"-and he was all, like, 'ahhh'!" Piper finished in between laughter. I snorted unattractively. The rest of our little clique were all guffawing as Piper concluded her story of her camping trip with her father, there had been this beaver and- you know what? Nevermind, that's another story for another time.
Silena, one of my closest friends, had convinced us all to the mall on this Saturday afternoon. So, after being dragged around in Silena's favorite store, Forever 21 for what seemed like an eternity,we were all starving. Craving some meat-on-a-pretzel we decided to go to the food court to a Japanese restaurant.
We went to find a table to fit the six of us, while we sent Reyna to get some food. I scanned the food court and found a booth towards the Taco Bell and dragged my friends over. We all sat down on the cushioned seats and soon Hazel had started a conversation about who-knows-what, I wasn't paying attention. I was more focused on a boy across the room who seemed to have gotten on some guys' bad sides. I watched as a black haired boy was shoved by a much more muscular dude in a red letterman's jacket. The teen to the letterman's right gave him a fistbump.
" Earth to Annabeth," Silena said as she waved a hand in front of my face. I broke out of my slight daze and turned to face my friends and beholded Rachel, the artist of the group, Piper, the caring one, Silena, the more girly of us, Hazel, the shy and quiet person, and Reyna, who is the more responsible one.
I looked back over to the boy and said, " Houston, we have a problem." They followed my line of vision and guessed what said problem was. " What do you want us to do." Piper asked.
Back in middle school I had been bullied by a girl named Nancy Bobofits. So, now I definitely had sympathy towards the bullied.
" Nothing, I got this." I said in a confident voice, acting like I had a plan. I know for a fact that guys have sensitive egos, so if I were to go up to them and just defend the poor guy, the bullies' first reaction would be along the lines of " Oh, you need a girl to protect you?" and then the dude would get mad and it would just be worse. So, to keep that from happening I have to come up with some other means to help the kid.
"Okay, if you're sure. We'll be here." Hazel replied. I walked over to where the boys were and stopped a good twenty feet away to observe the situation. Now that I was closer I could see the boy with black hair also had green eyes and a tan complexion. He wasn't bad looking, and seemed close to my age, not that I was interested or anything. The other two seemed like the jock type and complete jerks.
Then an idea hit me, and I ran back over to my friends, who all looked confused at my sudden return. "Wha-" I cut Reyna off, " Silena, I need to borrow some lipstick, do you have any that would look good on me?" She grinned and picked up her bag from under the table and dug through it, pulling out two sticks of color. " Pink or pink?" I rolled my eyes, " Whichever will look best." She smirked, "Ahh, pink it is!" I cracked a smile as she handed lipstick number two over. "Thanks," I said after applying it and handing it over. I took a deep breath and ran over to the boys. "Babe!" I squealed in a totally non-Annabeth fashion. I tackled the green-eyed boy and kissed him deeply. He seemed more shocked than anything else. I pulled away to breath and feigned surprise at the jocks standing a few feet away.
" Oh, sorry! Did I interrupt something?" I sent a subtle wink in the green-eyed boy's direction. " I just haven't seen you in so long, gods, I love you." The boy seemed to have caught on, "Baby, I saw you Tuesday, it hasn't been that long. Not that I didn't enjoy the kiss, another one?" He leaned in, I glared at him discreetly before saying, " Babe! Not here!" I giggled, then mentally gagged. Grabbing my "boyfriend's" hand I said, "How 'bout we go to your house? Your mom doesn't get off until 3:00 on Saturdays, right?" He nodded, "Bye," I said to the jocks before walking off with the boy's hand in mine.
"What was that?" The boy murmured. I responded out of the side of my mouth, " That was me saving your ass, that's what." I pulled him into a Penny's and asked him, "What's your name? I do not want to keep refering to you as 'babe', I hate pet names." He smiled, " Percy, what's your's, babe." I rolled my eyes before saying, "Annabeth, Annabeth Chase." He did a mock bow, "And, to what, Ms. Chase, do I own the honor of kissing you." " You seemed to be having difficulties with those idiots, and I assumed it wouldn't help your street cred, if a girl had to stick up for you." Percy blushed slightly, " You assumed correct. But, um, I have a girlfriend." Now it was my turn to blush, " I wasn't trying to, um, sorry?" He chuckled, " It's okay, you didn't know but, if Chase and Alex tell Calypso, you're explaining." I furrowed my eyebrows, " How would I do that?" " I'll call you." He said that like it was obvious, I took out a pen and wrote down my number on his arm, "There, I guess I'll see ya around," I said, turning around. Then Percy grabbed my arm and asked, " What school do you go to?" I smiled and said, " Goode High." He looked excited and said, "Really? That's where I'm transferring!" He grinned. " Maybe I'll see you in some of my classes. Bye Percy." I turned back around again as he said, " You bet, babe!"