"...What?"

"I um.. got caught."

"By who." Annabeth asked, though it was more of a command for Percy to talk. Oh gods, Percy was really in trouble now. Annabeth was never this calm, other than when she was absolutely livid. And Annabeth looked absolutely emotionless. She turned around, occupying herself with something.

"Alright, fine. By a girl named Drew Tanaka. All she did was help me dry off from the rain. But that's it! I swear!" Percy stammered, preparing himself for the worst. After of few seconds of silence, Percy watched Annabeth turn around. He expected her to be hold some kind of weapon that would be the end of him. Rather, Annabeth had nothing but a sympathetic smile on her face.

"I know that everything is pretty stressful." She put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Its fine."

What the... Is this- Is this seriously Annabeth? Percy went silent, dumbfounded. His mouth felt dry as the Sahara desert. I must be hallucinating."Anyways, I did you want to talk to me about something?" Annabeth asked.

"...Right. So Paul told me yesterday that there will come a point when I have to a-ask someone on a date. You know, to get to know everyone a bit more. Any advice?"

"Oh, you are so screwed."

"You're not exactly helping!"

"Have you tried asking Grover or anyone else?"

"I asked Grover. All he said was: My heart belongs to Juniper and Juniper only! Go ask Annabeth!" He mimicked in a high pitched sappy voice.

Annabeth laughed but then sighed helplessly. "All you have to do is ask. Have you got anyone in mind?"

Percy shook his head no.

"Then what about Rachel Elizabeth Dare?" Annabeth thought outloud. "She seems nice. You have to start somewhere, so why not with her?"

'Rachel Dare, huh... I've heard that name before.'

"Maybe I will." Percy sat up, since he was laying on Annabeth's bed. She lay beside him. Percy looked over at her. Her eyes were shut and her mouth was slightly open. She looked so calm during all of this, so Percy was jealous she was that carefree. Her lips were pink and looked soft, making Percy want to-

'That's enough, me!' Percy mentally scolded himself. He turned around and blushed, but he went to far and rolled off the bed.

"Percy!" Annabeth yelped.

- line break! :'D -

By the time Percy finally got around to asking Rachel on a date, the rain had cleared. That only left the smell of damp earth and rays of sunlight peeking through the parting clouds. He asked Annabeth where Rachel's room was, but she didn't know. So Percy asked Ms. Usoro, the woman who managed part of the selection.

"First floor, third door to the left." She said, scribbling something down on her clipboard. It seemed like she was busy.

So here he was, in front of the door. Hopefully he didn't get the directions wrong, or that would just be humiliating. Not knowing what to wear, he had a black tuxedo on. Was that too formal? Percy didn't know.

"Well, here goes nothing." Percy muttered to himself. He raised his hand to knock, but just as he did that the door swung open. A girl in a dark green sweatshirt answered. She had frizzy bright red hair and emerald green eyes. Almost like Percy's.

'Thank goodness,' Percy thought. At least he got the right directions this time.

"Prince Perseus?!" She took a step back startled.

"Sorry, am I intterupting?"

"Not at all!" Rachel smoothened her shirt and laughed. "What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to... Wait, Rachel? Rachel Elizabeth Dare?" Percy trailed off.

"Yeah, that's me."

"I.. I think I remember you!" Percy said, a old memory popping up in his head. "Were you at the Royal summer festival last year by any chance?"

Rachel thought for a second, and then her face lit up. "Its you!"

"Yeah!" Percy smiled. Last year at the Royal summer festival, Percy and Rachel bumped into each other. It was held in Rachel's home kingdom, and the two became good friends immediately. Annabeth wasn't there unfortunately and Percy had already forgotten to tell her. Percy thought he was so oblivious that he didn't notice her.

"This makes everything more easier." He mumbled. "I know this is sudden, but... Wanna go on a date with me?"

Rachel's face almost turned as read as her hair. "W-what?"

"I know, I know. This is so sudden anyways, so I understand if you-" Rachel cut him off.

"Of course I will!" Rachel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear bashfully.

"Really?" Percy asked. He was astonished. Rachel nodded in response.

'Did she just say yes? She really did say yes!'

"Do you mind if I change first?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Rachel closed the door as Percy stood at a nearby corner. He had reservations at a restaurant downtown, so the two went there by carriage. Rachel was dressed in a somewhat less dirty shirt and jeans.

"Sorry, I didn't expect this." She said. "That's pretty stupid of me, huh?"

"Not at all," Percy insisted. "Earlier this morning I got drenched in the rain because I forgot to check the weather."

"I guess were both stupid, then."

"I suppose we are," Percy chuckled.

When they got there, the fancy dining establishment was empty except for a few other couples. The place looked expensive as the Palace. Sounds of instrumental music and chatter filled the room.

"Wow, this is cool!" Rachel said astonished. In the ceiling, a giant fish tank hovered above them. The glass looked so clean and clear that it almost didn't look like there was any.

Rachel ordered something off the menu that Percy never heard of while he ordered some spaghetti with a side of coke.

"So, how have you been since the festival?" Percy asked. His mouth was full.

"So-and-so, I guess. How have you been?"

"Its all been happy fun time with me!" Percy said sarcastically. "Kidding. I've been really busy with everything lately."

"I can imagine that." Rachel stated. "But we shouldn't focus on the bad things, right?"

"Definitely." Percy agreed.

The two happily ate their food while making goofy jokes. It was fun, but the one of the older people there kept making dirty looks at them every time they burst out laughing.

"You know, this is fun and all, but you know what would be great?" Rachel wiped her mouth politely with a napkin.

Percy looked up from finishing his food. "Hm?"

Rachel leaned in and whispered in Percy's ear. "Do we have a bit more time left? I wanna show you something."

"Sure..." He looked at anyone who might be looking at them. They wouldn't be picked up in an hour, so Percy decided: Why not? "Lets go."

Rachel grabbed Percy's hand and snuck the two of them out swiftly. After five minutes of walking, they reached a small, quiet... Art gallery?

"When I first got here, I noticed this place. Its pretty cool."

Inside there were not only paintings, but sculptures, pottery and cool creations that moved if you looked at them from a different angle. It was truly surprising.

"What do you think?" Rachel twirled around excitedly.

"I didn't know you liked art so much!" Percy said. He was currently looking at a cool painting of the harbour near the sea. It looked so real, Percy thought someone took a picture of it.

"Someday, I want to pursue a career of being an artist. Unfortunately my father doesn't approve. He wants be to get into the buissness industry and all." She said glumly.

"You don't have to listen to what people say, you know." Percy looked at Rachel. "If that's what makes you happy, then you should go do it. Don't listen what people have to say; You're your own person after all."

Rachel looked up, a hopeful smile on her face. "Thanks, Percy."

-Time skip!-

It was about mid afternoon when Rachel and Percy arrived to back where they started, at Rachel's door.

"I had a really good time Percy." Rachel blushed and looked away. "I just wanted to to this as thanks."

"Do what as-?"

Rachel leaned forward and kissed Percy on his cheek, a short and nice one. She looked away once again. "I'll see you again, okay?"

Percy grabbed his cheek, still shocked. He smiled, a happy and joyous one. "Y-yeah, see you sometime..."

A little Perachel, i'm not exactly sure how to feel about this, but... UwU