A/N: Hello faithful readers, and those new to the story. First I would like to tell you that I can no longer try to update daily. It will be two to three times a week and the chapters will either be the same length or longer. Also I am also going to slow down Percabeth and the story. More details, more drama, maybe a little fluff before the actual-wait I'm giving away too much. (Yes I am purposely leaving you guessing as to what I am talking a bout there.) Also I would like to apologize again for the delay. One of my parents moved out, and I'm OK but its just one of those weeks. Also I thought Wednesday was Monday so it was a very confusing week. Then I went on vacation. Also my beta seems to have dropped off the face of the Earth, I waited as long as I could but any longer is just crueler. My beta makes this story like 10 times better so this is probably bad, but oh well. Anyway, cue the suspense!
Chapter 9: The House of Hades
Their lips were a split second away from each other, getting closer each passing instant.
Their lips just barely brushed each others, a soft, gentle kiss.
They were both enjoying the moment, about to deepen the kiss, when a door slammed.
They realized the truck had stopped. Suddenly the door to the truck opened and Percy and
Annabeth sprung apart.
Annabeth landed behind a zebra, looking straight in the eye, the hole at the rear of the creature that is.
Percy wasn't nearly as lucky.
He landed in a wolf's personal space, that is to say on the angry animal's foot.
With an arm soaked in blood.
The wolf growled lowly.
Percy and Annabeth hadn't even noticed this creature, hiding in the shadows.
The animal was about to lunge and bite his arm, when they heard voices.
The wolf froze. So did the two humans.
"I don't know what you heard Sal. But it sure ain't comin' from back here." said a 30 year old guy with a beer belly in its first developing stages, a bag of pork rinds in his big, meaty hand. His thin hair was dark and greasy, his white shirt had pit stains on it that looked years old.
"Well then who was talkin' Jessie? The animals?"
"I told ya to call me J. Jess's a girls' name."
"Whatever 'J' if nobody's there the come on. We don't got all day for this ya' know."
J shrugged and walked off, not caring.
Percy slowly backed away from the frightened wolf, thankful for J and Sal both.
J for stopping the wolf, and Sal for stopping J.
Annabeth had moved away from the smelly end of the animal, who seemed to be saying with his eyes "What just happened and why was there a girl up my a**?"
At least that's how Percy interpreted it.
"Did we just-" Annabeth asked.
"Yep." Percy interrupted, in a slightly exhausted yet dazed tone.
"And then they-"
"Yep."
"So we -"
"Yep."
"Do you have any other words at all in your vocabulary except for yep?"
"Yep."
Annabeth rolled her eyes and Percy laughed. Both of them playing off the awkward moment.
"What just happened Percy?"
"I believe we just kissed, not so wise are you Wise Girl?"
"How can you joke at a time like this?" she asked incredulously.
"Well, if I don't joke then it will be very awkward now won't it."
"It still is awkward Seaweed Brain."
"I know."
"So, should we talk about it?" he asked.
"We are talking about it, you're so dense sometimes."
"That's me," he smiled, "heroic, loyal, a little on the slow side-HEY!"
Annabeth rolled her eyes as Percy rubbed the back of his head, which had been slapped.
"You can scratch humble off that list." she said.
"I never said it was one of them." he replied.
"Ouch." Percy winced.
"Oh, I didn't slap you that hard."
"No, I moved my arm."
"Oh."
"Why did you take that for me, really?"
"I'd do anything for a friend."
Annabeth smiled at the thought of that. She didn't really have any friends, except Thalia and Piper.
And then there was Rachel, Percy's ex-girlfriend. Technically they never had gone out, she broke up with him before they ever actually went on a date together. She was a little strange though, she sometimes claims to see the future. Annabeth doesn't judge though.
After all, she does sleep with a bronze knife under her pillow.
Which she still can't believe she forgot at home.
Annabeth looked at Percy, and saw him staring at his arm, lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about Fish for Brains?" she asked curiously.
"Hey, that's Thalia's nickname for me!" he said.
"How many names does that girl have for you? I mean jeez!"
"Umm, lets see there's Kelp Head, Kelp Face, Seaweed Head, Kelp For Brains, Fish For Brains-"
"OK Seaweed Brain, I get it."
"Its all Ok though, I call her a name too."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Pinecone Face."
Annabeth laughed. "Umm, why?"
"Well, when we were twelve we were playing tag and she ran right into a pine tree. Then when she was on the ground from the head injury a pinecone actually fell on her face."
They were both laughing.
"Percy, how long have you known Thalia?"
"Since I was twelve, why?"
"I've known her since I was seven. I don't know how I never met you before."
"Who knows, but then when you did meet me you couldn't see my awesomeness because my friends pushed us both into a pool."
"Wait- you were pushed?!" She asked.
"Yep" Percy replied, popping the p.
"So you didn't push me?"
"Nope."
"OK, then. I guess I forgive you."
"You guess?" he asked astounded at her stubbornness.
"Well, I've held the grudge this long."
Percy just rolled his eyes and sighed.
"How are we going to do this Annabeth?"
Annabeth sighed, "I don't know Percy. For the first time in my life, I have absolutely no idea."
"What does this make us?" Percy asked.
"I don't know. I mean it was just one little kiss.
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"OK, maybe it wasn't just a little kiss. It didn't mean anything though, did it?"
"There's only one way to know for sure." Percy replied.
"What would that be?" Annabeth asked, completely confused and oblivious.
"Well, there's always-" with that Percy rushed forward and crushed his lips onto hers.
Annabeth's body reacted automatically, pulling him closer and running a hand through his hair as the sparks flew off of her body.
They kissed like that for a few hours, until they fell asleep in each others arms.
~BOB- "HI" ME- "To all those people who thought Annabeth and Percy were not going to kiss-I had to prove you guys wrong. I actually changed it. They were not originally going to kiss. I changed it so as not to be cliché. ~
Percy woke up to find that he had an arm around a sleeping Annabeth, whose head was on his shoulder.
He smiled and moved a little bit to be more comfortable.
Annabeth groaned.
That's when Percy realized the truck had stopped.
And J. was standing directly over top of them.
Before the guy could say anything, Percy got up and punched him in the face, effectively knocking him out.
He poked Annabeth in the side with his foot after he stood up, and she immediately sprang up, her fist curled around nothing.
"Umm, Annabeth, are you about to punch me or are you really that angry when you wake up?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. No reason." she replied groggily.
"Whatever." he replied, throwing his hands into the air.
"Percy, why is that man on the floor?"
"I knocked him out, we're here by the way."
"Oh. Lets get going then."
"Wait. We can't leave yet Annabeth."
"And why not?"
"Look around you Annabeth. These animals aren't being well cared for, they aren't healthy. We have to set them free."
Annabeth smiled at how kind-hearted he could be sometimes.
"OK"
"But what are we going to release them with?"
Annabeth handed Percy a ballpoint pen.
"This is a pen."
"Yes Percy, now uncap it."
Percy uncapped the pen.
Inside was a lock picking kit.
Percy raised his eyebrows at her.
"Gift from Thalia." she replied.
Percy rolled his eyes. "Of course."
They released all the animals from their shackles and they ran directly out the door.
Percy and Annabeth soon followed them.
Thankfully, with all the commotion the animals were causing from being set free in LA, they were able to sneak off unnoticed.
Sal stopped them as they rounded the corner of the blue semi.
Percy was about to punch his lights out, but before he could the guy surprised him.
"Thank you, for that. I've always hated this business. Now I can get fired and move on to my dream job. Animal rescue."
Percy and Annabeth just stared at the man blankly as he walked away.
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Where to next?" Percy asked.
"DOA Recording Studios- Hades's house." Annabeth replied.
Percy put his arm around her, which was slightly difficult since Ares's backpack was on his shoulders.
Annabeth smiled, and they started walking towards the House of Hades.
A/N: Haha. Fakeout. I was going to slow them down, but hey love happens. I had to do the pen and HoH thing. I just had to. Next update should be Thursday,
~Wisey~