Days came and went. I tried hard not to punch Rachel on the face and I was pretty much succeeding. The bruise was healing faster than I expected, maybe because of the constant dash of affection on that specific part. We slept in the same bed every night, alternating from mine to his because I don't know if I could sleep without him beside me and the fact that my bedroom wouldn't have any use if I didn't use it. I learned to depend on his warmth on the cool, dark evenings and I was glad that he never even reacted or considered pulling away.

Before I knew it, it was December. The weather turned from cold to freezing in days and I would probably die without a sweater. You see, I was born and raised in California (moved here when I was twelve) and I still wasn't used to the climate here. I guess my body hasn't quite adapted to it just yet. Since Christmas Break started early in our school, we get to spend plenty of time together. We always wake up to a make-out session but we don't get carried away like the last time. I don't think I was ready for it again even when I was starving for that skin to skin contact.

It happened a week before Christmas, when Percy woke up earlier than me. I figured he was downstairs already, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate made especially by his mother but I was clearly mistaken when I opened the door to his bathroom to see that he was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I know I shouldn't be embarrassed but the sudden rush of emotion and another specific feeling overwhelmed me so I blushed to a deep shade of red before turning around, praying that he never saw me.

But they didn't feel very nice today.

He raised an eyebrow when he saw me pacing, unable to control the blush on my cheeks as I glanced at his upper body. I didn't dare stare down there because I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. But he was pretty amused as he put his pants on, together with a blue v-neck shirt. "We both know that you saw what you're not supposed to"

I gulped visibly, hoping not to be punished but he looked sad and lifted his shirt. At first, I saw nothing but a perfectly visible set of abs. But as I looked closer, to what everything was really pointing to, I saw an almost invisible scar just above his navel.

"What happened?" I asked, afraid.

There was one thing I know I shouldn't do. That one thing is to prevent Percy from doing what he wants to do. He has a whole lot of scars all over his body, plenty from the many accidents from the sports he play and from the fights he's gotten himself into. But this, this was recent because you could tell that the wound was still closing or has just closed. "Jason and I got into a fight a few days ago, when you were with the girls." He said simply, hiding the wound. I shook my head, knowing that it was my fault for not being there. He and his cousin may get along as brothers but they also act like children and fight over little things, eventually with them wrestling as if they want to kill the other.

"Percy" I muttered, quite disappointed.

"I'm fine, Wise Girl. It's just a scratch" he then kissed the top of my head before heading outside, probably to greet Bella.

Just to take my mind off things, I took a really long shower. The water was cold as it hit my skin but I prefer it like that instead of burning me. Plus, it always makes my thoughts flow down the drain, if that's even possible. Anyways, it felt as if all the weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Hey, Annabeth." Someone from the other side of the door said.

"Yeah?" I asked, rinsing.

I could almost imagine him smiling. "Could you come out here for a second?"

That's a peculiar request. He knows that I was taking my bath so why would he even consider asking me to come out? But I couldn't even consider turning down an offer coming from him. So I grabbed the towel, dried myself with it thoroughly, and put on a bathrobe that was hanging on a hook. "What is it?" I asked, hoping that this wasn't one of his pranks. I wasn't in the mood to deal with them as for the moment.

He surprised me with a big kiss the moment I stepped out. His lips were passionate as they moved with mine in perfect harmony. I raised an eyebrow at him the moment we pulled away because I never really expected anything like that from him. "What was that for?"

Percy was absolutely ecstatic. It's pretty hard to explain but I guess he heard something he likes. "Mom said we can go to the beach house today! Isn't that amazing?"

Of course it was. He's been blabbing about how much he wanted to see the specific house ever since the moment he was told that it was officially his. "Only us?"

He smiled teasingly, pulling me close to him. "Why? Do you want it to be only us?"

"Technically, yes but don't you think everyone else would want to see it too?" He shrugged but led me to my room so that I could change in peace.

He didn't object when I brought him inside my closet, just so he could see what he wants me to wear and what I'm going to wear. Since it was pretty much my choice, I pulled out a long sleeved shirt and jeans paired with boots. I expected him to argue, force me into wearing something that shows more skin but he just smiled and nodded, running his hand through his hair. To make sure that he doesn't at all feel tempted, I ordered him to turn around. Again, he didn't say anything and did as I told, not even glancing at me.

I bit my bottom lip as I untied the bathrobe, tossing it off. I could already feel the cool breeze sweep through my unpracticed skin and goosebumps sprouted on its wake. Percy didn't look at me, not once, and I didn't think he would. Either that's a good thing or not, I don't know. But still, I was glad I could trust him with something like the image of my naked body. I easily slipped on my underwear and hooked my bra into place, pulling on my pants.

When I slipped on my shirt, I immediately turned to face him, hugging him from behind and placing my chin on his shoulder. He smiled and pressed my fingertips on his lips before kissing me fully.

We separated with a smile and I pulled him out of the closet, to the kitchen where many different breakfast foods were laying on the counter, waiting to be eaten. Much to my displeasure, my boyfriend just packed some for later, kissed his parents and Bella goodbye and headed directly to the garage where his car was located.

The drive was peaceful. Even through the snow, the roads weren't that slippery. I don't know why he finds this the perfect time to go to the beach but I guess I can't stop him once he wants something.

I stared at him the entire trip, smiling as he stole glances back at me before looking back at the road. His sea green eyes were sparkling as if excited to finally see the house of his dreams. His jet black hair was still as messy as it was but I didn't mind. I loved the way the strands fall on his eyes but not enough that I couldn't see them. He was perfect. God, I can't believe he's finally mine.

"We're here, Wise Girl" he muttered as he opened the door. I attempted to let myself out but when I realized what he was trying to do, I completely forgot the thought. He took my hand the moment the door was open and led me to the giant house standing by the shore.

Beautiful. It was the only thing that I could say. It was so beautiful. There were several rooms, all I'm dying to explore. But the one that caught my attention most were the giant double doors sitting right on top of the stairs. My curiosity overwhelmed me and I ran to that place, pushing them open. And my jaw dropped to the ground.

It was a bedroom as big as my apartment, bigger than my room in Percy's home (which I couldn't really think is possible). He wasn't at all surprised as he sat down on the king sized bed, leaning on the headboard as he gestured for me to sit next to him. It was an offer I could never refuse, even if I'm extremely mad at him. I guess because it was such a subtle excuse just to be close to me. Even through his innocent actions, I could see right through him.

"What do you think?"

I smiled and looked at him, kissing him lightly. "How come you act like you've been here before?" I asked instead

He made a face at me but answered, "I guess I expected something as beautiful as this from someone as talented as you. This is your work, after all."

There was a reason as to why everything felt so familiar. That lingering feeling that I've been here before. What he said was the answer to my question. This was all my doing, every little detail coming from me. I guess it was either Percy who noticed that I was good at this that he told his father about it or that Poseidon already knew so he asked his son to ask me to make him a house.

"It's absolutely amazing" I finally said after what seemed to be a really long time.

Thalia asked where we were. She's always in Percy's house by this time of day and I felt stupid not telling her. Then again, there is that fact that she might go here and see what she's not really supposed to see. It wasn't like we're doing anything, I was just afraid that maybe she would misjudge me again and it would end up like it did with school. I just didn't want it to happen again, as much as possible.

I didn't even notice it when the stereo in the living room started playing songs that I've been hearing for quite some time now… (A/N: I don't own this song)

Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help but
She always belonged to someone else.

I slowly and carefully approached him, making sure that I was keeping absolute silence as I crept down the stairs. I was surprised when my eyes finally landed on his figure sitting down on the sofa, doing absolutely nothing but tapping his feet to the music.

I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times
But somehow I want more

I don't mind spending every day,
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved (x2)

Maybe it was a mistake for me to start giggling in the corner because of his absolute obliviousness. He looked at me with a confused look on his face but smiled otherwise, wrapping two tan muscular arms around me. I let out a squeal of delight and kissed him gently, smiling at the warmth he was giving in the chilly afternoon. It was still pretty dark outside but I didn't mind. I guess the earth has to take a break from the sun every once in a while, right?

Tap on my window
Knock on my door
I wanna make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
`You come anytime you want

I snuggled close to him, smiling as he breathed on my neck, sometimes muttering nonsense to my ear. He would tell me how much he loved me, how much he adored me, how much he wanted this to last. I know I felt the same way but I think my voice left my mouth because of everything that happened. I have been screaming a lot lately, either because I was angry or because I was surprised. Either way, he could still make me shriek as girlishly as possible.

I don't mind spending every day
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved (x4)

I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things
That make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her
Every time she falls

He told me he loved me again, over and over again and I never got tired of it at all. I loved how each statement gets stronger and sweeter than the last. I loved how his eyes would shine in absolute sincerity as he confessed how he really felt about me. I loved how his grip on me would tighten and his fingers would play with mine. I loved him. I love him. I love him so much.

Yeah,
Tap on my window
Knock on my door
I wanna make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved (x2)

I guess this wasn't the best song at the moment but I couldn't help but smile as he tried to be as romantic as possible. For me, honestly, he never needed to try. But I guess he wasn't as content as I thought him to be because he started singing to me the last two verses in perfect harmony, matching Adam Levine's perfectly.

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye
(And she will be loved, and she will be loved)
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

(Please don't try so hard to say goodbye)
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

"I love you" he told me as the song faded

That was probably the best thing he has ever said to me today. "I love you, too"

The kiss was feverish. It was as if we were going to die if we don't devour each other with our mouths in the next twenty seconds. Of course we weren't planning that it would lead to anything other than making-out to the tune of "I'm yours" by Jason Mraz but I could sense that he needed more than that. He was dying to feel me again but I don't think I could handle it this soon. The last time just happened because we thought that we weren't going to see each other for the entire weekend. I'm not saying that it was a mistake, it was just out of instinct that we got to do that.

We gasped for air a minute and a half later. Our breaths were labored but as I counted his and mine, I realized that we were inhaling and exhaling in unison. I smiled and pecked him gently on the cheek before pulling him towards the kitchen, where the food he packed was lying openly on the countertop.

The food was amazing, as usual, and we both ate like savages. I laughed as he wiped his face with the back of his hand. Since I was much more mannered than he'll ever be, I took in my food a little more ladylike. But I didn't lie when I say that I licked my plate clean. You should understand that Percy and I didn't eat dinner much last night and we skipped breakfast. Not to mention the fact that it was probably around two in the afternoon by now.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked as we stood about five meters away from each other.

I've been considering doing it for quite some time now and I don't really have much experience regarding that area. But he seemed to know much more than I expected him to, maybe because he had practice before or maybe because he watches movies with scenes about what we're planning to do. "Of course" I told him honestly but I was shaking on the inside.

The impact was cold, hitting me squarely on my cheek and I shivered in both anticipation and because I was trying to maintain my body heat. He grabbed another fistful of snow from the ground and threw it at me, laughing as he dodged my attempt to get him back. One hit me on the chest and I made a face at him before hitting him on the stomach.

We were in a full on snowball war. Snow was flying everywhere, hitting us both on our exposed skin, sometimes on my chest or arm. When I finally got him on the face, I jumped on him, causing us to fall on the ground, unable to control our unending laughter.

We kissed and played and just talked the entire day. Sometimes, when there was a particular song that he liked that was playing, he would sing to me in that voice that I never really thought he possessed. I took a really long hot bath in my bedroom and Percy did the same in his. Then we talked again, talked about our future and what we want it to be. He said that he just wanted to be with me, not caring about how his career would turn out. "I want to be with you forever" he said, "I want to be there whenever you look over your shoulder, either as a friend or as a lover. I promised to you that we will still be best friends even when this relationship won't work out and I will support you in everything. I mean what I said and I will always be sincere in everything that I will tell you."

Soon, too soon, we had to go. It was a painful moment for both of us because we never really thought that we could just let something as beautiful as this house slip away from our fingertips. This was truly one of the many places that I felt peace within myself and around me. It wasn't silence but of just being me around the person I could trust the most.

We carved our names on the tree that stood strong in the middle of his garden. I know it was a little corny but there was that feeling about engraving something about myself in an object that would probably last forever that made everything feel more realistic. Being with him, having him confess his love for me is a dream that I was afraid to wake up from. It is too good to be true and I was terrified that they were going to take this away from me.

"Where have you been?" Thalia asked once we stepped foot in the house.

I smiled and sat beside her, tucking my legs to my side. "Beach house"

"It's a week before Christmas. Don't you think it wasn't the best time to go there?" Piper was always the logical one, next to me, anyways.

"You can't change a person's mind once it's set."

That was probably the only thing that I needed to do to survive my group. They were all very short tempered people and you can't argue much without it turning into a full on shouting match, even worse, a boxing (more like wrestling) match. And the last time that happened, Percy left with a broken arm. It was something we can't really avoid, the fighting, but it was best if we don't let it happen. Everything will turn out bad if it did.

Anyways, they looked like they wanted to know every single detail. As much as I did want to tell them, it would be just like having them with us. And I didn't want that taken away from us, especially when they would probably find a way to destroy what we already have. They do that unconsciously, ruining something without knowing and in my case, that something was our privacy. "You just have to wait for summer, guys"

"But that's still like a year from now" Jason whined

"You're exaggerating" I told him, playing with my boyfriend's fingers.

The boy did something really mature and stuck his tongue out like a child. As much as I tried to believe that Jason was much more mature than Percy is, there are times when he acts as if he's two. When that happens, I would rather lock myself in my room watching Dora. *Mental Shiver*. I can't believe I just said that.