Chapter 10: Joining Forces For Real
Annabeth woke up the next morning to Thalia hovering over her, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, and a determined look on her face.
"Spill." She said and Annabeth sat up groggily.
"Spill what?"
"I cannot believe I'm your best friend! How come you didn't tell me you were…"
Annabeth's eyes grew extremely wide. "I'm what…?" she asked stammering.
"That you have a new boyfriend! Gods I go away for a few days and here you go off and get yourself a boyfriend?"
Annabeth breathed a sighed of relief. "Um surprise?"
She sat down. "So spill the details! I want to know! Who is it?"
"erm… Percy Jackson." She muttered.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS? Seriously, what does everyone do while I'm at the beach?"
Apparently get a fake boyfriend to impress your ex boyfriend and your current fake boyfriend's crush so they can break up and then we can get together.
"Um… I don't know… he's just…"
"What do you like about him?"
Lying to Thalia was a lot more difficult than everyone else. Annabeth knew she couldn't just sit there and stammer and expect her to buy any of it. She decided coming clean would just be the easiest way.
"Thalia… Percy and I…"
"Aren't really dating?" she mused and Annabeth nodded slightly.
"I thought so, it's a shame though… I think you two would be cute if you'd actually gotten together."
"EW EW EW EW NO!" Annabeth got out of bed.
"Really? Because I think he's kind of cute."
"Well okay he's cute, but besides that what else is there? The guy's a total… AGH I don't even know what to call him."
Thalia smirked. "Not long ago you didn't hesitate to call him a jerk."
"He is a jerk, it's just he's…"
"Different?"
Annabeth shot Thalia a look. "Thalia Grace I could never EVER fall in love with that Seaweed Brain. He's arrogant and annoying and…"
"Amazing?"
"Shut-up I do not like him. I'm actually in a deep mutual disliking with him."
"Emphasizing the word 'deep' I see."
"look, all I want is Luke back and all he wants is that Rachel girl. That's it, once we're through we can just kiss this relationship goodbye."
"Kiss?" she mused.
"Oh my Gods I am done talking to you!" Annabeth stormed out to a laughing Thalia in the distance.
Percy was looking a magazine for surfers. It was mostly pictures.
"You surf? You didn't mention that yesterday?" Annabeth said sitting down next to him.
He looked over at her. "No, but Rachel likes surfers apparently."
"But Luke doesn't surf." Annabeth said.
"No, but her penpal from California surfs."
"She isn't dating her penpal from California, Seaweed Brain. She's dating Luke."
"What's Luke good at?"
"Everything."
"Well what is he good at that I could possibly do?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, I need help." He whined.
She groaned. "Well you're both good swimmers. You are a good swimmer right?"
"Yes and I'll have you know, I'm a great sword fighter too."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Bet you aren't better than me."
Percy stood up and got in her face. "Is that a challenge, Chase?"
"You can bet on your life it is."
Suddenly, Clarisse La Ru walked over. More like she trudged over.
"YO OWLFACE! FISH FACE! TROUBLE IN PARADISE?"
Percy and Annabeth shared one thing in common, they both hated Clarisse La Ru. Even more than their hatred for each other.
Percy smiled. "Actually Clarisse, me and my girl here were better that you couldn't get any uglier. Hey Annabeth! I win, I told you anything's possible. That'll be one…" his throat caught considering he was about to say kiss. Annabeth's eyes narrowed at him.
"Gods you're right. Is that a new mole, Clarisse?"
Clarisse's eyes widened and they could see the excruciating anger building up.
"I AM GOING TO KILL THE BOTH OF YOU!"
Percy stood in front of Annabeth. "Hey boys aren't supposed to hit girls."
Clarisse gritted her teeth. "I think I can make an exception for you Jackson!"
She charged at him and Annabeth caught Clarisse's sword with her knife.
"Guess you'll have to fight the both of us." She muttered.
Percy uncapped Riptide and swung to meet Clarisse's other sword.
"Since when do you carry around two swords?" He asked and suddenly Percy found his face in the dirt courtesy of Clarisse's fist.
Annabeth's jaw dropped. "Did you just punch my boyfriend? That's my job!"
Next Clarisse found her face first into the dirt.
Percy stood up and dusted himself off. "Thanks." He said grinning.
She smiled lightly and nodded. "Yeah well try not to open your big mouth next time."
Percy sighed. "Ever just take a compliment? Or give a compliment?"
Annabeth shrugged. "Fine, thank you. And fine again, your face doesn't look half bad after getting smashed into the dirt."
Percy chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "well aren't you sweet?"
"I try!" she muttered when Thalia walked up.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favorite fake couple."
Percy shot Annabeth a sharp look. "You hypocrite! You're no better than me!"
"You told first!" she growled and Thalia got between them.
"Calm down, I won't tell and everyone still believes that you two are actually together."
Percy nodded lightly. "Thalia right?"
"Yeah. That would be me. Now I was wondering, when are you two actually going to make it seem like you could pass as a couple? You guys always look like you're arguing, because you are. Now tell me this, have you even kissed in public yet?"
"EW GROSS!" They both said.
"Guys… if you want to make it believable… couples kiss. Rachel and Luke are locked to each other."
Annabeth frowned. "So I have to kiss that?"
"Don't sound too excited." Percy grumbled. "Look what I get!"
Thalia rolled her eyes. "Point is, you guys need to work together."
When she walked away, Annabeth looked at Percy.
"She's right you know. We're never going to get this done if we don't learn to put our differences aside and work together."
"Do you think you can put up with my stupidity, arrogance, and awkwardness?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Only if you can put up with my know it all attitude, bossiness, and snide remarks."
Percy stuck out his hand. "Okay Wise Girl, I think our fake relationship is ready for the next level."
She took his hand. "I think you're right, Seaweed Brain."