Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Thank you for all the reviews last chapter! This is mostly a filler chapter that sets up for the next chapter.
Last Chapter: Annabeth shared her feelings concerning Percy and Percy finally won back her friendship by showing her his tin box full of keepsakes, only to find himself now in the friend zone.
My Tutor
Chapter 10
Percy
It's only been two days since Annabeth and I became friends again and already things are a billion times better. I can't remember the last time I was this happy. And I owe it all to Annabeth.
Ever since she forgave me for being a total dick (I haven't even forgiven myself), we have been spending lunches together and even hang out after school. If I went a month back in time and told past self that Annabeth and I were friends again, my past self would not believe me, plus he'd probably go telling people about a visitor from the future and inadvertently get us locked up in a mental institution.
I will be taking the test next Friday. If I pass (which I'm pretty confident that I will, after all, who could not succeed with Annabeth as their tutor), I am practically forging a romantic relationship between Annabeth and Luke.
And things were even worse now that I was in the friend zone. Annabeth hasn't really said anything about it, but guys know these things. I don't even think Annabeth realizes that she friend zoned me. I had to figure out a way to get out of the friend zone or else I can pretty much kiss any chance of being with Annabeth goodbye.
Before the result of my test comes, I need to make Annabeth love me instead of Luke. Luke doesn't deserve Annabeth. Granted, I don't think I deserve Annabeth either but I know I am the best choice for her because I love her more than anyone else ever could or will. Annabeth just needed to see that there were other fish in the sea besides Luke. Of course, some may argue that I needed to see that there were more fish in the sea, too. But I don't care. I was determined to get that fish: Annabeth.
At lunch, I spotted Annabeth sitting by herself under a tree on a thin blanket, reading a book while snacking on her lunch. The smile that seemed to have made my face its permanent home got wider as I passed my usual picnic table to sit with Annabeth.
I ignored Travis and Connor who were trying to get me to sit with them and our usual friends like normal, but I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to sit with Annabeth for these guys.
"What ever happened to 'bros before hoes'?" I heard Connor say rather loudly as I continued to walk towards Annabeth.
"I prefer the phrase 'brethren before wenches' better." Travis commented. I turned my head to glare at them in time to see Katie slap Travis across the arm and tell him to sit down and eat his lunch like a good boy.
"Hey, Annabeth." I said when I was about a foot away from her. She lifted her head to glance up at me and smile. Gods, I love that smile. "Can I sit with you?"
"Sure, but be quiet because I'm trying to read." She said, faking anger. Annabeth made room for me on her small blanket and I sat as close to her as possible. She doesn't seem to think anything of it, even when our legs were touching. I did what I was told and shut up and eat my lunch. Just being in Annabeth's presence was enough for me. We didn't really have to talk for us to enjoy each other's company.
I often found myself unable to stop staring at her. She's wearing her leather necklace just like I have taken to wearing mine. Annabeth had called her dad the night we became friends again and asked him to FedEx it over as soon as possible. She had just received the package this morning.
After finishing my lunch and throwing away the trash, I took my seat next to Annabeth again. She closed her book and met my gaze. Annabeth looked at me with such gentle and warm eyes. I reached my hand up to touch one of the beads on her necklace. Unlike my necklace, which was hidden in my shirt, Annabeth's necklace was out in the open because girls weren't required to wear ties like guys so Annabeth usually had her collar open.
To any passer-byer, we probably appeared to be a couple of a few years sharing an intimate moment. How I wish that were true. I know I love this girl. I think I've always known. If I could just get Annabeth to love me romantically, everything would be perfect.
I transferred my gaze from her necklace to her eyes and I tucked a blond curl that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear. I loved her hair. It was so golden and wavy and reached her mid back. Plus it smelled good and Annabeth knew just how to style it to make her seem flawless. Usually she had it in a ponytail or braid, but it stunning even on the rare days when she let it hang loose.
I gulped. I needed this girl to love me, to want me, to need me. She's everything I want and I was a fool to let my anger tear us apart all those years ago. Connor was right. If I had never been such an idiot, there was a big chance that Annabeth and I would have been together now. Maybe that's how it is in an alternant universe. Alternant Universe Percy was the boyfriend of Alternant Universe Annabeth right now while I was stuck in the friend zone. Damn that Alternant Universe Percy. Why can't I be him?
If only I had the courage to tell her how I feel, then maybe I wouldn't be stuck in a situation where I had to introduce the love of my life to another man that could possibly steal her away from me.
I cannot let that happen.
The bell rang, snapping us out of our moment. Annabeth stuffed her book into her backpack and stood up, offering a hand to me. I gently took it and she pulled me up. I helped her fold her blanket that had owl designs on it and we departed the large quad.
"I'll walk you to class today." Annabeth said, draping her folded blanket over her arm.
"How very chivalrous of you, Annabeth." I joked and she smiled. I always used to try my best to make Annabeth smile and laugh. And even though we had only recently been reunited as friends, my old habit had already returned.
As we walked, I couldn't help having the temptation to hold her hand. And it was right there. It would have been so easy. But I knew it was too forward and I knew she liked someone else. But since when did I care? I had played footsies with her on Monday and that was way more forward than holding Annabeth's hand. I had also held her hand before when we were on the elevator after I told off Drew. Sure it was a totally different situation but still. Maybe holding her hand would be just the trigger to get her to realize how much I really cared for her. I slowly reached for her free hand as we entered the math department building but Annabeth gasped and ran the hand I was about to hold over her ponytail.
"There's Luke," she whispered. "Act natural. No, forget that, act cool. No, wait, just pretend you don't notice him." Annabeth turned her head the other way as Luke passed us in the hallway. He nodded at me in acknowledgement and I gave him a small, half-assed smile before he disappeared behind our backs.
Damn him.
"How am I suppose to talk to him if I can't even look at him when he looks at me?" Annabeth blushed when we reached my classroom. Thank the gods we did because I did not want to talk about Luke with Annabeth gushing all over him.
"And don't forget, Seaweed Brain, chess club later today."
"I won't." I started to lean down to kiss her cheek but caught myself and straightened my back up right. "I'll see you later." She waved at me as she walked towards the elevator to take her to the third floor.
It would have been so easy to kiss her. I know because I've done it before. But now that we're friends, how would she react? My heart tightened up thinking about the possibilities.
Tutoring had been a breeze. No surprise there because Annabeth's an amazing tutor.
I needed to make Annabeth realize that I'm into her without actually telling her. I know, that makes me sound like a total coward for not being direct. But I'm afraid that if I straight up tell her, she might reject me. So I want to make her fall in love with me first and then confess my love to her.
But how?
I told Annabeth that I would meet her in chess club. She looked a little disappointed like she was wanted us going together and maybe she was also suspicious that I might skip out on chess club. But after I gave her a reassuring hug, she was on her way.
I'm not exactly sure how, but I ended up in front of the dorm of Silena Beauregard. Like I explained before, she was the writer of the school newspaper's love advice column. So maybe, if Silena's feeling generous, I could get her to give me advice on how to win Annabeth over.
I exhaled and knocked on the door. I was severely disappointed when Silena's roommate opened the door.
"Prissy." She said.
"Clarisse." My eyebrow twitched.
Clarisse La Rue was nothing but a big bully. I don't know how someone like her could be best friends with someone as caring as Silena or how she could possibly have a boyfriend as nice as Chris Rodriguez. Some people joke that Chris is the girlfriend in the relationship because he dotes on Clarrise and does things like mending her torn clothes or cooking her dinner. Not only is that sexist which is not cool, but I don't see what's wrong with a guy wanting to do things like that for his girlfriend. I would cook anything for Annabeth and am even willing to learn to work a sewing machine for her.
"What do you want?" Clarrise sneered.
"I'm not here to see you. I want to talk to Silena."
"Yeah, well she's not here and even if she were, she wouldn't waste her time talking with you." Clarisse was about to slam the door in my face when Silena's voice sounded from inside.
"Clarisse, who is it?" Silena chimed.
"No one." Clarisse's voice took on a more friendly tone.
"It's Percy. Can I talk to you?" I enunciated my voice enough to get passed the almost closed door. A squeal from inside the dorm pierced my ears and Silena pushed Clarisse aside to open the door.
"And just what are you doing here, Percy?" Silena smiled. "Come in, come in!"
I walked into her dorm which looked like it was bipolar. Half of it was reminiscent of the inside of an army tent while the other half was covered in posters of boy bands, heart-shaped picture frames, and floral print. Clarisse had taken a seat on her bed on the army tent side. Beckendorf was seated at Silena's hot pink desk, on his laptop. Silena led me to her bed, took a seat, and eagerly patted a spot next to her.
"Chocolate?" She offered a heart-shaped box of chocolates that were, surprise, also in the shape of hearts.
"Okay, thanks." I took one of the more misshapen chocolates and popped it into my mouth. It tasted awful. But I smiled at Silena while I forced the cardboard-tasting chocolate down my throat.
"Now, what can I do for you?" She asked. I peered at both Clarisse and Beckendorf with doubt. Clarisse was shinning her pocketknife, which was prohibited to have, and Beckendorf seemed too preoccupied with his computer to even pay attention to me. He had only waved his hand at me when I walked inside.
"Uh," I began, "is there a way I could talk to you without Clarisse being here?" I didn't mind if Beckendorf heard what I was going to tell Silena. After all, he had been going through the same situation right before he and Silena got together. But I didn't want Clarisse here. She would probably try anything to sabotage my chances of being with Annabeth if she knew.
"Is it about your little sixth-grade crush on Annabeth?" Clarisse said bluntly, not even looking up from shinning her knife. Silena gave another fangirl squeal and Beckendorf turned from the computer screen to give me a knowing smile.
"Uh, well, um, uh." I stuttered, sounding like an idiot. How the hell did Clarisse know I had a thing for Annabeth?
"Oh, don't worry about her, Percy." Silena said. "You won't tell anyone about this, will you, Clarisse?" Thank goodness Silena was my friend and she could get Clarisse to do anything.
"Pfft." Clarisse huffed and she turned to glare at me, her eyes flickering dangerously. "I don't give a fuck about Prissy's nonexistent love life."
"Great!" Silena beamed, not even bothering to defend me against Clarisse's comment about my love life. I guess it's because Silena knew it was true. "Tell me everything, Percy! Although, I probably already know everything you want to tell me. I've been watching you two for days!"
"Uh." I cannot begin to describe how incredibly awkward all of this was. Silena had been watching Annabeth and me? Why the heck would she do that? I know she "shipped" us and all, but seriously? Watching us?
"Oh, let me guess! You want advice on what kind of flowers to get Annabeth?" She pulled out her cell phone. "I'll call Katie. She knows tons about the language of flowers so we can head into the city this weekend and pick out the perfect arrangement!"
"Actually–"
Silena's eyes shot up from her phone. "No, wait, I got it! You want advice on erotic games you and Annabeth can play together!" She ran from the bed towards her bookcase.
"What!"
"No?" With great disappointment, she shoved her copy of The Kinky Olympics: 101 Stimulating Games back on the top shelf next to a book called Kama Sutra. "Then maybe you want advice on how to pleasure Annabeth with–"
"Silena! No!"
She raised her eyebrow at me. I could see Beckendorf's shoulders shaking from behind. He was laughing at me. Gah!
"Then what exactly do you want?"
"I'm not interested in having a physical relationship with Annabeth." What I really meant was: I'm not interested in having a physical relationship with Annabeth yet. I wanted her to love me the way I love her first. "I want to make Annabeth…" I lowered my voice so only Silena could hear, "love me."
"What did you say?" Beckendorf asked, butting into my business.
"He said he wants to make his precious Annabeth love him." Clarisse answered. I really gotta work on lowering my voice.
I sighed. Clearly my business was going to be known whether I liked it or not so I continued anyway. "Can you give me advice on how I could let Annabeth know that I'm interested in her?"
Silena gave me a smile that was similar to the way a grown-up smiles down at a foolish child asking an obvious question. She opened her mouth to speak but Clarisse interrupted her. "Well, duh, just tell her, dumbass."
"I wasn't asking you!" I snapped.
"She's right, Percy. Its always better to be direct with your feelings so that there is no chance they can be misinterpreted." Silena said with Beckendorf nodding in agreement.
"But…" I took a nervous breather. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"
"But what if she does?" Silena suggested, her voice and eyes full of soothing hope.
I thought for a while. It was good advice, I'll admit. But its not for me. I can't be direct with Annabeth. I can't risk it. Now that Annabeth and I were friends again, I don't know how I survived the past three years without her by my side. And to think that Annabeth wouldn't love me was not something that I want to dwell on.
"I'll think about it." I lied. "This never happened, okay?" I said to them all, referring to the talk about Annabeth and me.
"What never happened?" Silena asked while smiling, playing along.
"Thanks." I said and got up to leave.
Before I closed the door, Silena gave me a few more words. "Percy, please listen to us and just tell her. You guys will be so cute together!"
I smiled and left.
Walking to meet Annabeth at chess club, I decided there was no way I could take a direct approach to this. I already knew that Annabeth liked Luke. Just because I tell her my feelings isn't going to magically make her love and want to be with me, no matter how much I wanted it to happen.
I guess I'd just have to let Annabeth know how I felt about her in my own way.
Annabeth
Percy and I have been friends for only two days and I gotta say, it's been amazing. I don't know how I ever survived high school without him…
That was totally sappy.
I survived school because I'm a survivor.
Okay, that wasn't any better.
Anyway, these past two days carried on as usual except there was a new spring in my step and lightness in my heart I haven't felt in a while. It was like I was holding this huge weight on my shoulders before but now that I was friends with Percy again, the weight's absence made me stand taller. Is there a word for how I'm feeling? I don't know so I'll just settle for "happy."
Chess club was immensely more fun now that Percy had joined. It didn't matter to me that he, to put it nicely, sucked at chess. He could never remember the movements of the different pieces so when we played, I had to coach him through each game so it was pretty much like I was playing myself.
He won… hold on let me remember… Oh, yeah! He won zero times. Maybe I wasn't doing the best job at coaching him because I'm so competitive I don't even want to let trainee Percy win in a practice round. No, I don't have a problem. I just like (love!) to win.
And even though he never won, Percy kept on smiling like he was having the time of his life. I didn't really understood what he was smiling for. He was losing, for the sake of the gods. Who would be smiling when they got their ass handed to them repeatedly? But his smile was always directed at me, the person who was kicking his ass.
It was weird but I disregarded the thought that there may be a reason behind his smiles.
When it was almost 5:30, we started cleaning up our chess set.
"No, Percy!" I snatched the board away from him. The other club members snapped their heads towards Percy, wondering what was upsetting me. But then their eyes focused on the board I was holding and the white pieces Percy was holding. With noticeably irritated sighs, they turned back to their own business as they already figured out what I was freaking out about.
"What?" Percy asked.
"You were putting away the pieces all mixed together."
"And?"
"Separate them first and then put them away."
"I don't see why that matters. They're just gonna get mixed up." He tried to grab the board from me but I held it away.
"It bothers me." Please don't ask. It just does. I want things done a certain way: my way. "Just do as I say. Please?" I knitted my eyebrows and pouted my lips. This is how I made Percy do what I wanted back in the day. I hope it still worked now.
He looked at me and I could tell he was about to complain but then his eyes softened and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine. I'll do it your way." He relented.
"Good." I handed him the board.
As I watched him pack up the chess set and put it away, I thought of how happy it made me to know that he was willing to do things the way I liked them. It was a small gesture, but it really meant a lot to me. When I play against other club members, no one, not even Malcolm, puts away the chessboard the way I like it and I have to do it myself. To know that Percy humored me on my little moment of OCD, it meant that he cared about me enough to want to please me even on something so small and insignificant.
So I found myself smiling when the two of us headed towards the cafeteria for dinner. Percy led me to sit with him a small table with only two seats. There is this unspoken rule at Goode that these two-seater tables are reserved for couples. Percy didn't seem to be aware of the eyes that watched us when he casually sat down. Maybe Percy doesn't even know about the rule. I mean this guy can be dense. He didn't even know that Rachel Elizabeth Dare was into him back in elementary school, which was super obvious.
We made small talk about our day at school when our food arrived.
"Annabeth, why are you eating so fast?" Percy grinned at me stuffing my face with chicken casserole.
I made sure to swallow before I said anything. "There's a quiz bowl match this Saturday so I want to finish dinner early and study."
"Do you want me to do flashcards with you or something?" He didn't sound too enthusiastic.
"Nah, it's okay. I learn mostly just by reading the material." I was already almost finished with my food and Percy wasn't even halfway done. If I remember correctly, (and trust me, I do remember correctly) Percy was a bottomless pit when it came down to food and he was always the first to ask for seconds. So it was a little funny to see him eat slowly and show some manners while I carelessly shoveled food into my mouth.
"I've noticed. Remember in seventh grade English, you were absent on the day before an abrupt vocab quiz and all you had to do was read the definitions once and you were ready to take the quiz?" He sounded so amazed at something I considered so menial.
"That was nothing. I already knew what most of those words meant, anyway. Let's reminisce about you now." I smiled deviously and he stopped short of putting the fork into his mouth. There were a couple of memories I wanted to bring up. Any thoughts about studying for quiz bowl escaped me.
"What's there to talk about?" Percy questioned and proceeded to eat with caution.
"What about that spelling bee we had in sixth grade English?" I smirked.
Percy thought for a while and then blushed. "Oh, gods. Please don't remind me."
"You were asked to spell the word 'condemn' but you spelled 'condom!'" I laughed.
"I didn't even know what a condom was back then so I had no idea why everyone was laughing. Even the teacher was laughing." He frowned at the memory.
I tried to say something else but I started cracking up so badly that other people started turning their heads in my direction. My laughter was contagious so Percy's frown turned into a grin and then he began laughing, too. More heads turned towards us. Normally I would be embarrassed under such circumstances but being with Percy just made me so happy. It was like no matter what, there was always a reason to smile as long as we're together.
"Well, what about you?" Percy finally recovered from the fit of laughter and settled for grinning at me.
"What about me?" I dared him to come up with something more embarrassing than accidentally spelling 'condom.'
"Does an upturned umbrella during the worst rainstorm in seventh grade ring any bells?"
"Shut up!" My cheeks flushed. "That was so humiliating."
"But so funny! You kept trying to straighten it out but right after you did, you took one step forward and the wind blew it to be upturned again." Percy had to rest his forehead on the edge of the table because he had doubled over in laughter.
"Hey, I wasn't the only one with an upturned umbrella, you know."
"Yeah, but everyone else was cool with it and laughed at themselves. You were the only one who kept trying to correct your umbrella over and over again. And here I thought you were wise."
"I am wise!" Between Percy and me, at least. "I was the one who stopped you from stuffing all the toilets in the boys' bathroom with toilet paper so they'd flood the school!"
"Hey, if the school was flooded, I wouldn't have had to take that history test."
I rolled my eyes. "It was a ridiculous idea."
"More like brilliant! Took me thirty minutes to come up with it." Percy started eating more and was soon finished with his meal.
"I told you I'd help you study." I told him while he chewed a mouthful that was a little too much so he looked like a chipmunk. He was definitely just as cute, no, even cuter than a real chipmunk. I giggled.
"Yeah, and I got a B on it thanks to you." He reached over to hold my hand from across the table. My smile turned from laughing at the top of my lungs to soft and sweet.
I played with his fingers a bit, working up the courage to ask him something I've wanted to since yesterday. "So since I went to watch your skirmish, are you up for going to my quiz bowl match?" I laced my voice with as much sugar as I could muster.
Percy snorted. "Are you serious?"
"What do you mean?"
"You want me to go to a quiz bowl match?" He said it like it was a disease. "I'll die of boredom."
"What?" I snatched my hand away from Percy's and his eyes lowered in disappointment.
"That skirmish wasn't much fun, you know." It was a blatant lie. Time seemed to have passed so quickly when I was watching Percy play.
"Don't lie. You couldn't keep your eyes off me." He smirked.
Oh gods, I had hoped it wasn't that obvious.
"Well then," I decided it was best not to contradict him, "why don't you return the favor and set your eyes on me at my match?"
Percy raised his eyebrow and along with his smirk, he looked so handsome. "Fine. I'll go to your snore-fest." I could tell that he actually did what to go. His smile didn't disappear from his face so I knew he was just messing with me. I returned his smile and stood up to pull Percy to his feet.
"Thanks, I promise it will be fun!" And I wrapped my arm around his waist in a half hug as we headed back to the dorms.
After tutoring on Friday Percy, ever the gentleman, walked me back to my dorm.
"Are you gonna study for the match again tonight?" He asked when we paused outside my door.
"No, it will make me anxious. So on the day before tests, I unwind by–"
"Watching a movie." He finished for me and my eyes widened, surprised that he remembered such trivial information.
"Yeah. You remembered?"
That sarcastic and playful smirk danced on his face. "Well, yeah. I mean I was with you a lot of those times. So what are we watching tonight?"
"We? Did you just invite yourself to watch a movie with me?" I smiled and tucked a hair behind my ear.
"Yes, I did. Got a problem with that?"
"Yeah, I don't want to watch a movie with you." I said firmly.
He was taken aback for a millisecond. Then he caught on to my game and trapped me between himself and the door. "Too bad, I'm gonna whether you want me to or not."
His face got close and closer to mine. Moments of temporary panic washed over me and before our noses could touch I hastily opened my dorm and slipped inside, about to shut the door with all my might. But Percy began forcing his way in.
"Percy!" I laughed as we pushed the door in opposite directions, me trying to close it and him trying to open it. Soon he conceded and allowed me to slam the door in his face. But I could feel that he was still gripping the doorknob because I tried to lock it but it wouldn't budge. I slowly stepped back from the door and Percy burst in and locked the door behind him. He took off his backpack and gave me a chance to put mine on my desk chair. Right when I turned around, he tackled me and lightly tossed me onto Piper's bed.
"Hey!" I giggled and he leaped onto the bed. He would have landed on top of me but I rolled away in time. "Percy, this isn't my bed–" I was caught off guard when he started tickling my sides. "Stop it!" I laughed through uneven breaths. I tried to push him away but he kept on coming back to me, his hands ready to tickle me. I tossed and turned on Piper's bed, trying to get away from him while I laughed until my sides hurt.
"Percy! Get away from me!" I yelled between rapid laughs. Percy finally stopped tickling me and I turned to face him, my face propped up on my hand. He lay on his side, smiling up at me. A piece of my hair had come loose from my ponytail and lay on my face. Percy twirled it between his fingers.
"Oh my gods!" Piper yelled and Percy and I bolted off of her bed to sit on mine. "Seriously, guys? On my bed?" She began dusting off her bed in an attempt to get rid of any traces of Percy and me.
"Opps, sorry Pipes." Percy mumbled and then shifted to rest his head on my pillow.
"Eh, I'm not that mad." She smiled at me and wiggled her eyebrows up and down suggestively. "You guys shoulda put a sock on the doorknob or something."
"Piper!" I blushed and hid my face from Percy's view.
Piper isn't usually like this. We've been roommates ever since freshman year so we've developed this sorta psychic connection where we know how the other is feeling. It's kind of like how it is with Percy and I except not as strong. Anyway, she usually knows when I'm embarrassed and won't try to make the situation worse.
"No, no." She said and grabbed a few magazines and her laptop from her desk and put them into her bag. "Don't mind me. You two just do what you gotta do and I'll be in Jason's dorm if you need me." Piper kept on smiling and nodding at me, as if trying to encourage me to do something. What that something is, I don't know nor do I think I want to find out.
"Okay, whatever." Percy told Piper and he began straightening his shirt which had ridden up when I was trying to push him away.
While Percy wasn't looking Piper gave me a thumbs up then started poking her right index finger through a hole she made with her left index finger and thumb. I turned even redder and threw a pillow at her. She dodged, giggled, and made sure to make of show of leaving her keys on her desk. Then she locked the door when she left. Ugh, that girl sometimes.
"Don't mind her." I said to Percy as I went over to the TV. "She's just being a psycho. So what do you wanna watch?"
"I don't know, what do you have?"
"Oh, I rented this from the library last week and haven't watched it yet!" I held up the DVD proudly. "Titanic."
He pretended to gag. "No, thanks."
"What? Why not?" I turned to face him. "Come on, Percy, its due soon."
He walked over to look at my and Piper's small collection of DVDs.
"Lilo and Stitch." He reached for the DVD case but I smacked his hand away playfully. He held his hand with a hurt expression on his face, acting like I just bit him or something.
"No, Percy, I want to watch Titanic and if you don't like that, you can just leave."
He was about ready to argue with me but then he smiled and nodded.
We sat on my bed intently watching the movie and commenting on scenes every so often. It began to get awkward when the scene when Jack draws Rose naked was about to show. But then a funny memory made itself clear in my mind and I started giggling when Rose's butt showed up on the screen.
"What's so funny?" Percy asked. I was amazed that he was looking at me rather than the beautifully naked Rose.
"I'm just remembering when we watched this in seventh grade together. You were so excited to see Rose's butt."
Percy nodded, the memory returning to him too. "Well, who wouldn't be?"
I laughed more and jokingly slapped his arm. "You're such a guy. Turn it up, will you?"
Percy grabbed the remote on the nightstand and turned up the volume from twenty to twenty-seven.
"Turn it to either twenty-eight or twenty-six, please." I requested.
"What?"
"The volume can't be at twenty-seven."
"Uh, yes it can. It's on twenty-seven right now."
"That's not what I mean. It makes me uncomfortable. The volume has to be at either an even number or a multiple of five."
"You're being silly, Wise Girl." He dismissed my reasoning and put down the remote with the volume still on twenty-seven. His eyes returned to the movie.
"Please?" I put my hand on his bicep and his muscle immediately flexed. They felt wonderful.
"Nope."
"Percy!" I leaned over him to snatch the remote but he held me back. "Hey!" I tried to fight him but he was too strong and easily held me back. "Percy, please."
His eyes darted towards me and he laughed. "Fine." He turned the volume to twenty-eight and I felt better.
Pretty soon, Jack and Rose were having trouble escaping the flooding ship.
"I hate slash love scenes like this." I said to Percy. We repositioned ourselves so we were sitting against my headboard. By this time, I was getting a little sleepy so I rested my head on his shoulder. He, in turn, put his head against mine.
"Why do you love slash hate these scenes?" He asked watching Jack and Rose run from the rising water.
"Whenever I watch life or death scenes, I always put myself into them and most times I end up dying." Just my luck.
Percy lifted his head off mine but wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Well, if you were on the Titanic I'm pretty sure you'd be with me and there is no way I'd let us die there."
I looked up at him. "You'd watch out for me like Jack was doing for Rose?"
"No, I'd make sure to find a door big enough for both of us to float on."
I smiled and we continued to watch the movie.
We got to the part where the ship was almost breaking in half and Percy moved from leaning against the headboard to sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Here it comes!" Percy smiled in anticipation, as a guy in a life jacket was about to jump off the ship into the freezing water. "What for it, wait for it…" The guy jumped and half way down, he hit the propeller and broke into midair cartwheels. "That's my favorite part of the whole movie!" Percy laughed and I shook my head at his nonsense.
"Why are you laughing? That looked like it hurt." But I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
"I'm sure it did but its just so fucking funny!" He continued to laugh and I eventually joined in. Seeing Percy happy, even when he was laughing at the misfortune of others on the T.V. screen, made me happy. His smile and the sound of his laugh gave me a feeling that everything was going to be all right. He was still laughing when he went back to sitting next to me. I grabbed his arm in a hug and rested my head on his shoulder again but not before nuzzling my face in his neck.
Whoa. Where did that come from?
Percy gazed down at me but I avoided his gaze and set my eyes on the T.V. screen. I could still feel his eyes on me. It made me nervous but I didn't want to let go of him and so I did nothing but watch the movie. After a while, I felt Percy move his head to watch the movie, too.
Phew. Dodged a bullet there.
When the movie was done, I saw Percy out the door. He kept smiling at me as he put on his backpack then he held out his arms waiting for a hug.
"What?" I asked with fake ignorance.
Percy pouted his lips at me. "Don't I get a goodnight hug?"
"What makes you think you deserve one?"
"Well, I just watched a two hour long movie with you."
"So?" I walked closer towards him but not close enough to be in range of his arms.
"So I think I deserve compensation. A hug will do."
I smiled and practically tackled him. He stumbled back a bit but held his ground as I squished him in a hug.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the quiz bowl match, right?"
He gave a heavy sigh and exaggerated his fake annoyance. "Will I have to put pants on?" He groaned. I nodded with a giggle. "Fine…"
"Great! I can't wait. Maybe after I win, you can take me out to eat." We were still in each other's arms and it occurred to me that I didn't really care if someone saw us like this.
"After you win?" He gently smiled down at me. "Someone's confident."
I lay my head on his chest and closed my eyes. "Oh, come on. You know I'll win."
"I love how you're so modest." I felt his chin rest on top of my head. We stayed this way for a few more seconds before I yawned.
"Get outta here." I pushed him out the door and gave him another quick hug before watching him walk to the elevator.
I was so excited for tomorrow. There isn't really much of a turnout at academic meets but as long as Percy would be there, I was happy. But suddenly I was nervous.
Percy is going to be at my quiz bowl match.
What should I wear?
The next morning at around 8:30, I was woken up by a knock on the door.
"Eerr!" Piper groaned but she made no attempt to get the door. She just turned to face the wall and brought her blanket over her head. Another knock sounded and Piper sat up.
"Annabeth."
"Hm?"
"Someone's at the door. Get it."
"But you're closer."
"But I'm sleeping." She lay back down and covered her head with her blanket.
I laughed and with great effort I got myself up from bed and went to get the door. I didn't even bother looking at myself in the mirror. I knew I looked horrible. Besides, whoever is at the door can't be that important this early in the mourning.
Scratch that.
"Oh, hey, Percy." I combed my fingers through my hair.
"Did I wake you?" He asked scanning over my form clad in an oversized shirt and PJ short shorts. A smile played on his lips.
"Yeah." My shirt started to slip off one of my shoulders but I quickly pulled it back up. Percy's smile widened.
"Opps. My bad." But he didn't sound sorry at all. It was okay, though.
"What are you doing here so early?"
"I brought you hot chocolate and a little breakfast." He gestured towards the cardboard tray he was carrying which had three cups and a paper bag. I was shocked. He woke up this early on a Saturday just to bring me hot chocolate? How sweet was that?
"Thanks, Percy." I smiled when he handed me my cup. He closed the door behind him and we sat on my bed, drinking our hot beverages. Percy reached into the paper bag and pulled out a croissant and handed to me. I smiled and took a huge bite out of it. It had chocolate filling. Oh gods, I love these.
"Gosh darn it, Percy!" Piper said from her bed. "What are you doing here so early?" She sat up to glare at him.
"I came to bring Annabeth breakfast." Percy didn't even bother to look at her. It was kinda weird. Piper is one of the most beautiful girls in the school. Even straight out of bed she was radiant. And even though she was Percy's cousin's girlfriend, I expected Percy to at least be ogling her but he didn't even spare her a glance. His eyes stayed glued to me.
"Well, what about me?" Piper asked sweetly.
"Don't worry, I got coffee for us, Pipes." He said, his gaze still not leaving me.
"Yay!" She sprung out of bed in her cute Power Rangers nightgown and seized the last cup in the cardboard tray Percy had placed on my nightstand.
"That'll be three-fifty." Percy announced.
"Aw, you suck." Piper frowned and dug in her bag for her wallet.
"How much do I owe you Percy?" I asked him, putting down my cup and getting my coin purse out.
"Nah, it's okay, Annabeth. It's on me."
"Hmpf!" Piper huffed from her bed.
"I'm kidding, Piper, you don't have to pay me back either. Its just coffee." He said to her but he didn't have any of the tenderness in his voice like when he spoke to me. "Don't expect this to happen too often though."
"Okay, great, thanks!" She said and grabbed some clothes, going into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later with damp hair and fresh clothes on. "I think I'll go see what Sparky is up to." Piper said, grabbing her coffee, bag and keys. "Thanks again, Percy."
"That was nice of you." I said to him when Piper shut the door.
"Yeah, well, I couldn't just show up and not get her anything."
"I guess it's kind of a reciprocation for Jason." I scooted closer to him so that our shoulders were touching.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, its only fair. For the past few years on Valentine's Day, Jason showed up with a bouquet of roses for Piper. And he knew I was single so he always brought an extra bouquet for me, too."
Percy stared at me, probably wondering what I was getting at. I was wondering the same thing, too. Why had I mentioned that? It was as if I was suggesting that Jason was nice to his girlfriend's friend so Percy should be nice to my friend. But that would imply that I was Percy's girlfriend. And I'm not.
But Percy didn't seem to understand. He just nodded and smiled.
"Yeah, I guess I owe him, huh?"
I didn't answer him. He can't possibly be entailing what I thought he was, can he? I mean, by saying he owed Jason for getting me roses on Valentine's Days, it was like Percy was saying that he was the one who should have given me the roses. I know Percy and I got Valentine's Day presents for each other when we were kids, but I kinda figured that if we had stayed friends and as the years would go by, we'd grow out of it. I mean, how would it look if he had a girlfriend or I had a boyfriend and we continued to give each other presents for Valentine's Day? It was different for Jason. He was being a good guy and whenever he gave me the flowers he always said that I was special with or without a boyfriend. Plus Piper liked that he gave me flowers because it just proved what a great guy her boyfriend was.
"I thought you had to go out into the city. Why are you up so late?" Percy broke me out of my train of thought.
"The match is at eleven so a shuttle bus is taking us into the city at around ten."
"Would it be cool if I hitch a ride with your shuttle?"
"I don't think so, Seaweed Brain." I love saying his nickname. "That specific shuttle is only used for club events and the members of the club having an event."
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll just drive there on my own then."
"That sounds good. Besides, if you take your own car, we can hang out in the city afterwards and I can ride back here with you."
"Okay." He beamed, all of a sudden happier than ever.
We talked about nothing while we finished our drinks and breakfast. I helped myself to another chocolate-filled croissant and Percy split a cheese bagel with me.
"Now if you don't mind, I need to get ready now. You know where to be, right?"
"Yes, Annabeth, I got all seven of your texts last night."
I blushed. "Sorry. I'm just so excited for you to be there."
"Just don't expect me to stay awake for the whole thing." He said, smirking and exiting the room.
I did my mourning routine of shower, contacts and brushing teeth. You know, the works. And I put on the outfit Piper helped me pick out last night: a mint colored Peter Pan collar sweater, black leggings, and my brown Doc Marten knock-offs.
I looked at myself in the mirror and debated what to do with my hair. It reached my mid back but since it was wavy, it would probably reach my lower back if I straightened it. I've never tried though. Silena says to avoid using heat on my hair as much as possible.
So deciding I was cute enough and that my hair was better left down, I grabbed my bag and keys and went to meet the rest of the team.
The drive there was uneventful. Leo, who specializes in Pop Culture and Physics, wouldn't stop shouting out commentary on fast food joints we passed on the way. Frank, World Cultures and Linguistics guy, didn't bother hiding how annoyed he was with Leo. Will Solace was our Music and Biological Sciences guy and he was pretty laid back. He put his headphones on and just stared out the window. Hazel was our newest member and I was so thankful for her being there. I've been trying to get more girl members in the club for a while and thank the gods Hazel knew her World History and Philosophy even better than me. I was the American Lit and Math chick so I had my plate full.
Other members of quiz bowl were my cousin Malcolm, Lou Ellen Armstrong (Connor Stoll's girlfriend), Nyssa De La Cruz (Leo's second cousin), Castor and Pollux Winehouse (the sons of our Principal, Mr. D), Clovis Trance (who has Narcolepsy), and our second newest member Jake Mason (who was brought on the team by Will). Oh, and don't forget our coach, Mr. Brunner. But Leo, Frank, Will, Hazel, and I were the ones who were competing today.
"And on our left we have the new Burger King that has a playhouse. Please note that the age limit on their playhouse is 10-years-old, unlike the McDonalds on Main Street whose age limit is twelve. Luckily, I was able to pass off as one–"
"Oh my gods, Leo, SHUT UP!"
"Frank, don't be so mean to him. I think he's funny." Hazel defended Leo but that only caused Frank to cross his arms and glare out the window.
I, too, tried to drown out Leo's incessant talking because I was concentrating on figuring something out. Today was different. Usually I'm full of confidence during matches but today I was nervous. But I wasn't nervous about the questions. I was nervous about Percy watching me. How was I suppose to concentrate?
That's the only thing I thought about when we finally arrived at the community center the match would be taking place. I don't know if I was relieved or disappointed that Percy was nowhere to be seen. I looked around at the bleachers set around the room. He wasn't at the south end nor the north end. Did he ditch me? Everything about quiz bowl emptied out of my head and all I could think about was that Percy didn't want to support me like I had supported him at his basketball skirmish.
"Annabeth, come on! The match is starting!" Will called from our table, stuffing his headphones into his pocket.
When I sat down with the rest of my competing team members, I scanned the room one more time but still, Percy hadn't shown up.
"Welcome," the quizmaster for the match said in a monotone voice. "Today's match is Goode vs. Wilderness. Please test your buzzers." We all banged our hands down on our buzzers, me being the last. I was still upset that Percy lied to me. He said he would come but he didn't.
"Category: Chemistry." The quizmaster said. "Question: What is the charge on the polyatomic ion borate?"
My hand was poised to push my buzzer but Will beat me to it.
"Solace, Goode." The quizmaster called on him.
"Three negative."
"Correct. Category: American History. What year was the twenty-sixth amendment of the United States constitution enacted?"
Hazel rang her buzzer first, right before Frank and a girl on the Wilderness team.
"Levesque, Goode."
"1971." Hazel timidly answered.
"Correct."
Hazel let out a small "Yes!" and Leo and Frank patted her back in pride.
"Category: Geography. Name the smallest continent."
This time, Frank rang his buzzer.
"Zhang, Goode." The quizmaster recognized him to speak.
"Australia." Frank said with confidence.
"Correct. Category: Television. What is the longest-running American animated program?"
Leo slapped his hand down on the buzzer with more finesse than necessary, earning an annoyed sigh from Frank. "I got this one, guys." He whispered.
"Valdez, Goode."
"The Simpsons."
"Correct. Category: American Literature. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck travels with Jim, the slave of whom?"
I slammed my hand on the buzzer but it was too late. A guy from Wilderness School hit his buzzer before me. Great. Percy wasn't here and I was off my game.
"Venti, Wilderness."
"I know this one, I know this one." He said and thought for a while. But the time for him to answer expired right when he opened his mouth again. "Dammit." He cursed.
"Get your shit together, Dylan!" One of his team members said.
I hit my buzzer.
"Chase, Goode."
"Miss Watson."
"Correct." The quizmaster said. "Category–"
He was interrupted by a deafening airhorn that echoed in the room and made everyone grasp their ears shut.
"Yeah! Go, Annabeth! Whoo!" I turned my head to the stands and at the top of the bleachers cheering was Percy. His smile was so wide I could distinguish it from where I was. He made sure to make eye contact with me before waving.
In an instant I felt guilty for doubting him and I waved back with just as much enthusiasm as he had.
"Sir, this is your only warning before you will be asked to leave." The quizmaster said to him. "So if you'd please, put away your airhorn and take your seat."
"Sorry." Percy blushed and sat down.
The match seemed to pass in a flash. Our team was answering so many questions while the Wilderness team was having trouble with the few questions they did get. Whenever someone else was answering a question, I glanced towards the crowd to see Percy smiling at me. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be. Instead of making me worried, the fact that Percy was there actually granted me comfort and confidence.
"And time expires. Winner: Goode." The quizmaster announced.
"Fuck yeah!" Leo stood up and fist bumped Will. The other members of quiz bowl erupted in moderately loud cheers, making the Wilderness team glare at us.
Percy climbed down from the bleachers and hugged me.
"Well, whaddya know? I didn't fall asleep."
"Where were you? I was looking for you earlier. I thought..." I lowered my gaze.
"What?" He asked gently and lifted my chin up. "That I'd blow you off?"
I pouted, still ashamed that I had doubted him.
"I got lost. Fucking Google Maps screwed me over." He chuckled. "So, now that you've won, where shall I treat the champion for lunch?"
"Wow, thanks, Percy. I'm kinda feeling Thai today." Leo said.
Percy frowned at Leo with disbelief. "I meant only Annabeth."
"Oh." Leo looked back and forth between Percy and me. "Ooh." He nodded his head, as if he figured out what was going on. I didn't know what he thought was going on but I don't care to find out. A lot of strange things go on in Leo's head and I'd rather not tread into oblivion.
"Nothing to do here." Leo grinned and he disappeared from our conversation, joining Frank and Hazel.
"So where to, Annabeth?" Percy hugged me tighter and my face was pressed against his collarbone.
I thought for a while, pushing myself away from him a little but not enough to get out of his arms. "There's a cute little tea house that just opened on Fifth Avenue."
"Wait, is that one of those places where women wear fancy hats and they only serves cucumber sandwiches?"
"I'm sure they have other things there."
Percy's stomach growled. "I was kinda hoping for something a bit more substantial."
"Please? I've been wanting to try that place out for a while now." I said in a voice I thought was a winner. Percy stared down at me and I pouted my lips and scrunched my eyebrows.
He struggled to resist my "charm" and he let go of me to look down at himself. "But I'm not even dressed to go into a place like that."
"There's no dress code."
"So? The people who go to those places are snooty old ladies or gentlemen with monocles. And look at me!"
I backed away from him to assess his outfit. He was wearing plain old jeans, Vans, and a black shirt with a yellow bat signal on it. It reminded me of the time we went trick-or-treating as Batman and Wonderwoman. Percy was upset at me because he wanted me to go as Robin so we'd match. But there is no way I was going to be a sidekick.
"You're fine." I assured him.
He frowned at me but sighed. It seems like he does this a lot. He's about to argue with me but then he just gives in to my desires.
Whoa, that didn't sound right. Let's reword that sentence a bit. He's about to argue with me but then he just gives in to my demands. Much better.
"Okay, let's go." He put his hand on the small of my back and led me out the door and away from quiz bowl. I had told Mr. Brunner that I would be getting a ride back to school with Percy earlier.
When we got into the parking lot, I anticipated Percy to separate from me so he could go to the driver's side but he continued to lead me to the passenger's seat and he even opened and shut the door for me. I couldn't stop smiling at him. It was nice to be treated like a lady, even though I probably didn't deserve it.
"You didn't have to open the door for me."
"Yeah, I know but I wanted to." He said and ignited the engine.
It was quiet as Percy drove. I was pleasantly surprised that he was a safer driver than I expected. When he pulled up to the teahouse he insisted that I wait in my seat so he could open the door for me again.
"Don't do that!" I laughed. "It would have been faster for me to get the door myself."
"Well, sorry if I want to be a gentleman."
"You don't have to be a gentleman for me." Even though I loved it. "I like you the way you are: a sweet and caring Neanderthal." I joked.
He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Let's just get this over with."
"Taking one for the team, huh, Jackson?"
"I guess so."
We were seated quickly, with Percy pulling out a chair for me, and everyone looked at Percy funny. I was so happy I decided to dress a little more put together today because I'd hate to be in Percy's place. He was well aware of the eyes on him but I did my best to distract him with conversation.
"May I take your order?" A waitress our age said but she was only facing Percy. I frowned at her blush.
"Uh, sure." Percy didn't even notice this chick was checking him out. "You ready, Annabeth?"
"Yes, I'd like one of your cucumber sandwiches and two tuna sandwiches, please."
The waitress wrote down my order but didn't take her eyes off Percy.
"And for you, sweetie?" She fluttered her eyelashes. If I were a typical girl, I'd probably say something catty right about now like how this bitch was obnoxious and there's no way she'd get Percy to notice a bimbo like her. But I'm too mature for that.
"Do you have diet coke?" He said loud enough to attract the appalled glances of an elderly couple a table behind him.
"Percy!" I scolded.
"What?" It was cute how oblivious he was.
"I'm sorry, sir. But we don't serve soft drinks." She patted her hand on Percy's shoulder. Well, that's hardly professional.
"Oh, okay then. I'll just have what she's having. But an extra tuna sandwich. Actually, two extra tuna sandwiches, please."
"Okay, I'll be back soon then. Wait for me, okay?" She winked at Percy and walked away.
"That was weird." He said and began playing with his teacup.
"Are you blind? Can't you tell?" Percy was a deer caught in headlights. He had no idea what I was getting at. "She was flirting with you!"
"Really?" Percy turned to look at the waitress and a flattered smile crossed his face. I tried not to glare at him. "Why would she want to flirt with me?"
"Well," I paused. I wasn't sure if I should tell him this. It might give him a big head. "She probably thinks you're cute."
"I'm cute?" He appeared even more flattered now.
"Percy, Percy, Percy. Where have you been? Everyone thinks you're cute."
"Really? Anyone in particular?" He smirked.
"The ones I know of are… hmm… Rachel, Calypso, Drew," I scoffed when I said Drew's name, "Piper and Silena for sure, and Katie thinks your butt's cute."
"Anyone else?" He asked, trying to get more names out of me, I suppose.
"Uh, I'm sure there are a lot more people."
"Like?"
"I don't know for sure but I'm guessing other people think you're cute." Who wouldn't think my Seaweed Brain was a cutie?
What? I'm allowed to think one of my guy friends is cute.
"Why would you say that?" How much convincing did he need? Someone was insecure…
"Because look at you. You are cute." My cheeks heated up. Percy's smile grew and it was then that I figured out that he wanted to know if I thought he was cute.
"Thanks." He said and then mumbled something.
"Huh?"
"I said you're cute, too." Percy blushed.
"Really?" I'm don't have body image issues or anything but getting compliments is always great. "People think I'm cute?"
"Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I think you're adorable."
I blushed again, probably even darker than Percy. "Thank you." I squeaked.
The waitress came back but she didn't say anything or try flirting with Percy again. She didn't even stay long enough for us to thank her for bringing us our food. I think she might have heard us talking about how cute we thought the other was. That probably irked her but it made me happy.
"Damn, these things are microscopic." Percy said and put a whole cucumber sandwich into his mouth. It wasn't an impressive feat, considering the sandwich was less than half the size of Percy's hand.
"But they're so yummy!" I said. It didn't take long for us to finish our sandwiches. I finished first since I had ordered less. Still feeling hungry, I reached over towards Percy's plate and stole a sandwich.
"Hey!"
"What? I'm hungry!"
Percy made sure to eat his last sandwich before he took a sip from his floral china teacup.
"You have no idea how funny you look drinking out of that thing." I said. "No wonder you were self-conscious about coming here."
"I'm too hungry to argue with you, Annabeth." He laughed.
Our waitress came back to refill our tea kettle and we took the opportunity to order more sandwiches. She returned with a whole platter of those scrumptious cucumber and tuna sandwiches and Percy and I stuffed sandwich after sandwich into our mouths. People were glancing at us every now and then but I didn't care and Percy certainly didn't care. We were having too much fun together to be worried about what other people thought of us.
After lunch, Percy and I explored the city and window-shopped. I spotted a dress shop that Silena was telling me about last week so I dragged Percy inside.
"What are we doing here, Annabeth?" He groaned.
"Homecoming is next month and I need to start shopping for a dress."
I heard Percy gulp.
"Let me try on a few dresses and you can help me decide which one's best for me." I went to the clearance rack because that's all I could afford.
"Uh, don't girls usually dress shop with their girl friends?"
"No, they dress shop with their best friends." I picked out three dresses I thought were semi-formal. "And you're my best friend, right?"
"Yeah," he didn't sound at all enthusiastic. "I am." I glanced back at him on the way to the changing room which was just a bunch of drapes near a wall. Percy's chest moved up and down very slowly, indicating that he was taking a deep breath. His eyes stared at me with a forlorn gleam. But then I closed the curtain so I could change and so I didn't have to see his cheerless face.
I left my leggings on and I slipped off my shirt and put on the dress. It was cute. The color was a pale pink and the skirt reached above my knees and was poofy. Not really my style but it was one of the only dresses in my budget, so I'd just have to manage. I pulled the curtain back and saw Percy sitting on one of the couches near the mirrors.
"What do you think?" I asked him as I looked into the mirrors that showed my reflection from three different angles.
Percy stood up and circled me, his hand on his chin in thought.
"It looks great on you. But it's not you."
"My thoughts exactly." I smiled and went back into my changing booth, sheathing the curtains behind me.
The next dress was more something I'd wear. It was a dark blue with a sheer sparkly-ish blue neckline. I'm not the greatest at describing dresses because I hardly wear them so please bear with me. But it was long and thankfully not poofy. Since the neckline was sheer, I had left my bra hanging on one of the hooks.
I opened the curtains and stepped in front of the mirrors.
"Do you mind?" I asked Percy and he carefully zipped the dress all the way. "Thanks. So how's this one?"
"Much better." Percy smiled.
"But?"
"But why don't you try on the other one just incase you like it better." He gestured towards the third dress hanging in my changing room.
"Good idea, Percy. You'd be great on Say Yes to the Dress."
He raised one of his eyebrows and frowned. "What's that?"
"Never mind."
I walked back into the changing room and reached for the zipper in the back but I couldn't get it.
"Percy, can you get one of the workers to help me?" I called.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I just can't reach the zipper."
"The sales ladies are talking to other customers."
"Then can you please come in here and help me?"
He entered the changing room without even answering me and I turned around to give him access to my back.
He unzipped me slowly and with hesitation. Maybe I should have waited for a sales woman to help me. But then he reached the end of the zipper at my lower back. My heart rate sped up and one side of the dress slipped off my shoulder. I felt Percy's hand gingerly pull it back on. His palm glided on my naked shoulder, holding up the dress. I glanced back at Percy. He was looking away but his cheeks were tinted pink.
"Thanks," I whispered, putting my hand on his, indicating I would hold the dress up.
He didn't even glance back at me, he just exited the changing room.
I gave myself a moment to recover, placing a hand on my heart. It was beating quickly. Then I put a hand on my cheek. It was burning.
Why would I react this way just because Percy helped me unzip my dress? It made no sense to me. But after a few deep breaths, I put on the last dress.
It fit me perfectly and when I walked out of the changing room, Percy gaped at me speechless.
"You don't like it?" I asked.
I eyed my reflection. The dress was really beautiful. It had a draped one shoulder strap with an empire waist and it reminded me of a chiton. I loved it, so I didn't see why Percy was stringing at me like that.
"What don't you like about it?" I turned around to view my back. Maybe it made my butt look big.
"No, its great. I think you should definitely go with this one." He smiled. It wasn't a sarcastic, joking smile that he usually had on. This smile was sincere and genuine... and... loving.
"I agree. It's a little long, but a little tailoring should do the trick."
"Maybe I should start looking for a suit soon."
My eyes hooded in anguish. But I headed back into the changing room to hide my expression.
Of course Percy would be needing a suit. He would probably be going to homecoming, too. But does that mean he plans on asking someone? The thought made me feel uncomfortable. Who would he ask? And who would I ask? Maybe if I didn't get a date in time, Percy and I could go with a few of our friends as a group. That way, we wouldn't have the pressure of trying to impress a date and just focus on having fun.
I peeked out the curtain at Percy. He was waiting on the couch again, playing with his phone.
There was no way Percy wouldn't be able to get a date. He probably had girls flocking over to him when dances approached. Goode isn't really cliquey and if we were, I'm not sure Percy would be with the "in crowd." But still, like I was telling him at lunch, there were a lot of girls who thought he was attractive. So no doubt he would be asked to go to a dance. And there were plenty of beautiful girls at Goode, so there was bound to be a girl he liked and wanted to ask to a dance. But come to think of it, at the few dances I actually attended in sophomore and freshmen year, I never did see Percy. I always assumed he was mixed into the crowd on the dance floor or probably hiding behind some decorations and making out with his date. That seems like something Percy would do.
So I guess that totally destroys my idea of us going with our friends as a group. But I wasn't sad about not being able to go on a group date. I was sad that Percy would probably have a beautiful girl on his arm and I'd be... just me, myself, and I.
But there's nothing wrong with going dateless to a dance. I've never had a date to any of the dances I've gone to. (Leo doesn't count.)
Back on topic. Percy would be with a pretty girl. I don't know why the possibility upset me. Oh, hell, who am I fooling? It's not a possibility of Percy getting a date. It was inevitable.
But I liked Luke. Maybe if Percy got a date and couldn't go with me and our friends as a group, I could ask Luke...
"Annabeth, what's taking so long? Did you forget how to put a shirt on?"
I opened the curtain with the three dresses and hung the two I wasn't getting back on the rack where I found them. Apparently this place does tailoring so I put down a deposit on my dress and would pick it up when I had the rest of the money. I sighed in relief. At least now I wouldn't have to be worrying about it as much as most girls who look for a dress last minute.
"Do you want to shop for a suit now, Percy?" I asked him when we exited the dress shop.
"Naw, I might have one that still fits me at home and I can get my mom to ship it to me. But you'll help me shop for one if I don't have one at home, right?"
"Of course." I smiled.
The sun was setting and Percy took me to a fancy restaurant. Not one of those ones that require all guys to have coats but one that was fancy enough that I knew I couldn't even afford to eat the free breadsticks. It may seem weird and please don't judge me when I say this, but I felt like I was on a date with Percy. The table we sat at had flowers and candles and it was such a romantic atmosphere. And if it were a date, it would be one hell of a date.
Percy was so much fun to be with. And that wasn't even what I loved most about spending time with him. When I was with Percy, I felt safe. It's not like I'm anticipating an attack or anything. But Percy's presence has a calming affect on me and I know that I can express my thoughts and opinions with him without feeling insecure or fearing judgment.
I insisted I pay for my half, which I could barely afford. I had spent most of my cash on my dress and I'd have to use my emergency credit card. But Percy wasn't hearing any of it. He said it was another treat for "kicking Wilderness ass at quiz bowl."
Somehow I got the feeling there was a different reason behind his kindness. But I decided against saying anything and instead let him buy me dinner.
After the drive home, Percy walked me to my dorm and gave me the coziest goodnight hug ever. I found that my blankets weren't doing enough to keep me as warm anymore.
Next Chapter: Percy's love for Annabeth grows and he gets surprising news.
Annabeth, be a dear and open your freaking eyes to what's right in front of you! Gosh, this chapter was frustrating to write because I kept on wanting them to get together already but there are still some things I want to include first.
Other Story Status Update: Chapter 4 of A Twisted Tale of Cinderella was posted a while ago so please read it if you haven't already and chapter 5 is well on its way. Chapter 6 of Mystify is more than halfway finished!
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
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