Story Name: The Iris Network

Author:turquoiserainlilies

Disclaimer: Do not own Percy Jackson or anything related, just the plot (really, not even that original). THANKS RICK!

Summary: He's a gamer. She's the Queen Bee. Percy struggles with unwanted fame from his father. Annabeth can't forgive her best friend for falling in love. Living miles away doesn't stop two people's fate from meeting, after all, the best thing to fall in love with are someone's words. AU!AH.

Chapter:12 of 22

Note: I usually pre-write at least one chapter, that plus the outline make sure that I know when the next chapter is coming out. In case you didn't notice, the story is happening in REAL-TIME, which is why there is a strict schedule. Hope y'all understand, but I will update at least once a week. There are about 10 chapters after this leading up to Valentine's Day, so that's how it's going to be spread out

greek3fire vi

new york 01/10/14 19:49 utc-5

percy jackson

Percy tapped his keyboard nervously as he waited for the screen to pop up. Skype, as so delicately put by the internet, is basically 90% can you hear me? Hold on I can't get the webcam working! And 10% actually talking. With his luck, it'll probably be about 100% sorry my laptop battery collapsed or some ridiculous excuse.

Was he nervous to meet Wise Girl? Hell yeah, it occurred to him not five minutes ago that he still didn't even know her name, yet here they were exchanging pictures and about to go live in a few minutes. They've settled for 8 o'clock for their scheduled chat. It was hard to find time between two time zones, especially now that school started. It was currently 5PM in San Francisco, so she was off school as well.

Was she off school? Or is she already out of high school and started to work? No, wasn't she worrying about university just on Monday? Percy can't keep his facts straight when he was this nervous and anxious, half of it felt like he was about to talk face to face with the love of his life in ten minutes, and half of it was like some forty year old pervert is going to flash him on screen in less than an hour.

Distractions, he told himself, that was what he needed. He didn't have time to boot up his video games, so he let his mind wander to the last few days he had, going back to Goode High wasn't easy after a blissful two weeks of break, but there were a few good things. Reyna left him alone, thankfully, the swim season was coming up, and he didn't have to put up with his dad in his fancy penthouse anymore.

There were the downside. Grover was evidentially still quite furious with Percy since the New Year's incident, though Percy thought it was ridiculous. He's taken to hanging out with his eco club buddies, and although Percy missed his best friend, he was also crap at apologies. He figured that the back to school will act as a reset button, but the universe didn't work in his favor.

Instead he spend the last few days cautiously talking to Grover, every word carefully chosen to not set him off. It felt like he was dealing with Reyna all over again.

Thankfully his effort somewhat paid off, at least Grover was willing to talk about Greek Fire again. Percy would've failed the game without his best satyr, and the reed pipe bonus powers that his sword never can do. Turning weapons into Christmas trees, for example.

His other best friend, Bianca, was back from California, with colorfully stories about friends she made and her brother, whom of course was totally cool like Percy knew he'd be. They had gotten together after school just earlier today in the café near school, as they exchanged their stories.

"So she had to ask her ex-boyfriend to be her date, it was kind of embarrassing, I feel really bad about recounting it." Bianca hiccupped in giggles, "Seriously though, people in California are really cool, Nico and his friends are crazy awesome to hang out with."

"Great." Percy said.

Bianca narrowed her eyes, "Oh yeah? What's the name of the girl I was just talking about?"

He widened his eyes in panic, "Umm…Annabelle?"

She rolled her eyes, "If you're not even listening then I'm not even going to bother."

"Hey hey, I'm listening." Percy protested, "I'm just crap with names. I thought your name was Bella for the first three week I knew you."

"That was three years ago." Bianca deadpanned, "Anyways. So she got to the dance, and just told me it was her online boyfriend. She's kind of the queen bee of Summerville High, so it was pretty humiliated to admit that she had to use a dating website."

"Is her name really Annabelle?" Percy interrupted.

"You'll never find out." Bianca rolled her eyes and sipped at her coffee. Percy's phone chimed, he smiled slightly. "Oh I forgot, you have an online girlfriend too."

"Not from a dating website." Percy scowled.

wisegirl6: you better not ditch out on me Seaweed Brain

"Ah shit." Percy swore, "I almost forgot!"

"What? Your missed your scheduled sponge bath or something?" She teased.

"I'm Skyping with Wise Girl today." Percy sighed, "It's in an hour though, but I'm such a Seaweed Brain that I'd probably forget if she didn't remind me."

Bianca froze.

"Did you find a bug in your drink or something?" Percy waved his hand in front of his friend's face, "Hello? Earth to Bianca!" No response, "There's a Mythomagic toy for sale!"

"Where?" Bianca suddenly jumped, brown liquid spilling all over her new holiday jumper, "Great Percy, just fan-freaking-tastic, you know that?"

He shrugged, "You're the one who didn't response."

"'Cause I was trying to think of something." Bianca protested, "'Seaweed Brain', that name sounds familiar."

"Probably a Sea World exhibit or something, or maybe my freaking nickname?" He exaggerated.

"No one calls you that." Bianca pointed it out. Now it was Percy's turn to be paralyzed in thought. Did no one really call him that? Or was it that Wise Girl repeated that name so many times that it wormed the way into his brain, and nest in a permanent spot, just like she did.

"I got to go." Percy said, draining the last of his French vanilla latte before throwing it careless into a bin (he was sort of glad that Grover isn't there, because he's 90% sure that it wasn't recycling), "See you later?"

"Yeah yeah." Bianca looked distracted, probably thinking about the Seaweed Brain thing just as he did.

Now, as he sat in front of the computer and waiting for Wise Girl's arrival. It'd be ironic if she ditched him instead. Percy weighed the pros and cons of this, on one hand he'd have material to tease her mercilessly, but on the other he wouldn't have seen her, or maybe that was a pro too. His heart was attacking his inside and the universe felt like it was imploding in the few seconds that led up to 8. Then at 8:01 he realized that he could just send her a request.

"Ah duh." He made a move for the mouse when the familiar ping gave him a heart attack. He clicked accept almost too quickly and felt his finger practically break on the mouse.

"Sorry I'm late." Wise Girl's face popped up. She was in a white shirt and the lighting was awful, considering it's only a bedroom lamp, but she looked pretty much like a goddess.

"It's 8:01." Percy deadpanned, not even bothering to say his rehearsed words of how he planned to woo her when they first speak, like, using voices speak, and not emoticons. She turned her head, as if checking the time on her wall or something (he didn't know the layout of her bedroom), her blonde curls spilled over her shoulder and he sucked in a breath.

"That's why I said I'm late." She pouted.

"Umm…" The full extent of what they were doing just settled on his shoulder, "Hey."

She smiled. His heart stopped again. Damn it. "Hey."

He wanted to say something swooning, charming, perhaps poetry so fucking beautiful that she'd melt into a puddle on the keyboard, but instead he blurted out. "Is it weird that I don't know your name?"

Well, she laughed, so maybe it wasn't so bad. Her laugh was amazing by the way. Or maybe he's just seeing everything through perfection lenses.

"It's Annabeth." She said.

"Annabeth." He said her name, again, perfect.

"You're doing that thing in books were the boy tests the girl's name on their tongue, and realizes how perfectly it fits them." Annabeth said.

"No." Percy pretended like he wasn't doing that exact same thing seconds earlier, "I think it's old fashioned and sort of weird."

She frowned, "What's your name then? Bartholomew? Antonio?"

"Percy." He said simply.

"As in Percy Weasley?"

"Who?"

She muttered something about 'illiterate muggles' before continuing, "So your name is actually Percy? You're not just making it up so I can't track you down?"

"It's short for Perseus, but that's more old-fashioned than Annabeth." He glared into the small laptop screen. It was weird how they always talk like they're years old friends, even when discussing their names like strangers.

"Perseus, the son of Zeus." Annabeth nodded.

"Son of Poseidon actually." He said without thinking. Because uh duh his dad's name is Poseidon. Before he just realized that it was enough to go on for Annabeth to track him down. Poseidon Jackson was only the most successful business man on the east coast, and he is revealed to have a son Percy in 2011. She wouldn't have to look far for that article.

"I'm pretty sure Zeus." Annabeth laughed. Know it all, he wanted to say.

"Sure." Percy nodded frantically, "Whatever."

"So, Perseus—"

"Gods no, don't do that." He sighed, "I hate that name."

"I'd hate it too if it was me."

"Your name is Annabeth."

"Hey, it's the perfect name!" Her grey eyes glared.

Yeah, it is, "No, it's like your parents couldn't pick between two names and gave you both." He made the point that shut Annabeth right up. "See? I'm right."

"Seaweed Brain." She rolled her eyes.

"Wise Girl." He teased just as easily.

It was as if those four magical words smoothed any insecurity and oddity between the two. You can only talk about names for so long. Maybe Percy and Annabeth can't be familiar just yet, but Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl can talk about anything under the son without feeling awkward.

"How's your break?" Percy asked immediately, "Did you get your Christmas wish?"

She looked down at her desk. He felt awful for bringing it up. "I wasn't counting on it. My mom usually visits in summer if she gets the chance, unless she has work, and she almost always has work."

"That sucks." Percy said, "I feel awful about spending my break with my dad then, and hating it."

"Don't be." Wise Girl assured him, "I'm not judging you based on your relationship with your parents, although he probably is doing the best for you."

He snorted, "Sure."

"So you've gave no thought into taking over the family business?" Her eyes curious. It felt strange to see expression match up to words, instead of just the letters on a plastic screen. He could see how she was hesitant to ask him, but the eagerness for an answer won out.

"Maybe." He shrugged, "I don't know if I'd be good at it, I'm not really good at anything."

"You'll never know until you try." Wise Girl said, "And it just sounds like you're pushing him away at every turn without giving him a chance, you know how much I would kill for a chance like that with my m—" She then pursed her lips. Usually online this would equal a few minutes of pauses, and Wise Girl would probably delete those insensitive words, but Annabeth had no filter with her mouth. Strangely, Percy didn't find it all that bad. "I can't compare my situation to yours." She said finally, "It's not the same, but I do wish that you don't waste your life."

"On video games?" He sighed. Was she seriously going to start lecturing on like everyone else in the world.

"No." Annabeth looked taken back, "On being unsatisfied. You're going to be happy playing video games, I know you are." She smiled earnestly, "You can probably play video games for the rest of your life!"

"Then what's the problem?" Percy snapped.

She looked like she was playing chess, accessing every move before making the best one. Was this like behind the screen when they texted? Did she fuss over every word to make sure it's the right one? "Video games is safe." Annabeth decided. That wasn't what he was expecting, "It's easy, but that doesn't make it the best."

"Why not?" He said stubbornly.

"If you never try at something you might fail, you'll never know if you'll succeed." Her words seem to not only be directing at him, Percy wondered if there was some other online friend she's also giving advice to.

He was silent too, wondering what his next words might be. Typing seemed to be easier, at least he could pretend he fell asleep or distracted so he couldn't answer, but Annabeth's sterling grey eyes were staring at him, expectantly, and Percy couldn't look away.

"You're just filled with wisdom aren't you?" He smiled slightly, "Yeah, you're right, of course you're right, but that doesn't mean I like it."

"Sure you do." She smiled as well.

"Only because I like you." He blurted out without thinking. Annabeth didn't blush like a normal girl, but tilted her head away from the camera as if his sight burned her.

"Maybe I like you too." She said, biting her lips. Maybe Percy wanted to teleport to California right now to kiss those lips, but he stayed grounded to his screen.

"Annabeth!" Some voice came from the background, "It's dinner!"

"Seriously?" Percy stared, "It's 9."

"It's 6 over here." Annabeth reminded him, "Time difference, remember?" Over the shoulder she yelled, "Five more minutes!"

"I wish I could see you, like, in flesh." Percy confessed.

She breathed in sharply, "Well, Skypeing is a good first step."

But not enough, Percy thought. He thinks it'd never be enough until he's right up to her and close enough to pull those blonde curls and see if they were actually as springy as they looked.

"How about VidGameCon?" He inquired, "You said you might go."

Annabeth bit her lips again. God dammit woman. "I'd see about that." She said, "My friend Silena wants to go, her boyfriend from Arizona of all places is going to be there."

"Well, you can go with her and we can double date." He laughed it off as a joke, and Percy wondered if she can hear the nervousness in his voice. Maybe they could double date, provided that Annabeth could even agree with such a loser like him. She looked like she could be a Queen Bee, like Bianca's friend from California.

"Sure." She rolled her eyes, keeping up with the joke. Was she a little nervous too? Annabeth seemed too confident for that, another reason why she's completely out of his league, "I've got to go." She sighed unhappily, "Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Text if you can't catch a break." Percy held up his phone.

"Always." She shone a brilliant smile, before clicking the end button. So he stared at the screen for another ten minutes, wondering his luck that he stumbled across her. Maybe the universe was working for his favor after all.

Next Update: Jan 13, 2014

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