Annabeth's P.O.V
The first week of term was gruelling. Although I'd expected nothing less. All my classes had assignments due for the following week. It also meant that, for probably the first time in my life, I didn't want to spend all my free time studying, that I had too.
I'd just finished my morning shift at the coffee shop and was setting up for an afternoon of finishing off my assignments.
Percy had been busy too, but we'd made plans to hang out tonight. He had a shift at the aquarium today and his first week back had been tough too.
I turned my focus to the partly finished essay in front of me and set to completing it.
Piper stuck her head into my room sometime later.
"Annabeth, you've been in here for four hours you need a break." She told me.
"I'll take a break in a bit, Percy's coming over for dinner."
"I know" she told me.
"Did I mention it already?" I asked and Piper smiled but shook her head.
"No, Percy's here. He's in the kitchen, I said I'd come and get you."
"I look awful, he said he wasn't coming until six." I said.
"It's six thirty Annabeth. And you don't look awful."
"Okay I'll be right out."
I ran a brush through my hair and put it up in a ponytail and made my way out into the main living area.
"Hey Wise Girl" Percy greeted me before kissing me.
"Hey Seaweed Brain, how was work?" I asked.
"It was okay" he said offhandedly, and I'd never seen him so indifferent about his work. I asked him a silent question and I got a silent answer of 'later please.'
"Piper did you want to join us for food?" I asked.
"Oh no that's okay, I'll probably grab a pop tart or something later. I'm in the middle of a code." She told me, and I knew she was trying to let me and Percy have time together, but her answer had sealed her fate of eating with us.
"Piper I brought you Kung Pao Tofu" Percy said holding up the bag of Chinese food.
"From The Red Panda or The Jade House?" She asked him.
"Red Panda" Percy replied without hesitation.
"Well alright then" Piper said trying not to show how much she appreciated that he'd brought food for her as well. She was failing terribly. Anyone could see that by the twinkle in her eye. Josh had never included her when he'd got food for us. It meant a lot to me that Percy had. And I knew it meant a lot to Piper too.
"I know why I don't used The Jade House, but why don't you like it?" Percy asked as we sat in front of the TV with our food.
"Someone who used to have a crush on Annabeth works there-" Piper started.
"He didn't have a crush on me." I interrupted.
"Riiight" Piper said "anyway it got super awkward ordering from there, so we stopped going. They also changed the recipe for their Kung Pao Tofu and it's not as good."
"Fair enough." Percy said as Piper started to flick through channels.
"Why don't you eat from there?" I asked.
"Got food poisoning once, haven't been able to face it since. Took me a while to try The Red Panda but I'm glad I did. Mr. Chen always puts in something extra on the house. It's really nice of him." Percy said.
"Hold up" I said. "We've been ordering from Red Panda for over a year how come you get freebies, and we don't?" I asked.
"The Red Panda are fans of the swim team, and he's also known me since I was 12." Percy said shrugging and I rolled my eyes at him fondly.
Piper pointed a chopstick at him and said, "I'm using your name to order all my food from there from now on."
Percy just chuckled and nodded.
"Did you finish your assignments?" Percy asked me.
"Almost, I've got one to finish tomorrow but mostly. Have you got many?" I asked.
"No, it's just the chemistry units really and I've got less time than last semester with swimming. Just hoping I'll be able to pass them." He said.
"I'm sure you will" I said.
"Thanks" he said kissing my cheek.
Percy left for swimming early this morning, so I got an early start on finishing the assignment that I had left over from yesterday. It was 8am when Piper surfaced from her room.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"8am, why?"
"Where's Percy?"
"He had to go at half four for swim practise." I told her.
"On a Sunday?" She asked and I nodded. "There goes Jason's wish of a pancake breakfast." She said and I raised an eyebrow at her because Jason hadn't stayed over last night.
"He's on his way over, we've been texting for a little bit." She answered my unasked question.
"You might want to tell him to stop and pick up breakfast for you both then." I said.
"You're not hungry?" She asked.
"I've been up since Percy left. I've already eaten." I said and she nodded.
"So anything happen once I'd fallen asleep?" Piper asked wiggling her eyebrows at me suggestively. I had half a mind to say yes just to wind her up, but I didn't.
"No Piper, we're taking things slowly." I said.
"Yeah, I know. But you already practically live together, apart from this week, when you've had a four day break. But come on, even Jason and I don't spend so much time together."
"And has your relationship progressed in the bedroom?" I teased.
"Not yet, but I don't think it'll be much longer now we've been exclusive for a while." Piper said smiling. I shook my head and smiled at my best friend.
Percy's P.O.V
Swimming this morning had been a tough work out. Coach was pushing us hard this year, he wanted to win nationals, he wanted Olympic scouts and he acted like no one else wanted that. To work around everyone's schedule he'd put early and late training sessions in for the pool and assigned us weight training to do in between.
Between the swim team schedule, my classes and work I had had very little time for Annabeth. And I was disappointed in myself, she deserved better. Term had only been going for a week and I was already so caught up in my new routine the only time she'd had from me was a fly by dinner and sleep. I knew I had to do better, and I owed her a date.
Coach had issued our letterman jackets today, and I left mine in the box, I wanted Annabeth to have it, new and clean, not sweaty and used. I bumped into Jason on my way into Annabeth and Piper's building.
"PJ, you look like crap" he told me.
"Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to hear." I replied.
"Coach is pushing you hard huh?" He asked as we made our way to the apartment door.
"Something like that yeah" I replied, I was normally better at conversation, but I was exhausted.
"Coach didn't give out your letterman jackets?" Jason asked and I noticed he was wearing his.
"He did" I said holding up the box that I'd been carrying under my arm.
"You don't want to wear it?" He asked teasing me, he knew why I wasn't wearing it.
"It's Annabeth's" I stated as I knocked on the door.
"Uh-huh" he said, and I rolled my eyes as Piper opened the door.
"Hey Sparky, hey Percy" she greeted stepping to one side to let us in.
"Hey Pipes" Jason greeted kissing her cheek.
"Hi Piper, could I talk to you for a moment in private?" I asked and Jason raised an Eyebrow at me, which I ignored.
"Sure" Piper said closing the door and leading me into the kitchen.
"What's up Percy?" She asked me.
"I feel like I'm being a bad boyfriend. I've not had much time for Annabeth this week and that's not fair to her. I owe her a date, but as mentioned I don't have a great deal of free time. I was wondering if you would mind letting Annabeth and I have the apartment for a few hours on Thursday evening?" I asked and then added "I can do it at mine and kick Frank out, but I know she feels safe here and –"
"Percy," Piper interrupted "Thursday evening should be fine, I have a late class 4-8, how long would you like me to be 'out'?" She asked.
"Is Annabeth free while you have your class?" I asked.
"As far as I'm aware yes" Piper answered me with a curious look on her face.
"I'll take that time slot then, if Annabeth agrees, thank you Piper." I said.
"For what agreeing to go to class?" She teased "Are you not going to give me any details of this 'stay in date'?" She asked.
"No, I'll let Annabeth fill you in afterwards." I teased but I saw an excited expression in her eyes and knew I'd said the right thing. "Is she in her room?" I asked.
"Yes, she's reading up for next week's classes, feel free to interrupt her." Piper said making her way out of the kitchen to see Jason and I followed, but instead of stopping in the living area I continued on to Annabeth's room.
I knocked and opened the door, I stuck my head round and was about to say hello , when I saw that she was crashed out on her bed with a heavy looking textbook on legs. I smiled at the scene in front of me, even sleeping she looked perfect to me.
I placed the box containing the letterman jacket on the corner of her desk, before making my way over to her and gently removing the book. I took the bookmark from her bedside table and placed it within the pages before closing it softly. I knew she'd be annoyed with me if I didn't mark her page for when she woke up so she could continue.
She was in what she deemed comfy clothes, so joggers and a hoody, my NYU hoody, but I didn't mind, I loved that she'd pinched it. I loved seeing her in it. I rolled her gently to take the quilt out from under her and then rolled her back to tuck her in. I kissed her forehead, which was a mistake, because she stirred.
"Percy" she murmured tiredly.
"Yes?" I asked, she didn't reply verbally, instead she patted the spot next to her. I was already exhausted. I needed no encouragement to sleep. I slipped off my shoes and crawled into bed next to her. Instantly she curled into me and rested her head on my chest. I smiled and drifted off to sleep, thinking of Annabeth and the date I had planned.
Jason's P.O.V
"What was all that about?" I asked when Piper and Percy came out of the kitchen.
"Are you jealous Sparky?" She teased.
"No, I just want to know what is so private he couldn't talk to you in front of me." I pouted, I knew it was childish, but PJ and I had never had secrets from each other, I didn't want it to start now.
"Let's see, what do I know more about than you, that pertains to Percy?" She continued to tease me. Apparently, she found this side of me enjoyable.
"Annabeth" I said instantly "Everything's okay though, right?" I asked.
"Everything's great" she assured me.
"I wander what's taking them so long." She added he face frowning.
"I'm sure they're fine" I said, "they'll be out in a moment, I'm sure. I'm sorry I was busy last night, dad wanted to have a 'family meal' now he's back in town."
"How'd that go?" She asked me.
How had that gone? Not well certainly. I had debated asking Piper to come but I couldn't put her in that position. An awkward Grace 'family' meal would not have been fair to her. Especially when Thalia had exploded at father not that it wasn't without a fair reason, dad was being a moron. Thalia had every right to be upset, but it wasn't my place to say any of that right now. Not now Piper and Thalia were friends.
"It went" I replied.
"That good, huh?" She asked sympathetically. "You don't have to tell me, it's okay."
I immediately felt bad, she was being so understanding.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just not my story to tell" I promised.
"I'm serious, it's okay." She told me again and I kissed her, she was too good for me.
"How was your night?" I asked instead.
"It was better than I thought it would be. Percy came over for dinner with Annabeth and he included me. Bought me Kung Poa Tofu-"
"Your favourite" I interrupted, and she nodded.
"It was nice to be included rather than expected to sit in my room, like I fully intended on doing, so they could have some privacy." She told me.
"It's not really PJ's style to leave someone out." I said.
"I'm noticing that" she told me.
"I'm glad you had a nice evening, I wish I'd been able to be a part of it." I confessed, Chinese with PJ and our girlfriends sounded like a much better evening than what had transpired last night.
"Me too." She said and glanced towards Annabeth's door again. "I'm just going to make sure they're okay" she said.
I watched her get up from the sofa that we were comfortably sitting on and poke her head in on her best friend and my cousin.
She turned around and came back smiling but shaking her head.
"What?" I asked genuinely curious.
"They're having an afternoon nap. We'll have to watch the first film without them." I rolled my eyes.
"I knew he was tired, but I didn't think he'd talk Annabeth into an afternoon nap." I said.
"They've been up since half four, I'd nap too if it was me."
Half four was really early, I knew the swim team was being pushed hard this semester, but I didn't know it was that hard. I also knew that Percy had come straight from practise, which meant his exhaustion was completely swimming related and that they'd had a really long morning workout.
If, he was up, at half four that meant a 5am start at worst, 5:30am if he was lucky. We'd got here for just after 11am, which meant 5-6 hours training. That also meant he'd probably had three hours in the pool and spent the other hours in the weight room. He was pushing himself too hard, he should have done the weights another day. I'd have to make him spread his time out more, basketball also had a required weight room session, maybe we could do ours together, on a day that he hadn't just swam for three hours.
I put a pin in the notion as Piper selected one of the films for us to watch and turned my attention to it and her.
Luke's P.O.V
One of the great things about the internet was how much information it held. Most of it was a matter of public record and what wasn't well, he had a work around for that.
Googling Percy Jackson had turned up more results than I had expected it too.
Headlines like 'local boy wins gold' or 'Jackson set to be the youngest Olympic medallist' and so on had popped up. So he could swim, big deal.
He had quite the fan base on twitter, he didn't appear on Facebook or Instagram that I could see. His online profile was actually rather sparse, considering he'd won at the Olympics at the age of 16. The Olympics were set to roll around again this summer, he'd probably be a shoe in for the team. That was the first thing we were going to take away from him, his next gold medal.
First the medals, then Annabeth. I had no doubt he'd used his connections in the Olympic world to land Annabeth. Well if he thinks that's enough, he's got another thing coming. We've dispatched her boyfriend before, and we would do it again.
Piper's P.O.V
Annabeth and Percy final surfaced from their nap. Both looking very happy just to be in each other's company. I understood that. It's how I felt now, in Jason's company. I was happy Annabeth had that too, she deserved it.
"Good morning sleeping beauties." I teased mostly Annabeth, but Percy blushed which I absolutely loved.
"Sorry," he said, "my fault." He smiled sheepishly at us before they settled into the chair Annabeth used for reading. Percy sat first and Annabeth sat in his lap like it was the most natural thing in the universe and I loved that they were that comfortable with each other that it was natural for them. Percy's arms encompassed her waist as she leaned back into him his head resting on her shoulder.
"Good timing" Jason said, "We were just going to put the next film on."
"What is it?" Annabeth asked.
"Finding Nemo" Jason replied, with an amused smile that I adored.
"Yes!" Percy cheered, clearly his selection for this afternoon's moving fest. So far, we'd watched Jason's pick which had been Raiders of the Lost Ark.
"Of course it is" Annabeth said with an air of fondness in her voice that left no room for doubt that she loved that Percy had picked this one.
"Got to continue your Disney and Pixar education, right?" He replied playfully. Annabeth rolled her eyes but nodded, as Jason pressed play.
I didn't know what Annabeth had picked but I had chosen a romantic comedy, normally I wouldn't get away with such a selection, but I was hedging my bets today.
Jason didn't really watch Finding Nemo, probably having seen it before, in favour of watching Percy and Annabeth. I had to admit watching the two of them was something I liked to partake in as well, not in a stalker way just in a contented best friend way who was happy that her best friend was happy. I knew Jason was doing the same for his cousin, as he watched the pair of them shameless throughout the film.
"You're being way too obvious." I whispered when I caught him for the third time.
"So are you, the fact they are both oblivious, is the only reason we're getting away with it." He replied with a smile.
"True. But look how excited he is to explain Finding Nemo, of all things, to her, and she's just as excited to have it explained. I've never seen her like this before and I love it. I can't get enough of them, they're better than any romcom."
"I know what you mean." He replied. Our tones of hushed conversation going unnoticed by the pair we very much adored.
"I didn't know you liked romcoms Mr. Grace?" I asked teasingly, we'd watched a few together so I did know he wasn't totally opposed to them.
"Frank likes romcoms. The number he and Percy have in that apartment is ridiculous." Jason told me and I stifled a laugh.
"Frank? Well, I learn something new every day" I mused.
"I thought Annabeth might have mentioned it, or Hazel."
"Nope, though I did always know that man was just a giant teddy bear, this just proves my theory was right." I said.
"Sure does" Jason said clearly amused.
"Any secrets you want to share?" I teased my boyfriend. I'd learnt a lot about Percy and Frank recently, I'd learnt a lot about Jason too, but I wanted to know everything about him, right down to the embarrassing childhood memories.
Percy chose this opportunity to pay attention to something other than Annabeth and Finding Nemo and answered my question, much to my delight.
"I can tell you a number of things about Jason, where would you like me to start?" He asked, and Annabeth paused the film knowing we'd hit a Segway that couldn't be avoided.
"PJ, you don't want to play this game with me." Jason said teasingly.
"Don't I?" Percy challenged and Annabeth exchanged a look with me to ask if I knew what was happening. I let her know that I didn't, but I also wanted to see how this played out.
"Alright," Jason said confidently, "Piper, would you google Perseus Jackson?" Jason asked in mock politeness.
"You want to play that game Grace? It's so on." Percy said.
"Perseus?" I asked, "your full name is Perseus?" Annabeth smiled. I could tell that she already knew this piece of information. I could see that much by her expression, but she'd not mentioned it, which told me Percy didn't like his full name. He preferred Percy which, in my opinion, suited him better.
"It is" Percy confirmed, a little reluctantly.
I googled Perseus Jackson and much to my surprise got more hits than I was anticipating. The first one was an article with no pictures, the head line: Youngest Diver Strikes Gold!
"You're a gold medal winner." I said before I had the chance to skim the article.
"An Olympic gold medal winner." Jason said looking smug. I could tell by the look on Percy's face that he'd not told Annabeth about this as he looked very apologetically at her.
"You have an Olympic gold and didn't think to mention it?" Annabeth asked, though her tone was teasing, not upset. Percy's sheepish smile told me he noticed that detail too.
"Well actually-" he said.
"More than one?" Annabeth asked.
"Two. Individual and Team High Dive" Percy said looking embarrassed and I didn't understand why.
Annabeth looked at her boyfriend with a new found interest and they had some form of silent exchange before Annabeth said, "So what are Jason's secrets?" Percy looked eternally grateful for that one question. And had I not been selfishly eager to know more about my own boyfriend I might have asked why.
"Oh yes, do tell." I said laughing at Jason's discomfort, I think he was hoping he'd be forgotten about during the discovery of Percy's gold medals.
"I mean we could just google it, but there'd be absolutely no fun in that." Percy said smiling and I got the impression this conversation had happened between them before. "Jason here, used to be a spelling-bee winner, in sixth grade he took the national title from an eighth grader.
"I hate you" Jason said with absolutely no malice in his voice. "It's taken me years to get people to forget about that and you've killed my jock rep in all of an hour of being awake on a Sunday. I hate you" he said, and Percy grinned like it was the best compliment in the world.
"I can see it" Annabeth said teasingly, "Smart shirt, tie, maybe a sweater vest and some slacks." Annabeth said.
"You have no idea how close you are" Percy laughed.
Annabeth's P.O.V
"I'm in love with a dork" Piper said while Percy laughed at Jason's expense. The smile on her face told me she couldn't careless that he was a little nerdy back in the day. The look on Jason's face told me he'd heard her, and if she hadn't been so distracted, I think Piper probably would have blushed at her own admission of being in love.
"I have a picture, if you'd like to see it?" Percy asked Piper.
"Oh yes absolutely" Piper agreed, and Percy pulled his phone from his pocket and once he'd found the right image handed it to Piper. Which she eagerly accepted. Jason looked over her shoulder at the old photo and it reminded me that Percy still owed me a baby photo because he'd lost our bet a couple of weeks ago. As if reading my mind he handed me a polaroid picture of him as a baby.
"Sorry it took so long. Mom took great joy in selecting it. Apparently, I blushed the most at the mention of this one. So here it is, my most embarrassing baby picture." He kissed my cheek and sat back letting me take in the picture in my own time which delighted me.
In the picture Percy was butt-naked on the beach his hands by his side and his feet pointing out to the side as if he were a penguin. He must have been about one, if I had to guess, his toothy grin aimed at the camera his eyes shut so they looked like lines. A proud expression on his face. I loved it.
I handed it back to him just as discreetly as he'd handed it to me and kissed his cheek. "Adorable" I whispered, and he smiled.
"I'm glad you think so, I didn't want to show you, but a deal is a deal." He said, and I smiled.
"Maybe you should think about betting terms, before agreeing to another." I teased.
"Maybe, or I could just ask Bobby and Matthew to email me one of your baby photos. I'm sure they'd do it if I asked." He said confidently and I had no doubt that they would sell me out to their new friend who was inevitably cooler than their older sister.
"I hope that they wouldn't do that to their big sister, but they do adore you, almost as much as I do, so I can't say I'd blame them if they did."
"Please they'd do it, and if she were old enough to use email, Estelle would totally do the same to me, she adores you. When you're at Mom and Paul's it's like I don't exist sometimes."
"It wasn't like that at all over Christmas" I said.
"Only because there was so many people. She asks about you all the time." He told me, and the thought warmed my heart. I really loved that Estelle asked about me.
"We'll have to go back and see her soon." I said not leaving it open for discussion, we would do it. Percy nodded and smiled at me.
Piper had been cackling with laughter during our exchange and hardly noticed that we weren't paying attention to her and Jason. I loved seeing her this happy, I hope Jason realised just how lucky he was to have the heart of Piper McLean.
The rest of Sunday had passed in much the same way, with Percy and Jason poking teasing jabs at each other and revealing small pieces of information about themselves to us. Piper and I had joined in with a few of our own, it had been altogether kind of fun.
Monday Percy had had another early morning training session followed by a day of chemistry classes. I had had a full day of classes as well and we'd crashed out early in the evening after having dinner.
Tuesday, I didn't see Percy after I got up and left for class. Tuesday was Percy's day at the aquarium and I had a shift at Jackson's.
Wednesday was another early start Percy left for swim practise and I had class and a shift at Jackson's. Percy stayed at his and Frank's apartment that night but asked me to keep Thursday afternoon clear for a stay in date, whatever one of those was.
Thursday afternoon soon came around and Piper had left for her class half an hour ago. I was following Percy's really vague instructions of 'wear anything as long as your comfy' for our afternoon date. I dressed in my joggers, one of Percy's t-shirts, that he'd left here, and a pair of fuzzy slipper socks, that Piper had given me one year as a joke. I also put on Percy's letterman jacket for warmth, and I absolutely loved that he'd asked me to wear it.
I had absolutely no idea what he was planning and that both irritated and excited me. A sensation which was completely new to me, to be excited about not knowing something. His other request was to push the sofa and chairs back against the wall that separates the kitchen from the living area. Why? I had no idea, but I dutifully did it.
Percy arrived at four on the dot and when I opened the door hand his hands were so full, I thought he'd drop something.
"What can I take, to help?" I asked.
"Can you take the shopping bag to the kitchen? I'll pop this stuff down and join you there in a minute."
"Of course" I said without hesitation I took the shopping bag and went into the kitchen.
When Percy joined me, he started to unpack the bag into the fridge before I could ask what he'd bought. I took in his appearance as he did so, he was wearing joggers the same as me and a fitted t-shirt, he looked great.
"So do you want to see what we're doing?" He asked closing the fridge.
"So much" I said, and he laughed with such joy I couldn't help but smile as the sound warmed my heart.
"Come on" he said and led me back out into the living room.
When we got there, there were two boxes, a pile of blankets and my bedding from my bed.
"What's in the boxes?" I asked.
"Take a look" he said so I picked one up.
"No way!" I said a smile flooding my face.
"Miss Chase, would you like to build a fort with me?" He asked playfully.
"More than anything else in the world, Mr. Jackson." I replied just as playfully.
Ψ
~Author's Note~
Hi all, thank you so much for reading this chapter. I really hope you enjoyed it, please let me know!
Going Dark – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I still have a few twists for you on the villain don't count your chickens yet my friend :). I hope you liked this chapter, please let me know!
Insanedreamer7905 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I know the baby photo didn't happen quite how you wanted but I hope you still enjoyed! Disney is a way of life my friend just roll with it :). Luke will start popping up more and more going forward. I hope you liked this chapter please let me know!
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TheProudPearl24 – Thank you for your review! You don't have to worry about not reviewing the previous one I just wanted to see if you were still with the story, I know you're enjoying, or at least I hope you still are :). I hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know!
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WiseGrl14 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last one! I'm still going to leave you guessing on your theories, it's half of my fun :). Please let me know if you enjoyed this chapter!
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Happy reading all & stay safe!