Chapter 23: Sleep Over

Annabeth

"So let me get this straight."

I groaned. How many times has this been? Five? Six? I've probably lost count since the first…

"Your phone mysteriously broke in the middle of the day so you couldn't contact Owlfred for a ride back home, and because of it, you decide to catch a ride with the boy who you grew to like a lot- to see his mom in the hospital? Because it was his family emergency… and before that, you were tutoring him in a pizza place, but—"

I could almost see her face scrunched over in mocking confusion just to tease me about it, "To be honest, I still don't get it, princess."

"Whatever… I don't get it either." I blurted out in exasperation and defeat by how many times I've had to explain myself, and not just to her.

Or maybe, I didn't want to get it.

The Chase Manor, the place where I felt the least like home, was so alive and active that I had to wonder if my sudden disappearance today was the cause of all these commotions. It just had to be. Otherwise, the security staff around wouldn't look like they were all in a hurry to do something important. Even the cooks and the maintenance people were working their hardest, busying themselves with what they need to do like it was of paramount importance. It was a strange sight to behold, but what troubled me more was the way my mom's been acting since I came home.

Ever since I was dropped off at the front of the garage an hour ago, I haven't- or couldn't get over this feeling that something was wrong and bad things were going to happen.

Is that why everyone's seemed to be on edge? But why?

A little irritated that I couldn't figure out the reason, I slumped backward and sank further into the warm rejuvenating water. I grumbled, bubbles popping through to the surface.

"Hey! You okay, Annabeth?" She called out.

I brought my mouth submerged underwater back up, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

At the very least, the one thing that stayed the same was my best friend, the girl who was most likely lying on my bed right now and doing God knows what while I rested up in the hot tub of my bath.

"Your mom told me to keep an eye on you, why else do you think?" Her reply was full of its typical snark that I've always had a love/hate relationship with, "Anyway, are you sure you are not falling in love with him?"

Causing an abrupt splash, her remark resulted in me falling off my butt, followed by tsunami waves that overflowed off the side of the huge tub.

"What the fuck, Thals?" I screamed with a completely red face.

Instead of keeping my lazy lay-back pose, I jumped the moment those words left my best friend's mouth. My body pressed itself against the side of the tub and I did my best to lean over as much as possible without getting out, disregarding the strong waves that splash a lot of water over on the marble tile below.

My eye peered over the door, yet I couldn't see my best friend because it was hard to see anything in the first place. After all, the walk-in closet between my bathroom and my bedroom was in the way, blocking the glare I was ready to give her.

"He's on the other side of the room! You can't just throw that out there like it's—"

"Oh come on… you know he's not going to hear that. The wall is at least four blocks thick. I would be surprised if he did hear it."

"That's not remotely the point here, Thalia!" Frustrated, I was very heated up about her carefree and nonchalant attitude about this, "I don't want him- to get the… the wrong idea…"

"Ohh?"

I sighed. It was a good soak, but I needed to get out now. It wouldn't do me any good if I kept staying in the huge tub for longer than I needed, which in other words: I didn't want Thalia to mouth off about Percy again. Yet, I knew my body so wanted to stay in the warm water until my skin turned wrinkly.

Meanwhile, Thalia didn't offer anything more after that questionable reply. I could ignore it for now. Instead, I slipped out of the knee-deep water and headed straight for the shower stall. It had functions just like the one back home, and the automatic process began to clean up the tub by itself. As for the wet marble floor, I could always clean up later.

"You know that's so not cool, Thals!" I shouted across the closet into my bedroom just to give her a piece of my mind, "Don't you dare say anything about this. I am getting out now."

Meanwhile, I undid the ribbon holding my loose ponytail in place, throwing it on a basket.

"Yeah-yeah…" Her half-hearted reply didn't reassure me one bit.

As steamy water trickled out of the showerhead, I slipped in and began to wash myself down. My favorite Lemon-scented shampoo and body wash gave out a bubbly feeling as I rinsed my hair down and scrubbed it all over my body. This whole process would have been relaxing, yet the only thought that occupied my mind was of what Thalia said as it unconsciously made me hurried it up.

"I am not falling in love with him…"

I spoke with less than a soft mumble, and with water splashing down on my shoulders and the wet tiles below, it was essentially inaudible to anyone. More importantly, I wanted nothing else than to prove Thalia wrong about me and Percy. After all, there was no way I could be falling in love with him.

Absolutely no way.

And yet- the way my heart leaned toward him…

If Thalia was right- which I hoped to God that's not the case, then maybe it's because I didn't want myself to get the wrong idea. I didn't want to believe that I could be falling for him.

Heat overwhelmed my cheeks. I shook my head side to side to shake away the feelings. It wasn't difficult to tell that I was blushing like an erupting volcano without end.

"No… No, it can't be…"

Still shaking my head in earnest, I hurriedly finished up and got out of the all-glass stall. Hair wet with water dripping all over my body, I left the shower all fogged up with steam just like how my cheeks were steaming red. Soon as I dried myself down, I walked into my closet and dug through a drawer until I found a matching pair of bra and underwear.

They were comfortable to wear at home because of the cotton trim, and I liked them too because it doesn't look boring on me. With a tiny pink bow between the white laced cups, I dared say that I looked rather cute wearing them from just a small glance at the mirror.

Wait? When did I start caring about something as stupid as wearing something cute? It couldn't be because of… him? Could it?

My eyes were glued to the timid girl in reflection, watching her slender body in such an adorable-looking underwear, her soaked wavy blonde hair down around her back, and the burning cheeks on her face.

Ahh! No! No! Bad Annabeth! Stop thinking right now!

I shook both my hands at the mirror to distort the image and managed to look away. Yet, I was fully aware of a dangerous heat deep inside me that threatened to swallow me whole.

Just get dress already… It's not like anyone is going to see you in your underwear. I scolded myself.

I knew I was right, so I quickly dug through another drawer and threw on a pair of long pajama pants over my bottom, then slipped myself into a matching pajama top and button-up until it was secured. It was just a plain violet pajamas set among a dozen others in my closet, but it did the job to make me look as casual as possible.

Of course, I did a double check on each button just to make sure they were tied up nicely. After all, having the same boy who took me home an hour ago just one room away made it necessary.

"Mmm, Annabeth… Hurry up and come out, will you? I am bored."

I ignored her and went back to clean up my bathroom instead. It didn't take very long before it was sparkly clean; it was a huge help having everything automated by Owlfred. He knew exactly what to do when I made a mess. The only thing I had to clean up was the slightly damp uniform that I've had on since today. I put it on a hanger and let it dry first, making a mental note to put it back into the laundry basket afterward.

When my best friend spoke again, I heard a few clink and clank sounds accompany her slightly annoyed sigh. I could tell she didn't like that I ignored her.

"You know," She paused in the middle to put more emphasis on what she said next, "Your mom was so worried about you today, I thought she might actually call the cop."

Feelings of guilt swallowed me whole.

"But hey, you are safe. That's all that matters." Thalia concluded even though I expected her to keep interrogating me about today, or keep teasing me about my real relationship with Percy.

That clanking sound continued. Intrigued, I wondered what Thalia might be doing on my bed.

Damn it. She better not be messing with any of my stuff!

"And here I thought you were going to keep teasing me about Percy…"

An amused laugh came as soon as those words left my mouth, "Oh please don't get the wrong idea, princess, because I'm not going to stop teasing you about Percy until your face is all red. Eheheh."

I expected as much, "Just my luck…"

An exhausted sigh left from my throat even after taking that enjoyable bath, I turned on my heels and decided to stop hiding in the bathroom. After all, I couldn't run away from that conversation forever.

As I made my way through my closet to my bedroom, my mind went back to what happened an hour ago: that moment when I got home to see my mom's livid and tremendously worried expression.

I sighed as they played back like a movie.

-An Hour Ago-

"Annabeth Chase! You get out of this car this instant!"

want to stay here tonight? Before I could finish asking Percy a very difficult question stuck at the forefront of my heart, he interrupted me and pointed out the rolled-down window, where my mom with her demonic-looking eyes was staring- or rather- pointing its shotgun barrels right between my own.

"Uh-oh…"

I titled my gaze at the woman in her sleepwear, her hair in a wrangled mess, and looked at Percy beside me. He also tilted toward me at the same time and we caught eyes, yet all I found was a funny look on his face.

"I guess you better get going now." Percy chuckled and dared to crack a lame joke when I was about to get swallowed up by that raging fury storm approaching fast. If demons actually exist, I wouldn't be surprised because there was a red fiery cloud churning up smoke surrounding my mom's aura. She was literally a burning mass of energy as she walked.

Ten yards… three yards… five feet…

"Annabeth! I can see you! Get out here right now!" She was totally ignoring the boy in the driver's seat.

I slumped and Percy laughed at me, "Well, go on… I don't think she's going to leave me unscathed too if you take too long."

I stuck my tongue out at him and roll my eyes, "You are an idiot."

Swallowing my pride as I chewed on my left inner cheeks, I managed to ignore his little tease and shook my head in defeat. The thought about meeting my mom right now… I felt goosebumps.

Exhaling exhausted sigh one after another, I opened the door and stepped around the mid-sized SUV until I was standing on the opposite side. Directly facing her now, I was able to see my mom more clearly, then suddenly I saw she had actual tears in her eyes. It was something I hadn't notice before, and it broke my heart for a moment.

"I am home, mom…" I cracked a similar lame joke with a half-witted smile.

Scanning me up and down as if she was looking for any sign of damage or just anything out of the ordinary, the burdens in her heavy-hearted eyes grew quiet with relief, but that moment was gone in the next heartbeat. Instead, it was replaced with a different kind of rage. A different kind of storm as she stomped past the last five feet until she reached the distance where she was either going to hug me close or smack me across the face in anger.

I really, really, really hoped it would be a hug…

"Oh my God… you are…" She raised her hand.

For the very first time, I was about to receive a loud slap across my right cheek. I winced and prepared for the stings which never came. Instead, I opened my eyes to see that both her hands were raised. She opened them up and enveloped me into her warm embrace without a second thought.

"- y-you are in so much trouble! Young lady!" Her voice strained.

I sighed. Why did I ever think my mom would smack me across the face? I didn't know, but that's not my concern at the moment because it looked like I was the only support holding her up on her feet. Just like an overprotective mother would when she lost contact with her child for a full day, I could only imagine the insane amount of worry I've given her tonight.

No matter how many times I've tried to say sorry, she never once took her arms from hugging behind my back tightly. It was tighter than any other hug I've felt before, every particle of air being squeezed out of my chest.

"Hi, mom…" I barely managed to talk through the lung collapsing hug, "You are suffocating me…"

"And you made me so worried!" She practically sobbed behind her scream, "Where in the world have you been? Why didn't you answer any of my calls?! Even Owlfred couldn't find you! For Gods' sake! Please don't lie to me… I want the truth now, Annabeth."

While I already had a plan to tell her everything, that would take a really long time and I didn't want to explain myself in the middle of our courtyard and manor.

"Um…" I opened my mouth, but the pressures on my chest pulled back all the words I wanted to say.

Of course, her sharp intuitiveness that I've also inherited a part of pick up on the reason for my sudden mumbles and hesitation. Despite how emotionally irritated she seemed at the moment, she let it go for now, heaved a long sigh, and hugged me tighter.

"Oh. I am just glad you are safe."

It was another rib-crushing hug, but I welcomed it nevertheless and snuggled my face into her collarbone, enjoying her motherly warmth. Still, she didn't want to let me go at the slightest, even after a minute had passed since she hugged me initially.

I sighed, then brushed both my hands along the back of her head, running them through her unkempt blonde hair and smooth it down. It was as if our roles had been reversed.

"I am sorry, mom." I whispered apologetically, "Can you let me go now?"

I could sense a vague nod when her head shifted slightly beside mine. She sighed softly, exhaled through a deep long breath to steady herself. Finally, she pulled away and stared at me sternly.

"Don't you dare pull something like this again, Annabeth!" She relaxed her arms around my back and brought both her soft hands to my cheeks. She kissed my forehead, "I am very serious about this."

"Mom…" I complained about her sudden affection, "Come on, he's watching…"

She completely ignored my protest and kiss me again, "I don't care… think of this as your punishment."

I blushed. Being coddle by my mom, Percy was probably feeling very uncomfortable and averting his eyes at the awkward moment I had with my mom. I wanted to fade away into the background too.

"Promise me, Annabeth." She brought it back.

I sighed, "I promise, mom. Now can you really let me go?"

I doubt that satisfied her fully, but she let me go to my surprise before wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her nightgown. Seemingly settled down in less than ten seconds, she instantly made the last few feet to Percy's car. I turned around quickly, seeing him sitting there still and waiting awkwardly.

"Mom?"

Innate instinct overtook me that moment and for whatever reason, I thought trouble might ensure so I rushed to pull her back, or at the very least, put myself between her and the driver's window so nothing serious could happen, not until we got a chance to fully explain ourselves.

Instead…

"You must be Percy." My mom expressed her gratitude and even reached for Percy's hand herself. I saw how uncomfortable Percy felt, but couldn't do anything about it, "Thank you for bringing Annabeth home."

"Umm… You're welcome?" It was clear that Percy wasn't sure if he should react normally or as awkwardly as possible, "Ahem… I mean, it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Chase."

My mom replied right away, "Please, just call me Athena, Percy."

Most people I know would have raised an eyebrow at my mom's strange name. I've seen it countless times where greetings with strangers from the city would elicit that reaction, but Percy either didn't care or didn't understand that she was named after the Greek Olympian Goddess.

"You have my full appreciation for bringing my idiot daughter home from so far away. I could never thank you enough." Crossing my arms, I grumbled at that part about me being an idiot.

"It's okay." Percy replied softly, "She's my friend… I just wanna make sure she's safe, that's all."

I felt something tug so strongly at my heart, my balance tipped sideways.

"I see," My mom spoke again, a very gentle smile replaced the deep solemn looks she had just moments ago. Already, I could tell what she thought of Percy right away. Likely, our wavelengths were synced about the boy before us, "Please, you are welcome to stay here with us tonight. It's too dangerous to drive home so late."

Before I was forced into a bear hug that nearly suffocated me, I already had the intention to ask Percy that same question when it was just me and him alone. Of course, I was doing it because… well, let's just say it wasn't for the same reason that brought my mom to ask the question.

As much as I hated to say it, I felt an irresistible urge to make him stay here with me tonight, and when I meant me, I meant within the same house, more than a couple of rooms away. After all, I wasn't thinking about this with anything improper in mind! –cause that would be out of the question for everyone!

No. I wanted him to stay because… a heartwarming feeling inside me made me want him to stay.

Slack-jawed, Percy wasn't expecting that.

"Huh? No… of course not! I don't want to intrude. Plus, I just wanted to see Annabeth get home safe and sound, that's all." Percy said all this while taking periodic glances at me behind my mom, "You don't have to-"

"Please. I insist you stay with us. You must be tired after all that drive. I can't in good conscience let you drive all the way back home like this."

It was a persuasive argument that I would have used myself if I actually got to ask him. Again, I've really inherited a lot from my mom; in the looks department as well as how I am wired since birth.

There was a slight pause, "Plus, it's not easy to get fuel around here. I can have someone refuel your car tonight."

The shock on Percy's face after she pointed out something so important with such ease; the surprise erased every single counterargument from that point, thus winning the argument by a landslide.

"Please… Just for one night, and you can leave when you've got a good night's sleep."

"Um…" For some reason, Percy kept his eyes on me throughout his decision.

I had a feeling that he was looking at me for confirmation, but I didn't know what I was feeling myself so I did what any girl would do at a moment like this. I blushed and turned away.

"Are you sure it's fine?" Percy asked, "I mean, I don't think my mom would be too happy if-"

That's right! Percy's mom, Sally, was in the hospital right now because she was struck by lightning and survived. If anything, Percy would want to go back right away and be with his family.

Guilt enveloped me for being so selfish about my own desires.

"How about we come inside first? We can talk about what happened in the living room and what to do afterward?" My mom suggested, "Is that okay?"

Percy looked so reluctant still, but given perfectly sound reasons one after another, he sighed and gave up in the end. I felt my heart raced a little when he took a passing glance at me, still silently asking if this arrangement was okay. It's more than okay for me, but then your mom…

"I- alright... I guess that's okay." He said in a cool manner and brush his messy onyx hair nervously.

He made me gulped at his involuntary reaction and I immediately tried to hide it. I could only pray that my mom didn't notice how that slight little movement from Percy made me all flustered.

He turned off the engine and I saw the happiest smile on my mom's lips, "Good. Well, this way." Percy got out of the car and followed my mom, then she turned to me with grey eyes that dropped a few degrees in temperature, "You too, Annabeth. But don't forget, I am still very angry at you."

I slumped my shoulders and carried on in defeat.

Our path to the manor wasn't too far away, but it wasn't a short walk either. From the garage to the front of our manor, there was a winding brick pathway that cut through the flower garden closest to the house, with well-managed small bushes on either side of the road that acted as a fence, and further down was a full-bloomed Sakura flower tree, with its branches extending above the path.

I heard a sharp inhale from Percy who was beside me as we followed down the pathway. His head was turning left and right without paying attention to me, so I took the opportunity to stare unconditionally at him. For some reason, I couldn't pull my eyes away afterward.

A vibrant yellow garden lamp lit up the path ahead. A line of bright white light shone from the edge of our manor up toward the sky. Yet, shining sea waves glowing in emerald green captured all my focus.

"Wow. This is beautiful…"

Following my mom's lead, Percy spoke in awe as his eyes flew toward the pink flower petals on the Sakura tree. Just then, a cool breeze blew past us and rustle the branches, casually causing them to fall. We were right underneath it then, and I couldn't help but be marveled by the idyllic scene, the slight heart-thumping feeling of walking through it, its natural fragrance through the breeze, and the ticklish sensation of petals hitting my skin, which made me lost myself for a moment.

"Yeah…" I whispered softly.

Momentarily unaware of what's going on around me, a suppress chuckle from in front of us snapped my attention away from the flower tree. I looked forward.

"This way, you two." My mom gave me a really subtle smile that I almost couldn't catch, then her eyes shifted to both of us and gesture with her right hand, "Come on,"

It finally occurred to me that my feet were planted firmly still on the ground without moving, but that wouldn't be worth a subtle-looking smile my mom just gave me. So why? Just as I turn to my right, I came to realize how captivated those pink flower and green waves made me, enough to turn stupid and not realize what she was hinting at.

"Guh!" I made a really un-lady-like sound out of my mouth.

Meeting those wavy green eyes which were just as wide, I was speechless. Of course, Percy and I were standing underneath the Sakura tree, admiring its falling flowers without realizing that our shoulders were pressed together, our feet stopped moving on the same spot, and our head pointing up onto the rustling branches above.

Another breeze blew past our spot, shaking the branches decorated with pink leaves. We separated right away and couldn't look at each other.

"Um…" Percy grew out of his awkwardness and shifted his right hand through his hair, again…

I blinked away and stormed off without another word.

Eventually, or more specifically: Within six minutes, we've reached the front door of our mansion. The door opened automatically and right away I was greeted by Leo and Owlfred at the same time. Of course, a fluffy force propelled me backward but this time I was prepared for it.

"Woof! Woof Woof Woof!" Leo barked so happily. His long tongue panted heavily and his tail wagged like a wind turbine. He was totally ignoring the strangers beside me.

Percy looked pleasantly surprised by the golden goofball hugging me with his paws.

"Welcome home, Annabeth." Owlfred beamed, "I assumed you-"

Just before Owlfred finished, the whole house suddenly lit up with neon red color, filling the walls and lights with what appeared to be a warning signal. At the same time, my puppy curiously dropped back down on all his paws and went over to sniff Percy's legs. It lasted for only a few seconds, but then he made a soft growl with his stance leaned forward as if he was in attacking mode. Luckily, he wasn't showing any teeth, so I assumed it's just him being cautious around a new person he had never met before. Accompanying all this was a blaring alarm that Owlfred had automatically set off.

"Intruder alert! An unknown entity had entered the premises! Calling security!"

I almost screamed at him while trying to grab Leo's collar, but an exasperated voice stopped me before I could. My mom easily got control over both of them with her firm and authoritative tone.

"Owlfred? This is Percy… Don't you remember him? I thought you had a conversation with him a few days ago when you drove him home?" My mom gesture at the boy who suddenly looked scared shitless. I didn't blame him. It wasn't exactly a warm welcome by these two, considering how they reacted to seeing him for the first time. Owlfred was the only exception because they have already met, yet his reaction was much stronger than Leo's for some reason. Did he forget about Percy? How?

A rotating ball of neon blue light appeared before us which was a complete contrast to the sudden red tint surrounding the house, "Mmm? Percy?" He was studying the boy beside me, "Oh yes, I do recall him. Sorry about that, young man… It seemed my protocol is on a sharper edge than usual."

Owlfred materialized in front of us in his humanoid form, wearing the black and white suit attire that I design for him. He narrowed his eyes at Percy for a bit, then hummed politely, "Shall I add him to the list then?"

Percy flinched and I got the feeling that he wanted to run back to his car. I held back a laugh and grinned.

"Later, Owlfred." My mom told him, "Anyway, I wanted you to contact Argus and let him know that we have a guest. He'll know what to do."

"Sure. Right away." Owlfred set the house back into its proper lighting mode and left for the other side of our mansion property. It was another compound/annex by the ocean, one that even I've never been to. After all, our mansion property was more than nine hundred acres in size, probably even larger since there were areas I've not gotten to know either.

Argus was our head security personnel. A bit of a timid and quiet guy, I've never once seen him talk to other people. Rather, I've rarely seen him at all. Since all the times I've lived here, I might have only seen him once at night when I was still young. He wore a blue suit and tie, and he always had on his sunglasses wherever he went. He was a strange fellow.

"Umm…" Percy suddenly tapped my right forearm and whispered, "Is this a list I should be worried about?" He followed us further inside our mansion and slip off his shoes when we did the same.

Amused that Percy still looked uneasy, I shook my head in mocking despair yet smiled at his concern. Of course, he couldn't figure out what kind of list Owlfred was talking about. He's such an idiot… but just then, an idea sprung forth.

Given such a perfect opportunity, I decided to have a little fun with Percy. Turning my gaze at his filled-with-concern green eyes, I gave him my fake reassuring smile and said sarcastically, "Yeah. It's the list for people who winds up getting lock down in the cellar with the key thrown away."

"Whuh!" His feature tensed and he looked ready to run out the door again.

Not expecting such a scare-shitless response, he made it impossible to control my own reaction and wheezes broke out of me with too much playful mischievousness, "Haha-ha-hehe- Did you see that look on your face? Hehe-heh…" My voice croaked and I turned sideways to snickering at him, "Tee-Hee… Tee-Hee…"

The soft chuckle my mom had been holding back came out like a rush of dopamine to my system. I just crack up harder. Hoping that she might join me to tease Percy, I received a light smack in the head along with her signature knock-it-off expression instead.

"Ow," I grumbled and crossed my arms.

"Don't listen to her, Percy…" My mom gestured at the boy with onyx hair and turned around the corner where our living room was, adding an actual reassuring smile, "She's just messing with you."

Relieved settled upon his features when I revealed the truth, "It's the guest list, Percy… Even a third-grader would have figured that out."

When I saw a cute and needlessly annoyed pout on his face after the realization kicked in, I knew it was all worth it. That little twitch on his nose and those arched eyebrows, I knew I would never get tired of looking at him in this slightly fumed-up display.

He shook his head mockingly, "Your sense of humor really sucks, wise girl."

My body did a double-take at what he called me. Slightly alarmed, I couldn't help but wonder when did we reach that relationship stage where we would call each other by nicknames. Or maybe, and this is just a wild guess, Percy might have lost his mind and was being very bold- very, very bold!

I quickly blushed when he threw that out of nowhere.

Away from my mom who was already in the living room; thank the lord she didn't hear what Percy called me, I tried to play with the words in my head a bit.

Wise girl… I tried to get a feeling for it.

Even now, I was not a huge fan of how stupid it sounds, and that nickname only made my nose twitch uncomfortably with weird bright feelings bursting from deep inside my heart.

I played with the words in my head again and somehow noticing a slow smile breaking through and going over my lips. Well, it's definitely something that only Percy could come up with…

I shook my head and sigh. Just how much am I going to have to tolerate this fool?

"Hey! It's just as much as your stupid nickname for me." I was ready to say it, but when I came to realize that I didn't have a special nickname for him, I couldn't let the words flow out of my mouth. At the same time, it really made me want to give him one of my own, one even more embarrassing than what he gave me.

"Plus, that's really not funny, wise girl… I thought you weren't kidding about loc-k-"

Instinct made me silenced him with two fingers on his lips. It was my first time touching them, and wow… they felt remarkably soft on my fingertips with a good bit of lip balm on them. My fingers automatically drifted toward the right side, brushing over them, and I— Eeeehh! What are you doing, Annabeth?!

Upon realization, all I could do was freeze myself still. Soon, there were these uncontrollable tense blushes on my face, and it didn't help that I was pressed up against him with a lean-over pose to further silence him. It was a miracle I could get through my sudden dazed to speak seriously, "Don't call me that! It's not like- I mean, I just… at least, not when my mom is here, okay?"

Percy looked equally shocked by the sudden closeness between us- the way my fingers stayed on his lips, as much as the reason for the embarrassed look on my face. I blushed sideways at those wide sea-green eyes, and before I got the response I was looking for, a sarcastic and slightly wry smile moved across his lips. I felt the way he smiled smugly through my two fingers.

"Okay-okay…" He threw his hands out on either side, "No name-calling… as you wish, princess."

Just when I was least expecting it, Percy pulled my hand away, held it in his left hand, and smirked so playfully I was having a hard time breathing, "But you were a real jerk back then, wise girl." The soft whisper next to my left ear made me shiver especially at that last bit, and he knowingly put more emphasis on it so it would make me grow bright red with steam over my cheeks.

I was so shocked by what had just happened I couldn't react, much less shot him a cold glare.

His impish smirk grew in satisfaction, then he whizzed past me and followed the path down the right side of the archway entrance, which led to our floor-to-ceiling living room.

My chest felt tight. It took more than a minute to compose myself. I sighed with quick breaths. What the hell was that?

"Sweetie? Are you coming in or what?" My mom called from the living room.