As Annabeth was heading back to the front line, she turned and winked. "See you at the fireworks?"
She didn't even wait for my answer before darting off into the woods.
I looked at Beckendorf. "Did she just...ask me out?"
(later that day)
Percy paced his room, running his hand through his raven hair. The way she looked at him in the woods earlier...his heart flipped over just thinking about it.
This was ridiculous. Percy felt like a teenage girl in those movies brooding over her crush. Screw this. I'm going to march up to Fireworks Beach, find Annabeth, and...then what? What if she just wants to be friends? She asked you out, idiot. But what if she didn't mean it? Are you seriously talking to yourself? Percy shook his head to clear it. He was going to do what he always did in times like this. Procrastinate, eat blue food, and make the final decision with his heart.
Annabeth fidgeted with her dress as she eyed the horizon. She hoped that Percy would finally take a hint and meet her. The minutes ticked by and Annabeth started to get anxious. What if she wasn't clear enough? What if she was clear, and he wasn't interested? 20 minutes passed by, and he still wasn't here. What if he never came? Figure after figure approached the horizon; every time, Annabeth hoped it was her Seaweed Brain, but she was always disappointed. Grover and Juniper, Beckendorf and Silena, Travis and Katie, Clarisse and Chris...she just wanted to crawl in a hole now.
"Kelp Head didn't show up?" Clarisse teased Annabeth as she walked by. Annabeth curled her fists, trying to fight the pang in her chest. Clarisse noticed. She let go of Chris's hand and put it around Annabeth's shoulder instead.
"Need me to force him over here?" she asked softly, in her strange way of loving.
As if on cue, Percy appeared over the horizon. He was wearing a crisp black suit with matching pants. His green eyes sparkled and the wind blew in his raven hair. He had a collared white shirt paired with, she smiled as she noticed, a blue tie. She knew he'd wear something blue, so she wore a blue dress to match. Sometimes, she couldn't control her Athena planning skills. His attire was so simple, but he looked so...handsome. A pleasant flush overcame her cheeks.
"I'll let you two be," Clarisse whispered, rejoining Chris.
Percy walked towards the Fireworks Beach, heart hammering in his chest. He really took procrastination to the next level this time. He let out a sigh of relief as he discerned Annabeth. She wants to be here with you, Percy reminded himself. He gulped when he noticed what she was wearing. She had a simple yet flowy blue dress that cinched at the waist. Her aline skirt revealed matching blue heels. Percy smiled, realizing they'd match with his blue tie. They were matching. Like a real couple. The heart-flutters returned.
"PERSEUS JACKSON!" Annabeth yelled at him. Crap.
"I'm so sorry Annabeth!" he cried, catching up with her. "I just-I was-I think I lost track-"
Annabeth sighed. "It's okay. At least you're here now. Do you wanna look around?" He grinned and locked his hand in hers. There was so much to explore! It was pretty late in the evening, so the beach was covered in a dark mist. Tall lamp posts illuminated certain areas, giving off a yellow glow. Dionysis was blasting some form of rock music. The water lapped at the shore; the crisp wind blew in their hair. Percy couldn't help staring at the way the wind gently blew Annabeth's hair. She looked so beautiful in the warm light...He forced himself to look away. There was a beanbag toss except with hot metal pucks (Hephaestus cabin's idea), pin the tail on the donkey with daggers, bow and arrows, cotton candy machines, wait. Cotton candy machines! There had to be blue cotton candy!
Apparently, Annabeth had the same idea because she was already tugging him towards the machine. Laughing, they both got some blue cotton candy and felt it melt in their mouths.
"Oh hey guys!" behind them, someone shouted over the music. Percy and Annabeth turned around to see Travis hand in hand with Katie.
"Hey Travis!" Percy shouted back.
"Do you wanna watch the fireworks with us? Connor's gonna be there too!" Travis yelled.
One look at Katie told Annabeth that she didn't agree to this plan. Honestly, Annabeth was on the same page. She did not just sum up her entire courage to ask Percy out just to watch the fireworks in a group. She wanted to spend some quality time with her date, and Katie clearly wanted the same.
Apparently, Percy didn't because he replied with, "Sure! We'd love to!" Annabeth and Katie exchanged uncomfortable glances. But, Annabeth didn't even have time to say anything because Percy just whisked her off.
"Annabeth, I see Beckendorf and Silena! Let's go say hi!" The two demigods ran after them. "Beckendorf!" Percy shouted, "Over here!"
Beckendorf and Silena seemed to be in a staring contest-they were gazing into each other's eyes without moving or blinking. It was kinda creepy. Beckendorf tore his intense gaze on Silena and focused on the pair. "What do you want Percy?" he asked sharply.
Annabeth winced. "Did we interrupt something?"
"Nothing important," Silena cut in as Beckendorf scowled. "Wait…" she looked from Percy's face to Annabeth's, then Annabeth's to Percy's. "Are you guys here TOGETHER? Like, as a COUPLE!? OH MY GO-"
"Uhm, no, no, NO! We're not dating! Just friends." Percy interrupted quickly.
Annabeth gritted her teeth and glared at Percy. Silena furrowed her brows. "So both of you are at the fireworks festival-the most romantic event of the entire year-as FRIENDS?"
"Exactly the question I've been trying to answer!" Annabeth cried, exasperated. Percy looked at her, confused. "I-I need to use the bathroom," Annabeth murmured quickly and scurried away.
"Well that was weird," Percy muttered, eyeing Annabeth's receding figure.
Beckendorf and Selena gaped at him.
"What?" Percy asked.
"You called her your friend when she asked you out!" Silena said, exasperated.
"But she is my friend!" Percy cried defensively. "Besides, why would she get so worked up over that one thing?"
"Was it just one thing, Percy? Think back to today. Did you do anything stupid?" Beckendorf asked.
"Charlie!" Silena squealed in her high-pitched voice. "My Aphrodite senses are rubbing off on you!" She hugged him tightly. Beckendorf blushed to the roots of his hair.
Percy rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed was more coupley nonsense.
"Think back Percy," Beckendorf urged.
"I don't remember!" Percy cried. "I mean, I guess she was kinda upset when the Stolls and a couple of Hermes campers asked if we wanted to watch the fireworks together…"
Silena buried her face in her hands. "Percy!" she screamed. "She wanted you to watch the fireworks TOGETHER! Just the two of you! BECAUSE SHE LITERALLY ASKED YOU OUT!" Silena's face was an angry red; Beckendorf rubbed her knee to calm her down.
Percy gulped down his discomfort. He kinda understood what Silena meant. He sighed. "What do I do now?"
Silena's face turned red again. "GO APOLOGIZE TO HER YOU DIMWIT!"
Annabeth rushed into the bathroom, trembling from head to toe. She slammed the door open and quickly scanned the bottom of the stalls. No feet-nobody was there. Probably enjoying the fireworks with their dates, she thought bitterly. Annabeth kicked the door of a stall open. She put the toilet cover down and sat on top of it.
She thought this night would be different. She'd asked him out for goodness' sake! Sure Percy could be clueless sometimes, but this was extreme, even for him. Usually, his behavior made her annoyed, or even angry...but this feeling was much, much worse. Annabeth felt a sinking feeling in the depths of her stomach. She was sad. Upset. Heartbroken, even. Before she knew it, the tears pooled in her eyes. Would Percy Jackson never love her? Would her life repeat itself? Would he just be another Luke?
"Annabeth?" a concerned voice called out.
"Percy?" she ventured, but it came out choked. Annabeth got off the toilet seat and reached the door. She hesitated...then unlocked it. Percy, her stupid Percy, was standing there, twiddling his thumbs nervously.
"Hey Annabeth."
"Hey Percy."
Silence.
"Look, I'm really sorry for doing all that friend stuff...um...it's just, I'm not sure, like, what we are, but it wasn't like...obvious-"
"I asked you out! How much more obvious do you want me to be?!" Annabeth nearly screamed at him.
"No, no!" he backpedaled, "Not you-me, like I'm not sure what I want-"
"Percy, do you want to be in a relationship with me?" Annabeth cut him off. She couldn't hide the pain creeping into her voice. She was done with the ifs and maybes. She wanted a clear answer.
"I don't know Annabeth!"
Great.
"But," he added quickly, seeing her crestfallen face, "I don't want to be just friends either…"
Annabeth raised her eyebrows. "So you don't want to be my boyfriend, but you don't want to be just my friend either…?"
"Exactly! But when you put it like that..." Annabeth studied his face, trying to understand. He seemed so lost, so confused with his emotions. He really was a Seaweed Brain. Since Percy clearly couldn't understand her words, Annabeth hugged his middle, enveloping him in her arms. Percy buried his head into her blonde hair, matted with tears. She fell into his familiar ocean scent and closed her eyes. She wanted to stay in this embrace forever.
"Okay, almost-boyfriend."
"Okay, almost-girlfriend."
In the distance, a loud bang signaled the first firework.