Annabeth's P.O.V
Percy picked me up at 8am this morning, which normally wouldn't have been an issue, but Piper and I had been up late last night talking. I had literally just managed to make myself look presentable when he knocked on the door.
He was wearing jeans and his purple NYU hoody. I had finally given it back to him.
"Morning Wise Girl, are you ready?"
"Morning Seaweed Brain, I think so, though if you'd tell me what we're doing I'd be better equipped to answer that question."
I was also wearing jeans, but instead of a hoody I wore a grey knitted jumper.
"You really don't like surprises, do you?" he teased.
"No, I don't" I replied truthfully.
"Come on, let's grab some breakfast and then I'll clue you in." He smiled, that goofy smile that I found so endearing.
Breakfast was lovely, Percy had picked out a sweet little restaurant just outside of central park. He managed to get through the whole of breakfast without actually telling me the plan for the day because we'd been talking about other things, but eventually as we walked through central park, he had to tell me the plan when we stopped outside of the Met Museum of Art.
It was one of my favourite structures of architecture and Percy knew that. I hadn't had much opportunity to visit in the time I'd been in New York, I'd only managed to go a handful of times. They must have changed the exhibits ten times over since the last time I had been.
"You said you'd not been in a while." He said rubbing the back of his neck like he did when he was nervous.
"No, I haven't" I replied, smiling at him and Percy smiled back at me and my heart fluttered. We weren't even dating, much less together, but I knew I was starting to fall for him.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" He replied taking my head and pulling me towards the entrance, making me laugh at how carefree he was being.
Ψ
We were halfway around the Met museum when Percy's phone rang.
"Sorry," he said taking it out of his pocket, when he saw the display, he answered it immediately.
"Hi Paul, everything okay?" He asked.
"I – " He faltered looking at me and then sighed "Yeah, no, okay…yeah I'll get her. What's the password? Okay…no problem." He hung up the phone, his face looked dejected.
"I'm sorry Annabeth, Estelle's not very well, and mom and Paul are both working. I have to go and get her." He said and I'll admit I was a little disappointed that he had to go.
"I know it's not the Met, but if an afternoon of Disney films with me and my five-year-old sister doesn't sound too awful you're welcome to join." He said.
Truth? It sounded great. Any time with Percy did. I didn't want our time together to end and as he'd asked me to join him, I hoped he didn't either.
"Sure" I said and then added, "Of course, I'll hang out with you and your sister." I hoped I didn't sound too eager, because as much as I liked Percy, I wasn't sure whether or not I was ready for him to know yet.
Ψ
Once we had got to Percy's mom's apartment, I was immediately struck by how warm and welcoming it was. Percy had told me to make myself at home, so I sat in the living room while Estelle went and got changed into pyjamas and Percy took her temperature. It was a little high but nothing, fever worthy. Still, I could see concern in his eyes, he was worried, and I understood why. I had siblings too.
Once Percy had taken her temperature and given her a blanket to snuggle under on the sofa, Estelle continued to ask me questions, like she'd done from the moment she'd met me.
"Who's your favourite Disney Princess?" She asked.
"Annabeth hasn't seen that many Disney films Estelle." Percy said before I could answer her, and Estelle looked horrified. " I know" Percy said holding up his hands in surrender to his little sister. It was quite amusing really.
"Why haven't you seen any Disney films?" She demanded of me. Apparently not watching Disney in this house was a crime!
"I just spent most of my time reading and drawing. I didn't watch many films as a kid." I told her.
"Don't worry Estelle, we're going to continue Annabeth's Disney education this afternoon. Why don't you pick one that you want to watch, and I'll make hot chocolate?" Percy said to her and immediately Estelle set to pulling out the DVD she wanted.
"I'll give you a hand." I said getting up from the chair I had settled in, to join Percy in the kitchen.
"Would you grab three mugs from that cupboard?" Percy asked pointing to the cupboard nearest the sink as he warmed up the milk.
"Sure" I replied.
"Thanks," he said, as I placed three mugs on the countertop.
"I know you don't normally, but do you want yours to be blue?" He asked having added the blue food colouring to his and Estelle's cups already.
"Why not?" I said and he smiled at me.
Once the three of us were settled in front of the TV, Percy started the film. Estelle had chosen Tangled.
We were about ten minutes into the film when Estelle fell asleep. Percy paused the film and carried her through to her bedroom.
"Do you want to watch something else, so she doesn't miss out on this one?" I asked as once he'd returned.
"No don't worry she's seen this one like a million times, you haven't" he said smiling at me before restarting the film.
Ψ
Estelle reappeared around the part where Eugene took Rapunzel to see the floating lights, and he was trying to gather up all of her hair. Percy paused the film.
"Hey, are you feeling better?" He asked he as she sat down next to him, she did look a lot brighter, if not a little tired because she'd only just woken up.
Estelle nodded and without saying anything else Percy pressed play. Estelle smiled, apparently, she liked this part.
"Percy" Estelle said, and Percy paused the film again.
"Yes Estelle?"
"Can I have my hair like that?" She asked and looked at him with the widest eyes I had ever seen, and I had no doubt that he wouldn't be able to say no.
"Sure Estelle" He said caving instantly on any resolve he had had to say no. Estelle instantly got back up and ran to her room, she was definitely feeling better. She returned shortly with a box, which I later learnt was full of flower hair clips, a hairbrush and bobbles. She sat in front of Percy on the floor and handed him the brush. He took the brush and took out his phone and started typing. I smiled. I knew he'd do anything for his little sister. I'd heard so much about her from Percy that it was really nice to see them interact first-hand.
I realised that this was why he'd been so great with Bobby and Matthew, and I found myself wanting to be a bit more like Percy in that respect. I had liked spending time with Bobby and Matthew having fun with them, I wanted to carry that on the next time I saw them.
Percy pressed play on the film again and started to brush Estelle's hair before beginning to plait a small section of it on each side until he made it to the back and tied both off in a single bobble at the back, almost forming like a crown on her head. He then separated the remaining hair into four parts, he braided the middle two until he had a large plait which reached the middle of Estelle's back, for a five-year-old she had quite long hair.
He braided the last two remaining pieces of hair separately, so he had two small plaits that ran one each side from just behind her ears. He then crisscrossed these over the larger plait until it got to the bottom when he used a curvy grip to secure them.
I had to admit I'd got completely lost in watching Percy braid his sister's hair that I hadn't realised that we'd moved on in the film to the point where Eugene and Rapunzel sang a duet. I was pretty sure that Piper had this film so I could watch it again to catch up. I tried to turn my attention back to the film as Estelle passed flower clips to Percy to put in her hair. I couldn't help but smile to myself, he was such a great big brother.
Ψ
Percy's P.O.V
Estelle had asked me to braid her hair while Annabeth was here and I really didn't want to, but she gave me her seal eyes and I couldn't say no to those, and she knew it.
As much as I loved my sister and I wanted to look after her while she was sick, I was immensely disappointed when Paul had called.
I had been hoping that a day with Annabeth of uninterrupted time, with no studying or work would finally give me the confidence to ask her on a date. Unfortunately, that hadn't gone to plan. However, she had agreed to spend the afternoon watching Disney films with me and Estelle so I must be doing something right.
I noticed as I did Estelle's hair that Annabeth was watching me do it. I was nervous enough that she was seeing me braid my sister's hair, which took me a few attempts normally to get right. I was really thankful that it was mostly plaits today, I wasn't too bad at those normally. I wasn't as good at them as mom, but I did my best. Knowing Annabeth was watching me braid made me even more nervous, until I saw her smiling out of the corner of my eye. That smile kind of made it all worthwhile, I really loved her smile.
I paused the film one last time and said to Estelle. "Take a look, let me know if it's okay."
She was looking a lot better now, her nap seemed to have really helped. Estelle took off to find a mirror and have a look at her hair.
"It looks great Seaweed Brain" Annabeth said to me.
"Thanks, Wise Girl, it's a lot of pressure to get it right" I said seriously. "Especially as it's something I'm learning to do as I go." I admitted, she smiled at me.
"I think it's great that you even try, I bet there is a lot of brothers who wouldn't." She said and my heart danced in my chest.
Estelle ran back in and hugged me. "Thanks Percy" She said before sitting next to me on the sofa again to finish the film.
Ψ
Paul came home as we finished watching beauty and the beast.
"Percy thank you so much for – oh, hello Annabeth, nice to see you again." Paul said, and I didn't know that Paul knew Annabeth.
"Hi Mr. Blofis" Annabeth replied, and I knew then that she'd met him at the coffee shop, "nice to see you again too."
"Please call me Paul." He said with a smile.
"Thank you both for looking after Estelle, this afternoon." He said, before walking up to his daughter. "How are you feeling Estelle?" he asked her.
"Better, thanks daddy." She said to him, and Paul visibly relaxed.
"Percy, can we?" Paul nodded towards the kitchen and I nodded and got up and followed him into the kitchen.
"How has she been really?" He asked me.
"She's been okay, I took her temperature when we got home, it was a little high but nothing serious. She fell asleep within half an hour of being home, so I put her in her bed. About an hour or so later she reappeared and seems to have been fine since. The nap seems to have solved whatever it was." I said and he nodded.
"Thank you, Percy, I can see I interrupted your plans with Annabeth. But I really appreciate it." He said.
"Anytime Paul, you know that." I said and offered him a smile because I meant it, if Estelle needed me, I'd be there.
"I appreciate that Percy and so does your mom. Both you and Annabeth are welcome to stay for dinner unless you have other plans?" He asked me, raising an eyebrow at me suggestively.
I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, "I was kind of hoping to have other plans." I confessed to him and he smiled at me knowingly and nodded before heading back to the living room and I followed him.
"Right Estelle, looks like it's just going to be me and you, what film's next?" He asked.
"What? No" Estelle moaned "Percy you and Annabeth have to stay!" she pleaded.
"How about I promise to come back another day?" Annabeth asked, "We can continue watching Disney films, if that's what you want, then?"
She was perfect. Annabeth had absolutely no obligation to come back and spend time with my family yet, here she was offering to do just that.
"Promise?" Estelle asked holding out her pinkie finger to Annabeth. Annabeth to her credit wasted no time in linking her pinkie finger with Estelle's and saying "Promise." Back to her.
Ψ
"I'm sorry about today" I said as Annabeth and I sat on the sofa in her apartment and dished up Chinese takeout.
"Why?" She asked me curiously.
"Well, it didn't exactly go to plan and I can't imagine watching Disney films with a nosy five-year-old, was better than finishing the tour of the Met for you." I said and she laughed.
"I actually really enjoyed." She said, "So we didn't finish the tour of the Met, it's not going anywhere, we can always go back." She smiled at me, and I smiled back, my heart dancing once more in my chest.
I decided that I would take the plunge and ask her on a date. I knew with the timing of things with Luke, that my timing wasn't great, but I'd had more fun hanging out and studying with Annabeth in the past few weeks than I can remember having all year.
"I'm glad you had fun" I said, "I actually have a bit of a confession." I began.
"You don't like art?" She asked.
"That's not it," I said, "I like art, but that's not the confession." She smiled and I realised she was teasing me.
"You're laughing at me." I said.
"I am not" She replied and then she did laugh, I couldn't help but smile when I heard her laugh, even if she were teasing me a little.
"I was using today as a practice run." I confessed and took a breath before continuing. "I like spending time with you, Annabeth, I've had so much fun spending time with you in the past few weeks." I said and I knew I had her full attention now.
"I've had fun too Percy." She said and I smiled, "What was the practice run for?" She asked and there was a note of teasing in her voice, and I knew that she already knew.
I don't know what I was so nervous about, we'd spent so much time together over the past few weeks, I'd confided things in her that I'd never shared with anyone. This shouldn't be this hard.
"You're not making this easy for me." I complained.
"Get used to it Seaweed Brain, I've never going to make things easy for you." She told me and I smiled.
"A date," I said at last, "I was using it as a practice run for a date. Wise Girl would you go on a date with me tomorrow night?" I asked.
"Oh Percy, I can't tomorrow night. It's Piper's last night in town before she flies home for Christmas. Can we do another night?" She asked.
"Saturday?" I asked hopefully.
"Saturday, yes I can do Saturday." She confirmed smiling and I exhaled, I didn't realise I'd been holding it.
"Great, I'll pick you up at 7pm?" I asked as we continued to eat.
Ψ
Piper's P.O.V
Jason dropped me home at 8pm and to my surprise Annabeth was already home. To my utter disappointment she was alone. I had been hoping Percy might have been here still. I'd wanted to see if he would break Annabeth's lonely Christmas streak. I might have to enlist Thalia's help on that one instead.
I did, however, quickly discover that something had happened today. Annabeth was sitting on the sofa watching TV instead of reading which is what she normally did when she was home alone. But that wasn't what gave me the clue, Annabeth did sometimes watch TV instead of reading, it was rare, but it did happen. It was what she was watching that gave me the clue. It wasn't her normal history or architecture documentary stuff, it was a romantic comedy, and not just any romantic comedy a Christmas romantic comedy, Love Actually.
There are many things I could say about my best friend Annabeth Chase. The ones that were important right now, were that she never celebrated Christmas and because of that fact we never watched Christmas films. That was always something I had to wait to do with my sister when I went home for Christmas. So, this was a real turn of events for her. Excitement bubbled within me, what could it mean? Had Percy asked her to spend Christmas with him? Had Percy asked her out? Or Better yet had Percy kissed her? I had to know!
"Hey, you're home early" I said as casually as I could.
"Hey Piper, how was your day with Jason?" She asked.
"It was great" I said before getting to straight to the point. "But I'm more interested in how your day with Percy was." I said lifting her feet and settling down on the sofa next to her.
"It was okay." She said biting her lip and I knew she was teasing me, I hit her with a cushion.
"Come on!" I said as she laughed at me.
"Okay, okay" She said, and her smile was so bright, I knew I was going to like the ending.
Ψ
"So, we agreed on Saturday night at 7pm" She finished.
"Annabeth Chase!" I scolded. "How could you pick a night I was out of town to go on your first date?"
"You'd have preferred I cancelled on you tomorrow night instead?" She teased.
"Not the point, I'm gutted I'm going to miss it, you best call me and tell me everything about it when you get back from it." I said.
"Piper, you'll be at home with your family for Christmas the last thing you'll want is me interrupting with news of my date. Besides, it'll give you something to look forward to when you come back for New Year's." She teased, knowing full well that we caught up on the phone every day over Christmas break, it was our own tradition. Even though I knew this as well as she did, I still took the bait.
"Oh no! I'm not waiting until I come back for New Years! Annabeth that's nearly two weeks, you know I can't wait that long!" I said seriously and she laughed, she was so happy.
I was so glad Percy and Jason had come in to do inventory that night. Not just because Jason and I had really hit it off but because it was the start of her happiness. She'd transformed in the past few weeks into this incredibly bright person and that's not to say she wasn't bright before because she was, but it was hidden. Hidden behind her walls that she'd put up to protect herself. Percy had shattered through them like a wrecking ball to demolition and I can honestly say it's the best thing to ever happen to her.
Ψ
Annabeth and I planned to watch films all day. Normally this consisted of her picking some action film and me picking rom-coms and some we liked and some we didn't, but we compromised. Today however all we decided to box set binge watch and we went with a classic, One Tree Hill. I loved this TV show, it was a high school drama, but it had romantic lines that I just absolutely loved. What I hadn't known was how much Annabeth liked it, we'd been friends for half a decade, and we'd never put together that we both liked this series it was just unbelievable. But, in the best kind of way.
We'd just finished the emotional arc that was nanny Carrie when we decided to have a break for coffee and to top up the snacks. Unfortunately, we'd run out of coffee.
"Don't worry I'll go to Jackson's get our usual and a bag of coffee for the apartment." Annabeth said.
"Alright, I'll top up the snacks and put in the next disc for when you get back." I replied.
Once Annabeth had headed out the door, I took the bowls to the kitchen and refilled with popcorn and M&Ms. I glanced at the clock, it was half five and I hadn't even started packing yet for my flight tomorrow.
I decided I had best start. Besides, it wouldn't take that long, and I'd be done by the time Annabeth got back from the coffee shop, probably.
Ψ
Percy's P.O.V
I spent all day planning mine and Annabeth's date for tomorrow. I wanted to do something for her that I hoped she'd never had done for her before. I'd gone to the university astronomy department and booked out the observatory for the night.
They had this projection on the ceiling of the night sky, and you could project all the constellations.
I thought Annabeth would like a picnic under the stars, but in a New York winter it was much too cold to do that outside so this was my attempt at it.
I was going to go to mom's tomorrow and make everything I needed. We'd eaten a few meals together, so I had an idea of what foods she liked.
I didn't know it yet, but I'd never get to make those foods and I wouldn't get my date with Annabeth at the observatory.
Ψ
~Author's Note~
Hi all thank you for reading! I'm sorry for the cliff hanger – I almost didn't put it in there, but I thought why not :). I hope you all enjoyed the chapter please let me know!
Bookaholic4ever – Thank you for your review! Percy is a sweetheart but then Sally raised him that way! I hope you liked this chapter too, let me know!
Merendinoemiliano – Thank you for your review! I hope you liked this chapter too, let me know!
IzyBEE – Thank you for your review! Be sure drama is yes on it's way! I hope you liked this chapter too, let me know!
WiseGrl14 – Thank you for your review! You were right about Luke. I hope you liked this chapter too! Please let me know!
SarcasmRocks – Thank you for your review! I'm glad the last one was aa favourite I hope this one is too, let me know!
Authorforeverything – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story, I hope you liked this chapter too, please let me know!
Going Dark – Thank you for your review! I wanted to stay as true as I could to the romantic lines in the main series – I have taken some liberties but I'm glad you're enjoying please let me know what you thought of this chapter!
An2kFire – Thank you for your review! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!
TheProudPearl24 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you're enjoying and that it's bringing out your inner Aphrodite just a little I think even Piper has that with Annabeth and Percy, no? I hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know!
Happy Reading all, stay safe!