A/N

I know it's been over a year, but I've heard you can't rush art. Honestly I went back over this a few times and realized how much of it was crap and honestly pretty cringe. But there's some good bits to it as well.

I think I kind of gave up on the whole spy portion of the story- that's the crap part- I really don't know enough to make it believable or good. But oh boy do I know about drama and toxic relationships. So I'll focus on that.

58

Jason

From a distance, He watches Bianca's heated exchange with her sister. It appeared that she had lost the argument as Annabeth turned and walked back into the restaurant, leaving Bianca out in the cold.

Jason approaches. "So how did it go?" He asks casually.

Bianca doesn't answer,instead opting to glare at him.

"Well, what else did you expect?" Jason touches her shoulder. "Come on let's go. I'll take you home."

"God he looked so familiar," Bianca says as they drive through the neighborhood. "I could swear I've seen him before, I just can't quite remember.."

"Maybe someone from school back in the day?" Jason pulls into a parking space and turns off the engine.

"I don't know."

Jason gets out of the vehicle and walks to the opposite side, intending to open Bianca's door. Before he can, the door swings open, bumping into him. "Hey ! I was gonna get that."

Bianca smirks. "I can open a door by myself you know."

"Oh shut up. You know it's a courtesy," Jason shakes his head as they make their way to Bianca's front door.

"It's a courtesy for a gentleman- and a good old fashioned lady: neither of us qualify."

"I can be a gentleman. In fact I'd say I'm such most of the time," Jason says, stopping at the door. "You just happen to bring out the worst in me."

Bianca scoffs. "Oh sure. See this is the real reason we never worked out- you're so annoying."

Jason moves closer, the tension between them growing.

Bianca stares into his eyes as several intense moments pass.

Suddenly, as if reading each other's minds, Jason finds his lips smashing against hers.

She kisses him passionately, her hands gripping his shirt. Then she pushes him back.

Jason wipes his lips. "What the hell?"

Bianca opens the door, walking into the dark home. She looks at Jason.

"I guess we're both pretty awful people, huh?"

Jason nods, then steps into the dark interior. "Might as well," he says under his breath, before kissing Bianca again, hands cupping her face and pulling her head into his lips.

He kicks the door shut behind them.

Bianca shoves him against the door frame, braking the kiss.

"You think that was an invitation?" Bianca puts her hands on her hips.

Jason grins, putting his hands behind his back. "Was it not?"

"Dick."

"Didn't I Tell you?" He leans against the wall. "You bring out the worst in me."

Bianca slaps his cheek, then kisses him.

He kisses back, hands still behind his back allowing her to direct the foreplay.

Bianca pulls off her shirt and tosses it into his face. He catches the shirt as it falls. Holding it near his face he can smell perfume and pheromones.

He knows what she wants. He knows she's asking him for it.

"Well?" She walks backward, heading to the bedroom.

"Is that an invitation?"

Annabeth

She smoothed out the hem of her blue dress. The room was empty except for her and some décor, but he would be there any minute.

She had recalled a conversation they'd had in which he had told her that he never went to any of his high school dances. So she had hatched a plan to give him that experience- and maybe to give herself a better one.

She had learned of an old school building that went unused.some students had used it for parties and others had used it for a study place. She knew there would be no one there this evening and had invited Percy to meet her there.

Footsteps sounded and she took a deep breath, hoping that he didn't think it was a stupid idea.

"Hah! What is this?" Percy entered the room, looking around at the balloons and streamers. There was excitement In his voice.

"Something out of the ordinary," Annabeth said as she stepped forward. "You don't think it's stupid do you?"

Percy put an arm around her. "Nah this is great. Is it PROM?"

"Well yeah, essentially. I just remembered you said you had never gone. So I thought this would be fun."

He kissed her forehead. "I have to warn you though, I'm a very poor dancer. I'll probably step on your toes, so I'm sorry I'm advance. By the way you look beautiful."

She laughed. "Thank you. And That makes two of us. But don't worry- it'll just make it more authentic… any song requests?"

*

As the music played, he held her close.

"Hey," he said quietly, his tone serious. "Are you okay? Is there anything going on? Maybe I should know about?"

She furrowed her brow. What did he mean? There was a knowing tone in his voice.

"What makes you say that?"

No answer. He just held her a little closer.

Now was her chance. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "Yes," she pulled away just enough to look him inthe eyes. "I wasn't sure how to- I mean. I don't know…" she shook her head. "I'm sorry I didn't rehearse this, let me start over."

Percy waited, quietly allowing her all the time she needed to compose her thoughts. They had stopped dancing, but he held onto her waist.

"So, I've been feeling this way for a while now, but I haven't really been able to say it out loud. I wasn't even sure if I should tell you, at least for a while… you've always been kind and honest… you mean a lot to me. And I don't want to lose you because… I love you."

Percy's face flickered like he expected her to say something else, then a smiled and kissed her.

"I love you too," he said, and spun her around.

That wasn't so hard, she thought. She felt relieved, likes weight had been removed from her chest.

"So," Percy said. "Tell me about your day."

Annabeth looked up into his eyes. "It was alright…"

She considered telling him about the run in with Tom. She didn't want to ruin the mood, but she thought about how she would feel if he had seen his ex and not told her. Annabeth looked down.

"I ran into my ex today," She said, quietly.

She felt the pressure from his grip around her tighten slightly.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I didn't want to tell you but… I don't know."

Percy touched her cheek. "Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah a little," she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "mostly me telling him to piss off."

"What did he want?"

"Honestly?" She laughed a little, embarrassed. "I don't know. Kinda sounded like he wanted me to move back in with him. But there's no way that's happening. He's delusional if he thinks I'd ever willingly go anywhere with him."

"Do you think he'll leave you alone?" Percy held her shoulders, looking at her intently.

Suddenly, she felt a little uncomfortable. Annabeth brushed his hands away and stepped away. She looked around the room, as if Tom might suddenly show up. Did she think he would leave her alone? She had felt confident on leaving him earlier that day. Was she so certain now that he would accept her answer? He had never accepted 'no' from her before; then again, she had also never fought very hard.

"I have been tracking him…" Percy's voice pulled other out of her thoughts. "I have to be honest. I knew he was in the area and I was worried… maybe I shouldn't have. I'm sorry…"

Annabeth's heart skipped a beat. Should she feel angry? Should she feel happy that he cared so much?

Percy took a deep breath before continuing. "I only meant to check in and make sure he was far enough away that you wouldn't have to worry about him. But when I learned he was actually here I thought maybe it would be better to continue to keep tabs on him. Maybe that was dumb. Maybe not, but I know he was close to you on campus today- I just didn't know if you had talked to him. I kind of assumed you might have. But I don't want to be that guy that's always jealous and overstepping… but I also thought it was important that you know I'm here to help out if you need or want… plus I thought maybe I need to, i don't know threaten him to stay away or something- since I'm moving… I don't know, now I'm just rambling."

Annabeth decided she couldn't be mad. In fact she found herself loving him even more. She hugged him tightly.

"Are you mad at me?" He questioned.

She released him. "Not really, I guess I wish you would have told me sooner, but I can't really blame you. How long?"

"A few weeks."

"Oh," Annabeth said.

They began to dance again, gently stepping to and fro in time with the music.

"So," Percy said. "Do you think he's gonna leave you alone? Or can I have a word with him?"

She thought about it. She didn't want Tom to think that she needed Percy to intimidate him- that might make her look weak and therefore a bigger target. But she also didn't know if she was intimidating enough on her own.

"I don't know," she said. "Do you think I'm weak? That I'm not strong enough or intimidating enough on my own? I'm not saying that out of defensiveness."

"It doesn't matter what I think. Cuz guys like him do think like that."

She nodded, he was right. "But if I seem like I'm hiding behind you, then that also makes me seem small and weak."

He nodded. "I get that."

Both of them became silent. Minutes passed as they considered the plight.

Finally, Annabeth came to a decision. She kissed Percy.

"Hey," she said pulling away. "I trust you and I love you. And I think you should do whatever you think is best. If that means confronting him, go for it- but at least I'm not sending you to do it, like some sort of lapdog."

He smiled-not a jovial smile-the kind of smile one gives when they have nothing to say.

He pulled her into a hug, continuing to sway with the music.