Authors note: I know, I know. I took way too long to write this chapter I'm sorry. I'm switching to present tense now so it's like she was reflecting on everything that happened and it all leads up to this. (At least I think I was writing in past tense I'm not sure.) LONG LIVE PERCABETH!

Enchanted

Annabeth's P.O.V

Ch.3 Green Eyes part one

I'm getting ready for the ball now and I'm thinking of something I wish I had before. I've been obsessing over Green Eyes thinking he is this amazing person who I will instantly get along with. But what if he's not? What if he is this guy who likes to steal lunches from kids in middle school? How could I get along with him? It is striking me that it is possible that he doesn't even care about what happened in the hall way yesterday. For all I know he is a jerk. I hope he's not a jerk.

I keep thinking positive because something tells me he isn't like that. Sure he laughed when I fell but that could be him trying to be cool around his friends. I have a feeling that I didn't just look at him, he looked at me to. He wanted to see who I was; he wanted to know who I was. At least that's my theory (hope, dream, I don't know). I find myself trying to explain how it felt, that desperate feeling of wanting to know someone. I can't think of any other way to say it than that. But I'm sure I'll think of something. I hope.

I would love to keep thinking about it but I know if I delay any longer Piper will force me into my dress. I soon discover that it's not putting it on that is the hard part, its keeping it on that'll kill me. I'm not used to wearing fancy things and I don't see how Piper can stand it. But I know that I have to wear it to the ball. I'll keep it on for my friends' sake. It is taking Piper forever to get ready. She put on her dress, and then did her makeup; she didn't like it so now she's re-doing it. Finally we get her out the door so we can head down to the lobby.

It takes six flights of stairs until we get to the ground level. But when we do, the whole lobby is a mosh pit of well-dressed teenagers. Most of them are waiting for chariots but all of them are waiting to go to the ball. There are only so many available chariots on Olympus so only large groups or romantic couples reserved them, I'm not one of them. Piper and Tara reserved one for them and their boyfriends, but they didn't even think of letting me tag along. Once Jason and Leo arrive (they're Piper and Tara's dates in case you're stupid) they vanish into the crowd, probably finding their chariot.

I have to wait for the crowd to clear up before I can leave because I'm stuck in the back of the room. So to pass the time I look for people I know. Well that's easy everyone here knows everyone. I meant to say I'm looking for Green Eyes, but I know it's not worth it. From what I've seen he has probably already left with his friends, and possibly his girlfriend. But I don't want to think that way; there could still be a chance to meet him. It's probably been ten minutes or so and I'm just now getting close to the door, and I keep telling myself that once I'm outside it won't be as crowded and I can breathe some nice cool air.

But no such luck for me; when I get outside its raining. Does it even rain on Olympus? I don't know but after walking a block or so a baby satyr walks up and gives me an umbrella. "Thanks kid." I say happy to have some shelter from the rain. Only minutes later thunder boomed and the smell of ozone shoots through the air. "Due to this unfortunate weather the ball has been moved to the OCC or Olympus Convention Center. Thank you." I know that was Zeus because no other god or goddess has such a powerful voice. A wave of relief washes over me because I can see the OCC from where I stand it'll only take a minute or so to get in, I'm getting closer and starting to think otherwise, chariots are already arriving and crowds are starting to flood in, I'll be stuck in the back again.

There are a lot of students in just one room but it isn't even close to full, that's how big the OCC really is. I look around and all I see is guys in white and girls in black. Poop…the last thing I wanted to do was stick out, well hopefully I can manage to hide in a corner then no one would notice me. But I know my friends will never allow it. So instead I begin the search for them. My friends try to make sure I'm having a good time by including me in there conversations with other people. So I'm always forcing laughter and faking smiles. After that I'm free to read however many books I want.

My friends found me before I found them. "Hey Annabeth, you remember our boyfriends Leo and Jason right?" Piper asked and I was tempted to say 'How could I forget', because every time we pass them in the halls they introduce me to them, and we pass them every day. It gets on my nerves but instead I say,

"Nice to meet you boys." They smile and so do I, but mine is fake. Fake a smile, check. They start a conversation and I pretend to listen, something about the upcoming sword fighting contest down at camp tomorrow. But I don't really care, I look around for Green Eyes trying not to make it obvious, but I don't see him. I need to break off from the group to go look for him but I have some laughter to force before I can leave, and it looks like I have just found my chance,

"Hey guys, want to hear a joke?" Leo says.(Not unusual for him, he's always trying to make people laugh.)

"Sure." I say trying not to sound like I'm interested in leaving.

"Okay you guys will like this one," he tells us, "Why did the Harpy cross the road?" He pause's waiting for a response. So I say,

"Why?"

"Because it's the closest thing to a chicken on Olympus!" Leo exclaims as if it's the joke of the century. We all laugh, some are fake some are real but I know mine's the earlier because that wasn't funny at all. So there I was again tonight forcing laughter faking smiles, and once it settles down I say "I'm going to go look around." And without waiting for a response I turn around and walk off aimlessly. Where is Green Eyes, did he even come? I hope so otherwise this would be the same old tired lonely place. Please just let me see him, even if we don't get to talk it will still be worth it.

I find myself staring off into space, then, I see him. I can't believe it, has he been standing there the whole time? He's across the room his silhouette starts to make its way to me. As he gets closer I can see his eyes whisper "Have we met?" I smile and this time it's for real, I just knew his eyes spoke to me.

"Hi." He says, his voice sounds sweet and carless.

"Hi." I say back.

"You're the girl from the hall right?" He asks me with maybe a little hint of shame in his voice.

"Ya that was me." I hope I didn't sound too happy but I am glad he recognizes me, the thought makes me blush.

"Listen, I'm sorry about what happened. Really I didn't mean it when I laughed, but Jason can be a jerk sometimes. I swear I slapped him the minute you left." He apologizes and he really does sound worried that I won't forgive him. I giggle until I realize Jason is Tara's boyfriend.

"It's alright," I say "it happens all the time."

"But it shouldn't." He counters. I'm glad he's standing up for me even though he doesn't really know me. I want to let him know that but I don't know how to show it. I find myself smiling again and he smiles back. He has a sweet smile, his eyes light up and the expression comes so naturally on his face. It lights me up to. "So what's your name?" He walks closer to me so I can see him better. Same beautiful green eyes I remember seeing in the hallway.

They are so mesmerizing that I almost forget to answer, "Annabeth, um that's my name." I said that a little too quickly and now he's laughing at me but in a nice way. "So what's your name?"

"Percy, I mean that's my name." He says then laughs at his own joke.

"Ha-ha your funny." I say sarcastically, and that's when I knew that things would work out between us.