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Disclaimer: I do not own PJO!

Hang Out or Lose the Job

The entire lunch was spent eating in an awkward, suffocating silence. If Percy and Annabeth weren't glaring daggers at each other, they were exchanging (mostly poor, on-the-spot) insults. Poseidon, on the other hand, was thinking about the dreaded phone call he would have to eventually make to Sally. He could just imagine how that would go down—"Hey, Sally, it's me, your ex! I just wanted to tell you that your son is getting married to a temperamental, smart, and witty girl! Oh, and did I mention they hate each other and that this whole engagement was due to my poor and idiotic poker playing?"

That conversation wouldn't end well.

Mike was left with the task of trying to calm Percy and Annabeth down, but he would either be ignored or snapped at viciously. So, he would just sigh and eventually stopped his attempts at trying to create some semblance of peace. Instead, he mildly listened to the quarrelers as he swirled his—now soggy— salad around his plate.

"You're so selfish, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth practically yelled, causing other people in the restaurant to look over at their table in astonishment and irritation.

"'Seaweed Brain'?" Percy questioned incredulously.

"Your head is so full of kelp!" she fired back.

"Could you keep it down, Wise Girl?"

"Wise Girl? Is that the best you've got?"

"It's as good as Seaweed Brain!"

"You're unbelievable!"

Mike sighed for the umpteenth time. Why did I ever strike this deal? he groaned in his head. They had just met and already this plot of Poseidon's was showing signs of failure. "How about we get back to work?" he suggested. Even work was better than listening to these two bicker endlessly.

"Gladly," Annabeth said empathetically, standing up roughly. "Let's go, Mike."

"Uh, actually…" Annabeth slowly turned around to give Mike a dead stare that would've instantly had him six feet under. It was a look that said, I dare you to fuck with me. "…we need to talk. All of us."

Percy's brow furrowed as he thought of what else could possibly make this day shittier. However, Poseidon looked rather amused. Boy, are they in for a surprise, he thought while inconspicuously hiding a smirk behind a cough.

Back at Mike's office, Annabeth and Percy sat on the two brown leather chairs that sunk when they fell into them. Annabeth's eye twitched often from her anger and irritation. Percy entertained himself by thinking of the best way to kill Mike. Mike was making a few mental notes to get body guards (and other assorted protection) while Poseidon stood nervously near the door, ready to make a mad dash for it if (when) the two decided to attack him.

"So let me get this straight…" Percy started, clearing his throat. "Dad wants to expand our building, and you guys are going to help us, so we'll all be stuck working together….for three…whole…miserable…weeks?"

"Yup, that about sums it up."

Percy returned to his murderous thoughts.

"The good news is we're not starting today!" Poseidon clarified as if this news was any consolation to what Annabeth and Percy had declared as their impending doom.

"Yes, that's right. We'll let you two leave to, uh…get to know each other…." Mike said cautiously. "Consider it a day off."

"What if I don't want to be around this kid?" Annabeth countered stiffly, her nose in the air.

"Well, then you can say goodbye to your job," Mike retorted bravely. He knew that his threat was a bit much, considering she was basically forced to marry this guy, who was practically a stranger. However, by marrying Percy, she saved three companies. Quite frankly, spending the day with him wasn't going to kill her.

Annabeth's jaw dropped and her face flushed while her body went rigid. Even Percy had to admit that Mike's ultimatum was harsh, but he would never actually say that, so instead he remained silent.

Then it sunk in.

"Wait, you're saying we have to spend the whole day together?" Percy asked incredulously.

"Of course! You need to get to know your future wife, Percy!" Poseidon argued by the safety of the door.

Just then, Mike's secretary opened the door, momentarily cutting the tension between the four occupants. "Mr. Jackson?"

Both Percy and Poseidon answered, "Yes?"

She blinked a couple times. "Er, Poseidon, sir. Sally is on line one for you."

Poseidon noticeably paled. He swallowed thickly. "Thank you," he said weakly.

Percy grinned victoriously as the secretary left. "Better go talk to her, Dad," he said with immense, personal glee.

Poseidon sneered at his son and left without another word. When the door quietly clicked shut, the tension came back full force. Mike sat behind the safety of his desk, completely nervous now that he was alone with his two (furious) co-workers.

"You two should, you know…go…" Mike mumbled suggestively. He did his best to hide his anxiety, but judging by their reactions, he had failed miserably.

Annabeth rolled her eyes at Mike's childish behavior. Percy wordlessly got up and stalked out the door with a somber expression covering his face. Annabeth reluctantly followed after him, making sure to grab her bag. They entered the elevator silently, ignoring each other. Percy was preoccupied with thinking about how his life had suddenly flipped upside down. He also thought about how life was going to change while being married to this woman.

Horrible, he thought. Just plain horrible.

Annabeth, too, was thinking about why she had to marry this asshole. She had only wanted to help her dad, but now that she had agreed, she was starting to regret her decision. She couldn't spend the rest of her life with this jerk! There was no doubt in her mind that she would go crazy by the end of the year. Plus, with all of the fighting they were already doing, she would get wrinkles and frown lines by the time she was thirty-five. That was not something she wanted, and she would do what she could to prevent that from happening.

The elevator buzzed open, and the doors slid open. The two (still ignoring each other) stepped out and walked out the front glass doors to the sun shining warmly outside. Annabeth immediately went to go right while Percy went left, but then Annabeth noticed this and shouted, "Hey!"

Percy reluctantly stopped and sighed. He jerked around, giving her a flat look. "What?" he asked bluntly.

"Where are you going?" she questioned with an irked edge to her voice

"Home," he replied forcibly.

"You're not going home," she stated with a matter-of-fact tone. "You have to stay with me."

Percy shut his eyes and shook his head. "If you're talking about what Mike said, he won't know that we didn't hang out."

Suddenly, he felt two small, delicate hands wrap around his collar in a firm grasp, yanking him down. When Percy opened his eyes, he found himself literally eye to eye with Annabeth. She was glaring fiercely at him.

"Hey, my job is on the line here. I am not going to get fired from doing what I love because of you. I don't like it, but I value my job." Without another word, she released him and stalked off furiously.

Percy took a deep breath to calm down and forced himself after her. "Okay, Wise Girl, what are we going to do then?"

She twitched at the name. "Stop calling me Wise Girl."

"Then don't call me Seaweed Brain," Percy retaliated.

She decided to ignore that request. "We're definitely not going to my apartment…or yours, for that matter."

"And why not?"

Annabeth suddenly stopped and raised a brow at him. "Knowing you, it's probably a pig-sty."

Percy glared. "But see that's the thing: you don't know me…and it is not a pig-sty! Sure, there are probably a few piles of clothes here and there, but it's not a pig-sty."

"Whatever you say, Seaweed Brain."

Percy ran a hand through his hair in agitation, glaring at the woman before him. There was no way in hell he was going to survive this fake engagement.

Drenched in an uncomfortable silence, the two continued to walk down the crowded street. Annabeth was walking a few paces ahead of Percy, her black stilettos clicking against the pavement in a way that annoyed Percy to no end.

"Why do girls wear heels anyways?" he asked, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

Annabeth glanced over at him, raising a brow. "For us, wearing heels is like guys playing video games: we love them and they make us feel more powerful and confident."

Percy shook his head at her analogy as they continued walking. They passed by many different stores selling items ranging from books to perfume. Suddenly, Annabeth veered off to enter one of them.

Percy stopped and stared at the sign that read, "Miller's Bakery." He knew this place. It was a bakery that sold all sorts of delicious desserts from cakes to bars and cookies. He followed her in and found the blonde staring at the large display of chocolate cakes, hidden behind a glass, one-inch-thick barrier. Annabeth licked her lips at seeing all the rich, wonderful, delicious chocolate.

"Why are we here?" Percy asked, watching her with confusion.

"After this hellish day, I think I deserve my one love," Annabeth replied without looking towards him. She began rummaging around in her purse. After a few seconds, she pulled out a shiny black wallet.

Percy put a hand on his chest in mock shock. "I'm hurt, honey. I thought I was your one love. We are, after all, engaged."

She only glared back at him and before turning her attention towards the man behind the counter. "I'll take a cake," she declared with a genuine smile. The burly, mustached man smiled back and retrieved a cake while she handed over the appropriate money. After receiving her change, the two exited the establishment.

Percy, once again, walked behind Annabeth, who in turn was beginning to feel annoyed with this. "Why do you always walk behind me?" she accused.

"Because you have a nice ass," he replied smartly.

He adopted a wicked smirk while she gaped at him, her jaw dropping in shock. However it quickly turned to anger as she narrowed her eyes and did the only thing that she could.

She smashed the cake in his face.

"Pervert!" she exclaimed with disgust, storming off angrily. She had had enough. She was going to go home, take a nice, warm bath, and drink expensive wine and not feel a tad bit guilty about it.

Percy remained frozen for a second before slowly wiping off the chocolate frosting from his face. He glared at her retreating form and turned around to find people staring at him in shock. He ignored them, sending them a slight glare, and made his way home, scowling the whole way.

Meanwhile, Poseidon and Mike were still seated in Mike's rather large office, discussing plans for the project design, along with discussing Percy and Annabeth.

"I just hope to God they don't kill each other…" Mike expressed worriedly.

"They probably will…" Poseidon replied somberly, resisting the consuming urge to sigh. He honestly believed that the two would get along if given the opportunity. If only there was some way they could...

Suddenly, an idea struck him. "I have a plan…"

I wonder what that plan is...Oh, wait, I already know...

Anyways, I just want to wish all the mothers out there an early Happy Mother's Day! Without them, we would be eating burnt toast for breakfast and wearing stain-filled shirts (gross).

Thanks for reading, and review please! NO FLAMES!

-Akatsuki Child

(Edited April 2012)