As we walked to the park together, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to hold her hand. Hold tight and never let go. Annabeth, talking about our upcoming homework assignment, was stunning. She in fact had just gotten home from soccer practice and was rather sweaty. But that didn't stop me from giving her a hug. A couple of kids were there, playing on the structure. I watched as one fell down and the other helped them up. Little kids were so sweet and innocent, yet they knew how it felt to fall down, so they helped each other up.

"Percy?" Annabeth questioned, "What are you looking at? I know you don't like doing homework, and I know you hate thinking about homework, but you're not zoned out like you usually do…"

"I'm just thinking." I replied.

"About what?"

"People. If you want the short answer. But honestly, just how people are, and how they can be kind. Specifically, the kiddos playing over there."

"When did you get so…" Annabeth gestured vaguely, not able to find the right words for once.

"Awesome, hot, and attractive? I've always been that way but thanks for noticing." I smirked.

"Ugh, your impossible. Race you to the swings" She took off.

I caught up to her and she tripped me and kept going. See, big kids know how falling down feels and use it to their advantage. I brushed myself off and walked sat down on the swing next to her.

"Cheater."

"Am not, just using strategy for the best outcome." She replied smartly.

"Best outcome for you." I snapped.

She laughed and pushed off the ground. I had a déjà-vu moment of a few months ago. And I still remember it perfectly. The exact moment when I fell for my best friend, in fact, it happened quite literally. We were both 15, and there wasn't anything particularly special about how it happened.
Annabeth and I had been friends since the school year. We were best friends now, but I'd liked her since day one. I just didn't tell myself I did.
It was a hot summer evening and we were at a park. No one else was there, so, we walked over to the empty swings and took seats next to each other. I remember it was quiet as we pumped back and forth, in rhythm, on the swings.
Once we got going high enough, Annabeth told me to close my eyes. I did, and the feeling was sensational. I could hear the birds, lazily singing, the wind, slightly shaking the leaves on the trees, I could feel the fading sun on my face, and smell someone's barbeque. It was nice to slow down in the moment.
I opened my eyes to tell Annabeth how amazing it was, but saw she was in the same world I'd just left. That gave me time to look at her. Her golden blonde hair in waves down her back moved as she swung. Her grey-blue startling eyes that resided behind closed eyelids that sparkled. Her small, but lean frame that moved the swing. She was beautiful, and I thought the same thing when I had first met her.
Yet, I knew so much more about her now. How she hated always needing to be perfect, how would never wear makeup but she didn't need to, how sometimes she wanted to run away from the world. I knew that she liked to create and try to make things better, that she never made enemies, that she smiled and rolled her eyes when I said something sarcastic. I sighed. In that moment, I knew. I knew how it felt to know someone so well that you probably knew them more than they did. I realized how close we had become in such short of time. I felt something come over me. A small feeling and a small rush of blood to my cheeks. I couldn't, you know, like like Annabeth, could I? Was that it? Was that my problem? It was as simple as that. All those awkward moments and glances at her, had reason behind them. I was so overcome with my realization, that I hadn't notice I was sliding off my swing, and fell off. Annabeth opened her eyes, and I become memorized with her laugh.

I snapped back to reality as Annabeth got off her swing.

"See ya tomorrow, Perce. Got to do all that homework." She waved as she walked off.

"Bye" I sighed.