I don't own Percy Jackson.

"I can't believe I agreed to this." I grumbled once again as my best friend Grover pushed me through a door and into a crowded room filled with dancing, drunk teenagers and music so loud it felt like my eardrums were going to burst any second. Grover let out one of his signature goat-like bleats and got as close to my ear as possible for me to hear him say "Loosen up, Percy! Have fun! Everyone's here, Annabeth too. Besides I want to introduce you to Juniper." And he disappeared in the crowd, not looking backwards to see if I was following.

With a heavy sigh I made a beeline for the bar "One coke, please." The bartender, who looked to be around 23 so five years older than me, snorted but gave me my coke. The air was filled with smoke and a disgusting combination of alcohol and sweat. I pushed through the crowd and found an empty table furthest from the crowd and busied myself with sipping my cold coke. To say I regretted not staying at my mom's and watching Finding Nemo now that Gabe was out with his friends was an understatement.

One song and three puking people later Grover finally found me, dragging a pretty girl with shoulder length amber hair and forest green eyes behind him. They both had face splitting smiles "Percy, this is my girlfriend Juniper. Juniper, this is my best friend Percy." Putting down my glass, I stood up and managed a smile "Hi, Juniper. It's nice finally meeting you."

We shook hands "Grover's told me a great deal about you."

Both their faces flushed and Grover pulled her to his chest in a hug. I couldn't help but smile a little wider. That's what Grover deserves.

We all sat down and talked for a bit, until our conversation got interrupted by giggling louder than the music. Juniper and Grover jumped up and I turned around just in time to see a blackhead tripping and pouring red wine all over my white shirt. Some colorful curses every sailor would be proud of escaped my mouth when I jumped up and pulled at the dripping wet shirt. The giggling increased.

"Oh my gods, Thalia! Look at what you've done. Now his shirt is dirty!" I looked up and my breath hitched when I saw none other than Annabeth Chase herself with her arm draped over Juniper's shoulder. Grover helped Thalia to her feet and she giggled even more "Some salt will do the magic." She grabbed a salt shaker, screwed off the lid and made an attempt to pour it on my shirt, but miserably missing in her drunken state. "There. Done. As good as new."

Grover helped her onto a chair and Juniper went to get some napkins for my shirt. The next thing I knew, Annabeth Chase had her arms around me, practically hugging me. I was so surprised I froze for a few seconds. She put her ear onto my chest and rubbed her cheek against the wet stain on the fabric "You missed, Thals." Then she looked at me with a huge grin, still not letting go "But you could take off your shirt. That'd be a lot more comfortable than a wet shirt..."

I gulped. Was she flirting with me? Before I could do anything she got pulled away from me by Thalia, who pulled her in her lap. Juniper returned and started working on the stain, only making it worse. But the only thing I noticed was the fact that Annabeth was eyeing me the whole time, chewing on her lip.

"Wait! Are you drinking coke?" Thalia interrupted slurring some words "Gods, you're a man! No one drinks coke on a disco!" Annabeth straightened up excitedly and raised her hand like a first grader "I do!"

They both burst into another round of laughter when Thalia said "With rum." As soon as they started they stopped. Thalia pushed Annabeth off her lap and weren't it for Grover she would end up on the ground. Thalia found the closest plant and threw up in the pot. Grover and Juniper put Thalia's arms around their shoulders and together they left, taking her home.

I was left alone with a giggling Annabeth. Quickly I finished my coke and pulled her to her feet "Come on, let's get you home. You're drunk." She gave me an emotionless expression and took a step back "I'm not. I barely had one glass of wine." I raised both brows and she burst out laughing "Or maybe a bottle or two."

We started walking to the exit when she snaked her arms around my waist and placed her head on my shoulder. I kept my cool but on the inside I felt like a five-year-old who got an endless supply of candy. My crush since day one, the most beautiful and popular girl in school was practically hugging me for the second time in barely an hour. I did not regret going after all.

As we were about to finally get out of that building, someone roughly grabbed her hand and ripped her away from me so fast she almost fell down. I turned to see Luke Castellan holding her to his chest, with his hands way lower than at her back. She tried to push him away but in her drunken state that was impossible. "Leave her alone, Castellan." I growled but he ignored me and said trying to be flirtatious "How about we go to my apartment and have some fun."

She hit him in the chest and hissed "Fuck you!" He laughed and pulled her even closer making my blood boil "Of course you can." I lost it and punched him in the face. He stumbled back and so did she. He fell into the crowd but she tripped on her own feet and staggered out of the door before landing on her butt. She looked around confused, before giggling again.

I gave Castellan one last glare before helping her up. That's when I noticed something "Why are you wearing one flip-flop and one Wellington boot?" She shrugged and it was the cutest thing I've ever seen. And I've watched thousands of videos of cute panda bears and sloths. I got snapped out of my thoughts when I heard her start singing the Spongebob Squarepants F.U.N. song "F is for friends who do stuff together. U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all. Down here in the deep blue sea. F is for fire that burns down the whole town. U is for uranium, bombs. N is for no survivors when you do it with me!" I was laughing the whole time and she kept on singing until we finally arrived at our houses.

It kind of made me sad that she lives so close. I wished for the time we had to be unconditional. I wished to be walking with her forever. To hang out with her forever.

She started jumping up and down excitedly, tugging on my sleeve "Percy! Percy! We live right next to each other!" I let out a laugh and helped her up the stairs to her porch. She got out her keys

but didn't manage to unlock the door without my help. Once inside I made sure she took off her flip-flop and boot and was about to leave when she grabbed my wrist. "Percy, you're such a nice boy! I-" she looked around confused and I did too trying to look for something interesting enough to catch her attention. Only did I realize just how much taller I was when she kissed her palm and lightly slapped my cheek. Not hard enough for it to actually hurt.

"Goodnight." She yawned and shut the door in my face.

Unconsciously I touched where she had kind of kissed my cheek and a wide smile spread on my face. I ran to the house right next to hers and hugged my mom who was sitting on the couch reading.

She gave me a smile warm enough to melt ice and I kissed her cheek. "So you had a good time with Grover?" I could see by her expression that she knew that there was something else behind my behavior.

"I had fun with Grover, Juniper and Annabeth…" She put an old bookmark I made for her in kindergarten into her book and stood up with me, smile even warmer than before "I'm glad you had fun. It's been long since I've seen you so happy." Ever since Gabe moved in, I wanted to say, but I didn't want to make her sad so I kissed her forehead and went to take a shower before going to bed with a certain blonde on my mind.

"Bye, mom." I kissed my mom's cheek and left for school. As I was passing Annabeth's house, I heard shouting and shattering of glass. But that was nothing unusual for their house. The Chase family fought all the time.

The door burst open and Annabeth stormed out. I stopped. An older but athletic man ran out after her threating "Annabeth Chase, I'm not done talking." She turned around and threw her hands up in the air, walking backwards "Too bad, 'cause I am." And she caught up to me ignoring her growling father, smiling at me instead like nothing happened "Hey, Percy. May I walk with you?"

My eyes flickered to her father who slammed the door with so much force the small window decorating it broke. She did not seem affected so I let it be. It was none of my business. I gave her a huge smile "Of course."

And so we walked to school together. Our hands occasionally touching.