make it okay. So if we’re going to make this seating arrangement work, I need us to just mind our own business until we graduate. Is that clear?”

The sound of the bell filled the room, indicating the end of the day. Without missing a beat, Annabeth packed her messenger bag and moved past Percy’s seat to leave the classroom. She stormed out, clearly overwhelmed with her last interaction, but still pushed forward into the busy halls, darting straight to her locker.

As she emptied her textbooks onto the shelf, she heard Percy’s voice approaching.

“Annabeth, wait.”

“I’m sorry, was I not clear when I said ‘mind your own business’? Let me translate it into terms you’ll understand.” She dramatically cleared her throat. “Fuck off .”

He leaned against the locker next to hers, trying to drown out the other people around them. “Will you just listen to me?” Percy braced himself, “What if we made a deal?”

“I don’t do drugs.”

“That’s not wha— nevermind. I meant like an agreement… or an experiment, I guess.”

“I’m not following.”

Percy nodded his head deep in thought, stalling time, and if Annabeth was being completely honest, he looked like he was losing his mind. 

“What if we do an exchange? I can help you to… uh I don’t know… socialize?”

“Gods, you have a way with words.” Annabeth rolled her eyes.

“That came out wrong. What I’m trying to say is, you mentioned how you wish you spent your high school years differently. So what if I help you get invited to parties and make some friends and in return you help me get a decent grade.” He held up his test with the large red “F” printed on the front.

Annabeth sealed her bag shut, “I do have friends, you know? I’m not a complete loner.”

“Yeah, I’m aware. I see you hanging out with Thalia and Silena. But we could extend your circle. You’ll be remembered as the really cool girl that everyone likes. It could be fun. We can get you a date for prom and I’ll help you go shopping for new clothes—”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” She quickly scanned what she was wearing, baggy jeans and a long sleeve baby tee. It was her everyday school outfit and to her it seemed perfectly normal.

“Oh, uh nothing. I just thought that’s what girls like to do together. I’ll be like one of your girlfriends.”

“Never say that again.” She slammed her locker shut, causing Percy to take a step back. “Why do you care so much about this subject anyways? No offence but you never struck me as someone who enjoys Spanish.”

Percy ran a hand through his curls, “I need a decent grade otherwise they’ll kick me off the swim team.”

There it is.

He continued, “And judging by the fact I’m already failing and it’s only the first class, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

She observed him closely, eyes narrowing, but didn’t say anything.

He offered a tight smile, “Look, I’d offer you money to tutor me but I don’t exactly have the funds for that right now, and judging by the car you drive I don’t think money would make a difference to my proposal. I’m just trying to be nice, that's all… and maybe survive Mrs Dodds’ class at the same time.” He bobbed his head side to side at the last part. 

Annabeth never thought much about Percy, their paths rarely crossed and it wasn’t like she cared enough to keep track of anything he did. But still even she had to admit that seeing him in front of her now, all grown up and mature compared to the 12-year-old boy she used to despise, was more than surprising. She couldn’t work out whether them being seated next to each other annoyed her more or made her just a little bit curious. 

“Okay.” 

Percy choked on air, “Okay as in ‘yes I’ll do it’, or okay as in ‘I get it now leave me alone and fail every class I don't care.’”

Her eyebrows scrunched together at how ridiculous he was being. Forget everything she said about him appearing mature and older, he was still the exact same boy he’s always been. 

“The first one.”

“No way!” A grin spread on Percy’s face, “I’m so happy I could hug you right now.”

“Don’t push it.” Annabeth placed a hand in front of her, preventing him from coming any closer.

“Noted.” He nodded and pulled out his phone, handing it to her, “So what if we discuss details later?”

She rolled her eyes but took the phone nonetheless, and tapped in her number, saving it under her name. Annabeth then pressed the device against his chest as she started making her way to the exit . “Well if that’s all, I better be going.”

The hallway was mostly empty now except for a couple of students hanging by their lockers. She moved past them and turned to give Percy a single wave and a sarcastic smile.

“Pleasure doing business with you.” He half yelled as she disappeared towards the door.

9:02 PM - UNKNOWN NUMBER

Partner in crime, are you there?

10:17 PM - ANNABETH

I wish I could say I have no idea who this is, but I’d be lying.

10:21 PM - UNKNOWN NUMBER

Can you save me as something cool on your phone?

10:21 PM - UNKNOWN NUMBER

“Handsome guy I sit next to in Spanish”???

10:22 PM - ANNABETH

How about, no.

10:22 PM - PERCY

Boring…

10:25 PM - ANNABETH

Is there a reason you’re blowing up my phone or is it cause you’re just lonely?

10:26 PM - PERCY

Now, wouldn't that be your excuse

10:26 PM - PERCY

Sorry, too soon?

10:28 PM - ANNABETH

You’re already insufferable 

10:31 PM - PERCY

Forget I said that. Back to business.

10:31 PM - PERCY

What if we do tutor sessions Thursday after school? Spanish is last period anyways so it makes sense. 

10:32 PM - PERCY

And I’ll organize ‘Operation Socialization’ for you 

10:32 PM - ANNABETH

We are not calling it that

10:32 PM - ANNABETH

But the tutoring time works for me

10:33 PM - PERCY

Stop sulking 

10:33 PM - PERCY

Perfect, glad that’s settled

10:35 PM - ANNABETH

Stop texting me now

10:37 PM - PERCY

Yes ma’am

Chapter Text

“You’re doing what? With who?" Thalia exclaimed.

Annabeth managed to catch up with her on Thursday, after school. Thalia was reapplying black eyeliner to her waterline, but froze once she heard Percy’s name. Her eyes zoned in on Annabeth through the small mirror placed inside her locker. 

The staring was making Annabeth uncomfortable, so she rocked back on her heels and leaned flat against the locker beside her. “I can see why this sounds insane—”

“It is insane, and you out of all people should know that.” Yet again she’s speaking to me like I’m a child. It was getting harder for Annabeth to ignore this. “Jackson’s not a good person, he only cares about himself. So don’t be fooled by this agreement he’s coaxed you into. He's definitely got ulterior motives.”  

“He seems kinda sincere.”

A flashback to their Spanish lesson, which had ended ten minutes ago, came to mind. How he double-checked with her that they could go to the library afterwards, and seemed pleased when she remembered. The way his face lit up and he began nodding enthusiastically when Annabeth said she’d meet him there after speaking to Thalia. 

“Of course he seems sincere, that’s how they manipulate you.”

“Bu—”

“Come on, Annabeth. Use that big brain of yours.”

“I’m not twelve, Thals. I can decide for myself if things start going to shit. I just wanted to keep you in the loop, not have you give me a full-blown lecture about it.”

Ever since they were younger, Thalia had always acted like she knew what was best for her. And even though Annabeth understood it was just her way of being protective, it still felt extremely patronizing. 

Thalia capped her eyeliner and sighed. “I’m sorry for lecturing you, I’m just skeptical about him. I’m only trying to be a good friend, and look out for you." She held her hands up in surrender. "But it’s not my place to tell you what to do so if you really want to go ahead with this little experiment, then I support you.” Through the mirror she tried giving a genuine smile.

She appeared truly apologetic, so Annabeth reciprocated a warm look back, “Thank you for apologizing. I know you have good intentions, and I’m grateful you always have my back.” She moved away from the lockers, “I promise I’ll be careful.”

“You better.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Uh, I have band practice tomorrow lunch.” No surprise there. “But update me next week on how it goes. I want to know every miniscule detail.”

“Of course. Have fun with the band.” 

Annabeth headed towards the library at the far end of the school. She was grateful the conversation was over, but a sense of dread overcame her as she realized that the next hour would likely drive her insane. Stepping through the entrance, she noticed how the library was almost empty and she thanked the universe that at least there was some peace and quiet. 

Just like they agreed, Percy was sitting in one of the booths at the back of the second floor. He was wearing his dark blue swim hoodie and grey sweatpants, with a pen laid out in front of him. Subconsciously, she smoothed out her white baby tee and tucked a braid behind her ear. 

Once he spotted her, he sat up straight, clearing his throat, and awkwardly said, “Hey.”

“Um, hey.” Gods, this was already off to a bad start. Annabeth opened her bag and pulled out a textbook, attempting to diffuse the discomfort. “Let’s get this over and done with.”

“Yeah sure, let’s do it.”

“I was thinking you could start with reading this passage explaining verb conjugation. I noticed that was something you struggled with in the test, which is why I think these last paragraphs will help you.” She proceeded to lay out three worksheets on the table, putting them in order. “Then you can try and apply that knowledge to these questions, and I can mark it afterwards.”

He chewed the inside of his cheek, and Annabeth couldn’t tell whether this was too overwhelming, so she was about to speak again, but Percy beat her to it. “Wow, you’ve really thought this through. I was expecting you to just draw out diagrams for an hour and ramble about useless shit.”

“I don’t think printing off some worksheets and finding a textbook is something to be impressed about. Isn’t this what all tutors do?”

“No idea, but I should have known you’d come prepared.”

“Can you stop talking, and just read the passage?” She pushed the book further in his direction, and once he accepted it, she brought out her own homework to do. 

He scanned the page, biting at the end of his pen for a couple of minutes, absorbing what he was reading. Eventually, he shuffled it to the side to start the questions. Percy looked back and forth between the text and his own answers, trying to dissect every word being written. She wasn’t sure how long they worked for, it could have been ten minutes or maybe thirty, but sooner or later he put his pen down.

“I think I’m done.”

“Let me check it.” Annabeth took the papers and pulled out a red pen. Starting on a positive note, he got the first three questions right, but then his answers became more inconsistent. She could feel the vibration of his leg bouncing under the table, and shot him a glare. “Can you stop doing that? It’s distracting.”

“Sorry, it’s the ADHD.”

She ticked another answer and crossed out the following one. “I have ADHD too, and dyslexia.”

“Same.” He looked like a puppy tasting cheese for the first time. “Do you struggle to sit still?” He asked.

“No.”

“How about being forgetful?”

“I remember most things.”

“Do you procrastinate a lot?”

“Not as much as you.”

“Are you unorganized?” He paused, “Actually, I know the answer to that. Forget about that one.” Percy drummed his fingers on the table, “Do you have any siblings?”

“How is that relevant to anything?”

“Or cousins even?”

Annabeth stopped marking the worksheet. “What are you doing?” 

“Trying to learn more about you.”

“Well don’t. That wasn’t part of the agreement.”

Percy sighed. “If we’re going to be spending all this time together don’t you think we should try and get to know one another?”

Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose, “Fine.” She lowered her pen. “I like dogs, ballet, and occasionally painting. And I dislike when nosey people, like you, ask questions about my personal life when we’re supposed to be discussing work. So please, can you let me focus so we can get this over with?”

For a moment, Percy didn’t reply. His eyebrows creased and his head tilted slightly. Annabeth thought for sure she’d set the tone straight, but slowly a mischievous smile crept onto his face. “You like ballet?”

“Unbelievable.”

“Is that why you’re always listening to Clair de Lune?”

“How do you even know that?”

“On Tuesday, it’s the song you used to block out my voice in class.”

“You remember that?”

“Well, obviously. You were practically glaring at me the entire time.” Percy did an impression, making his eyes bulge and face turn bright red. “Just… like… this,” he strangled out.

Annabeth squinted and looked at her surroundings, questioning if she was being pranked. This has to be one of those TV shows where they mess with the public, right? There’s no way he just asked me about having cousins or listening to fucking Clair de Lune. This can’t be real. 

“What the fuck are you doing?” Annabeth looked at him, disgusted. “Stop making that face.”

“Only… if… you… answer… my… question.”

She kicked him under the table.

Percy rubbed his shin. “Firstly, ow. That was completely unnecessary. Secondly, I’ll take that as a ‘no’ to Clair de Lune being linked to ballet?”

“Why are you still speaking to me?”

Percy threw his hands in the air. “What, you want us to be in silence 24/7?”

“Well, yes. Preferably.”

He scoffed, and shook his head, clearly agitated. “I know we’re meant to be doing Operation Socialization another day, but let me give you a piece of advice while it’s fresh in my head.” He locked his hands together like he was in a business meeting. “In order to be likable, you actually have to make people like you. That includes having multiple conversations about your interests, hobbies, and whatever the fuck you like to do in your freetime. How are people meant to be your friend if you don’t tell them anything about yourself?” 

Percy leaned forward, “So let’s try this again. Do you listen to Clair de Lune because you like ballet?”

One deep breath. Two deep breaths. Three deep breaths.

“Yeah, I do.”

He nodded, “Please expand.” 

Annabeth rolled her eyes, “I dance ballet. I’ve been dancing since I was four, and I still do. Clair de Lune is one of my favourite classical pieces. Whenever I listen to it, it reminds me of when I’m on stage, just me and the music. I guess that’s why I like it so much. It gets me in the zone.”

Bright blue eyes were staring at her. The topic felt too personal for a tutor session, and every part of Annabeth wanted to get up and leave. But she stayed. 

“I didn’t know you’re a ballerina.” Percy’s brow arched. “The dance studio’s right next to the pool, yet I’ve never seen you on that side of the school.”

“That’s because I’m not in the school’s dance team. I train with Manhattan Royal. They have a programme that’s flexible enough to go around school hours and still practice for shows.”

“Wait, I know that company. I went with my family to watch The Nutcracker around Christmas last year. That was the exact school doing the production.”

Annabeth blushed, “Yeah, I was one of the snowflakes.”

“Seriously? My little sister loved that waltz, it’s the whole reason she started doing dance classes.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m inspiring little kids to put on some ballet shoes.” 

The corners of his mouth turned into a smile, “Me too.” 

A wave of uncertainty washed over Annabeth, and she quickly snapped back to reality, picking up her pen and moving on to mark the next worksheet. But of course, Percy wasn’t finished with the conversation.

“Is that what you want to do in college? Dance?”

She waited until she finished the second set of questions before replying. “Uh, no. I thought about it, but I prefer separating ballet from school. I feel pressured a lot in class to excel, and I don’t want that kind of pressure to be associated with dance. So, I’m doing architecture, because it’s still something I love and hopefully can make it my full time job.”

“But you will still dance on the side, right?”

“Definitely.” She started on the last piece of paper, ticking and crossing a lot quicker now. “I help out sometimes at my old dance school, teaching little kids for extra money. I kind of want to do that more often when I’m in college.”

“Annabeth Chase being a scary ballet teacher. You learn something new everyday.”

“What about you? Are you interested in college?”

Percy rested his head into his palm, “Mhm, I’m going to apply for New Rome University, to study marine biology.”

Annabeth stopped moving. “I’m applying there too.”

“Are you stalking me, Chase?”

“What? No. You’re the one coming in here with all these deep questions.”

“Relax, I’m joking.” He snorted. “And asking about your interests is hardly a deep question.”

“Right.” She chewed her bottom lip, “So, why do you want to study marine biology?”

“I like the ocean I guess.”

Annabeth interlocked her hands and mocked Percy’s tone from earlier, “Please expand.”

That earned her an eye roll but a smile followed nonetheless. 

“Before my parents separated, me and my dad would always go to the beach. It was something we both enjoyed. We would go surfing, or snorkeling, or even fishing, and that’s how we bonded, always doing something related to water. He’s the whole reason why I got into swimming in the first place. But after he left, he stopped contacting me. And it pisses me off all the time, except for when I’m in the water. That’s why I want to do marine biology, because I’m at my happiest when I’m surrounded by the one thing that keeps me connected to him.”

A shiver shot through Annabeth’s spine, and she didn’t know what to think. Has Percy Jackson always been a poetic kind of guy, or am I missing something?

“That’s kind of beautiful. It makes my architectural dreams sound a bit lame.” She laughed it off.

“It doesn’t, we’re both lucky to have something we’re so passionate about. You don’t see a lot of people in this school doing something they love everyday.”

It’s true. A lot of people at Goode High School are like zombies, which makes her smile knowing that at least there’s one thing her and Percy can agree on. 

She tried to smoothly nudge them back into the tutoring session, stacking the worksheets on top of each other, writing his overall mark in the top corner. “You got 13/30. You were five marks away from a pass.”

“Fuck.”

“I wouldn’t stress too much, there’s plenty of time to improve and it’s only our first session. Let’s try and aim for a ‘B’ by the end of the year, that’s at least 80%.”

“And you think that’s doable?”

“Yep. I just need you to pay attention and not get side-tracked talking about what ADHD symptoms I have.” 

Percy grinned and held his hands up, “Okay, okay. I promise I’ll focus.”

“Good.” Annabeth went through the incorrect answers with him, and explained where he went wrong. Yet again he scribbled the corrections onto the side of the paper, and managed to concentrate for the final fifteen minutes. Once she was satisfied with her student, she tucked her homework into her bag and packed her things. 

Percy zipped up his backpack and slung it over his shoulders, “My brain feels like jello.” 

“You better get used to that feeling if you want a decent grade.” 

They left the library and headed towards the parking lot, walking in a comfortable silence. Annabeth’s car was on the far right side and Percy’s was on the far left. Both of them stood by the building’s exit, situated in the centre, and turned to face each other.

“Thanks for helping me.” Percy rubbed the back of his neck. “Even though you looked like a vein was about to pop out half the time.”

“Very funny.” She huffed. “I’ll see you around school, Jackson.” 

Her legs started strolling to her side of the parking lot, as he said, “Yeah, see you.”

Chapter Text

6:03 AM - PERCY

What are your plans for lunch?

6:23 AM - ANNABETH

It’s too early to be speaking to you.

6:23 AM - ANNABETH

I saw you yesterday. Was that not enough?

6:31 AM - PERCY

You’re quite the comedian, huh?

6:32 AM - PERCY

Now, answer my question.

6:50 AM - ANNABETH

Thalia’s going to be rehearsing with her rock band. So I’ll be in the library.

7:00 AM - PERCY

Today’s your lucky day. You’re spending lunch with me.

7:12 AM - ANNABETH

I’m blocking your number.

7:13 AM - PERCY

So dramatic.

7:13 AM - PERCY

You’re not having lunch with just me, idiot. I spoke to my friends, they said they’re cool with you joining

7:14 AM - PERCY

It’s time to take the first step of Operation Socialization 

7:31 AM - ANNABETH

Seriously?

7:45 AM - PERCY

As serious as can be. Baby steps.

7:46 AM - PERCY

My friends are really curious about you, and this whole experiment we’ve got going on.

7:47 AM - ANNABETH

Well, they wouldn’t be the first.

7:48 AM - ANNABETH

Fine. I’ll be there.

7:48 AM - PERCY

Woop woop!

7:48 AM - PERCY

Meet us in the cafeteria. Table next to the large window overlooking the field.

8:07 AM - ANNABETH

I hope you know, this is a one-time thing.

8:10 AM - PERCY

Obviously.

8:16 AM - ANANBETH

Going into school now

8:17 AM - ANNABETH

Don’t text me unless you actually want to get blocked

Annabeth couldn’t remember a time she’d spent lunch with someone other than Thalia or Silena. She was nervous. So nervous, in fact, that she tried convincing Silena to join her multiple times. It was starting to make her look a little desperate. 

Silena sat in front of her during Creative Writing classes, that’s how they got so close. Annabeth was always updated by her with the latest news going around school, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that Silena was already aware of the tutoring session that had taken place yesterday.

“Who told you?”

“No one. I have eyes, Annabeth. I was in the library too, on the first floor right by the entrance. I even tried to follow you to say hi , but once I saw who you were heading towards, I stopped.”

“You should have said hello, and saved me.”

A light giggle slipped from Silena’s  lips. “Oh, please. Why would I want to interrupt that, it would’ve made everything ten times weirder.”

Annabeth’s eyes grew wide. “No– uh, no, we– uh shit…” She cleared her throat. “I hope you know that wasn’t a study date.”

“And does he know that?”

“Yes! Yes, he does!” She was grateful the class had been assigned to do group work; otherwise, everyone would have heard her embarrassingly loud exclamation. “I was tutoring him. I’m basically his teacher.”

“What about lunch then? He invited you to sit with him.”

“It’s part of the deal. I help him be smarter, he helps me live a ‘normal’ teenage experience.”

“Mhm, whatever you say. But my gut feeling never lies.” Silena teased.

I’m about to flip this table and lock myself in the janitor’s closet for the rest of the year. “Cool.” Annabeth was very much not cool, but she held it together. “Going back to the whole lunch thing, you really can’t come?”

“I wish I could, mainly so I can witness how the two of you interact, but I’ve got a hundred things on my mind, and a billion meetings to attend.”

Silena was elected as senior class president, and already on the first week back, she was drowned in responsibilities. Even though Annabeth was disappointed she’d have to tackle this on her own, she knew her friend was extremely busy and couldn’t blame her.

“That’s fine.” Annabeth lied.

“You’ll be okay, don’t worry,” Silena said encouragingly. “Who knows, Jackson’s plan might actually work and next thing you know, you’ll be the talk of the school.”

“That makes me feel sick.”

“Just give it a go. It’s one lunch, and if all hell breaks loose, then at least you’ll never have to do it again.”

Annabeth scratched her eyebrow. “I suppose you’re right.” 

The lunch bell rang, and Silena gave one last sweet smile before reaching for her shoulder bag. “They’ll love you. And remember Percy’s there, so just lean on him if things get uncomfortable.” She paused. “For clarity, that was a metaphorical statement, but feel free to do it literally if you’d prefer.” Silena gave a quick wink and walked out of the room.

Ignoring the last statement, Annabeth grabbed her things and marched through the halls. She hated sitting in the cafeteria, mostly because of how crowded it would get. As she squeezed past people, it was hard to tell which direction she was headed since all she could see were broad shoulders and backs around her. 

Without warning, a hand latched onto her arm. Annabeth was about to resist, but once she was pulled from the crowd, she was met with a familiar face.

“Hey, stranger.” Percy grinned. A backwards cap sat on top of his head, paired with a grey hoodie and blue jeans. 

“How did you even spot me? I was right in the middle of that stampede.”

He pulled her further away from the growing group of people. “I noticed you down the hall, but I got caught up in the traffic.”

“Seems like everyone’s noticing me lately,” Annabeth muttered, recalling Silena watching her in the library.

“Huh?”

“I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” 

“If you say so, Chase.” Percy whipped out his phone, swiping it open. “My friends haven’t arrived yet. They said they’re stuck at the back of the crowd. We should go and save the table before they arrive, unless you need to buy food.”

“No, I’ve packed my lunch. We can save the seats.”

Annabeth would never admit it in a million years, but deep down, she was relieved Percy found her. Otherwise, A) she wouldn’t have time to prepare herself before meeting new people, and B) she’d probably still be lost in the swarm of students.

He led her to the table next to the wall, framed by a floor-to-ceiling window. The building was on an elevated piece of land, overlooking the large green field. They both sat opposite each other, and Annabeth used this time to admire the view. She could see all the way to the running track and tennis courts, with clear sight of students playing different sports. Trees and picnic tables dotted the grass, with teenagers enjoying their lunch together. 

The warm sunlight was reflecting on Annabeth’s dark skin, making her glow. Out of habit, she tucked her brown braids behind her ears and checked that her outfit was okay. She assessed her green sweatshirt and black flare leggings, giving herself a silent approval. 

When she looked up, Percy was silently watching her. He cleared his throat. “You good?”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well for a start, you haven’t insulted me yet. And you’re also looking everywhere but at me.”

Annabeth blinked. “Do I usually look at you?”

“Only when you’re telling me off.”

“So, all the time then?” 

“Pretty much.” Fiddling with his ring, he tilted his head to the side. “Are you feeling sick? Is that why you’re being strange? I’m sure someone has paracetamol, or if you don’t like swallowing pills maybe even calpol. Although those are usually for really young children—”

“Gods, your voice is always ringing in my ears, it’s extremely inconvenient. All you do is ask me a shit ton of questions everyday. Do you need Calpol, Annabeth? Can you teach me Spanish and magically make me a fucking genius? Do you have any siblings or maybe dead pets? Please make it stop.” She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. 

Percy’s lips gradually lifted into a smirk, “There she is. It’s nice of you to make an appearance. I’m glad you’re feeling better.” 

He went to fist-bump her, but she rolled her eyes and swatted his hand away. “Stop it.” Annabeth reached for a paper bag, opening it up. “Can we please have five minutes of silence? I just want to eat with no interruptions.”

“Sure.”

She took a bite of her apple, while looking out of the window. Another bite. And another. And another. And another, until—

“I’m happy you accepted my offer to join us.”

“It hasn’t even been a minute.”

“Really? Oh, I must have miscalculated.” She might have believed him if it weren’t for the stupid smile on his face.

“You really hate silence, don’t you?” Annabeth sighed.

Percy leaned forward. “Why would I want to be silent when I could talk to you?”

She scoffed, “I’m really not that interesting.”

“Well, to me, you’re the most interesting person here. I don’t know anything about you, other than your love for ballet and architecture.”

“Let’s keep it that way.” 

Percy tapped a finger against the table. “I think your hatred of opening up is tied with my hatred of not speaking.”

Annabeth ripped open a bag of chips, “So, what I’m hearing is that we’re polar opposites.” She could almost hear Silena in her head saying, opposites attract , and Annabeth had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

“One day, Chase, I’m going to be the person who understands you the best. Mark my words.”

“Is that some sort of threat?”

“Maybe.” Percy shrugged. “I have a way with people. I’ll grow on you.”

She opened her mouth to disagree, but the loud thump of a person sitting beside her made her jump. The guy to her right pressed his forehead against the table. “I am never going through that entrance again. I felt like I was suffocating.” He sat up, looking at Percy and then at Annabeth. “I’m Charles, by the way.” 

He extended his hand, and reluctantly she shook it. “Annabeth.” 

“You guys are lucky you made it before the rush. That shit is terrible.”

Another person sat next to Percy, and this time, Annabeth knew exactly who it was. Grover was catching his breach as he took his seat, dropping his redbull and fruit salad in front of him. “I can’t believe we made it out alive.”

“Barely.” A muscular girl sat beside Grover and used her sleeve to wipe her forehead. “I told you idiots, we should have gone through the back. Why do I even bother?”

Sensing her overwhelm, Percy cleared his throat loudly, catching everyone’s attention. “Annabeth, this is Clarisse. Clarisse, Annabeth.”

They made eye contact, and Clarisse tilted her head before pointing a finger at her. “I know you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, you’re friends with Thalia.”

Well, fuck. 

Annabeth remembered Thalia mentioning a girl called Clarisse, but she didn’t realize this was her. Her memory was hazy but she knew there were mentions of many arguments between the two. Something to do with them constantly clashing.

“I am.”

Clarisse narrowed her eyes. “So, you’re the one who’s dealing with Percy’s bullshit after school?” 

“Uh… yeah?”

“Respect.”

Redirecting the conversation, Percy pointed a thumb to his left. “Oh, and this is Grover–”

“We know each other.” Annabeth interrupted. “We’re in the same General Art class.” She smiled, “It’s nice to hang out with you outside the studio, Grove.”

“Grove ?” Percy repeated the nickname.

“You too, Annie.”

“Annie ?” Percy’s face grew more confused.

Grover smacked him with the back of his hand. “Yeah, believe it or not I have other friends than just you.” He popped open his redbull, “I see Annabeth all the time, you should check out her artwork; it’s incredible.” 

“Same with yours. That spray paint piece you did before summer, that was my favourite.” She beamed, “I still think you should frame it. Maybe even try to get it into a gallery.” 

“I’ll take that into consideration.”

Percy’s eyebrows creased further, as he looked back and forth between the two. Under his breath he said, “What is going on?” Clearly, dumbfounded by how much they had in common.

Clarisse caught on and shook her head, “Percy, stop pouting like you’re four. Just because you’re not the centre of attention doesn’t mean you have to pull faces.”

“Shut up, I’m not pulling faces.” He groaned. “I just didn’t realize they were close… or even knew each other at all.”

Annabeth ignored him. “So Charles, tell me about yourself.” 

“Well,” He began. “I hate school, let’s start with that. We’ve only been here for five days and that’s already five days too many. I mean seriously, who sets all this homework for the first week? I might have to start joining your library sessions at this point.”

“Annabeth’s a shit tutor, you wouldn’t want to sign up.” Percy tutted.

She glared at him, but all he did was shrug before stealing one of her chips. Annabeth’s attention returned back to Charles, offering a smile. She thought back to what Percy said in the library and decided to take his advice, “What about in your free time? What do you like to do?”

“I like playing sports. I’m on the swim team with Perce, but I doubt he’s mentioned that since he’s too busy trying to keep his position as captain.” Charles used his free hand to cover his mouth, pretending to whisper, “You should see this guy during team meetings, he looks like he’s going to pull his hair out and beat our coach up. It’s hilarious.”

“I can hear you.” Percy rolled his eyes. “What the big guy is trying to say is that I’m extremely preoccupied with fixing my grades right now. And I hate that stupid face Coach D pulls, like he can’t wait to kick me off the team.”

Annabeth reflected on what Charles said, and it dawned on her how serious Percy was about losing his spot as captain. “Mr. D’s your coach?”

“Unfortunately. He’s never been my biggest fan, but he knows I like to get shit done, which is the only reason he agreed with the team to make me cap. Coach said if he doesn’t see at least a pass in all my subjects by Christmas break, then he’s putting his foot down.” 

“We can definitely meet that deadline.” Annabeth tried to reassure him. She didn’t know why she was doing it, but she understood the pressure he was under. Because all Annabeth felt was pressure to excel. 

Percy gave a thankful nod, before returning to stealing the rest of her chips. 

Across the table, Clarisse bit into a Hershey’s bar and sighed loudly. “Enough with the swim talk. All we do is talk about water, and it’s so unbelievably boring. One discussion is enough, but multiple talks every single day? Now you’re getting on my nerves.”

“Do you play any sports?” Annabeth asked.

“Wrestling in school, and martial arts outside. I like to fight; it strangely brings me peace.”

“Me too.” She agreed. “I used to do martial arts growing up but had to stop when my schedule was getting too packed. I miss doing it a lot actually.”

If there was one thing Annabeth was going to say that would leave everyone in stunned silence, it was that last statement. Her cheeks started to burn when all eyes fell on her. She hoped it wasn’t obvious how uncomfortable she felt being the main topic of conversation.

“You know how to fight?” Clarisse’s tone was mocking.

A familiar feeling surged through Annabeth’s body. A feeling she hadn’t let rise to the surface for a long time. Her pride was screaming to show itself in this conversation, to boast about her achievements that —for some reason— no one could believe. When she was younger her stepmom had put Annabeth in martial arts classes because she was scared. Not scared about Annabeth’s safety and ability to defend herself, but rather that she’d make the family look weak. The memory made her jaw tighten and her fists clench. 

Her thoughts were interrupted when a knee bumped against her leg under the table; she registered it was Percy. His touch was gentle but steadying, and when she looked up to meet his eyes he appeared concerned. 

Annabeth took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know how to fight. I used to compete in kickboxing.”

“No way! That’s fucking awesome.” Grover chimed in, “Maybe when we have time you two could spar against each other.”

“Don’t be stupid. I’d break her.” Clarisse laughed.

Annabeth could see why she would think this, especially since Clarisse was a whole head taller. But knowing her own capabilities, she didn’t care if it was just about protecting her pride. She trusted her instincts. “Sure, let’s do it.”

Charles choked on his drink.

A glint of fire sparked in Clarisse’s eyes as she watched Annabeth closely. “You’re joking?”

“No.” She shrugged calmly. “Unless you are.”

“I don’t back down from a challenge, Chase. And I hope you know that I can destroy you.”

“Sounds like this fight should be lightwork for you then. So, don’t get butthurt when I put you in your place.”

“Why you little b—”

“Ladies, ladies.” Charles placed his hands out trying to de-escalate the situation. “If you carry on jabbing at each other’s throats, I have a feeling the fight will take place right now.” He shifted the conversation to something else. Going on about his broken car he was trying to fix.

Annabeth zoned out while he rambled, and it was only then when she noticed her leg was still pressed against Percy’s knee. She hadn’t realized he had kept it there this entire time, a quiet attempt to ground her, to let her know he was right there. It was a small gesture, one that shouldn’t have reassured her as much as it did.

The bell rang, and the group said their goodbyes as they split off into different directions. Annabeth decided to take the outside route to avoid the traffic of people, and as she turned the corner she could see Percy’s cap travelling away. They must be heading towards the same building. Subconsciously, her legs started moving quicker. And once she caught up, Annabeth strolled next to him, matching his pace.

“Well, that was a mess.” She attempted a casual tone.

He didn’t even glance at her. “Or maybe everyone just needs some warming up.” 

“One-time thing.” She reminded him. “Remember?” 

“Yes, yes. I remember.”

“There’s no need to warm up, because there won’t be a next time.” Annabeth looked around them. “Why are you even headed to this building? It feels wrong seeing you here. ”

“So, you’re keeping tabs on where I am now? Such a stalker, Chase.” He didn’t seem fazed.

She scoffed. “You wish.” They dodged other students while attempting to keep the conversation going. “You have classes in this section?” 

Percy shook his head. “I don’t, it’s just the easiest way to get to the gym, but I’m going to assume you do… let me guess… AP calculus ? Or maybe AP physics ? Something brain crushing that I can’t even comprehend.”

“Nice try. It’s actually Advanced Debate .”

“Wow, you really are full of surprises today.” He laughed to himself. “So, when were you going to tell me that you do kickboxing? Or is that just another one of your secret talents that I wasn’t meant to find out?”

“I did kickboxing, as in past tense. That was a pretty strange time in my life, which is why I don’t usually bring it up.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because Clarisse was being an asshole.”

“Yeah, she does that a lot.” Percy agreed. “I was going to step in, but Charles got there first.” 

“I don’t need you to step in. I can deal with that shit on my own.”

“Oh, believe me, I don’t doubt you for a second. But just so you know, she’s like that with everyone. It’s nothing personal. She thinks everyone’s a fraud until they prove her wrong. Freshman year, she thought I couldn’t swim, and boy, I wish I could show you the look on her face when I won fair and square.”

Annabeth let out a puff of air, “Gods, I’m glad you beat her. Otherwise that story would have been embarrassing.” 

He shook his head. “My point is, my money’s on you winning that fight. I can totally see you taking everyone by surprise and pulling a crazy move.”

“My strategy is usually what gives me the upperhand. I’d imagine when Clarisse gets angry she kind of just throws punches everywhere. Even though she’s strong, everyone has a weak spot and you’ve just got to find it quick enough.” She exhaled. “I’m not really stressed about the fight and if I’m being honest, I doubt we’ll even do it. I was just annoyed that she spoke to me like that. It’s the exact same way my stepmom does.”

They stopped at the bottom of the stairs where Annabeth was about to part ways. She stood on the first step and swiveled around to Percy. They were almost eye to eye now.

“That’s horrible.” His features grew sad. “I’m sorry Clarisse spoke to you like that, and I’m even more sorry that you’re stepmom does too. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own home, especially you.”

“Uh, thanks.” Annabeth’s voice was quiet. “For listening, and also for letting me sit with you today, even if it was… strange.” She started climbing the stairs and once she reached the top, Percy finally answered.

“I should be the one thanking you.” He half-yelled.

“Why?”

“For opening up to me.” 

And the last thing she saw was Percy waving goodbye before disappearing into the crowd.

Chapter Text

“Okay, that’s enough. You can do the rest on your own now.” Annabeth yanked her notebook back, shielding the answers.

Percy on the other hand tried to peer over her fingers to steal the last few words she’d jotted down. It was Tuesday the following week, and Mrs Dodds instructed the class to go through a segment in the textbook and translate it into English. As expected, Percy was attempting to copy Annabeth’s answers. 

“I promise this is the last one. Just tell me the final sentence and I’ll leave you alone forever.”

“As tempting as that is, weren’t you the one saying you want to pass this subject or Mr D would — and I quote — put his foot down?”

He dropped his head back and gave an overexaggerated groan, “Ugh, I hate it when you’re right. And it’s starting to happen more often than not.”

“I’m glad you’re noticing.” She gave a satisfied nod.

They both had fallen into a comfortable silence and worked independently for the next twenty minutes. Eventually, Mrs Dodds went through the answers, picking on random people in the class to speak. Annabeth heard Percy say a silent prayer not to be chosen, and watched as his shoulders dropped when that prayer worked.

The teacher then put a video on the board as she brought out her folder. “For the remainder of the lesson we’ll be watching this video explaining very common mistakes students make in Spanish tests. I’ll just be by my desk marking some work. Feel free to disturb me if you have any questions, and make sure to write notes of anything you find helpful.” 

She sat in her chair and pressed play on the video. Voices boomed through the speakers, and Annabeth felt the bass vibrating through her feet, even from the back of the class. She gave it a couple of minutes before another teacher would come in and tell them to shut the fuck up.

Percy shifted slightly closer, “I heard that Mrs. Dodds is going deaf. No wonder I can feel the sound in my pulse. I feel like I’m about to start ascending any second.” 

She ignored him and jotted down a note of advice being said in the video:

The word ‘día’ is masculine even though it ends in an ‘a’ — don’t get confused

“Can you send me that?” 

“No.” Annabeth rolled her eyes.

“Come on, Chase. It’s the end of the day, aren’t you tired of being so grumpy and serious?”

“Let me focus. I can’t hear the video when you’re constantly talking in my ear.”

“Really?” His tone was sarcastic. “You can't hear the video that’s about to burst my eardrums?”

“Shhh.”

Just because English and Spanish words look similar doesn’t mean they have the same definition. 

Note: ‘ropa’ doesn’t mean rope — It means clothes. 

Percy pretended to focus on the board, but Annabeth caught his arm lifting, phone in hand, ready to snap a picture of her page. 

“Gods, you’re so stubborn.” She grabbed his phone and placed it on her side of the desk next to her keys, far enough from his reach.

“Hey! You can’t just take my personal belongings. What if I get an emergency call from… uh I don’t know… Grover?”

“Why would Grover be calling you at the end of the day? Doesn’t he usually carpool with you?

“Well, yes.”

“Great. You can discuss your fake emergency with him once we leave then.”

Por vs. Para (both mean ‘for’ but are used differently)

Por = for reason

Para = for purpose or destinations

“Speaking of Grover,” Percy began, “He said he enjoyed hanging out with you on Friday. I mean he literally won’t shut up—” 

“A lot like you?”

“Ha ha. Good one.” Percy propped his elbow on the desk, resting his head on his palm as he faced her, completely ignoring the video. “What I’m trying to say is, he enjoyed having you around. Even Charles said you’re really cool. So you have nothing to worry about because everyone likes you.”

“I wasn’t worrying.”

“Still. I thought you should know.” He shrugged. “Everyone loves you.”

“Everyone except Clarisse.”

“Honestly, I think she's secretly happy you’re up for the challenge. I can tell you’ve gained her respect just by the fact she hasn’t said anything bad about you. And trust me she hates most people.”

Annabeth tapped her pen on her chin. “Right, so what I’m hearing is that your friends like me more than you?”

Percy snorted. “You know, I wish I could disagree but I think that might be the case.”

The letter ‘H’ is always silent unless it follows a ‘C’ to make a ‘CH’ sound.

At this point, Annabeth had given up on telling Percy to be quiet and just let him ramble about whatever his brain was flooding with. Over the past few days, she’d learned how to block it out, which had come in handy in times like this.

“Hello? Did you hear what I said?” He nudged her shoulder.

“What?”

Percy ran a hand through his thick hair. “I asked if you wanted to come to my swim meet tomorrow after school?”

“Why?”

“Because my whole friend group is coming and usually most of the school does too. So, I don’t know, I just thought you might want to experience a big sports event for once.”

Annabeth shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m good.”

“Is that a definite no?”

“Mhm.” She nodded.

“Why not? It starts at 4PM at the school pool, so you can just wait with the others while I get ready.” Percy’s features were masked with confusion. “You wouldn’t even need to leave. You’d literally just stay right here.”

“Why does it matter to you if I go? I’m sure you have enough fangirls waiting to watch.”

He paused, “Huh?”

Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Annabeth pivoted to the video, acting like she was paying attention, scribbling some random fact down.

Remember: Spanish and English sentences don’t always have the same struc—

Percy quickly grabbed her pen and held it behind his back. “Let’s backtrack a bit shall we? What fangirls are you referring to exactly?”

“No one in particular.”

“I don’t believe you.” He gave an unimpressed look.

“I’ve just heard things about you, okay?”

“Like?”

“You know…” She hesitated, glancing down at her hands. “People say that you… get around.”

“What?”

“That you hook up with a lot of people. Well, that’s what they believe anyways.”

“Is that what you believe?” His voice caught between amusement and intrigue.

“No… I don’t know. I barely know you.”

“Correct, so don’t trust every story you hear in school.” Percy crossed his arms, leaning back into his chair. 

Annabeth felt a flush of embarrassment. She averted her gaze to the table, unsure of what to do now. She should have known better than anyone about spreading false narratives. People made up shit about her all the time and it was exhausting knowing everyone was always absorbed in her business. 

He must have noticed her spacing out, because he scratched his chin and said, “Charles always says that I wouldn’t know how to flirt with a girl if my life depended on it.”

“Is that true?” Annabeth wasn’t sure why she was asking, but the topic had raised a bunch of new questions in her head. 

“Unfortunately, yes. I’ve never had the chance to properly test out my charm, but I’d imagine if I did, I’d probably fall face flat before even asking anyone out.”

Her eyebrows scrunched together. “That’s literal bullshit.” 

“Which part?”

“The whole ‘I haven’t tested my charm out yet’ bit.”

Percy chuckled. “Well, it’s true.”

“Oh, please, Jackson. You’re like the number one heartthrob in school. Silena’s always talking about how someone new has a crush on you, and when I say ‘always’, I mean always ! It’s draining having to hear her talk about it all the time.”

“You talk about me when I’m not around?” The corner of his lips curled into a smirk.

“You’re so full of yourself.” She fiddled with the end of her braid absentmindedly. “No, I don’t talk about you. I never said I respond to her; she just attacks me with all kinds of information. And everything to do with you is unprovoked.”

Percy didn’t look convinced. “Whatever you say, Chase.”

“I’m telling the truth. You’re the one lying.”

He groaned. “Look, I’m not lying. I don’t have time to flirt with girls because I’m busy with swimming and trying to find a job. I’ve been bugging my old manager to hire me again, and I think I’m losing my mind. It’s also senior year, and like you said, now’s the time to prepare for the real world .” He put Annabeth’s pen back in front of her. “Besides, I have tutoring sessions and Operation Socialization taking over my schedule. I’m basically fully booked.”

For years, Annabeth had always believed the stories about Percy being a player. But hearing his side of the story now made her realize that she really didn’t know anything about him. 

“That makes sense.” Was all she could say.

Percy put his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. “I didn’t realize you and Silena are so close. I mean, I always knew you guys were friends but I had no idea you talk shit about the entire school together.”

“We don’t talk shit. Usually, she just wants to unload the latest news she’s heard going around. I just so happen to be the one receiving the information.”

“You secretly love it.”

“No.” Annabeth lied. She does secretly love it, but only with Silena, who before today she believed to be a reliable source of information. “Well, what about you?”

“What about me?”

“You definitely judge every person you come across, and I bet that nonstop moving mouth of yours loves telling Grover all the details.”

Percy thought for a moment. “Not really. I generally only talk about people I actually get along with, and it’s always good things.”

“Oh my Gods , well aren’t you just a hero.” Annabeth rolled her eyes.

“I swear. I try to stay optimistic and give people the benefit of the doubt. But once you cross that threshold and piss me off, then sure, maybe I’ll start ranting to Grover about you.”

“I knew it.” She turned her body so she was fully facing him. “So, enlighten me. Who do you not like?”

“Does Coach D count?”

“Nope. Give me someone else. Anyone in our grade.” 

Percy laughed, clearly amused by her sudden interest. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Oh come on, Jackson. This is the most exciting thing you’ve said, you can’t just leave me on a cliffhanger. Just give me one name. I swear I can keep a secret. ”

“Okay, okay.” He smiled, “But only so you’ll stop distracting me from doing my work.”

Annabeth scoffed but nonetheless waited for him to answer.

“Well, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Luke Castellan.”

Annabeth froze.

She felt like she’d been slapped in the face. The name she hadn’t heard in ages brought back thousands of different memories, making her fight the urge not to cry. Percy must have noticed her body tense because his playful expression faltered, his eyebrows furrowing. 

“What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, the classroom door burst open and Mr Brunner appeared by the entrance, not looking particularly impressed. He beelined for the teacher’s desk. “Mrs Dodds, can you please lower down the volume?”

“What?” She yelled at him.

“I said, can you lower down the volume? The whole floor can hear what you’re watching, and it’s practically echoing upstairs.”

Mrs Dodds stopped the video, and had a brief talk with her colleague. They were both evidently annoyed and neither of them backed down from the conflict. Annabeth took this moment to look at the clock, and once she comprehended that the bell was about to ring, her hand quickly reached for her bag. 

RINGGG

She stood up, trying to ignore Percy’s eyes watching her.

“Annabeth, wait—” 

“Sorry, Jackson. I’ve got a lot of work to do. No time to wait around.” 

“Did I say something wrong?”

“I just really need to go.” She returned his phone to his side of the desk, and before he could protest, walked away. 

Annabeth was surprised she could even string together a coherent sentence, her body was pumping so much adrenaline that she felt like she might combust. 

The only thing on her mind was getting outside so she could breathe properly. She weaved through the clusters of people, her legs only stopping once she was beside her car. Automatically, Annabeth’s fingers rummaged through her bag to find her keys. But then it hit her. She left them on her desk.

One deep breath, Two deep breaths, Three deep breaths.

She felt like she was losing her mind, mainly because she swore she started hearing Percy’s voice in her head. And when she looked up, she realized that it was actually Percy’s voice.

“Looking for these?” He held up her keys.

She watched as he approached her car. 

“Thanks.” Annabeth whispered, taking them.

Percy matched her gentleness, “You’re welcome.” He studied her, cautiously. “I don’t know what just happened, but I’m not going to push you to talk about it if you don’t want to. I understand that you don’t feel completely comfortable opening up to me, and that’s perfectly fine. But just know, if you need a listening ear… or if you just want someone to gossip with.” He gave her the warmest smile. “I’m one text away.”

He started walking backwards. “Don’t forget, my offer still stands for the swim meet tomorrow.” Percy reminded her, giving a single wave before turning to walk to the other end of the parking lot.

She watched the back of his head move further and further away until it was completely out of sight. Her fingers gripped on her keys firmly, trying to distract herself from the whiplash of emotions that had just consumed her.

After calming herself down, Annabeth finally got in the car and started driving home. She didn’t bother turning on the radio, instead she let the silence keep her in the present. But it failed, because she couldn’t stop replaying the previous conversation over and over again in her mind. She thought about the way her heart dropped as soon as she heard his name. And it occurred to her, in that moment, that no one except for her, Thalia, and Silena really knew the truth about what happened with Luke. 

For the rest of the journey home she attempted to bury the intrusive thoughts as far back as possible.

11:24 PM - ANNABETH

Do you ever think about Luke?

12:18 AM - THALIA

Why would you ask that? Is he giving you trouble?

12:20 AM - ANNABETH

No. I just thought about him. I was curious if he ever comes to mind.

12:20 AM - THALIA

He’s not worth talking about, Annie.

12:21 AM - THALIA

We should leave him in the past. It’s for the best.

12:39 AM - ANNABETH

Ok.

Chapter Text

Annabeth, in fact, did not go to the swim meet the next day. Instead, she picked up an extra shift at Circe’s Diner. She’d been working there for a year now and to her surprise, she loves it. Annabeth thrives in a fast-paced environment, always on the move and never given enough time to think about anything stressful in her life. Plus, free pancakes whenever she wanted. It was perfect.

Circe’s Diner was retro themed. It had black-and-white checkered tiles, and pastel blue booths lining the room, matched by stools at the counter. Smaller tables for individuals or couples were placed in the center, and a jukebox was tucked next to the door. All the walls were bright pink, covered in posters and framed pictures, except for the one facing the front, a large window that let the sunlight shine in.

The workers’ uniforms were 90’s themed, so most nights, Annabeth was stuck wearing a light pastel blue dress that rested just below her mid-thigh. It had a sewn-in white apron tied around her waist and a matching collar. A small name tag was pinned to the left side of her chest. She usually tied her braids in a half-up, half-down hairstyle, secured with a pastel blue bow, which was a gift from her boss. 

That evening there were only two tables she was serving: a family of four sitting in one of the booths, and a couple posted at a small table. While the groups enjoyed their dinner, Annabeth leaned over the pass-through window, chatting with Mary, a sweet older lady who’s usually in charge of making milkshakes and Coca-Cola floats. Right now, she was poking a straw through the whipped cream in a large glass and sliding it over to Annabeth.

“It’s on me, hon.”

“Thanks, Mary. You’re the best.” Annabeth accepted the milkshake, taking a long sip, letting the sweet strawberry flavour dance across her tongue.

All the workers at Circe’s Diner were a lot older than her, most of them were parents or even grandparents. It was nice to have so many nurturing adults looking out for her. 

“It sure is a quiet evening. I was expecting a lot of rowdy teenagers to be arriving today.”

“It’s Wednesday, Mary. Not a lot of people come out during a school night.”

“Oh, you’re right. My bad.” She laughed and dismissed her mistake with a wave of her hand. “You know me and my memory. Wednesday starts to sound like Saturday and Saturday starts to sound like every day, and so on. My grandkids are always telling me off whenever I forget to pick them up from school. Can’t they just let an old lady live for once?”

Annabeth smiled, “They sound like quite a handful.”

“Oh, the worst. Always complaining about balancing school and work and sport. A little like you.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I never complain.” She joked.

Her coworker lifted a brow and pointed at a jar by her side, labelled When Annabeth won’t shut up - $5. “The $40 sitting in here would say otherwise.”

Abruptly, their banter was cut-off when the Ipad by the pass-through window lit up, indicating a to-go order. Annabeth tapped at the screen and viewed the request. “We need waffles to-go.” She called out.

“WHAT?!” One of the chefs yelled from the other side of the kitchen “Can you say that agai—”

“SHE SAID COOK UP A STACK OF WAFFLES WILL YA? ARE YOU DEAF JOE?” Mary marched over towards him, most likely to give him a piece of her mind. And Annabeth laughed at their dynamic.

She carried on sipping her milkshake for another fifteen minutes, before pushing it to the side, and making her way towards the customers. She visited the couple first who were devouring their meal at an alarming rate. “Hiya, how’s your food so far?”

“It’s delicious, thank you.” The girl replied with a mouthful of burger. She then faced her boyfriend. “I told you we should have visited this place sooner. It’s way better than that other restaurant you recommended.”

Her boyfriend turned a bright shade of pink, enough of an indication for Annabeth to move on. “Just call me over if you need anything else.” The booth occupied with the family noticed her standing around and shifted their attention. The mother raised a hand, and Annabeth headed over. “Is everything okay?

“Yes. Can we have another Coca-Cola float, please?”

“Coming right up.” She smiled and walked back to the pass-through window. “We need a float.”

“On it.” Mary sang, her voice upbeat as she returned to her station.

The sound of the door hitting the bell filled the restaurant. Muscle memory kicked in as Annabeth brought out her notepad and pen, ready to greet the guest and take orders. She turned around, eyes focused on flipping to a clean page. “Hi, welcome to Circe’s Diner. How can I hel—”

She froze.

Her mouth stopped moving. 

Standing right in front of her, hands on the counter, leaning forward, was Percy. His hair was wet, and he had on his dark blue swim hoodie and a grey tracksuit. He looked just as stunned as her.

“Chase?”

“Uh…”

“You work here? How did I not know you worked here?”

“I…” Gods Annabeth, stop stuttering. She shook her head slightly. “Why would I tell you where I work?”

Percy thought about his answer. “Fair enough. I’m just surprised to see you.”

“Same here.”

They both stared at each other, not knowing what to do. This was the first time they’d ever interacted outside of school grounds, and neither of them knew how to approach the situation. 

He cleared his throat. “I’m here to grab my order.”

“Oh, right. The waffles.” She swiveled on her heel and leaned through the window again. “Joe! I need order 36 now!”

A voice replied back to her, “Having a bit of an issue, Annabeth. I didn’t realize we ran out of batter mix, and we can’t find the recipe. It might take a little longer than expected… in fact, it might take centuries because Mary’s the one making it!”

Annabeth dropped her head forward and squeezed her eyes shut. 

“So…” Percy drummed his fingers. “Mind if I sit?” 

She lifted her head, turning to him. Has he always been this tall? “I’d rather you go back to your car, but sure.”

“Always a great hostess, aren’t you, Chase?” He took a seat on the stool and checked his phone messages. “Actually, can I get two scoops of chocolate ice cream to-go as well? My little sister’s waiting at home and suddenly wants some sugar.”

“Yeah, I'll scoop it up once the rest of your food is ready.”

“Thanks.” 

She added the ice cream into the system and watched as he tapped his card against the reader. Usually, Annabeth was all for some silence. But right now, the awkwardness hanging in the air was hard to ignore. So she tried to act casual. “Uh, you seem really close with your sister.”

Percy smiled at the thought of her, “Yeah. I mean, she’s a lot younger than me. We’re over a decade apart in age, but still, she’s always fun to be around.” 

“I never thought of you as the caring big brother type, you struck me more as an annoying younger sibling who enjoys being a menace.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re like the only person who finds me annoying. Believe it or not, most people actually like my company.”

“‘Most People’ as in just Grover?” 

Percy narrowed his eyes. “No comment.”

She fiddled with the edge of the notepad, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’ve always wanted a sister. I’m stuck with 13-year-old twin brothers. It’s like a circus at my house all the time.”

“No way, you have brothers?”

“Unfortunately, yes. They’re insufferable, almost as much as you.” 

“Hmm, you know what? I don’t see it.”

“Huh?” She asked.

“You having enough patience to be an older sibling.” 

“What? Of course I do. I’m super patient.”

“Really? Name one time.”

“Well for starters, I have to deal with your shit most days. And it’s constant. I think the fact I’m even having a conversation with you right now is a miracle. Not only do you bother me in school, but somehow you manage to find me at work too.” Annabeth threw her hands in the air, exasperated. “If I had a little sister, at least she’d be cute.”

“You’re calling me not cute?” Percy smirked. “Cause I’d have to strongly disagree.”

She crossed her arms. “Have you always been your own no.1 fan? Or is that a role you take pride in cause no one else can substitute?”

“You’re even more fiery outside of school, and I didn’t even think that was possible.” 

“Whatever, Jackson.”

A voice from behind her called, “Annabeth, the Coca-Cola float is read— oh .” Mary stared at the two of them, eyes bouncing between them both. “You know what, let me deliver this one.” Before Annabeth could protest, Mary was gone, walking deeper into the kitchen, presumably to Joe.

She fiddled with her apron, twirling a loose thread, when Percy said in the quietest voice, “You never came to the swim meet.”

Shit. She hoped he wouldn’t mention it, and clearly, her judgement was wrong. “Well, I did tell you yesterday I wasn’t going to make it.”

“Were you always scheduled to work today?”

“No.” She avoided his eyes. “But once I knew I wasn't coming to the meet, I picked up the shift.” She hesitated, “Besides, I wasn’t really in the mood.” Annabeth hadn’t forgotten the abrupt end to their discussion after yesterday’s class. But she prayed he wouldn’t bring it up, and thankfully he didn’t.

“I get it.” He nodded. “Maybe next time?”

“We’ll see.” 

Sharply, the kitchen door burst open and Mary walked out with a drink balancing on a tray. “Wait.” Ananbeth called after her, “Aren’t you meant to be making the batter?”

“I couldn’t figure it out, hon. I’ve passed it back to Joe.” She gave Annabeth a wink, before turning to Percy. “I hope you’re in no rush, because we were being serious when we said it would take centuries.”

Why is she winking? What are they up to?

Percy laughed, “It’s all good, I can wait.”

“That’s great to hear.” Mary made her way to the booth with the family. 

And as soon as she was far enough not to hear their voices, Annabeth took a step closer to him. “You don’t actually have to stay. I know you’re being polite, but I can just refund you and you can grab dinner somewhere else.”

“I meant it when I said I’m good.”

“The wait’s gonna be at least thirty minutes with the pace they’re moving at. I promise, we won’t be offended if you go.”

Percy tilted his head. “And what if I want to stay?”

“Ugh, you’re so stubborn.”

“Says you.” 

She rolled her eyes before grabbing a cloth and wiping the surfaces. Nothing was actually dirty, but she needed to keep her hands busy before they unraveled her entire apron. “So, um. Did you win your races?”

One side of his lips curled up, as his hand went under the front of his hoodie to pull out three gold medals hanging around his neck, hidden under his clothes. “Yep.”

Annabeth’s eyes grew wide. “Wow, so you must be really good then.”

“If I agree, will you call me self-centered again?”

“Oh, one-hundred percent.”

He shook his head, “Then no, I’m a terrible swimmer.” 

Percy sat quietly, watching Annabeth work. She could feel his eyes on her as she picked up a cardboard box from the side and sliced it open. She stacked several packets of napkins onto the counter in front of him and grabbed a pile of metal holders from a nearby table. She placed a stool opposite Percy, on the other side of the counter. 

Ungracefully, Annabeth slumped onto the seat directly across from him. “Help me restock.”

His brow shot up. “What?”

“Come on, Jackson. It’s pretty straight forward. We unpackage the fresh napkins and fill the empty containers. Simple.”

“I know what ‘restock’ means.”

“Perfect. So make yourself useful for once.” 

She started by taking a pack and using the scissors to tear it open. She held the scissors out for him to take, but Percy was just blinking blankly at her. Annabeth slouched. “So, you’re telling me you can swim hundreds of meters after a long day of school, but can’t help your poor tutor tear some plastic.”

His bewildered look gradually shifted into amusement. Percy tucked his medals back under his hoodie and accepted the scissors, mirroring Annabeth’s actions. “You’re so weird.”

They fell into a natural rhythm, passing the scissors back and forth and stuffing the containers. Percy was actually a lot quicker and more efficient than she expected. This led her to try and outdo him and move faster. Sooner or later, the innocent task became a full-blown game, with each of them trying to fill their holder before the other even finished ripping open a packet. 

“Fuck, Chase. Do you make all your customers work for their food?” 

She laughed at his comment. A genuine laugh. Because despite how stupid the current task was, Percy was still matching her competitiveness and making her evening a little more interesting.

“Nope. Just you.”

He’s opening the packets more messily now. “I’m starting to see a recurring pattern every time we hang out. And I am not happy about it.” 

“Don’t act like you’re perfect around me. If I got cash every time you tried to copy my work, I wouldn’t need this job anymore.”

“Are you sure? Because you sure seem to enjoy it.” 

When they were down to the last few packets, both of them slowed down. The quick-paced energy fizzling out. She thought it was strange to be spending a Wednesday evening with Percy, doing her tasks. It was even stranger that he hadn’t complained about it once, he just simply accepted defeat and got to work.

Eventually, he let out a long exhale. “Okay, okay! You win.”

“Woo!” Her hands shot into the air in tight fists, her victory sign. “Looks like I’m taking home gold tonight too!” 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” He rolled his eyes but a massive grin was plastered on his face. “Don’t get used to it. You may be the champion at restocking, but I promise you, I’ll come 1st in everything else.”

Beside them, two glasses of water appeared, as Mary took up the stool next to Percy. “I thought you kids might need a drink after that little event. Worked up quite a sweat, huh?”

Annabeth reached for a glass, “Only because Percy took his sweet time quitting.”

“Hey! I didn’t quit. I simply chose to survive instead of getting death threats from you. It was the safest option.”

Mary lifted an eyebrow, “So, you’re Percy?”

“That’s me.” He offered a hand, and she shook it. His eyes darted to her nametag. “And I’m gonna assume you’re Mary, unless you decided to switch uniforms today.”

She laughed, “You know, I expected you to be a lot more… I don’t know… unpleasant. Whenever Annabeth talks about yo—”

At those words, Annabeth choked on her drink. She coughed, before wiping her chin. “Oh, Mary. There’s no need to mention that.” An awkward laugh escaped.

“You’ve mentioned me at work?” Percy appeared curious, before returning his attention to her coworker. “Please continue.”

Annabeth tried to silently communicate with her colleague, subtly shaking her head and eyes growing large. But those signals were ignored as she continued speaking.

“She complains about you a lot. And I mean a lot.”

“Well, that’s no surprise.” Percy chuckled, clearly enjoying this.

“She says you're always loud, and if she could, she’d put a mute button on you. Most of the time Annabeth will mention how you’re like a social ‘freak’. Her words, not mine.” Mary clarified. “That you get drunk most nights and blah blah blah.”

“It’s nice to know she’s consistent with her opinions.” He took another sip of water.

“Oh, that’s not all she says.”

Gods, help me.

Please, make it stop.

Mary looked into space, trying to recall more. “Don’t get me wrong she whines about you most of the time, but she also compliments you in an Annabeth kind of way.”

This cannot be happening.

“Is that so?” A smirk grew on his face. “This is news to me.”

Mary, still oblivious to stop, nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yeah? She says you’re irritating to teach but you’re also very hardworking and persistent on learning... French is it? That you listen to her instructions carefully and show a lot of gratitude. She says it’s kind of thoughtful.”

“Thoughtful, you say?” Percy’s smirk transformed into an entertained grin.

“Mhm. She even said that’s what makes you tolerable—”

“Okay! That’s enough!” Annabeth leaned forward on the counter putting an arm in front of her. “Thank you for that incredibly unnecessary rundown of our private conversations, Mary. I’m sure Percy has heard enough. Why don’t you check if his order’s ready.”

As soon as Mary left, Percy turned to her. She could tell he was bursting with things to tease her about. But before his mouth could open, Annabeth cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it, Jackson. If you ever mention this again, I will judo flip you until your back breaks.” She wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the ice cream display freezer, scooping his order. “I had no idea she was going to say all that stuff, so please, let’s just pretend it never happened.”

Annabeth braced herself for Percy to ignore her request and start teasing. But instead, he put his hands in the air. “You’re the boss, Chase. My lips are sealed.”

“Good.” She slid a small container of ice cream to him, and grabbed his to-go bag from the window. Once he had his order, she took a step back and tried to regain some professionalism. “And sorry for the inconvenience with your food.”

Percy gathered his things. “Don’t worry about it, I actually had a pretty fun time. I’ll see you at school.” He stood up and headed for the door, opening it. But just as he was about to close it behind him, he looked back at her. “Oh, and one more thing.”

“What?” Annabeth sighed.

“Your uniform’s cute, by the way. I like the bow.” He gave one last mischievous smirk before walking out. 

Chapter Text

“I thought they’re meant to be sparring?” Percy stood with his arms crossed.

Grover picked at his dark curls. “They are… kinda.”

“You sure? Because to me this looks like a full blown fight.”

At Thursday lunch, the pair were in the school’s gymnasium watching Annabeth and Clarisse jab at each other’s faces. It was meant to be a friendly match, with Charles refereeing, and clear rules set. Except, there were only two rules agreed on:

1. You can use any move from any combat sport

2. The fight ends once one of them taps out

“Should we have given them protective gear?” Grover chewed the inside of his cheek. “There were helmets in the closet, I just didn’t know if we could take those.”

As soon as the lunch bell rang, the five of them brought out long gymnastics mats they found in the sports cupboard and arranged them side by side to form some sort of fighting ring. 

“I think it’s a little too late for protective gear.” Percy paid close attention to their movements. He never doubted Annabeth’s fighting abilities for a second, but the battle unfolding in front of him was just mesmerizing. No matter how many hits she received, she managed to recover in a blink of an eye, already retaliating. 

Clarisse bounced between both legs, and threw a jab, rapidly followed by a right hook. Almost just as quickly, Annabeth took a step back and leaned away, missing the hits completely. It didn’t take long until Annabeth was seeing a pattern with her opponent's fighting style. Clarisse was strong, too strong, her upper body was as sturdy as a brick wall. But she was also incredibly slow, making it easy for Annabeth to predict when she would make her next move. 

They had been sparring for eight minutes and as expected, Clarisse’s method of combat was sloppy with not much thought behind her punches, which was almost too perfect for Annabeth. 

Grover opened a bag of chips and started munching anxiously with his eyes glued on his friends. “This is too intense.” He whispered to Percy.

“Tell me about it. I can’t believe they’re still going.”

“Remind me never to argue with either of them after this.”

Clarisse interrupted, “And remind me to never let you eat chips ever again. Your chewing is extremely obnoxious.”

“Sorry, I’m just stressed, okay?” Grover sighed.

“You’re not even doing anything. You’re just standing there, uselessly, may I add.” 

While she was distracted, Annabeth lunged forward and threw a punch to the side of her jaw. It planted hard and made Clarisse a little dazed as she swiveled back to her competitor. 

Annabeth went for another attack, but Clarisse was already blocking her face. At this moment, Annabeth realized she made a mistake, she was far too close to her rival with not enough time to retreat. She could easily be knocked down any seco—

Pow!

Clarisse delivered a blow to her stomach, which made Annabeth keel over. 

Gods, it hurts. 

The stinging was forming into a burning. It made her slightly dizzy, wanting to throw up. Thankfully, she was still on her feet, crouched close to the ground facing away from Clarisse. She could hear Percy mumbling something, but it was like her senses were drowned out. 

This is humiliating — she thought to herself.

To the left, in her peripheral vision, Charles was inching closer, debating whether to name Clarisse the victor. But Annabeth was a warrior, she wasn’t going to back down unless all the muscles in her body gave in. Frantically, she thought of ways to get out of this situation. She thought about her strengths and strategies. Her opponent’s weaknesses and limits. 

As Clarisse moved closer to her, guard dropping slightly, everything started to click into place. So Annabeth waited, and waited, and waited, until the opposition was close enough. And just as she felt the mat dip slightly behind her, using all her force Annabeth kept one foot planted on the ground and back kicked the other into the air, making her legs go into a split, hitting directly underneath Clarisse’s chin. 

The collective gasps were enough to know that it worked. Clarisse stumbled backwards and tripped landing onto the mat. Annabeth wasted no time before crawling after her, reaching for Clarisse’s arm, holding it firmly between her legs until she was in an armbar. 

“Fuck!” Clarisse cried in pain. “Okay, okay, okay! I tap out!”

Charles clapped his hands and waited for Annabeth to untangle herself before lifting her arm in victory. “Ladies and gentlemen! We have our winner! Miss Annabeth Chase!” He gave a knowing look to Percy who was already making his way to the champion.

Percy placed a makeshift paper crown onto her head. And Annabeth would be lying if she said she wasn’t just a little bit prideful with the outcome. “Congratulations, Wise Girl. That was quite a show you put on.” 

“Wisegirl?” She was breathing heavily, hands on her hips.

“Yeah, that’s what you are… a Wisegirl. Unless you disagree, of course?”

Annabeth snorted. “Why would I disagree? That’s like the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”

He shook his head. “I’m starting to think my egotism is wearing off on you.” 

She swatted at him but he stepped back, dodging the back of her hand. “Whatever, Percy.”

“Oh my God, that was amazing!” Grover jumped towards them, still stuffing chips into his mouth. “That whole split-kick move was so unexpected. It was awesome! You looked like one of the Avengers.”

Annabeth started laughing at his excited dance. “Thanks, Grove. I’m glad you enjoyed watching.”

“You’ve got to teach me some moves. I mean seriously, you’re like my hero now.”

“Way to lay it on thick.” Percy raised an eyebrow. 

Grover didn’t have a chance to answer before Clarisse joined the circle, wiping her forehead with the bottom of her shirt. “Damn, chase. I was wrong about you. I always thought you were just the girl who got knocked up in sophomore year… I mean, no judgement here. You can do whatever you want bu—”

Charles shoved her shoulder, hard enough to shut her up.

Annabeth knew Clarisse didn’t mean any harm. It was just a stupid story that had been passed around school since what felt like forever. But it was moments like this that reminded her why she disliked interacting with anyone other than Thalia and Silena. 

“That’s just a dumb rumor someone made up,” Annabeth said, voice flat. “They all are. Everything you’ve heard about me isn’t true, unless it’s come from my mouth. The same way people believe Percy has five girlfriends, it’s all bullshit.” 

Percy moved closer to her side, “You heard her. If she says it’s fake, it’s fake. Now let’s drop it.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you as back up.”

“Hey, don’t start judo-flipping me.” Percy followed her towards the bleachers. “Just trying to make sure another fight doesn’t break out.” 

“Unless the fight’s with you. I think I’d enjoy that one.”

“Why do you always want to use me as a human punching bag?”

She shook her head before squeezing more water into her mouth. “No idea.” Annabeth sat on the lowest bleacher, packing her things away, not even bothering to tell Percy to leave her alone. 

As her hand reached down to pick up her cardigan, she felt a tingle trail up her hand. Annabeth peered down and found a small spider crawling up her knuckles, its tiny legs tapping onto her skin and moving up her wrist. 

Panic surged through her stomach and spread across every part of her body. She fought the urge to scream… or cry… or to do both. The fear that haunted her for years was flooding back. It sounded stupid, ridiculous even, to be scared of such a small creature. But that small creature was so much bigger to her than she’d ever admit. It reminded Ananbeth of all the times she’d cry for help from her parents and no one came. 

Percy noticed instantly something was wrong, he crouched down in front of where she was sitting. He tilted his head upwards slightly to read her face, and as his gaze followed hers, it landed on the arachnid. The pieces clicked, and he used the back of his hand to brush the spider off her forearm. 

“Hey, you good?” His words weren’t teasing or mocking. It was the opposite of what she was used to when this kind of scene played out.

Automatically, Annabeth’s mouth opened to respond but her voice wasn’t cooperating. Her breathing quickened, and she was thankful that the others were still standing by the mats, unaware of what was happening.

“Fuck.” She didn’t think Percy would be able to hear her, because the word was incredibly low and mostly just air leaving her lips. 

But he scooted closer, and put a steadying hand where the spider had previously laid. His grip was light. He applied the right amount of pressure. She soon realized that Percy was good at that, keeping her in the present. “It’s gone now. I flicked it far away, I promise.” 

She nodded, biting her bottom lip from trembling. “Thank you.” Once he removed his hand, Annabeth fiddled with her fingers and stared at the chipped nail polish falling off. “I’ve always hated spiders. I can’t explain it, but they’ve always scared me.”

There was a pause, and she waited for him to start laughing at her, or call her overdramatic. But instead he took the seat to her left and sighed. “I’ve always been terrified of flying. It’s kind of embarrassing how tightly I grip the armrests when we take off.”

Her body relaxed, “Really? Who would’ve guessed Percy Jackson has weaknesses… except for learning Spanish of course.”

He rolled his eyes, “Shut up.” But despite his joking tone, he shifted back to being serious straight away and bumped the side of her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. “I’m better now.”

Annabeth appreciated his attempts to divert the conversation and for once was grateful he stuck around and didn’t leave her alone.

“You know, I was going to mention this at our tutor session later on. But I might as well bring it up now.” Percy held up his phone where an invite was displayed. “There’s a party tomorrow night. I was thinking you could go with your friends and it could be something fun to end the week.”

Annabeth scanned the party invite. “I don’t know. Big gatherings aren’t really my thing.”

Grover occupied the seat to her otherside. Smoothly, stretching out his legs. “If it makes you feel better, we’re all going.”

“Yeah, you and your friends can stick with us.” Charles smiled. “We can make one super group.”

“It’s also gonna be extremely busy.” Clarisse added quietly. “So realistically, there will always be someone to talk to.” She scratched the back of her neck, clearly holding something back. “And I’m sorry about bringing that sore subject up earlier. I was actually trying to compliment you, but it backfired. So… yeah. I’m sorry.”

In disbelief, Annabeth had to double check it was Clarisse giving the apology. “Thank you. I know you didn’t mean it like that, so I’m sorry as well for being defensive.”

There was an awkward silence that always seemed to follow these kinds of apologies. Percy subtly cleared his throat, bringing everyone’s attention onto him. “Okay, I’m glad we’re all on good terms again. Now, back to the topic at hand, what do you think about the party?” 

“Uh, I can ask my friends later and I’ll let you know what they say.”

“That works for me.”

Before the bell rang, indicating lunch was over, the group hurriedly returned the mats into the cupboard and made their way to their classes. For the rest of the day, Annabeth thought about how strangely reassuring it had felt having Percy help her with no hesitation. How he didn’t even question her fear or press personal questions, he was just there and knew exactly how to approach the situation.

Then the Party crossed her mind and she instantly became impatient with having to wait after her classes to ask her friends. So she sent a quick text to her groupchat during Advanced Debate .

Thalia & Silena

2:06 PM - ANNABETH

Party tomorrow night. Wanna go?

2:12 PM - SILENA

Who are you, and what have you done to our sweet Annabeth?

2:19 PM - ANNABETH

Stay focused.

2:22 PM - SILENA

Is this the one at the Stoll brothers’ house?

2:27 PM - ANNABETH

WHAT?? I didn’t realize that’s where it’s at. 

2:31 PM - THALIA

This is hilarious. Connor probably just wants to ask you out again.

2:34 PM - SILENA
Oh definitely. 

2:35 PM - SILENA
I’m still Team Percy though.

2:40 PM - ANNABETH

There’s something seriously wrong with you people.

2:40 PM - ANNABETH

There’s no such thing as Team Percy.

2:40 PM - ANNABETH

And Connor wasn’t even the one who invited me.

2:41 PM - THALIA

Who invited you, then? 

2:44 PM - SILENA

Does the name start with a ‘P’ and end with a ‘Y’??

2:46 PM - ANNABETH

Oh. My. Gods. I asked you guys such a simple question.

2:50 PM - SILENA

#TeamPercy

2:51 PM - SILENA
And unfortunately my mom’s hosting this boring dinner, so I’ll have to miss this one.

2:58 PM - ANNABETH

Well, there goes our extrovert.

2:58 PM - ANNABETH

Thals? 

2:59 PM - THALIA

Already planned to meet up with others for my history group project. 

2:59 PM - THALIA

Although, even if I wasn’t busy… I probably still wouldn’t go.

The final bell rang, and Annabeth groaned at her phone, the messages teasing her. She wasn’t sure why it annoyed her so much, she wasn’t even that eager to go to the party. But still, a part of her wondered if it might actually be fun. With a sigh, she swung her messenger bag over her shoulder and strode to the library, attempting to juggle texting and walking at the same time.

3:02 PM - ANNABETH

There’s always next time.

3:03 PM - THALIA

Next time as in never? Because, yes. That sounds about right.

3:03 PM - SILENA

I’m kicking Thals out of this chat.

3:04 PM - THALIA

That’s a lie.

Silena Beauregard removed Thalia Grace from this group chat

3:06 PM - ANNABETH

She’s going to kill you.

3:06 PM - SILENA

I’ll deal with her later.

3:07 PM - SILENA

But Annabeth, just because we can’t go doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

3:09 PM - ANNABETH

No, thanks. I wasn’t even planning on going unless you guys were.

3:10 PM - SILENA

Do whatever you’re most comfortable with <3

3:11 PM - ANNABETH

Thank you, Lena!!

3:11 PM - ANNABETH

Also, you should probably add her back before we both get hundreds of missed calls

Silena Beauregard added Thalia Grace to this group chat

3:12 PM - THALIA

WTF guys?!!

Annabeth left the following conversation to Silena as she finally arrived on the second floor of the library. She spotted Percy’s blonde curls poking above one of the back booths and made her way over. They were starting to spend a lot more time together than she anticipated, but weirdly it didn’t bother her as much as it used to. She dropped in the seat across from him, and let her head fall back.

“I’m not going to the party tomorrow.” Annabeth said plainly.

Percy blinked. “Why not?”

“My friends can’t come.”

“But, can you make it?”

She opened her folder and placed new worksheets in front of him. “I’m not going without them. End of story.”

“Hear me out—”

“Immediately, no.”

“—what if you just come with my friends? I understand you’re not as close with them, but they’d still love for you to go. Besides, it will be a good way to get to know other people.”

Annabeth proceeded to open a textbook and flip through the pages. “I really don’t know how to make this clearer, but I hate meeting new people, especially if I’m on my own. I just don’t enjoy this kind of stuff the way you do. So, I hope you guys have a great time, but I’m fine staying at home.”

“But you won’t be on your own. You’ll always have one of us with you.”

“Strong pass.” Annabeth deadpanned. 

She tapped the first worksheet with her pen, but Percy didn’t move. He watched her carefully, analyzing her features. “I’m not going to leave your side, you know? If you’re scared I’m going to ditch you, don’t be. I have a tendency to cling to my group during parties so don’t even worry about that. And I’ll be sober the entire time.”

“You’re not gonna drink?”

“I don’t like drinking when I have a heavy week of training. Swimming with a hangover feels gross.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly, so you can get as drunk as you want and I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Annabeth fiddled with her pen, and bit her lip slightly embarrassed. “I’ve never actually been drunk before. I sometimes have a glass of wine with my dad if he’s in a good mood, but I’ve never had more than that.”

Percy’s eyes relaxed and the corners of his lips lifted into a soft smile. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to. We can be sober together if that’s what you prefer. But if you wanna try drinking more than usual… I’ll be right there to take care of you.”

His words were so tender, she had no idea how to respond. “Gods, why are you being so nice today? This almost feels like a parallel universe.”

He let out a low laugh, “Would you rather I be a dick?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been in this situation before. It’s kind of freaking me out?”

“Why?”

“I think this is the first time I don’t feel the urge to scream at you, or hit you.”

One of his brows shot up. “Interesting. So, does that mean you’ll join us tomorrow?”

“If I say yes, will you please start doing the worksheets?”

“Possibly.” 

Annabeth gave him a serious look. “That’s not the answer I was looking for.”

“Ugh. Yes, Miss Chase, I’ll answer the Spanish questions if you come to the party.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll go.”

“Hell yeah!” Percy punched the air and received a few stares from the people around us. It made Annabeth laugh. “Send me your address and I’ll pick you up at 8:00 tomorrow. We’ll meet the others there at 9:00.”

“The party’s only 10 minutes away from my place.”

Percy nodded. “I’m just assuming you want to warm up a little before we actually arrive.”

How does he know that?  

“Uh, yeah. I’d like that actually.”

“Perfect.” He picked up his pen and grabbed the first sheet. “Now if you could please give me some peace and quiet, I need to get these questions done.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but listened. And for the rest of the tutoring session they worked in silence.

Chapter Text

The alarm on Annabeth’s phone went off, flashing a reminder: ‘Get ready for the party!!’ across her screen. She had set it that morning during her first class, just in case she lost track of time. But ever since getting home, all Annabeth had done was rummage through her entire wardrobe, trying to put together a cohesive outfit. If anything, she was the opposite of distracted, consumed with every single possible scenario of what could happen that night. 

She thought realistically. 

I’ll definitely hate it and want to leave straight away, no doubt. 

Maybe if I just stay for 30 minutes and then say I’m not feeling good, no one will have any questions and they’ll let me go. 

People will think I’m the lamest person alive, but who gives a fuck. 

Just try something new, admit that it’s not your style, and then out you go. 

Simple.

Annabeth repeated this cycle for an hour, practicing her excuse while swiping thick coats of mascara onto her lashes. She applied the tiniest wing of eyeliner and a swipe of lip gloss before deciding this was as good as it was going to get.

Her hands automatically went back to their original task of hunting for an outfit, and in the end she chose a brown patterned halter top and blue low-waisted jeans. Her goddess braids were neatly put into a half-up-half-down style, pinned by a matching brown clip. 

It was a get-up that no one could mess up. 

It was safe. 

Her phone buzzed just as she gave herself one last check in the mirror.

7:57 PM - PERCY

I’m outside… well, at least I think I am.

7:57 PM - PERCY

The address you gave me led to a fucking castle.

Seeing Percy’s name made the situation feel way more real. Annabeth suddenly realized that she was doing something completely insane. She was about to spend her Friday night with Goode High’s most popular students. 

7:58 PM - ANNABETH

Always with the theatrics.

7:59 PM - ANNABETH

I’ll be out in a minute.

Tucking her phone into her back pocket, she headed downstairs. She gave the open-plan space below a quick scan before making a run for the door. But a stern voice made her feet plant motionless to the ground.

“Where are you going?”

Annabeth turned around and found her stepmom, Helen, sitting on the couch, nose deep in a book.

“Thalia’s house.” The lie had become so natural. “We’re going to watch some movies and order pizza. Have a girls’ night.”

“I see.” Helen said, still not moving her eyes away from the page. “I’ll let your father know you won’t be home for dinner.”

“Okay… thanks.”

Annabeth shuffled closer to the exit and once her fingers made contact with the handle, she yanked the door open and hurried to the Toyota Prius waiting outside. 

As soon as she was inside the car, she slumped into the passenger’s seat and finally let out a deep breath, allowing her shoulders to drop. “Let’s get this shit over with.”

She could feel Percy’s eyes on her but chose to ignore him until she felt calm enough to properly start the night. “Well, hello to you too.”

She sunk deeper into her seat, staring out of the window. “I already need a drink.”

“You know, I was hoping you’d say that.” He reached behind him and grabbed something from the back of the car, throwing it onto her lap. It was a water bottle filled with something that wasn’t water, and when Annabeth shot a quizzical look. He replied, “To warm you up.”

“Orange juice?”

“And vodka.” He smiled. “Quite a lot of vodka.”

“Shouldn’t I start by drinking something weaker?”

“Just keep sipping on that for the next hour. It should get you to a good level of tipsy.”

She didn't move.

He rolled his eyes. “It’s not gonna kill you.” To prove his point, he took the bottle from her hands and gulped. “See.”

In that instant, Annabeth scanned him properly and noticed what he was wearing: a white graphic t-shirt, blue jeans, and a dark green cap pulled on backwards. There was something so unmistakably Percy about the outfit, that made her feel slightly less intimidated by the whole situation. 

“Give me that.” She reached for the bottle and without giving it a second thought, she threw it back until the cool liquid hit her throat. She stopped once a quarter of the mixture was gone, and held it up for Percy to inspect.

He smiled. “I approve. Now if you don’t mind, I think we should start moving before all the parking spots are taken.”

They drove for ten minutes and she focused on the music filling the car as she watched the houses pass by. The sun was slowly starting to set and the soft orange hue distracted her from the anxious feeling building inside her gut. 

She tore her eyes away from the streets and onto Percy, who was bobbing his head up and down to the song playing. He was so unbelievably relaxed that it helped her calm down a little.

An undeniably captivating presence surrounded Percy when he navigated the steering wheel. He looked so in his element as he lip synced the lyrics to the music and checked his mirrors before turning. 

Has he always looked this confident?

“You’re staring.”

Her eyes widened. “I am?”

He chuckled. “Absolutely.”

She took a few more sips of her drink and tore her eyes away. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s just your ego talking.”

Percy smirked and returned back to his mission of finding a parking space. There was an empty spot down the street from the party that he had reversed into. 

He stopped the car, turning the engine off. “How do you want to go about this?”

“Excuse me?”

“I would suggest we just improvise and do whatever feels right. But I know you like to have a plan. So talk to me, Chase. What would you prefer?”

“What usually happens at these kinds of parties?” Annabeth asked. “I’ve never hung out with these people before, so I don’t know what to expect.”

“Well, people tend to grab a drink first, the makeshift bar will be in the kitchen. Then everyone kind of separates to either play games in the garage, dance to music in the living room, or talk in the backyard.”

“What do you like to do?” 

“I like to do a bit of everything, but you’ll usually find me in the garage or outside.” Percy twisted his body so he was fully facing her. “But this isn't about me, this is about you. And what you’d like to do.”

“Uh, I guess I’ll get a drink and then just… go with the flow?”

A smile formed on his lips. “Sounds like a plan.” 

“Are your friends already there?” 

He shook his head. “Not yet. Charles is looking for a parking spot, so give them five more minutes and then we’ll head in.” 

“Okay.” Annabeth chugged more of her pregame drink and noticed she was already halfway finished. Mindfully, she held the bottle on top of her thigh and rotated her body to copy his position. “So, do you go to these kinds of things a lot?” She asked. 

She already knew the answer, but decided to ask anyway, not bothering to fight the curiosity. 

“Yeah, but I’ve slowed down this year.” He scratched his jaw, reminiscing. “Gods, I used to always go out with the swim team all the time. Maybe a little too much.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Mostly. I really only wanted to spend time with the boys and celebrate a tough week of training. We’d have the same routine every time, to pregame at one of our houses while ordering a shit ton of takeout. It was the best.”

“That actually sounds kind of fun. So why don’t you do it as much anymore?”

“It gets repetitive after a while, and I’m trying to save money, especially since I don’t have a job right now.” Percy shrugged. “Lately I’ve preferred just chilling at one of their houses and playing video games or watching sport.” He raised his brows up and down, grinning. “I’m maturing.”

Annabeth snorted. “Yeah, right.” She fixated on her bracelets, playing with the charms.

Across from her, Percy tilted his head to the side, as if trying to understand her better. “It’s gonna be alright, you know? I get the sound of going to a place full of strangers is terrifying. I mean, shit, I’m actually impressed you’re going for it. Because if I was in your position I would have backed out by now.”

“That’s a lie. You love this kind of stuff.”

“It is a lie.” He grinned. “But still, it doesn’t change the fact that I’d be nervous. Look, I want you to know I’m genuinely not trying to force you into this. I know I’ve been persistent, but it’s just because I want you to give it a shot. And I swear if after tonight you hate it, then by all means shove it in my face that you were right.”

The corners of Annabeth’s lips tugged upward, and she tried to suppress the smile forming. “I’m gonna hold you to that last offer, Jackson. And I mean it.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” Percy shot her a playful look before opening his door. “So, what do you say? Ready to take the next steps of Operation Socialization?”

“No.” She stated flatly, but nonetheless opened her door and moved to the sidewalk. 

They walked to the house in a comfortable silence as Annabeth finished the rest of her drink and Percy texted Charles, trying to find him. The closer they got to the party, the louder the sound of teenagers became, and the more the alcohol started to hit her system. A heated flush covered her cheeks and she suddenly became self conscious that she was sweating too much.

The sun had almost completely set, leaving the sky to be a mix of dark blue and harsh orange. She tilted her head back to admire the beauty of the clouds and let the warmth sink into her bones. She was so distracted she almost missed the sound of someone calling her name.

“Annabeth! You made it!” Grover jogged towards her and squeezed her into a loving hug. 

She laughed. “It’s good to see you too.” 

Percy threw his hands in the air. “I’m also here by the way. Why don’t I get greeted like that?”

Grover stood to his side. “Those hugs are reserved for people who are actually nice to me. So everyone but you… and Clarisse.”

“What about me?” Clarisse swung her arm over Grover’s shoulders. 

He sighed. “I think you’re going crazy cause I never said your name. It must be all those Jägerbombs you pregamed with.”

Charles completed the team, fist-bumping Percy and giving Annabeth a sideways hug. “Are we actually going inside, or has the event moved out here? Cause you guys look like the real life of the party right now. ”

“You’re so hilarious Charles.” Clarisse deadpanned. “Seriously, you should start a career in stand-up. I think you’d go far.”

He rolled his eyes and led the way to the front door. A crowd of students Annabeth recognized were scattered on the front lawn. Some looked entranced in deep conversations while sipping on their drinks in between words, while others goofed around, shoving each other across the grass. 

That’s when it hit her: she had no idea how big this gathering really was.

As the group stepped inside, she was immediately overwhelmed. There were way too many teenagers crammed into one house. The music blared out of speakers, and bright colorful disco lights beamed across the entire floor. The place was packed, barely any space to move, and she wondered if they’d even make it past the hallway.

She felt a hand wrap around hers, and when she looked up, Percy was staring at her from over his shoulder. His eyebrows furrowed apologetically, and she knew he was trying to say sorry for how intense it already felt. His hands easily enveloped hers, soft but secure, nothing like she could have predicted. 

Annabeth lost her train of thought the moment Percy’s touch met her skin.

The alcohol must have been kicking in, because without second-guessing, she interlocked their fingers and squeezed his hand. 

He then turned back to the front, guiding her through the crowd with a new sense of determination. Every now and again some guy from school would spot him, offering a bro shake, or jokingly punching his arm, or gripping his shoulder. And Annabeth forgot just how popular Percy was. He looked so at ease, like the attention was second nature to him.

They stopped by the kitchen in a quieter corner. She placed her empty pregame bottle on the counter and scanned her surroundings: red solo cups thrown on every surface and empty bottles of alcohol covering the entire room. 

How has everyone already finished all the drinks?

“This is insane.” Clarisse yelled.

The group pushed closer together, making it easier for everyone to hear. 

“There’s way too many people in here.” Grover agreed. “This party’s definitely getting shut down.”

Annabeth was lodged in between Charles and Percy, and in the midst of all the madness she was happy that they were a lot bigger than her. They felt like her own personal bodyguards, protecting her from the people pushing into different rooms. 

Clarisse ran a hand over her face. “They don’t even have any drinks left, and I’m way too sober to be here.”

“I know where we can get some, just wait for me by the trampoline.” Percy nodded his head in the direction of the backyard.

Everyone agreed and started heading out, while Percy turned to rejoin the massive gathering. But Annabeth froze, hand still wrapped around his, tugging him gently back to her. 

Percy’s features softened when he met her eyes, and he placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “I’ll only be gone for a couple of minutes. Go with the others and cool off, it’s less intense outside. And I promise, I’ll come find you.” He half-shouted over the bass.

Annabeth hesitated, unsure of what to do, because never in her life did she think she’d be the one asking Percy Jackson to stay. “You said you wouldn’t leave me.”

Something shifted in his expression, like a switch flipping, and his worried eyes turned serious. “Are you sure?” He asked, inching closer so he didn’t have to yell. “It’s pretty packed in there, and I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”

“You’re not going to lose me.” She lifted their interlocked hands into his view. “I’m already clinging onto you so tightly, we’re cutting off our blood circulation.”

Percy snorted, shaking his head, before leading the way back into the crowd, dodging students swaying left and right. 

She watched him scan each passing group, and it occurred to her that he was looking for someone. Despite his concentration, his hand never loosened around hers, not once. 

Finally, they stopped at the bottom of the stairs and his shoulders dropped. “Stoll, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

There was a muffled exchange between the two and Annabeth silently prayed that she wouldn’t get dragged into the conversation. But just as the thought surfaced, they both turned to her.

“Connor, this is Annabeth. Annabeth, Connor.”

Connor’s eyes widened, but before he could speak, Annabeth blurted out, “We need alcohol.”

He blinked at her. “Uh, yeah. There’s extra bottles in my room.” He pointed at a door directly above the stairs.

“Great.” She faked a smile. “Thanks.” 

This wasn't the first time they'd met. When they were younger Connor had tried to hit on Annabeth multiple times. And as much as she tried to forget the failed attempts, both Thalia and Silena would constantly remind her about it.

Her feet moved rapidly around him, all while dragging Percy behind her. She took two steps at a time, but when she reached for the handle and found it locked, she muttered a curse.

Connor held up a set of keys. “You’ll need this.” He brushed past her, and instinctively she recoiled. He inserted one key into the lock and twisted it.

The door opened and he gestured for them to enter. She released Percy’s hand, instantly regretting the action. Because now not only was she in an incredibly awkward situation, but her safety net wasn't attached to her anymore. She waited by the bookshelf and carefully leaned against it for support. 

Connor rummaged through a box and grabbed a bunch of drinks, setting them onto his desk. “So what do you guys want? Vodka? Tequila? Beer? Wine? Whiskey?” 

Percy inspected the bottles. “We’ll take the tequila and a few cans of beer. If that’s cool.”

“Yeah, of course bro. Take as much as you’d like.” They were so close to leaving, when out of nowhere, Connor pointed at Annabeth. “I do have one question though—”

Fuck off.

“—How on earth did you get this one to come to a party? Specifically, my party?”

Percy stared back and forth between the two. “I just asked her.”

“Seriously? No grand gesture or anything? Not even flowers?”

“No.” If Percy wasn’t confused before, he definitely is now. “Why?”

Connor laughed, but there was nothing humorous about it. “Because I’ve been trying to ask her out for years, and she seems to always find a way to shut me down. I’ve tried everything with her, offered her all kinds of options… but she’s just so stubborn.”

Ew, he’s so fucking gross. 

And he also thinks me and Percy are here as a couple. 

Annabeth stepped forward, her voice firm. “Can you stop referring to me like I’m not in the room?”

Connor looked her up and down, checking her out. “So tell me then, what does Jackson have that I don’t?” 

Is he serious? Does he actually want me to answer that? 

Percy’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe she’s just not into you.” His tone was casual but pointed. “She’s also got standards so it would take a decent guy to tick all the boxes. Which isn’t much to ask for.” Smoothly, he reconnected their hands together and headed for the door. “Thanks for the alcohol, but we’re not sticking around for this conversation.” 

There was a stupid smile on Annabeth’s face, and she didn’t even care, because Percy-fucking-Jackson just shut down Connor Stoll for her. And after years of rejection, just maybe, he’ll finally get the hint. 

He led her back down the stairs, through the living room, and into the kitchen where they started. She observed how his jaw clenched tight and his eyes completely zoned out, making the massive smile on her lips falter. 

As they walked into the backyard, she took one long stride and pivoted to face him, stepping into his path. She was blocking his way. And judging by the obvious height difference it would be easy for Percy to nudge past her and keep going, but instead, he stayed put, not moving.

She let go of his hand. “Are you okay? You seem pretty tense.”

He took a long deep breath and diverted his gaze into the distance. “Does he always bother you?”

“Oh.” She paused. “Uh, kind of I guess. He’s tried asking me out since freshman year. To be honest, he’s very… resilient—”

“He’s making you uncomfortable.” 

She hesitated. “It’s fine… I mean, it’s not really fine, but I won’t have to see him once we graduate.”

“That’s not the point.” Percy squeezed his eyes shut and adjusted his cap. 

Annabeth had never seen him like this, so rattled, so physically shaken. And she didn’t know why but the sight made her want to soothe the tension, to calm whatever storm was building inside of him. 

“I saw how uneasy you looked in there. He made you feel unsettled and… and creeped the fuck out. That’s not normal, Annabeth. What would have happened if I wasn’t here? He could’ve tried to take advantage of you.”

His eyes grew panicked and wild. Without hesitation Annabeth placed both her palms on his arms, keeping him steady. In the quietest voice she said, “Percy, if you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have come to this party in the first place. The only reason I agreed to show up is because I knew you’d have my back. I knew I could count on you, no matter what happened tonight.”

If the circumstances were different, if this exchange was taking place in school during a tutoring session or Mrs. Dodds class, Annabeth would’ve probably cringed with how sappy she had sounded. But in that moment, something in her just wanted to make sure Percy was okay. 

For a second she felt his weight lean ever so slightly into her touch, and she kept her hands firm. His eyes softened, not quite as much as usual, but she still took it as a win.

“You’re good at this.” He replied quietly.

“At holding you?”

“At calming me down.” He corrected. “I can be really protective over the people in my life, and there are times I overthink things so much to the point I feel like I’m losing control.” With his free hand, the one not holding all the alcohol, he ran it over his face. “I just… I’d never be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to you tonight, it would be my fault and I can’t—”

“Percy.” She paused. “I’m safe. I'm with you right now, and we’re okay.”

He let her words sink in, not responding.

“If you want, we can find a quiet place to sit away from all this chaos. Give you some time alone.”

He thought about her offer but ultimately shook his head. “No, no it’s fine.” Annabeth watched as he took a few seconds to collect himself. Eventually, when he felt calmer, a tiny smile spread across his lips. He looked like he was about to burst out laughing, which was completely ironic with the situation that had just passed.

“What?”

He shook his head and smiled at the ground. “Oh, nothing.”

“Just say it.”

His smile morphed into a smirk. “You care about me.”

Every sentimental bone in Annabeth’s body disappeared, and her tone became dry. “You’re actually ridiculous. Seriously? I’m never going to help you ever again. This is the end of our experiment.” 

Percy chuckled, and a wave of relief spread over her. “I can’t even fight back, Chase. I’m too stunned that you showed any emotion other than loathing.”

She swiveled on her heels and strode deeper into the backyard, ignoring him. In the distance, she spotted Clarisse, Charles, and Grover sitting on the trampoline with a few other people, and she beelined towards them. 

It’s safe to say that trying to balance on the bouncy material while tipsy wasn’t exactly an elegant look for her, but she managed to squeeze into a space next to Grover. 

“Thank fuck.” Clarisse dramatically huffed. “I thought you guys were lost.” She wiggled her fingers at Percy and in return he threw a can of beer at her.

“We come with peace offerings.” He chucked the other cans at everyone else, except for Charles, since the two of them were staying sober. 

Percy placed the tequila bottle in the center of the circle and wedged himself between Annabeth and another girl she didn’t recognize. The mystery girl had strawberry-blonde hair tied in a single loose braid, deep brown eyes, and light freckles. 

She’s pretty.

“I don’t think we’ve ever met.” The girl stuck her hand out to Annabeth, leaning over Percy. “I’m Calypso.”

“Hi.” She shook her hand. “I’m Annabeth.” 

Calypso gestured to the other new members who joined them. “This is Nico and Will. Hope you don’t mind us hanging with you guys.”

The other two boys waved at Annabeth, and she smiled back. “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” 

“Perfect, because I was just going to suggest we play a drinking game.” Calypso raised her eyebrows, eyeing the tequila. “Is everyone down?”

A collective agreement rippled through the gang, and Calypso grinned. “Let’s keep it simple… Truth or Drink. We go around the circle, and each person gets asked a question. If they answer, we move on. If they refuse, they have to take a shot.” She pointed to Percy and Charles. “Since you two are being boring, you can nominate someone else to take your shot.”

“How is that fair?” Nico exclaimed. “They basically get a free pass.”

“It’s to keep things interesting, obviously.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Shall we begin? Who wants to go first?”

Clarisse chugged down some beer. “Okay, might as well rip the bandaid off. Ask away.”

The group sat in silence for a moment, each of them thinking of something juicy to ask. Finally, Will sat up straight. “Who’s the last person you kissed?”

Clarisse scoffed. “Easy. Silena Beauregard.”

“WHAT?!” Annabeth’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “When?!”

“A party, like two weeks ago. We were both drunk. We kissed. That’s it.”

Grover snickered. “Yeah, right. All you’ve done since then is stare at her in the halls. It’s fucking weir— Hey!”

Clarisse kicked him in the shin and shot him a glare.

“Why didn’t she tell me about this?” Annabeth muttered, a little too loudly.

Charles let out a low laugh. “Gods, this is so embarrassing. You’ve been thinking about her nonstop and she hasn’t even mentioned you to her friends.” He tutted.

“Will you both shut the fuck up?” Clarisse gripped her can tightly. “It was just a kiss. Why would she tell anyone? You people are so stupid.” 

Before another insult was thrown her way, Clarisse shifted the focus to the next person, and Annabeth made a mental note to interrogate Silena about this unexpected confession next week. 

For the next thirty minutes, the group asked questions and took shots. The atmosphere was fun, and Annabeth completely forgot about the excuse she had planned to use to leave the party early. Instead, she sat back and enjoyed watching the variety of interactions unfolding around her.

Of course, this peace was short-lived, like everything else in her life.

“Annabeth. Your turn.” Calypso tapped her chin, and then a smile tugged at her lips. “If you had to choose one person to date in this circle, who would it be?”

Annabeth choked on air.

Oh. My. Gods. 

This can’t be real.

“Um,” She began, having no idea where her sentence was even going. “Well… uh.” Her eyes scanned the group, searching for someone to latch onto. But it was no use. Her mind went completely blank and she debated taking the shot. 

But then she saw Percy, and her chest stiffened. He was looking at her with so much interest, it almost sobered her up completely. She swiftly turned to the opposite direction. “I’d pick Grover.” She said, clearing her throat. “Because I’ve known him the longest and we have a lot in common.”

Grover patted her on the shoulder. “Aw thanks, Annie. I’m touched.”

It was a safe answer that no one would argue with, so she forced the most realistic smile she could muster and waited for the next person’s turn. 

Just her luck… obviously, it was Percy.

“Oh, I’ve got a good one.” Charles’ face lit up. “What’s your biggest regret in life?”

Calypso groaned. “That’s too deep and serious. We need something light.” She tilted her head at him, and smirked. “What about… who do you find the most attractive in this group?”

Unlike Annabeth, Percy didn’t scan the team. Rather, he stretched out his legs and leaned back on his hands, his eyes suddenly focused on the trampoline material. He poked his cheek with his tongue, contemplating what to say. 

Oh. 

She realized that he already had an answer, but was hesitating, unsure whether to risk it or take the punishment. 

Finally, he looked up, and for a brief period their eyes met. 

Why is he staring at me like that? 

She was about to ask him what he was doing, but before she could, he averted his attention to the alcohol in the middle. “I choose drink, and I’m assigning it to Annabeth.”

Calypso rolled her eyes. “When did you become so boring? You usually love causing chaos.”

“It’s been a long week, okay?” He reached forward and picked up the bottle, unscrewing the lid and handing it to Annabeth. 

She took a deep breath before swallowing a large gulp and wiping her mouth. It felt like fire burning every part of her throat, but something about it was so exhilarating. She kind of wanted to do it again, but decided to be sensible.

Percy took back the tequila and twisted the cap back on. He whispered, “Was that okay, or was it too much? I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that.” 

She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think I hate it. It’s making me feel warm and tingly.”

“Okay, Chase.” He laughed. “As long as you're enjoying yourself.”

And she was. In fact she was starting to really get the hang of the game, knowing exactly what juicy information the group wanted to hear.

Annabeth clapped her hands together. “Your turn, Calypso.” She thought hard for a good one. “Have you ever had a crush on someone in this group?”

Nico raised a brow. “Are these not all the same questions?”

“Shh.” Will dismissed him. “I’m curious now.”

Calypso looked smug. “Duh, of course I have.” She lightly kicked Percy’s foot. “I’ve had my eye on this gold medalist for forever now.”

Out of all the scenarios Annabeth had played out earlier that night, this was one she hadn’t prepared for. Which was dumb because she should’ve guessed that the number-one heartthrob in the school would have girls chasing after him. But it was the first time she’d seen it happen right in front of her, and a strange unfamiliar feeling started to twist in her stomach. 

Percy appeared calm, like it didn’t faze him. Probably because he already expected the response. Annabeth couldn’t tell whether this made her feel better or ten times worse. 

“That’s such an obvious answer, I’m pretty sure everyone in this school has liked Percy.” Nico said. “What we should be asking is if anything ever happened between the two of you?”

Shit. 

Calypso wagged a finger at him. “Nuh-uh, no breaking the rules. One question per round.”

Annabeth knew what she was doing. She was playing with them, teasing the possibility that the feelings were mutual. But Percy looked tired of her games and coolly stated, “Nothing’s ever happened between us.”

It was a straightforward answer that earned him a frustrated look from Calypso. 

He ignored her. “Next person.”

Everyone quickly moved onto the next player, arguing about what topics to bring up. Percy used this as an opportunity to glance at Annabeth, and she could only hope the awkwardness she felt wasn’t as clear as it seemed. 

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how drunk are you right now?”

She shrugged. “Maybe a 6.”

“Wow, I’m impressed.” He leaned further back on his elbows. “Give it another thirty minutes and it’ll hit you soon enough.”

And oh boy, it did.

It hit her hard.

Chapter Text

Annabeth lost track of how many rounds of Truth or Drink they played. She’d had so much alcohol that her vision was extremely blurry, and her entire body was numb. Thankfully, she wasn’t the only one who felt like the world was spinning.

Everyone else was just as drunk, except for Charles and Percy, the designated drivers.

The group stopped playing once the bottle of tequila ran dry and the beers were all empty, leading the circle to break off into different conversations. Annabeth was laying flat on her back on the trampoline, trying not to doze off. 

“It’s—so—hot—I’m—sweating—like—crazy!” Her words slurred together.

“Maybe if you stop rolling around so much, you’ll cool off better.” Percy said, as he lay beside her, staring at the sky.

“Shut up, nerd,” She shot back. “You’re—way—too—sober. I don’t even want to look at your face.”

“Is my face that ugly?”

Annabeth chucked an empty beer can at him. “Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said that.”

“So you’re calling me handsome?”

“I’m calling you annoying.” Her head dropped to the side so she could see him better. 

He did the same thing, looking back at her. “And why exactly is me being sober pissing you off so much? I figured you’d be reassured.”

“I was. But now I’m acting like a big—fucking—mess, and you’re—just—judging—me. You’re judging me with your—big—stupid—blue—eyes.”

He laughed. “I didn’t realize my eyes could be stupid.”

“Well, they are. They’re—scary—sometimes. Like laser beams making holes in my skin. It’s so distracting!”

“Would you rather I not look at you?” 

“I don’t know.” She groaned. “Ask me again when I can feel my toes.”

“Alright, Chase.” His face turned playful.

To her left she could hear Grover and Clarisse laughing hysterically to themselves. While Charles recorded their interactions, no doubt planning to send it to them in the morning. Across her, Nico and Will were still playing Truth or Drink, but using a bottle of water instead. 

Annabeth noticed that there was one voice missing from the group.

“Where’s—Calypso?” She scrunched her eyebrows at Percy.

“She went back into the house. Probably going to find her friends.”

He looked so unbothered, that Annabeth debated whether to ignore the hundreds of questions she had, or start rapid-firing them.

But the alcohol was making it harder for her to filter her thoughts. So, she quietly said, “I had no idea she had a crush on you.”

“Well, that’s a first.” He was still facing the stars. “She’s always teasing me like that, especially at swim meets.”

“Oh.” Annabeth watched the night sky as well. “So—she’s—one—of—your—fangirls—cheering—you—on?”

“I guess.” He sighed. “Calypso believes I’m just playing hard to get. We used to be friends… before she became so flirty. And now, I just feel awkward hanging out with her. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be polite when I need to be. But when she pulls tricks like that, making it seem like we were ever more than just friends, that’s the kind of shit that makes people assume I hook up with every girl I talk to.”

Annabeth felt a pang of guilt. 

She was one of those people who believed that rumor. And now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the reason he was bringing it up, like it’s been on his mind ever since.

“I—don’t—think—that—anymore, by the way,” She said drunkenly. “The students at this school spread anything, as long as they think it’s good gossip. So don’t listen to them, they’re—all—idiots.”

Percy smiled. “Yeah, idiots.”

Her fingers toyed with her bracelet as she chewed the inside of her cheek, thoughtfully. “Do you think that… that people think… we’ve hooked up?”

“Most likely.”

“Does that bother you?” 

He lifted both arms behind his neck and rested his head against them, completely relaxed. “No.” 

“Why—not?”

“Because it’s you. And I know you wouldn’t agree to tutor me just to gain attention.”

“You do realize how full of yourself you sound.”

Percy’s lips curved upward. “What I’m trying to say is you’re a good person, Annabeth. I know you wouldn’t do anything selfish like… make up fake stories for your own benefit. That’s why I think this works so well. We both want something from each other, and we keep it even. Balanced.”

“I—suppose—we—are—balanced.” 

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and soaking in the crisp air. “What about you?”

“Huh?”

“If people think we’ve hooked up, does that bother you?”

“That was my crazy plan all along. Step one: make sure we’re seated next to each other in Mrs. Dodds’ class. Step two: make you beg me to tutor you. Then BOOM. People see us together and think we’re a thing. And I became the queen bee of the school.”

“Shut up.” Percy rolled his eyes, letting out a low laugh. 

“What?” Annabeth giggled. “It’s true.”

“If I knew you were gonna be this talkative when drunk, I would have given you tequila on the first day.”

She giggled again. Like actually giggled. 

Why is Percy Jackson making me fucking giggle like I’m thirteen?

“You never answered my question though.” He scratched his chin. “Does it bother you?”

“No—I—don’t—really—care.” She answered honestly. “I also doubt people would assume that me and you are doing anything other than work.”

“We’re not doing work right now.”

“That’s true. But still, we’re in public. People can obviously tell that we’re just talking, not doing… other stuff.”

“Like making out?”

Annabeth groaned. “You know, I tried to avoid those exact words. But—of—course—you—have—to—make—things—weird.”

Percy burst out laughing. “You’re so strange. You’ll happily talk about people thinking we’re ‘hooking up’, but as soon as I say the words ‘making out’, suddenly I’ve taken things too far?”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and leaned over to snatch his dark green cap. “I’m just trying to keep things PG.” Annabeth secured his cap on her head and sat up. 

“Going somewhere.” He smirked.

“Yes, actually. I can’t stay out too late, I’ve got a shift tomorrow morning, which in hindsight, was probably not the best idea. So, as my personal driver, can you please escort me home?”

He bounced to his feet and held out his hand, lifting her up. “Yes, ma’am.”

Annabeth knew she was drunk. But trying to stand up was like unlocking a different level.

“Woah, you okay?” Percy grasped onto both her biceps, preventing her from swaying too much.

“Gods, the—trees—are—falling!”

“Annabeth, the trees are perfectly fine. You’re the one who’s tumbling.” 

He quickly said goodbye to the group, telling them he was dropping her back home, before stepping off the trampoline first. She sat on the edge, with Percy in between her legs, his arms reaching out to her. She scooted closer until his hands gripped her waist, gently lowering her onto the grass. 

“Speak to me, Chase. Are you good?” 

His hands were still on her waist, and if Annabeth had full control over… well, anything right now, she’d probably be making sure there was a distinct distance between them. But she couldn’t bring herself to care, because the feeling of Percy’s warm skin against the thin material of her top made her cheeks flush.

“Yeah—I’m—good.”

He loosened his grip. “Can you stand on your own, or do I need to carry you?”

“No! Do not carry me!” Her eyes widened. “People will definitely think we’ve hooked up.”

“I don’t care. If you can’t walk in a straight line, I’ll gladly carry you.”

Why the fuck am I considering his offer? “I’m okay, just… just help me walk.”

So, that’s what Percy did. He kept a secure arm around her waist, guiding her through the crowd. Annabeth tried not to focus on how strong he was, or how tall he felt when he was this close. She definitely wasn’t thinking about when he walked past Calypso without a second glance… no, she was just focused on getting home. 

They squeezed through the packed rooms, finally reaching the front door and escaping the cramped house. 

The walk back to the car felt longer than she remembered. Annabeth’s eyes were closed, and she was practically leaning her entire weight into Percy. If it bothered him, he didn’t mention it. Her eyelids were getting heavier, her steps lazier. But hearing the car door open snapped her fully awake, followed by the gentle push of his hand, nudging her into the passenger’s seat and buckling her in.

Percy walked around to the driver’s side and gave his mirrors a check before pulling out onto the street. “You can take a nap if you want. I can just wake you up once we’re there.”

“I’m—fine.” Annabeth tugged his cap lower over her face. “I am never drinking tequila ever—again.”

“You sure? Cause you seemed to really like it about five shots ago.”

Normally, she would slap his arm or make a fiery comeback. But right now, not a single thought in her head was coherent. So she decided to sit in silence for the rest of the ride. 

Annabeth was grateful Percy didn’t turn on the music; the pounding in her head was distraction enough. She tried her best to stay as still as possible, not thinking too much into the movement of the car, or how the motion sickness was building in her throat. 

She reached into her back jeans pocket, and stilled when she couldn’t feel her phone.

“I have it.” Percy replied, reading her mind. “After the beer I figured you’d start getting messy and probably lose it. So don’t worry, I’ve kept your phone safe.” His eyes remained on the road. 

“Oh—thank—you.”

As they started passing houses she recognized, Annabeth mentally prepared for her next steps:

First, say goodbye to Percy and thank him for a great party. 

Second, avoid every family member that might be awake. 

Third, try and make it to bed in one piece. 

A pretty straightforward plan.

The car maneuvered to the side and shifted into park. She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes. “I guess this is me.” She gestured towards her house. 

This is so fucking stupid, what am I doing?!

He smiled. “I’d hope so, otherwise I’m dropping you off at some stranger’s front yard for the night.” He left the vehicle and circled over, opening her door.

She stood up, finding her balance, and then led the way to the front porch. Percy stayed close behind, probably in case she stumbled and face-planted into a pile of dirt, which honestly, was pretty likely. 

Annabeth climbed the steps, then stopped before the door. “Shit,” She muttered.

“What?” Percy whispered back.

“I forgot my keys.”

“I don’t remember you having keys in your pockets.”

“No. I mean I didn’t bring any in the first place. As in, they’re still in my school bag.”

Percy ran a hand through this hair. “Do you not have a spare key under a plant pot or something?”

She pulled a face. “Do we look stupid to you?” 

“Hey, I keep one under a plant pot! No need for the attitude.” He whisper-yelled.

“Oh, perfect. Now I know I can break into your house whenever I want to.” Annabeth rolled her eyes, then sidestepped to the window and cupped her hands over her face to get a better view inside. “No one’s awake.”

“What if we ring the doorbell?”

“Absolutely not. My step-mom would be furious if I woke everyone up.” Annabeth hopped off the porch and scanned the building. She spotted her bedroom window slightly cracked open and turned to Percy. “Help me up.”

“Are you insane?”

“Most likely.”

“You could barely walk a second ago.”

“Which is exactly why I’m asking for your help.” She pointed up the wall. “Just boost me onto that ledge and I’ll go over the garage and into my window. Easy peasy.”

“And what if you fall?”

“Then you’ll catch me.” Annabeth gave a fake smile and patted his shoulder. “Come on, Jackson. This should be lightwork for you.”

Percy sighed, but didn’t protest. “This was not included in our deal.” He moved closer to the ledge, bending his knees, and interlocking his hands. “Make it quick then.”

Annabeth shuffled closer and stepped into his palms. Effortlessly, he boosted her high enough to be able to reach the ledge and use it as a stepping stool to get onto the roof. Once she landed safely, she lifted her arms up in the air and whisper-yelled. “Woo! I told you I could do it. You’re always calling me insane and underestimating my strategies, when really I’m just a genius and yo—”

Her words got cut off when Percy appeared next to her, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“What. Are. You. Doing?” Annabeth’s eyes widened in horror. She glanced around, as if someone else was going to suddenly show up.

“Taking you home.” 

“Helen’s going to kill me if she sees you.”

“Then we better not get caught.”

“How did you even do that by yourself?”

“It’s called being sober, Chase. Keep up.” He gave her a smug grin and reached for the window, pushing it higher. “Now, can you please just get inside?”

Annabeth huffed as she carefully crawled through, doing her best not to knock over any of her belongings. She turned around and watched as Percy followed. As quietly as possible, he shut the window and gave her a satisfied grin. She pressed a finger to her lips, silently signaling for him to stay hushed. He nodded and took a step deeper into her room.

Holy shit. Percy Jackson is in my room. Like the room I spend most of my time in. He is here. Right now. 

Every drunk bone in her body sobered up.

Annabeth watched him closely as he scanned the area. His eyes drifted over the mess of makeup scattered across her desk, the pile of homework neatly stacked in the corner, and the rejected outfit options draped over the back of her chair. 

Percy glanced at the massive bookshelf resting against one of her walls. “You really like to read, huh?” 

“Yeah.” She bit her bottom lip. “It’s nerdy. Whatever.”

He grinned. “Well, that’s already a given. I’m just surprised you like reading rom-coms. I figured you’d be all about textbooks and boring math stuff.”

“Oh my Gods, I’m not a grandma.” Annabeth marched to the shelf. “I like reading everything, rom-coms, murder mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, and yes, even math stuff.”

He gave a playful look. “What about movies? Do you like those too?”

“Obviously. Who doesn’t?”

“You’d be surprised.” He leaned back against her desk. “Do you have a favourite one?”

“You're not allowed to laugh.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

She crossed her arms and said, dead serious, “Ratatouille.”

“What?!”

“Will you keep your voice down?”

Percy smirked. “Ratatouille? As in the movie with the rat that can cook?”

“Is there another film I don’t know about?”

“Oh my Gods.” He chuckled. “That’s like the last thing I expected you to say.”

“You said you wouldn’t laugh.” 

“That was before you said your favourite movie is about a rat.” 

Annabeth dropped her head back, exasperated. “I don’t like the movie because it’s about a rodent. I like it because it’s unexpected. I remember watching it when I was younger and being so excited about Paris and learning how to cook.”

“Well shit, you’re almost making it sound inspiring.”

“It is inspiring. The main character follows his dreams even though no one believes in him.”

“Yeah, the main character who’s a rat.”

“Ugh.” Annabeth pressed her palms against her eyes. “I am never telling you anything about myself ever again.”

Percy grinned, but this time, he gently took her wrists, pulling them away from her face. He drew Annabeth closer and placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. 

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry I made fun of you. You can like any movie you want. Who am I to judge? It’s just—” He started laughing again. “You look like someone who enjoys a horror film or a psychological thriller. Not a movie about… rodents in the kitchen.” 

There he goes again. 

Laughing uncontrollably, trying his hardest not to wake anyone up. 

“Okay, well, since you’re such a movie genius. What’s your favourite?”

“Easy.” He cracked his knuckles. “Star Wars.”

Annabeth snorted. “Congratulations, Jackson. That’s the geekiest thing you’ve ever said.”

“That series is phenomenal. It’s perfect. It has the greatest plot twist in cinematic history.”

“So let me get this straight… you think me liking a film about a rat that can cook is more unfathomable than you being obsessed with a movie about space wizards fighting with glowing sticks making ‘beep-boop’ sounds?”

Percy narrowed his eyes warrily. “Yes.”

She pushed his hands off her shoulders and stepped back. “You’re such a dork.” 

“You cannot speak, Miss Disney Fanatic.” 

“Have you even watched the movie?” 

“Of course not.”

Annabeth stood up straight. “We’re watching it one day.”

“You’ve got to be joking.”

“Nope. Me, you, and Ratatouille. You better mark it on your calendar as the day Annabeth Chase changes your perspective on chef rodents.”

Percy poked her ribs, making her recoil. “I refuse.”

“Too late. We’re doing it.”

He lunged forward and repeatedly poked her stomach, making Annabeth go into fits of laughter. “Take it back.” He demanded. “Or I won’t stop tickling you.” Percy backed them all the way to her bed, where she collapsed, burying her face in the pillow to muffle the sounds.

“Pe… Per… stop. I can’t brea—” Annabeth gasped, struggling to force out words in between giggles. He squeezed her waist more rapidly which made her roll around the mattress multiple times. 

Suddenly, she froze, and Percy’s hands stilled above her sides. “What’s wrong?”

Her stomach twisted, causing an aching sensation up her throat. She knew exactly what was coming. “I think I’m gonna be sick.” Her hand flew to her mouth as she pushed past Percy, rushing to the ensuite bathroom. 

The mix of alcohol overwhelmed her, and within moments, Annabeth’s head was buried in the toilet bowl, vomiting uncontrollably. It was a horrible feeling that made her squeeze her eyes shut and pray that it would be over soon. 

If she didn’t feel so queasy, she might actually feel embarrassed that she had to announce her vomit intermission out loud, but it was the last thing on her mind.

A warm hand slid onto her back, the hand pressing gently into her skin, while another hand delicately gathered her braids and directed them away from her face. Percy lowered himself to the floor beside her, whispering soft words of encouragement.

“It’s okay, Beth. Let it all out.” 

“Shut up.” She grumbled. 

“It’s good to know your sass is still intact.” 

Annabeth wanted to make a comment, but it felt like all the energy had been drained from her. 

“If it makes you feel better, the first time I got drunk, I threw up all over Grover. I mean, there were literal chunks in his—”

“You’re making it worse.” She gagged. “That sounds disgusting.”

“Oh, believe me. It was. I had a large meal before that party too. A crap ton of fried chicken and fries, so you can only imagine the—”

“Percy. Stop.”

“Right.” He pressed his lips into a thin line. 

Annabeth stayed hovering over the bowl for another five minutes. Once she was sure her stomach was finally empty, she reached for the flush, then closed the toilet lid. She scooted away and rested her back against the cold shower glass. 

Percy grabbed a washcloth and ran it under warm water, before crouching in front of her and lightly wiping her chin. He carefully dragged the material across her lips, being extra gentle around the corners of her mouth. 

Annabeth knew the alcohol’s effects hadn’t worn off yet, because as she watched him comfort her, she didn’t want him to stop.

His gaze moved to her eyes, and he paused. “Feeling better?”

She cleared her throat. “Tons. Thanks.”

“Yeah, uh, don’t mention it.” Percy reluctantly stood up and tossed the wet cloth into the sink. “Do you want me to grab a change of clothes while you get ready for bed?”

Annabeth pulled herself up. “That would be nice.”

“Cool.” He walked back into her room and headed for the stack of clothes resting on the chair.

Annabeth took this moment alone, to stare at herself in the mirror and reflect on how incredibly strange this evening had been. She shook off the weird feelings and proceeded to remove her makeup and wash her face. While her eyes were closed and covered in soap, she could hear a shuffle to the side.

“I’m just gonna leave them next to the sink. I’ll be outside, so just shout if you need anything.”

She responded with a hum, before rinsing her face and moving on to brushing her teeth. Muscle memory kicked in as she finished the rest of her routine, and slid into her pajama shorts and oversized shirt. Annabeth tossed her previous outfit onto the dirty laundry pile and unlocked the bathroom door.

Percy was sitting on the end of her bed when she locked eyes with him. He scanned her freshly washed face and her clean PJs before gesturing for her to lie down. “I think it’s time you get some rest, especially since you have a shift tomorrow.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Okay, Dad.” She laid under her covers and fluffed her pillow while Percy stayed on the edge. He rotated his body so he could see her properly, and didn’t look away once. 

She realized that, even though she’d been ridiculous and snappy all night, he never once judged her. He just showed his concern and let her enjoy herself.

“Stop doing that.” She glared at him.

“What am I doing wrong now?”

Annabeth paused. “Making me feel bad.”

Percy lifted an amused eyebrow. “I’m the one who made you throw up, I think I should be the one feeling bad.”

She chewed her bottom lip. “Why are you always so nice to me, even when I’m a pain in the ass?”

“‘Always’ is a bit of an exaggeration.”

“But still. You haven’t been as… annoying lately. You do things like look after me or call me Beth, and it’s making me question whether I’m just being a jerk now.”

Percy scratched the back of his neck. “Look, if I’m overstepping the original agreement, we can go back to just tutoring, no problem. I’ll still let you know when there’s a new party, you can go with your friends, and I’ll stop with the nicknames—”

“No.” Annabeth interrupted, a little too abruptly. “I like the nicknames. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting you to be like this.”

“Not an asshole?”

“Kind… I didn’t think you were this kind.”

She caught a glimpse of his face, and the genuine smile spreading on his lips sent a tingle up her spine. “I told you I’d take care of you. So that’s what I'm going to do.”

It’s times like this, when Percy Jackson goes all soft on her, that make it really hard to dislike the guy. 

“Okay,” She barely whispered.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out her phone, and placed it on top of the nightstand, carefully plugging in the charger. “I’ll see you at school, Beth.” A smirk appeared on his face at the sound of the nickname. He stood up and headed towards the window.

“See you, Percy.”

That night, it felt like everything had changed.

Chapter Text

“It was pretty hilarious.” Clarisse laughed into her sandwich. “You just kept rolling around the trampoline and fighting Percy for more tequila shots.”

Annabeth felt her cheeks burn. “Was I really that bad?”

“Yeah—”

“No, you weren’t.” Percy bit into his chocolate bar. “You were just really talkative, that’s all.”

“What was I talking about?” 

On Monday at lunch, Annabeth sat in the cafeteria with Percy’s friends. They were in their usual seats by the massive window, munching on their food and exchanging their point of views from the party. She wanted nothing more than to just act like Friday night never happened, but unfortunately she was trapped into the topic. What worried Annabeth more was that she could barely remember anything from the party. 

But what she could remember, annoyingly, was Percy dropping her off home, and the new unfamiliar feeling in her chest that just wouldn’t go away. 

“You didn’t say anything embarrassing, don’t worry.” Percy gently bumped his knee against hers from across the table. And it reminded Annabeth of the first time they sat together at lunch.

She had no idea how to feel about this new dynamic she had developed with everyone, she wasn’t even sure if they’d consider her a friend. But she knew she couldn’t get too attached to this life, because it was only a matter of time before reality took over and the agreement tying her to the group came to an end.

Charles wiped his mouth. “I don’t know about you guys, but the highlight of my night was Clarisse asking for a rematch. Like getting her ass kicked once wasn’t enough.” He pulled out his phone, smirking. “Want to see the video? She looks like she’s about to start swinging right then and there.”

“Shut the fuck up, Beckendorf.” Clarisse leaned over the table, reaching for the phone.

Charles stretched his hand high above his head, just far enough to keep it out of reach. “I’ll only play the first ten seconds, I swear.” 

“NO!” 

“What’s the point of us going out if I can’t play the fucking videos.” Charles pressed play. 

“YOU’RE SUCH A DICK!”

Grover rolled his eyes, and looked up from his sketchbook. “Children, please.” He waved a hand at the two of them. “Can you stop… doing whatever this is? I’m trying to finish my drawing in peace, which is impossible when the table’s shaking like we’re in the middle of a fucking earthquake.”

“Grover record this.” Clarisse instructed. “I want a memory for when I beat him up.” She cracked her knuckles.

Charles scoffed. “You wish. I could send you flying across this room with a swat of my hand.” 

“Yeah well I’ll—”

The bell rang, indicating the end of lunch.

Grover looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. “Thank. You. Gods.” 

Annabeth said her goodbyes and headed to her AP Physics class. She spotted Thalia instantly, dark hair and leather jacket, perched on her desk in the center of the classroom. Annabeth slid into the chair to her side, laying her notebook out on the surface.

“Where have you been?” Thalia narrowed her eyes.

“The cafeteria.”

“Oh, so you hang out at the cafeteria now?”

“Sometimes.”

“I saw you speaking to Clarisse the other day.”

Annabeth shot her a blank stare. “Yeah? Is there something wrong with that?”

“She can be violent, Annie. You could get hurt.”

“What are you even saying?”

“She’s always getting into arguments, and practically uses people as punching bags.” 

“She’s not that bad.” Annabeth shrugged. “I actually beat her in a match last week.”

Thalia’s eyes grew wide. “You got into a fight?!”

“We were sparring. It was very much consensual.” 

“Let me take a wild guess, Jackson was there too.”

Annabeth’s confusion was replaced with disbelief. “What does Percy have to do with any of this? And why are you already angry at everything? I just got here.”

Thalia blinked hard. She appeared uncomfortable. “Okay, fine. I’m sorry if I sound mad. I promise, I’m not.” She sighed. “I’m just looking out for you.”

“You’ve been saying that a lot lately.”

“Because it’s the truth.” Thalia leaned in close and whispered, “What happens if this is just like last time? What happens if he’s just like–”

“Don’t.” Annabeth held her hand up. “He’s not like him, Thals. He’s just not.” 

Never in her life did Annabeth think she’d be the one standing up for Percy Jackson. But she refused to believe that he was anything other than genuine.

Thalia scratched her head in irritation. “I really don’t want to see you get hurt. And I’m being serious. This isn’t even me trying to be patronizing, this is me trying to be a good friend… a good sister.”

Thalia had always been Annabeth’s protector. The one person who would always, no matter what, have her back. For years they only had each other, and to most people being surrounded by the same person every day might feel lonely, but to Annabeth, it was perfect. They didn’t need anyone else. It was just them and a dream to get out of this school.

Deep down, she knew that Thalia was really just keeping an eye on her, she was making sure history didn’t repeat itself. So, in all honesty it was hard to be mad.

“I’m okay, Thals.” Annabeth said gently. “They’ve actually been really nice to me, and it’s all part of the agreement we made.” She smoothed out a clean page in front of her. “Besides, if it makes you feel better, you’re the first person I’d go to if shit hits the fan.”

A sincere smile tugged at Thalia’s face, and then mischief covered her features. “So… you beat Clarisse in a match?”

Annabeth laughed. “Yeah, I did. And I used one of the moves you taught me.”

“That’s my girl.” 

For the rest of class, they would exchange the occasional weird look whenever the teacher messed up an equation or googled an answer. It was a standard lesson that ran over until the end of the day, and once the final bell rang, Annabeth packed up her things and merged into the traffic of people rushing out of the hallway.

Thalia fell into step beside her. “Wanna hang out tonight? I finish band practice an hour early, so I could go to yours straight after? We can get a takeaway and binge-watch a crappy show.” 

“That sounds great…” Annabeth took a breath, “but I can’t. I have a big debate coming up this week, and I haven’t done any research yet.”

“What’s the topic?”

“Sports,” She deadpanned.

Thalia tried, and failed, to hide a laugh. “Wow, you sound really excited.”

Annabeth shoved her shoulder lightly. “No, I am. I actually love sports. But we’ve never had a topic on it before, so I have to build my sources from scratch.”

“And I’m assuming you’re heading to the library right now.”

“That would be correct. I found a couple books that could help.” Annabeth stopped walking once the hallway divided into two directions. “I’m sorry I can’t do tonight, but I swear I should be free another da—.”

“Don’t stress. You’re busy, and I can’t imagine being as smart as you is easy.” Thalia took a step towards the right corridor. “But, Annie, it’s okay to take breaks, you know.”

“Yes, Mom.” She rolled her eyes and strolled to the left corridor. 

Her legs moved on autopilot while her mind raced a variety of arguments for the debate. For most students, preparing and researching for assignments might be stressful, but for Annabeth, the thrill of studying was irreplaceable. The excitement of discovering new information and having the confidence to talk about it for hours was what kept her motivated. She never wanted to stop learning.

She weaved to the back shelves of the library, her fingers traced along the spines of the books. Her eyes scanned expertly for the specific works she was looking for. When she spotted them, she made a quiet noise of triumph. Annabeth picked up four books, and checked them out, before slotting two of them in her bag and resting the other two in her arms. 

She plugged her earphones and pressed shuffle on her playlist. With the corridors still crowded, she veered towards the outside walk, looping around the gyms to the back of the car park. Her car was in sight, but something made her stop. 

The sound of splashing water and distant cheering echoed from one of the buildings. Annabeth glanced through the open doorway, where the school’s pool came into view, surrounded by members of the boys swim team. Curiosity tugged her closer, until she was directly in front of the natatorium. 

Inside, two swimmers raced down the lanes, cutting through the water in perfect form. 

This definitely isn’t a meet.

Only a few students were scattered around the edge and sat in the stands. It looked more like a practice. A very unserious practice. 

One of the swimmers touched the far end of the pool, and a boy standing on the edge threw his fists into the air, cheering loudly. “And we have a winner ladies and gentlemen. You know him, you love him, and you definitely wanna be him. It’s Percy freaking Jackson.”

Annabeth stilled at the sound of his name.

And just like that, Percy surfaced from the water, peeling off his swim cap and goggles. He turned to the boy who had finished just behind him in the other lane and let out a low laugh, shaking his head. “Dinner’s on you, buddy.”

Beside him, the swimmer followed suit, removing his swim cap and goggles. It was Charles. “I knew we should’ve done breaststroke. I always beat you at breaststroke.” 

“Uh-uh.” Percy wagged a finger. “Don’t be a sore loser now.”

Despite himself, Charles started laughing and splashing him playfully. 

As the boys exited the pool, Percy received numerous pats on the back from his teammates. He was smiling and fondly rolling his eyes at their comments. He looked happy. Really happy. And Annabeth felt a sense of softness watching him joke around with his fellow athletes. 

Percy glanced back at the pool, and just as he was about to look away, his eyes locked with hers. A wave of panic washed over her body as she realized how creepy she must look standing there. She wanted to leave, but every muscle in her body tensed. All she could do was watch as he excused himself from the group and made his way to her side of the pool. 

Oh, fuck. 

What is he doing?

Percy moved casually, as if seeing her was something he’d always done. When he was only inches away, he didn’t say anything. He just lifted his hand towards her face, and for a split second, Annabeth was almost certain he was going to brush her cheek. 

She braced herself for his touch, wondering if his fingers would feel as light as they did when he was tracing patterns onto her back in her bathroom.

But instead, he gently removed one of her earphones and placed it into his ear. Silently, he watched her before clearing his throat. “No classical music today?”

Her heart was beating unbelievably fast, and she couldn’t tell whether it was because of how gentle his voice sounded or of the heat radiating from his upper body. She fought every intrusive thought urging her to look down at his tanned shoulders and chest.

“Uh, no.” Annabeth answered, suddenly noticing her music was still playing. 

“‘Don’t Know Why’ by Norah Jones?” Percy nodded slightly to the beat of the song. “So you like listening to classical and a bit of jazz?” A smirk grew on his lips. “You really are an old soul.”

Annabeth mirrored his smirk and raised a surprised brow. “You know this song?”

“Of course I do.”

She gave him a mock glare. “I would have never guessed you were the type to listen to jazz.”

“It's more of a mix between pop and jazz, don’t you think? Different elements of everything put into one.”

“Still.”

“My mom loves this song. It would always be playing in the car whenever she’d drop me off at school.” Percy tilted his head to the side. “Why are you so surprised?”

“No reason.” She hummed. “I was just expecting you to strictly only listen to rap songs 24/7.”

Percy gasped and dramatically slapped his hand on his heart. “You wound me, Beth.”

There it is, again. 

The nickname. 

She made her brain focus on something else. Anything else. And that’s when she noticed the swim cap and goggles still in his hand. “I’ve never actually seen you swim before today. I mean, I’ve heard stories and seen a couple videos, but this is the first time I’ve watched you in your natural habitat.”

“I probably wasted your first impression by messing about before practice.” Percy said, grinning. “I promise I look way cooler during actual competitions.” 

“Don’t be stupid. You were slicing through the water at an insane speed, and you guys were just fucking around. I think that’s as good a first impression as it gets.”

“Hmm. You almost sound impressed.” He wiggled his eyebrows. 

“Over my dead body.”

“The offer still stands, you know. You could always come to one of my meets. No pressure, but it might be fun. Operation Socialization, am I right?”

Annabeth gave him an amused look. “Are you sure this is about me socializing, and not just you wanting to show off your freaky waterbending skills?” 

“Can it not be a little bit of both?” 

“I should have seen this coming.”

Percy gave her his biggest grin, before rocking back and forth on his heels. “Not that I’m complaining, but is there a specific reason why you’re watching my swim practice? Or are you just here to see a bunch of shirtless guys?”

Annabeth shoved his shoulder. “Gross.”

“Right, gross.” Percy shot her a wink.

She shook her head. “For your information I just came from the library.” Her hands waved the two books in front of him.

“Without me? Ouch. I thought that was our sacred place.” Percy tutted. “You’re really not holding back today, are you?

“Just because we have tutor sessions there once a week doesn’t mean it’s our sacred place.”

“Sure.” His attention shifted to the research in her hands. “So, why exactly are you holding books about high school sports?”

“I have a debate this week, and it’s all about whether competitive youth sports do more harm than good.”

“Right. Clearly, you’ve got enough reading to keep you occupied.” Thoughtfully, he tapped a finger on the cover of the book. “Although, knowing you, I’m sure you already have your arguments prepared.”

“Obviously, but I need evidence to back it up. Hence, the mini collection I’m bringing home.”

“Need some help reading through all that?”

“From you?” She snickered. “No thanks. If anything you’d make my studying ten times longer with your seaweed brain.”

“My what?”

“You heard me. Your brain that’s clogged by all that seaweed you get from swimming.”

Percy looked left and right. “You know we’re at a school pool, right? There’s no seaweed here.”

“It was a joke, Jackson.”

“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up on it. I’m not used to hearing you ‘joke’, and that was a pretty weak attempt.” 

“Whatever.” 

Annabeth zoned out momentarily with Norah Jones’ voice in the background. Neither of them moved. Neither of them looked away. It was as if there wasn’t a whole team of swimmers waiting on the other side of the building for their captain to return. But Annabeth couldn’t care less, because at that moment that weird feeling she’d been experiencing since the party was returning. 

She blinked quickly, snapping out of her trance. “Uh, I forgot to tell you at lunch, but I won’t be able to tutor on Thursday.”

“You’ve got plans?”

“Something like that.”

“Damn, already replacing me, Chase.”

He’s joking Annabeth, breathe, for god’s sake. 

She tried to find a solution. “We can reschedule for another day, or we can do some work at lunch? Although, I know you’d probably hate that.”

“I’ll tell you what, let’s just take this week off. You seem busy and I know your mind’s probably running a hundred miles an hour right now.”

“Are you sure? I really don’t mind doing another tim—”

“JACKSON!” Mr D yelled from the stands, his arms crossed over his chest. He was definitely not impressed that his best swimmer was avoiding training to speak to a girl. “YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO WRAP UP YOUR CONVERSATION BEFORE I DO IT MYSELF!”

A brunette boy, treading water, shot the pair a large smile. “He can’t help it, Coach. Once his charm’s turned on it’s almost impossible for the ladies to look away.”

“Ignore him.” Percy shifted to the side, blocking Annabeth’s view from the team. “So, I’ll just see you in Spanish?”

“I suppose you will.”

“Well then, happy studying.” He gently returned the earbud into her ear, and dived into the pool.

Chapter Text

“Keep your feet in first position, and then plié.” Annabeth walked around the ballet studio, assessing all her 5-year-old students. “Very good, Kelly. Just make sure your head is looking straight… like that. That’s perfect.”

It was Thursday evening, and Annabeth had walked straight from Goode High to her old dance school. Her former ballet teacher had called her earlier in the week, asking if she could cover some classes due to staff shortages. As much as Annabeth loved teaching young kids to dance, she’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss her bed.

“Your pliés in first position are looking really good guys. Can we try moving our feet to second?” She demonstrated in front of the class. Separating her standing position further apart. “And we’re going to bend our knees again.”

She made her way across the room to each student, giving them pointers while trying her best to be encouraging. In the far corner, a small blonde girl was trying her hardest to perfect the move, her brow furrowed in determination. But no matter what, she kept wobbling.

“I can’t do it, Miss Annabeth. It’s impossible.” The little girl sighed and dropped her shoulders.

Annabeth stood next to her, demonstrating the move again, slowly. “When I first started ballet, I was also very bad at keeping my balance.” She said softly. “But my dance teacher taught me a little secret.” She leaned in and whispered. “If I tell you the secret, do you think you can keep it just between us?”

The girl nodded eagerly. 

Annabeth smiled. “Sometimes it helps to think of going up before you bend your knees down. Imagine you’re like a puppet, and someone’s holding you up with strings, lifting you just a little before lowering you down. That keeps your back straight and your body facing forward.” She demonstrated again. “The only part of you that should be moving is your legs. Everything else is kind of frozen. You try.”

The girl turned back to the mirror and focused hard on the advice she’d been given. “Okay, I’m a puppet, and my legs are the only thing that can move.” And just like that she executed a perfect plié in second position.

Annabeth beamed at her, and offered a high five. 

For years of her life she had spent everyday in this very studio, just like all these other kids, practicing the same moves over and over again. It was exhausting but all the while rewarding. The way her muscles ached and she let the music take over her body. It was all so normal to Annabeth. And watching over all the young ballerinas struck her with nostalgia. 

She moved back to the front, and checked her phone for the time. “Unfortunately, our lesson has come to an end.”

“AWW!” The children replied in unison.

“I know, I know. I wish we could stay here forever. But thank you for a wonderful class. You were all amazing.” She extended her leg and transferred her weight into a graceful curtsy. “Once I call your name for attendance, you’re free to leave.” Picking up a piece of paper and pen, she started checking off names one by one.

“Sara Martin… Ellie Brown… Hayden Williamson… Bella Ross… Millie Gray… Tara Reed… and Estelle Jac—”

Her eyes shot up from the paper as the name clicked. Flashbacks of her first tutoring session rushed into her mind: ‘My little sister loved that waltz, it’s the whole reason she started doing dance classes’. 

And sure enough standing right in front of her, was Estelle Jackson-Blofis.

She was the little girl who needed help with her balance.

The little girl she shared a dance secret with.

The little girl she’d been teaching for the past hour without realizing she was Percy Jackson’s sister. 

But now that Annabeth was really looking, the resemblance was clear. The curly blonde hair, that was a few shades lighter than Percy’s. The bright sky-blue eyes. The dusting of freckles covering her nose.

“Uh… it’s okay Estelle. I’ve marked your name, you can meet with your mom outside.”

“Oh, Mommy isn’t picking me up today.” Estelle said cheerfully. “She’s busy at work. But my brother should be here soon.”

Annabeth nearly choked on air. 

Literal air.

Somehow, the idea of Percy being at her old dance studio was more horrifying than him being at Circe’s Diner. 

“Right.” She tried to say it as naturally as possible, hoping the 5-year-old wouldn’t notice her sudden stiffness. “Do you know if he’s arriving soon?”

“Nope.” Estelle gave an innocent smile. “He’s usually late.”

“I’m starting to see that.” Annabeth picked at her chipped nail polish, unsure of what to say. So, she settled on the one topic she knew best. “Do you have any homework you need to do?”

Do 5-year-olds even get homework? Annabeth couldn’t remember, and judging by Estelle’s lack of a reaction she couldn’t either.

She tried a different approach. “I mean, do you have anything to keep you busy? Like a colouring book, or maybe a toy?”

“Those are at home.”

“Oh. What about a snack? Did you bring any food with you?”

Estelle shook her head. “I ate my sandwich and fruit earlier.” 

“I see.”

“Can you teach me another move?” The little girl burst out. “Maybe something harder?”

Annabeth subconsciously straightened her black mesh wrap-ballet-skirt, and adjusted the straps of her matching black leotard. “Yeah… sure. Do you have anything specific in mind?”

Estelle bit her bottom lip, deep in thought. “Ooo, I know, that spinning thing you do.”

“Turns?”

“Yes, those.”

“Okay.” Annabeth made her way into the center of the room, bracing herself in an open fourth position. She waited for Estelle to copy, before proceeding to place her arms in third position. Bending her knees slightly, she used the momentum to execute a single pirouette. Estelle tried to mimic the motion, but her turn ended with wide arms and both legs straight. 

“Don’t worry,” Annabeth said with a reassuring smile. “It takes years of practice.”

Estelle attempted the move again and again and again, until she finally gave up. “What other turns can you do? Can you show me all of them?” 

“I don’t think we have time for all of them.”

Estelle’s eyes turned sad, causing a wave of guilt to wash over Annabeth.

“But I can show you my favourite.” 

“Yes, please.” The little girl sat with her back against the mirror, watching intently.

Annabeth did the same preparation as before, but instead of lifting into a pirouette, she started doing à la Seconde Turns. It was muscle memory, every part of her body knowing exactly what angles to hit. Her head spotted the same area, over and over again. She found it refreshing letting herself go and just enjoying the moment. 

In the end, she finished with a couple pirouettes, before facing Estelle.

Her student clapped in awe, her grin never wavering. “That was so cool! One day, I want to learn to do that! I want to be just as good as you!”

“I guarantee you will be better.” Annabeth replied, earnestly.

Suddenly, someone else’s clap echoed in the room.

She turned around to find Percy standing by the wall, leaning against the doorframe. 

How long had he been watching? 

His typical smile played on his lips, and his hair was damp, most likely from swimming.

“PERCYYY!” Estelle ran into his arms, and enveloped him in a massive bear hug. 

“Well, hello.”  He picked her up, squeezing just as hard. “I’ve missed you too, little one.”

Annabeth’s heart felt like it might burst. She always knew Percy was close with his sister, but she had never realized how much he truly cared for her. It was really, really adorable. 

“Did you see Miss Annabeth’s turns? They’re amazing!”

“I did.” He carefully lowered her back to the ground. “She is pretty amazing, isn’t she?” Percy shifted his glance to Annabeth. “I also had no idea she teaches you.”

“I usually don't.” Annabeth shrugged. “I’m just covering today.”

“So, this is why you were too busy to tutor?”

“Mhm.”

Percy tilted his head and smirked. “Seems like fate keeps crossing our paths.”

“Seems like you don’t know what punctuality means.” She ignored his last comment.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I thought I could squeeze in a quick swim, but I didn’t consider the traffic.”

“Right.” Annabeth tidied up her belongings, and tucked the attendance sheet into the folder at the front of the room. She quickly put on some baggy sweatpants, and threw a black fleece on top of her leotard. 

“Where did you park your car?” Percy asked. 

She focused on tying her shoelaces. “I walked from school.” 

“You’re going to walk all the way home?”

“That is the plan, yes.”

“It’s getting dark, Beth. And that’s at least 40 minutes.”

She stood up. “I’ve made the trek many times before. I’ll be fine.” 

“Let me make it up to you… for being late, I mean. I’ll give you a lift home.” 

Estelle jumped up and down. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Can we drive you home?”

“Oh no, that won’t be necessary.” Annabeth shook her head.

“Please! It will be so much fun!” Estelle had a rush of new energy and stared at her teacher so lovingly that it was hard to look past it.

Annabeth threw her bag over her shoulder, eyes flicking between the two siblings. She'd lost this battle. “Alright, but only because Estelle asked so nicely.” She gave her a genuine smile.

“Aha!” The little girl pointed at her brother. “She likes me more than you!”

“That’s definitely true. No doubt.” Percy picked up his sister’s bag, and held her hand. “Come on, let’s not keep Miss Beth waiting.”

This is a terrible idea.

During the entire walk to the car, the only thing Annabeth could focus on was the soft smile that played on Percy’s face every time he’d swing Estelle’s hand high enough that she’d lift slightly off the ground. He dropped her bag in the trunk of the car, and made sure her seatbelt was on properly. 

It was kind of endearing. 

As he started the engine he turned around to face her one more time. “Is Miss Jackson-Blofis ready for takeoff?”

Estelle wiggled side to side in the middle back seat. “LET’S GO!”

Annabeth couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head slightly, causing Percy to face her. 

“What’s so funny?” He asked, his lips curved upward.

“Nothing.” She forced her mouth shut, but gave up. “It’s just, I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.”

“Care to be more specific?”

“How scary similar you two are.”

He reversed the car onto the road. “Clearly, my mom’s genes are too strong to compete with. We get our coolness from her.” He shot his sister a wink from the rearview mirror.

“I don’t know if I’d consider you cool.” Annabeth tilted her head. “People just seem to think you're charismatic.”

“By ‘people’, you mean you.”

“Never.”

“Oh, come on, Beth. Just admit it. I’ve grown on you.”

She suddenly became fixated on the moving houses outside her window. The car ride reminded her of the drive to the party, the moments they shared just the two of them. She questioned whether what he was saying was true. Maybe the indescribable feeling growing in her chest was the hatred for Percy beginning to fade. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as she thought he was. 

“Only by this much.” She finally answered, holding her index finger just barely above her thumb. 

He grinned like he won a new gold medal. “I’ll take it.” 

“I think Miss Annabeth is cooler.” Estelle added from behind. “She can spin really fast and do high jumps.”

“Why, thank you, Estelle. I’m glad at least one of you is aware of this.” She shot Percy a glare.

“What about me?” He directed his question to his sister. “I thought I was really awesome.”

“You are… sometimes. When you get me chocolate ice cream.”

Annabeth bit back a smile at the memory of Percy coming into Circe’s Diner and asking for two scoops. “You know technically, I was the one who prepared your ice cream. So if we’re following the rules, that means I get double points.”

“There’s no handbook on how this works.” He rolled his eyes. “And for your information, I was the one who paid for it. So technically those points are still mine.”

“I’ll tell you what, those points can officially be yours once you pass a Spanish test.” 

He looked at her for a brief second, his smirk still evident. “Touché, Chase. Touché.”

Estelle leaned forward in her seat. “How do you two know each other?” Her eyes were large and innocent, she almost looked like a doll.

Annabeth glanced at Percy. “You wanna take this one?”

“No, be my guest. I’d love to hear your side of the story.” 

She turned around to look at the little girl. “We met at school.”

Percy laughed. “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna give her?” 

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know, maybe something with a bit more detail.”

“Fine." Annabeth sighed. "We’ve gone to the same school since we were 12, but recently got seated next to each other in Spanish. I don’t know if you’re aware of this,” she leaned closer to Estelle, pretending to whisper, “but your brother is terrible at learning the language. And when I say terrible, I mean literally useless.”

Estelle giggled.

Percy swatted Annabeth’s arm, lightly. “Hey! No need to make me look completely stupid.”

“I thought you wanted more details?”

“Whatever. Continue.”

She tapped her index finger thoughtfully on her leg. “Well, I do remember your brother attempting to get to know me—”

“I was trying to be civil.” Percy butted in.

“—he pretty much wouldn’t stop asking me questions. His mouth is constantly moving. I mean, have you ever heard him shut up for more than one minute? Not to mention he would always disturb me when I was trying to work.”

“You’d be writing notes for a lesson that hadn’t even happened yet.”

“And you would still bother me.” She rested her head against the seat, reminiscing. “He would come into class with the same dumb smirk on his face, like he knew he was about to ruin my day. And I promise you, he doesn’t know the first thing about being a good seating partner. Every single worksheet, he’d just steal my answers. Wouldn’t even bother asking half the time. And when I started tutoring him, most of the session was just us talking about irrelevant stuff, things I have no idea how he managed to slip into the conversation.”

Annabeth met Estelle’s eyes, the blonde girl was paying all her attention to her. 

“Did you know that your brother practically lives in his swim hoodie? He rarely takes it off, and I guarantee if someone tried to steal it from him, he’d probably attack them. Like, physically attack. Bite them, even. And honestly? I wouldn’t be surprised. Because when he’s passionate about something, he has this look in his eyes, like nothing else matters. And to him, swimming does that. So, if someone tried to take his most prized possession…” She shrugged, eyes softening. “Then dammit, I’d probably attack them too. ”

Estelle smiled, and that was all the motivation Annabeth needed to continue.

“But sometimes, and when I say sometimes I mean sometimes, your brother can be… tolerable. He’ll do things like play games with you at work to pass time, or take care of you after throwing your guts up. He’ll introduce you to his friends so you don’t have to sit alone at lunch, or listen to your music, the kind that only  ‘old people’ listen to, and not judge you. So really…” She paused. “He’s not that bad.”

Annabeth turned to Percy. 

They were waiting at a stop light, the gentle glow of the red light accentuating his face. His eyes were glued on hers with a kind of tenderness that felt like he was staring right through her flesh and straight into her heart.

“You’re ruining my bad boy reputation.” He said quietly.

“I don’t think you had one to begin with.”

“So, I’m just some dorky swimmer who can’t pass Mrs Dodds’ class?”

“Always.” 

“Well, shit. How am I meant to impress you now?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way.” She whispered.

“Oh, yeah?”

What the fuck am I doing? 

I should not be in his car.

Annabeth gulped, and watched as the red light flashed green. She stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the feeling of Percy’s gaze locked onto her. 

Eventually, he accelerated and carried on driving. The radio played softly in the background, only the quietest of hums could be heard. She closed her eyes to regain control of the overwhelming sensation spreading in her ribs.

One deep breath. Two deep breaths. Three deep breaths.

She opened the window, appreciating the breeze filling the car. Her skin cooled, and her mind cleared. But this peace was interrupted when Percy took a sharp left.

Estelle waved her arms in the air. “WEEE!!” 

Annabeth’s eyes shot open as she reached for the grab handle above her head. “What the fuck are you doing? That was a safety hazard!”

“First of all—” He nodded his head towards his sibling in the back seat, “Language. Secondly, lighten up, Wise Girl. I’m just trying to make things more exciting.”

What he was really trying to do was make the atmosphere less loaded. Annabeth knew Percy used humor to dodge certain situations, the same way she shuts down when things get too real.

“Nothing will be exciting if we’re all dead.” Her other hand squeezed the side of her seat.

Percy grinned wildly at the road. “I’m a great driver, nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, well, that makes me feel so much better.”

“Really?”

“No.”

And just like that, they were back to their usual dynamic. As if the previous moments had never taken place. As if they weren’t just staring into each other’s eyes like two idiots reflecting on how they met. 

Estelle’s laugh broke through the car. “Percy always makes things exciting. Like when we’re eating pizza he’ll always cut my slices into funny shapes.”

He gave her a grin through the rearview mirror. 

“Didn’t realize you were an artist,” Annabeth bantered. “How come you’ve never offered me fun shaped pizza?”

He shrugged.

“What kind of shapes does he make?” She asked Estelle.

“Flowers, tiaras, and sometimes cute bunnies.”

“Is that so?” Annabeth gave him a teasing glimpse. “Do you do birthday parties too?”

“You’re hilarious, really.” Percy replied, monotone. “Don’t be jealous just cause you have boring meals and haven’t experienced a Jackson special.”

“It’s a shame, you just caught my interest.”

“Well then, maybe, you should consider having dinner with us some time.”

He’s not being serious, Annabeth.

Relax.

It’s just another one of his dumb jokes.

Clearly, Estelle thought it was anything but a joke. “That would be amazing! We can have flower-shaped pizzas, watch movies, make hot chocolate, and have loads of ice cream!”

“Woah, there.” Percy nervously laughed. “It was just a suggestion, Stell.” His eyes focused on the road ahead. “Miss Beth’s a pretty busy girl, she might not even want to come over to hang out, let alone have dinner.”

“I’m down.” Annabeth swears she has no recollection of her lips even parting to speak, but it was like her body just took over. “Uh… I mean… obviously not tonight.” She awkwardly laughed. “But, I don’t know… it doesn’t sound like a horrible idea.” Her eyes grew wide. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

Her mind raced ahead. She imagined what the Jackson-Blofis home would look like… warm and welcoming, and probably a little chaotic. She thought about how strangely normal she felt around Percy, and wondered if the same applied to his whole family. And then it dawned on her what she had just said.

Fuck.

I basically just invited myself to their house.

Why did I do that??!

He looked taken aback, as if her agreeing to his made-up suggestion was completely absurd, which honestly, was a valid reaction since even Annabeth knew it was out of character for her.

“Yeah, sure. You can come over whenever… I mean— just to hangout, obviously.” He panicked slightly, his words falling quicker. “Grover does it all the time, and so does Clarisse. A lot of the swim team come after practice too, including Charles. So my family’s pretty used to it.”

“I’m aware you have many friends, Jackson. You don’t need to list every single one of them.”

“Got it.”

The rest of the ride to her house was in silence. Annabeth knew they were both thinking the same thing, and she tried her best to avert her attention to schoolwork or her art project. But it was no use, she was a lost cause. No amount of diverting could distract her from the horror that had just escaped her mouth. 

For fuck’s sake. 

He didn’t actually mean it. 

Why did you take it seriously?

Once they arrived at her house, Percy instructed Estelle to stay in the car while he walked Annabeth to the porch.

They moved side by side, and stopped once they reached her front door. 

She focused on her shoes digging into the wooden panels. “Uh, thanks for giving me a lift. I really appreciate it.”

“No worries.” Percy stood, fidgeting with his car keys. “Sorry about being late again. If I knew you were teaching I wouldn’t have left you waiting that long.”

“It was like 10 minutes, it’s fine.” She was about to open the door before her hand dropped to her side. “I also should apologize for making things awkward back there. I know we were just joking around. The comment kind of just slipped ou—”

“Beth.” His shoulders relaxed. “I didn’t say it as a joke.”

Her breath caught. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” Percy looked at her for the first time since they’d left the car. “It was partially a sarcastic suggestion, but that’s only because I didn’t want to scare you away.”

The dim flicker of the porch light was the only thing making him visible. It was also the only thing she could concentrate on while she processed what he was saying.

“I know making friends is something you don’t find the easiest, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.” He offered a small smile. “So, I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable by suggesting a one-on-one hangout. I mean, we definitely don’t have to. We can stick to group events. But just know, we can also do something more chill and less intense, like eat bunny-shaped pizzas if you’d prefer.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes, a smile forming on her lips. She thought about it for a second. “Well, it would be rude to say no, wouldn’t it?”

He held his hands up. “Hey, no hard feelings if you do.”

She looked through the window, inside of her house, and saw Helen sat at the dining table with her laptop and folders splayed out in front of her. The twins were eating their food on the opposite end, without muttering a word, and as usual her father was nowhere to be seen. They looked so lifeless, like a frozen image. 

“I’ll think about it.” She nodded.

“So, that’s a yes?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t say no either.” 

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll change my mind.”

“I promise I’ll make you the best fun-shaped pizzas you’ve ever had in your life.”

Annabeth scoffed. “I haven’t even given you a definite answer yet.”

“Shh.” He hovered a finger over his lips. “Don’t ruin my moment.”

Chapter Text

1:30 PM

Annabeth double checked the address written on her phone. She did a quick 360 turn and then triple checked the message. It was mid September and the air was getting chillier as she wrapped her cardigan tighter around her body. She stood on a busy street in Manhattan, chewing the inside of her cheek, unsure of how much longer she should wait for him. 

Last night, Percy had texted her saying that they should take another step in Operation Socialization. They had been so caught up with school work and training, that neither of them had really had time to organize anything. Until, he came up with a plan to go around the city today. Percy emphasized how he would handle everything, and just gave her a location to meet him.

Annabeth took a step back, leaning against one of the buildings, away from the growing crowd. She scratched her forehead and tapped her foot impatiently on the concrete. 

“Beth!” 

She whipped around to see a mop of blonde hair moving towards her. And there he was, in all his glory, Percy fucking Jackson. 

“You’re late. Again.” 

“I know, I know. And I apologize… again.” He gave a sheepish smile, and tilted his head.

What a dork.

“Why are you always late?” 

Percy ran a hand along his jaw. “I had to find an ATM. This place usually prefers cash.” 

Oh.

“Don’t make me feel bad.”

He chuckled. “I’m not trying to.”

Annabeth shoved her hands in her pockets. “So, when does everyone else get here?”

“Hm?”

“You know… Grover… Clarisse … Charles?”

Percy nodded, slowly glancing around. “Yeah, about that. I probably should have mentioned—”

“What did you do?”

“It’s just us today.”

“What?!” Annabeth gawked at him, completely stunned. “Why aren’t they coming? Did they cancel?”

“Not exactly.” He drummed his fingers on his jeans. “You see, I didn’t exactly invite them.”

“You’ve got to be joking.” Her eyebrows drew together. “What’s the point of Operation Socialization, if you’re the only one I’m socializing with.”

“So I see that I’ve misread the situation.” He winced. “I just thought since we were talking about one-on-one hangouts last month, you’d be okay with this.”

“Well yeah, I did say that.” She internally slapped herself. “But I assumed you meant in your house. Or somewhere more… I don’t know… private.” 

“I didn’t want to bore you by watching TV all day.”

“You said a chill hang out. Not this.” She gestured to the loud streets. “We’re basically on a date.”

Percy’s eyebrows shot up, as his head jolted forward. And she swore his cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. “I… I never said this was a date.” 

“I know.” She crossed her arms. “I’m just saying, if people from school see us, they’ll definitely think something’s going on. And I thought you hate that kind of attention.”

“Okay.” He said, holding up his hands. “I’ll admit, this was very badly executed on my part. But I don’t care if people make up dumb rumors about us. I promise, I’ll shut it down straight away if it makes you feel better.”

Annabeth thought about how Percy was known as the biggest “player” in school. She imagined her name was probably being added to some stupid list right now. But deep down, she knew the things people said about him weren’t true. They couldn’t be further from the truth, because never once had Percy made her feel like he was just using her for her body.

The craziest thing was Annabeth didn’t feel disgusted by the fact that this might be considered a date. What really scared her were the rumors people would make up about her. Calling her a whore. A slut. Just for hanging out with Goode High’s number one heartthrob.

“No, it’s fine. People can think what they want to.” She bit her bottom lip. “We both know what’s really happening, and that’s all that matters.”

“Cool.” He moved forward, waiting for her to fall in step beside him.

“Uh, so where exactly are we going? You haven’t actually explained what’s happening here.”

“All will be revealed in a few minutes. Let me work my magic first.” Percy waved his hands across his face, attempting to appear mysterious.

“Gods, help me.” 

They walked for another six minutes. The streets of Manhattan were packed to an almost unbearable amount. Annabeth could only hope that she wouldn’t lose sight of him leading the way, because in all honesty she couldn’t remember the last time she just wandered around this area for fun. 

That’s a lie.

She remembered exactly the last time she was here. 

It was a year ago with Thalia and Silena, when they had all the time in the world to just stuff their faces with ice cream and pick random outfits for each other. They would finish the day off with a movie marathon at one of their houses and everything about it was just perfect. 

Lately, things had changed. Thalia was busy with her band, Silena was busy with organizing social events, and Annabeth was busy doing whatever this is right now. 

Stopping abruptly in front of her, Percy froze, causing Annabeth to slam her cheek against his back.

“We’re here.” He cheered.

She rubbed the space between her cheekbone and jaw, blinking rapidly. “Fuck. I think you broke my face.” 

“Your face looks perfectly fine to me. Same as always. Still grumpy.” He gave a cheesy thumbs up, and Annabeth didn’t even try to hide her eye roll.

She glanced up at the building he was facing and registered where they were. “You’re taking me to an aquarium?” 

“Mhm, that’s the plan.” 

“So, this love for water goes way back?”

“Yep.” Never once did his smile falter. “This is one of my favourite places to take Estelle. She loves it here. And I thought it would be a great way to start the day off.”

“You mean there’s more places on your list?”

“Oh, Beth. You have no idea how much I’ve thought this through.” He gave her a small pat on the head before leading her towards the entrance.

2:30 PM

An hour had passed, and the pair were observing the fourth tank that covered an entire wall.

“Did you know fossils have proven stingrays date back all the way to the Jurassic period, 150 million years ago?”

Annabeth gave an amused smirk. “Did you do some research before coming today?”

“No.” Percy tapped a finger to his temple. “I’m just a lot smarter than people give me credit for.” His gaze averted to something behind her. “And… I can also read the ‘Fun Fact’ boards they put up for kids.” 

She followed his eyes to see a small board plastered next to the tank with the exact same information Percy had announced. “And here I was thinking that you might actually have an average IQ.”

He gasped. “How dare you.”

Annabeth shook her head, a laugh escaping her lips. 

Percy watched her intently and then cleared his throat. “You give me one.”

“Hm?”

“A fact. I know you have millions lined up, so go ahead. The floor’s all yours.” He stretched his arm out for her to take the lead.

She bit her lip, trying to remember the last time someone wanted to listen to her ramble about random pieces of information she had stored in her brain. She was so used to her brothers telling her to shut up, that it almost felt strange to be given this much freedom. 

“Okay, did you know that when wounded by the venom from a stingrays’ tail, the pain can last up to 48 hours? Tiny parts of their spine can remain in a person’s body causing severe health hazards like infections or possibly death.” She scrunched up her nose and sighed. “Sorry, that’s kind of a boring one.”

“No, I like it.” Percy said quickly, reassuring. “Very educational.”

“Well how about this?” Annabeth focused on the water. “Stingrays have superpowers.”

“What? No way!”

“Way.” She smiled at his excitement. “They have this special sense that helps them detect smaller electrical signals that other animals give off. It’s called Ampullae of Lorenzini, and they’re located around the head. It helps them hunt for their next meal.”

“So, a sixth sense like Spiderman?”

Annabeth laughed. “Yes, Percy. Like Spiderman.”

“Awesome.” 

He looked like a little kid being told he could have breakfast for dinner, and it caused a funny feeling to swirl around Annabeth’s body. He seemed so at home and comfortable, leading her to all the different rooms, and explaining each one in as much detail as he could.

It was sweet.

“This is my favourite part.” Percy pointed ahead at a glass tunnel that went through one of the larger tanks. The water reflected onto the path, and there was a perfect view of the small sharks and turtles moving around. 

“Wow.” Annabeth felt her jaw drop at the sight. She’d never gone to an aquarium before, so witnessing all these animals up close was mind blowing. Her feet moved on their own accord, and led her straight to the middle of the tunnel. Turning around and soaking in the sight, she let her head fall back and watched as one of the turtles swam above her. A grin covered her face as she observed in awe. “This is so—”

“Beautiful?” Percy finished her sentence as he approached her side. “You can say that again.” 

“I can’t believe I’ve never seen this place before. Why does no one talk about it? It’s breathtaking.” 

“You just haven’t had the right tour guide. There’s tons of cool spots around here, most people don’t even know about it.” He paused, redirecting his attention to a shark passing by. “If you want, I can show you sometime.”

The thought of Percy wanting to spend more time with her made her want to do something stupid, like say yes. He was being so open with her. So patient. Going at her pace, letting her know they could adjust their arrangement however she wanted. 

It was new. 

It was exciting. 

“Or not. No pressure.” Percy added gently.

“I’d like that.”

“You would?”

Annabeth laughed softly. “I would.” She turned around and walked to the end of the tunnel. “But only if you pass the next Spanish test.”

He couldn’t fight the smirk on his lips. “I think I can make that work.”

3:45 PM

“Come on, Seaweed Brain. Just put it on.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

With one hand Annabeth held out a kids-sized princess dress, and with the other, she tried to stifle a laugh. “Just for a minute and then you can take it off.”

“Put your phone away. I already know your plan.”

“Such a drama queen.”

Percy blinked at her. “Do you know how badly I’m gonna get bullied if someone sees me wearing that thing?”

“I thought you don’t care about other people’s opinions.” She challenged.

“I’m not talking about the people at Goode. I’m talking about the people in my family, specifically, my mom.” 

Now Annabeth did laugh. 

“This isn’t funny. The woman’s crazy. She takes pictures of everything and once she gets her hands on a photo of me wearing that, she’ll never let it go.”

“I think me and your mom would get along.”

“Oh trust me, that’s what I’m worried about.”

Straight after the aquarium Percy insisted that they browse through a couple of stores. Annabeth was never one to particularly enjoy shopping, especially not as much as Silena, but she didn’t complain once she spotted a costume shop.

She pushed the dress further towards him. “Just put it on.

“I’ll break it. That thing’s tiny.”

“Not if you’re careful.” Annabeth gave her sweetest smile.

“Don’t do that.” He narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She tilted her head to the side for extra effect. “Please.”

“Stop.”

“Just for a minute.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Percy threw his hands in the air and grabbed the dress. “Fine. But keep your phone in your pocket.” He pushed open the dressing room door, and cursed under his breath as he attempted to squeeze into the tight material.

Annabeth rocked back and forth on her feet, distracted by the posters on the wall as she waited for him to finish. 

“Fuck.” 

“Is everything okay in there?” She hummed.

“No, Chase. Nothing is okay.”

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“No.”

“Is the dress ruined?”

“No.”

“Do you need help zipping up?”

“No.”

“Okay, so stop being a diva and unlock the door.”

He hesitantly cracked the door open and poked his head out. “I’m serious, Beth. If you take a picture of me I will—”

Percy wasn’t able to finish his sentence before Annabeth whipped out her phone and snapped a quick shot of his outfit.

“Oh my Gods, this is priceless.” She snorted. “I can’t believe you actually put it on.”

“Give me that.” He lunged forward, trying to capture the device but failed immediately once she stepped out of the way.

“I promise I’ll keep this to myself.” Annabeth was full on laughing as she guarded her phone. “It’s just too good to miss.”

“Why did I agree to do this?”

“Because you’re an idiot.”

“Sounds about right.” Percy glanced at his reflection and ran a hand through his hair. “Yep, this is coming straight off.” He reached for the bottom of the dress, trying to yank it over his chest, but the fabric clung onto him. “Well shit.”

“What?”

“It’s stuck.” He tried tugging again. “Like really stuck.”

“Hang on, let me try.” Annabeth walked inside the cubicle and repeated the same action with more force.

“Don’t break it.”

“I’m trying not to.” She stepped on top of one of the stools and adjusted to a different angle. “Fuck, did you meld this to your skin or something? It won’t budge.”

“Oh great. Not only do I look stupid, but now I have to explain to the workers why I’m stuck in a dress that barely covers my hips.”

“I have an idea. Keep your arms stretched above as I pull the costume up. Then you squeeze downwards.”

He did a quick turn in front of the mirror, assessing the damage. “It’s cutting my blood circulation! Look at my arms, they’re going to fall off!”

“Percy!”

“Okay, okay. Do whatever physics magic you need to, just get this thing off me.” 

He lifted his arms and Annabeth, still standing above him, used all her strength to remove the small piece of clothing over his shoulders. Percy ducked down with such force that the dress abruptly slipped off, causing her to stagger backwards. 

“Woah, woah, woah.” He leaned forward, wrapping an arm around her waist before she could fall off the stool. “Careful, we don’t need another accident happening.”

Shit. 

Percy had a firm grip around her waist, and he was wearing nothing but black boxers. If someone walked in, this would look bad. Terrible even. Annabeth kept her eyeline straight, ignoring the voice in her head telling her to look at the strong muscles lining his arms. She tried to focus on his thick dark brown eyelashes and not on the warmth of his body.

“Uh.” She slowly lowered herself back to the ground. Her heart was beating at an insane rate. “I’m fine.”

Percy scanned her, his eyes widened once he realized how close they were. “Oh… yeah. Right, uh… I should probably…” He gestured to his clothes hanging on the hook.

“Mhm. And I should probably…” She gestured to the stretched-out princess dress in her arms and then to the exit. 

Before he could respond, Annabeth darted out of the room.

5:00 PM

“Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere you want to go or be able to time travel?”

“Easy. Teleport anywhere I want.” Annabeth nodded.

They were sitting on one of the outside tables of an ice cream shop. The tables were small and close together, forcing Annabeth’s legs to rest between Percy’s as they tossed questions back and forth. Their cups of ice cream sat directly across each other, and if either one of them shifted their hands even an inch, they’d be touching.

“Seriously? But what about time travel? Imagine all the things you could see in the future, or all the mistakes you could fix in your past?”

“I don’t think I’d change anything from my past.”

He pointed his spoon at her. “Not even an embarrassing moment? Like falling face first in front of the whole school in 7th grade?” 

“That was you.” 

“No need to point fingers.” 

Annabeth shook her head, and smiled. “No, Percy. I wouldn’t even want to change my embarrassing moments. They build character, you know? At least now you’ll be extra careful whenever you walk in front of a crowd.”

“I guess. Well, how about travelling to the future? Aren’t you just a little bit curious as to what 30-year-old Annabeth is up to?”

She stared at her ice cream. “If I’m being honest, the future scares me. A lot, actually.”

“How come?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I’m just afraid I won’t like what I see. Like… What if I fail? What if everything I’ve been working towards doesn’t happen? It would crush me. And then I’d be thinking about it all the time until it actually becomes real.”

Percy took a breath, looking like he was pondering on something, and Annabeth suddenly worried that she’d made the atmosphere too serious. But eventually, he broke the silence. “You’re not going to fail, Beth.”

“You don’t know that.”

“You’re right. I don’t know if every tiny, intricate part of your plan will go exactly the way you want. But I do know that you are the most hardworking… and stubborn person I’ve ever met. And I guarantee, one way or another, you’ll make it work. Sure, the future’s scary. But your mind? That’s ten-times scarier. You always manage to overcome whatever gets in your way, so yeah, I know for a fact your future’s looking pretty damn bright.” His lips formed the kindest smile. “And that’s a promise.”

Annabeth stared at him. She’d been praised by teachers her whole life for her studies, but no amount of academic validation could’ve prepared her for the words that had just left Percy’s mouth. Never had anyone spoken to her with so much certainty and reassurance.

She tried to push down the whirlwind of emotions building up inside.

“Thank you.” She whispered, “Seriously, it means a lot.” He didn’t say anything. He just kept smiling with the same warmth, and Annabeth had to clear her throat. “Okay, your turn. Um, would you rather never watch another Star Wars movie again, or never play another sport again?”

Percy gawked at her. “What kind of question is that? I can’t choose between the two loves of my life.”

She burst out laughing. “Too bad. Time’s ticking.”

Percy sighed. “I’d have to give up Star Wars. If I didn’t have a physical outlet, I think I’d explode from all the energy.”

“I can definitely see that happening. You’re always bouncing off the walls. It’s exhausting just watching you.”

“So I’ve been told.” He took another spoonful of ice cream, formulating his next question. “Would you rather skip all your classes, or never have a strawberry milkshake again?”

“That’s not fair. I love strawberries.”

“And I love Star Wars, but that didn’t stop you.”

Annabeth scraped the side of her cup, taking a lick of her spoon. “Would I have to skip every class I take forever, or just for a year?”

“A year.”

“Well, I’d pick the first one then. I can’t give up my milkshakes. I work at a diner for fucks sake.”

“No way.” Percy mused. “I would have never thought a genius like you would even consider missing a class.”

“I guess you just don’t know me as well as you thought.”

“I’m getting there, Chase.” He smiled to himself. “I’m getting there.”

6:45 PM

Later on in the day they had wandered into an art store. Annabeth trailed her finger along the tubes of paint and closely assessed the different shades.

“You look like you really know what you’re doing.” 

“I’m just reading the colors. It’s nothing special, Jackson.”

He hovered behind, peeking over her shoulder. “It looks like more than just reading. It’s like you’re in a trance, completely absorbed in your surroundings.”

Annabeth traced another row of paint. “I’ve always loved art. Every part of it. Every step involved in creating something new. It’s so refreshing. It’s like the only time I don’t have to use my brain.” She sighed. “I can just shut off and let my hands do whatever they want.”

“So, kind of like when you’re dancing. You just let your body take over.”

“Exactly.” She smiled. “And kind of like when you’re swimming. You just… let go.”

Percy nodded along, walking further down the aisle. “What about these paints? Do you use watercolors?”

“Oh, those are way too expensive.” Annabeth waved a hand dismissively in the air. “I have an old palette at home that I got for my fifteenth birthday. I’ll just stick to that.”

“Shit, you’re right. This one is expensive.”

“That’s because it’s the good stuff. The real deal.” She picked up four small tubes of acrylic paint and moved to stand beside Percy. “One day when I’m an architect, I’m gonna create loads of beautiful paintings of all my building designs with this pricey stuff.” She tapped the front of the watercolor box. “And that’s a guarantee.”

Percy watched her, and his face turned impressed. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”

Annabeth moved past him to pay for the items, and headed out to the sidewalk. She held her plastic bag of paints in one hand, and checked her phone for the time. “It’s almost 7:00, I should probably start heading home so I can make it for dinner.”

Percy checked his phone too. “It’s gonna get dark soon, I can drive you.”

“You brought your car?”

“No, but my apartment isn’t far from here. I can just grab my keys real quick and I’ll drop you.”

“There’s no need for that.” Annabeth fiddled with her bracelet. “I can just walk, it’s really not a big deal.”

His head tilted to the side. “Are we seriously doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Going back and forth for another ten minutes, until you eventually give in and let me bring you home?”

Annabeth’s eyebrows drew together. “That’s not gonna happen, because like I said, I’m walking. So, thanks for today, and thanks for paying for the aquarium tickets. But I’m perfectly fine with making my own way ho—”

She made it about three steps before Percy flung her over his shoulder and started casually strolling in the opposite direction. “So, so stubborn.” He tutted. 

“You better put me down.”

“Or what?”

“Percy!”

“Are you gonna run away if I let go?”

Annabeth didn’t respond.

“That’s what I thought.” 

“Okay, okay. Fine. I won’t run. Just please put me down.”

Percy stopped moving, and thought for a moment, before eventually lowering her back onto the concrete. “My home’s like five minutes away, come on.” He carried on striding, not bothering to look back at her.

And just like every other time he’s dragged her into something ridiculous, Annabeth followed right after him.

Chapter Text

“This is a terrible idea. I should have just waited by the car.”

“It’s fine, Beth. I’ll be in and out before you can blink an eye.”

Standing in front of Percy’s apartment door, Annabeth was almost certain she didn’t belong here. But somehow he managed to convince her to come along. 

“It’s freezing outside, at least in here your fingers won’t fall off.” He raised his knuckles to the door and knocked lightly. 

She braced herself for whoever was about to greet her. His mom. His step-dad. But the last person she expected to see was Estelle’s tiny face peaking through the gap of the doorway.

“PERCYYY!” She jumped up, and just in time Percy caught her.

“Hey, little one.” He squeezed her tight. 

Once Estelle was lowered back to the floor she turned her attention to Annabeth, and the biggest, brightest smile crept onto her face. “Miss Annabeth! You’re here!”

“Yes, I am.” She laughed and knelt down to receive Estelle’s excited hug. “Your brother insisted I come.”

“To see me?”

Annabeth couldn’t bring herself to crush this little girl’s hope. “Of course. Always to see you.” She gave another quick hug before standing back up. 

All three of them turned at the sound of a woman’s voice approaching. “Estelle, what did I tell you about answering the door without one of us with yo— oh. Percy, you’re here.”

The woman, whom Annabeth assumed was Percy’s mother, was young and beautiful. Her eyes were the same vibrant shade as her son’s, and the gentleness in her smile was unmistakably the same one Annabeth had seen on Percy’s face over the past couple of weeks. Her chestnut brown hair was tied in a messy bun, and an apron was covering her outfit.

Percy leaned against the doorframe. “I just came to get something.” 

“And you’ve brought a friend.” His mom’s eyes lit up. “Oh, this is wonderful. Hello sweetheart, I’m Sally.”

“I’m Annabeth.” She politely offered her hand, but Sally waved it away.

“No need to be so formal.” Sally pulled her into a soft hug, and Annabeth could have stayed there forever. It felt like home. “Would you like to come in?”

Percy stepped forward. “Actually, I was going to drop her home. I’m just getting my keys, and then we’re heading off.”

Sally gave him a mock scolding look. “I thought I taught you to be a gentleman. Why don’t you both stay for dinner and then you can drop Annabeth home afterwards?”

“Oh, that’s okay. I can just have dinner at my place.” Annabeth stepped in. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“Intrude? Nonsense.” Sally opened the door wider, smiling. “Please, come in. The kitchen’s a bit of a mess but if you just take a seat while I clean up, then the food will be ready in about fifteen minutes.”

Annabeth had a clearer view of the apartment now, and a strange feeling of comfort washed over her. The sincerity in Sally’s welcome, and the small weight of Estelle’s hand in hers, made Annabeth want to abandon any thought of going back to her house.

“Mom, she said she’ll eat at home. Let me just drop her back.”

“Why don’t we ask Annabeth what she wants?” Sally offered, turning to Annabeth. “We’d love for you to stay, honey. We’re having spaghetti bolognese, and I’ve stuck a couple pizzas in the oven too. They’re almost ready as well.”

“Don’t listen to her, you don’t have to—”

“It’s okay, Percy.” Annabeth placed a hand on his arm. “We can stay for dinner.”

He faced her properly this time, giving his full attention. “Are you sure?” 

“I’m sure.”

Sally clapped her hands together. “Lovely.” She stepped to the side, giving them more room to enter. “Make yourself comfortable, and let me know if you need anything.” She nodded to another corridor. “The bathroom is the first door to the left, if you need it.”

Annabeth couldn’t help but laugh at her eagerness. “Thank you.”  

Once Sally and Estelle had disappeared back to the kitchen, Percy whispered, “I’m serious, Chase. I know my mom’s a force of nature, but if you don’t feel comfortable being here, just say the words and I’ll drive you back, just like I said.”

Their bodies were almost completely pressed together in the narrow hallway. She could count every freckle on his face. “I want to be here. And I mean it.” She whispered back, an amused smirk tugging at her lips. “So why don’t you lead the way?”

He stared at her for a moment, then chuckled softly. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Me neither.”

“Well, follow me, Miss Chase.” He led the way to the open-plan apartment.

The kitchen sat closest to the front door, with the dining table acting as a divider between it and the living room. It was cozy, completely unlike Annabeth’s house. It felt lived in. 

“Do you want a drink?” Percy asked. 

“Uh, water would be nice. Thanks.”

Sally was mixing a bunch of ingredients into a large pan, while Estelle was perched on one of the stools by the counter. Sitting on one end of the dining table was a man clearly invested in the stacks of papers in front of him. 

He looked up and smiled. “You must be Annabeth.”

“Yeah.” She breathed out. “That’s me.”

“I’m Paul. Please, take a seat.” He gestured in front of him. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

Annabeth sat down. “Same to you. You have a lovely home.”

He laughed. “There’s no need to sugarcoat the state of this apartment right now. It’s a wreck.”

She looked around. “At least it’s not boring.”

Paul smiled. “I like you. Percy was right, you’re very wise.”

“Yeah she is.” Percy called from the kitchen, pouring two glasses of water. “Smartest person in school.”

“I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.” Annabeth tucked a braid behind her ear. 

“Sure it is. Not only are you perfecting all your classes but you’re also juggling everything with work and dance.”

“Now that is impressive.” Paul said, scribbling notes down on his paper. “Then again, the bar is pretty low with Percy's academic status.” He grinned.

Sally laughed. “Leave the poor boy alone. He’s trying.”

“You’re right.” Paul nodded. “His grades have been improving, but I have a feeling it has something to do with Annabeth and her very generous tutoring skills.”

Annabeth chewed the inside of her cheek. “You know about that?”

“Do we know about it?” Sally shook her head, smiling. “Oh, honey. That boy hasn’t shut up about it.”

“Mom.”

“He comes home after the library practically boasting about how good a teacher you are. It’s sweet.”

“It’s funny.” Estelle said from her stool, colouring in her notebook. “He’s always smiley.”

Percy placed the glasses in front of Annabeth and slid into the seat beside her. “Oh my Gods, can everyone please stop talking?”

Annabeth bit back a smile.

Percy changed the topic of conversation as quickly as possible. “Annabeth actually teaches Estelle dance.”

“What? That’s amazing.” Sally grinned. “Not only are you helping Percy with his grades but you’re also helping Estelle with her ballet. We should have had you over for dinner ages ago.”

It was rare Annabeth ever experienced any form of motherly love, so she couldn’t help her cheeks from heating up. “Technically, I’ve only taught Estelle once. But if I cover more shifts in the future you never know, we might meet again.” She winked at the little girl.

And her face lit up. “Yes! Yes! Yes! I want you to come back and teach me all the moves.” She sighed in awe. “You’re like the best ballerina everrr!”

Annabeth laughed. “I’ll check my schedule and try to squeeze in a few more sessions.”

Estelle squealed. 

Annabeth hadn’t felt this eager to teach another class in forever. But watching one of her students animatedly express their passion for dance had sparked a new kind of motivation in her.

“It must be difficult to balance ballet with all the schoolwork, especially during senior year.” Sally said. “I remember my senior year, it was almost impossible to keep a social life. There was too much to think about.”

“She’s doing great. She’s already kicking ass in the classroom.” Percy added as he sipped on his water. 

“Sometimes it’s hard.” Annabeth admitted, surprising herself with her vulnerability. “Particularly in the winter when The Nutcracker rehearsals start. That’s when everything gets a little hectic.”

The three members of the Jackson-Blofis family stopped moving, and Annabeth felt tense. She couldn’t work out what she had said wrong. 

Paul spoke first. “You’ve performed in The Nutcracker?”

“Uh, yes. I’ve been doing it for a couple years now. In fact, last Christmas I was one of the snowflakes.”

Estelle’s jaw dropped. “NO WAY! THAT WAS MY FAVOURITE DANCE!”

“We love The Nutcracker.” Sally had a look of admiration on her face. “The Waltz of the Snowflakes is the exact number that made Estelle beg us to sign her up for classes. She was so obsessed with that one specific part. Who would’ve thought she’d be having dinner with one of her idols?” She chuckled.

Annabeth remembered the conversation she had with Percy during their first tutoring session, when he mentioned watching the show last year. She had forgotten she was part of the reason Percy’s little sister wanted to start dancing. That conversation felt like a lifetime ago, and a wave of reality hit her… she had spent so much time with Percy since then, more than with any of her other friends. And the thought didn’t even doesn’t bother her anymore. It didn’t annoy her, or make her uneasy that they had grown so much closer.

Percy smiled. “And I thought Estelle couldn’t love you more than she already did. Guess I was wrong.”

“I want to be in The Nutcracker one day! I’m going to audition and be a snowflake, and then I’m going to be the best snowflake anyone’s ever seen!” Estelle’s words were falling out of her mouth rapidly as her excitement grew. “Will you help me, Miss Annabeth?”

Annabeth felt like she’d gone back in time and was staring at her younger self. Her heart squeezed and all she could bring herself to do was nod and give the kindest smile.

For the next ten minutes, everyone took turns asking her different questions, from her favourite classes in school to her dream holiday destination. Annabeth welcomed every question, answering each one honestly. Occasionally, a topic sparked her interest, and she’d get carried away, especially when Paul asked about her various debate topics. But no one seemed to mind. In fact, she was almost sure they enjoyed it when she would just talk about random things.

“There was this one lady who would just constantly fight with all the staff. Thankfully I never had to serve her food, but I do remember Mary getting so mad she had to lock herself in the fridge and scream it out.” Annabeth recalled.

Paul groaned. “That’s the worst.” He had cleared the table and replaced the stacks of papers with plates and cutlery. “When I used to work at a restaurant the amount of unnecessary arguments customers would start was exhausting. The hardest part was keeping your smile steady, even when all I wanted to do was tell them to fuck off.”

“Paul, Language.” Sally said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m sorry, honey. I just can’t get over that hellhole of a restaurant.”

Annabeth snorted. “It seems like it’s really left a mark on you.”

“Like you’d believe.”

One by one Sally and Percy placed the dishes onto the table, filling the room with a delicious aroma. Estelle took the seat directly opposite Annabeth as she tried to grab a handful of the grated cheese. 

“Wow, this looks amazing.” Annabeth glanced at the food. “I mean seriously this looks like it could be served at the restaurant Paul used to work at.” This earned her a laugh from the family.

Percy appeared with two pizzas, placing one in front of his sister. It was shaped as a flower. “Here you go, as requested.”

“Is it a daisy?” She asked, rubbing her hands together. “Please say it’s a daisy.”

“Sure is, Stell. Eat up.” 

Without a second thought, the little girl took a bite out of a steaming-hot slice, and hummed with happiness. 

Percy reclaimed his seat and leaned towards Annabeth, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “If I remember correctly, I promised you a fun-shaped pizza.” He set a pizza shaped as a music note in front of her. “And I’m a man of my word.” A smirk danced on his lips, and she tried her best not to read too much about the gesture. 

“So Estelle wasn’t lying, huh?” She said, clearly impressed. “You really are good at making pizza art.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice over the years. You’d be surprised how often she refuses to eat anything if it doesn’t look like a unicorn’s just shat it out.”

Annabeth giggled and took a bite out of her food, letting the warm taste of pepperoni cover her tongue. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until now, and thanked the gods for blessing Sally Jackson-Blofis with the gift of cooking. 

For the next hour they ate their food and talked about plans for after school. Both of Percy’s parents were delighted that Annabeth wanted to go to New Rome as well, and Paul discussed all the pros he could think of for that specific university, which gave her some reassurance.

Later on Annabeth decided to show everyone the photos of Percy in the kids-sized princess dress, even though he almost wrestled her to the ground trying to snatch the phone back. 

Eventually, she helped clear the table and tried her best to assist with washing the dishes, but Sally gently shooed her away. “No, no. You’re our guest, please just make yourself comfortable. Don’t worry about the mess, sweetheart.” She said with a smile. 

Reluctantly, Annabeth accepted defeat and followed Percy into the living room area. 

“There’s no point even trying. I’m telling you, she won’t budge.” He said.

She laughed. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that.” 

He sat down at the piano and patted the space beside him. Annabeth scooted to his side and eyed the instrument in front of her. 

“You play?” Her eyebrow arched.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

“Are you any good?”

“I’d hope so, otherwise my mom wasted seven years’ worth of piano lessons.”

Annabeth couldn’t even hide her shock. “You’re a musician?!”

“When I want to be.” He said in a playful tone. “But I usually keep this secret to myself.”

“Why? If I could play the piano I’d never shut up about it.”

Percy sighed. “I used to be like that. But eventually, swimming took over, and I kind of just… fell out of love with it.” He straightened his back. “Until recently.”

“You’ve picked it back up again?” Annabeth asked, a flicker of hope in her voice.

“I’m trying to. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s a start.” His expression dimmed. 

“What’s wrong?”

Percy ran a hand through his hair. “I haven’t played in front of anyone in a really long time.” A pause. “Actually… I’ve never played in front of anyone outside my family.”

“Not even Grover?”

He shook his head. “Not even Grover.” 

Annabeth fidgeted with her bracelet. “Why not?” She wasn’t sure why she kept pressing, but seeing Percy like this twisted something in her chest.

“I would play for my dad a lot. My biological dad.” Percy said quietly. “He likes the piano. He says it calms him. But now… it feels wrong to play. It reminds me of old times. Before Paul. Before Estelle. Back when I was reckless and stupid.” He let out a humorless laugh. “Which sounds dumb, because the piano is such a beautiful instrument, yet that part of my life felt so dark.”

Annabeth drew in a slow breath. He’s opening up to me, she realized.

The last thing she wanted to do was say the wrong thing. So she paused, thinking before speaking. 

“It doesn’t sound dumb,” she said softly, bumping her leg against his. “It makes perfect sense. The piano’s so intertwined with your past that it hurts to play.” She hesitated, then added, “But if you don’t want to be reminded of all the bad memories… why not make new ones? Happier ones. Ones you choose. That way, you can start associating the piano with something better. Something you want to remember.”

Percy met her eyes, completely focused. Like every part of him was tuned into her. It looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how. 

Annabeth spoke gently, “Name a moment you want to remember.” She clasped her hands together. “And make it a good one.”

His face softened. “This,” He whispered.

She stilled. “This?”

He nodded, eyes never leaving hers. “Right now. I want to remember this.”

What is happening? 

Have we moved closer… or am I just imagining it?

Lowering her voice to match his, she said, “Then the next time you want to play… think about this moment.”

His fingers traced one of the keys, over and over again. It’s like he was itching to move, to do something. Anything. “Can I play you something?” He asked. “Right now.”

“Of course.” She shifted slightly to the side, allowing him more room. “Play me anything.” 

He smiled, and lifted his hands to hover over the instrument. Percy took a deep controlled breath. Annabeth joined him, feeling her body rise and fall at the same time as his. With his right hand he lightly pressed the keys and started playing a song. 

A song Annabeth knew far too well. Her mind buzzed as she recognized the first few notes of Clair de Lune.

Holy Shit.

Percy was playing the song she listened to when they were first seated next to each other. That very first Spanish lesson, when all she wanted to do was block him out. And now, here she was in his home listening to him play one of her favourite pieces. 

His hands moved with such expertise over the keys. His whole body looked entranced by the harmony of the notes. It caused a ripple of goosebumps to form on Annabeth’s arms, and a shiver to roll down her spine. The piece brought her so much comfort that she couldn’t help the sting forming behind her eyes, or the speed of her heartbeat.

This was her song. The song she’d danced to before every show. The song she listened to when she felt distracted. The song she would play when she wanted to drown out the world. And Percy Jackson was playing it… for her. Even though only moments ago he said he had never played in front of anyone outside his family. He was making a memory he wanted to remember.

He was beginning to trust her. And she, Gods, she was beginning to trust him. 

Annabeth couldn’t even deny the fondness she had for him anymore. The sense of peace she felt when he was around. It was hard to ignore, and it was even harder to accept. But maybe Percy was someone she wanted to stay in her life.

Annabeth stayed as still as possible, completely captivated by the way he moved. And as the song finally came to an end, she took a moment to absorb what had just happened. 

He watched her. “It’s still a bit rusty but I can work on it more and play it onc— Shit. Beth, you’re crying…”

I am?

“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“That was beautiful.” Annabeth smiled at him. It was the most genuine smile. “That song… it means so much to me.”

“I know.” He smoothly wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “I’ve been listening to it since the day I saw it on your phone. Last week, I wanted to learn it. And eventually, I knew I wanted to play it for you.”

“Why?” She couldn’t understand why anyone would want to learn something so beautiful for her.

A corner of Percy’s lips turned upwards. “To make a good memory.”

Her shoulders dropped. “Well, you definitely gave me a good memory.” She wiped the other tears that had escaped. “That was amazing, Percy. In fact, it was better than amazing… It was perfect. In every way.”

He let out a soft laugh. “Damn, Chase. If this is all it takes to get you to like me, I would have done it ages ago.”

Playfully, she pushed his arm. “Maybe you should have mentioned your freakishly good musical skills from the start, and we could have avoided all the death glares.”

“Maybe I should have.” He sheepishly gave a shrug. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot, and… uh. I’m glad that we’re… acquaintances.”

She laughed.

He blinked at her. “What’s so funny?”

“I practically see you every other day, and I’ve just had dinner with your entire family. I think we’re more than acquaintances.”

“So what you’re saying is…”

“We’re friends, Percy.” 

He beamed at her. “Really?”

“For fucks sake, could you try and not burn me with all of your teeth.” She laughed, covering his ridiculously wide grin with her hand. “You’re like the opposite of subtle.”

He gently lifted her hand from his mouth. “Why would I ever want to be subtle when Annabeth Chase just called me her friend.” He stood up abruptly, shooting his fists into the air. “THIS CALLS FOR A CELEBRATION!”

“Shh,” She giggled. “I think you just woke up the whole of New York.”

“I don’t care, everyone deserves to be awake to hear the news.” Percy sat back down, still smiling. “Before I drop you home, what do you say to learning the first part of the song?”

“You’re going to teach me Clair de Lune?”

“Hell yeah, I am.”

Annabeth didn’t have it in her to pretend like that wasn’t the best way to end the night. “Fuck it.” She said, smiling. “Why not, Jackson.”

Chapter Text

Annabeth had fallen into a routine with Percy: tutoring on Thursdays and Operation Socialization on the weekends. It had become second nature and simple for the both of them. So, when Percy invited her, Thalia, and Silena to join him and his friends that weekend. The answer was surprisingly easy. 

“Are you sure I look okay?” Silena stopped in her tracks, turning around to face them. “I feel like I should have worn the other top.”

“For the millionth time, you look perfectly fine.” Thalia put her hands on her shoulders, directing Silena towards the front door. “Now can we please just go inside.”

The trio was standing in front of Grover’s house. They had been going around in circles about the same dilemma for the past five minutes. 

Silena pushed back, dodging the door. “I don’t trust your opinion. You wear the same thing every single day.” She groaned in disgust. “Annie, tell me. Do I look okay? And you can be brutally honest. I can take it.” 

No, she couldn’t take it. And both Annabeth and Thalia knew this. But that didn’t matter, because as Annabeth inspected Silena’s outfit, she couldn’t find any flaws. 

“Trust me, you look beautiful. And that’s me being brutally honest.” 

Silena let out a sigh of relief, as she used her fingers to comb through her long dark hair. “Oh, thank Gods. You guys were scaring me.”

“Why are you so stressed about this? I’ve never seen you this nervous. You usually thrive at social gatherings” Thalia narrowed her eyes. “What are you not telling us?”

“Nothing. Can’t a girl just want to look nice?” Silena threw her hands in the air. 

“Yeah, a girl can. But you are not just ‘some girl’. You’re usually the most confident person in a room. And now all of a sudden you’re second-guessing your outfit? You’ve never once asked us that.”

Silena crossed her arms. “Can you stop overanalyzing everything? I just wanted another opinion.”

“You’re hiding something.” Thalia pushed.

“No, I’m not.”

Yep, she definitely was. And Annabeth knew exactly what it was. She had a flashback to Clarisse mentioning a kiss they shared a few weeks ago. A kiss that Silena failed to mention to any of her friends. Most likely because she knew how Thalia felt about Clarisse. They had never gotten along, both equally headstrong and determined to do things their own way. It was as intriguing as it was terrifying.

In fact, it shocked both Annabeth and Silena when Thalia agreed to join them that weekend. 

Thalia pointed at Annabeth. “You know what it is.” 

Silena’s eyes widened. 

“No, I don’t. I’m just as confused as you.” Annabeth lied.

Thalia laughed. “You’re a shit liar, Annie. We all know it.”

It was true. She was a terrible liar. Which is why she was extra grateful when the front door swung open and Grover was standing on the other side.

“Ladies.” He smiled. “By all means, enjoy the freezing wind, or you could come inside like sane people.” He opened the door wider.

Thalia gave one final glare at her friends before accepting the invite and stepping through the doorway. “This isn’t over.” She said over her shoulder.

Annabeth was about to follow, but a small tug drew her attention. Silena had her hand wrapped around Annabeth’s. “Listen, I don’t know what you’ve heard bu—”

“Your secret’s safe with me. My lips are sealed.” Annabeth covered Silena’s hand with her own. “Besides, if today goes well, you never know, Thalia might have a change of heart.”

“Let’s hope.” Silena bit her lip. “And thank you. Like, seriously, thank you.”

“No worries.” Annabeth looped their arms together. “For the record, I was being serious when I said you look beautiful. I mean, you could literally wear a garbage bag and you’d still be the prettiest one in the room.”

“Really?”

“Definitely.”

Grover cleared his throat. “Not that I’m rushing you guys, because this is seriously a sweet moment, but all the hot air is escaping.”

Annabeth and Silena laughed. “Right.” They followed after him, making their way inside the house. 

Most of the group were sitting in the living room, facing the TV with Nintendo controllers in their hands. The walls were painted a light sage green, with large pictures of animals hanging from them. The ceiling and furniture were made out of deep brown wood, except for the couches and armchairs which each had their own unique design. There were mismatching patterns and textures everywhere, from the curtains to the rugs.

It felt like every item in this room was placed with love and intention. Despite being filled with trinkets, it was extremely tidy and carried the earthy smell of pinecone. 

“Yeah right.” Clarisse scoffed. “You wish you could beat me.”

“Why don’t you shut up and let me show you.” Thalia grabbed the controller from Charles’ lap, and started picking her character. 

“Bring it on, Grace. This is your funeral you’re signing up for.” 

Thalia and Clarisse sat cross-legged on the rug, eyes glued to the TV. Behind them, Charles lounged on the couch, legs stretched out, watching with amusement while the two bickered. 

As the mario kart race began Clarisse easily took first place. She started laughing maniacly in her opponents’ face. But her victory was short-lived as her eyes caught on the trio still standing by the door. “Silena?” Her brows shot up. “You’re here.”

“Hi.” Silena gave a shy wave.

“Aha!” Thalia yelled, as she overtook Clarisse and slid into first place. “You better get comfortable with silver, cause that’s the only medal you’ll be seeing today.”

“Shut the fuck up.” 

Silena gave Annabeth’s hand a squeeze before taking the open seat next to Charles on the couch. As always, she was a natural at making friends, so it was no surprise that they easily fell into a conversation. Probably about gossip.

Grover shifted slightly, leaning closer to whisper something into Annabeth’s ear. “He’s in the kitchen, by the way.”

‘Who?” 

He gave her a knowing smile. “I think you know who.” 

Oh, brother. 

Grover pointed to his side. “Straight ahead, just down the hallway.”

Annabeth gave a single nod. “Thanks.” She quickly turned on her heels, eager to escape wherever that conversation was heading.

A closed door waited at the end of the corridor. She passed more faded pictures of animals and woodlands, each held in a frame covered with dust and memories. Annabeth reached for the handle, turning it slowly open. The sudden aroma of baking flooded her senses as she took a step inside. It smelt like Christmas, almost as if she woke up and travelled back in time. 

With his back to her, Percy stood at the kitchen island, stirring a mixture in a bowl. A dish towel was draped over one shoulder as he worked with quiet precision, completely engrossed in his work. Just like always.

Annabeth tapped lightly on the door.

Percy groaned. “How many times do I have to tell you, Grover? You need to give me thirty minutes. And no, I’m not letting you eat any more of the dough.” 

“Jeez, sounds like Grover’s been giving you shit.”

Percy snapped his head around to face her, his irritation morphed into a smile. “Oh, you have no idea.”

Annabeth approached the kitchen island, stopping by his side, and eyeing the mixture. “What if I wanted to try some?”

“Then maybe I’d make an exception.” 

“Intresting.”

Percy laughed as he grabbed a spoon and scraped the sides of the bowl, handing it to her. “Here. I’m all up for constructive criticism.”

She accepted the utensil. “How do I know it’s not poisoned?”

“Grover would be dead by now if that’s the case.”

“Right.” Annabeth let the dough melt onto her tongue. It was deliciously sweet, and addictive. She savoured the spoonful in her mouth, and nodded with satisfaction.

“So, what’s the verdict?” He asked.

“Seven out of ten.”

Percy tutted. “A seven? Bit harsh don’t you think?”

“I don’t know, maybe I need to try it again. You know… to solidify my score.”

A grin spread on his face as he shook his head. “You’re just as bad as Grover.” He gently pushed her away from the bowl. “No more cookie mix for you, Wise Girl. Stay far away from the baking station.”

Annabeth reluctantly took two steps back. “Is there a specific reason why you’re making cookies while everyone else’s playing Mario Kart? Or is this another one of your secret talents you like to surprise people with?” 

“This,” Percy used his wooden spoon to gesture to the mess, “isn’t my choice. Let’s just say, one day, my friends found out I was decent at baking, and ever since then it's been like an entrance fee.” He carried on stirring. “Cookies, cakes, brownies, you name it. I’ve probably made it for them.”

“Oh my Gods.” Annabeth laughed. “You’re the group's designated chef.” 

“Unfortunately.” 

“So, when did you upgrade from pizza shapes to baking? Seems like a big leap.” She said sarcastically.

“Shut up. I’ve always been talented in the kitchen.” He handed her a roll of parchment paper and scissors. “And while you’re here, you can keep me company. Mind cutting some of this up and lining the trays?”

“Do I have a choice?” 

“Not really.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes but proceeded to measure the paper against the tray. “This is not how I thought I’d be spending my weekend.”

“If you do a good job, I’ll give you a treat.”

“Like a dog?” She deadpanned. 

Percy snorted. “Sure, Beth. Like a dog.” 

She started cutting two perfect squares of paper. “You’re lucky I love cookies.”

“Don’t expect much. You could probably bake better ones.” He walked over to the sink and washed his hands, drying them on the dish towel over his shoulder. “I’m sure Mary’s taught you all the important tricks.”

“Oh, please. Mary wouldn’t trust me near an oven if her life depended on it.” 

“But you work at a diner.”

“As a waitress.” Annabeth stepped aside as Percy began rolling small balls of the mixture onto the tray. “One of our chefs, Joe, tried to teach me how to make the regular brunch dish. It was a disaster.”

“It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“I burnt the toast, Percy.”

He shot her an entertained look. “So, you’re pretty terrible then.”

“I can make a really good bowl of cereal, if that counts. My cereal-to-milk ratio is perfect. I’ll make it for you sometime.”

“You’re ridiculous.” He laughed. 

For the next five minutes Percy worked meticulously until the batch was complete. He popped the tray into the oven and set a timer.

“Do I get my treat now?” Annabeth scraped the rest of leftovers from the bowl. “Or did you just make that up?”

“No, I didn’t make that up. I may have made you a little something while I was waiting for you to arrive.” He opened the fridge and brought out a strawberry milkshake in a tall glass. Placing it on the counter, and pushing it closer to her. “Your favourite.”

Annabeth stared at the drink, dropping her spoon into the bowl. “No you didn’t.”

“Yes, I did. It’s my own recipe.” Percy added a straw. “Try it.”

Annabeth pressed her lips onto the straw, and tasted the familiar sugariness. Her mind buzzed with memories of the diner after a long day of school, trying to distract herself before going home and having to face her family. It brought her a strange sense of comfort.

She giggled. “It’s… it’s really good. Like really really good.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “We should probably keep this away from Circe before she tries to steal your recipe.”

“That’s not happening. This drink’s exclusive.” 

“Is that so?”

“Mhm.” Percy hummed. “I love her diner, but this is kind of an Annabeth Chase special. So unless you’re the one ordering it, I’ll have to keep my secret recipe sealed away.”

Annabeth tilted her head with curiosity. “And do all your friends get their own specialized drink? Or is this a once in a lifetime opportunity?”

“I suppose it’s the latter. Think of it as a reward for working so hard with everything.” 

She narrowed her eyes. “This will never not be weird.”

“What?”

“You being freakishly nice.” 

Percy laughed. “You better get used to it, Chase. It’s our new norm.”

She sighed. “I hate that.”

“No you don’t.”

“How would you know?”  

“Because if we were in this exact situation in August, you wouldn’t have stayed to help me with the cookies. Actually, you would have fucked off as soon as you saw me in the kitchen.” He gave her a smirk. “True or false?”

“Whatever.” Annabeth grumbled. “I’m just here for the cookies.”

“Sure you are.” 

“I am.”

“I believe you.” 

She wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his lips. Idiot.

Annabeth walked over to the sink, and started running the tap. She grabbed a sponge and scrubbed the bowl. “You should have never told me you can bake. I’m definitely taking advantage of that.”

“Well, that means you’d actually have to hang out with me if you want free food.”

“Percy, we already see each other way too much. If I spend any more time with you, I’d basically be living in your pocket.” 

“That doesn’t sound too bad.” He teased.

Annabeth flicked water on his face, causing him to wince. 

“Shit. That’s fucking freezing.”

“Too bad. If you keep making dumb comments like that, you leave me no choice.” She scooped up more water and chucked it at him, soaking his shirt.

“Bad bad move.” He shook his head.

Percy joined her side and grabbed another sponge, drenching it with cold water. Once it was heavy enough, he held it on top of Annabeth’s head.

“Don’t you dare.” She warned. “Jackson, I swear to the Gods I’ll—”

Too late. Percy wrung the sponge, and a stream of water landed on her.

“You’ll what?” He grinned. “Kill me?”

“Oh, you’re so dead.” Annabeth picked up the nearest cup and filled it until it was overflowing. 

Percy backed away, moving to the other side of the kitchen island. “Don’t even think about bringing that abomination near me.” 

She chased after him. “Look at me. I’m soaked. I’m making us even.”

“Even? You’re about to pour triple the amount I did. How is that fair?”

They were running around the island in circles. They paused occasionally to hurl insults at each other.

“You look like you’re slowing down, Chase. You sure you can keep up?” Percy taunted.

“You sure you can keep up?” Annabeth mocked his words in a high-pitched tone. “Ugh you’re so annoying.” 

With one big stretch she leaned over the counter, timing it perfectly, and chucked the water at him. 

Percy let out a yell. His entire right side was soaked. From his hair to his leg. “Holy shit.” His teeth chattered. “Oh my Gods… I’m… I’m going to die of… hypothermia. You… you just… tried to… kill me.” 

Annabeth burst out laughing at the sight of him. “It’s not my fault you were in the splash zone.” She clutched her stomach. “You’re such a dork.”

“Oh… I’m glad you’re finding this… hilarious. Thanks for your… your concern. You could have… murdered me.”

“You’ll survive.” She couldn’t help but drop her head back and laugh even harder. 

He really was a dork.

“Fine, you wanna play dirty?” Percy raised a brow. “I can play dirty.” He took three long strides around the counter, and before Annabeth could react she was being picked up and brought to the sink. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Playing by your rules.” He held her waist firmly with one hand and with the other he redirected the flexible tap, pointing it towards the back of her neck, spraying it with the coldest setting.

Annabeth screeched. “AHHH!” She wiggled out of Percy’s grasp, and looked at him in disbelief. “What the fuck?!”

“I think we’re pretty even now.” A large smile spread on his lips. “Wouldn’t you say—” He was interrupted by the tap, hosing his face down. 

“If you thought you were getting out of this alive before, you’re definitely not now.” Annabeth drenched Percy from top to bottom, and she didn’t even try to hide the massive grin on her face while doing it. 

They both fought over the tap, pointing it back and forth, until it was safe to say there wasn’t a dry patch left on their bodies.

Annabeth was having fun. A lot of fun. She wasn’t thinking about anyone else, just the two of them. She reflected on how Percy brings out her inner child, how he made her realize how fun life could be if she just let go. 

“What are you guys doing?” Clarisse was standing by the door.

They were so absorbed in their water fight, they hadn’t noticed anyone entering the room.

Percy and Annabeth froze. They stared at each other, then back at Clarisse. 

Percy switched the tap off. “Uh, cleaning up?”

“Okay…” Clarisse blinked. “Well, Grover wanted me to check on you guys. But I think you’re doing great without us.”

Annabeth looked at the timer. “The cookies are almost ready. There’s only one minute left—”

“No.” Clarisse held a hand in front of her. “I’ve lost my appetite… completely.” She shuddered. “I’m friends with a bunch of freaks.” She gave them one more glance before leaving the kitchen.

Percy and Annabeth looked back at each other, and at the same time, they both started laughing.

“Did she just call me her friend?” Annabeth asked.

“Yeah, I think she did.”

“That’s probably the strangest thing to happen today.”

“Agreed.” Percy pushed the hair out of his eyes. 

Annabeth shook the excess water from her hands. “She’s never gonna let us live this down, is she?” 

“Nope. This will be brought up every lunch. We’re lucky she didn’t take pictures.”

“Great.” 

The sound of the timer filled the room. 

“Perfect.” Percy stopped the ringing, pushing the device away. “Why don’t you take care of the cookies, while I ask Grover for some spare clothes?” 

“Yeah, okay.”

Percy disappeared through the doorway, but reappeared a second later. “By the way, I think we should have a rematch. It’s kind of unclear who the winner is.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Shut it, Jackson.”

“Whatever you say.” He gave a wink before leaving. 

Annabeth grabbed a dish towel and removed the cookies from the oven. They smelled amazing, and were baked to perfection. While waiting for them to cool down, she searched for the mop and cleaned the mess they left on the kitchen floor. With every swipe across the floor, she thought back to her interaction with Percy, and failed to stop the smile dancing on her lips. She tried to focus on the tiles, not on the soft look on his face when he’d sprayed her with water. 

As she plated the cookies, Percy walked in wearing dry sweatpants and a clean t-shirt. He tossed her a pair of Grover’s basketball shorts and a black hoodie. She quickly changed in the bathroom, dumping her wet clothes in a plastic bag. Once she walked out, Percy was already standing outside with the plate of cookies in hand.

“Nice look.” He eyed her outfit. “I’m digging the new vibe.”

She sighed. “Sarcasm is just woven into you, isn’t it?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Painfully.”

Percy nodded towards the room near the front of the house. “Lead the way, Chase.”

Annabeth squeezed past him in the hallway, and strolled to the living room. Just like she left it, everyone was still playing Mario Kart and screaming at each other.

“Charles, this is the fifth time you’ve hit me with your shells!” Thalia exclaimed. “Gods, aim for someone else!”

“Then stop cutting in front of me.” He shot back. 

“Guys, please shut up. I can’t focus on anything when everyone’s yelling.” Silena leaned closer to the TV. 

“Yeah shut up, everyone.” Clarisse agreed. “You’re all being loud and irritating.”

“Oh, like you can talk.” Thalia rolled her eyes. “You’re just backing Silena, and it’s not subtle.”

“No, I’m not.” 

“You’re not?” Silena softened her voice.

“Uh… I didn’t mean that.” Clarisse turned to face her. “I still back you.”

“Are you sure?” She batted her eyelashes.

“Definitely—”

Out of nowhere, Silena suddenly cheered, cutting her off. “Hell yeah!!” On the screen her character was awarded 1st place. “Keep your eyes on the road, Clarisse. And maybe next time you won’t get distracted.”

Thalia snorted.

“You played me.” Clarisse slowly smiled. “I’m impressed.”

Annabeth took a step further into the room, until she was in everyone’s eyeline. “This sounds like a pretty intense round.”

The group all turned to her and Percy, silently analyzing them.

“Are you both wearing different clothes?” Thalia squinted.

“And why is your hair wet?” Silena added.

“Don’t make them explain, I beg.” Clarisse dug her palms into her eyes. “I don’t need to relive it.” 

“Relive what?” Thalia’s eyes bulged. “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.” Annabeth cut in. “We just got into a water fight, and had to change.”

“No, it was a lot worse than that. They were giggling and shit.” Clarisse shuddered. “I’m scarred for life.”

Percy whacked her arm. “You’re even more dramatic than me, how is that possible?”

Thalia sat up. “You guys have been play-fighting this entire time?” 

“Uh, yeah, they have.” Grover interjected. “And my kitchen’s a swamp now.”

“No, it’s not. I cleaned it up.” Annabeth sat on the empty couch, Percy sinking to her side. She glanced at him and rolled her eyes. She whispered, “Do you seriously have to sit next to me right now? I’m trying to diffuse a situation and you’re not helping.”

He leaned in and whispered back, “Well, if you find any other available seats, let me know, and then I’ll happily move.”

“Just sit on the rug.”

“What? No. I made you cookies and a milkshake; I think I deserve the couch.” He indiscreetly pointed at the floor. “You take the rug.”

“Percy.”

“Annabeth.”

“Hello?” Thalia waved her hand. “We can still hear you guys.”

Clarisse dramatically looked away. “Oh my Gods, they’re doing it again. I can’t watch.”

Annabeth caught a glimpse of Silena from the other couch. She was observing them with a delighted look, followed by her mouthing. “Team Percy.” 

“Cookie anyone?” Annabeth abruptly placed the plate on the coffee table, avoiding everyone’s eyes. 

Charles pushed off the couch, grabbing a few cookies. “Don’t mind if I do.” 

“Why do we have cookies all of a sudden?” Silena stared at the plate, confused.

“Because Jackson’s amazing in the kitchen.” Charles munched quietly.

“That I can agree with.” Clarisse unravelled from the fetal position and grabbed her own bunch. “The only reason we still keep him around.”

“That’s nice of you.” Percy said, letting his head drop back on the cushion. “I’m glad I’m a useful asset to the group.”

“Oh you are.” Clarisse took another mouthful, while handing Silena a cookie. “You should try one. It might actually make you like him.”

Silena laughed, accepting the cookie. “I do like Percy. He’s funny, and weirdly charming.”

Both Thalia and Clarisse scoffed at the same time, “Yeah, right.”

“It’s true. Everyone likes him.” Silena bit into her treat. “I would know, since everyone tells me everything. You’d be surprised how honest people are at parties.” 

“Why, thank you, Silena. It’s nice to have someone on my side for once.” Percy smiled. “At least I know one of you has my back.”

Silena licked the chocolate from her fingers. “Speaking of parties. We should plan what we’re doing for New Year's Eve.”

Thalia reached for a cookie. “We? Since when did we become a we?” 

“Since today.” Silena scrolled through her phone, presumably on her calendar. “Look, so far I have no plans on the 31st. We should probably figure something out before that gets booked. And trust me, it’s gonna get booked.”

Annabeth raised a brow. “But it’s months away. Why are we discussing it so early?” 

Silena shrugged. “Because.” 

“Because what?” 

“Just because.” Silena huffed. “Come on, Annie. Let’s do something fun.”

Percy grabbed a stack of cookies. “We can all celebrate at mine. It’s not nearly as spacious as Grover’s, but my family will be out watching the local fireworks. I’ll have a free house that night.”

“What if your family changes their mind?” Annabeth challenged.

“My mom likes the company. She’ll still want you over.”

Silena clapped her hands. “Okay, it’s settled. New Year's Eve at the Jackson house.” She gently kicked Thalia in front of her. “You in?”

“I didn’t even know I had a say in this. You guys just started talking.”

“You’re right. Just be there.” Silena patted her shoulders, then turned to Annabeth. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“I need confirmation if you’re going or not, Annie.”

“Can’t I just let you know closer to the time?”

“No.” Silena crossed her arms.

“Why not?”

“Because that usually means you’re not coming.”

Fuck, she knows me too well. 

“Percy will be there.” Silena had a hopeful look in her eyes.

“Why does that matter?” Annabeth questioned.

“Don’t you guys have some sort of experiment?”

“Yes…”

“Exactly.” Silena nodded. “You can’t forget about that.”

Annabeth took a cookie from Percy’s hands. “I guess.”

“So, is that a yes?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, you didn’t say no either. Which means it’s up for interpretation.”

“That’s not how it wor—”

“Clarisse? Grover? Charles? You’ll come right.” Silena couldn’t sit still with excitement. “Nevermind, I already know the answer. WOO! We have a full house. Everyone’s coming.”

No one said anything. The room was in stunned silence, watching her celebrate.

Grover looked at Annabeth. “What just happened?”

“I wish I could tell you.” She bit into her cookie, before snatching the controller. “So, Jackson, how good are you at Mario Kart?”

He smirked. “Wanna find out?”

Chapter Text

As Annabeth made her way to Spanish Class, she felt a small buzz of excitement at the thought of seeing Percy. Since they’d established their friendship, spending so much time together had started to feel normal. Percy would automatically save a space for her at their lunch table, and she would always have a stack of waffles and chocolate ice cream ready for him at the diner. 

Annabeth walked through the classroom doors, and her brown eyes found his blue right away. He was leaning back in his chair, giving her a soft smile and a single wave. She dodged the other students in the room and made her way to the desk, dropping her bag on the floor. 

“You’re early,” She observed. “For once.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I’m just excited to learn Spanish?”

She snorted. “No.”

“Well, in that case, I’m here to prove my punctuality.” Percy opened his notebook and scribbled the date onto the corner of the page. “Where were you at lunch? Grover said you ran out of art class straight after the bell rang.” 

Annabeth uncapped her pen and began writing a new to-do list into her planner. “Right, that situation.” She sighed, recalling the conversation with her step-mom. “Helen called me, asking if I could pick the twins up after soccer training later tonight. I just left the room so no one would hear her screaming.”

“Are you okay?” He asked, concerned. 

“Oh yeah, I’m fine.” Surprisingly, Annabeth was being honest. “It just would’ve been embarrassing if everyone heard.”

“So, she does this a lot?”

“More often than not.”

Percy didn’t bring it up again. Instead, he started doodling on his page, sketching mythical creatures over and over, until Mrs Dodds entered the room. 

The teacher was carrying a pile of booklets and an irritable expression. “Hola, class. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to change today’s lesson plan as I’ve been thrown under the bus and been given another class’ tests to mark. So, while I’m going through these papers, I need you to go through pages 114 and 115 in your textbooks. That should keep you busy for the whole lesson.”

“This sucks.” Percy lowered his voice. “Who wants to just answer textbook questions for an hour? Can’t we just watch a movie in Spanish? Isn’t that more educational?”

“Shh.” Annabeth whacked his arm. “Do you not know how to whisper?”

He sank deeper into his chair. “This is gonna be a long day.” 

“I don’t know, I think it’ll be fun.”

“Have you hit your head?”

“No.” She drummed her fingers on the desk. “Think about it. If all we’re doing is textbook work, then we can just talk the whole time. It’s just like we’re in the library.”

Percy’s lips slowly formed a smile. “I like the way you think.”

Mrs. Dodds looked around the room. “You’ll be doing this activity in groups of four. So, if the first and third rows turn around, and work with the pair behind you, then that should work. I expect a quiet volume of speaking, nothing too disruptive.”

The class began moving. The pair of students in front of Annabeth and Percy, Rachel and Juniper, turned around and placed their notebooks and textbooks on their desk. 

“Hey, team.” Rachel beamed, looking at each of them.

Annabeth didn’t know a lot about Rachel, other than that she was an amazing oil painter, but she’d never spoken a word to her during their entire time at Goode. 

“Hello.” Juniper gave a shy wave.

Grover would be freaking out right now. 

It was no secret that Grover had a massive crush on Juniper, no matter how many times he denied it. He watched her from afar, waiting for the right moment to say something. It was adorable. 

“Hi.” Percy and Annabeth said in sync, clearly thinking the same thing.

“Should we start with the first section?” Juniper tapped the page timidly. “Unless if you guys would rather work in silence?”

“We can start.” Annabeth opened her textbook and pushed it between her and Percy. She read the first phrase out loud. “Mis comidas favoritas son las hamburguesas y las patatas fritas.” 

They scanned the multiple-choice answers below. “It’s Option D: My favourite foods are hamburgers and fries.” Percy nodded to himself. 

Annabeth smiled proudly. “Well done.”

“Thanks.” He wiggled his eyebrows, causing a muffled laugh to escape her lips. Percy read out the next phrase. “Vivo con mis dos hermanas y un hermano.”

Rachel leaned her head against her hand, ignoring the task. “Wow, it’s been a while.” She tapped her pen against her chin. And it took a while for Annabeth to realize she was directing her words to Percy.

He looked up from his notebook. “Uh, yeah.”

“We had a few classes together freshman year. I don’t know if you remember.”

“I remember you, Rachel. You were the girl who was really good at basketball. Everyone wanted you on their team in gym.” 

“Mhm.” She twirled a strand of red hair between her fingers. “We were in the same Math class too. Got paired up a couple times.”

“Oh shit, I remember that.” Percy smiled at the memory.

“Do you still suck at algebra?” Rachel teased. “I swear, you copied all my answers for at least two months.”

“Still suck at everything math.” He said, pressing his lips into a thin line. “And you can’t talk, you let me copy. Didn’t even try to stop me.”

“That’s because I had a massive crush on you.” She admitted. “Of course I was going to let you copy if that meant we had something to talk about.”

Annabeth almost choked on air, but quickly regained her composure. She cleared her throat. “The answer’s Option A, by the way. ‘I live with my two sisters and one brother’.”

Rachel quickly wrote down the letter ‘A’, her eyes never leaving Percy. “It’s a shame. We used to be friends… really good friends. I don’t know what happened.”

“I guess we just grew apart.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Happens to the best of us.”

Juniper moved onto the next question, working silently on her own, completely oblivious to the interaction taking place. 

“You’re Annabeth, right?” Rachel shifted the topic.

Annabeth’s eyes flicked towards hers. “Yeah.” 

She was pretty. Really pretty.

“We were in the same art class last year.” Rachel recalled.

“I know. You did the portraits they hung by the corridor.” 

“No way.” Percy smiled. “You did those?”

Rachel grinned, proudly. “Hell yeah. Those are my pride and joy.”

He lowered his pen, eyes lighting up. “I used to always look at those paintings when I was stalling before class. They’re some of the best art work I’ve ever seen.”

Annabeth’s heart sank, and she couldn’t understand why the praise stung so much. 

“Honestly, I haven’t been able to paint like that in a while. I’m super rusty now, and I barely have any time.” Rachel glanced down at the activity, casually writing an answer down. “The next answer’s B.”

“Well you should definitely get back into it.” Percy encouraged. “You could sell those pieces for a lot of money, maybe even take commissions.” He turned to his side. “Don’t you think, Annabeth?”

Annabeth forced a smile. Just be civil. “Yeah. Totally.” 

“That’s dreaming big. I only paint for fun.” Rachel dismissively waved her hand in the air. 

Percy rocked back on his chair. “Well, if you have any new pieces coming soon, I’d love to see them.” 

Rachel’s cheeks turned pink. “You’ll be the first to know.”

They’re friends. Percy can have other friends. It’s the same as if he was talking to Clarisse, or Grover.

“Sorry to interrupt your conversation,” Juniper spoke gently. “But I’m stuck on question nine.”

Silently, Annabeth thanked the Gods for the distraction. She focused back on the work, reviewing the options. “It’s Option D: My mother used to play the guitar.”

Rachel glanced at the textbook. “Actually, it’s C: My mother taught me how to play the guitar’.”

Annabeth’s head snapped back to the phrase. She read it out loud slowly. “Mi madre me enseñó a tocar la guitarra.” 

Fuck, she’s right. 

Percy gave a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay, Chase. Easy mistake.”

She didn’t know what was happening to her, just that Rachel was throwing her off completely. She couldn’t focus. She was making stupid mistakes. And she never made stupid mistakes.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you something.” Rachel said sweetly, her green eyes focusing on Percy.

“Sure.”

“After school a few of us are chilling at my house. We’ll probably order a takeaway or watch a movie. Something chill. You should definitely come. It will be fun, and we haven’t spoken in years, there’s a lot to catch up on.”

“He can’t.” Annabeth didn’t realize she was speaking until it was too late. “We have tutoring tonight.”

“Can’t you just move it tomorrow?” Rachel asked.

Annabeth didn’t have an answer. She just didn’t want her to win. “That won’t work.”

Rachel frowned, her voice becoming more annoyed. “Seriously, just reschedule. It’s not that hard.’

Her eyebrows drew together. “Uh, no he can’t just ‘reschedule’.” She said in a mocking tone. “He has a deadline, and he has to get a decent grade in this class before Christmas.” 

“He looks like he’s doing perfectly fine to me. He’s been answering a lot of questions in class lately.”

“He can only answer those questions because he’s staying consistent with his schedule.” 

“I’m sure one night won’t hurt.”

Annabeth took a deep breath. “Listen, Rachel. You seem… nice. But I’m sure you guys can hang out another day. Any day that’s not a Thursday.”

Rachel turned to Percy. “Do you always let her answer for you?”

That’s it. Forget being civil, she’s playing a very dangerous game. 

Annabeth gripped her pen so tight, she thought it might snap. “Of course he can answer for himself. I’m not holding him fucking captive.”

“Great.” Rachel linked her fingers together, placing her hands on the desk. “The choice is yours, Percy. Wanna have some fun tonight, or wanna drown in a bunch of worksheets?”

“Uh—” Percy looked back and forth between the two girls. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then turned to Annabeth. She knew exactly what was coming. “I promise this will be a one time thing. After this week, we’ll go back to normal.”

Her heart hammered in her chest.

Annabeth rotated so she was fully facing him. “Percy. You’re being impulsive. We’re on a tight fucking schedule. We’re covering a new topic every session. We can’t afford to skip another day.”

He looked conflicted. “I know, okay. But it’s been a long week for the both of us. Coach was being extra hard during training, and you’ve been working non-stop. I just think having a day off wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

“You’ve got to be joking.” She deadpanned.

“I want you to come with me.” Percy said hopeful. He glanced at Rachel. “Annabeth’s invited, right?”

“Of course.” Rachel said smugly.

Annabeth fought the urge to leap across the table and smack that dumb smirk off her lips. “I’m not going.” 

“Why am I not surprised?” Rachel said under her breath.

Annabeth felt the irritation spread across her body. “Do you have something you want to share with everyone else? Or are you just going to keep muttering to yourself like a coward?” 

Percy’s eyes widened. “Okay, let’s all just take a second—”

“Actually, I do have something to say.” Rachel cut him off. “You’re too much of a control freak. I mean seriously, planning out your every step is one thing, but doing it for someone else… That's pretty shit. There’s no need to force him to do some boring work after school.”

“Excuse me?” Annabeth spat out. “I’m not forcing him to do anything. Me and him made an agreement, which means we both need to play our part. This is serious shit we’re dealing with. So, I don’t give a fuck what you think, because I’m doing this for him. To help him.”

“Oh my Gods.” Rachel threw her arms up in the air exasperated. “You’re not his mother. Do you even know how to act like a normal teenager? Because this is just weird.”

Percy tried to speak again, but Annabeth held a strong arm in front of him. “You know what? Fine. You both can have a fun night of just being normal fucking teenagers. But in a few months, when Percy’s grades aren’t good enough, and he has to stop doing the one thing he’s most passionate about, you can be the one to explain to his parents why all the time and energy he’s spent after school has gone to shit.”

Rachel’s gaze hardened, then relaxed. A silent beat passed. “Tell me something, Annabeth.” She paused. “Has he asked for your help these past couple of weeks? Has he second-guessed his answers? Copied your work? Failed any of Mrs Dodd's pop quizzes? Googled a single answer? Cheated off anyone’s test?” 

The answer to every single question was no.

“That’s what I thought.” Rachel shrugged. “Sounds like to me… he doesn’t need you anymore.”

Annabeth stilled. 

“That’s enough!” Percy raised his voice. “You shouldn’t have said that!”

“Me? You’re telling me off?” She huffed. “I was just inviting you to have some fun, before she got in the way.”

“Forget the invite. I’m not going.” Percy said sternly.

“Look, I’m sorry if I hurt her feelings, but I was just stating the obvious.” Rachel looked around. “It’s just what everyone’s been saying.”

“What are you talking about?” 

“You don’t know?” She looked just as lost as him. “Everyone’s been talking about you guys. They’re saying that once you secure your spot in the swim team, you’ll drop her.”

This was it.

The truth Annabeth had been afraid of. 

The only reason they were friends was because of the agreement. That’s all any of this was: an experiment. And now, she wasn’t even sure if that still made their friendship real. She hated herself for even thinking that. 

“Who the fuck’s been saying that?!” Percy raised his voice.

“Mr Jackson!” Mrs Dodds yelled. “Watch your language!”

He ignored their teacher. “Give me names, Rachel!” He shouted. “I need names!”

“Percy Jackson, if you don’t lower your voice right now, there will be consequences!” Mrs Dodds pressed.

Rachel’s eyes flicked between him and Annabeth. She was fighting an internal battle, but eventually decided. “Luke Castellan.” 

Annabeth tensed. 

It’s happening again.

Rachel didn’t seem to notice. “He was talking about you at lunch last week. I guess the word just spread around.”

Percy’s chest was rising and falling rapidly. “That son of a bitch!”

“Detention, Percy Jackson!” Mrs Dodds stood up.

This was bad. Really bad. They’ll tell his coach that he was being disruptive in class, and then all his hard work will be for nothing. 

Do something, Annabeth. Anything.

“It’s my fault.” She blurted out. 

He looked at her, shaking his head. “What are you doing?” 

“Percy’s just mad because I provoked him.” 

“That’s not true, she’s lyin—”

“I should be in detention, not him.” 

“Don’t listen to her!” 

“He’s just trying to cover for me.”

Mrs Dodds slowly sat back down. “Well, in that case. You can join him after class, Miss Chase.”

“What?” Annabeth leaned forward on her desk. “I just told you, it’s my fault, not his.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the root cause of his outburst,” Mrs Dodds said coolly. “That doesn’t excuse Percy’s choice of ignoring my warnings. And if you’d like to keep arguing, I’ll gladly extend your detention to a full week. Is that clear?”

Percy and Annabeth nodded.

“Good.” Mrs Dodds checked the time. “The final bell is about to ring. You can all start packing your stuff. Mr Jackson and Miss Chase you can head to Room 101 straight away.”

The walk down the hallway was deafening. Annabeth had never been to detention before, and it worried her that she didn’t even care. All she could think about was the boy next to her. Every tiny detail of the lesson replayed in her mind on a loop.

Rachel’s invitation, Percy choosing her side, Annabeth getting that stupid question wrong. There were too many emotions swirling around her body, she felt like she might explode.

Room 101 was at the end of the corridor, and she braced herself for the judgemental looks she was about to receive on the other side. But to her surprise it was completely empty, except for Mr Brunner. He lifted his eyes from his computer, watching the pair of them enter the room.

“I received Mrs Dodds’ email about your disruption in class.” His shoulder sagged, in what Annabeth could only assume was disappointment.

She always loved Mr Brunner and thought he was an amazing teacher. His lessons were some of her favourite. So, having to listen to him give a lecture about how they’re being terrible students made her want to run out of the window. But instead, Ananbeth awkwardly rocked back and forth on her feet, while Percy looked unfazed.

“I’m actually supposed to be in a meeting in five minutes.” The teacher explained. “I wasn’t expecting a detention today, and I’m sure the same goes for you two.” His eyes zoned in on Annabeth. 

She remained silent. 

“I know you’re both very hardworking students, and I’m sure there’s been some sort of misunderstanding.”  He sighed, gesturing to the mess of books in front of him. “Just organize these onto the shelf in alphabetical order and once you’re done you can leave.” He moved past them in the doorway, giving them a wink. “We’ll keep this one between us.”

Annabeth turned to him. “So, you’re not going to put this on our record?”

Mr Brunner gave an understanding smile. “Let’s just say I’ll most likely forget by the end of my meeting.”

He was giving them a free pass. She’d never gotten detention before, and the unexpected kindness allowed her to breathe. Mr Brunner closed the door behind him, leaving the pair to start their task.

Percy moved first, picking up the closest pile of books and reading each title. He rearranged them accordingly, and occasionally Annabeth could feel his eyes on her. She avoided his gaze like it would burn, and instead made her way to the opposite end of the table, working through the stack of Latin books. 

She was prepared to spend the whole detention in silence, but as she headed to the bookshelf with her pile, Percy spoke first.

“Why did you do that?”

Here he goes. Another argument is definitely on its way.

Annabeth’s eyes were glued to her hands, focusing on the task. “I was thinking about Mr D, and how this might influence his decision for you. You’ve been doing really well in class, I didn’t want this to be the reason you got kicked off the team.”

“Fuck Mr D.” Percy exclaimed, frustratedly. “He’s never liked me anyways. But you… you’ve never gotten detention before, Beth. You shouldn’t have taken the blame.”

“I was telling the truth. You only started shouting because I was being an idiot. And what about swimming—”

“What about swimming? Yes, it’s important to me and I love being captain, but you shouldn’t feel the need to take the bullet for me. Especially, when you have a clean record.”

Annabeth chewed on her lip. “It doesn’t matter anyways. Mr Brunner said he wouldn’t add it to the system.”

“We got lucky with Brunner. That doesn’t usually happen, so don’t get comfortable with that kind of treatment.” Percy grew more agitated. “They could have given us a worse punishment. Called home. Called your step-mom.”

“Is that what you’re thinking about right now? Helen?” 

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking about. She was already giving you a hard time over the phone. Imagine if she got news about you being disruptive in class. It could have made everything ten-times worse.”

Annabeth stopped moving, her eyes fixed on the Latin textbook in her hands. The truth hit her all at once. They were both trying to protect each other. Each of them were willing to take the fall if it meant sparing the other. They were defending one another, even if it meant putting themselves on the line.

Annabeth tucked a braid behind her ear. “Look, Percy. I can deal with Helen. I’ve been dealing with her for most of my life. I don’t need you worrying about that.” 

“It’s hard not to worry about it.”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I.”

“Percy.”

He dragged a hand down his face. “Okay, sure. Only if you stop putting my position as captain before all your hard work.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

They might have settled it with words, but Annabeth still felt a knot tightening in her stomach. It didn’t feel right, truthfully, none of it did. But she pushed it to the side, and continued moving. Her brows scrunched together as she focused on every title and shelf she came across. She worked like a machine on autopilot, crossing the room again and again. 

By the time she finished a row, minutes had passed. Stepping back, she took in the neat line of books and allowed herself a sliver of satisfaction. At least she’d done one thing right, because everything else today had felt like a failure. And she hated herself for letting her emotions get the better of her.

“Are you still mad at me for taking the blame?” Percy’s voice cut through her thoughts. 

“What? No.”

“Then what’s bothering you?”

“Nothing.” She lied.

“Well it’s definitely something.” He sighed. “You haven't even looked at me since we left Mrs Dodds’ class.”

Shit. He was right.

Annabeth turned around. “Well, I’m looking at you now.”

“Not correctly.”

She blinked at him. “Huh?” 

“I just mean that you haven’t looked at me like that in a while.”

“And how exactly am I looking at you right now?

Percy sighed deeply. “Like you want to punch a wall… or me.” His hands gripped the edge of the table. “Lately, you’ve been looking at me like you actually enjoy my company. But something’s changed.”

“I do enjoy your company. You’re my friend.”

“Yeah, well you look like you’d rather be anywhere else but here. With me.”

Annabeth took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. “I’m just thinking. That’s all.”

“About Mr Brunner?”

“No.”

“About Mrs Dodds?”

“No.”

“About Helen?”

“Definitely not.”

“Then what—”

“I’m thinking about Rachel.” Annabeth’s eyes widened with surprise as the words left her mouth.

“Rachel?” Percy asked, confused. “You’re thinking about— is this because she invited me to hangout?”

It was so much more than just an invitation to Annabeth. It opened doors to new emotions she never knew she could feel. An emotion that scared her.

Jealousy. 

She was jealous that  Percy and Rachel got along so well. Everything felt so complex, she couldn’t make sense of it. The knot inside of her tightened. 

She forced herself to keep eye contact with him. “I just felt so… ugh… embarrassed."

“Why?” 

“She clearly wanted you to pick her over me, and… well… you did.”

Percy looked at her with complete bewilderment. “No, I didn’t. I would never choose to spend time with her over you.”

Annabeth felt her heart hammering against her chest. “You wanted to cancel our tutoring session to go to her house. I think it’s fair to say that you did.”

“I only said yes because I thought we could go together. I figured it might be a good chance for you to meet new people. To extend Operation Socialization.”

“What?”

“You’re my friend Beth. I like our library sessions, it’s like the highlight of my week. I wouldn’t miss it for anything, and definitely not to hang out with someone who I haven’t talked to in years.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I just wanted to reschedule because… I feel guilty.”

“I’m not following.” 

“I feel guilty that you spend so much time thinking about my problems when you’ve already got your own shit to deal with. I mean, you said it yourself, it’s senior year. We’re supposed to be preparing for life after high school. And knowing you, there’s probably a hundred things on your to-do list before we graduate.” 

He paused, then met her eyes. “So… I’m sorry if it felt like I was choosing her over you. That was never my intention.” Percy’s voice softened. “You already help me out so much, Beth. You deserve to rest too. You deserve to have a break.”

Annabeth felt like she was having whiplash. One second she wanted to yell at him, the next she wanted to cry. Hearing Percy say out loud what she hadn’t even admitted to herself hit her hard: she was tired, overwhelmed, and falling behind. He saw her. Every part of her. Even the parts she struggled to understand. 

“You always speak so highly of me.” Annabeth’s voice was quiet. 

“Because I admire every little thing about you. Your resilience. Your drive. Your strength. It’s… infectious.” Percy gave a soft laugh. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’re kind of incredible. Being around you makes me want to do better. Be better.” 

“You’re joking?”

“Not even a little.” A genuine smile tugged at his lips. “But I also need you to take care of yourself. I need you to stop pushing so hard you burnout. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

Annabeth traveled across the room, until she was right in front of him. Percy watched her. He didn’t move. Not even an inch. She took a step closer, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face into the fabric of his hoodie. She breathed in his scent. “Thank you, Percy. For being you.”

He hesitated before lifting his arms and returning the hug. “Back at you, Chase.” He gently squeezed Annabeth closer to him. 

“What about the Luke thing?” She asked. “What do we do about that?”

“I’ll sort it out.”

She pulled back. “Don’t do something stupid.”

“Define stupid.”

She stared at him, horrified.

“Im kidding. I won’t.” He paused. “Maybe.”

“Percy!”

“Okay.” He laughed. “Bad joke.” His hands shot up in surrender. “I promise I won’t do something stupid.”

Chapter Text

Friday, October 17th 

11:47 PM - PERCY

Day 1 of fall break and I’ve already eaten all the snacks

11:52 PM - ANNABETH

Were they Estelle’s?

11:52 PM - PERCY

No???

11:54 PM - ANNABETH

Then I don’t care

11:57 PM - PERCY

Why do you like my sister more than me

11:57 PM - PERCY

She’s not that much cuter. sigh

11:59 PM - ANANBETH

I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that

12:02 AM - PERCY

It’s the truth. We share 50% of our DNA 

12:02 AM - ANNABETH

It’s 25%, Seaweed Brain. Go to bed. 

12:03 AM - PERCY

Fine.

12:04 AM - PERCY

Good night, Beth

Saturday, October 18th

9:19 AM - PERCY

Just got shouted at by Coach D for almost drowning

9:20 AM - PERCY

You’d think he’d have a little sympathy

9:20 AM - ANANBETH

Push him into the pool

9:21 AM - PERCY

Do you want me to die??!!!

9:21 AM - PERCY

He’d strangle me 

9:21 AM - ANNABETH

Can I watch?

9:22 AM - PERCY

You’re evil.

9:22 AM - ANNABETH

I can’t believe you still have to go to school during break. You just can’t escape

9:23 AM - PERCY

Tell me about it. Is suffering during most of the year not enough?

9:23 AM - PERCY

I’m doing a breaststroke race next week

9:23 AM - PERCY

I hate breaststroke

9:24 AM - ANNABETH

They’ve really thrown you into the deep end ;)

9:24 AM - PERCY

Wow, Wise Girl’s got jokes.

9:24 AM - ANNABETH

Thank you, thank you. I’ve been waiting to use that one

9:24 AM - ANNABETH

Can’t you just ask someone else to cover your race

9:25 AM - PERCY

Can’t. I’m already covering for Charles, and I owe him one 

9:25 AM - ANNABETH

Well, I tried

9:25 AM - PERCY

Barely

9:26 AM - PERCY

Got to go before Coach D catches me on my phone

9:26 AM - ANNABETH

How rebellious of you

9:26 AM - PERCY

Shush. I’m living dangerously

Monday, October 20th

3:30 PM - ANNABETH

I may or may not have burnt the toast again…

3:40 PM - PERCY

At this point it’s impressive

3:42 PM - ANNABETH

I told them not to trust me

3:42 PM - ANNABETH

They didn’t listen

3:43 PM - PERCY

Isn’t it literally just…putting bread in a toaster?

3:43 PM - ANNABETH

Leave me alone. It was on the wrong setting

3:44 PM - PERCY

You’re a lost cause

3:44 PM - PERCY

Stay far away from the toaster, for everyone’s safety

3:45 PM - ANNABETH

Hey, I’m not disagreeing

3:46 PM - ANNABETH

We’re just crazy understaffed today 

3:46 PM - PERCY

What time did you start work?

3:47 PM - ANNABETH

5:00 AM

3:47 PM - PERCY

It’s almost 4:00 PM

3:48 PM - ANNABETH

Like I said, we're crazy understaffed. So I picked up a double shift 

3:48 PM - ANNABETH

I’m on my break

3:48 PM - PERCY

Gods, you must be exhausted

3:49 PM - ANNABETH

It’s good money

3:50 PM - PERCY

Still

3:51 PM - PERCY

Want some company?

3:51 PM - ANNABETH

And you distract me? No thanks 

3:52 PM - PERCY

I would have said like two words to you. I’m really there for the waffles

3:53 PM - PERCY

It’s great having a friend who gets free breakfast whenever they want

3:53 PM - ANNABETH

I’m glad you’re enjoying MY free meals. I should ban you from ever coming back

3:54 PM - PERCY

That’s quite literally impossible. Mary loves me too much

3:55 PM - ANNABETH

I wish you were lying 

3:55 PM - PERCY

I heard you’re getting new toppings

3:55 PM - PERCY

Need a free taster?

3:55 PM - ANNABETH

You’re not qualified enough

3:56 PM - PERCY

Have they seen me in the kitchen? I’m very qualified

3:57 PM - ANNABETH

You may be amazing at making cookies and milkshakes but that doesn’t mean you’re getting special treatment 

3:57 PM - PERCY

You give me special treatment 

3:58 PM - ANNABETH

Wrong

3:58 PM - PERCY

Right

3:58 PM - ANNABETH

No

3:58 PM - PERCY

Yes

3:58 PM - ANNABETH

STOP

3:59 PM - PERCY

GO

3:59 PM - ANNABETH

I’m leaving now

Tuesday, October 21st 

1:37 PM - PERCY

Who sets homework during break?

2:01 PM - ANNABETH

Almost every teacher

2:05 PM - PERCY

Mrs Dodds hates us

2:05 PM - PERCY

This is impossible!!!!!!

2:06 PM - ANNABETH

What question are you on?

2:06 PM - PERCY

Section 3, question B

2:11 PM - ANNABETH

Describing future plans?

2:11 PM - PERCY

That’s the one

2:11 PM - ANNABETH

Check our old tutor sheets. We covered that a few weeks ago

2:12 PM - PERCY

You’re a genius

2:12 PM - PERCY

What would I do without you

2:14 PM - ANNABETH

Probably fail Spanish

2:15 PM - PERCY

Ouch. That’s a touchy subject

2:15 PM - PERCY

Have you started the homework yet?

2:16 PM - ANNABETH

I finished it, Friday night

2:18 PM - PERCY

And you didn’t send it to me?!!

2:19 PM - PERCY

You’re worse than Dodds

2:21 PM - ANNABETH

You’ll be fine. We’ve gone through every single question already

2:21 PM - PERCY

I should be sleeping or partying, not doing work

2:22 PM - ANNABETH

You’re going to Clarisse’s tonight

2:22 PM - ANNABETH

You can look forward to that

2:26 PM - PERCY

You’re not going?

2:27 PM - ANNABETH

The Nutcracker Rehearsals start tonight 

2:29 PM - PERCY

Oh shit. You never told me what role you got

2:30 PM - ANNABETH

Would you believe me if I said The Sugar Plum Fairy? 

2:30 PM - PERCY

WHAT

2:30 PM - PERCY

SERIOUSLY??

2:30 PM - PERCY

THIS BETTER NOT BE A PRANK

2:30 PM - PERCY 

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT

2:31 PM - PERCY

WE HAVE TO TELL THE GROUP

2:31 PM - ANNABETH

STOP SCREAMING AT ME

2:31 PM - ANNABETH

But thank you :)

2:32 PM - PERCY

This is insane! 

2:32 PM - PERCY

How have you kept this a secret?

2:33 PM - ANNABETH

I was scared I wasn’t going to get the part, so I kept my mouth shut

2:33 PM - PERCY

Well shit

2:33 PM - PERCY

I’ll have a drink for you tonight

2:34 PM - ANNABETH

You just want to get drunk

2:35 PM - PERCY

…Maybe 

2:35 PM - PERCY

But I’ll still celebrate your win

2:38 PM - ANNABETH

Does that involve tequila? 

2:39 PM - PERCY

Obviously

2:41 PM - ANNABETH

Keep that shit away from me

2:41 PM - PERCY

Truth or drink part 2??

2:41 PM - ANNABETH

No.

12:12 AM - PERCY

M3uOkkijiaHw../HNIHUBbh1

12:16 AM - ANNABETH

Hello?

12:44 AM - PERCY

Clarie trrd to steal mY phhone

12:48 AM - ANNABETH

Clarie?

12:50 AM - PERCY

i mEnt Clarisse

12:51 AM - PERCY

She’s tryin to steal my Phne

12:51 AM - PERCY

Wrds are blurrry

12:52 AM - ANNABETH

Are you drunk?

12:54 AM - PERCY

Very

12:54 AM - ANNABETH

How are you getting home?

12:57 AM - PERCY

Charless sss

12:57 AM - ANNABETH

Has he been drinking too?

12:58 AM - PERCY

NOpe

12:58 AM - ANNABETH

Okay

12:59 AM - ANNABETH

Stay safe

Wednesday, October 22nd

10:49 AM - ANNABETH

How’s the head doing?

11:05 AM - PERCY

Don’t even think it’s attached to my body

11:06 AM - PERCY

The room is still spinning

11:09 AM - ANNABETH

I’m not surprised. It looked like you were just slamming your keyboard

11:09 AM - PERCY

I TEXTED YOU????

11:10 AM - ANNABETH

Scroll up, idiot

11:15 AM - PERCY

Oh good. I didn’t say anything embarrassing

11:15 AM - ANNABETH

You embarrass yourself everyday

11:15 AM - ANNABETH

You couldn’t say anything THAT bad

11:18 AM - PERCY

You don’t even know

Friday, October 24th

9:29 PM - PERCY

What’s your favourite animal?

9:37 PM - ANNABETH

Owls

9:39 PM - PERCY

What a random answer

9:40 PM - ANNABETH

What a smart** answer

9:40 PM - ANNABETH

They’re incredibly wise and calm under pressure

9:40 PM - ANNABETH

They also just look cool

9:41 PM - PERCY

So basically you like them because they’re just like you

9:42 PM - ANNABETH

Precisely 

9:43 PM - ANNABETH

Yours is definitely a dog

9:43 PM - PERCY

I love dogs with all my heart buuuuttt

9:44 PM - PERCY

I’d probably say dolphins

9:44 PM - ANNABETH

You’re really staying on the aquatic theme aren't you

9:44 PM - PERCY

Yep

9:45 PM - PERCY

Think about it, they’re so fun and playful but also extremely protective 

9:46 PM -PERCY

Some may say they’re just like me ;)

9:46 PM - ANNABETH

Literally no one is saying that

9:46 PM - ANNABETH

The room is silent right now…

9:47 PM - PERCY

You suck

9:47 PM - ANNABETH

Thanks. 

9:47 PM - ANNABETH 

So do you

9:47 PM - PERCY

Thanks.

10:18 PM - PERCY

What are you doing right now?

10:20 PM - ANNABETH

Depends why you’re asking

10:22 PM - PERCY

Wanna call?

10:25 PM - ANNABETH
Is there a specific reason why

10:25 PM - ANNABETH

Or is texting just not cutting it anymore?

10:40 PM - PERCY

I miss your voice

Annabeth’s thumbs hovered over the keyboard. She stared at the text, her breath hitching, and her heart quickening. She watched as his typing bubbles appeared and disappeared on the screen. 

10:43 PM - PERCY

I used to hear you complaining everyday and now it just feels weird

10:43 PM - PERCY

Do I sound crazy?

10:46 PM -  ANNABETH

You always sound crazy

10:48 PM - ANNABETH

But I suppose I miss your voice too

Without second guessing herself, Annabeth clicked on Percy’s contact and pressed the call button. She was nervous. Really nervous. Which felt stupid since she always spoke to him. But for some reason this felt different. And it made her feel insane. She was in her room, lying in her bed, waiting for Percy to pick up. She held her phone to her ear.

Ring.

What the fuck, am I doing?

Ring.

This is normal, Annabeth. This is what normal people do, for fucks sake.

Ring.

What if he doesn’t pick up? 

The ringing stopped.

“Hey.” 

His voice. Gods, his voice made her want to squeeze her eyes shut and savour every last drop of it. He sounded exactly like he always did, and yet it made her entire body tingle.

“Hey.” Annabeth released a breath. And as she stared up at her ceiling, she couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her lips.

“What’s so funny?” 

“Nothing.” She laughed again. “Just… this is so weird.”

Percy chuckled. “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“You sound like you just woke up? Did you have a nap?” She asked.

“No.” She could practically hear the smile in his words. “My voice always sounds this hot. But thanks for noticing.”

“Gross.” Annabeth rolled her eyes. 

“You like it. There’s no point denying.”

“I tolerate it. And I tolerate you.”

“One day, Beth. You’re just gonna have to accept the truth.”

“And what exactly is the truth?”

“That maybe… you miss me too.”

Annabeth’s eyes grew wide. “I said I miss your voice, dumbass. That’s completely different.”

“Sure, whatever you say.”

“I can hear you smirking. Stop it.”

Percy laughed. “I’m not smirking.”

“You were.”

“Not anymore.” He sounded like he was shifting. “Friends are allowed to miss each other. You know that, right?”

“Of course I know that.”

“Same way you can miss Thalia, or Silena, or Grover. It’s okay to miss me too.”

Annabeth scoffed. “If the whole point of this call is wanting me to say that I miss your company, then you better hang up. Those words aren’t leaving my mouth.”

Percy tutted, “So, so stubborn.” He paused for a moment. “What did you eat for dinner?”

She shook her head at his sudden change of topic. “Spaghetti carbonara.”

“What the fuck, I’m jealous. I want some carbonara.”

Annabeth played with one of her braids. “Sounds like you’re not satisfied with whatever you ate. Which is very hard to believe since your mom’s an amazing cook.”

“That’s the thing. I came home late from practice and just ended up making myself a cheese sandwich.”

“Sounds dry.”

“Yep. We ran out of ham and every sauce you could imagine. Talk about bad timing.”

“Even ketchup?”

“Yes, even ketchup.” Percy sighed.

“Your race is tomorrow, isn’t it?” 

“Unfortunately.”

“How are you feeling?” Annabeth asked.

“Well, it’s breaststroke. So, nothing positive.”

“They wouldn’t have given it to you if they thought you were shit.”

“I wish that was the truth.”

Annabeth stood up, and started walking around her room aimlessly. “You’ll be great. You’re amazing at swimming.”

“Sorry, what was that? It almost sounded like a compliment.”

“Swimming’s kind of the only thing I can’t insult you on.” She said, “So consider yourself lucky.”

“Speaking of insults.” The sound of paper rustling came through the phone. “Wanna check my answers for the Spanish homework?”

“I don’t get paid nearly enough to be your tutor.”

“You don’t get paid at all.”

“Exactly my point. But send me pics.”

He let out a cheer. “You’re the best.”

Saturday, October 25th 

“Well? Don’t keep me waiting. How did it go?” Annabeth was hiding in one of the toilets in Circe’s Diner. She only had an hour left of her shift, but she couldn’t wait any longer. She had to call Percy, and ask about his race.

“You know, I would have called you once you got home.”

“Stop changing the subject.”

“Fine, fine.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I got 3rd place!”

“No way!” Annabeth tried to keep her voice down. “You actually did it.”

“Hell yeah I did. It almost cost me my life, but it was so worth it.” He winced. “I felt like my lungs were gonna burst.”

“Forget about your lungs, you came 3rd! That’s insanely good, especially for someone who hates breaststroke.” She smiled. “Congrats, Seaweed Brain.”

“Thanks, Wise Girl.”

The door in front of Annabeth burst open with Joe standing on the other side, wearing his apron. He crossed his arms. “Busted.”

Sunday, October 26th

“It’s not working.” Annabeth groaned.

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.” Percy said, through the phone. “Youtube specifically said to close all the tabs and just reset the device.”

It was Sunday evening, and Annabeth was attempting to fix her broken laptop with Percy’s help.

“I’ve reset the device at least five times now, and it’s still not working.”

“Okay, the most important thing is we stay calm—”

“What the fuck is wrong with this thing!” Annabeth gripped her desk. “It won’t stop glitching!”

“I see we’re not staying very calm.”

“My college essay is on here, and I swear to the Gods if it gets deleted I’m going to hurt someone!”

“And I pray to the Gods that that someone isn’t me.” Percy said. “Maybe it has a virus.” 

“Or maybe it’s broken and needs to get a grip.”

“You could try letting it cool off. Maybe it’s heating up too much.”

Annabeth stared at her phone. “What kind of useless advice is that? I haven’t touched the thing all break. Why would it need to cool off?”

“Woah now, I’m not the one threatening laptops with serious harm.” Percy said in defense. 

“This thing is a piece of crap.”

“Bring it to school tomorrow, and I’ll see if I can help.” 

Annabeth sighed. “Are you some sort of tech genius?”

“No…”

“Then what’s the point? We’ve been through every single youtube tutorial and laptop based website.”

“I can bring it to Paul. He’s weirdly good with devices. Then I’ll return it on Tuesday.”

Annabeth paused, and thought about the offer. “Could he fix it?”

“He used to work in IT. I’m sure he can do something.”

“Thank fuck. I was about to have a breakdown.”

“Yeah, I could tell.” Percy softly laughed. “Are we still working on our essays tomorrow?”

Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. “Shit. I forgot to tell you.”

“What?”

“I said I’d help Thals and Silena with theirs since it’s the only time we’re all free.”

“Why don’t you bring them along?” He asked.

“Really?”

“Yeah. We could even make it a group thing. I’ll ask everyone else if they want to work on theirs too. I don’t see why they’d say no. It’s a great way to get other people’s opinions.”

Annabeth nodded. “Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”

“Great.” He added.

“Perfect.”

“Superb.” 

She drummed her fingers on the desk. “So, I’ll see you around tomorrow?”

“Definitely. I’ll come and annoy you.”

“As always.”

“As always.” Percy laughed. “See ya, Beth.”

She chewed her lip. “Bye, Percy.”

Chapter Text

“Just go through it again, Annie, I think you’re reading it wrong. Personally, I think it’s really good.” Silena shoved her laptop forward.

“It is good.” Annabeth lightly pushed the laptop away. “Really good even. But I’m just suggesting you make it slightly more personal to you.” 

“Is this not personal enough? All I’m doing is talking about myself.”

“You want it to stand out. You want the reader to not put it down. Let them see your personality through the words you write. So, make it more specific, like including certain moments in your life that connect to the message you’re trying to convey.”

“Do I have to do all of that? Isn’t being senior class president enough?”

“Just accept defeat, Lena. She’s not going to budge.” Thalia said, eyes still glued to her screen. “Make the changes, and call it a day.”

“I’m just trying to help.” Annabeth said. "Isn't that what you guys wanted?”

Silena sighed. “It is. I’m sorry, I just thought it was perfect already.”

“It will be, once you add a few adjustments.” Annabeth tried to encourage. “I promise it will be worth it.”

“I wish I was as smart as you. Then this would be a million times easier.”

“You’re not alone.” A deep voice came from behind. “Everyone wishes they were as smart as Annabeth.” 

She turned around to find Percy and his friends approaching. This was the first time Annabeth had seen him in person since before fall break. That was before the late-night texts and regular phone calls.

He looked so… himself. 

And just like that, her mood was lifted, and she couldn’t fight the slow thrill building in her chest. 

The trio had already been working outside the school on one of the picnic tables for twenty minutes, waiting for the others to arrive so they could start their study session. 

“You're late.” Thalia said straight-faced. 

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Percy scratched the back of his neck, looking at Annabeth. “I hadn’t read any of your texts until we got to the library. I didn’t realize we moved locations.”

“It’s fine.” Annabeth lowered her bag, creating space next to her. “It was a last minute change anyways. The library was too full, we couldn’t find a big enough table.”

He sat down next to her, pulling out his materials and settling in. “It’s a blessing in disguise. It was crowded as fuck once we arrived.”

“Well then, that works out perfectly.”

Percy pointed at her laptop. “You fixed it.”

“Yeah, turns out it just needed to be updated. Guess all that frustration was for nothing.”

“Seems like it.”

Clarisse watched their interaction. “I’m also glad we’re not in the library, thanks for asking.” She took the seat next to Thalia. “I hate that place. Way too many nerds in one area.”

Charles and Grover squeezed next to Percy. 

“Do you always have to say something stupid?” Charles asked. “It’s like you can’t help yourself.”

“Maybe I can’t.” Clarisse shrugged.

“Well, you should.” Charles grumbled.

“Oooo.” She taunted. “Was that a threat, Beckendorf?”

“I’ll rip your eyes out.” 

Clarisse stuck her middle finger out.

“I wish I had normal friends.” Grover opened his laptop. “It would reduce my stress by a billion.”

“You have other friends. You just choose to stick with us. So, really, whose fault is it?” Clarisse asked.

“Yours.” He said dryly.

She kicked his leg. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

It felt strangely comforting to Annabeth that they had all agreed to meet up after school. She’d never had a close-knit group of friends before, and for the first time, she felt like she belonged.

Percy shook his head. “This is why I don’t take them anywhere. Just ignore them, eventually they just become background noise.”

“I don’t know, it’s kind of entertaining.” Annabeth carried on typing. “Makes studying a lot less boring.”

He shot her a puzzled look. “Is this the same girl who always wants to work in deathly silence?” His hand pressed against her forehead. “Are you feeling okay?” 

She slowly pried it off. “I feel perfectly fine.”

“Are you sure? Because now would be the perfect time to admit that you have a secret twin who’s been trying to pose as you.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes, fondly. “What is your problem? Can I not just be in a good mood?”

Percy gave an amused smirk. “Oh, okay. So, you’re just happy is what I’m hearing.”

“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be. I’m here with all my friends on a warm fall afternoon, sitting on the field, doing work.” She smiled. “I’m just feeling… content.” 

“Really?” His smirk was growing. “That’s good to know.”

Annabeth broke away from her screen, turning to him. She traced his features with her eyes, and smiled softly at the familiarity his presence brought. 

Yeah… she missed him.

Clarisse gagged from across the table, catching their attention. “Charles, I give you permission to rip my eyes out now.”

The group decided to work in silence for the next hour. The only sound surrounding them was fallen leaves rustling in the grass, and students in the distance doing their after-school sports. It had been unexpectedly productive, which surprised Annabeth. She managed to add a few more paragraphs and change some errors. 

The atmosphere was peaceful and calm… until Percy broke the quiet… for the fifth time.

“I need another word for inspiring.”

“Dude.” Grover sighed. “We’ve already given you five other synonyms. Can’t you just google it?”

“Why would I do that when you’re all right here in front of me?”

Thalia pressed her fingers against her temples. “Just use uplifting and shut up.”

“That’s so dull. Give me another one.”

“Oh, I know.” Silena perked up. “How about life-changing?”

“Slightly dramatic, but I love the effort.” 

Clarisse rolled her eyes. “Gods, just write the word transformative and let’s move on.”

“That doesn’t even sound like me.”

“None of it sounds like you,” Clarisse argued. “Because you keep asking us for stupid words like we’re a walking thesaurus.”

“Can we kick her out already?” Percy looked around for support.

Charles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Galvanizing is a good one. Use that.”

“Is that even a word?”

“Yes, it’s a word, Perce.” Charles sighed.

“Are you fucking with me? It feels like you’re fucking with me.”

“Why would I be fucking with you?”

“I don’t know? You’re all giving me death glares.”

Annabeth finally stopped typing. “Empowering’. She said, glancing at Percy. “It’s simple but effective. Plus, it actually sounds like something you’d write.”

“Empowering.” Percy repeated slowly. “I like it.”

“Shocker, he picked Annabeth’s word.” Clarisse said sarcastically. “Am I seriously the only one seeing this shit?”

“I personally would have chosen life-changing,” Silena stated. “It adds more emotion to your writing.”

Thalia patted her friend's shoulder. “It’s a great word, Lena. We just had to dumb it down to Percy’s standards.”

“Wow, this is the opposite of a support group. None of you are being supportive.” Percy narrowed his eyes on everyone. “Shame on all of you.”

“We’re a study group, not a support group, Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth whispered to him. “Those are two very different things."

“Oh, right… still.” He huffed. “You’re the most judgemental people I’ve ever met.” Theatrically, he put a hand on his heart like he had been shot.

Clarisse looked at him in disbelief. “We’re friends with an absolute loser.”

Grover rubbed his eyes. “Okay, why don’t we take a break from our own essays and read each other’s? We can give feedback and reset our brains… also, maybe it will stop us from killing each other.”

Everyone agreed, and within seconds laptops were being passed to the person on their left: 

Annabeth to Percy.

Percy to Charles.

Charles to Grover.

Grover to Clarisse.

Clarisse to Thalia.

Thalia to Silena.

And, Silena back to Annabeth.

They proceeded to read the new essays, keeping tabs on positive and negative aspects. Annabeth smiled as she noticed the changes Silena made to her writing. She’d taken Annabeth’s advice and used more personal experiences. It worked really well, showing exactly who Silena was as a person. Annabeth felt genuinely proud.

“‘I don’t back down from a challenge. I conquer it.’” Thalia read outloud. “Seriously?” 

“What?” Clarisse arched a brow. “It sounds passionate to me.”

“Are you applying to be a college student or a gladiator? You’re gonna scare the admissions officers away.”

“They’ll love it.” Clarisse dismissively waved her hand in the air. “It shows them I’m a warrior.”

Thalia snorted. “Are these one of your daily affirmations you say before leaving the house, or is this something you just whisper to yourself in the mirror?”

“No need to be jealous of my creative writing skills. I know you lack in that department.”

“‘Pain was my greatest teacher, but I stood my ground.’” Thalia laughed. “This is gold. It just keeps getting worse.”

“What? Those are my emotional one-liners.”

“‘Through blood, sweat, and tears I earned my victory?’ Yeah, sounds really moving to me.”

While the two argued back and forth repeatedly, Percy leaned closer to Annabeth and said in hushed tones. “This is really good.”

“Thanks.” She shyly replied. “I had writer’s block for a while, but I think I managed to capture the tone I wanted.”

The corners of Percy’s lips lifted slightly. “It’s impressive. I could never write something this honest and captivating.”

“Yeah, you can.”

“No, I really can’t. I struggle to put my thoughts into words, it’s like I know exactly what I want to say, but my brain gets all tangled up.”

Annabeth nodded. “That makes sense. Maybe you just need to take time to process it all. You could be feeling overwhelmed or pressured since there's a deadline.” She smiled. “Sometimes, if you just write a little bit everyday it can help. Slow your brain down. Give it time to understand all the different thoughts and ideas it has. We’re not machines; there’s only so much we can take.”

Annabeth’s words reminded her of what Percy said during their detention. How he wanted her to rest and take care of herself. She was learning so much from him about her own strengths and weaknesses, that she wanted to give back.

“So, a little day by day?” He asked.

“A little day by day.” She repeated.

He watched her. “You know, you’d make one hell of a motivational speaker.”

Annabeth laughed. “Just for college applicants?”

“And for me. You just suck all the negativity out.”

“Sounds intense,” She joked.

“Oh, it is.” Percy tapped the wooden material in front of him. “How have The Nutcracker rehearsals been?”

“Long.” She exhaled. “And it’s just gonna get harder from here.”

“You’ve got this. You just need to find a balance between everything.”

“I guess. It’s just… I don’t know… a lot? I’ve already given up a lot of work shifts for this term, to make time for rehearsals, and finding a new routine is worrying me.”

“You don’t like change?”

Annabeth shrugged. “I don’t mind it. But I feel like… like I’m doing it on my own. And that’s scaring me the most. My dance teacher trusts me with such a big role and I really don’t want to let her down. I also don’t want to let my coworkers down at the Diner, or even myself. It’s almost… suffocating.”

Percy gave a sympathetic look, he looked like he was itching to comfort her. “I may not be a ballerina, or a waitress, but I am here for you. Through the highs and lows. Through all of it. And if you need a distraction, or just someone to help you let go of the intensity, then just give me a call. Since we do that now.” He winked at the last part.

Annabeth scoffed, but a smile betrayed her. “I should have never called you that night.”

“Oh, you so wanted to though.”

“Nice try, but I’m not giving you the satisfaction.”

He let out a low whistle. “Tough crowd.”

Both their attention snapped to the other side of the table, where the bickering had escalated to the point it was impossible to ignore.

“I’m just saying you sound insane.” Thalia gestured to the essay in front of her. “You could benefit a lot from toning it down. Less of shoving your aggressiveness in their face.”

“I’ll shove my fist in your face if you don’t quit being an ass.” Clarisse growled.

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Right here, right now!”

Thalia stood up. “Let’s go!”

Clarisse stood up too. “Bring it on, Pinecone face!”

“Both of you stop it!” Charles placed a firm hand on either one of their shoulders, pushing them back onto the bench. “Is it that hard for you guys to just stop screaming at each other?”

“...Yes.” They both said in unison.

“This is useless.” Charles threw his hands in the air.

“Okay, that’s enough essay talk for today.” Grover gently shut their laptops. “Let’s just talk about normal shit for a second to cool down. Like the party.”

Annabeth closed her laptop. “What party?”

“The Halloween party. This weekend.” 

“Ooo yes, I know about this one.” Silena scooted forward. “There’s a massive costume party, and it's an open invite. Which means we’re all going.”

“We are?” Thalia raised her brow. “Why are we moving as a pack now? First, new years plans, now this?”

“Don’t ruin it for me.” Silena glared. “Let’s all dress up, have some fun, and forget about these stupid college applications. I think we all need a break from school.”

“It’s only our first day back.” Annabeth stated. 

“Well, it’s the longest first day of my life. Look, we can all find a last minute costume and do fun teenage stuff for a night.” Silena tilted her head to the other side of the bench. “Boys?”

“Oh, we’re in.” Grover nodded. “I’ve already ordered my outfit, so we have to go.”

She turned to her side. “Clarisse?”

“Only if Thalia promises to keep her distance.”

Silena smiled. “She can definitely do that.”

“This is fucked up.” Thalia looked between them. “I hate parties.”

“There’ll be free alcohol.” Charles tried to reason.

She let out a laugh. “Well, you should have started with that. I would have agreed ages ago.”

Percy nudged Annabeth. “What do you say, Chase? We’ll all be there.”

“She doesn’t have a choice, she’s going. I already have her costume ready.” Silena squealed.

“You do?” Annabeth asked.

“Duh.”

Annabeth looked at Percy and the sincere gleam in his eyes. “Okay, I’ll go.”

“This is going to be the best night. We can take really fun group pictures together, and mingle with new people. I heard students from all the local schools will be attending, which would give us a perfect opportunity to—” Silena’s sentence was cut off when a brown wet liquid landed on her arm. She shrieked. “AHHHHHHHH!! WHAT IS THAT?!”

Thalia slapped her hand over her mouth. “No way!” She tried to fight the laugh, threatening to escape her lips. “I think you just got a shat on by a bird.”

“WHAT?!” Silena bolted out of her seat and looked at the poo on her arm. “OH MY GODS! OH MY GODS! OH MY GODS! GET IT OFF ME!”

Now Thalia really did laugh. “Just calm down, okay? Let me grab some tissue from the toilet and we can clea—”

“TISSUE?? TISSUE WON’T BE ENOUGH TO REMOVE THIS… THIS… THIS UGH!” She grabbed her bag and stormed off towards the nearest school building. 

“Where are you going?” Annabeth watched as she bolted down the field.

“TO DISINFECT MY ENTIRE BODY! THERE IS LITERALLY BIRD FECES ON ME!!”

Percy blinked at the others. “She’s kind of scary when she’s mad.” 

Annabeth nodded. “Yeah, she definitely is.”

“Should one of us go and check on her?” Grover asked, concerned.

“Only if you want your head ripped off.” Thalia pressed her lips into a thin line. “She’ll be fine. She just needs to cool off, and clean up. I’ll give her a text later on.”

Clarisse grabbed her bag from the floor. “Well, with that being said, I should be going too.”

“Did you also get shit on?” Charles asked.

“No, I just don’t want to be here anymore.” She marched off without turning back once.

Percy shook his head. “Remind me why we hang out with her again.”

“I’ve been asking myself the same question for five years.” Grover said.

“Hey, at least she’s honest.” Thalia reached for her things. “And that may be the one thing we agree on.” She pulled out her car keys. “I’ll see you guys around. Thanks for not boring me to death.”

“You’re welcome?” Charles replied.

One by one the group left the picnic bench, until it was just Annabeth and Percy.

He zipped his bag, and gave her a thoughtful look. “Be honest.”

“Okay…” Annabeth braced herself.

“If I was like Silena and covered in bird shit, would you still hang out with me?”

She looked at him puzzled. “No. That’s where I draw the line.”

“Hmm. Good to know.” He waited until they were walking side by side before continuing. “Can you be honest with something else?”

“Sure.”

Percy hesitated. “Do you think I’ll get into New Rome? And it’s okay if you don’t, because even I’m starting to have doubts.” He fiddled with the strings of his hoodie. “I just need someone sensible to tell me the truth.”

She looked at him like he’d just said the craziest thing. “Why would you think that?”

“I just don’t think…  I’m not as smart as you guys.”

Annabeth’s heart sank. 

Her feet stopped moving. “Don’t ever say that. You’re smart, Percy.”

He let out an empty laugh and turned to face her. “It’s okay, Beth. You don’t have to lie to spare my feelings.”

“I’m not lying.” She said firmly. “You told me to be honest, and that’s exactly what I’m being.” She stepped closer. “Percy, who cares if you need to ask us for synonyms every five seconds? Or if you need to ask me to check your Spanish homework? That doesn’t define how smart you are. The university isn’t just looking for people with high grades, they’re looking for real, genuine people who are willing to grow in their school.”

Annabeth took a breath. “You’re so smart in ways I could only dream of. You have a way of connecting with people that others work on for years to achieve, and they still fail. Because they don’t have the heart you do. You’re attentive. Observant. You understand people, and that’s incredibly rare. It’s admirable.”

Her voice softened. “As long as you try your hardest and stay passionate, New Rome would be lucky to have you. And that’s me being completely honest.”

Annabeth took a moment, reflecting on what she’d said. She surprised herself with how easily the words had left her mouth. Because in the end, she didn’t have to think at all. She didn’t have to lie, or sugarcoat anything. It was the truth. Percy’s one of the smartest people she knows, and she just wished he could see it just as she did.

He took a step closer to her. His eyes gentle, and his smile so subtle you could only see it from up close. The wind blew in between his curls, making them look extra fluffy. His shoulders relaxed with every exhale he took. 

“You should seriously consider what I said about being a motivational speaker.” He said. 

In one swift motion, he pulled her by the waist into a hug, and held onto her tight. This wasn’t their first hug, but it was the first time he held her first. And Annabeth felt a swarm of butterflies leap in her stomach. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him closer.

“Thank you.” He whispered into her shoulder. “I mean it, Beth. Thank you.”

She breathed in his scent. “I’m just being honest.” She closed her eyes. “But you’re welcome, Percy.”

Chapter Text

It was Saturday evening and Annabeth was walking between Thalia and Silena towards the house party’s front yard. It was safe to say that word got around about this Halloween celebration. The crowd stretched all the way to the sidewalk, almost bleeding into the streets. 

“Holy shit.” Annabeth’s eyes grew wide. “Is this even legal?”

“Probably not. But these are teenage boys we’re talking about, they’ll do it nonetheless.” Thalia said.

She was dressed as a mix between a vampire and a rockstar. She looked fucking cool. Her dark hair was stylishly messy and loose. Fake blood dripped down her neck and was accompanied by a spiked silver choker. She wore a leather jacket and matching black flared jeans. For a last minute costume, it was really good.

Silena stood to Annabeth’s other side, looking like the complete opposite of Thalia. She was dressed as an angel, with a white short dress and fluffy wings. A headband halo sat on the top of her head, with her wavy hair trailing down her back. Yeah, she was probably the closest thing Annabeth had ever seen to a real angel.

“This feels like a mistake.” Annabeth looked around nervously. 

“We’ll be fine.” Silena hooked her arm through hers. “Besides, you look hot. I knew I chose the right costume.”

Annabeth was dressed as Lara Croft. She wore a green tank top with brown shorts. A black thick belt held two toy guns, and she had a white bandage wrapped around her arm for ‘extra flair’, as Silena called it. She stole Thalia’s black combat boots, and fake blood to add fake cuts on her cheek and collar. Her hair was tied back into a low ponytail, with one braid pulled loose to frame her face.

To be honest, she loved the way it all came together in the end, which did help build her confidence for the party. But that didn’t stop her from feeling apprehensive. The scale of this event was nothing compared to the previous one she went to. Recognizing anyone was nearly impossible with how tightly the crowd was packed in the dark.

“Look.” Silena pointed her finger, dragging their attention to a group of people in the distance. “They’re over there.”

Standing underneath a streetlight was the rest of their group. The three girls made their way towards them, swerving in and out through the crowd. Grover was the first person she spotted. He was dressed as a… goat? No, a Satyr. He was in deep conversation with Clarisse who was dressed as a scary looking gladiator, and Charles who was some sort of punk engineer. 

But she wasn’t focused on them, because like always, Annabeth’s eyes instantly found Percy. 

He was dressed as Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars. A dark brown tunic with matching trousers and boots. Over it, he had a dark brown leather sleeveless coat, tied at the waist with a belt. His curls looked more refined than usual. 

Did he put gel in them?

Once Annabeth was close enough she poked him in the back, a large smile plastered on her face. “Did you wear this just to shove it in my face?”

Percy turned around. “That is very likely.” He looked her up and down, his usual smirk already present. “I’m surprised you didn’t dress up as the rat from Ratatouille. Although… I’m not complaining.”

She shoved him in the shoulder.

“What?” He laughed. “Am I not allowed to compliment you?”

“That was a weak attempt at a compliment.” She examined his eyes. “Are you already drunk?” 

Percy waved a water bottle with a familiar liquid inside. “Want some?”

“Orange juice and vodka?”

“You already know it,” he winked. “Charles is being designated driver, which means I’m a free man tonight.”

“Oh, how the roles have reversed.” She snatched the bottle from him, taking a large gulp.

“Give me that.” Thalia appeared next to her, taking the drink. “I was promised free alcohol, and I’m not seeing a lot of it.”

“We should definitely try and find some before it’s too late.” Grover finished his bottle before leading the way to the front door. “I’ve never been here before, so we’ll need to hunt down the makeshift bar.”

The group followed him across the yard and onto the porch, moving in pairs. 

Annabeth didn’t know why, but she felt on edge and couldn’t fully relax. Automatically, her body went into fight or flight mode as she tried to process the overwhelming sensation washing over her. Teenagers were bumping into her as she dodged and weaved.

Percy quickly moved from beside her to in front, creating a barrier from everyone else. He held his hand out behind his back, and she hesitated before accepting it. Their fingers interlocked exactly like last time, and it was driving her insane how safe she felt in his presence. 

He gave her hand a squeeze as he guided them through the front door and into the house. His focus entirely on the back of Grover’s head, trying not to lose sight of their friends.

Eventually, they found the drinks on a table in the backyard. Endless bottles and cans were stacked on top of each other.

“These people are way too rich.” Clarisse shook her head, as she grabbed two bottles of tequila, tossing one at Thalia.

“Tell me about it. This is enough for the entire school to drink.” Thalia opened the alcohol and took a shot. 

She passed the bottle to Silena who took a sip. “We should hide some beers for later. Who knows how many people are actually coming to this thing. I clearly underestimated this neighbourhood.”

“A lot of the swim team lives around here. We’ll probably bump into them at some point.” Charles took a can of redbull, popping it into his pocket.

“At least there’s some people we’ll know.” Grover said. “We should come up with a plan, or like a meeting point if we get split up.”

“What is this? A field trip?” Clarisse laughed.

“No. He’s got a point.” Silena tried to level. “We’ve never been here before, so we should be extra safe.”

Clarisse’s cheeks turned the lightest shade of pink. “Uh… yeah… I suppose you’re right. We should make a plan.”

Thalia scoffed at their interaction. “Gods, this is hilarious.”

“Stop it. You promised you weren’t going to do that.” Silena stared at her. “No arguing tonight.”

“I’m aware.” Thalia raised her hands. “Okay, if we get split up, we meet at the lamppost where we just were. Then we can regroup. Sounds good?”

A chorus of yeahs circled the team.

Annabeth noticed her hand still held by Percy's. She gently tugged on it, beckoning him to come closer so she could say something. “I’m not nearly as prepared as I should be.”

“What do you mean?” He asked gently.

“This place… it’s so… busy. And I’m not even tipsy like last time. I’ve only ever been to one other party. This is still so new to me.”

Percy ran his thumb over her knuckles reassuringly. “Don’t feel pressured to be as drunk as you were last time. You don’t have to drink to have fun. We can take our time merging with bigger groups and meeting new people. Operation Socialization, right?”

She nodded. “Right.”

“I hate to break it to you, Beth, but you’re kind of stuck with me tonight.” 

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “I guess that’s not the worst thing.”

“No, it’s not. We’re gonna have a shit ton of fun.” He turned to Silena, catching her attention. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Silena nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. We’re all gonna forget about whatever the fuck’s been stressing us out, and just enjoy ourselves. This is gonna be a great night. I just feel it.”

Thalia sighed. “Your optimism is killing me.” 

“I can’t even be mad, because I’m just glad you’re here.” Silena squealed. “Okay, grab your drinks and let’s go dance.”

The group relocated inside the massive house, where colourful lights were circling the dark living room. The music was making the floor vibrate, and the bass felt like it was in Annabeth’s pulse. Percy danced to the music and gently encouraged her to follow his lead.

“Come on. You’ve got this.” He pulled her into the centre of the room. “Block everyone out.”

So she did.

She forgot about all the other people in the room, and let loose.

They moved side to side, jumped up and down, and bounced with reckless energy. Percy took her hand and spun Annabeth around. She laughed. 

When did Percy Jackson become a good dancer? 

He swayed smoothly and effortlessly, matching her pace perfectly every time.

“Did you practice these moves at home?” Annabeth yelled in his ear.

“What?”

“I said, did you practice these moves at home?”

“Is it that hard to believe that I’m just a natural?”

“Yeah.”

Percy laughed. “You know, you’re not the only good dancer in this friendship.”

“Don’t go stealing my job now.” She joked.

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.” 

Annabeth looked around and saw all her friends doing goofy routines with each other. She watched Silena force Clarisse to do a very unserious salsa dance. Grover and Thalia did a strange hardcore version of the macarena. Charles got in the middle of the dance circle and did the worm in slow motion, which Annabeth had to admit was very cool. 

They danced for what felt like hours. Non-stop, carefree, and completely lost in the music. 

“Do you wanna get some air?” Percy asked, panting heavily. 

“Thank fuck you mentioned it. I was about to pass out.” Annabeth wiped her forehead. 

He headed for the back exit with Annabeth following close behind. 

“Wait for me!” A voice yelled. Silena pushed through the herd of people to meet them, she was holding hands with Thalia and Clarisse. “We need air too!”

“Okay, let’s go.” Percy held the door open for them.

“We’re coming too.” Grover and Charles followed the back of the line. “Don’t leave us here to die.”

Percy rolled his eyes. “Hurry up then.”

The cold fall air hit Annabeth’s skin deliciously. She had never been more grateful for the night chill cooling her down. 

“YES! AIR!” Clarisse shot her fists to the sky. “THANK YOU, GODS!”

Thalia reached for bottles of water from the bar, tossing them at everyone. “That was excruciatingly painful. And I mean that literally. I don’t think I’ve ever sweated this much.”

“All my make up has melted off.” Silena patted her face. “I think one of my fake lashes is gone.”

Grover chugged all his water. “Can we just stay outside for a bit? I don’t think I can take that many people bashing into me.”

“Agreed.” Charles sat on the grass, stretching his legs out. “I need to regain my energy.” He popped open his redbull.

Annabeth took this moment to look around at the other groups socializing outside. She admired everyone’s effort with their costumes, and mentally made note of her favourite ones. One of the girls was dressed as Kim Possible. She’d already been looking in her direction when, accidentally, their eyes met. 

Instead of the girl ignoring Annabeth and turning away, she smiled, saying something to her friends, before walking over to her. 

Oh Gods.

As the girl approached she tucked her hair behind her ear and forced a smile. “Holy Shit, Annabeth. I didn’t even recognize you.” 

It then dawned on her who this was. 

Alison Simms.

Back in 7th grade, Alison was one of Annabeth’s first friends. It was safe to say they grew  apart.

“Same with you.” Uncomfortably, Annabeth shifted from foot to foot. “Your costume’s really good by the way, I was just admiring it.” 

“Thank you. It’s kind of rushed, and plain. But it’s still something.” Alison glanced at her old friend’s outfit. “Lara Croft?”

“Mhm.”

“Pretty badass.” 

“Silena ordered it. Apparently, she’s been planning this for a while.”

Alison smiled at the mention of her name. “Is Silena here? I haven’t spoken to her in ages as well.”

Yeah, because you left us for him.

Annabeth didn’t answer, hoping she’d get the hint. But Alison’s eyes wandered to a tired looking Silena chugging another bottle of water. She took a step towards her. “Lena. Long time no see.”

Silena choked on her drink. “Ali… hi. You’re… here.”

“Of course I’m here. It’s an open invite.”

“No, I mean…” Silena said dumbfounded. “You’re here, speaking to us.”

“Am I not allowed to?”

“No.” Thalia deadpanned. “You’re not.”

This caught the rest of the group’s attention. 

“Thals.” Alison smirked. “Will you look at that? It’s like a family reunion.”

Annabeth took a deep breath. She knew what was coming.

“Go back to your friends, Alison.” Thalia moved forward. “We don’t want you here.”

“Am I not allowed to speak to you guys anymore?” Alison asked, scoffing. “This is so typical of you. Thinking you’re so much better than everyone else. Stop being a bitch, Thals.”

“You don’t get to call me that.”

“A bitch?”

“Thals.”

The silence that followed made Annabeth want to run. 

“Fine.” Alison raised her drink to her lips. “Thalia. How have you been?”

“Don’t pull this shit with me.”

“I’m trying to be nice.”

“Just tell me what you want and get out of here!” Thalia snapped.

“Alison!” A short dark-haired boy emerged from the house. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Just give me a minute,” Alison ordered.

The boy approached the group, standing next to Alison, trying to tell her to go back inside.

Oh no. 

This can’t be happening.

It was Ethan Nakumura. 

They’ve always been inseparable. Which meant if Ethan was here, then—

“Annie?” The voice made the hairs on her arm stand up straight. 

She’d spent years trying to avoid that voice, and yet it always seemed to find a way back in. 

Annabeth turned to her side, and there standing with a beer in his hand, and a smile already forming. 

It was him.

Luke Castellan. 

Shit. 

Fuck. 

Run, Annabeth. Just, run. It’s not too late.

But she couldn’t, because every muscle in her body was frozen. 

She could feel Thalia tense next to her, and Silena shake her head in disappointment. 

This was it.

This was the moment that would ruin everything.

“So, little Annie goes to parties now?” Luke tilted his head. “Trying to be normal I see.”

Before Luke could try and step closer, Percy pushed through the group and placed himself in between Luke and Annabeth. 

“I told you to leave her out of this, Castellan.” Percy’s voice was filled with warning. “I told you to leave her name out of your mouth.”

Luke glanced at him, and then Annabeth. “What’s up with you and Annie?

“Don’t call her that.”

“I asked you a question.”

They were about the same height. Percy was no doubt more muscular, but Annabeth knew Luke was a good fighter. So she prayed that they’d drop it, before something terrible happened.

“She’s my friend.” Percy said.

“You must know a lot about each other.”

Percy narrowed his eyes. “Is that a problem?”

Luke smiled, an evil fucking smile. “Well did she ever tell you that we used to be close… like family.”

“Percy, let’s just go.” Annabeth tried to control her breathing.

“What’s your point, Castellan?” Percy spat out.

“My point is, she was my friend once too. My sister even.”

“Watch your mouth.” Thalia gritted her teeth. “You know what’ll happen if you speak about her again.”

Luke’s attention shifted to Thalia. “Thals.” His expression softened for a moment, but hardened straight away. “I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

“You’re a piece of shit!” She charged at him, but Clarisse moved quicker, placing a firm grip on her arms.

“What the fuck is going on?!” Clarisse looked at Grover and Charles for help, but they just returned her question with a baffled expression.

“I’ll tell you what the fuck is going on.” Thalia breathed heavily. “If you don’t get this guy out of my sight, I’m going to fuck him up.”

Percy stepped closer to Luke, his expression turning murderous. “What did you do?”

Luke glanced at Annabeth.

“Don’t look at her!” Percy shoved him.

Luke raised his hands. “All I'm gonna say is, she doesn’t know how to keep friends… or form connections. She’s, what's the word, unstable.” He laughed to himself. “She’s as fucked up as the rest of her family.”

Thalia broke free of Clarisse’s hold. “THAT’S IT!” She ran straight at him. “YOU’RE DEAD!”

But before Thalia could throw a punch, Percy beat her to it.

And just like that Annabeth’s worst nightmare had become reality.

Percy’s fist connected with Luke’s nose, causing a loud crunch. Luke reached for the stream of blood trickling down his face, he yelled, before tackling Percy to the ground. 

“NO!” Annabeth screamed.

They rolled on the grass throwing punches at each other. It was hard to tell who was hitting who, when fists were flying left and right. Eventually, Percy managed to pin Luke down, repeatedly hitting him in the jaw.

Over and over again. 

Charles and Grover rushed to the fight. Each of them, grabbing one of Percy’s arms and pulling him away from the scene.

“STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!” Percy roared. 

All Annabeth could focus on was the blood trickling down his face. 

He was hurt. Because he was defending her. Her heart grew heavy with guilt, as she looked around at her friends. 

Silena was standing to the side in shock, her hands over her mouth.

Thalia was screaming at Luke, Ethan, and Alison, while Clarisse was trying to usher her away from them.

Charles and Grover were still holding Percy back, saying words to calm him down.

Everything was a mess. 

“Annabeth.” Charles caught her attention. He threw car keys at her. “Can you take him home? Make sure he’s okay?”

“Yeah… yeah. I can.” She nodded. 

“You’re not drunk, are you?

“No, I had one sip of alcohol hours ago, that’s it. I can take us all now.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, bringing us all back to his place.” Charles scratched the back of his neck. “I think you guys should talk. He’s pretty shaken up right now, and I have a feeling you’re the only person he wants to see.”

“What about the rest of you? How are you getting back?”

“I’ll find one of the swim guys and tell them to give us a lift. Don’t worry about us, I’ll deal with everyone else. You just take care of him.”

Annabeth stared at the car keys in her hand and she squeezed them tightly. Her feet headed towards Percy, who was still talking to Grover.

As gently as she could, Annabeth placed her hand on Percy’s shoulder. “Let’s go home.” She whispered.

His head snapped to her. His brows were furrowed, with blood streaming across his cheek. 

Annabeth’s heart broke.

She stuck out her hand, offering it to him. Percy looked at her, and ever so slowly he interlocked their fingers. Without saying a word, she guided him all the way to Charles’ car. Her heart was beating ridiculously fast, and she was struggling to think clearly. But she knew that Percy needed her. He needed her to be strong.

They sat in the car in silence, with Annabeth focusing on the roads. Her muscle memory took over, as she drove through the familiar streets that led to his home. She was listening to his breathing the entire time. 

After a while, the tears she had been suppressing began to rise. Quietly, Annabeth tried to wipe them away. She kept her head straight.

“Beth.” His voice was so small. “You’re crying.”

“I’m fine, Percy.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.” She felt the anger rise inside of her. All the resentment and hatred she felt for Luke was coming back.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Annabeth parked in an empty space. “I’m not.”

“You just did it again.”

She squeezed the wheel tight, her eyes still never leaving the front windshield, even after the car had stopped. 

She couldn’t take it anymore.

“Fuck!” She yelled. “I fucking hate him!”

Percy’s features eased, as he let her say whatever she needed.

“He’s fucked everything up… for… for everyone!” Annabeth squeezed her eyes shut. “He’s ruined everything, and I fucking hate that I let him!”

“What are you talking about? This is all on him.”

“No, it’s not. This is my fault too. I could’ve stopped this, if I just stood my ground and told him to leave.”

Percy’s shoulder’s dropped. It was like he was thinking of his next moves.

He pulled the lever under his seat and pushed it back, allowing more leg-room in front of him. He wrapped an arm around Annabeth’s waist, pulling her onto his lap, and cradling her. She made herself into a small ball, and let him comfort her, cradling back and forth like a baby. 

He tucked her head under his chin and rubbed her arm soothingly. “Don’t blame yourself, Beth. None of this is your fault. And I won’t sit here and listen to you talk badly about yourself, when he’s the one who should be getting shit for it.” 

Annabeth grabbed the fabric of his costume, clinging onto anything she could grab. “I’m sorry you got hurt. I never wanted you to get hurt… or… or get involved. This was between me and him.” The tears were falling freely now. 

“I’ll be okay, Beth.” He rested his cheek on the top of her head. “We both will.”

Chapter Text

Percy was sitting on the edge of his bathtub, with Annabeth standing in between his legs, attempting to clean his wounds. She carefully wiped away the dry blood, avoiding the deep cuts. 

Percy winced.

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Keep going.”

Annabeth rinsed the face cloth with warm water, and continued wiping. She could feel his eyes on her. Studying her. Paying close attention to her. 

He had changed out of his Anakin Skywalker costume and into tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt. He gave Annabeth a pair of basketball shorts and a hoodie, which was way too big for her, but she had managed to roll up the waistband just enough to not drop down her legs.

“What’s wrong with my face?” She asked.

“Huh?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“I always stare at you.”

She tilted her head. “Not this much.” 

“Do you want me to stop?” Percy asked.

“I never said that.”

“So, what do you want?”

“For you to tell me what you’re thinking.”

“My head is completely empty right now.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

Percy sighed, and scratched his chin. “I’m thinking about how terrifying Thalia is.”

Annabeth smiled weakly. “You can say that again.” 

“Has she always been that scary?”

“Always.”

“That girl’s a fighter.”

“Yeah, we should have unleashed her, and watched what she would’ve done.”

“You make her sound like a Pokémon.” Percy smiled.

“She kind of is one.”

He nodded. “I can totally see it.” He zoned out momentarily, his chest rising and falling in an even pattern. “She really loves you though.”

“I know.” Annabeth thought back to the screaming. “I love her too. I’d defend her the same way.” She paused. “I just can’t seem to do it when it comes to… him.”

He nodded, silently. 

Annabeth sighed. “I know that took a lot for her to do, and I wish she knew how much it really meant to me.”

“She seemed eager to put him in his place.”

“She did, but... there’s more to it.”

“Like what?” Percy asked.

“I know that Thalia has complicated feelings towards him.” 

Percy bit his lip deep in thought.

“Stop doing that.” Annabeth huffed. “You’re gonna make the bleeding worse.”

“What do you mean by complicated? And what do you mean by feelings?”

She continued wiping the blood that had traveled down his neck. “Luke was Thalia’s first love.”

Percy stared at her dumbfounded. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

That was the first time Annabeth had managed to say his name out loud without panicking. 

Baby steps.

“Does she still have feelings for him?” Percy asked.

“I don’t know and If I’m being honest, I’m too scared to ask. But I know that even if she did, she’d never admit it, so there’s no point in asking her.”

“Did he love her back?”

“It’s hard to tell. We were all really young.”

“Why is it hard?”

Annabeth went back to the sink and dropped the face cloth inside. She picked up thin strips of bandage tape. “He would shout at her a lot.”

“What?”

“Yeah. They always argued about… well about everything. He would pick at little things just to start a fight. He had all this pent up anger building, day by day. And because she was so in love with him, it was hard for her to realize how fucked up he was treating her.” She exhaled. “But he wasn’t always like that. He didn’t use to wound people. He actually used to be really sweet, especially to Thals.”

“What happened between them?” Percy asked.

“A lot.” Annabeth admitted.

“Did he hurt her?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did he hurt you?” 

“Not physically, no.”

She let her hands drop to her side. She looked into Percy’s blue eyes, and the softness they always displayed. She thought about how much she trusted him. How much he trusted her.

One deep breath. Two deep breaths. Three deep breaths.

“Luke used to be like a brother to me. I can’t remember a time when he wasn't in my life. We were so close, the three of us, like a family. We knew everything about each other and I cared for both of them with my life. But one day he started hanging out with the popular groups in school, he’d get invited to all those big gatherings and parties all the time.”

Percy’s jaw clenched. “The parties I would host?”

Annabeth felt awkward admitting it. “Yeah, those ones. But that’s not the point. I know you stopped inviting him cause he became an asshole, and you had every right to. He was awful to your friends, trashing their places in the middle of the night and scaring their families. He’s such a dick. He started spending more time with the jocks even though he didn’t really fit in. He never loved sport but he’d sacrifice everything just to be liked by people. He craved the feeling of power.” She paused. “If anything Luke wanted to be like you. That’s why I disliked you so much at first, because I thought you’d treat me like he did.” 

Percy’s eyebrows furrowed. “Annabeth, I need you to know, I am nothing like that guy.”

“I know.” She reached for his hand, trying to reassure him. “Eventually, he cut me and Thalia off and wouldn’t even dare to make eye contact with us. As horrible as it was, I could live with it. He was already being an asshole, so removing him from my life was for the better.” She took a breath. “But what I couldn’t deal with was when Luke started making up rumors about me.”

Percy knew where this was going. “You don’t have to say it if it’s too mu—”

“It’s okay, Perce. I want to.” She played with his fingers, in an attempt to distract herself. “In 10th grade I stopped going to school for a couple of months. I’m sure you remember, there were all sorts of assumptions going around. Thalia and Silena tried their best to hide them from me, they told me everything was fine, but I knew what people were saying. Some people thought I ran away from home, or my family sent me to a boarding school far away because I was ‘troubled’. 

“Of course, Luke had to spread even more fake shit around. He started telling everyone that… that I got knocked up. He thought it was a funny way to get attention. People obviously believed him, and asked him questions about who the father was and whatever. He would just make stuff up and I don’t know… it felt so invasive having someone have so much control over what people thought of me. That’s why when Clarisse brought it up during our sparring match, it stung… a lot. Being reminded of that time hurts. I felt so weak, like I couldn’t do anything to change it. Luke’s fucked up the way I trust people so much to the point that I feel like everyone’s deceiving me all the time. I can’t tell when someone’s being genuine or just trying to play with my feelings.” Her voice was breaking, and Percy gently traced her fingers with his.

Annabeth took a breath. “Luke made up other rumors, about how my family’s messed me up. That they’ve made me into this unstable freak who doesn’t know how to speak to people, or make friendships… or romantic relationships. He’s brainwashed everyone to think I’m not normal. That everyone should stay away from me. At that point I’d blocked everyone out except for Thals and Lena.”

Percy stayed quiet, listening to her opening up.

“The truth is, I’ve always felt awful about Thalia picking me over him. I knew how much she loved him. She wasn’t always this closed off, but ever since getting her heartbroken, her walls have built up ten times thicker. We used to be friends with Ethan and Alison too. But they stuck around Luke, for popularity and shit.

“He’s always been jealous of you, that everyone loves you. I think that’s why seeing us together at the party was his breaking point, because not only do people admire you but you’ve also managed to keep me in your life. Two things he wasn’t able to do. I’m pretty sure that’s why he tried to speak to me. To see if I’d let him back in.”

Percy’s hands had tightened into fists, and Annabeth tried her best to smoothen them out. But it was no use.

“I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“Percy, hurting him isn’t going to help anyone.”

“Are you sure? Cause it would make me feel a whole lot better.” He shifted closer to her. “You’re not this object he can abandon or pick up whenever he wants to, and I hate that he even thinks of you like that. And I hate that he made you feel so out of control over your own life. He ruined your high school experience, for what? To be popular? To gain fake friends? That asshole doesn’t even deserve to be near you.” Percy ran a hand over his face. “I don’t want him making you feel uncomfortable, Beth. You deserve to feel safe, especially in school.”

She lifted her palm to his cheek, and couldn’t help the sting forming at the back of her eyes. She’d managed to keep a brave face while recalling her story but as soon as Percy defended her, she couldn’t stop the tears escaping. 

“I wish we were friends back then.” She whispered.

His voice was barely a whisper, “So do I.”

Annabeth cleared her throat, “The worst thing is while all of this was happening, people didn't realize the actual reason I wasn’t in school for months was because my biological mom passed away.” 

Percy’s lips parted slightly in shock.

“I was already going through so much and on top of everything Luke had to make it a thousand times worse.” She dropped her head, fixating on his rings. “He was close with my mom as well. He knew her, and he never even texted to ask if I was okay. Instead, he just used my absence to gain attention.” 

The tears were escaping quicker now, and Percy leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her. One of his hands gently stroked her hair, while the other wiped away the droplets resting on her cheeks. She could have stayed like this forever, perfectly content, just the two of them. 

“He was like my brother… my family. I trusted him with my life.”

She would have never thought that she’d be here right now, opening up to Percy Jackson and being vulnerable in front of him. Twelve-year-old Annabeth would have laughed at this situation, and said that there’s no way this is really happening. 

But present Annabeth couldn’t imagine having this conversation with anyone else. No one makes her feel as comfortable as Percy does.

She wiped away her tears. “That’s why Thalia's really protective. She’s not a mean person. I know she used to give your group a hard time. But she was just scared that history was going to repeat itself.”

“I don’t blame her.”

“But you’re nothing like him.” Annabeth said seriously. “And I mean it. You’re one of the most loving people I know.”

“Is that why we’re friends?” 

She let out a small laugh. “That’s why you’re my best friend, Percy.”

He pulled back from the hug to have a better look at her. “You mean that?”

“I do.”

His eyes lit up. 

“Don’t do it.”

“Do what?”

“Scream or yell.”

“But you just called me your best friend.”

“That’s correct.”

“And you’re my best friend.”

She rolled her eyes. “Also correct.”

“You can’t just expect me to sit still and do nothing.”

“I think you need to get some rest.”

“Sleep can wait.” He stood up. “ What can’t wait is us watching Ratatouille.” 

She gave him a puzzled look. “You’re joking?” 

“Never.” Percy tidied up the first aid kit. “If you want you can stay here tonight. I don’t want you going back home on your own. I can sleep on the couch and you can take the bed.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I can get an uber back.” She insisted.

He paused. “ I don’t really want you to be alone right now… unless you want to of course. I’m just saying, tonight’s been a lot, and I know you’re probably emotionally exhausted. So, please,” his gaze softened, “take my offer.”

Warmth flooded Annabeth’s body. 

Gods, this boy.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll stay.” She gave a small smile. “Thank you for defending me earlier… and giving me clean clothes… and letting me sleep over. Thank you for all of it.”

“Thank you too.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Just being you is enough.”

Later that night Ratatouille played at a low volume on the TV. Annabeth was wrapped up in blankets on one end of the couch, while Percy was on the other end, eating some leftover brownies he made. In between scenes he would give her another slice, saying that it’s important they put some sort of food in their bodies after a stressful event.

Annabeth laughed. “Be honest, you’re just hungry because the food they’re cooking looks good.”

“Oh, it looks divine, and I would do anything to have some of it right now.” He stared at the screen. “Next time, I’m definitely going to try cheese with strawberries.”

“Admit it. You’re enjoying the movie.”

“No.” He looked offended. “Just cause I wanna try the food doesn’t mean I like the film.”

“Yeah, okay.” Annabeth smiled. “Maybe just scoot back a little bit, so you don’t fall off your seat.” She teased.

“Ha-ha, you’re hilarious. I just don’t want to miss anything important. Like what happens if they catch Remy? They can’t kill him, he’s adorable.” Percy looked at Annabeth in alarm. “They don’t kill him, right?”

She covered her laugh with a pillow. “Who knows? Maybe they do.”

“WHAT?!”

“Shhh. You’re gonna wake up your whole family.”

“Annabeth, this isn’t funny. Don’t tease me about the rat dying.”

“Aww, you care about him now.”

“Shut up.” His eyes grew wide as he whisper-yelled.

“You didn’t even deny it.”

“I said shut up.”

“Is little Percy gonna be mature enough to admit that I was right all along about this being a great movie.” She put on a fake frown.

“Be careful, Chase. Because if I find out Remy dies, I might just lose it twice in one night.”

She chucked a pillow at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Shut up and eat a brownie.” He placed another one in front of her.

“Sure, Seaweed Brain.” Annabeth giggled. “Whatever you say.”

Chapter Text

Annabeth looked at herself in the mirror, readjusting her ballet costume. She tried to focus on the classical music blasting through her earphones, imagining her choreography over and over again in her head. 

It was late November, which meant that The Nutcracker shows were finally starting. And as she stood in her dressing room, fussing over the ruffles on her light pink tutu, she couldn’t stop the nerves from building. The music from Act I was humming through the speakers in the hallway as she began stretching her thighs, and marking her first number in the tight space she had. Every few minutes she could hear the applause from the audience travel to her dressing room, and she would be lying if she said it didn’t make her stomach feel funny. 

This was it. Her chance to prove that she deserved this role. It was considered to be one of the biggest technical parts given in The Nutcracker, and she didn’t want to disappoint any of her team. There was a lot of pressure on her shoulders.

A knock on her dressing room door echoed.

“Come in,” she called, removing her earphones. 

One of the stage crew poked their head through the doorway. “Intermission just started. You’re on in twenty.” She gave a thumbs-up.

“Cool. Thank you.”

Annabeth shook out her hands and legs, and rolled her neck from side to side. She re-tied her pointe shoes again, securing them tightly, and then bounced from one leg to another, before heading backstage. 

As she pushed through the double doors she could see a few of the younger students dressed as the angels, staring at her excitedly.

“Look, there she is.”

“Wow, she’s so pretty.”

“I love her costume.”

“One day I’m going to be The Sugar Plum Fairy.”

Annabeth gave a small wave and smile, as she headed to the left side of the stage. She dropped her water bottle and back-up shoes into a small box with her name on it, and proceeded to carry on marking her dance. 

The same girl from the stage crew appeared. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ve got a full house tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll do great.”

“Yeah.”

Annabeth wished she could say more, but she couldn’t risk losing her focus.

“Good luck.” The crew member walked away, giving another thumbs-up.

“Thanks.”

A man wearing a headset stood by the front of the stage, looking down at his notes. He held up his hands. “Curtain goes up in five minutes. Places for Act II, everyone.”

Deep breaths. You’ve got this. Just like you practiced.

Annabeth made her way to the wings. She watched as the angels took their places on the stage, and smiled at the memory of her first time dancing in a production like this, and being around the same age as them. 

Just smile and breathe. Don’t overthink it.

The stage crew started shushing the dancers backstage, as they double checked everyone’s positions. “Curtain goes up in 5…4…3…2…1.”

The orchestra pit played the first few notes of the opening number of Act II, and the audience began to clap. 

Annabeth watched from the side as the younger girls drifted from their starting positions across the stage in their perfect formations. The set design was beautiful and colorful, she appreciated every single detail as she waited for her cue. 

Her heart raced.

Her palms felt sweaty.

Her mind was entirely fixated on the beats of the music.

But as she watched the angels shift into a different formation, Annabeth counted herself in, before entering the stage.

Her feet moved on autopilot as she did a quick bourrée into the upstage center. She was grateful the lights were so bright that the audience was pretty much nonexistent from where she was dancing. 

Annabeth let the music take over as she danced the same moves she had practiced endlessly in the studio, in her bedroom, in her head. Her arms floated up and down gracefully in the air as she spun around with a soft smile on her face. Slowly, as she carried on twirling from side to side, she could feel the nerves turn into excitement. 

Despite the silence, Annabeth could feel all eyes on her. But she didn’t care anymore, because all the pressure was disappearing from her body. 

2,500 people were scanning her every move. They were completely entranced by the way she executed the story. And it was absolutely exhilarating.

This was where she belonged. 

She danced for eleven minutes, before exiting. 

The members waiting backstage gave her high-fives and compliments as she moved past them. She could feel her make-up sweating off, so she used her fifteen minute break to sort it out. 

Making her way back into the dressing room and rummaging through her supplies, she found what she needed. Her fingers grabbed the powder, and she patted it around her nose and forehead.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was face-down on the table, far away to avoid distractions. 

But Annabeth felt a pang of curiosity, that she couldn’t fight.

Swiftly, she flipped her phone over. 

Her powder puff dropped.

Oh my Gods.

9:33 PM - PERCY

Nice costume

9:34 PM - ANNABETH

Percy…

9:34 PM - PERCY

Annabeth…

9:34 PM - ANNABETH

ARE YOU WATCHING ME?????????

9:35 PM - PERCY

No, just a lucky guess

9:35 PM - ANNABETH

Bullshit

9:35 PM - PERCY

Fine

9:36 PM - PERCY

There is a possibility that my mom booked tickets for my whole family to watch the ballet as an early Christmas present 

9:36 PM - PERCY

Anddddddd there is also a possibility that I convinced her to choose your first show because I wanted to watch you

9:37 PM - ANNABETH

And you didn’t tell me?

9:37 PM - PERCY

You would have either A) Wanted me to come and be super excited, or B) Blocked my number

9:38 PM - PERCY

My money was on B

9:38 PM - ANNABETH

And your money would be correct

9:38 PM - PERCY

You’re really good by the way

9:38 PM - ANNABETH

Your flattery won’t work this time

9:39 PM - PERCY

It was worth a shot

9:39 PM - PERCY

Also Estelle thinks you’re literally a goddess

9:39 PM - ANNABETH

I love your sister

9:40 PM - ANNABETH

But hate you

9:40 PM - ANNABETH

Anyways got to go

9:40 PM - PERCY

Break a leg 

9:41 PM - ANNABETH

I’ll break yours

9:41 PM - PERCY

Oooo fiesty ;)

Annabeth didn’t have time to be thinking about Percy, or how his entire family was in the audience right now. Her mind only had room for her hardest number, the ‘Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy’. 

Gods, he’s somewhere in the crowd right now. He just watched me do my first show of the season.

No.

Stop it.

Stop thinking about him.

She flipped her phone face-down again and went back to her earlier place backstage.

Part of Annabeth felt horrified that her best friend was analyzing every tiny action she did. But another part of her couldn’t help but feel relieved that someone was out there supporting her. 

The minutes that passed by felt like hours as she went back on stage and danced. She imagined it was just her and her bedroom mirror, and no one else.

Her smile never faltered. 

Her steps were accurate.

Her turns were perfect. 

And as they did their final bow at the end, she felt pride take over as the applause grew for her curtsey.

After the show, once she was out of her costume and in black sweatpants and a matching black fleece, Annabeth went down to the lobby. She had her bag over her shoulder, and car keys zipped in her pocket. 

She walked past a few groups of people who were still standing around, talking to the different dancers and congratulating them. And that’s when she spotted, sitting in the corner of the room, the Jackson-Blofis family.

She had just locked eyes with Sally when a very excited blonde girl noticed her.

“Miss Annabeth!” Estelle screamed, running forward. “You were amazing! So, so, so amazing!” She jumped up and Annabeth caught her in mid-air.

“Thank you, Estelle.” She giggled.

Paul stood up from his seat. “She’s not lying Annabeth, you were amazing up there. I can see why you got chosen for the role.”

“Thanks, Paul. That means a lot.” She smiled at the compliment. 

Estelle gave her another squeeze as she was lowered back to the ground. “These are for you.” She pointed enthusiastically at her mom holding flowers. “They match your tutu.”

Annabeth looked over at Sally who had the prettiest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen. It was a mix of white and pink roses, wrapped beautifully in patterned paper. 

“Wow. These are gorgeous.” Annabeth gave Sally a hug, before accepting the gift. “I love them. Thank you.”

“Oh, honey. You deserve all the flowers after that show.” She cupped one of Annabeth’s cheeks, and the small show of motherly affection was enough to make the back of her eyes sting. Sally tapped the bouquet. “But these aren’t from me.”

Annabeth stared at her blankly, and then followed her gaze to Percy. He was standing to the side, hands in pockets, watching the interaction in front of him unfold. 

“We’ll wait for you two outside.” Sally said, placing one hand on Estelle’s shoulder, and the other on Paul’s arm, guiding them to the door. 

Annabeth looked at the bouquet and then at Percy. “These are from you?”

He sighed. “I told her to say it was from everyone, but she just couldn’t help herself.” 

“She’s proud, that’s all.” Annabeth stepped closer. “She thinks you’re a gentleman.”

“I am a gentleman.” 

“That’s a slight exaggeration.”

“Chase.” He looked completely offended. “I can’t believe these words are even coming out of your mouth. You should know better than anyone.”

“Stop pulling that face.” She rolled her eyes.

“Not until you admit I’m a gentleman.”

“No.”

“I’ll scream.” He threatened.

“Why are you like this?”

“I’ll do it.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“ANNABETH CHA–” 

Her hand shot up, covering his mouth. “Do not embarrass me here, Jackson.”

“So, everywhere else is fine.” Percy waggled his brows.

“You’re such a loser.”

He laughed. “Okay, I’ll behave. But only because you have kids who look up to you here. I can’t have them think their idol is friends with a weirdo.”

“It’s a little too late for that.” Annabeth shook her head and then readjusted the bouquet. “But thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”

“You’re welcome. Consider them an apology gift for not announcing my arrival in advance.” He shrugged, keeping his shoulders raised. “So… am I forgiven?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Close enough.” A grin spread on his lips. “They weren’t lying, you know? When they said you were amazing. I mean, I knew you were good. But holy shit, Beth. That was… you were… mesmerizing."

She fiddled with her sleeves. “Thank you, Percy. I’m grateful you’re here… even if you almost gave me a heart attack earlier on.”

And she meant it. After all the chaos at school and outside of school, Percy was the one person who hadn’t left her side. And even if she didn’t always vocalize her appreciation, she hoped he knew. 

He pointed at the roses. “Estelle helped me pick the color.”

“To match my tutu?” 

“Exactly. A lot of thought went into this.” 

Annabeth felt her cheeks warm. No guy had ever gotten her flowers before. No guy had even watched her dance. The most encouragement she’d ever gotten was three years ago, when Thalia and Silena sat in the audience. She had been so nervous that she threw up twice before getting on stage.

She picked at the patterned paper. “Actually… I wanted to talk to you about something. I was going to bring it up at school, but while we’re here, I might as well.”

A flash of concern flickered in Percy’s eyes. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Everything’s great. It’s just—” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “My family’s been noticing that we’re hanging out a lot lately, and my stepmom wanted me to invite you over for dinner.”

Percy paused. “Oh.”

Smooth, Annabeth. Real smooth. 

She fought the urge to bury her face in her hands.

“It’s not a big deal.” She abruptly added. “It won’t even be at my house. Helen will probably book a restaurant… she, uh— she just likes to meet all my friends.”

“I see.”

“But, I’m completely cool with making up an excuse and not going. I can just say you’re busy with training and college essays. She probably won’t care that mu—”

“I’ll come.” Percy cut her off. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

Annabeth had no idea what to say. 

She doubted he would even consider the offer, let alone say yes.

“Uh, yeah… yeah it’s okay with me.”

“Cool.”

“Cool.” She tried to sound casual.

He lightly kicked her shoe. “Don’t worry about it. Nothing your family says will scare me away.”

“You underestimate my brothers.”

“I can deal with the boys.”

Annabeth nodded. She knew Percy was good with meeting new people, but she had no idea what he was like meeting family members. More specifically, her family members.

“I have faith in you.” She tried for a genuine smile, but it came out more strangled.

“Good. You should. Everything will work out.”

She nodded, and checked the time on her phone. “Well, speaking of parents. I should probably get back home.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Thank you for the flowers… again”

Percy smirked. “You’re welcome, Beth… again”

Annabeth moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. Percy automatically returned the gesture, lifting his arms around her neck and shoulders. 

Apparently, this is what we do now. 

We just casually hug each other.

She still wasn't used to being this close to him, to feeling his body heat radiating onto her.

Has he always smelt this good? 

He smells fresh. Like the ocean.

For fucks sake.

Stop smelling him, Annabeth. 

“See you on Monday at lunch?” Percy pulled away, and gestured towards the exit. 

They strolled side by side.

“Mhm. I’ll be there.” 

“Perfect.” He opened the door for her. “That’s all I want.”

And his smile stayed with her long after he walked away.

Chapter Text

Annabeth had her back against the lockers, anxiously biting her nails as she waited for Percy to step out of Mrs Dodds’ classroom. This was the day that decided whether he would be able to keep his position as swim captain, depending on if he managed to pass all his classes. It was as nerve-wracking for him as it was for Annabeth. He trusted her to help him. And she hoped that all the tutor sessions had paid off in the end.

The door opened, and Percy stepped outside.

She pushed away from the lockers. “Well? What did she say?”

He scratched the back of his neck and kept his gaze on the ground.

Shit.

“Percy.” She met him in the middle of the hallway. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Chase. I tried. I really did.”

Annabeth covered her mouth with her hands and let out a muffled, “No.” She shook her head. “But you were doing so well… I–I thought maybe that was enough… I don’t understand.” 

She stopped speaking and thought for a moment. She didn’t want Percy to panic or feel even worse about his grades. So, she went for another approach.

“This is fine,” Annabeth said reassuringly. “We only have a few months left of senior year, it doesn’t matter that much. I mean, I know you wanted to swim the rest of the meets and spend time with your team, but you can always hang out with them after school. And once you get into New Rome you can join their team. Everything will be okay—”

“Beth.” Percy put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m good. It’s my fault, I should have tried harder.” He whipped out a letter signed by Mrs Dodds. “She gave me this. Can you read it for me? It’s only gonna make me feel worse.”

“Yeah, yeah of course. I can do it.” Annabeth accepted the letter and started reading out loud. “Mr D, I understand there have been concerns regarding Percy Jackson’s position on the swim team due to his grades. At the start of this school year, Percy was failing my class with average scores of 50% or below. However, over the past few months, he has shown consistent effort, determination and willingness to learn, with the help of my other student Annabeth Chase. I am pleased to inform you… that Mr Jackson… has passed my class with a ‘B’ and will be able to continue swimming!!!” 

Annabeth squealed, “OH MY GODS!” She pulled Percy into a bone-crushing hug. “YOU DID IT! YOU ACTUALLY DID IT!” 

He laughed. “Hell yeah I did.” Percy tightened his grip. “All thanks to you.”

“You’re a sneaky little shit for pulling that stunt.” She hissed in his ear.

And Annabeth could sense the grin on his face. “I had to add a little suspense.”

“Suspense? That was a full-blown act.”

“I’m known for my dramatic flair.” 

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, and pulled away from him. “We should celebrate.”

“What do you have in mind?” Percy asked.

“Circe’s Diner. My treat.”

“Woah. You’re spoiling me, Wise Girl.”

Annabeth linked their arms together and started heading for the parking lot. “I can’t even think of a comeback right now because I’m too happy.” 

They both got into their own cars and drove off to the diner. 

The restaurant was almost full, which wasn’t surprising for a Friday evening. She spotted an empty booth against the window and guided him to it. Annabeth waved at Mary and Joe as she walked in, and they both gave her a welcoming smile.

As she slid into her seat, with Percy sat across her, she pulled out a menu. “Want one?”

“I don’t need it. I’m getting my usual.”

“Okay, smartass.” Annabeth put the menu back. “Order to your heart’s content.”

“This is the best thing to happen to me.” He jiggled excitedly in his seat. “It’s like I knew this was gonna happen, I haven’t eaten anything all day. So prepare for a feast.”

“Gods. What am I doing?” She laughed. “I’m willingly giving you a sugar rush.”

“Because I’m a genius.” He reminded her.

She smiled fondly. “Yeah, Jackson. You are. And you have the grades to prove it.” 

“Exactly.”

One of Annabeth’s coworkers, Rick, came over to the booth and wrote down their order, which was indeed a feast. Percy ordered two stacks of waffles and an oreo milkshake, while Annabeth ordered the pancakes and a strawberry milkshake. She added a side of fries, knowing that they’d both probably throw up if they didn’t have something savoury. 

When the food had arrived, they sat in a comfortable silence as they devoured their meals, occasionally laughing at something stupid the other had said. 

“So, what now?” She asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The experiment it’s over, isn’t it?”

Percy stared at his waffles. “I guess it is.”

“Right.” 

Annabeth wasn’t sure how to feel about this. She would have never thought that this is where they’d end up after it all. 

Percy looked at her. “But that doesn’t change us. You know that right? I always wanna hang out with you.”

Her body relaxed slightly. “Good to know.”

“Did you think I was lying this entire time?”

“No. Not anymore.”

Percy pointed his fork at her. “So, you used to think that.”

“I used to be scared. Emphasis on the ‘used to be’.”

“About me faking our friendship?”

“About you just using me to get good grades and then cutting me off after.”

“But you don’t think that anymore, right?” He looked slightly alarmed. “Right?”

“Of course not. Look at us.” She gestured to their surroundings. “We’re here where I work, eating a shit ton of discounted food, celebrating your achievement. Why else would you be here if it was fake?”

“For the free food.”

She kicked his shin.

“Ow.” He recoiled backwards. “I was joking.”

“You better be.”

“Obviously the correct answer is that I just want to spend time with my bestest friend in the whole wide world.” His voice went higher as he lightly pinched one of her cheeks.

Annabeth slapped his hand away. “Gods, you’re a child.”

“And you’re hangry. Here, have some more fries.” He pushed forward the dish.

“You know, you like to feed people when you’re stressed.” She tilted her head, recalling previous events. “You did it at Grover’s with the cookies, and you did it when we were watching ratatouille with the brownies. Now the fries.”

“I’m not even stressed right now.” He defended.

“Maybe not. But you tend to do it when you’re feeling a lot of… I don’t know… emotions.”

“Emotions?” His brows furrowed. “Are you my therapist now?”

“Perhaps.” 

“Okay, Miss Therapist, what exactly would these emotions be?”

“Hmm let me think.” She pondered. “Possibly, excitement? Giddiness? Maybe even… flusteredness?"

“WHAT?”

“You heard me.”

“Who are you, and what have you done to my sweet Annabeth?”

She laughed. “It’s just an observation.”

She wasn’t sure what had taken over her, but she realized that, even though Percy liked to toss out playful comments, it was surprisingly easy to tease him back. And it had quickly become her favourite thing, watching him stutter and turn into a mess when she caught him off guard. 

Percy’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out. “Why would I be feeling any of those things?”

“Because people definitely think we’re on a date.”

“A DATE?”

“Yeah, a date.”

“Like a romantic one?”

“Yes, Percy. A romantic one.”

“Why would people think that?” He asked.

Annabeth sighed at his obliviousness. “Because we’re sharing food and being giggly and shit.”

“Giggly and shit?”

“Are you gonna repeat everything I say?”

“Stop changing the subject” He held out his hand. “Let’s go back to giggly and shit.”

“That’s just what Clarisse said.”

“And you’re gonna listen to her?! We’re talking about Clarisse here.” Percy looked disgusted. “Can you please be more specific as to who thinks we’re on a date right now? Literally no one is watching us.”

Annabeth responded by pointing a finger to the counter where Mary, Joe, and Rick were openly staring at them. 

Percy turned to look, and instantly the trio tried to act like they were busy working and doing other tasks. 

“That doesn’t count.” He shook his head. “They know who we are. Of course they’re gonna be nosey.”

She put a hand on her heart and mocked the same exaggeratory move he had done many times before. “Is Percy Jackson embarrassed to have people think we’re on a date?”

He coughed on a fry. “I didn’t say that.”

“That’s what you’re implying.”

“No, it’s not.” He blinked at her. “I don’t care. Plus half the school already thinks we’re together.”

“They do?”

“Probably. I’m just guessing.”

“I suppose I wouldn’t mind people thinking I’m dating the school’s heartthrob, it gives me more status.” Annabeth rested her chin on her hand.

“Oh, wow. Is that all I am to you?”

“Pretty much.”

“I suppose I wouldn’t mind people thinking I’m dating the school’s smartest girl, it gives me more academic credit. And maybe the teachers will know me for something other than detention.”

“Oh you’re good.”

“What can I say, I’m just witty.” Percy winked.

“Well, why don’t we just announce it tomorrow in front of everyone at lunch then. I’m sure Silena would happily spread the news around.”

“I don’t see why not.”

Annabeth paused.

She couldn’t tell what was a joke or not anymore.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you doing?”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m messing around.”

“So am I.” He said.

“Nuh-uh.” Annabeth leaned forward. “You’re flirting with me.”

“Noooo,” Percy dragged out the word. “You’re flirting with me.”

“I thought we were joking.”

“We are joking.” He paused. “Aren’t we?”

“Yes! Yes, we are!”

“Okay, so what’s the problem?”

Annabeth couldn’t even answer the question because she wasn’t sure what was happening. The conversation unfolded so naturally, she couldn’t tell if she was really just having fun or being serious.

She shook her head. “Nothing. Just hurry up and eat your food.”

“Yes, Mom.”

They had a total of five minutes of silence before Annabeth spotted Mary approaching them with a jug of water at hand.

“Oh dear Gods.” Annabeth avoided eye contact, knowing very well that Mary was about to make everything ten-times more awkward.

“What?” Percy asked.

“Brace yourself.”

“Why? Are we being ambushed?”

“Yes, Seaweed Brain.” She deadpanned. “That’s exactly what’s happening.” 

“Hiya, kids.” Mary smiled. Her grey hair was neatly pinned up to perfection, and her bright eyes scanned the table. “Want some water to wash down all that sugar?”

“Oh, hey, Mary.” Percy greeted. “Water would be great, thanks.”

“Lovely.” She carefully topped up their glasses. 

“Mary.” Annabeth kept a tight smile.

“Annabeth.” She replied.

Over the years Mary had taken the role of being Annabeth’s kind loving grandma. She would always look out for her, let her leave work early to study for a test, even cover for her if Circe was doing an inspection. As much as Annabeth loved Mary, she also knew her fondness for meddling, especially if there was a boy involved. 

“You two sure look like you’re having a good old time.” 

“Oh, you know us. We’re always hungry.” Percy waved a hand over the half-empty plates.

“Trust me, Sweetheart, the amount of waffles we prepare for you makes me very aware.”

“They are the best waffles in the whole of Manhattan.” He grinned. “Would you like to join us?”

“Yes.” 

“No,” Annabeth said at the same time as her. 

“Oh, Annabeth darling. You seem so tense. Loosen up a little.” Mary offered her signature smile as she took the seat next to her. “So, what’s the occasion?”

Percy took a mouthful of food. “I got a ‘B’ in Spanish.”

“Why, that's brilliant. That does call for a celebration.” Mary looked between the two of them. “Is that the subject our Annie has been helping you with?” 

“You bet it is.” 

“She’s been extra happy these days. That could be the reason. Lately, she’s been coming into work a lot more smiley. Less grumpy.”

Percy smirked. “Is that so?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I am right here.” Annabeth said in disbelief.

“Although, she has been cheeky lately. Hiding in the toilets to text you quickly. Ah, she reminds me of my younger self.”

“It seems like she’s been keeping tabs on me.” He gave Annabeth a teasing look, and she not-so-subtly flipped him off.

“In fact.” Mary said. “She’s been saying that you’ve been a lot more charming recently… and quite handsome, too.”

Percy burst out laughing while Annabeth stared at her coworker, horrified. 

“I did not say that.” 

“I’m paraphrasing, Sweetheart.”

“No, you’re twisting my words. You’re making that sound way too flattering.” Annabeth tried to fix the situation. “I used the words ‘kind’ and ‘considerate’.”

“Oh, tomato, tomato.” 

“Stop.” 

Mary patted Annabeth’s hand. “Well, I know you’re thinking about it. Look at him, what a good-looking young man. And now he’s gotten a ‘B’ in Spanish. He’s practically the full package.”

“Thank you, Mary. I appreciate that.” Percy said, smiling and enjoying the compliments way too much.

“You should visit us more often. We love it when you come over. I know Annabeth does.”

Percy had tears in his eyes as he tried to control his laughter.

Annabeth turned to her coworker, eyes widening. “Mary, could you please come with me to pay for the bill?”

“Right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

The old lady slid out of the booth, with Annabeth following closely behind, as they walked to the cash register. 

Annabeth leaned forward on the counter. “What was that?”

“I’m just helping you, hon.” Mary went around to the other side. “You’d be a lost cause otherwise.”

“Helping me embarrass myself?!”

“No, silly. Helping you get the message across.” Mary pushed the card reader forward. “That will be $29.60 with employee discount.”

Annabeth tapped her card. “What message?”

“That you like him.”

“Yeah, as a friend.”

“Oh, boy,” Mary tutted. “You’re in denial. SHE’S IN DENIAL, JOE!!”

“Shhh! Stop screaming for backup.” 

Mary took the receipt and handed it to her. “Annabeth, honey, you know I love you.”

“And I love you too.”

“But Gods… you are more blind than me, and that’s concerning coming from an old woman.” 

“Huh?”

“You like the boy! Like, really like him. As in, you have a crush on him!”

“WHAT?!!” Annabeth exclaimed a bit too loudly. She turned around to find a few people staring at her, including Percy. She lowered her voice. “I do not have a crush on him. He’s my best friend.”

“And that’s what they all say.”

“But he really is just my best friend.”

“Like Thalia? Or Silena? You don’t talk about them nearly as much as you talk about him.” 

“I spend more time with Percy.”

“And have you ever thought that there’s a possibility that you’ve developed feelings for him.”

“...No.”

“Do you get butterflies when you’re around him?”

“What am I, five?”

“Well, do you?” Mary pushed.

“I don’t know. Maybe. My stomach just goes funny… sometimes.”

“Because you like him.”

“No, because my body’s rejecting him. My subconscious is telling me to stay away.”

“But you’re here with him, right now. On a date, might I add.”

“I knew you guys thought we were on a date.” Annabeth ran her hands over her face.

“And you were flirting.”

“I don’t even know how to flirt.”

“You sure looked like you were doing a good job at it.”

“We were joking around!” 

Mary sighed. “Listen, Annie. Just think about it.” 

“But there’s nothing to think about!”

“There’s plenty to.”

And before Annabeth could respond, Mary turned around and went back into the kitchen. 

Annabeth cursed under her breath before heading back to the booth. She stopped in front of Percy, trying to act casual. “Ready to go?” She pressed her lips into a thin line.

“Yeah, I’m ready. Are you guys all good? There was a lot of hands flailing and intense stares.”

“Mhm. We’re great. Just thinking.” She repeated Mary’s words slowly.

“Can you think a little quieter? It’s like your mind is shouting at me.”

“My mind is always shouting at you, because you do stupid shit all the time.”

“Do you know what’s not stupid?” Percy smirked.

“Do I even wanna know?”

“This big beautiful ‘B’ on my letter.” He brought out the folded slip of paper and gave it a kiss. “It’s the most glorious thing I own.”

Annabeth scoffed. “I’m sure it is.”

Percy opened the door for her. “Thanks for the meal, by the way. That was definitely enough to feed me for the rest of the week.”

“You’re welcome, Jackson. You deserve it.”

“I’ll take that as confirmation that I’m the best.”

“Don’t let it get to your head now.” She nudged him.

And as they walked back to their cars, Annabeth couldn’t stop hearing Mary’s words echo in her head. 

Oh, fuck.

Chapter Text

“Maybe this is a bad idea.” Annabeth chewed on her lip. “Actually, this is a terrible idea.”

“Nope. We’re doing this.” Percy bumped her shoulder. 

“But why? This isn’t benefiting either of us.”

She pulled her jacket tighter around herself as they stood outside an Italian Restaurant. It was mid-December, and New York was beginning to freeze. Christmas decorations hung from nearly every store, and festive songs drifted through the air.

“We’re not quitters, Beth. We’re gonna suck it up and put on the best show for your family.” Percy looked at the time on his phone. “...and it’s also too late to cancel. So, we’ve just got to rip the bandaid off and go for it.”

“I hate how positive you’re being.”

“Just be polite and I’ll do most of the talking. All they want to do is get to know me.” He gestured to the entrance. “So, are you ready to smile and nod for the next two hours?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” Percy nudged her towards the door.

Hesitantly, her fingers gripped the handle, and as she pushed it forward, a warm gust of air welcomed her. She looked around at her surroundings. 

The room was decorated warmly, and extremely cozy. Fake vines and plants hung from the ceiling, wrapping around the lights. The tables had red and white checkered cloths draping over them, accompanied with dark wooden chairs. Bottles of wine lined the shelves on the walls, alongside picture frames of the family owners. In the corner stood a brightly lit Christmas tree, which had baubles and tinsel on every single branch.

“At least this is a pretty place to have my final meal.” Annabeth said plainly.

“That’s not very smiley or nod-dy of you.”

“I’ve given up on that tactic, and so should you— Shit. I see them.”

He followed her eyeline. “Perfect. Let’s go.”

“Shouldn’t we discuss strategy?”

“We’re eating food and talking, not attacking each other.”

Percy practically had to push her to the table in the middle of the room. Annabeth’s dad noticed them first. He had a massive grin on his face as he fixed his glasses.

“Oh, Annabeth, you're here.” He stood up and hugged her. 

“Apparently so.” She said through gritted teeth. 

“I was about to call you. I was worried you might’ve gotten lost.” 

“Not lost. Just late.” Helen said from her seat.

“It’s my fault.” Percy interjected. “I accidentally took the long route, and the traffic was awful.”

Both of Annabeth’s parents turned to him. 

“You must be Percy. I’m Frederick.” He stuck his hand out. “I’ve heard a lot about you… well actually that’s not completely true. Hence why we’re having this dinner.”

Percy shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for having me, I’ve been looking forward to this since the invite.”

He’s lying.

He wants to leave just as much as I do.

“Me too. I’m glad you agreed to meet.” Frederick’s smile never faltered. “This is my wife Helen.”

“Nice to meet you, Percy.” She gave him a firm nod.

And he returned the gesture. “Same to you.”

Frederick moved back to his chair. “Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable."

The pair removed their jackets and sat next to each other. Across from them were the twins.

Annabeth stomped on one of her brother’s feet, and once she caught their attention she tilted her head to Percy. “Don’t be rude.”

The first twin gave an irritated look, before turning to their guest. “I’m Matthew.”

“And I’m Bobby.” The second twin smiled.

“I’m Percy.”

Matthew turned back to Annabeth. “Happy now?”

She rolled her eyes. “They’re useless, ignore them.”

“We’re not useless, we’re just annoyed.” Matthew groaned.

“I haven’t even done anything.” Annabeth gave a quizzical look. “I just got here.”

“Not at you. We had to skip a soccer match for this.”

She read between the lines and knew that Helen made them miss it for this meal. The twins had worked extra hard to play on the A Team, and now that they had finally managed to get in, Helen was selfish enough to take it away from them. It was obvious Annabeth wasn’t the only one frustrated tonight.

“You guys play soccer?” Percy asked. “That’s so cool. I used to play a lot in middle school before swimming took over.”

Matthew’s brows furrowed. “You swim?”

“Yeah. It’s like my favourite thing to do.”

“Are you any good?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“He’s being humble.” Annabeth cut in. “He’s the best swimmer in school.”

“Woah.” Bobby’s face lit up. “That’s awesome.”

“You should see his gold medals. He’s got an excessive amount.” She said proudly.

“Maybe you can bring them next time.” Bobby said hopeful.

“Maybe I will.” Percy smiled.

The waiter arrived at their table and took down everyone’s orders. Annabeth went for the ravioli dish, while Percy went for a pepperoni pizza. They both decided to stick with their glasses of water for drinks.

“So, Percy.” Helen took a sip of her wine. “Do you have any siblings?”

“I do. I have a little sister, Estelle. Everyone says that she’s just a mini version of me.”

“A better version of you.” Annabeth joked quietly enough just for him to hear.

Percy tried to suppress his grin, keeping his attention on Helen. “It’s just me, Estelle, my mom, and Paul.”

“What do your parents do for a living?”

“My mom’s a writer, and Paul’s a teacher.”

Helen tilted her head. “What about your biological dad? Is he still in the picture?”

Annabeth’s eyes widened. “That’s a pretty invasive question, don’t you think?”

“I’m just asking.”

“It’s okay, Beth.” He gave her a smile. “Last time I checked, my dad was a marine biologist. That was a while ago though, so who knows, he could be doing something completely different.”

“You don’t keep in contact?” Helen asked.

“Not anymore. We stopped speaking.”

Annabeth felt extremely uncomfortable. She knew that Percy’s biological dad was a personal topic of conversation for him, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. 

“Percy wants to do marine biology in university,” she attempted a subtle shift. “He loves the water.”

“That’s fascinating.” Frederick nodded. “The water is an extremely unexplored part of our world, there’s so much to learn about it.”

“Exactly.” Percy sat up straight. “So many ecosystems and organisms we haven’t discovered. I mean, it’s pretty much endless.”

“I have plenty of books on the ocean. I would be happy to lend them to you.”

“Seriously? That would be amazing.”

Matthew sighed. “All this family does is read. And not even the fun type of books, just the boring textbooks.”

“What do you like to read?” Percy asked.

“I don’t read.”

“He’s lying.” Bobby jabbed his twin with his elbow. “He likes Greek Mythology.”

“Dude.” He jabbed him back. “That was a secret.”

“Greek Mythology is really interesting.” Percy added. “Paul used to teach it to his students, and I always thought it was the coolest thing.”

“Really?” Matthew asked.

“Yeah.” Percy scooted closer. “Who’s your favourite Greek God?”

“Zeus, obviously. He’s the most powerful.”

“Good choice.” Percy agreed.

“What about you?”

“I’d have to say Poseidon. He seems pretty chill, and I guess being able to control water is a bonus.”

“Poseidon’s awesome!” Bobby said. “He’s my second favourite, but I definitely think Apollo has the best powers. Think about it, he can basically do everything. From controlling sunlight, to healing, to being a musician and artist.”

Annabeth played with the checkered table cloth. “He has a point, but Athena will always be my number one.”

“Can she play every musical instrument?” Bobby asked.

“No.”

“What about flying?” Matthew piped in.

“No.”

“Well, she sounds lame.” Bobby shook his head. 

“She’s not lame. She’s super intelligent. Imagine having google but in your head. Her power is her brain. It’s what makes her an amazing warrior.”

“So she’s basically you but a goddess.” Matthew translated.

“Was that a compliment?”

“You wish.”

“I think it was.” Annabeth teased.

“Shut up.”

The waiter returned with their food at hand. He lowered everyone’s dishes from the tray, and asked if there was anything else he could help with.

Once he was gone, Annabeth took a bite of her pasta, and as the cheese touched her tongue she felt like she was melting.

“Is it good?” Percy asked.

“Really good,” she confirmed. “Wanna try some?”

He took his knife and fork, cut a piece in half, and popped it in his mouth. “Yep, that definitely gets the Jackson approval.”

“Told you.”

Percy broke off a slice of his pizza and rested it on the side of Annabeth’s plate. “Your turn.”

She took a bite, and smiled once the saltiness of the pepperoni hit her taste buds. “Okay, fine. We’re tied.”

Percy smirked, taking another slice. “That we are.”

The entire table was busy devouring their meals, and not one person spoke until every plate was spotless. It was peaceful, an extreme rarity for the Chase family. Annabeth didn’t complain. She focused on the Christmas music in the background and how the other customers were in the holiday spirit. It felt joyful.

Matthew placed his elbows on the table, leaning forward. “Right, let’s cut to the chase… no pun intended.” He locked eyes with Percy. “Are you hooking up with my sister?”

“MATT!” Annabeth exclaimed.

“Annabeth!” Helen said sternly. “Don’t yell, we’re in public.”

“You did not just ask him that.” She ignored her stepmom.

“Uh, yes I did. Everyone’s thinking it.” Matthew stated.

“No! No one is thinking that.”

“I was.” Bobby raised a finger.

“Not now, Bobbs.”

“I was just being honest.”

Annabeth looked at him with incredulity. “Well, it wouldn’t kill you to lie just this once.”

“You never answered my question.” Matthew looked back at Percy, but Annabeth beat him to it.

She shifted to the side, getting into her brother’s eyeline. “We are not hooking up for God’s sake. What part of friends do you both not get? It’s completely normal for guys and girls to be friends.”

“Yeah, except you’re not normal, and you don’t have guy friends, except for Percy. Which has come out of nowhere.”

Annabeth turned to Helen in hopes that she would tell them to be quiet. But she just sat back in her chair, sipping on her wine, clearly just as curious as the rest of the family.

Annabeth took a deep breath. “We’ve gone to the same school since we were twelve. This year we got seated next to each other in class, and then I helped him with his grades. That’s how we became friends. Okay? Is that a good enough story for you?”

“So he doesn’t care that you’re… weird?” 

She felt like she was gonna explode.

“She’s not weird Matthew.” Helen finally butted in. “She just likes different things compared to the rest of us.”

“I just have different hobbies.” Annabeth defended.

Matthew scoffed. “Yeah, cause you like to dance.”

“Many people see dance as a sport.”

“Many people see dance as a sport,” he mocked. “Gods, you’re such a girl.”

“And you’re such a brat.” 

“It takes one to know one.”

“Stop it, the both of you.” Frederick said, firmly. “You’re being ridiculous in front of our guest.”

“What do you expect, honey?” Helen shook her head in disappointment. “Annabeth’s decided to make this dinner all about herself. That’s extremely ill-mannered.”

Annabeth’s leg started bouncing up and down as she tried to bite down her tongue. “Matt’s asking Percy inappropriate questions. He should get just as much blame as me.”

“He’s just curious and a lot younger than you.” Helen waved her hand.

“He’s thirteen! He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

“Take responsibility, Annabeth. You’re meant to set an example.”

She glared at her stepmom, feeling like she was going to lose it any second now.

Percy noticed her stiffen and instantly tried to change the conversation. He looked at the twins. “Your sister’s a really good dancer. I went to her first nutcracker show this season. She’s very talented.”

“Does she just twirl around the place?” Bobby asked.

“It’s a lot more than that.” Percy responded. 

Annabeth stared at the table. “They wouldn’t know, they’ve never seen me perform.” 

“Oh, you two haven’t?”

“None of them have.” She said plainly. 

Percy froze momentarily, before regaining his composure. “Well, you definitely should. She’s amazing on the stage.”

“She’s average at best.” Helen deadpanned. “If she’s as good as you say she is, then she would be making this her full time job.”

Annabeth tried to stay calm. “I already told you. I don’t want the pressure from dance to mix with school. Besides, I enjoy architecture just as much. It’s what I’ve chosen to do.”

“You mean you’ve failed to make dance your career so you decided to move to Plan B.”

Percy gently placed his hand over Annabeth’s bouncing leg. 

She exhaled. “I didn’t fail at anything. I got one of the biggest roles in The Nutcracker this year, and maybe if you put even an ounce of effort in being a good parent, you’d know that I bust my ass everyday trying to be the best at everything I do.”

Helen tightened her grip on her wine glass. “You’ve wasted all this money on something that won’t even help you in the future.”

“It was my money to waste. I worked for every cent. I’ve been holding two jobs, while training, and going to school every single day. I never asked you or dad for anything. All I’ve ever wanted is your support.”

“You’re a smart girl, Annabeth. But even you know that you’ve never been interested in being a part of this family, let alone wanting our support.”

Annabeth reached for Percy’s hand under the table. She squeezed it, hoping that some of his strength would rub off on her. “You came into my life one day, and ruined everything.” She fought the sting threatening her eyes. “I was happy. I was completely fine. And then you changed it all.”

Helen huffed. “It’s been years, Annabeth. Change is good. You need change to grow. It’s time to just accept it.”

“Oh right, because tearing apart my life was just character development for me.”

Frederick put his hands out. “Maybe we should talk about this at home.”

Helen ignored him. “All you’ve ever been is ungrateful, and I am sick and tired of everyone acting like you can get away with it just because you’re a teenager.”

“I mind my own business Helen. I keep to myself. I’ve never once raised my voice at you, or spoken disrespectfully.”

Her stepmom pinched the bridge of her nose. “So, tell me what you want then?”

Percy squeezed her hand and when she turned to look at him, he had the gentlest expression resting on his face. His eyes were saying a million things that he didn’t need to voice out loud: Say what you need to, and I’ll be here the entire time. I’m not going anywhere.

Annabeth’s chest tightened as she faced Helen again. “I want to feel welcome in my own family. I want to not dread coming home after school. I want to be heard when I speak.” Annabeth’s voice broke. “I want my feelings to matter. I want to stop walking on eggshells in my own house. I want to believe you actually care about me.” She paused. “I want to feel loved.”

The table fell silent.

Annabeth wiped a rogue tear with the back of her hand.

“I want my mom back.” The words left her mouth in the quietest whisper and she wasn’t even sure if anyone heard it.

Pushing her chair back, she stood up from her seat and stormed out of the restaurant.

She had no idea where she was going, but she needed to get out of there. 

As her legs sped up down the streets, and the wind whipped past her head, Annabeth thought of a memory that she had always clung onto whenever she felt alone.

“What happened, baby?” Her mom scanned the blood trailing down her leg.

“I just fell off my bike. It doesn’t hurt.” Seven-year-old Annabeth dropped her helmet on the dining table. “It just needs to be washed.”

“No, no. Come back here.” Her mom picked her up and placed her on the kitchen counter. “I told you to wear the knee pads.”

“But the other kids were making fun of them.”

“They’re just jealous that you got the really nice ones.”

“No, mom. They called me weak for being too scared to ride without them.”

Her mom paused, and looked at her. Her voice was soft. “Remember what I said?”

“If I ever feel out of control… I just breathe.” Annabeth replied.

“Here, let’s do it together.” She held her daughter’s hands. “One deep breath. Two deep breaths. Three deep breaths.”

Annabeth followed along, matching her mother’s pace.

“Feel better?”

She nodded.

Her mom sighed. “Never listen to anyone who calls you weak, Annabeth. You are the strongest person I know. You bounce back every time someone’s mean, and it’s so brave of you.” She held a cloth against her daughter’s knee, applying pressure to the wound. “You deserve to have people in your life who will always be by your side no matter what.”

“No matter what?”

“No matter what.” Her mom repeated.

“Like you?”

“Exactly. I’ll always be by your side, baby. No matter what.”

Annabeth stopped running. She ended up by the river, staring out at the city. The sky was pitch black now, and the air was ten times colder than before, but she didn’t care. She closed her eyes and pictured her mom. She was always scared that one day she’d forget the way she looked.

Her mom always wore wooly jumpers that felt extra nice whenever they cuddled.

She wore a lot of fun colorful jewelry, and if Annabeth was lucky enough she’d get to borrow some.

She was beautiful and strong.

She had the warmest smile.

And she looked just like home.

Annabeth opened her eyes and let the tears fall. She watched the small puffs of smoke escape her lips whenever she exhaled. She let herself feel the hurt, feel the pain, feel the anger. She let herself simply feel.

After a couple of minutes she turned around to look at her surroundings, but her eyes caught on someone standing in the dark, staring at her.

She took a step closer. “Percy?”

He shifted into the light. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare at you. I just didn’t want to interrupt.”

“I want you to interrupt.”

“You do?”

She nodded.

“Well, in that case.” He moved forward, unravelling her jacket from his hands. “Can you put this on? I’m freezing just looking at you.”

The tiniest smile appeared on her lips. She put each arm into the jacket holes while he held it open for her. Once she zipped it up, and faced him again, Annabeth did what she always did whenever looking at Percy.

She traced his features with her eyes, like a map.

She took in his familiar scent, and soaked in his presence. 

In the quietest voice, Annabeth whispered, “She would have loved you.”

“Who?”

“My mom.”

Percy couldn’t wait another second. He pulled her into him. Holding her as close as possible. “If she was anything like you, then I would have loved her too.”

Fuck.

Annabeth’s stomach felt funny again. 

And in that moment she thought back to the conversation she had with Mary. She thought about how easy it was to be around Percy. About how she didn’t have to try and impress him or make him understand her hobbies or interests. How she was equally interested in everything that made his eyes light up, just because they were important to him.

He was always patient, and never judged her.

He understood her like no one else did. Like no one else tried to.

She thought about how during any minor inconvenience she searched for him, because he’s the one person who brings her so much comfort and stability. She always felt completely safe whenever he was near.

Annabeth rested her cheek against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

He was the one constant thing she had in her life.

And she never wanted that to change.

Shit.

Mary was right.

“Percy?”

“Annabeth.”

“I’m happy you’re here.”

He looked down at her. “So am I.” He smiled. “I hate to break it to you, but there’s no getting rid of me now.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” Percy rested his chin on the top of her head. “No matter what.”