Complicated Chapter XI, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

Chapter XI: He Isn't Talking About Cotton Candy

Rating: T—with even more Percabeth and a bit of cotton candy!

Word Count: 4,600+

Beta Reader: The Owlish Olympian—previously known as ForeverAGallagherGirl135!

A/N: I'm back here! Hi, beautiful people from the Internet! I've got some changes to announce. First of all, the summary. There is a new summary that now talks about Percy, too. Do you know why? Because the story will no longer be told only from Annabeth's PoV! I know some of you want to know Percy's, and I'll write about him, too. Just that not now. You can say that the story will be divided in two parts. Part I is this one, where it's Annabeth's PoV and Part II will be about Percy's. That's why I placed a new Doc before Chapter I, indicating that after that indicator it will be Annabeth's thoughts. When you see a similar one with Percy's name it means that from now on it'll only be Percy's thoughts. Is that clear? I hope so, because I'm not very good at explaining things.

Now, here's the update to continue with Part I. I hope you like it and I'm seriously thankful for your feedback. I hope that you continue liking this story!

The feeling of something walking over my leg makes me get to my senses. It feels like tiny, little legs skidding their way up my thigh, leaving a tickling sensation wherever they pass. Once the sheets are no longer covering me I can't help to get on my feet and release a shrill shout that uses all of the air in my lungs. The kind of scream everyone uses when they see a monster.

The mattress cushions the fall of a spider similar to yesterday's, while I start walking backwards and collide against the wall. There aren't supposed to be any of those creatures anymore! Percy and I got rid of every nest. Of every single egg. How is it possible that there's one alive? It must be seeking revenge for what we did to the others.

Before it can get nearer to my feet the door of the bedroom slams open, letting in a dark-haired boy whose green eyes shine with concern. Percy. Everything turns slow when our eyes meet. His presence washes away my fear. It is him who can make me forget about everything. And just by seeing him. He's my light now.

He is concerned about me, what sends electric shocks to every part of my body. Not the first time it happens.

"What's wrong?" he asks, walking directly to me and stretching his arm so I can get down. I don't reject his help and put my hand in his, jumping off the bed. Jumping away from that damn eight-legged creature son of a―

Phew. Calm down, Chase. Composure, remember.

"S-spider," I stutter, watching how the creature on the mattress changes its direction and now walks to where I stand. It's as if it were following me. They hate me, and the feeling is requited. I've always hated spiders.

A low chuckle can be heard coming from the depths of Percy's throat. He releases my hand to grab one shoe and throw the spider off the bed, just to let the shoe fall over it once it's down. How can he not hate those things? Being scared of heights is childish. It's more normal to be scared of these kinds of creatures, capable of biting you and releasing venom that can travel through your veins just to make you―

Ugh. Nasty. And I'm not talking about how they look. Eight legs. Four eyes. Some of them as hairy as a dog. If something has these features it can't be nice. Period.

"You're being childish," he says, returning to me with a big grin that splits his face in two. Me childish? Please.

"And being scared of heights isn't childish?" My question makes the grin on his face disappear, every inch of his skin paling. It's my time to grin. "Weren't you scared that something could happen to me when you made me jump from the bed? It was too high."

"Well, at least when I'm scared I don't show it," he replies, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't start shouting like a girl discovering a broken nail, or one that is about to get kidnapped and rap―"

"Enough." I turn around and cross my arms over my chest, too, feeling a sudden cold pass through my body. I don't want him to finish that sentence. Do I really shout like a girl about to be…raped? This is probably the first time I've heard him say something rude. Didn't we agree that he won't be like that? Wait, and how does he know how a girl shouts when that's about to happen? Ugh.

"Annabeth, let's not fight." His voice is soothing and calm, getting near, until I feel…his hands over my waist, just over the part that's exposed by my cropped shirt. It sends electric shocks―again. It's strange to feel like this. For eighteen years I've never liked anyone but the typical artist. And then he appears and changes everything. He's the first person that makes me feel unsure of myself.

Maybe I'm the strange one. At this age most of my friends have liked a lot of people and have had at least a sentimental relationship. And I haven't. I imagine a divine being, like Aphrodite―the Greek goddess of love―laughing and saying that it's about time it happened.

"Were we fighting?" I ask and give a step forward. The movement makes his hands release me, and I turn around to look at him directly in the eyes.

"I thought so." He shrugs, placing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. For the first time this morning I drink him with my eyes. He's wearing gray jeans and a black polo shirt. When did he get changed? I never heard him wake up. And the scent coming from him tells me that he also showered. "If we weren't fighting then your tone of voice made me think the opposite."

"I thought we were joking with the other's fears." I mimic his shrugging and place my thumbs inside the waistband of my shorts―it's not easy to do the same as him when you don't have pockets.

"Oh, really? Let's continue, then. Is there anything more you're scared of?" He leans a bit forward, and his nearness makes my nose notice that he smells like the sea beneath the scent of men's fragrance.

"I don't know." My arms cross again. "You, probably. You can scare the shit out of―"

"Language." He frowns but doesn't move away. "Am I that scary?"

"Yes. You shouldn't go walking alone through the dark streets, because you're capable of giving people heart attacks."

"I see. And why don't we help you overcome with that fear?"

With the last thing he says I notice what he's doing. I notice how much he's leaned towards me, and how much I'm doing it, too. His nose is in front of mine, and his lips are just an inch or two away. One step more and I can touch his lips. Just one step more. But, instead, I turn around and try to hide my blush while inhaling air.

I can sense his mouth opening to say something, but he doesn't do it, because the ringtone of my iPhone starts filling the room with noise. The ID detector reads: 'Thalia Grace'. What is she doing awake at this hour in the morning? Wait, at what hour did I wake up? I glide my finger through the screen and answer.

"Yes?" I ask.

At the other side of the line I can hear two people laughing, until Thalia's voice talks. "Hey, it's me. How are you two lovebirds doing? Spend the night together? Did you sleep comfort―?"

"No, mister, we don't want to buy any mustard." I say and hang the phone.

"Someone wanted to sell you mustard?" Percy raises both eyebrows at me, and I can see a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Yeah, it was a strange guy, calling to―"

The phone starts ringing again.

I sigh and answer the phone―again. "Yes?"

"Don't dare hang up the phone like that again," says Thalia. "I was just asking if you―"

"No, mister, we don't want to buy―"

"Alright, alright, I get it. You don't want to talk about your intimacy."

My eyes open wide and I remove the phone from my ear, selecting the 'End Call' option again. Nothing happened between Percy and me last night. Nothing will happen this night. Nothing will happen any other night. And…if it happened I don't know why I would have to tell it to her.

"Now what?" Percy asks. "Someone tried to sell you ketchup?"

I smile and shake my head. "No. It was Thalia. You know, as annoying as always. Since you and I are sharing the apartment she thinks that you and me…"

"Oh." I can hear him gulp among the silence of the room.

And, again, the phone starts ringing.

"Yes?" I answer.

"Someone wants to have a kicked butt, right?" Oh, Thalia, you should be crowned as the nicest princess ever.

"Yes, someone wants a kicked butt. And if you don't stop asking questions about things that never happened and that will never happen you'll get what you want."

My eyes catch an image of Percy lowering his stare while biting his lip. Did I say something wrong or is he ashamed?

"Alright, calm down, Chase." From here I can hear Thalia laughing. "Luke and I just wanted to know if you want to join us. We're going out to eat and visit the square, and then we'll go to see the movie. In other words, we'll spend the day together. And we wanted to know if Percy and you want to come."

"Well, I don't know. Let me ask him what he thinks." I remove the phone from my ear and stare at Percy, who heard his name and now is staring at me. "Thalia says that if we want to go out with her and Luke. Should I tell her yes? Because we don't have any other―"

"Tell her that we can't go," he interrupts me. "I have…something planned for us. Besides, it would be uncomfortable to be with them. Haven't you noticed how Luke stares at her? It's as if he were eating her with the eyes." The same way you stare at me. "Doesn't he have a girlfriend already?"

"It wasn't something official."

"'Wasn't?'"

"Yeah, he ended whatever he and Marina had. He says that he likes someone else."

"Well, that explains why he sees her like that."

I guess I haven't seen him stare at her. So she is the one he was talking about? That explains why they're going out. Maybe he wants to get near her. I place the phone back on my ear.

"No. We can't go. Sorry. Percy and I have other plans," I answer, and then regret saying it instantly.

"So, you and Percy, huh?" she asks. What are you―?"

"Sorry, we still don't want mustard. Have fun."

I hang the phone and wait a minute, staring at the screen. But this time she doesn't call again. A sigh leaves my mouth and I place the phone back on the nightstand.

"So, what are our plans for today, Jackson?" I ask, walking to my suitcase and grabbing my towel and some clean clothes.

"You'll see, Chase," he says and starts walking barefoot towards the door. "Get ready so we can have breakfast."

"You made breakfast?"

"Yes. I made breakfast. Is it strange?"

He doesn't give me time to answer because he's gone.

. . .

A delicious scent enters my nostrils as I step into the kitchen. Percy's leaning against a counter, chewing something that looks like chocolate pancakes while staring out the window. Now that I watch the place carefully I can notice that the place is cleaner than yesterday. Did he clean all this? If I'm not wrong the first floor of the apartment was still a mess, with floors and furniture littered with dust.

"You made pancakes," I say, getting his attention.

"Yep," is all he says, placing another piece of a pancake in his mouth.

"And when did all this happen? I never heard you make anything. Yet, you woke up, showered, cleaned the first floor and even had time to go to buy ingredients to prepare breakfast."

He shrugs. "I woke up early, and I'm usually very silent while doing anything."

"This will happen every day?"

"No. I just did it because the place needed to be cleaned. But I usually wake later than you."

I walk to a pan that has three pancakes and place them on a plate. After bathing them in syrup I lean against the counter next to him. His arm that is brushing against mine stiffens. Yet, he continues eating normally.

"What are you watching?" I ask. All I can see are tall buildings, people walking and some trees.

"Nothing. I'm just trying to see if I can remember the last time I was here. I guess I can't."

"I see. And, what are you planning for today?"

He smiles. "Nothing special. We'll walk around the city. You said that your mother wants a souvenir, so why don't we buy it today? We can have dinner, go to the movies, go to theater and do whatever we want. I just didn't want to be with Thalia and Luke. They need…time alone."

I would believe him, but I don't. It's him who wants time alone with someone, because he'd already denied Thalia's invitation without even knowing that Luke had already ended his relationship with Marina. Yet, I nod and do as if I understood.

"I finished," he says after a while and places the dirty plate in the sink. "I'll go put my shoes on. When you're over we can go."

He doesn't wait for answer and trots out the room, though I don't hear any single step. His footsteps are barely audible, maybe it's because he's still barefoot.

Just when my plate is empty my phone starts ringing. Again. I leave the plate on the counter and answer the phone quickly, not checking the ID detector. "Hello?"

"Are you alone?" It's Thalia's voice.

"Yep, I am." I answer.

"I am too―finally. Have any idea of why Luke doesn't want to talk about that girl? Marina, I mean. Did something happen between them?"

"They ended whatever relationship they had, so it isn't recommendable to talk about her. I haven't had any boyfriend before, but I guess it's not a good, comfortable thing to be talking about your past sentimental relationships."

"Oh. I didn't know. Well, thank you. I just had that question. And what are you and Percy doing?"

"Nothing special―go out, visit the city, buy some souvenirs. Things like that."

There is silence at the other side of the line. Then, she says, "He likes you, you know? I shouldn't be telling you this, but―"

I glance at the stairs and make sure that he isn't here before answering. "I know."

Maybe she's shocked, because there's silence again. "Did he tell you?"

Silence. "What did you hear exactly?"

"Everything. I heard you asking him who he had talked with, I heard him tell you that it had been me, I heard you ask if he likes your smartass friend, I heard him say that yes, and the woman-of-his-life thingy. I heard everything, Thalia―thank you, by the way, for calling me an easy girl, idiot."

She chuckles, but it doesn't sound completely amused. "And does he know?"

"No, he doesn't. And I'm not telling him. How am I supposed to go and tell him, 'Hey, I was casually overhearing your conversation'? Since you're my best friend―girl best friend―I must tell you that I haven't stopped thinking of him since then. I like him back, Thalia, and I think I like him a lot―maybe because it's the first time I like someone that isn't an artist."

"I knew you two would end up together! I knew it! Tell him, then, so you can be together! You look so good together, like when we found you yesterday in the car. I'm surprised to see my cousin so happy."

"I'll think about it. Right now I must hurry up. He will be back soon."

"Alright, good luck, lovebirds."

"Good luck you, too, with Luke."

"What are you talking about?"

I don't resist the urge to bother her. "Haven't you noticed how he stares at you?"

"What? Are you―"

I hang the phone, grinning and turning around, just to place the―

Percy's standing there.

My hand is reaching to grab my dirty plate, and it almost slips from my grip. Was he hearing my conversation? Karma?

"How long have you been there?" I ask, trying to sound as less nervous as possible.

He opens wide his eyes, raising both eyebrows at me. "Some seconds now. I just arrived. Is there anything wrong?"

The weight of the sky is removed from my shoulders. Shit, Percy, don't scare me like that. "There's nothing wrong. You just…scared me."

"So I do scare people? I thought you were joking earlier." He pouts.

I roll my eyes and smile. "Yes, you're scary. Shall we go?"

"You bet we can."

. . .

We walk silently through one of the nearest parks to the apartment. The first thing we did was go to the mall. There were some stands similar to Rachel's where we found some souvenirs. I already have mom's―a keychain that has an image of the city with the name 'Boston' beneath. I got one for dad, too, but I'll keep it until the things fix between us. Until everything's better and I am able to tell him that I train in the gym. Only then I'll give him this. For Matthew and Bobby I got similar sunglasses, which have 'Bos' written on one lens and 'ton' on the other―also, I'll wait till everything's better before giving them to them.

I bought both of us smoothies. It was the last thing I could do since he bought a pair of sunglasses―one for him and one for me.

They're useful now that we walk outside, where the sun falls over us. My shirt sticks to my back due to the sweat. I feel like one of those popular rich brats that wear excessive makeup and skirts shorter than their underwear―like Drew, in fewer words. I am rich, but not a brat. Percy, in other hand, looks gorgeous. The glasses make his skin look paler, like his hair does, and it looks good on him―even more with that white smile that hasn't disappeared from his face since we left the apartment.

While we walk around the fountain he cranes his neck, staring at something. Before I can ask him what's wrong he separates from me, walking to a nearby stand. And I feel my cheeks turning red when he comes back with a pair of cotton candy.

"Cotton candy?" he asks, handing me the purple one and staying with the blue one―what a surprise.

"What other option do I have? You already bought it," I say and smile. "Thanks."

"I didn't know if you wanted the purple or the pink, so I brought―"

"The purple is alright. The pink would only make me feel more brat than what I feel already with these sunglasses."

"You look good," is all he says before continuing to walk.

It's been years since the last time I ate cotton candy. I feel how the soft thing dissolves in my mouth, leaving a sweet taste that I swallow. Percy's doing the same―taking a bit from his, placing it in his mouth and waiting for the thing to disappear.

Almost everyone thinks it is a beautiful Sunday to go out, because the park is crowded. We are forced to remain standing up, because every single bench is occupied―mostly by couples.

"Want some?" Percy asks, placing a bit of the blue cotton in his mouth.

I stare at him questioningly. "What's the difference between yours and mine? Aren't both cotton candies? Or does the color change the flavor?"

"They are different things, and everything has its own flavor."

Huh? I don't understand his argument. Cotton candy is made with the same ingredients, and the only difference is the color. Maybe the color gives a different flavor. Who knows? It's been years since I tried every color, so I don't remember.

I shrug and don't hesitate to accept his offer. "Alright, I'll have a bite."

"A bite? That can hurt."

"So? Cotton candy doesn't feel."

I lean forward to the blue cotton he's holding, nearing and planning to have a bite.

And everything happens so fast, like everything that has happened during these past days.

After opening my eyes from blinking I see that the cotton candy is no longer there. Percy moved it away. And I'm still leaning forward, so I almost fall and my mouth collides against the thing in front of me―his…lips.

My cheeks turn completely red, and I can hear a couple of giggles somewhere near―maybe I'm an idiot and am the only one who didn't see his trap. My eyes try to meet his, still not separating from him, but his are closed. His eyelids are joined while he smiles against my lips.

There's no way I can move. I don't know if it's because I'm shocked or if I don't want to. Both, probably. Slowly, his lips start parting, forcing mine to do the same, and my eyelids close instinctively when his lips join again, kissing mine that follow his.

Just one kiss. That's all he gives me. My eyelids open, and so do his. Quickly, I give a step backwards and cross my arms, staring at a random thing while rocking my body back and forth. He kissed me. Crap. It was… Perfect. I want to do it again as electric shocks, stronger than before, travel around my body.

"See? Everything has its own flavor," he says, and I ignore his comment. He was never talking about the cotton candy. Smart bastard. He fooled me. Would I have accepted if he'd said that he was talking about his lips?

"I'm not hungry anymore," I say and give him my candy, shaking my head and continuing walking.

. . .

Right after the kiss incident we enter the apartment, completely silent. I hate this. We never talk about anything. He's serious, and I know that he's pretending that anything happened just like I am doing. And I'm ashamed of talking about the subject. You've never been ashamed, Chase, what's happening with you?

"Well," Percy says, breaking the silence, "we still have half of the day to spend. Want to do something else?"

"Why don't we see a movie?" I suggest, stopping on the first step of the stairs to hear his answer. "And then we can have dinner."

"Please." He smiles, and I return him the smile before walking upstairs.

Short Story:

Some Seconds Now

Percy padded barefoot through the hallway and started downing the stairs, grasping with one hand his black Vans and with the other a pair of clean socks. There was no way he wanted to make Annabeth wait a lot―which was strange, because before meeting her he'd never cared about making a girl wait. What made the things different now was that he knew that he liked her. A lot. A first, he thought.

Never before he'd felt something for a girl―not that he was gay, but he'd never found the correct girl. If everyone knew the truth they wouldn't think of him as cool. Not that he cared about what people thought, but it was the truth. Handsome, charming and with a perfect body, but he'd never―ever―kissed someone, had a girlfriend or even liked a girl. He'd felt a relief the day before when Annabeth never asked him at what age had he given his first kiss.

He sat on one of the steps and started putting on his socks, wanting so badly to go back downstairs. With Annabeth. Just remembering her beautiful hair and stunning eyes full of wisdom sent a strange but pleasurable feeling directly to his stomach. She was already some of his firsts, and he was sure that from now on he wanted her as all of his firsts. First kiss, first romantic hug, and first everything. Yes, everything.

Once he was ready his heart started pounding hard against his chest. He was only a few feet away from the girl he liked. From those lips he'd wanted to kiss various times now. Those fleshy lips that called him. But he stopped on the second step of the stairs, hearing what sounded like a conversation.

"No. I guess I must tell you how I know. Well, you always joked about it and I suspected it. But everything was confirmed the day I talked with him. Remember, this week? When he called me from your house? Well, it seems that he didn't hang the phone correctly, because I still could hear the other side of the line. And I heard you talking with him." It was Annabeth's voice. He felt awful, overhearing something that wasn't directed to him, but he couldn't help continuing to listen. Because she was talking about him. "Everything. I heard you asking him who he had talked with, I heard him tell you that it had been me, I heard you ask if he likes your smartass friend, I heard him say that yes, and the woman-of-his-life thingy. I heard everything, Thalia―thank you, by the way, for calling me an easy girl, idiot."

Percy's heart skipped a beat by hearing that, and he felts as if ice started traveling through his veins. He felt cold in summer. Annabeth had heard him talk. That explained why that day people had been complaining to the Graces. A lot of people had been calling, and the calls hadn't entered. And they'd found that someone hadn't hung the phone correctly.

It had been him. And Annabeth knew all of the things he'd said. Crap. He'd always been so self-assured, but how looking her in the eyes now?

Before slapping himself for being an idiot he heard Annabeth continuing to talk.

Alright, that was unexpected. His heart stopped for a second time. She liked him back. Everything around felt happy now. He even felt as if a dark cloud had been hovering over his head all the morning and now sunrays were peering through the darkness, signaling the start of a good day. Damn. He had to resist the urge of running to her and spin her in the air like he'd done it before―the best day of his life, by the way.

All he could do was jump with the arms stretched in the air, holding a scream, but he regretted it instantly as he descended directly towards the first floor. He'd always loved his cat-like silence, but now even more. His feet landed silently on the white tiled floor and Annabeth didn't notice him, still busy on the phone and staring through the window, giving him her back―a beautiful back that had perfect curves and… Stop thinking about it, Perce.

Maybe he couldn't do anything, but now that he knew that his feelings for her were requited he would definitely give his first kiss today. There's no way he could wait more. He wanted those lips on his. Now.

He steadied and dusted his shirt, placing his hands in his pockets as Annabeth said, 'Haven't you noticed how he stares at you?' and hanged the phone. He made his normal expression as she turned around, and acted as if nothing had happened―how everything worked between them. Something happened and they had to almost to pretend that the day didn't happen.

When she saw him standing there the plate on her hand almost slipped, and he stifled a smile while staring at her.

"How long have you been there?" she asked, sounding nervous and staring at him with those beautiful eyes that reminded him of the cloudy day when he'd asked her to have a date with him.

Percy opened wide his eyes and raised both eyebrows, pretending that he didn't know why Annabeth was worried. "Some seconds now. I just arrived. Is there anything wrong?"