Better

"Percy, get up."

"Can't hear you. Sleeping." Annabeth tried to push her boyfriend off her shoulder, only to make him slide down to her lap. "The bell's going to ring in, like, two minutes. Nap time's over."

Percy kept his eyes shut. "What was that? I couldn't hear you over my sleeping."

"I'm kind of beginning to feel like our bicycle became a tricycle," Grover interrupted. "Your lovey-dovey stuff is getting a little gross."

"Shut up, dude," Percy mumbled into Annabeth's lap.

"So you can hear him but you can't hear me?" Annabeth asked. No response. She leaned against the hallway's wall and sighed. "It's the third day of school. You'd think that you already would've adjusted your sleeping schedule." Again, no response. "Grover, can you hand me my book?" She motioned to a large textbook, just out of her reach.

Grover picked it up and examined it. "Architecture? I don't remember seeing any classes on this."

"Yeah, I just read it when I'm bored," Annabeth said.

"Oh, okay... nerd," Grover said, smirking.

"Hey," Percy warned as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "My nerd." Annabeth patted his head, then quickly rolled him off her lap. Percy lied on the floor, pouting at her.

"Well, your nerd needs to get to class," Annabeth said. "And so do you two." The bell rang, proving her point. She began to stand up, but Percy caught her arm and kissed her on the cheek. "Do you have to go?"

"Yes. So do you," Annabeth said.

He laced his fingers through hers, smiling. "Can I walk you to your next class?"

"Won't you be late?"

Percy ran his free hand through his hair, "I'll just say I got lost."

"You're a senior, babe. You've been coming here for four years," Annabeth said, rolling her eyes.

"I'll tell the teacher I wanted to spend more time with my girlfriend." Annabeth laughed and pulled herself up along with Percy. "Fine, but promise me you'll run to your class."

He held out his pinky towards her. "Pinky promise." She cracked a smile and interlocked her finger with his. Percy leaned in closer. "Seal it with a kiss?" Annabeth moved closer so that their faces were inches apart. "Yeah, no." He ignored her answer and pecked her on the lips. Before she could slap him he was already running off in the other direction.

"Bye, babe! Love you!" he called out from around the corner. Annabeth shook her head and smirked, turning around to walk to her next class.

"Well I'll just...," Grover looked in both directions. "I'll just wait here I guess. Free period... Can I at least pick which wheel I am? No? Okay... That's cool."


Percy sat on the steps in front of Goode High School, waiting for Annabeth.

"Hey, Percy!" He turned around to see a slender black haired girl approaching him.

"Hey, Calypso. It's been a while." Calypso kissed him on the cheek and pulled him into a tight hug. "It really has been a while," she said, still hugging him. Finally, she pulled away and placed her hands on her hips. "So, how have you been?"

Percy scratched the back of his head. "Umm, I've been good. How are you?"

"Better, now that I'm talking to you," Calypso said.


"Wait, you're in how many environmental groups?" Annabeth asked.

"Seven," Grover replied, sounding like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Seven? I'm surprised you haven't saved the planet by now."

"Well, we're making progress. You see-" He was interrupted by Annabeth yanking his arm, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "Dude, you think you can be a little more gentle? I'm in crutches."

"Shut up for a second! Who's that?" She motioned towards the window overlooking the front of the school. His eyes fell upon Percy and Calypso. "Yikes. They are hugging for a long time. Oh, she pulled away... but they're still pretty close."

"Grover! Answer the question!"

"That's Calypso, Percy's ex. They were pretty serious in their sophomore year, but Percy had to do something in California with his dad for about six months, which pretty much ended their relationship for them."

"How serious?" Annabeth asked with a scowl on her face. Grover furrowed his eyebrows, thinking back. "Was it... seven months?" He turned to see Annabeth's reaction, but she had already started walking towards the exit. Grover began to chase after her but looked back out the window. "Sorry, Perce," he muttered, then resumed his chase.


"Yeah... so my summer was good," Percy said then cleared his throat. "I-" He heard the door open behind and turned around to see Annabeth walk through. "Look who's here! Annabeth, this is Calypso. Calypso, this is my girlfriend, Annabeth." A frown crossed Calypso's face but was quickly replaced with a fake smile.

She extended her arm to Annabeth, "It's very nice to meet you." Annabeth, with an equally fake smile shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too." They stood in front of each other, faces friendly but hate in their eyes.

Percy looked between the two of them uncomfortably, occasionally clearing his throat. No longer able to stand the awkwardness, Percy intervened. "Well this was fun," he said as he grabbed Annabeth's hand, beginning to walk away. "We have to go. It was good seeing, Calypso. Bye!"

He pulled Annabeth along hurriedly until they rounded a corner, leaving Calypso behind. "God, that was terrible!" Percy said.

Annabeth crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "So who was that?" Percy frowned, unsure of what she was asking. "Uh, Calypso. You literally just met her." Seeing that she didn't seem satisfied with his explanation, he continued. "She's an ex-girlfriend of mine... I never told you because it never came up."

"Well at least it didn't look like you were flirting back, so I can't really be mad." The worried look on his face was quickly replaced with relief.

"Can you be any more perfect?" he asked, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. Annabeth couldn't help but smile at his sweet gesture. "Are you just kissing up because you screwed up by not telling me?"

Percy wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her into him. "Yup," he said, popping the p. "How am I doing?"

"Fine, I guess. Could be better." He closed the distance between them, kissing her full on the lips. "How about now?" he mumbled into her lips.

"Much better."


Grover bursted through the front door, out of breath and leaning on his crutches. He looked around for Annabeth and Percy, but they had already left.

"Hello, Grover." The blood drained from his face as he swiveled around to face her.

"Heeeeyy, Calypso," he said with a forced smile. "I was hoping I wouldn't run into you."

She rolled her eyes, staring at Grover. "Moved on to crutches?"

"Yeah... uh... rehab center put me in these instead of a wheelchair." Calypso nodded then proceeded with the conversation.

"So who was she?"

"Who?"

"You know who I'm talking about," she said, scowling at Grover.

"Deja Vu all over again," he muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing... Nothing. That was Annabeth, Percy's new girlfriend. They met around the beginning of summer. Well that's about it. I'm gonna get going if you don't mind."

"Oh, but I do," she said. Grover pursed his lips and mouthed curse words before turning back around. "Yes, Calypso?"

"You know more, don't you?"

"I don't! I swear! I only met her in person three days ago!" Calypso glared at Grover, checking to see if he was lying.

"Fine. You can go." She turned around and flicked her hair, walking away.

"Damnit, Percy! Stop ditching and making me deal with your psycho ex!"