"When a girl thinks of her future with her boyfriend, it's normal. When a boy thinks about a future with his girlfriend, he's serious."
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"Hello, are you on the swim team?" A clear voice asked, right behind where Jasper and Juliana stood bickering about whose turn it was to lug their math textbook home.
"Wha?!" Jasper said cleverly, jumping a bit in surprise, while Juliana just turned around in mild curiosity.
"Uh, yeah, we are. How did you…" She trailed off, glancing at the Goode High Swim Team sweatshirt her twin was wearing. "Uh, never mind. Yes, we're on the swim team, how can we help ya?" She said easily.
The blonde just smiled knowingly.
It was not lost on either twin—Jasper especially—how beautiful she was. She had long golden curls pulled back in a loose tie at the nape of her neck, perfectly tanned skin and sharp gray eyes that seemed to be staring right through their souls as she carefully considered them. She had on plain gray skinny jeans, red chucks, and a white v-neck shirt with no embellishments or jewelry, but she very clearly didn't need it. She had a perfectly curved, athletic frame, and held herself confidently, sending the message that she knew everything going on and had already figured everything out, perfectly contradicting her polite question.
She was what every popular girl wished they could look like, but was obviously not concerned about looks at all. Just at a glance, they knew she was the type of girl to play rough with the boys rather than sit on the bleachers—and could probably kick all their butts at it too— and yet, she was gorgeous.
"I'm looking for Percy Jackson, he's on the swim team too, I think?" She said politely, but not really making it sound like a question.
"Oh, yeah! We were just heading to him now—we all have a study hall the last period of the day and we do our homework out in the gardens before swim practice. He should be out there now, we'll show you!" Jasper said eagerly, while Juliana just rolled her eyes at her brother's over-zealousness. She caught Annabeth's eye and the girls shared a knowing smile at the boy's obvious mini-crush.
Juliana chuckled while yanking the math textbook from Jasper's neighboring locker and shoving it into his arms before slamming both doors and leading the charge out to the front court yard. Jasper didn't even seem to notice he'd lost their argument about the textbook, too busy smiling at the blonde broadly and not seeing her skeptically amused smirk back at him.
"So, I haven't seen you around school before, are you new?" Juliana made small talk while pointedly cutting Jasper out of the girls' conversation. He didn't seem to notice. Or care.
"In a sense, yes." The blonde agreed with a smile. "I'm starting here next week, but I arrived early and thought I'd surprise a friend."
"Oh! Are you one of the kids from the Delphi school? They're all starting next week too." Juliana connected.
"I am." She nodded in confirmation.
"Woah! Really!?" Jasper blinked.
"Really." She said smoothly back, seemingly highly amused by his shock. After all, Percy had told her what kind of kids Goode was expecting of the Delphi school, thanks to principal West's wording at the start of the year. "Percy, being Percy, is ecstatic we're all joining, even some of the, uh, less than friendly members of our little group. I was talking to him last night and he wouldn't shut up about the swim meet you have this weekend, so instead of arriving with everyone else I decided to show up a bit early and cheer him on."
"Well that's nice of you," Juliana nodded in approval. "And trust me, we know how excited he is. We typically avoid talking about next Monday or he gets all jittering and won't stop talking."
The blonde let out an earnest laugh at that. "Oh god! I can just picture him doing that!"
The twins chuckled, also finding the typically easy going guy blabbering on and on about random things with that big grin on his face when he's excited really funny. Being ADHD, when Percy got on a roll he could jump conversations and go off on tangents the rest of them had a hard go of following, but it was pretty hilarious sometimes.
"Have you known him long?" Jasper asked.
"Since sixth grade." She confirmed. "He's my best friend."
"Aw," Juliana cooed. "And you guys go to that camp thing-y over the summer?"
"Yeah, we're both counselors, though I've been there much longer, since I was seven. I remember when he first showed up—rather clueless, wasn't he?" She smiled fondly.
"'Rather clueless' is the definition of Percy Jackson." Jasper snickered.
"Rather clueless, but very kind." Juliana amended agreeably.
The blonde grinned. "I think I like that definition. In fact, I'm writing that down when I get a moment…"
They laughed, and with that they were at the front doors of Goode. Percy was already sitting on the edge of the central fountain, his backpack forgotten at his feet while talking animatedly to Kyle—who seemed to think whatever conversation they were having was an argument while Percy laughed along, completely oblivious. The rest of the team was sitting on the edge of the fountain or on the ground around them, opening books to finish their homework and pointedly ignoring the two talking/arguing.
"Now, what's the best way to scare him?" The blonde hummed thoughtfully to herself. "You wouldn't mind if I hid behind you two as you walk out?" She asked.
"Nope!" Jasper said brightly. "If you can scare Percy, all the power to ya. He's not thrown by anything!"
"Yes, well, watch and learn." She gave a sly, wicked smile that had the twins grinning deviously as well. They stood shoulder to shoulder and exited the building, letting her sneak behind them as they crossed the plaza.
"I'm telling you, she had horns!" Kyle's voice reached them.
"Just because she gave you thirty extra problems to do doesn't mean she's the Devil." Percy's retort was marred by him trying not to laugh.
"And how would you know?! Math teachers could all be in some evil cult to make sure children get crushed under the weight of their homework! What if I died!? THEN you'd be sorry, wouldn't you?!"
"No, I'd be enjoying the peace and quiet. And I'm in your math class, she only gave you the extra problems because you wouldn't stop shooting spitballs at her inspiration posters. It's your own fault you know."
"Ok, firstly, those posters are LAME, and secondly, she's still evil!"
"No, I know evil math teachers and Ms. Lark is actually pretty nice."
"Says the guy whose step dad IS a teacher." Juliana cut into the argument as they reached them.
"Teachers aren't evil, they're people. People brave enough to risk high school for the rest of their lives in the vain hope of teaching teenagers something." Percy defended his step father to the newly arrived twins.
"Brave? Suicidal? It's a fine line…" Jasper sighed dramatically. He glanced excitedly backwards, waiting for the blonde to jump out, but blanched when he saw no one behind them. He elbowed his sister, who looked annoyed for a second before glancing back and also looking confused.
"You guys lose something?" Alexa raised an eyebrow at the two, who quickly shook it off.
"Uh, no, it's just… nothing." Juliana dismissed, slightly baffled.
"No one, actually."A sly voice corrected automatically, and everyone jumped, snapping around to the source of the voice to see a very pretty blonde sitting on a ledge of the centerpiece of the fountain, directly behind Percy, legs swinging casually as if she'd been there all afternoon.
Percy jumped up as if he'd been electrocuted, spinning to face her correctly with a blinding grin lighting up his face.
"Annabeth!" He cried happily.
"Miss me?" She chuckled, leaping off the fountain and landing on the seat Percy had just vacated, but she didn't get much farther, Percy swooping forward and picking her up, spinning around with her in a tight hug.
"How about yes!" He cried, still grinning as he finally released her.
She let out a bell-like laugh. "I talked to you this morning you moron." She insulted fondly.
"Yes, but I haven't like, seen you in person in forever!"
"Since when is three weeks forever?"
"Since now—but that's not important: you're here early!"
"Well, someone wouldn't shut up about their first swim meet, and what kind of girlfriend would I be if I wasn't there to cheer for the other team?"
"The normal kind." Percy deadpanned back, but it was broken in a second when the grin returned. "But, you wouldn't be Annabeth, which means you wouldn't be my kind of girlfriend at all, so, cheer away! But just so you know, you'll be cheering for the Bronx Barnacles, so…"
"Gosh, who came up with that name?"
"We're actually kinda amused by it…"
"Says the Barnacle Brain himself."
"What!?"
"WOAH!" Kyle finally interrupted, putting a voice to the others' shocked faces.
"Can I help you?" Annabeth said politely, somehow also making it seem slightly mocking.
"Uh… who… exactly are you?" Tilly said bluntly.
"Annabeth Chase," Steve realized with a slow smile, and the couple—who still hadn't completely released each other from their earlier hug, looked over at him.
"That's Steve, I was telling you…" Percy trailed off to Annabeth, whose face lit up in recognition and smiled warmly back at him.
"Woah, woah, woah… Annabeth as in… wait, what?!" Todd balked.
"Oh, that's right, you think I'm fictional." Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Well, for your information…" She grinned, cupping a surprised Percy by the cheeks and pulling him into a warm kiss. He seemed taken off guard for all about half a second before somehow managing to continue to grin into their kiss.
After a few very long and awkward seconds—for everyone but the couple—she finally released him and glanced back at Todd.
"Yes, I'm that Annabeth Chase, and current non-fictional girlfriend, thankyouverymuch." She said triumphantly while the swim team just gaped at them.
"Dude…" Kyle seemed to be in shock. "Dude…. You didn't tell us your girlfriend was hot!"
"Oi!" Percy yelled.
"Thank you… I think." Annabeth frowned.
"You are such an idiot." Alexa sighed in defeat while Tilly whacked him over the head none-too-gently.
"Well, I see why you get along with him." Annabeth nodded in approval to Percy.
"Oi!" He said, yet again.
"Well, uh… it's nice to meet you then, Annabeth. Apparently we owe Percy an apology." Alexa said reasonably.
"Which, they're not going to bother to give." Percy added in.
"True enough." Todd shrugged, picking up his bag and going about pulling his homework out.
"Well, I'm sorry I never got to gossip with your girl behind your back as I do with all my boys' girls." Tilly said in a business-like tone, standing and hooking Annabeth's unoccupied arm in hers. Right on cue, Kyle, Todd, and Jasper all groaned in dread at that statement. "Stick around girly, we don't keep secrets from family, and if he ain't treatin' you right, well… don't worry, we'll make 'im regret it." She bubbled, patting her fellow' blonde's arm comfortingly and ignoring the annoyed looks Percy was shooting at her.
"Percy, I like your friends…" Annabeth grinned, abandoning him and leaning against Tilly happily while Percy face-palmed.
"Yes, I like them too… when they're NOT being irritating, Tilly."
"Shut up dunderhead, I've got gossip to catch up on. So, Annabeth, tell us how you two met…"
"Tell us an embarrassing story!" Jasper mocked in a poor interpretation of Tilly's voice.
"Tell us about you two's first kiss!" Todd joined in, disgruntled.
"Tell us about what a softie he really is!" Kyle huffed.
"Woah, woah, she never asked that one, did she?" Jasper frowned, trying to remember.
"Uh… no." A suddenly very red Kyle denied.
"I did, but I used it as blackmail you idiot! I hadn't told anyone so far, but since you opened that can of worms, why don't ya tell 'em yourself?" Tilly rolled her eyes at the buff boy, who simply blushed heavier.
"Don't you three laugh! Your time is coming, I promise you that!" Kyle snapped at the three freshmen still chuckling at his awkwardness, and they shut up immediately.
"Wow, you really got the pack mentality down, haven't you?" Annabeth noted calmly to Percy, watching this exchange with calculating, yet amused eyes. The group seemed to bicker and move as one, the conversation flowing in sync with each other, not unlike demigods did only with less fluctuating emotions and tempers.
"Yep. Just like being at a campfire." He told her happily, and only she knew the reference to the Camp Half Blood fire pit, in which the conversation and emotions of the hundred odd demigods present during summer nights fluctuated more than a spastic yo-yo, except perfectly in sync as a group and visible through the colors of the enchanted fire pit itself. It was a unique situation and group that Percy had somehow replicated in his swim team, and Annabeth found it oddly amusing.
Seeing that they weren't going to elaborate on the inside joke, Tilly took the opportunity to commandeer the conversation again.
"But seriously! How did you two meet?" She demanded, stealing Annabeth from Percy again and pulling her to the ground to join the make-shift circle they'd created. Percy re-took his old seat and Annabeth moved a bit over to use lean against his legs and get comfortable.
"Ok, you go embarrass me, but I have this stupid math homework to finish before school ends…" Percy sighed.
"It's Calculus, right? I can help if you've got time after practice you know." Annabeth offered, glancing up at him.
He grimaced into his textbook page. "Oh, don't I know it… but let me make sure I'm really as stupid as I feel before you confirm it, ok?" He smirked and she grinned.
"You're good at Calculus?" Alexa asked, intrigued.
Percy snorted. "Annabeth is good at everything."
Said girl shoved his legs playfully, but answered her, "I like to learn I suppose, so I tend to read a lot and research a lot of different topics-"
"For fun," Percy cut in without looking up, and she ignored him.
"So I'm pretty knowledgeable about the general things. Plus, I'll be in starting in the second course of AP Calculus here because I took the first one back in 'Frisco, so I know a thing or two about the Calculus 1 course already to be able to help."
"She's a genius," Percy said matter-of-factly, still not looking up from his own problems.
"Which makes you what? Even more stupid than usual?" Todd smirked.
"Percy is actually very observant and intelligent when he chooses to be," Annabeth defended her boyfriend.
"Which means yes," Said boyfriend confirmed, and they all chuckled.
"But aren't you Dyslexic too?" Juliana frowned.
"Yes, but when I want to know something, a language barrier is the least of what could stop me." She smiled mischievously while Percy just shook his head in amazement.
"Which is completely beyond me," He muttered.
"Well, I'm fascinated by it," Juliana nodded, and Annabeth grinned at her. "I wouldn't have thought Percy'd end up with anyone like you, but I can honestly say it's a pleasure and a surprise to meet you… which, come to think of it, we still haven't done yet! I'm Juliana Hess." She leaned over and shook Annabeth's hand playfully, and the blonde nodded politely back to her.
"And I assume the boy who looks just like you is Jasper?" Annabeth nodded and Jasper beamed at being mentioned, nodding eagerly.
"Unfortunately," Juliana sighed, glancing at her brother than their matching chocolate brown eyes, dark hair, and identical freckles. She was just masculine enough, and Jasper just feminine enough, that if he grew his hair out and she chopped hers, people would have a hell of a go telling them apart, though not impossible. Still, for a teenage girl, that wasn't something to boast about. And Jasper was too oblivious to care.
"What, do you tell her everything?" Kyle joked to Percy, and was mildly surprised when both he and Annabeth chorused a definite "Yes!" Back at him.
"Secrets are overrated anyway," Percy told him, while Annabeth smirked knowingly. "And besides, there isn't anything Annabeth wouldn't find out on her own anyway. She's stubborn like that." His girlfriend shot him a look, but she didn't deny it.
"And by that same token, how much does he tell you? Ya think you can name us then?" Tilly challenged, and Annabeth grinned deviously.
"Well… he called you Tilly earlier, so you're Tilly Harper and the team's best sprint swimmer next to Kyle Dent, which, judging by the earlier comment on my hotness is you." She accused, pointing to Kyle who shrugged, unashamed. "The twins, Juliana and Jasper Hess I just met, Steve I know through Grover and some other friends as well, Alexa Walsh is the only other girl, Todd Kruger's the captain and since you talk more than that last two is probably you, and judging by appearances that only leaves Peter Sprout and Tom O'Malley." She listed off, pointing to each of them in turn.
"You mentioned the hair, didn't you?" Tom sighed to Percy, running one hand through his bright orange curls.
Percy chuckled lightly. "It might've come up." He allowed.
"Damn, and here we are knowing nothing about you! What, did he tell you our signs and blood type then too?" Todd complained good-naturedly.
"You didn't even believe she was real! You'd've thought me insane if I started telling you all about my supposedly fictional girlfriend…" Percy grumbled.
"Aw, don't worry Perce, we think you're insane for other reasons too." Tilly mocked, patting his arm sardonically. She quickly turned back to Annabeth. "Again, how did you two meet? At that camp thing?"
"Yes," Annabeth nodded. "I've been going to the camp since I was seven, and when we were both twelve he showed up in a bit of a hurry." She ignored Percy's scoff. "Basically he hit his head pretty hard on entry and was unconscious for the first week or so, and I was the one make sure he didn't die on us." She lied/explained easily.
The team looked fascinated. "How'd you hit your head arriving at a summer camp?" Kyle snickered at his friend.
"I'm talented like that." Percy huffed not looking up from his book.
"He was also very talented in getting everyone but himself wet when the camp bullies tried to give him a swirly, and perfectly talented at being bait for said bullies during capture the flag." Annabeth snickered, and now Percy was rolling his eyes.
"Okay, first of all, she was the one who set me up as bait-"
"And it worked, didn't it?"
"And secondly, if I weren't as good with water as I am then I coulda died thankyouverymuch! And you call my plans risky."
"Well they are. And not thought out properly. In fact-"
"I know, I know, if it were anyone else or anyone less lucky-"
"You'd be dead a dozen and a half times over already. Fifty seven actually, if I'm counting correctly."
"Actually, sixty eight. There was those eight months when I was away-"
"Perseus Jackson are you telling me-!"
"No, no I am not. And now I never will if you're gonna yell at me about it. I'm fine wise girl, and this was months ago."
"I knew you were editing! You always do, and I just knew it!"
"Of course you did. Haven't we already established you know everything?"
"Shut up and do your homework."
The team was watching this exchange like a tennis match, and Kyle even started rubbing his neck from snapping his head from in between them.
"And I thought we bickered." Juliana nodded to her brother, who was simply gaping at the conversation with fascination.
"You haven't seen bickering until you've met Percy's cousins." Annabeth said knowingly, eyes wide with implications. "We may fight a lot-"
"Constantly." Percy confirmed.
"But they are a sight." She finished.
"You have cousins?" The twins chorused, the same time Steve said "Bet that's interesting." And Tilly and Alexa both dismissed that statement with a "Percy doesn't fight!"
Annabeth raised her eyebrows at all of them.
"I knew you had the cousin that was in Greece with you," Todd remembered. "But you have another one?" He inquired.
"Thalia." Percy nodded with a smile. "She's… uh, well…"
"My best friend," Annabeth supplied. "But she's a handful. I personally think she's the girl version of Percy, only tougher." She explained.
"And meaner." Percy stuck his tongue out.
"They're too similar sometimes, which is why they rub each other the wrong way so often." Annabeth sighed.
"But, she's a good friend too." Percy amended. "She's the kinda strong you want to have beside you when things aren't going well." He acknowledged.
"And so far as the 'Percy doesn't fight' comment," Annabeth nodded to Tilly and Alexa, "Well… let us just wait until you see the three of them in the same room and see if you still think that."
"Just wait until Clarisse's in the same room to see that." Percy muttered, and the couple shared an excited smile.
"I enjoy those fights." Annabeth grinned savagely.
"And I'm just glad she stopped using lamer." Percy muttered.
"Only because you've snapped it three times already." Annabeth pointed out with a smirk. Percy smirked as well but didn't comment.
"I feel like we're missing a lot during these conversations." Tilly noted loudly to Kyle so that everyone else still heard.
"That's what happened when you know someone for too long." Juliana sighed, shooting her brother a mild glare, who promptly stuck his tongue out at her.
"How long have you two been dating?" Alexa asked curiously.
"Just over a year now, right?" Percy said, glancing to his girlfriend who smiled warmly at the memory. "But we've been best friends for years."
"It doesn't seem that long. You were away for most of it." Annabeth said with a hint of frustration and sadness in her voice that maybe only Percy picked up on. He quickly kissed the top of her head in silent comfort, and she leaned into his legs a bit more in response.
"You were in Greece together, right?" Todd remembered.
"Only for a couple weeks." Annabeth corrected smoothly, her expression giving nothing away. "Our cave incident marked its end, and then after some recovery we had a month or so of camp, but he was gone for eight months before that." She shot Percy a look as if to blame him for his absence, but only the couple knew the gesture was purely for show.
"Blame my stupid aunt." He muttered darkly.
"Stupid indeed." Annabeth agreed acidly.
"I'll agree to that, though I have no idea who you're talking about," Todd chimed in, "But whatever it was, Percy dropped out of all our meets second half of the year last year." He complained.
Percy beamed. "And you still placed in state, didn't you?" He pointed out smugly.
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but we woulda made nationals too if we'd had you there too!" He pouted.
"This year Ky, this year." Tilly patted the large boy's arm patronizingly.
"This year, he's not allowed to leave me, so he'll be here." Annabeth declared to them, and Percy only grinned into his homework.
"And she's not allowed to leave me either, so she'll be at the meets. Rooting for us or the other teams, I'm still not sure." Percy grinned, ignoring Annabeth's exasperated glare.
"You, Ms. Jackson, Mr. Blowfis, and the Hess parents will be our cheering section," Tilly sighed dramatically, "Unfortunately most of our parents aren't into swimming, or sports really if you're talking about mine." She huffed.
"My dad will come." Steve added in, and the old team smiled at that.
"My parents think sports are for a college application, not fun." Todd rolled his eyes.
"My mom works most weekends." Alexa frowned.
"Same." Peter and Tom chorused.
"And my parents are just confused about why I don't have a job yet." Kyle snickered. "Truthfully I wouldn't want them there. 'why are you doing this', 'why are you doing that', 'since when did the school have a pool…?!'. Dudes, if you think I'm slow on the uptake, just don't ask about the parents." He chuckled fondly.
"It's scary to think he's the responsible one of that family." Tilly said with wide, meaningful eyes to Annabeth, who fought back a laugh.
"Well, I can guarantee once our friends from the Delphi school get here you'll have a much bigger cheering section." Annabeth reassured them. "Though, that might mean you'll be attending some mathlete sessions and lacrosse games too." She smiled knowingly. "We might even start our own little fencing club too, just for kicks." She grinned.
Percy straightened up in surprise, knowing full well if they right people were in that club, the traditional idea of "fencing" might be thrown out the window for something much more interesting.
And that was very interesting to the swordsman he was at heart.
Annabeth just smirked, sensing her boyfriend's sudden enthusiasm.
And she wasn't the only one.
"Interested Percy?" Todd noted.
Percy only shrugged easily with a sly grin. "I actually like fencing." He said casually. "That might be a club I'd join in my free time."
The team gave him some wired looks. "The things you learn about a guy." Kyle marveled with an eye roll.
"To each their own," Juliana dismissed, "I on the other hand, don't care for being stabbed repeatedly."
"If you were any good at it, you wouldn't be the one getting stabbed." Jasper pointed out annoyingly to her, and she shot him a glare.
"So, Annabeth," Tilly called the new arrival's attention back to her, "Where are you staying in New York if you've just got here from San Fran?"
"At Archstone, Percy's apartment building." She grinned knowingly.
"Well, that's not suspicious," Kyle burst out laughing, waggling his eyebrows at Percy, who blushed involuntarily.
"How'd you manage to swing that?" Tilly gushed, her gossip meter going off.
"Archstone is brand knew and has apartments for cheap," Annabeth reasoned easily, "the Delphi school was a boarding thing of sort a bit of ways outside of Manhattan, so instead of building a new school, they're renting out those apartments for us so we can attend Goode." She explained.
The team looked fascinated. "So you get the place to yourself?!" Kyle grinned.
"I'm sharing it with others, and will have a roommate of course, but yeah, there'll be roughly five to ten of us per apartment which we get for ourselves while we're here." She said.
"Except for my little cousin, who's coming to live with us in my apartment when he starts." Percy chimed in.
"Wow, no wonder you're so freakin excited all the time—your friends and family are basically moving in!" Alexa smirked at Percy, who blushed again at the mention of his earlier eagerness.
"It's going to be mayhem." Annabeth grinned.
"That's a requirement for our family." Percy chuckled.
No one missed the way he'd said "family" instead of "friends and family". In a way, that was just so Percy.
And even then, no one could really know how happy he was about all this. Because each and every person arriving next week was his family, his friend, his brother or sister in arms.
Suddenly he couldn't think about the Calculus in his lap, too focused on the girl of his dreams leaning into him, his teammates laughing and getting along great with the other half of his heart, in a beautiful garden of hidden nymphs who'd been saved from the destruction of their forests…
And he couldn't help but feel just so... complete, so full of…hope.