Good news: my plan for getting three hundred reviews is actually going pretty well. I got quite a few reviews last chapter, but hopefully I'll get even more :D Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed!

As always, credit for beta-ing goes to Clara Fonteyn and Stolen Silent Stars!

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO!

When We're Alone, I Actually Like You

"This is…amazing," Annabeth spoke, surprised. She stared in amazement at the palace-like house.

The whole house itself was two stories tall and it had a glass roof with slightly tinted windows. The sides were white with a few huge windows looking out at the setting sun. The floor was a polished hardwood, and there were white couches, white chairs, and glass coffee tables.

The kitchen was massive and it opened up into the living room. From the living room you could step out onto a balcony over a small pool of water. There was a short hallway extending from the living room that led to a bathroom and a huge room with big bay windows and a twin bed.

That was just the second floor.

On the first floor, there was a huge TV and a computer. There was also a bathroom down a hallway. There was a second hallway that led to a wooden deck that gave a good view of the open sea so many miles out.

"How do you get service out here?" Annabeth asked upon seeing the computer and TV.

"The island is near Cancun, so we get service from there," Percy replied.

"Oh."

Annabeth walked up the stairs to the second floor, and Percy followed her.

"Wow," she said in amazement. She stepped out onto the balcony and stared at the sun and how it changed everything. "It's beautiful."

"Yeah…" Percy agreed, leaning against the rail. "This was my favorite part when I came here during Christmas. Most kids were happy about it snowing on Christmas, but I got to see a sunset, and it was way better."

Annabeth smiled, and then yawned.

Stretching her arms above her head, she said, "Well, I'm going to bed. You're still sleeping on the couch."

"Right," Percy deadpanned.

She laughed and started down the hallway, but then Percy called, "Don't I get a kiss?"

She turned and raised an eyebrow. "After making us tumble down that hill…I think not."

She turned back around and disappeared behind the bedroom door, leaving Percy to sigh.

He slipped his shoes off and crashed on the couch. He looked really out of place in the relaxed room—his hair was messed up, his clothes were dirty, and his face was tired.

When we get home, he thought, I'm killing my dad.

That night, the winds blew hard and the trees smashed together and it started to rain.

Needless to say, Annabeth couldn't sleep. It was a little hard to do that when it sounded like the end of the world was happening right outside your window.

She kind of felt like a little kid who was scared of the boogey man under the bed, so she couldn't get to sleep.

Either way you sliced it, the point was, she couldn't get any damn sleep, and on the previous day, she had been knocked out, sent to some island near Cancun, and hacked through the jungle.

Was a little shut eye too much to ask for?

Well, apparently it was.

She sighed and finally pushed the covers down and got up. She silently crept to the living room where Percy was lying on the couch…

…wide awake, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Percy?" she called over the raging weather.

Percy's head snapped up and he turned to find Annabeth looking tired, her hair mused.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, trying not to smile at her appearance.

She sighed. "No."

"I didn't have much luck either."

"So I see…"

Percy sat up and crossed his legs while Annabeth went over at sat beside him, stealing some of his blanket. Tucking her knees to her chest, the two listened to the weather fighting itself outside.

"I never have been able to sleep in a major storm," Annabeth mumbled.

"This is actually a pretty bad storm for this island. It usually has relatively good weather."

"Just how many times did you come here?"

"I've been here about seven times. It was mostly when I started working for my dad's company, and sometimes we would come here for a vacation."

"I bet that was nice."

"Meh," Percy grumbled. "Sometimes, yes. Other times…"

She chuckled. "Right. I forgot we were talking about Poseidon here."

Percy just shook his head.

The rain slowly stopped pouring outside and now there was a small drizzle, and the wind had calmed down a bit.

Annabeth yawned and rested her head on Percy's shoulder. "You know, Percy, you're not that bad."

"I thought I was a Seaweed Brain?"

"No, you just act like one."

Percy rolled his eyes and stretched his legs up onto the glass coffee table.

He looked down at Annabeth, who was now breathing deeply. Percy knew that people were only truly relaxed when they were sleeping, and seeing Annabeth's face, he knew she was perfectly content.

And if seeing her like that every night meant marrying her…well, then, he wasn't too upset about the engagement.

When Annabeth woke up that morning, she realized she was really warm.

Too warm.

When Annabeth woke up, she not only realized that she was really warm, but that she was also pressed up against Percy's chest.

Shocked, she scooted back…only to end up on the floor.

"Ouch…" she groaned, rubbing her head. Man, if she got anymore injuries to the head, she'd get a concussion.

But that was the least of her concerns. She was more concerned about her situation with Percy.

It wasn't that Percy was gross or anything, she was just shocked she had been so close to him. Plus, she was confused about her feelings towards him. She had hated him for the first few weeks of their engagement, and only stuck around him because she had to, but now…now, she wanted to be around him. Sure, they had had quarrels here and there, but they had been considerably nicer to each other. And after yesterday when they kissed? What was she supposed to think about that? What did Percy feel for her now? He had asked for kisses more than once yesterday (hell, they kissed at least three times), and he had let her fall asleep on his shoulder. That had to mean something, right?

After getting to know him, she realized he was actually a decent guy. By all means, she wasn't in love with him, but she was actually starting to like him.

Wow, Annabeth thought. My world has totally flipped.

Percy then blinked awake. Annabeth froze, looking quite awkward, and Percy stared confusingly up at her.

"Annabeth?" he asked, sitting up on his elbow. "What are you doing?"

"Umm…nothing…" Annabeth mumbled back.

Wow this is awkward…she thought.

"Um, well, are you hungry?" she asked.

"Yeah, a little bit."

"Okay then. I'll make some breakfast."

"I'll try to get a hold of my dad."

Annabeth nodded and went to go downstairs. Percy quickly stood up and grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and gave her a sweet kiss.

Annabeth momentarily lost her train of thought and kissed him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but then, remembering her vow to herself, she quickly pulled back and glared at him.

He just smirked in return. "Told you I would get what I could." And then he swaggered off, leaving Annabeth to growl in frustration.

The nerve of that guy!

She furiously went to cooking some pancakes, grumbling the whole time about "Seaweed Brains" and how she "actually made herself believe she liked him."

Percy, meanwhile, was smirking like a mad man as he picked up the house's only phone. He dialed his dad's number. After the fourth ring, Poseidon picked up.

"Helllllooo…Poseidon speaking."

Percy glared at the white wall. "Hi, Dad," he greeted rather angrily.

"Oh, Percy," Poseidon laughed nervously. "I-is that you?"

"Yes, it's me. You'll never guess where I am."

"I won't?"

"Nope. I'm on your private island. Oh, and Annabeth's here, too. Coincidence, huh?"

"Uh…yeah…very coincidental."

"I thought you said you weren't going to do anymore stuff after we went to that party?"

"So I told a little white lie…I mean, from what I saw, you guys made up, so it was worth it, right?"

"From what you saw? What do you mean by that?"

"Crap…uh, well…" Poseidon explained about the hidden cameras.

"What?" Percy shrieked. "You installed cameras?"

"A long time ago, I did!"

"And then you spied on us?"

"It wasn't just me!"

Wrong thing to say.

"Who else was watching?"

"Er…um…just the office…"

"The whole office?"

"Y-yes."

"So now they know?"

"Yup."

Percy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You know…me thinks someone is getting a little too defensive. Is there something else going on that I should know about, Percy?"

"Nothing that concerns you! Now you send a plane over here to pick us up, right now!"

"Okay, okay! Jeez. I was just trying to have a little fun."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Bye, Dad."

He hung up.

"Is there something else going on that I should know about, Percy?"

Percy glanced towards the kitchen, where he could see Annabeth flipping some pancakes. Was there something else going on? People didn't just kiss for no particular reason. So there had to be something else, right? She had kissed him back, and she had even fallen asleep on his shoulder last night. There was obviously something. He just didn't know what that something was.

Percy stumbled back into the kitchen and sat down at the counter. Annabeth slid a plate of pancakes over to him wordlessly. She sat down beside him, poured some syrup onto her pancakes, and started eating them.

They were both thinking about the 'something' and what it could be.

Finally, after many moments of awkward silence, Percy sighed. "What's going on?"

Annabeth stopped eating and set her fork down. "I don't know," she replied. "I mean…I've never gone through something like this."

"I don't think anyone has…"

"True," Annabeth sighed.

"But in all seriousness…I like you. When we don't have to worry about stress or my dad or work…I really like you. Sure, there's still a lot I have to learn about you, but you're really not all that bad."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, I guess."

"You know what I mean."

She sighed, but then smiled. "Yeah, I do know what you mean. And, well…I like you, too," she mumbled, blushing a bit.

Percy grinned. "Good."

Annabeth smiled back. The two stared at each other for a second, and then, suddenly, Annabeth leaned in and kissed him. Percy gladly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. She slipped off her stool and stood between his legs, hooking her arms around his neck.

Annabeth pulled back after a few seconds to catch her breath. Percy still hugged her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Percy was kind of starting to wish he hadn't called for the plane.

Annabeth sighed. "I wish I had some clothes to change into."

"Hmm…" Percy mumbled. "There might be something in the bedroom you could borrow."

Percy stood up and led her to the bedroom. He searched through the drawers and found a shirt and some jeans that used to be his.

"This will have to do," he said, giving them to Annabeth.

"Thanks," she said.

Percy stepped out and she closed the door.

Right outside the door, Percy did a little victory/happy dance before walking calmly to the couch. He plopped down, and after a few minutes, Annabeth stepped outside in jeans that were a size too big and a black shirt. She walked over to the couch and sat close to Percy.

"The jeans are a little big, but it's better than nothing."

Percy pulled her to his side. "So when I called my dad, I found out some interesting news."

Annabeth raised a brow. "Oh, really?"

"Yup. Apparently, he told everyone at the office about the fake engagement."

She shook her head. "I swear…" she sighed. "Well, maybe it will be easier this way."

"Maybe…hey Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"Does that mean you'll kiss me in public then?"

Annabeth smirked and patted his knee. "We'll see."

I didn't mind this chapter, but it wasn't my favorite.

OMG! I went to Eclipse, and it was awesome!

Oh, and Happy Fourth of July everyone! Thanks for reading and REVIEW please so we can get to that three hundred mark!

-Akatsuki Child