Annabeth's P.O.V
I walked into the apartment a smile on my face. I'd had a surprisingly good time working with Percy this evening, and I had thought that it was going to be a disaster after he sent Piper home. I guess I was wrong, but I wouldn't admit that, if I were asked.
The thing I found odd was how quiet the apartment was. I'd been expecting Piper to tell me off for not texting her to tell her I was on my way home, but after calling out for her a couple of times and getting no response, I decided to text her to make sure she was okay.
Annabeth: Hey, where are you?
It took a while, but I finally got a response about ten minutes later.
Piper: Out with Jason, y'know icing sugar guy?
I laughed, of course she was.
Annabeth: Enjoy!
I decided to text Percy to uphold the agreement of letting him know how the whole Piper /Jason thing went.
Annabeth: Piper is still with Jason.
If we'd have made that bet, you'd owe me $10.
Percy: Told you fools bet :)
I laughed, put my phone down and got my blueprints out, I had a small portion to finish off, so I set to working on it.
I was still working on it when I heard the front door close, I looked at the clock on my bedside table, it was 1am. I rolled my eyes and smiled; she must have had a good time.
I still hadn't managed to finish my blueprint, something that I was expecting to take twenty minutes tops; but two and a half hours on there it was, incomplete.
It was my own fault I was letting Percy distract me, as hard as I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about him, his amazing smile and his gorgeous sea-green eyes, hair that looked just the right amount of messy and the way he made me laugh.
I had never had this much trouble concentrating before. I sighed in frustration and decided to call it a night. Thursday was my only free day, and I was going to spend the morning in bed and then probably the rest of the day hearing about Piper's evening with Jason. I'd have to make time to finish my work after that.
I woke up to Piper jumping on my bed like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. Trust me I have two younger brothers, so I would know.
"Piper!" I groaned, rolling over to look at the time. "It's not even 9am!"
"Sorry! Okay well I'm not but I just couldn't wait any longer for you to get up!"
I rolled my eyes accepting that I was going to have to get up now.
"Fine, give me ten minutes, we'll go to the shop and get breakfast and more importantly coffee." I said getting up and I noticed she was already dressed. "Did you even sleep?" I asked.
"Barely" She said smiling like she was on cloud nine. I got dressed and quickly tidied up my room / workspace, it was fairly basic and clutter free, with the grey walls, a bed, a desk and a dresser but it's the way I needed it to be to allow me to work productively. Although fat lot of good it did me last night.
It took us all of 15 minutes to get to the coffee shop, order and sit down at a table in the back before Piper caved on her 'I'll tell you when we get there' rule.
"...and then we just talked for hours about well, nothing, but stuff y'know?" she said.
"Piper you're making literally no sense right now." I laughed before taking another sip of my coffee.
"You know what I mean" She persisted.
"What I know, is that you really like him, when are you seeing him again?" I asked.
"Friday" She said sheepishly.
"Oh, I see, already blowing me off to see him" I teased, truthfully, I didn't mind, I was pleased to see her so happy.
"I'm sorry, I said yes before we worked out the details".
"Piper, it's fine, honestly, so where is he taking you?" I asked.
"No idea" she exclaimed.
"No idea? And you're not freaking out about what you need to wear because you don't know?" I teased, because although Piper played down her how girly she could be, she always put effort into looking good for a date. Especially when she wanted it to go as well, as she wanted this one too.
"No, I figured if he likes me enough to ask me out when I'm covered in icing sugar, I could turn up in my pyjamas and we'd probably still have fun." She said but I could see the internal freak out she was having while trying to play it cool.
"Okay, if you say so, either way I know you'll knock his socks off when he picks you up."
"Annabeth!" She exclaimed and punched me playfully on the arm.
"I'll take that as a yes on the freaking out." I laughed.
"It's not funny! I want to make a good impression" She whined.
So, I could have had a little more fun and teased her until she couldn't take it anymore. But I decided to text Percy and ask for help on her behalf and no I didn't tell her that's what I was doing, I'd never hear the end of it.
Annabeth: Update! They're going on a date on Friday!
But she doesn't know where they're going, so, doesn't know what to wear.
Could you find out for me?
Percy: He wants it to be a surprise.
Can you keep a secret Annabeth?
Annabeth: Sure can!
Percy: Okay I'll tell you.
Percy's P.O.V
I could not stop thinking about Annabeth, I was finding everything I did made we wonder if it was something she'd like to do or not. Like this morning, I grabbed breakfast from a store on campus and wondered if she'd do the same when she had an early morning class or would she be organised enough to have breakfast before she left home?
Did she have classes on Thursdays? Could we get lunch together after class if she did? Would she want to get lunch with me at all?
I decided to try and ignore all these questions that floated around in my head and focus on my lecture about coral reef habitats. It wasn't that it wasn't an interesting subject because it was, I just could not get myself to focus.
I was even less successful after Annabeth texted me about Jason's date on Friday night. I'll admit I spent most of my lecture texting Annabeth barely paying attention, I only just noticed the lecture had finished when people started to get up and leave. I quickly copied down the assignment and headed for mom's coffee shop. I had promised to pick Estelle up this afternoon and look after her while mom and Paul worked, and I needed this week's password for the school.
Estelle's school is super security conscious which is great when you think about it because it means she'll always be safe. But it also meant I couldn't just go and pick up my little sister on a whim to help my mom out without having a password, a password that changed every week. It was also school policy not to send it out over text or email in case they got hacked, like I said super security conscious.
"Percy!" My mom said as I walked into the shop.
"Hey mom" I smiled and hugged her.
"Leo, I'm just taking ten minutes, if you need me, I'll be at table four" She called out to Leo, who was an engineering major at NYU and actually a pretty cool guy.
"No problem Mrs. B" he called back.
"Mom, why don't you get them to call you Sally, you hate formalities." I asked for the hundredth time as we sat at table four.
"Oh, I don't know, it doesn't matter really in the grand scheme of things they're all great kids." She told me.
"I'm sure" I said, "I just needed to get the password for Estelle's school for later."
"Oh yes, thanks so much for picking her up today Percy, Paul's meeting got moved at the last minute, I really appreciate it."
"Of course, mom, anything for my little sister," I smiled, and mom smiled back at me.
"Candy cane" my mom said.
"Are they serious? Advent starts tomorrow and they use a Christmas themed password? Do you know what they should use? Basket, like Easter basket that would be less easy to guess!" I said and my mom laughed at me.
"I'll be sure to raise it at the next parents meeting" she said, "Now, I really need to get back and help Leo with the lunch rush."
"Sure mom, I'll see you soon" I said before she went back to work.
I made my way back to my apartment to pick up my car and set off for Estelle's school. She didn't get out until three and it was only half two when I arrived. But the last time I picked her up I had had to do so much paperwork and Estelle had been really mad that we were late home, well y'know as mad as a five-year-old can be. All the same I wanted to avoid that today.
As my luck would have it the paperwork was a onetime only thing, the first time you picked up to make sure you were who you said you were. So, I was half an hour early, I decided to see how Annabeth was doing.
Percy: Hey how goes the outfit hunt?
Annabeth: Success! Only took all morning!
Percy: I think the next time I have a date,
I need to up my time deciding what, to wear.
I don't take nearly long enough!
Annabeth: Perhaps you should!
Idiot! Why did I say that? Now she probably thinks I have a date lined up and don't. I wish I had one planned with her.
Percy: Does she always take a whole day,
to decide what to wear?
Annabeth: Nope! First time for everything!
Percy: I hope they have fun. What are you up to?
Annabeth: Assignment work.
I've got a structural design project due, you?
Percy: When's it due? Picking up my sister from school.
I'm babysitting for the afternoon.
As I sent the last message Estelle's class started to appear at the gate, so I put my phone in my pocket and waited for my sister to appear. It didn't take too long, she was talking to one of her friends, I should remember her name, but I don't. She spotted me, smiled and said what I assumed was goodbye to her friend before running over.
"Percy!" she exclaimed.
"Hey Estelle, how was school?" I asked taking her bag and her hand before crossing the road.
The whole drive back to mom and Paul's she told me about her day and her friends, and it was really nice to see how much she genuinely enjoyed school. I wish I had back then, I was happy she was enjoying.
"Do you have any reading to do?" I asked as I unlocked the apartment.
"Nope" She said popping the P, just like Thalia did – she's such a bad influence.
"So, if I open this bag, it's not going to contain a book and a reading dairy for me to sign?" I said sceptically.
She looked defeated and I knew I'd won.
"Look at it this way," I said, "If we do the reading now, it's out the way and then we can do whatever you want to do before dinner."
"Whatever I want to do?" She asked.
"Yes"
"Promise?" she asked holding out her little finger for me to pinkie swear.
"Promise" I confirmed linking my little finger with hers.
She nodded and took her book bag over to the sofa.
"So, what are we reading?" I asked sitting down next to my sister.
"We're going on a bear hunt" She said, and I smiled, I loved this book when I was younger, I struggled to read it back then, but I knew it off by heart now, so my dyslexia wouldn't be a problem. We were only supposed to read a few pages, but Estelle's reading level had always been more advanced than what she'd been set so we ended up finishing the whole book.
"Nice job Estelle!" I said offering up a high five which totally got ignored. I was left hanging by my little sister, wow – feeling really un-cool right now, but she did save it by giving me a hug. I wrote in her reading diary and signed it, like mom told me I needed to, before putting it and the book back in her bag for school tomorrow.
"So, what did you want to do before dinner?" I asked.
"Princesses!" She declared and only then did I realise what I'd gotten myself into, but a pinkie promise was a pinkie promise.
"Okay" I said, and she ran off to get her fancy-dress box.
I checked my phone and saw I had a message from Annabeth saying her project was due tomorrow.
Percy: How's the project going?
Annabeth: Done! :)
How goes the babysitting?
Percy: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Annabeth's P.O.V
I had finished my project and was watching TV with Piper; well actually I was trying to watch TV, Piper was trying to get me to tell her where she was going tomorrow night.
"Come on Annabeth, please! I'm your best friend doesn't that count for anything?!" She whined, pouting at me with her arms crossed.
"Of course, it does, but if I ruin the surprise, you'll never forgive me." I said, it was only half true, she'd forgive me eventually.
"Fine, wait! How did you even find out?" She asked, ah man! We'd gone all day without her focusing on the fact that I got the information from somewhere that wasn't her, I could tell her it was Thalia, but I didn't want to lie to her.
"Percy told me" I said.
"Who's Percy? And why haven't I heard anything about him until right this second?" She demanded and just like that, where she was going on her date was completely forgotten about, as she interrogated me for information on Percy.
"Well after you left with Jason the other night, the other guy, his name was Percy by the way, stayed and helped me serve the customers. He told me where you were going." I said, okay so I missed out some information, but what I told her was true.
"Uh-huh and how did Percy tell you?" She asked raising her eyebrow at me.
"By text message" I answered, as my phone buzzed, I resisted the urge to check it, knowing it would be Percy.
"Okay back up – what happened after I left with Jason? Spill – all details leave nothing out." I rolled my eyes.
"So now you want to know how the shift went." I teased trying to prolong the inevitable.
"Okay so I've been a little distracted – now spill!" I laughed and held up my hands in surrender when she hit me with a cushion.
"Percy cleaned up the icing sugar, we finished the shifted, locked up and he wanted to make sure I got home okay, so he walked me home. He wanted to know how things went between you and Jason and he didn't think Jason would tell him, they're cousins, something about teasing him, so he asked me to update him, and we exchanged numbers." My phone buzzed again in my pocket. I took it out this time, it was Percy.
Percy: Playing princesses, I'm rocking the tiara!
I laughed and replied.
Annabeth: Prove it.
"Is that him?" she asked as my phone buzzed and a picture of Percy wearing a tiara came through causing me to laugh again.
Annabeth: Okay, rocking that tiara!
Which princess are you supposed to be?
"Yes" I replied, Piper silently judged my reaction.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "What?" I asked.
"You like him" She said finally.
"Piper, don't be ridiculous I hardly know him!" I said.
"That might be true, but you've not stopped smiling since you picked up that phone, and I don't think I've ever seen you smile like that."
"Please, I smile all the time" I protested.
"Not like that, you don't" She insisted.
"This is how I always smile" I said, and she raised her eyebrow at me.
"No Annabeth, I've seen you smile, and laugh for years, and even when you've liked or even dated other people you have never looked as happy as you look right now talking to him."
"Okay, so I like talking to him, it doesn't mean I like him." I said hoping to all the Gods, if there were any, that wasn't blushing.
"Okay," she said, raising her hands in surrender, "if you don't like him, ask him to hang out tomorrow night."
"What is that going to prove?" I asked.
"That I'm right and you're wrong," she said, "You spend a whole evening with him, get to know him, then tell me you don't like him."
"And if I do spend time with him, and I don't like him, you'll drop it?" I asked.
"I'll answer that tomorrow night, so you going to ask him or what?" she challenged me.
"Fine, okay I'll ask him." I conceded and I was actually hoping he didn't already have plans.
Percy: Ariel – but I'm not putting on the clams!
I laughed; his sister had him wrapped around her little finger.
Annabeth: Spoil sport!
A true mermaid princess would wear them!
"So, have you asked him?"
"No Piper, I will, but it's not in the flow of conversation right now." She snorted and took my phone.
And after scrolling for a little bit she said, "Please you've been flirting with him all evening" Piper waved my phone around as if it held all the answers.
"Piper, give me back my phone, and I have not been flirting."
She gave me back my phone but not before sending a message to Percy.
Annabeth: Do you want to hang out tomorrow night?
"Piper! You've totally made that sound like a date!" I complained.
"If you don't like him what does that matter?" She asked.
"What if he thinks it's a date?" I asked.
"Well does he?" she asked as my phone buzzed.
Percy: Sorry I can't I'm working at the shop again.
But if you don't mind spending your night off at work?
"I don't know" I said confused and showed her the text message.
"Do it" She said, "Spend your night off at work, hanging out with him, I dare you."
"You dare me?" I challenged, I hadn't backed down from a dare Piper had given me ever, I wasn't about to start now.
"Yep" She said smirking at me.
Annabeth: I'll see you then.
I would never tell Piper this, but I was actually really looking forward to tomorrow night.
Ψ
~Author's Note~
Hi all and thank you so much to all those reading and who have reviewed the first chapter! I really hope you liked this one too, please let me know!
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