"A guy and a girl can be just friends, but at one point or another, they will fall for each other...Maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or maybe forever"

― Dave Matthews Band


Annabeth was distracted like never before in her life.

She didn't want to think about what could have happened if Luke didn't get there in time. She didn't want to think about where the bullet could have pierced Percy had Jason not been in the way.

And knowing that she was responsible for something like this...

Although she knew that Percy didn't blame her, it was hard not to blame herself.

Annabeth couldn't sleep the day before. She hardly got two hours of disturbed sleep - which, if you asked her, was a terrible idea. She was drained enough - both mentally and physically - from the tournament the day before. Annabeth was in no position to exert herself for the tournament or her team anymore.

The girls first had certain sit-on-spot challenges like logical reasoning games, balancing each member of the team and a bunch more stuff you'd see basic in P.T. or gymnastics-starters' team exercises. Then, they had harder challenges like lifting heavy weights (together) (like the bark of a tree) and two races - one was the regular pass-the-stick rally race and the other was a more challenging version of it with elements like high jump, crawling under a net, walking over a inclined grease wall, etc. For the final challenge, they had to rescue and carry a member of their group who is tied up to a tree and defended by one opposite team while at the same time making sure that the opposite team don't get to their teammate who is defended by them. Overall, it was as hard as day one.

By the time they were done with rally race one, Annabeth could visibly see her team falling apart. Lady Amber (who usually took control whenever Annabeth didn't) was trying her best to not show any anger because of the incident that happened the day before with Lady Maria. Piper was a good friend but not an effective leader and don't even get Annabeth started on Rachel.

Annabeth didn't need more troubling feelings right now.

The Hydras came third for the second rally race. They were planning strategy for the finals when Prince Percy decided to interrupt them.

Amber accused, "Well if Rachel didn't screw up rally one, we didn't have to worry but no, you just had to risk the team."

Piper, standing between the two, "Look, there is no point in trying to change the past. We should worry about the finals first and scores later. I think we should stick to Annabeth's plan and defend our prisoner as much as possible."

Maria frowned, "I thought we agreed on offense. What happened to our plans from last week?"

Piper sighed. "That was before Annabeth was lucky drawn as the prisoner!"

That was their problem. Annabeth and Amber were undoubtedly the strongest players of their team and everyone de-facto assumed Annabeth as their leader. A team was only as effective as its leader and Annabeth being lucky drawn as the opposite team's prisoner did little to motivate the team.

Amber continued, "Yes, if we manage to defend her for long enough and wait for the timer to end, we can win. Also, we need a very good location for hiding and another false location to confuse the opposition."

Suddenly, someone else spoke from behind Annabeth. "You can keep her next to the restricted gardens. Annabeth once lost when we kept our flag there. If Annabeth and Malcom together cannot find it, no one can."

Annabeth turned around to come face to face with Percy and immediately felt guilty all over again.

The girls stood stunned. They weren't expecting a out of the blue visit from the Prince. Piper recovered first.

"No, we need Annabeth. You can come take her later."

Percy smiled at her. "Nope. Too late."

Amber protested. "Hey! We need our strategist."

"I'll deposit her back in 10."

He dragged Annabeth away from the group by her wrist. She looked back at her team but didn't protest. They walked away from the crowds and everyone else till they reached the strawberry fields of the camp. Annabeth immediately noticed the guards who were stationed all over the place. They moved to different corners when Percy approached but didn't take their eyes off of the couple.

Annabeth put her hands inside her shorts' pocket.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

Annabeth didn't answer.

"Right." He said. "Well, I forgot to tell you something important in between all this..." He gestured around.

She looked at him questioningly.

"Nico's coming. So... You won't be having any Report this week."

"Oh." Her mind was somewhere else entirely. How is Percy even talking to her after what she did?

"Okaaay. I was expecting a bigger response."

"Why? It is not like he never visits."

Percy stood in front of her. "No, Annabeth. He is visiting for the Olympics this year. This is like the pre pre-visit."

"Oh that." She said.

"Well...just... Break it to him slowly, okay?"

"Break what?"

"That you are in my Selection."

Annabeth frowned. "Why? He probably already knows."

He started walking again. "Yeah, I know but just... Explain to him slowly, okay? He is still a kid."

She shook her head in confusion. "Explain what, Percy? What is there to explain?"

He looked at the ground. "I mean... You know what I mean... He has a crush on you."

Annabeth stilled. "What?" Her voice came out hoarse. She cleared her throat. "What?Wait.. what makes you think he...but...how? What?"

"Well, I don't know if it is a crush or if he admires you or what..." He looked at her absolutely clueless expression. "Wait, you seriously didn't know?"

"I-I didn't-"

"He looks at you all weird when I'm around." He looked at her again. "My Gods, you really didn't know?"

She shook her head. "I still don't think he has a crush on me."

"Really? Well what about the time when we first met him? He asked me if you were my girlfriend!"

"He asked what?"

"Okay. Fine. What about the time when we took that group photo and I tickled you and he looked at me like his pet fish died?" He tried. "Okay wait. What about that time after my coronation when Sally and I had a bet and I lost so I had to carry Nico like a baby? You laughed at us. Do you even remember his face?-"

Annabeth looked far away. This information should shock her but when he brought up Sally, it felt like salt in the wound all over again.

Growing up, Annabeth didn't really have a family. Especially, not emotionally. Sally accepted her for who she was although she knew she shouldn't let the Prince get close to just anyone just because they lived near or at the palace. Sally, in many ways, was the mother she always wished she had and even Sally knew this but still didn't shy away. She cared more about Annabeth when she realised it. Annabeth still remembered Sally's words clear as day - Family is what you define. Everyone has one, dear. They may not always be who you want them to be but nevertheless, we are your family just as much as them.

It pained her more than anything in this world to know she'd let Sally down. Let the Queen down.

"-about that, huh?"

Oh schist. Percy is still talking.

He stopped walking again. "You are not listening to me, are you?"

Annabeth looked at him like she was afraid of breaking glass. Percy decided it was about time he brought up the elephant in the room - eh, well - the garden.

He breathed out. "Okay, let's sit down." He gently guided her down by placing one hand on her bicep. They sat down on the grass next to each other.

"Look, what has happened, has happened. I'm fine. Jason is fine. Everyone is fine. We're trying our best to find out the intruders and so far we've come as far to try to paint a picture of the guy."

She nodded. "Was it the same person who attacked Rachel?"

"We're not sure yet but we'll know soon."

She leaned her head on Percy's shoulder. "Are you staying for the finals?"

"I can't. Jason and I are meeting up with the detectives for finding out who our intruder is."

"Didn't you manage to get anything out of him?"

"No. He went into cardiac arrest last night."

Annabeth stared at him.

Percy nodded. "Dead."

They were silent for a second and she put her right hand on his knee. "Percy?" He hummed. She looked up at him; his eyes were closed. "I'm sorry."

He looked back at her, laced his fingers through hers so that his palm touched the back of her hand and brought it to his chin. "It's okay," he said and kissed the inside of her palm.

Annabeth found the gesture friendly but in an intimate way. She reached up to kiss his cheek. "I just can't imagine losing you." She admitted.

Percy's expression turned playful. "Looks like someone will miss me." He cooed.

She hit his thigh playfully. "I mean... I do lov-" She stilled.

Someone from around them yelled. "PERCY?"

Percy immediately raised his hand. "I'm here! I'm here!" He got up. "Jeez, Frank. It is not like this place has secret underground tunnels I can fall into!"

Frank scratched his neck and left. Percy offered Annabeth a hand to get her up. "What were you saying?"

She got up and - gosh does he know? Did he hear me?

She gave him a nervous, exceedingly sweet smile. "I said 'I do lo-lie... Lie at times but I do care.'"

He smiled genuinely. "Yeah, I know."

When she walked back to the tournament, all the other feelings she went out of the window - eh, well - the sky and she felt more awake than ever in her life. Because Gods, DID I ALMOST BLURT OUT TO HIM THAT I LOVE HIM?

The mere thought scared her. Shit though, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her... heart?

She realised that her heart was beating like she'd just run the races all over again.

She realised it in the middle of the Selection.

When he was seeing 19 others.

When he had kissed 8 others.

He probably had a date with someone that same day.

Fuck, Annabeth Chase was in love with Percy Jackson.

...

Calypso, Valentina, Stella and Drew sat in a circle in the break after rally race one.

Val: "Woohoo, Chimeras on the lead."

Drew scoffed. "Don't get too excited. We still have half the day to catch up."

Reyna came forward and sat next to Calypso. "What did you do with Annabeth this time?"

Calypso accused. "Since when does she know?"

Reyna gave her a straight face. "Yeah explain how I won almost every individual game yesterday when my chart scores me 4th or 3rd every time."

Val: "Today was brilliant. She looked so distracted. She wasn't even here. Like she didn't even care."

Drew smiled and shrugged. "I didn't do anything."

Calypso: "Oh please. I think you went with the text plan."

Reyna: "The text plan?"

Calypso: "Make it look like she is texting the Prince something... you know."

Reyna: "That is stupid. She knows he doesn't have a phone. He told me he never texts."

Val: "Psst. The Princes are all the same. They say something, do something else. But see, she is his friend right? So, what if he did have a phone, she knows and he is not telling any of us."

Drew smiled with satisfaction. "Then, she'll think something is going on if she thinks he gave me his number."

Reyna rolled her eyes: "And she'll ask him and know it is not true."

Calypso clicked her tongue: "Maybe she is an intelligent girl but she also gets jealous very easily. What do you think she'll believe? What she sees or what he says?"

Reyna turned her lips down and nodded like: makes sense.

Drew: "But you're wrong. I already did the texting thing yesterday. I just have to leave it somewhere she can see it today. Lady Stella is saved as Prince Percy."

Reyna scoffed. "Now that is completely stupid. If he does have a phone, she'll know the number."

Drew narrowed her eyes at Reyna. "I know. She won't get enough time to. One of us will be there when it happens."

Calypso raised one hand. "I volunteered."

Reyna looked at all of them like: Gosh, you guys are serious. "Fine", she said, "What did you do though?"

"Nothing." Drew said. They didn't look convinced. "Seriously. Look, Let's take the Hydras. Amber is competitive and competitiveness doesn't get you far when it is a team sport."

Val nodded, "Maria is obviously useless. She would just slow them down."

Drew nodded. "Annabeth is the Percy's best friend and in love with him. Rachel is the girl he has a crush on. Do the math. Piper is the only mediator and even she can do only so much. Hydras were doomed -"

"Um..." Stella interrupted. "I think you're gonna have to reconsider Annabeth buying your text theory." She pointed at something behind Drew.

Drew turned back to look at Prince Percy and Annabeth walking away somewhere. "Great." She said. "We need to add something else to those texts then."

It was around 10 minutes later when they all talked and decided on one solid thing they thought would work. Drew saw Annabeth coming back from wherever she went with the Prince. She looked sad.

Reyna frowned. "She looks like she saw a ghost but... Also, sad."

"So?" Drew said. "I want her to look like that all day. Best look ever."

Calypso laughed at Drew's cruelty.

Reyna didn't look impressed. "You don't see it, do you? What did she just do?"

"Get some alone time with his highness." Calypso said. "Why do you look so happy about that?"

Reyna touched her arm. "Think about it. When was the last time you met the Prince and didn't come out with a smile on your face?"

Stella gasped. "You don't think she is getting eliminated, do you? Oh my gosh!"

Val frowned. "How is that possible? She may not be first but she still aced the tournament."

"Who knows?" Drew said. "Why did Marcy Hills get eliminated when she did well in Miss. Willow's class?" She looked around. "Exactly. Maybe she broke a rule or hurt someone or something."

...

The Hydras ranked third overall that day. As soon as Annabeth got any breathing time, her thoughts drifted to a certain Seaweed Brain. It felt unhealthy - just how much Percy occupied her mind.

She couldn't help it. Every time she thought about how understanding, brave, fierce, powerful yet sweet, caring and supporting Percy was, it felt like a warm fire had ignited itself inside her.

So yes, it was as if someone poured ice-cold water on the fire when she read Drew and Percy's texts.

What, you ask?

Well ...

Annabeth walked back to the locker room to collect her belongings. Unfortunately, she found Drew there. She was on her phone again but thankfully, this time, she was fully dressed. As soon as Annabeth came in, she locked her phone and stood next to the mirror. She started adjusting her already perfect hair.

"Must be hard, right, sister in law? Third."

Annabeth ignored her.

"I don't think you're maintaining your rank. First. Now third. If it goes on, you'll be rank 10 by the time Percy eliminates you. So pathetic."

Annabeth grit her teeth. She reminded herself that violence between the Selected came under grounds of elimination.

"Well, do me a favour and guard my stuff will you, peasant? See, if you are nice to me now, I'll let you sidekick me until the Prince gets fed up of you and throws you out. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll let you suck hi-"

Yep. Annabeth wanted to punch the daylights out of this walking monster.

Annabeth clicked her tongue. "I see... You're playing the moron who thinks like a slut." She deadpanned. "Am I the good police or the bad police?"

Drew scoffed. "Whatever. I'll be back in two minutes. My bag has all my makeup. If you mess with it, I'll personally bury you into a hole." She walked off to the attached bathroom.

Drew had left her phone on the counter next to her bag. Annabeth knew it was wrong but at the moment, she wasn't thinking. She grabbed the phone.

It was pattern locked.

Randomly, she tried the most easy and common patterns and after a few tries, it opened. She immediately clicked on the chats and opened up the most recent one.

It read: Hottie. (The Prince)

She scrolled up once. The first thing she saw was the picture. It was the same half naked Drew from yesterday.

(Italics is Drew, bold is "fake" Percy)

How about that?

You know that's a no.

Maybe later.

Okay...

(Attached swimsuit picture.)

This?

Is your idea to hear NOs? It's working.

... I'll surprise you.

Just wear the thing you wear for camp.

Too boring.

Fine.

Tomorrow. 2 O'Clock. Don't be late.

I never come late... *wink*

*rolls eyes*

She scrolled up to try to see more (yes, there was MORE) but just then Drew came back. Drew snatched the phone away from Annabeth. "What do you think you're doing?"

Annabeth gaped. She didn't know what to say. Drew scoffed and left, smirking.

She didn't really care about what Drew thought of her. Her mind was racing. Since when does Percy chat? She knew it wasn't his phone. That's not possible. But... Maybe it was Jason's?

Jason did let Percy use his phone sometimes...

Or maybe Drew is playing me?

What did Percy mean by 'maybe later' to the first picture?

Annabeth maybe innocent in some ways but she wasn't stupid. She thought about how to confirm if it was really Percy texting her and got one solid idea.

Maybe if Annabeth didn't feel possessive after just finding out she loved the Prince; she would have enough space in her mind to realise that it wasn't Jason's number in the first place. Maybe if Annabeth wasn't sleep deprived, Selection driven and exhausted from all the drama yesterday, she would have figured out it said "July 3rd. 4:32" instead of saying "July 2nd. 11:16". Maybe if Annabeth didn't hate Drew as much as she did now, she would have realised that Drew's hair was sweaty and messy in the picture instead of it being dry and beautiful like she saw the day before.

But this was the Selection.

And, it clouded Annabeth's logical reasoning.

It was probably wrong, petty and useless but hey, everything is fair in love and war, right?

She took her swimsuit out of her bag and walked over to the lockers that connected to the pool.

The next day, Percy was free so he decided to arrange for three different dates - one each with Calypso, Drew and Annabeth. Annabeth was the first - what do they say about starting your day in a happy mood?

Being coronated gave Percy had a lot of advantages. First was obviously his extravagant and huge room that had anything from paintings to X-boxes. He had his own personal gym, his own party hall, and a lot of other things he wished he had as a teenager.

Yes, he was spoiled.

However, Hazel feared that he would burn down the whole palace should he ever decide to practise the dangerous art of cooking so she made sure the kitchen was converted into his personal storehouse of various drinks. Percy didn't complain about it a year ago but now that he knew the Dos and Don'ts, he kind of wished he had something better than an electric stove to work with.

That is how he ended up requesting Annabeth's maids - Julia and Crystal - to lend him their otherwise unused small kitchen to cook something and (hopefully) impress Annabeth. They were all over the moon when they heard his idea, of course.

Percy decided to send Annabeth a date notice through Willow just to give her that experience of a spontaneous date in the traditional manner like he did with the rest of the Selected. He had sent a note saying:

Hey beautiful,

Put down your books or breakfast or whatever else you have in your hand and ask your maids to tell you where I am. NOW. I'm waiting to have my favourite meal with my favourite girl. (Wink.)

Yes, Percy was way more forward in messages than face to face. Too bad he couldn't chat. Nevertheless, he had bigger problems. He realised too late that his blue pancakes weren't... well, let's just say they didn't do any justice to blue or pancakes.

Maybe Hazel was right.

Percy heard the door open and close and panicked. He wasn't anything close to ready or waiting. He had a dirty apron on. There was a clear dark bluish line across his cream coloured shirt from the blue food colouring for his pancakes; his face, hands and shirt were sprent all over with flour, salt, sugar and baking powder all alike; one of his sleeves was burnt and tattered. Plus, he probably smelled like the inside of an undercooked egg.

Annabeth called out his name and Percy hurriedly shoved his apron away. He had enough time to shake off some flour from his hair when Annabeth walked in on him. She stared at him, he stilled and she burst out laughing.

He blushed in embarrassment.

Annabeth was laughing like the Stolls high on nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Her eyes watered from all that euphoria and dopamine. She clutched her stomach as she tried extremely hard to calm down. Percy felt offended. I did all this for her and now she is laughing at me! He grabbed the plates with the pancakes and rushed outside the kitchen to which Annabeth cried out a small 'wait' and stiffened her laughter.

Shw was wearing a pink two piece dress that reached till her knee. When she came out of the kitchen, she found him pressing his hands to his cheek and pouting - with a frown on his face. She pinched his cheek. "So cute."

He huffed. She grabbed a chair and sat next to him on the round table. "Looks like someone was ready and waiting." She teased.

"Oh, forget it!" He said.

Annabeth laughed again. After a while, she stared at something in front of her.

"What?" Heq asked.

She lifted one of the blue pancakes and took a bite. He looked at her for some small approval.

"Um... Percy?" She asked. "Are they supposed to be... ah, crunchy?"

Percy blushed.

"And eh... spicy?" She stared at him like he was the next actor for the movie Home Alone (i.e. kids' comedy movies).

"I tried! Okay?!" He protested. "It is the thought that counts!"

"Are..." She laughed. One small tear of happiness left her right eye. She managed to hold her breath enough to say, "Are blue pancakes supposed to be... I-I don't know, violet?" She burst out in laugher.

Percy found himself staring at her, which was stupid since he'd seen her a billion times. Still, she seemed so much more mature. It was kind of intimidating. Sure, she'd always been cute, but she was starting to be seriously beautiful.

He reached over and did the decent thing any guy should do if he ever finds his girl playfully but genuinely laughing at something he did: He kissed her.

In a swing, he pulled her up and cleared the space on the table before making her sit on it - without breaking the kiss. He spread her legs, got between them, cupped her cheeks with both hands and continued the kiss. Annabeth put her hands on his neck and stroked his hair.

He could practically feel the flour sprinkling from his head.

He broke the kiss and laughed. Annabeth stared at him. This close, he could basically see her cheeks turning red. It was adorable. Percy used his thumb to open her lip slightly and leaned in. Annabeth turned beet red at that and looked down.

Why was Annabeth so shy all of a sudden? It is not like we haven't done this before.

"Why? Why?" He chuckled and made her look back up. "What happened?" He talked to her with the same playful tone he uses with Estelle.

She shook her head. "It tickles."

Percy turned his head to one side. "It tickles? All this time it didn't tickle and suddenly it tickles?"

But she really did look bashful.

She nodded and caressed his hair again. More flour dropped to his shirt. Percy broke a piece of the pancake, dipped it in whipped cream and ate it. "You know... It isn't so bad."

She hummed. He noticed that she was still shy.

What changed in one day?

Percy decided to lessen her timidity and did the one thing he knew would work. He put his hands inside her top and started tickling. Annabeth widened her eyes at him one second and the next she was pushing him away and laughing uncontrollably. He didn't let her go of course. She stood back up and tired to move away but he just pulled her in and tickled more.

It definitely worked because after about 5 minutes, she was panting and accepting defeat and hitting him repeatedly on his arms. She tried to catch her breath for a while and Percy still had his hands next to her hips teasingly.

Annabeth laughed again and said, "You know...?" Percy hummed. "You smell more like a pancake than your blue pan-"

He started tickling her again. "I dare you to finish that sentence!"

After that, they ate his pancakes without further complain - now both drenched in white powder. Percy had a lot of explaining to do when Crystal and Julia came back to ask them about the date.

...

Did you like the chapter?

Some fluff after long?

OKAY, seriously though why are my chapters getting longer and longer?

P.S. Next chapter on... I'll decide soon. *laughs*