Chapter 4: A Little Christmas Shopping

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Percy Jackson or any of the stores I use in this story.

Hi guys! Here's my new chapter! I'm so sorry that it took so long. I feel really bad! Been really busy! I hope you can find the time to review. I'd love to hear you're opinions on my story. Maybe give me some ideas.

Percy's P.O.V.

Okay, if there's anything that's worse than Kronos, it's shopping. Especially with two girls, Annabeth and my mother. First they want to go to Abercrombie, then there's like a "huge sale" or something in American Eagle and they make a beeline for that. They spend like an hour just looking at each other in clothes that are either too small or too big. As for me, I got to hold the clothes they wanted to try on. Yippee for me!

"Oh Percy," Mom called from the dressing room, "hand me that black dress, please."

I groaned. This was like the tenth time she's asked me to give her clothes. My legs were growing tired from all this walking and standing. Who's ever heard of chairs at this place?

"Here you go, Mom," I sighed as I gave her the dress. "But can't we go home now? It's been like, two hours."

The curtain slid open. Mom appeared in the dressing room with a yellow sweater on. "Hold on, Percy," she waved her hand at me. "Annabeth! How about this one?"

Annabeth's dressing room curtain slid open and she walked out in a gorgeous pink skirt. I could've sworn I almost fainted when I saw. But remember, this is Annabeth, so she wasn't happy in that little skirt.

She took a glimpse of my mom's sweater. "I really like it, Ms. Jackson," she said sweetly. Her politeness has always annoyed me.

"Thank you, sweetheart. And you don't look half-bad yourself."

Annabeth blushed. "Thanks, but I don't think it's really me."

"Okay," Mom sighed. Annabeth's said that to almost every single thing she tried on. Probably 'cause shopping isn't on her favorite things to-do list. Mine either.

"Why don't you two get something to eat? I'm gonna in Victoria's Secret for a while, and I know Percy's not willing to go in there."

Annabeth laughed. "You got that, Ms. Jackson."

"Ha-ha," I teased. "Come on Annabeth." I grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the Food Court.

"Ow, Percy!" said Annabeth, pulling away from my grip. "Slow down."

"Sorry. It's just that I need to get away from that store. Besides, I'll be where other guys hang out while their ladies shop till they drop."
"Percy, you're the one who's gonna drop. Just look at your face, you're all red."

I blushed, which probably made me look even stupider. I was about to faint. I tried to suck it up and I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, Wise Girl."

"Make me, Seaweed Brain," she laughed. "Come on, let's grab a seat." She took my hand and dragged me to a picnic table. We sat on the bench and she told me, "I'm gonna to the bathroom, Percy. Be patient and wait for me like a gentleman."

"Whatever."

She got up and started for the little girl's room. I followed her. "Percy, if you need to go, you can just follow me into the girl's bathroom."

She laughed and I just glared at her. "Go already." Annabeth rolled my eyes and disappeared around the corner of the bathroom. I just leaned against the wall and waited for her. It felt like forever. Of course, I got to thinking. I noticed something about Annabeth. I don't think she wanted to be "just friends" anymore. Well, all of that didn't matter right now because I heard a scream. It made me jump. But why it made me jump was because it sounded like Annabeth.

Girls started running out of the bathroom like madwomen. I guessed I knew that something was wrong in that bathroom, or I just knew Annabeth was in trouble.

I was sure it was wrong to run in the girl's restroom, but I did anyway. The bathroom was cleared. Probably because there was a hellhound standing right in the middle of the floor. Annabeth was against the wall; both of her arms were spread across the tile like she was tying to stay as far away from it as possible. The hellhound was in a crouch position and facing her.

"Annabeth!" I screamed. The hellhound jumped toward me and started growling. I took out Riptide and uncapped it. A sword appeared and I started slashing it in the direction of the hellhound.

"Be careful Percy!" called Annabeth from the other side of the bathroom.

I sliced Riptide one more time and it plunged into the beast's chest. It disintegrated into dust like monsters always do and I breathed out.

I ran to Annabeth and I pulled her away from the wall. She hugged really big and I hugged her back. "Why didn't you pull out your knife?" I scolded her. I was mad because that had taken a lot out of me, including all that shopping.

"I forgot it," she said.

I gave her a confused look. She never forgot her knife, ever. "What?"

"Yeah, I thought I would be fine here at the mall. No monster likes to go shopping."

"Neither do I, but you should've been more careful."

"Fine. Now can you leave? It's kinda weird that you're in the girl's bathroom."

I glared at her and turned around and started for the door. Annabeth was such a pain sometimes. But somehow I wasn't mad at her anymore. She was really funny and cute sometimes, and this was a time.

"Oh Percy," she called after me, "wait.

I turned to her. "What?"

She ran towards me and kissed me. It only lasted a few tenths of a second because I pushed her away. "I guess this means we're not just friends anymore?"

She laughed. "Probably not."

I laughed too. "Come on, we got to get back to Victoria's Secret."

"Yeah, your mom's gonna flip!"

We ran out of the bathroom together and hurried to the store. Luckily Mom was just leaving Victoria's Secret when she saw us. "Hey kids!" she greeted us. "Did you have a good lunch?"

I glanced at Annabeth. She was trying hard not to burst out laughing. I was too. "It was great," I lied. "Very filling." Actually, I was starving. And I bet so was Annabeth.

"All righty then, I guess we can call that a day. Look at these adorable little boxers I picked out for you, Percy." She pulled out a pair of pink boxers with swords on them.

"Mom!" I yelled at her. "I don't wear pink boxers!" Annabeth was cracking up and practically on the floor laughing. "Shut up Annabeth!" But no way was Annabeth gonna shut up. She couldn't breathe she was laughing so hard. My cheeks were so red I looked like a steamed Maryland crab.

"I'm sure you do, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth shouted.

"I don't!" I argued. "Mom, take them back!"

"Fine," she sighed, "I'll just give them to charity."

"Thank you."

We walked out of the mall and into the parking garage. I've got to say, that was one of the best things that's ever happened to me over winter break. I was so relieved to be out of that awful place. The car ride back was full of Annabeth's and Mom's teasing. My mom told Annabeth how I used to run around the house without any clothes on. Then I remembered that this is what it was going to be like the whole Christmas vacation, and I'd just have to live with it.