Piper's P.O.V
Christmas was amazing, it was the one holiday we all made it home for and it was by far my favourite because of that. Jason and I had had a video call gift exchange and that had been perfect. He'd given me a Tiffany's infinity bracelet. When I'd opened it, I was stunned, I'd never received such a nice gift from anyone that wasn't my parents, my sister or Annabeth.
I loved it and I was overwhelmed by the gesture. I almost cried. It took me a while to calm down enough to even say thank you. Suddenly the new Jordans, I'd bought him paled in comparison, but he seemed really thrilled with them. Which I was really glad about.
Boxing Day things went back to normal. Dad flew out to LA for a film that was due to start shooting in a couple of days. Mom flew with him but only for a few days and then she'd return for work. As she says gossip doesn't write itself. It was ironic almost that a famous actor and an owner of a famous gossip magazine had fallen in love. Just because of the nature of their jobs, but fallen they had, and they kept they work as far away from their personal life as they could. They made it work because their love was worth it. At least that's what mom had always told us, and the romantic in me wanted to believe it, so I did.
I was packing to catch my flight back to New York in the morning. I was looking forward to going back. Silena and Charlie were staying for a while, until mom got back, before returning to New York themselves. So I would be flying solo.
I was mostly looking forward to seeing Annabeth. I always did, but this was a new Annabeth, a loved up Annabeth. It was something that I hadn't seen before, and I couldn't wait. The fact her and Percy were together now, was almost the best Christmas present I'd received. Because there was nothing my best friend deserved more than how happy she was right now. Happy and loved up. And I couldn't wait to see that. In a way it was Percy's Christmas to me, whether he knew or not and I was so incredibly grateful.
I was also looking forward to seeing Jason in person again. We'd only been apart for a week, but I had missed him terribly. Just the thought of seeing him in person again was enough to set my stomach into overdrive with butterflies. Once again, I found myself very thankful for the icing sugar incident.
Percy's P.O.V
"Want to make a bet?" I asked Annabeth.
"You don't make bets" she told me.
"I'm trying something new. Reclaiming a choice I thought was taken away from me." I said. For a while now, I had wanted to reclaim what I let the Walrus take from me. It was something Annabeth had made me want to do, though I doubted she had any idea of that fact.
"So, what is the bet?" She asked me as I started cutting up vegetables to make dinner in her apartment. Annabeth's dad and step mom had agreed that it was best for things to return to normal after they departed for San Francisco. With the exception that they would have a family call on Sunday mornings. So here we were making dinner waiting for Piper to arrive from the airport.
We'd spent all day returning the apartment to some part of normal after Thalia and Jason had used the living room as a base for four days.
"I bet there'll be more than just the three of us for dinner."
"Fools bet - Jason's picking her up from the airport of course he'll stay."
"Okay," I conceded "I bet there will be seven of us for dinner and I'll name them."
"Okay and what are the terms to this bet?" She asked and I could tell I had piqued her curiosity.
"For each person that turns up for dinner $5 gets put into the pot. As I'm betting seven, so I'll put $35 dollars in."
"There's absolutely no way seven people will turn up to dinner and the only way you could know that seven would, is if you had invited them. Fools bet. There'll be five of us at most." She told me, smiling.
"I promise I haven't invited anyone. Now this is the bit I actually care about. If I get the names of all the guests right tonight. You have to tell me I was right, and you were wrong." I challenged because I knew it was the only way I'd get her to participate. And possibly the only time I would ever hear those words too.
"And what do I get when I win?" She asked and I knew I had her.
"$35" I told her.
"No" she told me.
"No?" I asked, and she laughed making me put down the knife that was in my hand.
"No, if I win, I win something else." She told me.
"And what is it that you want to win?" I asked, now very aware of how close she was to me.
"I want to see a baby photo. A physical photo from an album."
"Why?" I asked confused.
"You want me to do something I don't want to do. So I'm going to elicit the same from you. The photo can't be some cute photogenic one that I'm sure there are tonnes of. I want your most embarrassing baby photo Seaweed Brain. Are sure you want to make this bet?"
"I'm -" I faltered, was I sure I wanted to make the bet. The price was fair I supposed. "I'm sure Wise Girl" I said as confidently as I could, and she smiled.
"Okay, name your seven people" she told me, kissing my cheek as I picked up the knife and continued to chop.
"Okay, me, you, Piper, Jason, obviously" I started. "Thalia, Hazel and Frank." I said.
"Thalia, I get but Hazel and Frank why would they turn up for dinner?" She asked.
"Just call it a hunch, I have" I told her.
"I look forward to seeing your most embarrassing baby photo." She said teasingly to me as she took the block of cheese and started to grate it.
"I guess we'll find out in 30 minutes or so" I said.
"I guess we will. Game on Seaweed Brain."
"Game on Wise Girl."
Piper's P.O.V
Jason picked me up from the airport and I was so excited when I saw him waiting for me at the arrivals gate. He'd surprised me and I love it.
"What do you want to do for dinner?" I asked him.
"Annabeth and Percy are taking care of it" he told me.
"So what are we having? Chinese, Indian? Italian?" I asked, I was starving.
"Not take out - but Italian." He told me.
"Wait they're cooking? You know Annabeth can cook like four things, right?" I said.
"They're cooking, and no I didn't know that." He told me as he put my suitcase in his car.
"They're playing house" I said it wasn't a question it was a statement.
"Apparently" Jason said smiling.
"What?" I asked as I got in his car.
"I've never seen Percy 'play house' before. He makes good food but usually by himself. Annabeth and he spent the day cleaning your apartment even your room. Only Annabeth cleaned in there, while Percy took the bathroom."
"I'm not sure what would have been worse for him. Cleaning my room or the bathroom. My room wasn't exactly clean after everything that happened." I said.
"I think that's why Annabeth said she'd clean it. Though I don't know what that entailed. I was told to pick you up from the airport and bring you home for dinner and films. Not that I wasn't planning to do so already." He told me smiling.
"You're smiling like an idiot." I told him.
"And it's mostly because I got to pick up my gorgeous girlfriend from the airport. But it's a little because PJ is playing house with your bestie. He's fallen hard and I'm happy for him." He told me and his voice held such unadulterated joy I knew he was being genuine.
"I'm glad they're playing house. Is your sister witnessing this playing house?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, she's joining us for dinner." Jason told me.
"I have to tell Hazel that Annabeth's playing house, not that she'll believe me."
"I'm sure she played house when she was with, erm what's his name, Jack?" He asked.
"Josh," I said, "and no, never, this is the most domesticated she has ever been with a guy and I'm not even seeing it yet!" I exclaimed.
"Well, we'll be there in three minutes. I just have to park and then you can see the grossest display of love, on show, live, and, in person." He told me.
"Is it really gross?" I asked sceptically.
"In probably what you'll deem the cutest way possible." He told me.
The thought made me giddy with joy. I really wanted to see this side of Annabeth up close and in person. I wanted to see her happy and in love and displaying it for the world to see.
Frank's P.O.V
I'd been back from Canada for about half a day. Hazel had turned up at the apartment a little after 11am and I was beyond thrilled to see her.
"Hey Frank, how was your Christmas?" She asked after greeting me with a chaste kiss.
"Hey Haze, Christmas was good, Grandmother said to say hello." I said and she smiled.
"I hope you said hello back for me" she said, I nodded. "Where's Percy? Isn't he normally back in the apartment a few days after Christmas?" She asked.
"He's at Annabeth's" I answered, we'd decided to exchange Christmas presents after Christmas, we were doing it today and I was nervous.
"Are they together yet?" I asked her.
"Yes" she told me.
"I thought so. Based on how happy he was this morning. I only saw him in passing though." I said.
"I love that boy, but he seriously took too long." She said smiling.
"If he took too long, what did I take?" I asked.
"We were different" she stated like it was obvious.
"We were?" I asked.
"Yeah, we had, have, a great friendship. It's tough to have the confidence to change that into something more." She told me. "I'm glad we did though" she added and smiled at me, and I returned it.
"I'm glad we did too." I said.
We were sat in the sofa, and I'd already put soda's out.
I reached for the carefully wrapped box that I'd put on the table near the sodas, and I passed it to Hazel.
"I'm a little nervous about this year's present. It's my first as your boyfriend and I really hope I got it right." I said truthfully.
"I'm sure it'll be perfect." She said smiling and started to unwrap the gift. Her unwavering confidence in me made me smile as she unwrapped her gift.
"Oh Frank, they're beautiful." She said, still looking at the diamond earrings I got her.
"Do you like them?" I asked.
"I love them, thank you" she said giving me a kiss before passing me a wrapped gift of my own. Relief flooded my chest. I was so glad she liked them.
I wasted no time opening my present. It was a new watch which was great. It had a second, miniature watch face within it, and it told me the air pressure. Immediately I took off my old watch, the strap was so close to snapping. I'd been in desperate need of a new one for a while.
As I put the one Hazel had given me on, I noticed that she'd had it engraved.
'With all my love - Haze.'
"Hazel I love it, thank you so much." I said clasping it into place before kissing her.
"I'm glad you like it, the smaller clock, is set to Canadian time, so you always know what time it is at home." She told me and my heart soared.
"You, Hazel Levesque, are perfect, do you know that?" I asked kissing her again.
"I'm glad you think so." She told me smiling.
Percy's P.O.V
The sauces were almost ready. We'd made Bolognese, I'd done one tofu and one beef. I hoped the tofu one tasted okay for Piper. Not being a vegetarian I wasn't sure what it should taste like, and I was a little worried as I set water boiling for the pasta.
"Stop worrying Piper will love that you've made a tofu option for her." Annabeth said to me as if reading my thoughts.
"I hope so" I said honestly.
"The fact you've remembered that she's a vegetarian, would have been enough, but you've gone out of your way to cook her an alternative to your original plan. Trust me it'll be fine."
"But what if it tastes horrible? I've never cooked tofu before, I don't want it to be inedible." I confessed.
"Would you like me to try it and let you know?" She asked.
"You eat tofu?" I asked distractedly.
"Sometimes, would you like a taster?"
"Please" I replied grateful that my girlfriend, still can't believe that I get to call her that, knew what tofu should taste like.
Annabeth took a teaspoon out of the draw and stirred it around the tofu sauce before taking a small spoonful out and trying it.
"It's perfect" she told me smiling. "You know, once Piper finds out you cook, you'll be getting all sorts of requests." She teased me.
"Do neither of you cook?" I asked.
"Not often" she confessed.
"You should have a decent cooked meal, instead of take out."
"We do. It's usually your mom's cooking, we take out from the coffee shop a lot. Don't worry it's not all pop tarts and cereals." She joked.
"Pop tarts and cereals" I repeated shaking my head fondly at her. I knew she was teasing me, but I didn't care.
"We're back" Jason called out into the apartment, and I heard the door shut. Annabeth smiled and made her way out of the kitchen into the living area to greet them. I turned the heat down on the food and also went to say hello.
"Hey, how was your flight?" I asked as I entered the living area.
"It was good thank you, what smells so good?" Piper asked.
"Dinner" Annabeth said mysteriously causing Piper to roll her eyes.
"Speaking of dinner, I need to set the table and make sure nothing's burning" I said.
"Why don't we all help with the table while you check the food?" Piper suggested.
"Great idea" Jason replied and the four of us headed back into the kitchen.
I turned the heat up again on the food and stirred the sauces and the pasta. it would all be ready soon, but I wasn't sure when Thalia was arriving.
Annabeth and Piper took out glasses, plates, and cutlery.
"Piper why do you have seven plates?" Annabeth asked her.
"Because there'll be seven of us" Piper told her, but Annabeth was looking at me.
"There will?" Jason asked. And I was trying really hard not to smile.
"Yeah, Thalia's coming you said, and I invited Hazel and Frank" Piper said. I could contain it any longer, I smiled at Annabeth. Looks like I was winning the bet. Annabeth looked at me in disbelief and I poked my tongue out at her teasingly. She rolled her eyes at me and smiled before she set to getting more glasses to match the number of plates Piper was setting around the table.
There was a knock at the door as I poured the cake mixture into the cake tins. Jason went to answer the door, when he returned Thalia was with him.
"Annie, Kelp Head, Piper nice to see you all." She said smiling.
"Thals, don't call me Annie" Annabeth said giving Thalia a hug.
"Like I said no promises" Thalia replied.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes before placing the cake in the oven to bake.
"When's this food going to be ready Kelp Head?" Thalia asked me.
"A few minutes, not long" I replied starting the timer on the oven for the cake.
"Excellent, I'm starving." She replied as there was another knock on the door.
"I'll get it" Annabeth said. When she came back, she had a really smug expression on her face. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and silently asked her why. But the answer I got didn't come from her, it came when Nico followed her into the kitchen followed by Hazel and Frank.
I'd never been so displeased to see my cousin in my entire life. I'd lost the bet. I looked at Annabeth who wore an expression of pure amusement at my expression. I nodded to show I knew I'd lost.
"Nico, good to see you" Thalia said smiling.
"I hope it's okay that I'm here. Hazel said you wouldn't mind, but I can go if it's a problem." He said.
"It's not a problem Nico, you're welcome here" Annabeth said "I don't believe you've met Piper yet, have you? Piper this is Hazel's brother Nico, Nico, this is Piper."
"Nice to meet you Nico" Piper said smiling at him.
Nico, instead of responding to her, turned to Jason, and said, "you're punching." He then said to Piper, as Thalia and I laughed at Jason and Piper's expressions, "it's nice to meet you too." Which only caused more laughter.
"I'm punching?" Piper asked.
"It's a metaphor" Annabeth said, "Punching above his weight, in short I think Nico means you're too good for Jason."
I knew Piper probably knew what it mean but those who hadn't known what the term meant joined in mine and Thalia's laughter. Poor Jason had turned the colour of a tomato.
I took the sauce and pasta off the heat, Annabeth got me bowls to put the everything in, so everyone could help themselves, and Piper set an extra place for Nico.
Thalia's P.O.V
I watched as Percy and Annabeth served up the food ready for everyone to eat. It was really surreal to see.
"Anyone else thing it's odd to see PJ smile this much?" Nico asked, "Also he's definitely punching as well."
"She makes him happy Nico, let it be." Hazel scolded her brother playfully. Nico just rolled his eyes. "It's stranger to see Annabeth, so domesticated." Hazel said.
"I thought we were leaving them be?" Nico asked in fake innocence and Hazel rolled her eyes.
"I didn't say it wasn't nice to see, it's just-"
"Different" Frank finished for her, and Hazel nodded. I was still getting used to them finishing each other's sentences.
Annabeth and Percy set three bowls down, one of pasta, and two of sauce. Percy also retrieved three different bottles of soda from the fridge and also placed them on the table.
"Piper the sauce closest to you is tofu, the other is beef" Percy said. I could tell he was nervous, he really wanted Piper to like him, because she was Annabeth's best friend and roommate. I didn't count in the same way because I was family, I had to like him, but Piper didn't. Plus he already knew where I stood in him dating Annabeth.
I got the feeling we'd all crashed a dinner that was supposed to be just the four of them. But if that were what he wanted, he shouldn't have been playing house with my best friend. It appeared I wasn't the only one who wanted to see that. I could almost see the anticipation burning in Piper's eyes.
"It smells great. Thank you, Percy," Piper said, and I had to agree it did smell great.
"Please help yourselves there should be plenty." Percy said taking a seat next to Annabeth who whispered something to him, that only he could hear. He smiled adoringly at her, and she kissed his cheek. It was a moment of romantic domesticated bliss between the two of them and I had a feeling before the dinner was over there would be many more of them.
Piper's P.O.V
The rest of the week between Christmas and new year, thankfully, passed without incident. Thalia had various shifts at the vets as usual. Annabeth and I had our normal shifts at the coffee shop. Jason had restarted his basketball training. And Percy had gone back to work at the aquarium.
In between their work Percy and Annabeth read up for next semester, much to Jason's amusement. Although Percy didn't seem to mind. I got the impression Percy would do almost anything Annabeth asked him to do. I thought it was really sweet.
Jason took me on more dates and when we weren't having dates, and when Percy and Annabeth weren't reading, we all hung out at home.
Finally we reached New Year's Eve and we were having a small party at the coffee shop. Mrs. Blofis had decorated the shop, like she always did, with Happy New Year banners and steamers. She closed the shop at seven, the party started at eight. The best thing about this party, it had been Annabeth's idea. Party's were never Annabeth's idea, which was why I loved that this one was so much.
They'd invited Leo and Chris from the shop, Frank and Hazel, Thalia, Silena and Charlie and the four of us. The others were welcome to invite a plus one if they wanted but it was going to be fairly low key. Percy had suggested the coffee shop after mentioning it to his mom. And surprisingly Annabeth had agreed with no convincing needed.
"10...9...8...7...6" we called out as we counted down to the new year together. I stood next to Jason, but I was watching Annabeth who still looked as loved up as the day I came back from my parents. I was really happy for her.
Jason stole my attention away from them which I didn't mind in the slightest.
"3...2...1...Happy New Year!" Everyone yelled.
Jason leaned down and kissed me, and as it always did, it set butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I kissed him back as we welcomed in the new year with our friends.
When we broke apart, I was a little breathless. I glanced back at Annabeth and saw Percy had encompassed her in his arms and she was leaning back against him smiling like nothing else in the world mattered to her right now. The sight made my heart swell with happiness. This was going to be a good year. I thought as Jason's arms wrapped around me.
Luke's P.O.V
I watched their little party. I watched Thalia with some blonde guy who kissed someone else at midnight. She didn't even seem bothered that the guy she was talking too, kissed another girl.
"Why isn't she bothered? I don't understand." I said.
"She was never bothered, don't you remember?" He said.
Annabeth spent all night practically glued to Percy.
"That jumped up swimmer has nothing on me."
I watch as he kissed her at midnight and anger boiled in my veins.
"That's my woman, and he has the audacity to kiss her?!"
"Things are going to take on a very different angle for him this semester. Say goodbye to your life Percy Jackson because you're about to lose it."
He laughed as we walked away from Jackson's, setting his plan into motion. And I felt that maybe this year might go my way after all.
Ψ
~Author's Note~
Hi all, thank you so much for reading this chapter, I really hope your enjoyed? Please let me know.
Merendinoemiliano – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I hope you liked this one too, let me know!
Going Dark – Thank you for your review! I'm glad the last chapter made you really happy. The Story is not coming to an end yet there are still a few twists and turns left. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please let me know!
Insanedreamer7905 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! It's not the end of the story, no, still a way to go yet :). I hope this chapter answered some of your questions if not I'll try and answer them at the end of the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know!
SarcasmRocks – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter! I'm so glad you're enjoying the Piper moments too. I feel that they are important! I hope you loved this one too, let me know!
WiseGrl14 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter and that you're happy they're together :). I hope you also loved this one please let me know!
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Aweesh Ganegoda – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! There's different things that inspire me, I like to include as much canon-ish stuff as I can of course, but I do draw a bit from my own life. Not totally, but a little. I hope you liked this chapter please let me know!
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