So I wrote this when I was in middle school like 5 years ago and just found it with a friend and we thought it would be rather funny to update it. The secondhand embarrassment is strong with this one, but I am one for self deprecating humor so here we are
disclaimer: All characters and such pertaining to PJO belongs to Rick Riordan
Annabeth POV
I hate waiting for friends to come over. You take all the time to get your room clean and everything, and yet there is always those last few minutes when it isn't quite time yet. Not that my room was that messy, I like to keep it fairly clean. My family is out for the weekend, which is why the sleepover is at my house. They don't really acknowledge my existence, which is fine because it means I get to throw all the slumber parties I want when they're gone. I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of a nearby car engine rumbling to a stop, must be one of my friends! I walked to the door flinging it open in excitement to see the one and only Piper Mclean strutting up my driveway like some kind of overdramatic supermodel. To complete the stereotype, she flung her sleeping bag over her shoulder like a high fashion scarf and came to a stop in front of me, posing, one hand on her hip and the other flipping her hair to achieve maximum volume. All the while I was sent into a fit of high-pitched giggles and shrieks, I love Piper and her mischievous antics. I held the door open for her and she immediately made herself at home. While pouring herself a very generous glass of juice, she looked up at me and asked,
"so, what's up on the Percy front?" just the mention of him sent my eyes straight to the floor and I found myself questioning if my floor tiles always looked like that. "Annnabeth" she continued tauntingly " I seem to recall that we had a group project recently, you remember?" I nodded, embarrassment written across my face. "Your partner, hmmm, who was it again?" I finally found the courage to look up at her and respond
"It was Percy" she grinned at my acknowledgement and said, slower this time
"And how was that?" I couldn't keep the smile off my face, and finally I agreed to give in
"It was amazing, he knows how to make me laugh and isn't scared off when I start to ramble about school, and he has this really really cute grin that he does where it's all unbalanced and lopsided, and his teeth are really white-" I cut off when Piper started laughing, and found the embarrassment again. Had I really just said all that out loud? Piper choked out words over her laughs
"I thought you'd never admit it" And I smiled, because I knew that she could tell, but it was something else to be able to admit it to her because that meant I could truly admit it to myself. "Can I tell the girls?" she asked, excitement clear in her voice. I rolled my eyes, but agreed because if Piper told them that meant I wouldn't have to live through this embarrassment again.
Annabeth POV
The sleepover was actually a lot of fun. I had been dreading it a little bit because I knew everyone would grill me about Percy, but after the initial blushing and fussing, we started playing Mario Kart and the intense competition made my little crush into old news. Now though, it was time to go back to school. I was determined to go into math today with more confidence, because I should not be reduced into a blushing mess at the mere mention of my the boy in the seat next to mine. So I marched in, Piper at my side with the intention to be cool, calm, and very much collected. I split ways with Piper and sat down, before him as always and began prepping for class. I heard the rustling next to me that I knew meant he had sat down, but instead of whipping my head around so that our eyes could meet I took a moment to collect myself, steeling my nerves for the imminent conversation. I forced myself to move slowly, my curly ponytail swishing softly to the side as I turned my head, very normally I might add, to look at Percy. He was already staring at me, and due to my very smooth head turn, it was his turn to be flustered. He faltered, but only for a moment, twitching his lips into that smile I love so much and letting a "oh, um hey" slip out. It was all I could do to not be overcome, but heeding Pipers advice to be a bad bitch, I smiled right back without too much enthusiasm and gave a low effort
"Hi" it was simple, but this was the first conversation we had had that I hadn't become a stammering mess right off the bat. I kept my composure, but on the inside I was in a state of full celebration. Our brief, but very successful moment was interrupted by Ms. Walls, who decided that triangles were more important than my now full fledged middle school love life. I suppose when I put it like that triangles might take the cake. Apparently luck was in my favor though because after a quick talk through of our next unit and some of the basic concepts, we were let go to work on some homework for the rest of class. I, however had already finished mine, and took the opportunity to distract Percy. I started simple, working up my confidence and commented on the paper he pulled out.
"Homework?" I asked, my voice going slightly higher than I wanted it to as I asked. He seemed startled, which is fair considering I never start our conversations, but the surprise quickly morphed into a light smile dancing on his lips.
"Yep, I'm not one for finishing assignments quickly like you princess" he smirked, apparently aware of the cliff my confidence was teetering on, the nickname requiring me to take a very unnaturally deep breath before shooting back at him in an accusatory tone
"nicknames, didn't realize we were that close" he did not expect me to be able to recover, but I had learned a lot about flirting over the weekend watching countless romance movies with the occasional clever line with my friends. Now it was his turn to take a deep breath, but that smile was back, just as quick as before, growing impossibly big, his face overtaken by mischief.
"well how close do you want to be" he asked next, and there my extensive knowledge of romance ended, the flirty banter was too much for me, and with the lack of a better excuse I announced
"I have to go to the bathroom"
It was all I could do to hide my tomato-red face from him as I spun on my heel and went up to Ms. Walls to ask for permission.
And that is the legacy of my middle school years. I probably will never find the urge to update this again but maybe I will want to indulge in the tendencies of my youth, who knows. Just for anyone paying attention the pipeline from avid mediocre PJO fanfiction reader to avid Minecraft streamer watcher is very real. Stay safe out there guys.