Annabeth felt Percy's arms wrap around her waist as she opened up her locker. "Morning, Wise Girl. I didn't see you before first period."

"I was late. Now let go, Percy. We're in a hallway full of people."

He rested his chin on her shoulder and smiled. "So what?"

"We look like a gross, overly-affectionate couple that can't keep their hands off of each other in public."

"But we are a gross, overly-affectionate couple," he said, pouting.

"Yeah, but we don't do it in front of people. Get your hands off, Seaweed Brain." Percy groaned then complied, moving his hands to his pockets. "What do you want?" Annabeth asked.

"Do I need an excuse to see my girlfriend?" Annabeth crossed her arms and leaned against her lockers, waiting for an answer. "I swear, you can see right through me," Percy said, "Homecoming is two weeks from now, and I wanted to know if you wanted to go with me."

"Once again. I am your girlfriend. If I was going to the dance, I'd go with you."

"Let me rephrase the question. Do you even want to go to Homecoming?"

"I'll go with you once you ask me in some special way," Annabeth said jokingly. Percy picked her up bridal style with a grin on his face. "Annabeth Chase, will you go to Homecoming with me? Keep in mind if you say no, I'll drag you back into the ocean."

Laughing, she let herself down from his grip and kissed him on the cheek. "Sure, as long as you don't force me into the ocean again."

"Great, how about the game?" Percy asked, putting on his puppy dog face. "This was the face that you said you couldn't say no to, right?"

"It's also the face that I told you not to push it. I'll go ahead and tell you again. Don't push it."

Percy frowned and crossed his arms. "Yeah, I got a little cocky."

Patting him on the back, she began to walk to her next class. "That's right, Percy. Don't do it again."

Percy spun her around and kissed her. "How about now?" he mumbled into her lips.

She pulled away only slightly, looking him in the eye. "No."

Percy dropped his head into her shoulder and groaned. "How are you immune to my irresistible charm?"

"Aww, don't beat yourself up. Try again next time."

"We're still going to the dance, aren't we?" Percy asked.

"Unless you plan on kidnapping me and throwing me in the ocean, yes."

"I don't know... the kidnapping thing doesn't sound that bad right now," he said.

Annabeth laughed and turned to walk to her next class. "The offer still stands," she replied.

"Ew, no."

Annabeth sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "You can't say 'ew, no' to every dress I pull out, Thalia." Thalia shrugged and went back to picking at her nails. "Come on, just answer if it would look good." She opened her mouth to reply. "From a normal person's opinion."

"Well I'm not a normal person, sweetie," Thalia retorted. "But if I had to choose, Id go with the black one."

Annabeth pulled out a black dress and examined it.. "You sure? Looks a little... revealing," she said.

"Do you have anything else that's black in there?"

"I don't think so," Annabeth responded hesitantly.

"Then I'm sure."

"All right then. Help me put it on." It took Thalia three attempts to zip up her back without pinching her in the process. "How hard could this possibly be, Thalia? If anything, this dress is loose on me!" Annabeth said after the second time Thalia pinched her.

"I'm sorry, but I don't work at a wedding dress boutique!" Thalia yanked up the zipper successfully, shocking herself and Annabeth. Sighing, Annabeth turned around to face her friend. "How does it look?"

"For me, I'd say that's a no. But for the average person, I'd say that you look hot." Annabeth blushed at the compliment. "You think so?"

Thalia plopped back down on Annabeth's bed. "Don't make me say it twice, blondie."

Percy knocked on Annabeth's door and stepped back. He was wearing a simple white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a black tie, and black slacks. His shirt was untucked, and he wondered if it was supposed to be like that. Before he could answer his question, the door opened up.

"Hey." He looked up to up to see Annabeth in a form-fitting black dress with a sloping neck line. The dress dropped all the way down to her ankles, but a long slit ran from the bottom of her left leg, stopping at her hipbone. Her hair was down instead of her usual ponytail, falling down past her shoulders.

"Umm, hi," he said through stutters. "You ready to go? Of course you're ready because you- um- you know, look like," he cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head, "that..."

"That?" Annabeth asked, smiling and raising her eyebrows.

"Beautiful," he blurted out, wincing in embarrassment. Annabeth laughed, trying to cover her own blush. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You can be so sweet sometimes."

Their taxi pulled up in front of Goode High School. Percy handed the driver some extra money as a tip. Smiling the driver waved and drove off.

"Shall we?" he asked, holding out his arm.

Annabeth smiled and wrapped her arm around his. "We shall."

"Come on, Annabeth! I love this song," Percy begged as a slow song began to play.

"You really love this song?" Annabeth asked skeptically. Percy took her arm and pulled her onto the dance floor. Couples swayed around them, making Annabeth a little uncomfortable. "I'll prove it to you." He lifted her arms to his shoulders and placed his hands on her waist. Percy danced with her to the music, singing the lyrics quietly so only Annabeth could hear. When the song ended, he smirked at her. "Told ya'," he said.

"All right I believe you," Annabeth replied, holding her hands up to admit defeat. "But what kind of boy sings the exact lyrics to a Christina Perri song from Twilight to his girlfriend?"

"The kind that loves his girlfriend," he said smugly.

Annabeth kissed him on his cheek. "You really are adorable. I got to go to the bathroom real quick. Be right back." She walked out of the gym, smiling back at him. He moved over to the side and leaned against the wall without noticing the girl standing next to him.

"Having fun, Perce?"

Percy turned to see Calypso standing next to him. "What do you want, Calypso?"

"I think you know what I want," she said, moving in front of him.

Percy sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I really can't do this. I'm really happy with Annabeth, and things ended between us years ago. I'm sorry, but I'm taken, and I don't plan on being open any time soon."

Calypso rolled her, "Too bad, because I can still do this."

Annabeth washed her hands, still smiling.

"How is it possible that he can be so sweet?" she thought to herself as she left the bathroom. Annabeth stepped through the gym's doors, scanning the room for her boyfriend when her mouth dropped. Percy was up against the wall, kissing Calypso. Her smile vanished and she turned back to leave.

Percy's eyes went wide, pushing Calypso off of him. "WHAT THE HELL? You can't go around kissing-" he stopped to see Annabeth storming out of the gym. "Oh God, Annabeth." He rushed past Calypso to chase after her.

Annabeth stopped at the curb and waved for a taxi, tears beginning to prick her eyes. She could hear Percy calling after her, but she didn't bother to turn around. Soon enough, he was right behind her and moved so they were face to face.

"Annabeth, you gotta let me explain," he pleaded. A taxi pulled up behind him and she shoved him out of the way. "Drive," she said, slamming the door.

The car drove away, leaving Percy behind. He threw his head back and dragged his hand down his face. "DAMNIT!"

A/N: Thanks for reading!