Chapter 10: Promise
Annabeth
Then out of nowhere…
Two strong arms wrapped around Annabeth's back and turned her to his warm body. There was no time for any surprise, she was thrown right into a tight yet strangely comfortable hug with Percy. Their bodies thumped gently, the messiness of their ruined pajamas rustled. Despite the mental fog that left her stunned, Annabeth was surely steaming on top of her head after the abruptness of being in his arms, her seaweed brain not letting go and holding her close.
"Uhh, Percy-y?"
Puffed cheeks flushed boiling red, Annabeth tried to tilt her eyes to catch a bit of Percy's gaze but all she could see was his seaweed-like messy onyx hair. It had a few stubborn tufts sticking out like always.
"I am sorry, Annabeth." He hugged her again, squeezing on her arms hanging on her sides.
The rhythm of Annabeth's heartbeat sped up more and more, completely in sync with the other heartbeat against her chest. Their bodies grew much closer, it left her with an unavoidable urge bubbling beneath the surface.
However, it was a little awkward being hugged sideways while sitting next to each other. The angle made her body grow numb. Annabeth exhaled soothingly as she reached up and placed both hands on his back.
"Percy," She ran gently up and down motions on his strong back, "It's okay. You don't have to be sorry about anything. I am fine."
"I know." Percy snuggled his head against a very sensitive spot behind her neck.
She shivered immediately.
"I just want you to know that I won't run away." Percy whispered beside her ears, "I won't run away from you, not from this... I'll stay here to support you, as long as you'll have me by your side."
The rapid rhythm in her chest faded. Annabeth's heart just melted into a puddle.
"I won't run away from you either." She whispered back. Her voice losing strength due to the lack of air in her lungs, "I'll be here with you, whatever and wherever this takes us, Percy."
It was their promise. They were going to see this through together, no matter what.
Finally, Percy let go of her figure and caught her eyes. There was a bit of awkwardness with a hint of mischief behind his emerald gaze. Annabeth lost herself, tilted her head sideways with confusion, all before Percy took on the demeanor of a troublesome child with something up his sleeves.
A stupid joke is coming… I can feel it.
"To be honest, I don't think I could wrap my head around everything."
Relief settled over Annabeth and a sigh escaped her lips.
"It's a lot." Annabeth admitted, "But now that we know, it's better than being kept in the dark, right?"
Percy was silent.
Though Annabeth wasn't expecting a reply. Even she didn't know for certain if what happened tonight was for better or for worse, only time could tell.
"…." She bit her lips.
"Anna-a…"
"It's my fault, Percy." Annabeth cut him off.
When Percy stopped, she continued, "It's my fault that all this happened to you. If I didn't sneak inside my mom's study earlier, then none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have dragged you along, you wouldn't have to fight to protect me, and we wouldn't need to know there is a world hidden right behind our lives."
Just like before, her regret was eating her up from the inside and Annabeth wasn't sure how to face Percy when she was the cause of their misery tonight. The more she rambled on and on, the more and more agitated she was beginning to feel. It became an endless cycle of guilt and blame.
"I am sorry." There was no amount of apology that could help her feel better. Annabeth felt tears threatening to fall down her cheeks, "I am really sorry…"
All the danger Annabeth put them through… She just couldn't forgive herself. Her hands instinctively reached forward to clutch the end of her long sleep gown, ruining the silky smooth fabric with her drench and sticky palms.
"I am-"
Annabeth sucked in a surprised breath, her apology was interrupted when warmth rested against her left cheek. Her eyes blinked in succession, clear liquid pooled over her eyelids as she stared with teary sadness at her seaweed brain.
"Don't say it anymore," Percy whispered and close their distance.
There was a disheartening look on his face, and it clearly pained him to hear her apologize so many times. Percy reached up with his thumb and wiped the overflowing tears from her left eye. He repeated the same gesture and wiped his thumb gently over her right too.
Annabeth stared in a complete daze. Her mind turned blank.
"I don't blame you." Percy said firmly as he tried to get across to Annabeth, "And I am not sorry that I followed you through the woods tonight. I am not sorry that I fought to protect you from Clarisse. I am not sorry about any of it."
Held by his emerald eyes growing darker, Annabeth felt like her heart was being ripped open by those words. It eased her, but at the same time, a new pain she's not familiar with- that which she was afraid of sharing a connection with others, much less one specific person… Her whole life, Percy was the only boy she ever allowed herself to become vulnerable, yet right now, it still made her terrified.
"You can't be blaming yourself for everything little thing, wise girl." Percy held her cheeks and forced her to look at him. His gaze softened the knots in her heart, "I make my own decisions, but if you are still going to be stubborn and not forgive yourself…"
Annabeth couldn't breathe. Percy drew closer to her until…
"I'll do this to you every time you start to doubt yourself." He pulled on her cheeks lightly and ended it with a smirk, "Deal?"
….
….
….
"Ehheww-ehh…" Percy recoiled in defeat, "Oww! S-Stop… Stop it, wise girl."
Furious, Annabeth didn't stop it.
"I sincerely hope you didn't do that on purpose, seaweed brain." A flaring red cloud colored around Annabeth's figure. Percy desperately wanted to run away from her, or more specifically, her fingers that were pinching both his cheeks.
"Ahhhee! Ss-hoompe o-oouling... Owwee…" He couldn't speak properly when his cheeks were being roughly pulled apart, "Do-odn't…"
Annabeth didn't care about his protest. In every direction, up and down, left or right, she made sure to pull his cheeks until it hurts. Forcing him into expressions one wouldn't normally make on their own, she was going to make him cry. Yet…
Ugh! Why does he have to look so cute even making these stupid faces?!
"Ahhee—" He tried to talk with tears building in his eyes, "W-Why?"
Shotgun gazes narrowed straight for him, Annabeth found her targets easily. Percy had really done it to himself this time. Stoking a fiery flame behind her grey eyes, Annabeth chewed into him much harder than before and didn't let go for a full sixty seconds.
"You are a dummy, that's why!" Annabeth finally let go. Her fingers went numb after all that pulling too.
Out of mortal danger, Percy rubbed his bright red cheeks and complained, "That hurt a lot, wise girl! It's not nice to pull on someone's cheek, you know?!"
Neither is giving someone the wrong idea. Annabeth paused her lips and didn't say that part out loud. All that frustration now turned into growing flusters on her own cheeks. It became apparent enough that she was desperate to hide.
"Hmph!" Annabeth turned away with a huff, but really, she wanted nothing more than to avoid Percy looking at her face right now.
Stop it… Don't think about— Don't let your cheeks heat up now!
"You haven't changed one bit since I've known you, wise girl," Percy said as he flexed his shoulders muscles around and moved his jawline, but after a minute of rough pulling, his words couldn't help but sound a bit slur. "Still as violent as ever, huh?"
Annabeth scoffed and turned away from him completely, "Only when I am with you, idiot. You make everything literally impossible."
She heard a small laugh behind her.
"Oh?" He was getting into teasing territory now. Annabeth hated that her uncontrollable reaction embolden him to get under her skin. It was so irritating, yet she… she… she liked it when it's with him.
In the blink of an eye, five seconds…. ten seconds… twenty seconds… Annabeth wasn't sure what Percy was planning behind her, but the longer he didn't say anything, the more she grew worried.
It was uncomfortably quiet, prompting Annabeth to ask, "Percy?"
It was all for fun and games, that's why she wanted to egg him on and see what her seaweed brain would do, but Annabeth's hopeful reluctance to play along with his silly mischief turned into genuine concern when she turned around and caught Percy in her gaze. The blushes on her cheeks faded away like something precious down a drain. There was an unusual deep somber look hanging over his feign smile. He didn't look…
"Percy?" Annabeth scooched closer, "What's wrong?"
Percy quickly blinked his tears away and avoid looking at her. A sharp stab jab into Annabeth's chest when the realization hit her. She wasn't aware that he's been crying until he wipe his eyes. Something was suddenly bothering him, but Annabeth didn't know what it was. It made her sad.
"Nothing." He rubbed his eyes hurriedly and put a smile over his face, but Annabeth knew it was an attempt to reassure her, not himself, "I guess we should get some rest. It's really late after all."
Annabeth shook her head, "Percy… What's wrong?"
Despite her pursue, Percy was clear that he didn't want to talk about it. Annabeth's lips went still and the words she wanted to say stayed unspoken.
"Ahem, we should take a shower, then go to bed, right wise girl?" Percy began to get up from her mattress. The extra weight removed left her sitting higher, her toes barely touching the carpet.
But Annabeth couldn't let that be it…
"Percy!"
With her left hand, Annabeth reached out to grab the back of his shirt, her body shot up from her bed as her right hand timidly tugged him back by his right sleeve. She let go of his shirt entirely.
"Um… We should… we… that is, uh… you know? I think that would…" Annabeth was in utter shamble. It was the ultimate struggle to convey what she wanted.
"Annabeth?" Percy paused to turn around and face her, "What is it?"
It's not her fault, but her body wasn't under control. Even as she tried to say it, her tongue froze in stasis and the involuntary shivers left goosebumps on her skin. It was so humiliating.
Percy tilted his head sideways like a confused puppy, "Annabeth?"
Calm down, Annabeth. Take a deep breath and just say it.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, and as she exhaled, soft tingles ran through her arms and legs, easing her mind even if it's just momentarily. It was more than enough to open her mouth and offer…
"I- I… don't want to be alone tonight, Percy," Annabeth explained, but somewhere along the process she felt so embarrassed, her gaze shifted to the carpet below.
"Oh," Percy answered exactly like a seaweed brain, but slowly, his institution was able to put the two and two together. He blinked a few times, seemingly just as confused. A second later, his eyebrows shot up as high as they could go. He let out a surprised gasp, "Ehh?!"
Annabeth fidget on her toes, pushed her legs together, and kept her gaze parallel with the floor, her voice softer than whispers, it might as well be a gentle breeze passing through someone's ears, "S-So… C-Can you stay with me t-tonight…?"
Percy almost jumped back at her offer, "H…how can I—"
Annabeth was on the verge of dying of embarrassment. If Percy rejected her offer now, she might as well crawl into a hole and wait for her death. These feelings only amplified the longer Percy stared at her in silences, wide-eyed. She began to chew on her lips, sucking in her cheeks, all kinds of involuntary reactions she didn't have control over. Strange, her eyes felt a little wet, but she wasn't crying.
"Um…? A-Are… Are you sure?" His next response was pretty much inaudible too.
He took the time to swipe his right hand through the back of his messy onyx hair. Annabeth could barely control herself as a really soft whimper escaped her voice, but luckily, Percy didn't catch on.
Or at least that's what she hoped….
Percy waited for her answer nervously, but he couldn't control how he reacted either, which was just about the same boat as she was in. Eyes turned toward the left ceiling, he desperately tried to avoid her direction, but not that she wasn't doing the same.
"I- I don't mind…" Annabeth held her left arm and cross her right across her chest.
Percy cleared his throat, "Umm… Okay, but we should really get a shower first, right?"
Annabeth agreed hastily and turned away, "Hmm-Hum! Yes! We definitely should! Haha…"
She quickly disappeared into her closet leading to her bathroom, "Umm? You can come back to my room when you are done with your… Anyway, I won't be too long-gg… Wait, I mean, don't just barge in here without a warning, okay?!"
Percy shuffled toward her door and made an awkward-sounding laugh, "Right! Of course! I'll knock this time before coming in!"
He straighten up so stiffly it almost looked like an official salute, "Uh… See you later."
The door closed quickly with a heavy thud.
When Percy disappeared, Annabeth threw her face into her hands and crumbled with her back just before the closet door frame. Her knees gave out like jelly. Her cheeks were flushed and warm.
"Oh my God… What have I done…?"
…..
Knock Knock….
The sudden gesture was very soft it almost seemed hesitant, yet Annabeth jolted upward anyway. The small knock was accompanied by his gentle voice behind the door. He called her name with such a faint whisper, she wouldn't have heard him if she wasn't expecting it.
"Uh… A-Annabeth?"
Percy was finally here. It took him longer than forty-five minutes to finish his shower. In contrast, she was done in less than twenty minutes. During all that free time, she absentmindedly sat on top of her marshmallow-like bed, staring into the void with empty eyes. Now Annabeth stared at her door, unable to move or to get up so she could welcome him in.
"O-Okay, coming…" Annabeth's voice croaked unnaturally.
It was difficult to not be weird right now, but that thought wasn't going to help. She needed to steel her resolve if she wanted things to turn out normal, or rather, as normal as it could be for a boy and girl staying in the same room without any other improper intention.
More importantly, she was the one who invited him to her room, so it was impossible to back out now. Instead of freaking out, Annabeth made use of what little encouragement she had and lifted her smooth hands to smack her puffed cheeks. She shut her eyes, hitting her soft creamy skin again, again, and again until a sliver of mental reassurance gave her the strength to stand up.
The nervousness wasn't gone, but at the very least, she could walk to the door without anxiously tripping over anything, but not that she had any reasons to trip over anyway.
Unlike a dirty pigsty of clothes and trash spanning over every area of the floor, Annabeth's room was very organized and cleaned because she enjoyed keeping it that way. The maids always complained how they couldn't find anything to do when it came to tidying up her room. Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. They were always the ones who did laundry for her bed and clothes, or sometimes when it came to dusting and cleaning.
If Annabeth had to do all those things herself, it would no doubt end in disasters.
Hopefully, they already cleaned my bed tonight….
Gingerly, Annabeth circled around her couch and small table, each step closer to meet the boy with onyx hair made her heart pound rapidly.
Finally, she was at the door.
With clammy fingers, she grasped the handle and turned to unlock it. Once it's free, she opened it slowly and bashfully before poking her head from behind the little opening. Just as she expected, Percy was standing before her. He looked nervous enough that Annabeth could tell his hands were all sweaty from inside his palm and out.
"Uh… Hey?" Percy tried to be polite and waved his right hand. His eyes were anything but on her.
Unknowingly fallen into a trap, Annabeth gulped at the unexpected sight. Behind the door to her room revealed her sweet and lovable seaweed brain, a small embarrassed smile complement his pretty face as he stood before her.
However, something was different.
Dressed in a very normal pajama, Percy was in a set of dark-navy t-shirt and comfy long pants for sleep. It shouldn't have any significance, and yet….
"C-Come in…" She sidestepped and let him into her room. Of course, he had already been in her room so many times before tonight, but for reasons beyond her, his presence now made her restless.
Annabeth's face turned beet red as she stared from behind Percy's back. Underneath all his clothes which hugged his toned and fit body almost too perfect, there were areas where Annabeth could vividly imagine something all too inappropriate. It was too much to handle…
Annabeth couldn't understand how her brain cells and circuits hadn't fried to a crisp yet for trying to keep herself composed.
"Umm…" Percy stood in the middle of her room stupidly, "I guess I can take the couch? I mean, that's what you meant when you said you d-don't want to be alone, right?" He chuckled at that last part and awkwardly tried to clear the uncomfortable atmosphere around them.
Annabeth wanted to shake her head because Percy was completely wrong. She never wanted him to sleep on her couch, but instead, she wanted him to sleep together with her on… on the b-bed… Yet, him trying to be nice forced her to weasel out at the very last second.
You are not making this easy for me, Seaweed Brain!
"Right! Here you go! This is half of my blankets." Annabeth ran to her bed and shoved him a ball of rolled-up comforter. She promptly turned away and climbed on her mattress, then pulled up her own warm blankets and disappeared from view, "Well, good night."
In the blink of an eye, Annabeth left Percy on his own while she huddled underneath, her body resting on her right side which faced away from her couch, a small owl plushie keeping her company hidden within her arms. Immediately, she pretended to sleep.
"Oh." Percy whispered to himself, "O-Okay. Good night."
Annabeth didn't have much experience with boys, much less so when she impulsively asked Percy to stay with her tonight, but even she could tell her abrupt reaction left Percy clueless. He sounded almost… disappointed.
And he wasn't the only one.
Okay, Annabeth. Go to sleep now… Percy will be fine with my couch, right?
The only problem: She couldn't. Her eyes were wide awake!
From behind her, it seemed Percy was trying to get comfortable on her couch. There was a bit of shuffling as he settled in. Annabeth paid so much attention she ironically ignored her own needs to sleep. After fifteen to twenty minutes or so, she couldn't hear anything except the steady sound of his breathing.
He's not moving anymore. Is he asleep?
Annabeth's sudden excitement almost made her squeal.
Oh my God! Percy is sleeping in my room!
Unable to calm her thoughts, the subsequent silence was pushing her heart to thump repeatedly. Even as time went by, the efforts Annabeth was putting to finally sleep seemed to only backfire, leaving her even more awake than before.
It's impossible… I can't sleep at all.
This was a problem because in the next hour or so, dawn would approach and soon the morning sun would rise. If she couldn't sleep now, there was no way she could fall asleep in the middle of the day.
"Percy?" Annabeth hesitantly called out.
There was no response.
Annabeth sat up and tilted around to look. The couch was blocking his figure halfway, but even so, she somehow knew he was already asleep.
"…." Annabeth stared and lost herself.
If I sneak over, then maybe he wouldn't notice.
Annabeth worked up a plan in her head, but the moment she shifted her legs off her mattress, she heard a rustling on her couch. Her body froze.
It turned out Percy just shifted to his left side, but he was still asleep.
Annabeth sighed and continued her sneaky strategy.
Soon, she reached her desired destination. With careful precision and movements, Annabeth made it over her couch without a sound. She watched Percy sleep for a moment, admiring his boyish charm when he's peacefully dozing off.
He must be really tired after tonight…
Annabeth smiled as she watched her seaweed brain a little more.
Almost like magic, sleepiness found its way to her when she pictured herself climbing up the couch and carefully snuggling up against Percy.
Just this one time…
Her inhibition slowly faded away the heavier sleep beckoned for her. Eventually, she didn't care anymore. Annabeth did exactly what she wanted and climbed into her couch, slipped herself underneath the warm blankets, and got herself comfortable all without waking Percy from his slumber. He was still sounding asleep like a baby.
So warm…
Annabeth bit her lips as she stared up into Percy's calm features. It made her even sleepier. With gentle and smooth motions, she pressed her hands against his rising and falling chest. Her heart began to thump again, but the pace wasn't unbearable. Instead, everything felt pleasant. This was the first time Annabeth had ever slept together with someone else.
I could get used to this…
"I love you, Percy." Annabeth smiled, then she blurted out those three little words before her eyes closed gently on their own. Deep and peaceful sleep embraced her soon after.
And thank you for everything….
