Author's note: This takes place during Percy's Christmas break durring his eighth grade year after the Sea of Monsters. Assuming that he doesn't have to stay at camp because of what happened at the end. Hope that you like it! Please R&R!

A Pleasant Surprise

There was a knocking at the door of our apartment.

"I'll get it," I told my mother seeing that she was in the kitchen making up our early Christmas dinner. It was indeed Christmastime and I had no idea who would be visiting us. Ever since smelly Gabe had "moved out" we rarely had visitors.

I opened the door and was surprised to see a familiar face.

"Annabeth," I breathed amazed to see her at my doorstep.

"Hi Percy," she said, blushing.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I motioned her into our cozy little apartment.

"My father and I are in New York for the holiday, visiting my step-aunt" she said as she removed her coat and sat on the couch. She was fashioning a very nice shirt that held tight to her body .I found myself staring at her and her beautiful curly blonde hair. All of the sudden I felt very weird. A feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Questions popped up into my head; had I brushed my teeth this morning? Did I look ok in my jeans and sweatshirt? What was going on with me?

Annabeth continued and it interrupted my thoughts. "I was bored at my step-aunt's place so I decided that I would come and visit you."

"That was thoughtful of you Annabeth," I said sitting beside her.

"Who is there Percy?" my mom called from the kitchen. She walked in wiping her hands on a dish towel. She saw Annabeth and said, "Oh! What a pleasant surprise. Nice to see you again Annabeth. Well you mist be hungry. Let me go and get some of my cookies." With that said my mom walked out of the room.

"So," I said sitting next to Annabeth on the couch, "how have you been?"

"So-so," she replied. "Father has treated me a like a daughter now and I actually get along with my brothers. I guess that is a start. All that I can say for sure is that I can't wait for camp to start again."

"Yeah I know. I enjoy being with mom but nothing beats camp…" With that we started to reminisce about our good old days at Camp Half-Blood. Mom brought in our cookies, but we didn't stop talking about camp until I picked up one of the blue cookies.

"Blue cookies?" Annabeth asked picking up one.

"Yeah," I said taking a bite. "Making things blue is my mom's way of saying that anything is possible. Percy can get half way through eighth grade. Cookies can be blue."

"That is different," Annabeth stated and she took a bite of her cookie too. "They still taste like cookies though."

We finished our cookies and my mom came in to take the plate away from us. We sat is silence for a moment and I found myself staring at Annabeth again. This time she noticed.

"What?" she asked. "Is there something on my shirt?"

"No," I said. "You look perfect." I got closer onto the couch with her as I said it. Annabeth seemed to notice for she got up and walked over to the window that looked over Manhattan. I noticed that she was blushing a deep shade of red. I followed her over.

"This is a nice view," she said although it wasn't really at all. "It is very beautiful." I stood right behind her and I could smell her sugary perfume that made my heart beat really fast.

"Yes you are," I heard myself say instead of think. That got her attention. "I mean, yes it is," I put in quickly as she turned around to face me.

"Did you just say that I was beautiful?" she asked. She took a step closer to me.

"Well… uh… yeah… I guess that I did. There is no denying it now." I could feel the heat rising in my face. It was happening to Annabeth too.

Annabeth brought her face close to mine. Oh man. I prepared myself for the worst. I had never kissed before. I prayed to the gods to help me with this. But before I could utter another word to the gods Annabeth threw her arms around my neck and gave me a hug. Wait, a hug? She was hugging me not kissing me. I felt myself ease up just a little disappointed. A part of me had wanted her to kiss me.

"Oh Percy," she said burying her head into my shoulder. "That is the sweetest thing that you heave ever said to me!" I hugged her back holding her against my chest. I took in the sent of her hair. Man that smelled good.

Annabeth took her head off of my shoulder and looked into my eyes. "Thanks Seaweed Brain," She murmured

"You're welcome Wise Girl," I replied. I brought my face close to hers and without even planning it I kissed her.

She seemed just as surprised as I was but she kissed me back. The kiss deepened as my tongue slid inbetween my lips and started to caress hers. When did I learn to do this? I asked myself. This was my first kiss but I was kissing like it had been my tenth. We broke apart and Annabeth smiled up at me. I pulled myself away and I took her hand. I lead her to my bedroom were I knew we would have some privacy.

When we entered my room and I shut the door it seemed as though we just couldn't keep our hands off of each other. I pushed Annabeth up against the wall and we kissed feverishly. It was amazing. Eventually we settled down and we sat upon my bed. Annabeth sat on my lap and we began to kiss again. In the end Annabeth said that it was time for her to get back to her step-aunt's apartment before her dad started to worry about her.

I offered to walk her home but she declined. "I can take care of myself you know," she told me as she put on her coat and zipped it up.

"I was just trying to be nice," I said defensively. She smiled at me and I opened the door for her.

"Thanks for coming to visit me," I said. "We should do this again sometime soon."

Annabeth giggled and replied, "Yes. Very soon." As she walked out of the door and into the hallway she grabbed my hand. I pulled the door shut. She got closed to me and she gave me one last kiss and then she disappeared down the steps. I watched her leave, her hair flying madly behind her as she raced down the hallway. I sighed and walked back into the door were I saw my mom. She was smiling that smile like she knew something.She opened her mouth to say something but I interupted her.

I walked toward my room and I said, "Shut up mom." She started to laugh and I closed the door.

What did you think? Please review! That is all that I am asking.