5 days later...

I get out of bed each day for classes, but only because I have too. My roommates come up with various ways to wake me up. Today, Jason, being the wonderful human being he is, decided to 'practice' the aguamenti charm on me and I woke up soaking wet and shivering. He and Frank both know what happened. I didn't want to tell them, but it was kind of hard to hide blood-shot, puffy eyes, snot, and tear-stained robes, and to come up with an excuse for skipping class again while still in a heartbroken haze. So, yeah, I told them what happened and now they are babying me to a whole new level. They won't say Annabeth's name in front of me, referring to her as 'she who must not be named' and constantly hovering around me. Whenever we walk through the halls, they recruit some pathetic first years to flank me and cover me from sight.

It is infuriating, but it has also saved me from having to face 'she who may not be named'. I don't know what I would do if I did. I don't know if I would scream or cry or run. And it's not just me that's avoiding the other. Annabeth hasn't so much as looked my way in the past three days. I thought that maybe, just maybe, she could look past my giant mistake, she could forgive me, and stay my friend. But, no. I was right. I destroyed our friendship. And my heart.

I gave up hope after a day. Since then, I have been doing everything I can to keep her out of my head. It turns out that is next to impossible. I constantly catch myself searching for her familiar blond curls in crowds, and have to force myself to stare at something else. She is creeping her way into my every thought, images of her face, her laugh, her tears, no matter how hard I try to ignore them. To make my life even harder, as I have complained about before, Hogwarts is a school of gossips, and everyone wants to know what happened between us. Drew cornered me this morning in an empty hallway and said, "How in the world did you fuck this up?" And she's not the only one. Countless students, some who I've never spoken to, have approached me asking about what happened, each of them suggesting whatever far-fetched rumor they heard. The thing is, a lot of the rumors aren't that far off. Jason and Frank have tried to shield me from them, but I hear people whispering in the halls, I feel the constant stares.

So, when Hazel and Reyna came and full-on begged me to go the Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin quidditch game, I was a little apprehensive. They continuously pestered me about it all week. It took them bribing me with chocolate frogs and promising me that they sit next to me the whole time for me to finally agree. Despite having lost to Ravenclaw, all of the Gryffindors are rooting for them. We will never side with the Slytherins. Piper coerced me into wearing a scratchy Ravenclaw scarf- where she got it I have no idea- but I drew the line at wearing the paper-mache eagle mask she kept shoving in my face.

That is how I got to where I am now, doubling over, clutching my stomach in laughter. Jason just came out of the dormitory in said mask and let me tell you, I am so glad I didn't let Piper make me wear it. Jason just flips me off before crossing the room and wrapping an arm around Piper. My stomach drops, but I ignore it, keeping the smile painted on my face. Though everyone tries not to have much PDA around me, I am constantly reminded I am 3rd wheeling no matter who I hang out with. Jason and Piper, Frank and Hazel, Leo and Calypso, Grover and Juniper, are all going to the dance together. The only friend who's in the same boat as me is Reyna, well, kind of- she isn't simping over anyone. I considered for a second going to the dance with Reyna (as a friend of course) but then I remembered that Annabeth would be at the dance with someone else, and there is no way I am going to put myself through that.

After meeting up with the rest of our friends, we start heading over towards the quidditch pitch, trailing behind the hordes of people. Everyone is cracking jokes and teasing Slytherins (*cough* Nico *cough*) but I'm really not feeling it. Grover seems to know this, and he makes eye contact with me, raising his eyebrows in question. (A/N empathy link, conscious of best friends feelings, potato, patato) I just shrug, not wanting to talk about it. He wouldn't understand.

We all take our seats in the sea of blue across for the opposing sea of green. Multiple people are holding up signs saying things along the lines of 'Slytherin/Ravenclaw sucks.' Yes, we are immature. Yes, we know. The game ends up being boring. Ravenclaw gets a 50 point lead quickly- thanks to Annabeth- and ends up catching the snitch. The game ends, and the stands erupt in cheers, but instead of landing, all of the players start lining up in rows in the sky. All of the players, minus Annabeth, that is. I look questioningly at Reyna and Hazel (who upheld their end of the bargain and sat next to me) but they just smirked knowingly.

Both teams turn around, showing their backs to us. Annabeth makes eye contact with me, hovering in front of all of them. And, with a swish of a wand, everything becomes clear. Displayed, letter by letter are the words,

, ?

I am in shock. My jaw drops, my eyes widen, I'm sure I look like a complete idiot. She's asking me to the dance? But... she just rejected me a week ago. Everyone is staring at me, waiting for an answer. All I can manage is a weak nod. Cheers erupt from the stands, but I stay seated. People weave their way through the bleachers to the exits, congratulating me in passing. My friends are shrieking, hugging each other, and patting me on the back. I know they knew about this, and I will have some choice words with them later, but for now, there's only one person I care about. I bolt out of my seat and push my way through the mass of students, ignoring their cheers. I go right and duck into the changing room. It was completely empty sole for one person.

"Annabeth," is I get out before I am completely enveloped in her arms. I freeze for a second, but then wrap my arms around her, burying my head in her curls, inhaling the comforting, familiar, scent of her lemon shampoo. She pulls back and looks into my eyes. I take in her face, tracing the lines of her jaw, her nose, lingering on her lips, with my eyes.

I'm pulled out of my trance when she starts talking. "Percy, are you okay?" Concern is written across her face, and I realize I had started crying. I quickly wipe the tears off my face and paste a smile on.

"Y-yeah. I'm amazing. Aaaaand like really confused? L-like you just rejected me," I mumble out, my face flushing.

"Oh Seaweed Brain, I never actually rejected you. I-I know I didn't say anything, I was just in shock. I needed time to process but-but I realized I felt the same. And I felt like a complete idiot for not realizing it sooner, and I knew I needed to do something to make it up to you. And then the dance was announced, and I knew what I had to do," she whispers, caressing my face with her hand.

"Why didn't you say anything sooner? You've had a week!" I ask breathily, distracted by how close her face is.

"Believe me, I wanted to. So bad. But, I knew I had to make it special. It killed me to see you so sad, especially since it was my fault, but I knew this would make up for it," she assures me with a small smile.

I can't fight the grin that takes over my face. "We're going to the dance together," I whisper in awe, the realization finally hitting me. "You, Annabeth Chase, are going to be my date to the dance."

She giggles. "Yeah. And, hopefully, your girlfriend?" She asks, hope filling her eyes.

"Of course, Wise Girl," I respond, laughing that she thought that there was any chance that I would say no. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

I don't know which of us initiates it, but all of a sudden I am leaning down, and she is in my arms, and our lips are touching, and my heart is complete.