The car ride back to Queens was the worst thing possible. Percy was angry at himself, and stared stonily out the windshield, his hands held the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles were white, and his hands would be shaking if he didn't hold it so tightly.
Annabeth had her arms crossed tightly across her chest and stared at her knees. Not a word had been spoken, and the CD Annabeth had bought was sitting beside her, the band members smiling up at her. She glared back.
They were across the bridge now, and Annabeth couldn't stand the silence anymore. Percy didn't even notice when Annabeth reached out to turn the radio on. Though he did jump when the music started playing.
He looked at the radio for a second, then up at Annabeth who was looking out the window. He sighed and turned quickly looked back at the road. He wanted to talk to her, wanted to apologize, for being an ignorant idiot. Maybe he'd call her…then he could talk to her without actually looking at her…
Do you think she'd even take the call after today? The annoying voice told him. Percy couldn't imagine that. What if Annabeth just disappeared…never talked to him again.
He literally shuddered, and the first quiet words broke the silence. "Are you cold?" Annabeth whispered.
Percy looked shocked at her for a second, then shook his head, clearing his throat, recovering. It was about time.
"Uh, no. But if you are then-"
"Oh no. I'm not. I just thought you were."
"Well, thanks. But I'm not."
"Oh."
The silence reclaimed the car, with only the light beat of the drum of the song playing in the background.
Back to the drawing board. Annabeth groaned internally. She looked out the window again, to find them in a neighborhood. They were in the suburbs already. She'd be home soon. And Percy would be gone. Their time together had flown by. She was saddened at the fact of Percy leaving again, that she probably wouldn't see him until camp again. It upset her, and she had to fight to keep the tears back.
What is my problem? I keep crying about the stupidest things! she scolded herself.
The DJ talked for awhile on the radio, then another song started to play. Annabeth knew the song, but she didn't pay attention to it, until the refrain played, and made her think of Percy:
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I think about you?
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it,
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
She reached out and turned the knob that made the song turn off. She felt Percy's questioning eyes on her, but she looked back out the window, watching all of the houselights zoom by.
They turned onto a different street, and all of the sudden it was familiar.
"It's not far." she whispered, but she knew Percy heard it.
He eased up on the gas pedal, wanting to prolong the time, make it freeze. Or even better, go back to this afternoon, in the photo booth.
The photo booth. The pictures. He remembered. One hand came off the steering wheel to rest against his pocket, where the slip of the two of them making goofy faces and smiles sat.
It was kind of scary that that moment was already a memory. It was already history.
Anything you and Annabeth had is history. the annoying voice said again.
Is it possible to punch a voice in your head? Percy clenched the hand on the steering wheel tighter.
He turned onto another road, and a whisper came from Annabeth's side of the car again.
"Fourth on the left."
Percy looked over at the house she'd indicated. It was pretty, and big. He couldn't tell exactly what the color was since the sun had set awhile ago, but it looked to be white, or a cream color.
He pulled into the driveway and took the key out of the ignition. They both just sat there for a long moment, neither of them wanting Annabeth to go inside just yet.
What do I say? Ran through both their heads.
Finally, when the glowing green numbers on the radio switched to 8:00, Percy threw the keys up and caught them again, much like he'd been doing with the baseball the other night in his room.
"Well. I'll walk you to the door?" it came out as a question.
Annabeth's gray eyes flickered to him and stayed on his face, trying to memorize the curves and angles.
Both their faces were shadowed until the lights came on in the driveway, and both heads snapped forward.
"Yeah. That'd be nice." Annabeth said in a small voice, much unlike Annabeth Chase. If she were the real Annabeth Chase right now, she'd be confidently walking up to the porch, hand in hand with Percy, and they'd be making plans to see each other next weekend.
But unfortunately, that Annabeth, was curled up in a little ball at the very bottom of her heart.
They stepped up onto the porch simultaneously, and turned to look at the other. Annabeth couldn't figure out the emotion in Percy's eyes, just like when they had…when he'd caught her from falling.
"W-well, uh, I'll see you later I guess. We should do this again sometime." Percy stammered.
Sure. She'll go right for it. Percy was really getting annoyed with this voice…
Annabeth nodded, looking down at the "WELCOME" mat in front of her door.
"Yeah. Well…see ya." she murmured.
But they didn't move. Percy never took his gaze off of Annabeth and Annabeth stared at the ground.
Then the porch light came on.
"Annabeth? Is that you?" Mr. Chase's voice calls from inside.
"Yes." Annabeth called back. You could hear some rustling inside, then the door opened.
Mr. Chase stood with Adrian behind him.
"Hello Percy." he nodded to the tall black haired boy.
Adrian looked troubled, seeing how the two were avoiding eye contact, and standing as far away from each other as the porch would allow.
She interrupted what her husband was about to say. "Well, you just come in ok? But come on Fredrick, we should go make popcorn for the movie!" and she dragged him away from the door, into the kitchen.
Percy and Annabeth stayed frozen again, both seeming to be processing things slowly at the moment.
Annabeth finally took in a breath, and forced out her normal voice instead of the low murmur, "Ok them. Bye." and she started in the house, still not looking at him.
This time, a different voice sounded in his head. It sounded like…
Percy! Now's your chance! Just grab her before she gets away! Go!
"Annabeth."
He reached out and fastened his hand on her wrist, and pulled her back to him. Her eyes looked at him confusedly, but he ignored it. He slipped his other hand around her waist, and brought her close, against his chest.
This is it…
He covered her lips wit his, something he'd been dreaming about for a long time. Annabeth froze, her eyes wide open. Percy's scent filled her nose, reminding her of outside…no. The beach. He smelled like a beach.
She recovered quickly, and brought her arms up around his neck, playing with the short hair in the back. He pulled her closer if possible, now gripping her waist. One hand slid up her side, to hold her neck.
Annabeth was hesitant at first, just kissing him back lightly. But Percy wouldn't stand for that. He tried to bring it out of her, asking for entrance to her mouth. The tingles were now everywhere, making her skin burn wherever Percy touched her. He held her so gently…
She sighed, and Percy took advantage of that. Annabeth tightened her arms around his neck, and let her tongue do a bit of exploring of it's own.
The kiss got more needy, Percy's hands sliding around her back, and her side, and waist, and into her hair…
Annabeth's knees went weak, and Percy was holding her up.
Finally, after what seemed hours, Percy pulled away lightly. Annabeth stayed there, eyes still closed. Percy pecked her lips one more time, placing small kisses over her face, her ear, going down the side of her neck, just lightly. Not needy, just cute little butterfly kisses.
Annabeth's hands slid to Percy's chest and pushed back half-heartedly, just putting only about a small two inches between their warm bodies, noses still touching.
She looked expectantly up at Percy, her gray eyes a bit hazy. Percy's were clouded over, but it wasn't a haze, it was wanting.
She didn't asked why he did it.
But he gave her an answer anyway. "I love you Wise Girl."
Annabeth's heart just about exploded. She moved her hands to hang around his neck again, and kissed his nose.
"I love you Seaweed Brain."
Percy's grin almost blinded her.
-x-
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU! My plan worked! It worked it worked it worked!" Thalia danced around the park across from Annabeth's house.
Nico looked at her incredulously. "What do you mean you told us your plan worked? You were the one who was saying 'I ruined it!' just a few hours ago!" he yelled. Thalia stopped dancing, and glared at Nico.
"Don't make me hurt you Death Boy." she said dangerously.
"Bring it on Lightning Girl." Nico urged her. They stood in front of each other, fists clenched and breathing hard.
Grover and Tyson sat on the jungle gym, staring happily at the couple across the street.
"Good job Percy." Grover nodded in approval of his best friend.
Tyson rested his head on his hands, sighing dreamily. "So romantic." he whispered.
Grover pulled out a digital camera, focused it and snapped a picture.
Thalia and Nico froze, both looked excited. "Black mail?" they asked excitedly at the same time.
"NO! It's for Juniper since she couldn't come!" Grover glared disapprovingly at the Nico and Thalia, who had their hands on each other's throats.
"I don't think it was any plan. Percy and Annabeth found love on their own." Tyson said in a voice that matched his dreamy look.
The other three turned to stare at Tyson with looks of disbelieving.
-x-
"YES! GOOD JOB M'BOY!" Poseidon cheered, punching the air.
Athena clapped her hands excitedly looking with wide, happy eyes at the screen of her daughter kissing the son of Poseidon.
Aphrodite looked shocked. "I thought you two would be in a rage! Storming around and yelling at each other like there's no tomorrow!"
"That's Ares' job." Athena said without looking away from the screen.
"But you two hate each other!" Aphrodite yelled.
"No. we just disagree. We don't get along very well." Poseidon said calmly in the middle of his victory dance.
Aphrodite stared at her relatives.
"Huh? Then you should be raging still! Your children are making out!" she screamed.
"Well Aphrodite, that is the outcome of my daughter winning!" Athena said simply.
Poseidon froze from doing a disco move. "Excuse me? Your daughter won? My son won!"
"Oh no Poseidon, my daughter was crafty enough to tempt your son to kiss her."
"Now Athena, Percy kissed Annabeth because he wanted to. Not because your daughter tempted him-"
The two gods went on argueing about which of their children had "won".
Aphrodite watched them with a blank look for a minute, then turned back to the screen in time to hear,
"I love you Seaweed Brain."
The goddess of love couldn't help smiling to herself.
Looks like your love story turned out pretty good little hero.
-x-
"Yes Percy! I'll see you next week!" Annabeth laughed into her cell phone. She was laying on her bed, winding a strand of hair around her finger.
"I know, but-"
"I know you love me."
"That's not what I was going to say."
"Yes you were."
"Well that was going to pop out sometime in the conversation, but not at that moment. Right now, I was going to say, do you want to stay in Queens for the movie, or here?"
"Oh! Um…well we were in Manhattan last week, so how about here."
"That works."
"Alright, I'll see you then."
"Ok. Bye, love you."
"Love you too!"
They pressed the end button at the same time.
Percy walked into the kitchen for dinner, sitting down and digging in right away.
"Oh look at my little boy. How does it feel not to be single anymore?" Sally teased her son. Percy looked out the window, at the sun setting over Manhattan.
"Pretty good."
A/N: THAT'S IT! It's done! Thank you for all of the reviews. I love you all!
They finally kissed! ::does little dance::
Now, stay tuned though, because I will be posting a bonus preview of my next Percabeth fanficiton! Hope you enjoyed the read!
R&R!
