Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or The Bachelorette

Chapter Four

Scott,

Love is a climb…

~Annabeth~

I was wearing a tee shirt, athletic shorts, and tennis shoes. My hair was in a ponytail. My date with Scott's today. I picked up Scott, and we sat in the back of a car holding hands. I have to say Scott is rather good looking, so the awkward silence that was in the air was not pleasing. We drove for a while until we stopped at the edge of a large and steep mound. We got out of the car and it drove away.

"So," said Scott, "what are we doing?"

"We are going to climb this," I said gesturing to the mound. We were hooked up to harnesses and were ready to go. We started up. Scott looked very nervous.

"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to get him to open up.

"Yeah," he said, "I'm just a little scared of heights…"

"It's okay. I'm right next to you the whole time," we climbed in silence. When we reached the top, a picnic was set up. We ate lunch in more silence. I tried to start a conversation but failed. We finished eating.

"Okay," I said, awkwardly, "We should get going," we climbed down and got in the car. Back in my cottage, I talked to the camera.

"It's really awkward," I said, "If he would just talk…I mean, we're just sitting there. Eating. I tried to talk to him, but nothing. I don't think he likes me…" I started to get ready for the dinner part of the date. I wore a long black dress. I arrived before he did. When he arrived, he sat down. More silence. Thirty minutes of it.

"Look, Scott," I said, "I don't think this is going to work. I mean, it's just awkward…" he nodded.

"Okay," and with that he left. Once he was out of sight, I bursted out laughing.

"He doesn't even care!" I said to the camera. I went back to my cottage and talked some more.

"I honestly don't get it," I said, "no talking. At all. And when I send him home all he says is okay." I laughed some more, "Oh well. Whatever…" I went to bed.

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Sugar and spice and everything nice…

Parker, Andrew, Brian, Cole, Tanner, Drew, Hunter, and Zach.

I delivered the date card. I hated that some of the guys don't get dates. But I already knew who was getting the last date of the week…

I put on some denim shorts and a tank top. I drove to the place where the date would be and waited in the parking lot for the guys. When the limo pulled up, I waved. They piled out and I gave each of them a hug.

"Okay," I said to them, "we are going to do a cooking contest!" some of the guys smiled while some groaned, "There will be a red team and a blue team. Each team will be cooking the same three course meal. First an appetizer, then the entre, then dessert. I will be the judge. The prize for if you win is you'll each get a guaranteed ten minutes with me at the rose ceremony." They split into teams and we went into the building. There were two kitchens set up in one big room. The teams went to their kitchen and started cooking. I watched them cook until it was time to eat. First I taste-tested the soup appetizer and decided the red team won that one. The steak entre went to the blue team, as did the chocolate cake dessert.

"Okay guys," I said, "that was very delicious but the blue team won." They cheered. The blue team was Andrew, Cole, Hunter, and Tanner. The dinner party was uneventful and went by quickly. Before I went to bed, I wrote the date card for the next date that was in two days.

Percy,

Let's get to know each other…

~Annabeth~

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It's the day of Percy's date and I couldn't be more excited. I wore short khaki shorts and a loose top. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and wore my favorite flip-flops. I drove to the mansion. I let myself in and saw the guys eating breakfast in the kitchen. They were all there except for Brian. Then he came down the stairs. All he was wearing were his boxers. He looked like a body builder, and personally, I think it's gross when guys are that muscular.

"Hey, Annabeth," he said. I smiled at him.

"Uh, Percy?" I said, "Ready?" He nodded and we walked out of the mansion.

"You wanna drive?" I asked.

"Yeah," he answered. I threw him the keys, and he caught them. I went and sat in the driver's seat.

"I thought I was driving," Percy said holding up the keys.

"I changed my mind," I said, grabbing for the keys. Percy pulled them out of my reach.

"I'm driving," I said.

"Well, I'm in the driver's seat so I don't know how you're going to do that,"

"Are you ticklish?" he asked. My eyes widened and he took that as a yes. He ticked my sides and I laughed and screeched like a crazy person. While my guard was down, he threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I pounded my fist on his back.

"Put me down!" I yelled, but to be honest, I kind of liked it…

He put me down in the passenger seat and put my seatbelt on me. Then he went to the driver's side and started the car.

"Where to?" he asked. I gave him directions to where we were going. When we got there I explained what we were doing.

"We have an hour to learn as much as we can about each other, then we'll be quizzed in front of a live audience."

"Sounds like fun," we got out of the car and put out a blanket on the front yard of the building.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"New York City, you?"

"San Francisco."

"Pets?"

"None, but I'd be willing to get some. You?"

"I have a black lab named Mrs. O'Leary."

"Siblings?"

"None. You?"

"Twin half-brothers. Bobby and Matthew."

"So are we just going to ask questions for the next hour?" I nodded. Percy shook his head. "I think there is a more fun way to do this. We should make it a game,"

"How?"

"Twenty questions. Okay. I'm thinking of the place where I am from."

"New York."

"Well that one was easy 'cause I already told you." I laughed.

"It's your turn," Percy informed me.

"Okay," I thought for a second, "My dad's name."

"One: does it start with a vowel?"

"No,"

"Two: is it next to a vowel in the alphabet?"

"Yes,"

"Three: does it start with b?"

"No,"

"Four: does it start with d?"

"No,"

"Five: f?"

"Yes,"

"Really? Cool! Six: is it Fred?"

"No. But that's close,"

"Seven: Fredward!" he said excitedly.

"No!" I copied his tone.

"Eight: Fred…rick?" Percy asked hesitantly.

"Yes! My dad's name is Fredrick." We played our game for the entire hour that we had. I learned that he lived with his mom, Sally, and step-dad, Paul. He never knew his dad as he was lost at sea when Percy was only a baby. He had a cousin named Nico, and Percy is twenty-six. We discovered that he was nine months older than me. His favorite color is green like the ocean, his last girlfriend's name was Rachel and he broke up with her because she was too clingy. He has fallen in love once with a girl name Calypso, but it was very brief and not very deep. He only writes in a special pen that was his father's. The pen even had a name: Riptide. I learned lots of other things, too. I feel like I've known Percy for years, not weeks. We went into the building and into a room. There was a small stage and every seat in the audience was filled. Percy and I sat on plush chairs across from each other. We each had a white board and dry-erase marker. A guy stood at a podium. He looked like the host.

"Let's get started!" he said into his microphone, "The ruled are simple. I'll ask Percy or Annabeth a question. Both will write down their answer and then we'll compare. Let's begin. Annabeth, what is your favorite color?" I wrote my answer on the white board, and Percy did the same.

"Show your answers!" We both held up our boards. I looked at Percy and was pleased when I saw that he answered correctly: grey.

"Percy, what is your favorite food?" I knew this. I wrote down the answer and we held it up. I got it right: anything blue. We went on like that, only missing a couple. When it was over, the host said that we knew each other very well. I smiled at that. We went back to the car. The sun was about to set.

"Do we have to go back now?" Percy asked. I smiled.

"I don't think we have to…" Percy laughed. We drove to a little café to eat dinner. One of the producers that tags along on all of the dates put a rose on our table. I grabbed it as soon as they set it down.

"Percy," I said, "will you accept this rose?"

"I would be honored." I pined the rose on his shirt, and while we were in such close proximity, he kissed me. I instantly kissed him back. It was sweet and loving. When we pulled apart, we were both smiling. I pecked him on the lips one more time before turning to my food. We talked the entire dinner. When we finally got back to the mansion, it was around ten o'clock. I went to my cottage and got ready for bed. I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't. I tried and tried and tried, but nothing happened. I looked at the clock. It was midnight and the rose ceremony was tomorrow. I grabbed my phone and texted Percy. He didn't have my number, so I told him it was me.

I can't sleep. It's Annabeth btw

About a minute later the screen lit up.

Why can't u sleep?

Idk…I just can't

I'll b right there

I had no idea if he was allowed to do that or not but I didn't argue. I heard the front door open and the sound of Percy walking in, also being followed by cameras.

"Annabeth?" he called.

"In here," I called back. He made his was to my room. He sat next to me on my bed and played with my hair.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"I can't sleep," he chuckled.

"I know that," I pulled the blankets up and Percy took the hint. He got into bed next to me. I put my head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around me. I fell asleep shortly after.

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I woke up in the same position I fell asleep. I looked up to see Percy looking down at me.

"Morning," he said.

"Good morning,"

"Are you hungry?" I nodded. We untangled ourselves and went to the kitchen. Percy made eggs and we sat on the couch and ate. When we were done, we watched TV while I sat in Percy's lap. I was about to fall back asleep when there was a knock. Percy hid in my room while I answered the door. It was Rob.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Have you seen Percy? He's not at the house…" my eyes widened. Rob saw and he smiled.

"Oh, I see. See you at the cocktail party." And he left. Percy and I spent pretty much the whole day together. When it was time for the cocktail party, I wasn't really paying attention. All I could think about was Percy. At the rose ceremony, Tyler and Jake went home. That left Zach, Brian, Cole, Davis, Tanner, Andrew, Drew, Hunter, Parker, and Percy. I congradulated them and went back to my cottage. All I could think about was Percy. And that terrified me. I wasn't supposed to be falling so hard this early. There were still nine guys other than Percy, yet he was all I could think about. I wished that I could bring him on every date. I didn't want to spend a day away from him. I was falling. And the last time that happened, it broke me. If it weren't for Thalia I would still be broken. And I was falling twice as fast and hard for Percy. What of he hurt me? What if I choose him, but he doesn't choose me? All of these worries and doubts ran through my mind, but at the same time, I was thinking about all the good stuff. When he kissed me, I felt like I was walking on air. I had never felt that way before. The way he held me last night…it felt like I fit. Like we were two pieces of a puzzle finally being put together. The way his beautiful sea-green eyes sparkled when he smiled or laughed. What if I married this guy? That would be wonderful. So during all of the important stuff going on around me, all I could think about was Percy.