Piper's P.O.V
Class had been tough, and I was completely beat. Who puts a coding class for four hours on a Thursday evening? That's just cruel in my opinion. Jason had basketball training this evening so it would just be me on my own for dinner as Percy and Annabeth would have undoubtedly eaten already. Percy hadn't told me about his plan for his date with Annabeth but whatever it was, I'm sure it had involved food of some sort.
Whatever I had been expecting to see, was not what I had found once I got home. In the living area was a fully erected fort which took over the entire space.
"Annabeth?" I called out.
"In here Piper" her voice came from the middle of the fort.
"How do I even get to you?" I asked.
"The doors at the back as if you've come out of the kitchen." She told me.
I walked around the structure and found where she was talking about and walked into her fort.
"Why is there a fort in the living room?" I asked her, though I had a pretty good idea.
Her answer was the biggest smile I've ever seen.
"So you built a fort together and then made fajitas and watched TV." I recounted while my best friend smiled at me.
"I think he loves you." I said.
"I think I might love him too." She said out loud for the first time and I squealed a little when I heard those words.
"There's a lot to be said about a guy who organises a fort building date for an architect student." I said with absolutely no doubt that Annabeth had taken charge as soon as they had started and directed Percy to help her make the fort she wanted.
"There is." She agreed and then asked, "Have you eaten?"
I was about to respond with a 'no' when my stomach rumbled causing her, and in turn me, to laugh.
"That answers that." She said getting up, "come on." She took my hand and pulled me to my feet, and we made our way to the kitchen. I watched her take something out of the fridge and pop in in the microwave before getting out bowls that contained chopped tomatoes and cucumber and some lettuce. She also got a pot of salsa out and placed it on the table too. The micro wave dinged, and she put a pack of wraps in the microwave and set it going again. I watched her do all of this in absolute silence. Curiosity burning through me, noticing this Annabeth answered my unasked question.
"Percy also made a tofu mix for the fajitas. In case you hadn't had time to eat after class." She said putting everything I needed to construct my tofu fajita in front of me.
"I think I kind of love your boyfriend a little too." I teased, "Where is he anyway?" I asked.
"You'll laugh" she said smiling.
"That just makes me want to know more." I said folding up my fajita and taking a bite.
"As it was a date, he kissed me good night and went home." She told me with an amused expression on her face, but her eyes told me how much she loved it. And I did laugh.
I realised that I did love Percy Jackson in a purely platonic way. He made my best friend happy, her loved her and treated her like nothing short of royalty. I kind of had to love him for that and if not that, then for the food he kept bringing and/or making, it was nothing short of exceptional.
"How quaint" I teased her, and she smiled. "I do love how he includes me in your food choices though, even though his cousin is my boyfriend it's really sweet."
Annabeth nodded "I think he'd do it even if Jason weren't his cousin. But because Jason is his cousin, he knows when he's not going to be here with you. He doesn't want you to feel left out. I love him a lot for that, alone." She said smiling.
"So what are the other things you love him for?" I asked seriously because I did want to know.
"Finish your fajitas, then we'll go back to the fort, and I'll tell you." She said.
And that's how we spent our Thursday evening talking about how much we loved our boyfriends in a fort in our living room. We did have to take the fort down, much to Annabeth's disappointment, before we went to bed to return the flat to normal.
If last Thursday hadn't been enough for me to love Percy Jackson, what happened this Thursday morning most certainly was. Jason and Annabeth had a morning class, Percy had the day off from both the aquarium and classes. So it was just the two of us in the apartment when disaster struck for me. That disaster's name was mother nature, I started my period, and we were out of tampons. To make matters worse I was on the loo with no way to take care of it. My phone was in my room, and Annabeth wasn't here. Reluctantly I called Percy's name out. A few moments later there was a knock at the door.
"Piper, did you call me, are you ok?" He asked.
"I," I felt my face flush with embarrassment, "I need a favour" I said annoyed with how embarrassed I was about this.
"What type do you need?" He asked.
"Sorry?" I asked.
"What type of tampon do you need?" He asked.
"The yellow ones" I replied, and I heard him shuffle outside the door and then the door opened a fraction, and something slide to my feet, before the door closed again. A tampon in a yellow packet, laid by my foot.
"I'll go to the store and get you a couple of boxes." He said "Do you need anything else, pain killers? Chocolate?" He asked.
"Chocolate would be appreciated." I said.
"Okay, back soon." He said and disappeared.
When Percy came back, he'd borrowed my keys, I was on the sofa in the living area under a blanket, and not looking forward to going to my coding class later on. Percy took one look at me and disappeared into the kitchen. A minute or so later he came back with a hot chocolate, the chocolate he'd bought from the store and set it down on the table for me. He then disappeared off to the bathroom and came back holding a single tampon.
"I hope it's okay that I replace the one I gave you from you bag." He said. The question seemed almost ridiculous now.
"Of course it is, you bought them and saved me sitting there until Annabeth came back, it's happened before." I said noticing his raised eyebrow. "Can I ask why you have a tampon in your bag?"
"I have a few actually, one of each flow type. I'll explain in a moment, can I get you a hot water bottle?" He asked.
"That would be appreciated, but I don't have one." I replied.
"I know, Annabeth said the same thing when she was on the other week, so I bought one for her. I'll just go fill it up." He said and I took the opportunity to text Annabeth.
Piper: Your boyfriend is kind of amazing, he's just saved me!
I wasn't expecting a reply, but they must have been on a break because I did get one.
Annabeth: I liked to think so :). Were we out of tampons again?
Piper: Yes.
Annabeth: Sorry!
I told her it that was okay, we didn't use the same colour anyway. But I decided to tell her the story in person when she got back, before my class, later. Percy took the opportunity to reappear with the hot water bottle which was in a cute little owl cover. It was sweet that he'd been so thoughtful to get it for Annabeth and I was certainly appreciating the use of it this morning.
"To answer your question," he said handing me the hot water bottle. "There was an incident at the swimming pool when I was younger, 9 maybe, where my mom was caught unawares, while I was swimming. We had to shoot off quite quickly after I'd finished and at the time I didn't understand why. Later I found out that it was because she'd started her period earlier than expected that month and didn't have a pad or tampon on hand. What's worse was she was wearing white. Since then I always carry around a tampon or each size and a selection of pads in case someone, although it started out as mom, is in need." He said from the chair he now sat in.
"I have some chemistry work I have to do, but can I get you anything else before I get back to it?" He asked.
"No, I'm okay thank you." I said, and he made his way to Annabeth's room. "And Percy," I called out and he turned around, before opening her door. "Thank you."
"Anytime" he smiled and disappeared behind the door to do his assignment and I sat under the blanket with the hot water bottle watching old episodes of friends. Thankful once again for the icing sugar incident all those weeks ago.
Percy's P.O.V
Chemistry was hard but not as hard as I thought it would be. Thankfully because of Annabeth's help with calculus, I had an understanding, of what I was supposed to do with the equation set we had to do for class this week. It was just one more way, my amazing girlfriend helped me with my studies.
The first I knew of Annabeth's return to her apartment was her arms around my neck and her lips brushing my cheek with a kiss.
"Hey" I said smiling as I put my pen down on her desk. I could have gone home, probably should have, I hadn't been home in over a week. But Annabeth's room was so easy to work in and I loved it being with her so much, that I didn't want to leave. I had asked her to tell me if I was over staying my welcome, and she had agreed to do so, but was yet to tell me as such. I was kind of pleased about that.
"Hey, I hear you saved Piper this morning." She said smiling.
"It wasn't a big deal" I said.
"Wrong, it was a very big deal to me, and to Piper." She told me, I smiled at her.
"Jason would have done the same thing, I'm sure." I said, because all the talk about tampons, although I'd brought it on myself, was a little strange.
"Jason is obligated to as her boyfriend, you aren't."
"Well as your boyfriend, I kind of am, I mean she's your best friend." I said.
"So is Thalia" she teased.
"And I've done the same for her in the past." I confirmed and she smiled at me.
"She told me about you're emergency feminine hygiene stash." She said grinning at me.
"Who Piper?" I asked and she nodded. "It wasn't really a secret. I'd have told you if you'd asked."
"I know" she told me. "I really appreciate you saving the day." She kissed me and I pulled her down into my lap gently and kissed her back.
"If I get more of those, I'm hiding the tampon boxes I bought earlier just to save the day tomorrow." She laughed and shook her head fondly at me before kissing me again.
"Don't do that to her." She chided me playfully knowing full well that I wouldn't.
"Thank you, not just this morning, but for including her when it's just the three of us here and even thinking of her when she's not. Like last week with the fajitas." She said.
"She's your family." I said hoping it would explain my actions and the truth was that I was really fond of Piper. She made my cousin happy. That fact alone made her like family to me, and the fact that she could tease him mercilessly but with so much love and still make him smile. It just made that fact truer.
"Plus she's dating Jason, that kind of makes her my family too, she's like a cool sister or something." I said making Annabeth laugh.
"I'm glad you get on so well." She told me before kissing me again and I would never get tired of her kisses.
The next morning I was up at half four again, thankfully Annabeth had learnt to either ignore or sleep through my alarm. She had a shift at the coffee shop this morning and I was going to meet her for lunch afterwards.
I quickly and gently slipped out of bed and dressed. I kissed Annabeth's forehead before I headed out of the apartment and made my way to campus. For late January it was freezing but that was okay. It did remind me that valentine's day was up and coming and that I needed to plan something and get a card, I already had a gift, for Annabeth.
I got to the locker room and changed relatively quickly just wanting to get in the water and warm up. Friday's was a private training session for me which meant coach was going to push me hard. I had qualified for the Olympic team last year when I had beaten the Olympic Record time for the 200m butterfly. Coach wanted me to compete in this year's qualifiers for different events though, so he'd been pushing me hard to make sure I was ready.
I'd been thinking about the Olympics a lot since the weekend when Jason had exposed my diving medals to the girls. It was a sore, but at the same time, joyful memory from my past. I'd competed in something I loved just because I loved it and by some miracle won not one but two gold medals. I was lucky at the age of 16 I'd been allowed to compete in the games and not the Junior games. I hadn't expected to win anything, and I was over joyed that I had, then my father had ruined it.
Not personally, he didn't know he was the reason I stopped diving. A reporter had asked me if I was planning to walk in my father's footsteps at the world diving competition the following winter. I hadn't known what to say. The last thing I had ever wanted was to be my father. It had soured my feelings of winning. I'd always wanted to swim competitively so I continued to do so and put all my effort in to that, and subsequently forgot all about diving.
"Jackson, we're going to work on your IM today. Warm-up 8 sets of 50m freestyle, 30 seconds between each rep." Coach said pulling me from my thoughts. I nodded to show I understood and pulled my googles on, coach blew his whistle, and I dove in to start my warm up.
Annabeth wasn't quite finished when I got to Jackson's. Which I was kind of glad for, it gave me a few minutes to catch my breath having jogged most of the way after a gruelling practise. It had been a horrible idea to do so, and I was paying for it now.
I waved at her to let her know I was here before making my way over to an empty booth and collapsing in it.
Frank appeared moments later with a water and slice of cake.
"Annabeth sent me over" he said by way of explanation.
"Goddess, that woman, I tell you, Goddess." I said gratefully accepting and immediately tucking into the cake.
Frank laughed and made his way back to the counter. I looked up just in time to see Frank say something to Annabeth, who threw her head back in laughter. The sound warmed my soul. She made eye contact with me, after a while and I knew Frank had told her what I had said. I didn't care though, I'd tell her to her face without hesitation, because I meant it.
Ten minutes later Annabeth slide into the booth opposite me. "A Goddess huh?"
"Absolutely" I replied without hesitation.
"Well if I knew cake was all it took to get such praise, I would have sent you some over a long time ago." She teased. I smiled at her, not knowing what to say, but also not wanting ruin he moment either. Annabeth seemed to understand that and took my hand.
"Shall we get going?" She asked me and I nodded.
"Let me just pay for the water and the cake." I said.
"Already taken care of." She told me as we walked towards the door.
"Thank you" I said. She kissed my cheek as I held the door open for her and we walked out into the crisp January afternoon.
We arrived at the restaurant moments later and were seated relatively quickly. I didn't know it, Annabeth had picked it, and I was excited to see what was on the menu.
"How was work?" I asked her as we decided what to eat.
"Good, Frank told me he's considering turning your room into a games room." She teased, at least I hoped she teased.
"Zhang wouldn't do that to me." I said confidently. "Though I should probably spend more time there. I just," I stopped because it sound absolutely pathetic to me, but the statement I had lined up to say was true, nonetheless.
"You just what?" She asked.
"I've got used to sleeping next to someone and when I do go home and sleep on my own in my own bed it takes me a while to fall asleep. I know that sounds pathetic, but I genuinely enjoy sleeping next to you and waking up next to you."
"You say this like I wouldn't come over to yours with you." She noted, amusement evident in her voice, and I realised it hadn't even occurred to me to ask. I just assumed she was more comfortable in her own apartment. In hindsight it was stupid.
The fact that I was stumped must have shown on my face because she laughed and said, "Seaweed Brain, I love spending time at mine, but I wouldn't mind if you wanted to spend time at yours."
"I just assumed," I said, "I'm sorry Wise Girl."
"Seaweed Brain." She said affectionately and rolled her eyes at me. I kind of loved when she did that so fondly at me.
"What do you recommend?" I asked her.
"For you? Probably the blue grilled cheese." She teased her tone obvious, but I didn't mind, I kind of relished in it.
"Stilton isn't my cheese." I replied with a nose scrunch to show I was also teasing, even if I was serious about Stilton being absolutely gross.
"I know" she said seriously. "I do think you'd like it, but maybe the club sandwich?"
"Thank you" I said smiling. I looked at what the cub sandwich entailed and silently agreed, that I would definitely be ordering that.
When the time came Annabeth ordered the Blue Grilled Cheese and I ordered the Club Sandwich with a side of fries.
"How was your training session?" She asked me once we'd ordered, and our drinks had been brought out.
"Tough, coach is pushing me hard, wants me to swim in the Olympic qualifiers this semester." I replied nonchalantly.
"You sound like you don't want too." She said.
"It's not that, it's just I've already qualified, for one event at least, through utter luck mind you. I've always loved swimming and competing in it. I just didn't think I'd be good enough to take swimming that far." I confessed, I also knew that unless you got endorsements or medalled, being and Olympic Athlete of any kind held very little income. I didn't say that though.
"I'm sure it wasn't luck, Percy. And if you want to go for it, go for it. If you've already qualified for one event you've got nothing to lose by trying to qualify for others, right?" She asked me.
She had a point. "I guess not." I said and smiled at her she always knew how to cheer me up.
"What did you want to do this afternoon?" I asked her.
Luke's P.O.V
Watching the two of them made me want to be sick. There was so much flirting and smiling. It was disgusting.
The past few weeks of research had proved fruitful though, an old pawn, we could bring back into play.
It would upset the balance of their relationship, certainly it'll make one, if not both, angry at the other.
The fact that our pawn was working at the restaurant they had chosen for lunch was just too perfect an opportunity to pass up.
I couldn't wait for him to bring their lunch to their table. I felt like a kid at Christmas opening his favourite present.
This will set up the fight to break them up, then Annabeth will come back to me.
Luke: Make sure you take out their order.
~Author's Notes~
Hi all, thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed despite that I've left you with a bit of a cliff hanger.
SarcasmRocks – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter, and I hoped this chapter answered some of your questions. I hope you liked this chapter too, please let me know!
TheProudPearl24 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the lasted chapter! I'm with you on the happy/angry note you have about Luke's actions. But I think Annabeth and Josh would have broken up despite any outside interference because well y'know Percabeth :). I hope you liked this chapter too please let me know!
Going Dark – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Dispatched is an interesting word and I agree something to be concerned about – hopefully, it'll all be clear in the future. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well, please let me know!
WiseGrl14 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I hope you liked this one too! Please let me know!
Insanedreamer7905 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter! I agree Luke is in need of some help, I also think it's definitely in Percy's nature to want to be the best boyfriend he can be too. I love that you have such great opinions on the chapters, please let me know what they are for this one!
Merendinoemiliano – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you enjoyed this one too! Let me know!
SAS7ROCKS – Thank you for your review! I'm so glad you're enjoying the fic! I have some chapters pre-written and am updating weekly but we are coming to the end of those slowing and I am writing more as and when I can but not as much as I would like. Hopefully, I can get through my block before I reach the end of my pre-written ones. I'm glad you're enjoying though, please let me know what you thought of this chapter!
Sranupama2005 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter! I think this chapter explains why Percy is embarrassed? As for Jason I think he just wants to have the reputation he's built now, rather than his past efforts y'know? I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, please let me know!
Dawn. Justice – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Apologies for not realising your name isn't coming up properly at the end of the chapter I hope it has this time?! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!
Aweesh ganegoda – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I want Luke to be present in peoples minds as he plots but I don't want the whole reveal yet that will come later. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please let me know!
Guest Jun 16 – Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and I hope you enjoyed this one too! Please let me know!
Happy reading all & stay safe! :)