A/N: Hey! I'm back And I bring with me .. CHAPTER 10! It's a bit long since I've been out for two days? Or three? Thank you for those guys who reviewed and for those who read the story. Did you like it? I hope so. Okay, so enough with the ranting and on with the reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 10: Born to become best friends and lovers

Percy's POV

We drove in silence until we reached Annabeth's house. She got out of the car and didn't even let me say goodbye. I followed her.

"Annabeth, wait!" but she already slammed the door.

I probably stood there for an hour looking like a complete idiot. I replayed this night's events in my head. I WAS in love with Rachel. WAS. I learned that Annabeth loves me and that I love her too. But, there's this big BUT, isn't it too fast? I mean, I just broke up with Rachel. But I decided that it wasn't a big deal. The important thing now is that Annabeth loves me. And now, she probably hates me for being so stupid and insensitive. Why did I just realize now? Why only now? I was crying. Everything's so mixed up and confusing.

I drove home feeling miserable. I decided that taking a shower would be the best way to calm the nerves and to clear up my mind. After taking a shower, my mind DID clear up. Only one thing is important: I love Annabeth.

That night, I slept with a smile on my face.

Annabeth's POV

Percy kissed me! And I kissed him back! What happened? I admit that it felt good. More than good, actually. But I can't help but think that maybe he's just using me to forget he's feelings for Rachel. A rebound. I sighed. I think I'll just bury this thought for a while.

I went to the fire station and found that Clarisse and Chris are having an argument.

"Babe, please don't get mad." Chris pleaded.

"But you promised!"

I can't concentrate on what they're fighting about because the thought about Percy kissing me keeps on popping in my head. I smiled and I unconsciously touched my lips.

"Girl, you've been staring off for quite a while now," Thalia interrupted my thoughts "coffee?"

"Sure, thanks Thals."

"No problem"

"Annabeth?" a voice called

"Oh no, it's Percy!" I groaned. I was not yet ready to see him after our little incident. "Can you hold this?" I handed the coffee mug to Chris. "Thanks"

"What's the problem?" Thalia asked, but I already went away to hide. Yeah, I'm such a coward.

Percy's POV

"Annabeth?" I called out. Gods.. I just wanted to see her and tell her I love her.

"Where's Annabeth?" I asked Nico

"Over there" he pointed to the line of fire trucks. Is she hiding from me? I chuckled, "thanks bro!"

I went over to the trucks silently because I wanted to surprise her. I crept up to the wall and saw Annabeth's reflection on one of the glossy trucks. Oh great. I leaned on the wall opposite her, chuckling under my breath. After a few seconds, I went to where she was hiding, but she's already gone. What the? Where'd she go? Then I got an idea.

Annabeth's POV (Sorry for the constant changing of pov's)

I know Percy was looking for me, but honestly, I'm really not yet ready. I don't know what to do and how to react. I looked around me hoping that I've lost Percy. When I saw that the coast was clear, I leaned on one of the bars. When I was ready to go back to the quarters, I turned around and guess who I saw? Yep. Percy. He was smiling,

"Gotcha" he said softly. He grabbed my waist, pulled me closer to him and rubbed my cheeks affectionately. He looked at me in the eyes. Stop Annabeth, stop okay? I thought Don't you expect! Don't you assume! You're loving it eh! I know you! It can't be. It just can't be! I whined. But why can't it be? Another part of my brain asked. Can it be? Even for just a little? NO! I sighed. Great. Now I'm talking to myself. I looked away from Percy when I saw him starting to lean in.

"Come on seaweed brain, let's eat out" I told him

"Uh?" he asked, he's obviously not listening.

"I said let's eat out! Come on!" I tugged him along.

Percy's POV

"Gotcha" I said softly to her. I rubbed her cheeks. I can't help it, I reacted on impulse. I stared at her beautiful face, looking at those gorgeous, intimidating gray eyes. She seemed to be thinking hard because her brows furrowed. I kept on staring at her. I started to lean in but then she sighed, looked away and said something.

"Uh?" was my intelligent answer.

"I said let's eat out! Come on." She tugged me along.

We went to eat at a restaurant named Top of the Citi, which is a little untrue all because it's in the top of the sea. Or, well more of a seaside restaurant actually. Anyway, we gave the waitress our orders and I turned back to Annabeth. I gave her a blue folder.

"There, I've studied the proposal and fixed it," I said proudly. Well, Annabeth wanted me to continue this so I obliged willingly PLUS she won the stupid thumb war. "We just needed to discuss the things I added" See, we decided to ask a loan to Annabeth's uncle since mine won't let me.

"This is good,"she told me "but we really need to look for a bigger garage. The location of your business is crucial for my uncle, for him to grant the loan" she explained, taking a bite from her burger. "Sooo, what I'll do is I'll help you look for a new place, okay?"

"Okay. Why are you such a wise girl, wise girl?" I asked, smiling at her.

"None of your business" she said playfully.

After a few minutes, two man and a teenager walked inside the resto. I immediately recognized one of the men. It was Annabeth's dad.

"Hi dad!" Annabeth said, giving his father a kiss on the cheek.

"Good afternoon sir!" I said.

"Percy, Annabeth this is your uncle Hermes." He turned to Annabeth, "your uncle Hermes, remember? He used to bring you bread when you were little" Annabeth's brow furrowed. Gods, she's so cute.

Then the man named Hermes spoke, "How can she remember? She was still so young back then. Annabeth, this is my son, Luke. I'm sure you remember him," Luke has blonde hair, blue eyes and a face that will make girls swoon. NAAH! I'm still more handsome. "you were playmates back then, remember?"

"Turtle legs!"

"Frog mouth!"

Annabeth and Luke exclaimed together. The four of them laughed. Wow, I'm out of place.

"I'm sorry." Annabeth said, "Luke was such a slowpoke because he used to be fat. That's why I called him turtle legs. Yeah, we sucked at nicknames." Then she laughed.

"Well, this girl, was so noisy then. And she had this very tiny voice that's so painful to the ears just like a frog." Luke said, "good thing you still rememberme."

"Of course!" Annabeth said, "how can I forget the only guy who wanted to marry me." My head shot up. What the heck? My jealousy meter fulled up. I wanted to punch this Luke guy. "we were only what? 7 years old back then"

"I didn't know that!" Annabeth's dad said

"That's hilarious!" Luke's dad exclaimed.

I can sense that nobody really needs me here. So I stepped out of the room to do some thinking and to get some air.

Just when everything's getting better, this Luke dude just has to show up and ruin everything! ARGH! Why can't the fates just give me a break? NO. I will never, EVER let Luke take Annabeth away from me. I won't let ANYONE take her away from me. I will fight for her. Yes. That's the only thing that matters.

"There you are! I've been looking for you." I jumped. It was Annabeth and she was giggling.

I pouted, "seems like you're having so much fun that you forgot you have company" I said.

"Luke's a childhood friend!" she chuckled. "Wait, are you .. jealous?"

I blushed. "ME?"

"YES YOU!"

"NO WAY! To that … skinny guy? OF COURSE NOT!" OH NO!

She laughed, "wait, wait! Do you know what we talked about? Obviously not. Well, he has a friend who owns a garage in Banawe. Isn't Banawe a "go to" place for cars?"

"So?" I raised my eyebrow

"So, his friend is selling it. So stop making an issue out of Luke and me. I was only trying to help you."

I was speechless. She pinched my cheek and said, "You're getting jealous! Someone's getting jealous!" in a sing-song voice.

"OF COURSE NOT!" but I was blushing so hard I can't lie about it.

"Admit it! Don't deny it!" she said still giggling.

Oh.. So you want me to admit it huh? I kissed her cheek to prove my point. She blushed then punched my arm.

"So that's the office?" I asked. We were in Banawe, in the garage Luke's friend was selling. And of course, Luke was with us.

"Yes"

"Okay"

"It's nice to know that the potential buyers of my business share the same passion I have for cars" Mr. Hephaestus, Luke's friend said. I nodded and thanked him for the compliment.

I noticed that Annabeth and Luke was standing side by side, so I squeezed myself between them. I smiled. Annabeth looked at me with a raised eyebrow. It was fun to see Luke's expression.

"Percy, this garage and the cars are all of my life." Hephaestus continued "Maybe now, I can devote more time to my family."

"Rest assured sir, I'll give this place the love it deserves" I was looking at Annabeth when I said this. Applying the statement more to her than to the garage.

"Annabeth, you're very lucky with your boyfriend," Hephaestus said "He seems to be loving and caring"

We both blushed. Luke shot me a jealous Luke.

Annabeth spoke up, "Oh no sir. He's not my boyfriend. We're just best friends"

Luke smiled. Yeah right. "If you only knew sir, I'm the one who's luckier to have her" and it's true. Annabeth smiled at me.

"That's why you should take care of her"

I will. Forever and Always.

Annabeth's POV

"Even if the world ends tomorrow, we'll be there to check the garage" I said jokingly at Luke.

I was walking home when Luke called to ask if we're going to check the garage.

"Thank you Luke. So much."

"Oh that's nothing!" Luke said "well, if you're free tomorrow, let's have dinner. I'll cook for you."

Oh. "Thanks Luke. You're sweet. But I think I have to check with my business partner" I laughed. I was referring to Percy. I remembered that we have scheduled an appointment with my uncle after our garage visit.

"Okay, no problem, I'm sure we're going to get a good deal with Mr. Hephaestus"

I laughed. But then I heard some banging in the house, "What is wrong with you?" my dad shouted. Oh no! What happened?

"Ok Luke, thanks" I quickly said, then hung up.

"I had great plans for you Anna May!" Oh no. I think my dad found out about my sister's plan to quit dad's company and migrate to France with her fiancée.

"That's the problem dad" my sister said "you had my life all planned out, what about my own plans?" I felt for my sister. All her life she obeyed my dad. I think it's only right for her to follow her own dreams. "Stop treating me like I'm a little child" my sister cried.

"Anna May," my father said heavily "Do you think life's that easy in France? You're too proud! You won't survive it alone!"

"I won't be alone, dad. I'm going there with Sherwin. We're engaged now. We're getting married and we'll be living in France. Dad, I'm sorry"

My dad remained silent. Then he walked away. I ran to comfort my sister who was now crying so hard.

"It's gonna be okay." I hugged her.

Percy's POV

Annabeth and I were preparing our report that will be presented to her uncle. We didn't realize how late it was. We finished at around 2 am. Annabeth fell asleep on my bed. I sat beside her and caressed her cheek. "Thank you Annabeth. For everything. I promise I will take care of you. I will never hurt you. I will love you forever. Please be mine." I kissed her forehead and went to sleep in the couch.

The next day, we were in the office of Annabeth's uncle Apollo. He was working in a bank so I need to present my business proposal in front of the board of directors so they can know that I can be worthy of the loan.

"I'm nervous… and scared" I told Annabeth

She squeezed my hand. It felt good. "You can do it seaweed brain. I know you can" she told me encouragingly. She pulled her hand away but I held it again. "Can I?"

"Sure, no problem" she smiled at me.

"Percy Jackson!" the secretary called out "you can go in now"

"Here goes"

"Good luck seaweed brain!" Annabeth kissed my cheek. And it gave me some source of motivation. I need to do it for her. I can do it.

"With our love for cars and our skills for restoration and repair, we can guarantee customer satisfaction" After half an hour of presenting to the board, Apollo asked me, "You will need a lot of customers to run a business this big. How do you plan to expand your market?"

"Well I believe that the word of mouth is the best form of advertising. And I've also prepared a more aggressive marketing strategy to attract more customers. We have innovative business ideas." I explained

"How can you guarantee that you can pay back the loan and the interest on time? Why should we give you the loan?"

I thought of Annabeth before answering. I thought about Rachel and my mom telling me I don't have plans and that I'm immature. I'll prove to them that I do have plans. And I'm making them happen now, "Because this company deserves it. This business has nowhere else to go but up. Sir, you've seen the vision of this company. Everything I said is backed up with the great performance my company has been doing lately. I will do everything to make my forecast come true. I will do everything to make this business a success."

They were silent for a moment and for a second I was afraid they're going to reject me.

"Okay. Thank you Mr. Jackson. You can wait for the result outside." They shook my hand

"Thank you" I said the headed outside to sit beside Annabeth.

"How'd it go?" she asked

"It went very smooth" I said

After a few minutes of waiting the secretary handed Annabeth the result.

"Relax" Annabeth soothed. I just smiled and nodded.

She started opening the envelope. Then she wore a grim expression on her face. I knew it. They will reject me. I sighed. I'm a failure. I looked at Annabeth again and her eyes seemed to brighten.. what?

"CONGRATULATIONS! YES!" Then she hugged me so tight "you see, we got approved!"

"huh? Approved?" I couldn't concentrate on being happy with the approval of my loan because Annabeth's hug seems to capture all my attention. I hugged her back. "I told you we'll get this loan. You're the only one who didn't believe in yourself" she told me. Then she pulled away from the hug. I don't want to let her go just yet. Everything seems so perfect. My loan got approved, I can expand my business now. Only one thing left to do.

"Annabeth?" I said softly

"Give me your ID, I'll return it." She said instead

I didn't know what came over me but when she wouldn't look at me, I grabbed her waist and I kissed her. She was shocked for a moment, but then she kissed me back. I pushed my tongue into her waiting mouth and I pulled her closer to me. Like I couldn't get close enough to her. When breathing was necessary, I pulled away.

"Annabeth, I should've realized sooner, but I didn't. But it doesn't really matter anymore cause honestly? I love you. I can't believe I just said that. But it's true. I love you. Annabeth, will you be my girlfriend?"

Annabeth was shedding tears now. I was just hoping it was because of joy. "Yes Percy. Yes! And I love you too!"

It was probably the best day of my life. I've never felt happy like this. Not even with Rachel. Annabeth seems to give me this bright and warm feeling. It's like she's the one for me. And I know that I want to be with her. Forever.

YAYY! They finally got together! Soo? How was it? READ && REVIEW!