A/N: Hey guys! Back again with a much longer chapter this time and it's exciting! Hope you guys like it!
Checking her outfit for the fifth time, she can hear Piper's voice in her head telling her a sweater dress with tights is definitely adequate for a work event and to stop messing with her hair!
She's still nervous, though, and for some reason this work event feels more like a commitment than any of the things they've done in the past three months or so. Probably because you don't introduce just anyone to your coworkers, even if you are just a temp.
That had actually been a reason they decided to fit both events instead of just Piper's Friendsgiving. Percy had been more than willing to drop the event, but it's a good networking opportunity and maybe he'll be able to land a more permanent job if he shows interest.
Forcing her hand away from her hair, she stalks towards the living room to anxiously pace because, of course, she's ready early. Her mind brings forth all kinds of things, like how at some point he's going to have to introduce her to someone and they have definitely not talked about defining the relationship.
Her leg bounces nervously now that that can of worms has been opened so naturally, she does the first thing she can think of, which is pull up Youtube.
And for the second time, she almost misses his knock because of the video, and for a second time it's managed to calm her down.
"You really do watch a lot of Youtube," is the third thing he says after, "You look beautiful," and "Ready to go?"
She shrugs, unashamed. "Youtube is cool," she quotes him.
Percy laughs. "I never said it wasn't."
"It's a good stress reliever for me."
He looks at her sideways. "You're stressed?"
Well, this wasn't something she'd been planning on letting slip. She shrugs and tries to play it cool. "Well, we are going to your work party."
He nods. "Yeah, but don't worry, it'll be fine. Plus, we'll be out of there soon and on our way to Piper's."
"Yeah," she agrees. The thought of seeing Piper puts her at ease. That and the feel of Percy's arm around her along with the familiar scent of his ocean-scented cologne makes her heart beat in a different kind of way.
A ten minute Uber ride with Percy's hand in hers and she's pretty calm as they arrive at the venue. There are a good number of people already there, most of whom fortunately don't spare a second glance at them.
She grips Percy's arm as they weave through the crowd and towards one of the tables, where a guy with curly hair is grinning at their approach.
"Percy!" he cheers, standing up to give him one of those half-bro-hugs that Annabeth's never really understood, as a girl with long caramel colored hair materializes next to them.
"Hey Leo! Hey Calypso!" Percy responds, smiling back. So this was Leo, the other temp and Percy's work best friend. She appraises his wide smile and mischievous eyes and thinks Percy has good taste.
"Oh please Percy, call me Cali," the girl refutes, shooting him a charming smile.
Annabeth holds back a smile of her own at Leo's little pout at the action and the replacing grin when Cali grabs his hand. She shoots Annabeth a look as she does and they share a small smile.
She likes this girl.
"This is Annabeth," Percy finally introduces and she lifts her hand up in a small wave.
"Annabeth? The one and only? It's so nice to finally meet you!" Leo declares dramatically, shaking her hand.
She laughs at his antics. "You too."
"What? Does Percy talk about me?" he asks with comically wide eyes. She glimpses the hint of mischief she had caught earlier in them.
She smiles conspiratorially. "Oh yeah, he says you're his work best friend."
"Aww, Percy! You care man!" Leo fake sniffles, but the smile is genuine.
"Whatever dude," Percy grumbles, but even he can't keep the smile off his face.
She shares another look with Cali and they both roll their eyes.
"You're cool Annabeth," Leo says. "No wonder Percy doesn't shut up about you."
She can't deny the words bring a warmth to her heart, but she plays it cool, raising an eyebrow. "Percy doesn't shut up about me?"
Percy groans and hides his face in his hands. "Leo…"
Leo's grin, however, just widens. "Oh yeah, it's always Annabeth this or Annabeth that, like a proper lovesick puppy when you text him."
"Leo, I take back everything, you suck," Percy mutters from under his hands.
It might be embarrassing for Percy, but she finds it extremely sweet and slowly pries his hands away, pecking him on the cheek. "You're sweet," she whispers, and it seems to help his mood.
Cali tactfully brings up the topic of refreshments and the four make their way to the table filled with drinks and various appetizers, including some scone thing that Annabeth immediately takes a liking to.
They return to their table, chatting happily, with only a few interruptions from some people calling for Cali, a full time employee and evidently well known.
"Mary," Cali says, sitting down after smiling at some woman who had just left, "in accounting, hates me."
The stories that follow the people are equally entertaining, and from the looks of it, Percy and Leo are learning as much about some of these people as she is.
"It's because she tried to tell me I was wrong on three seperate occasions and I turned out to be right."
"It's cause you're perfect," Leo adds with a lovesick grin of his own.
Percy doesn't even bother to hide his snickers. "Well, on that note, Annabeth and I have to get going."
And with a final parting wave to the other couple, they weave once again through the crowd and towards the exit.
Percy nudges her slightly and stands a little straighter as they slow down enough to be stopped by a portly man in a blue suit, who Annabeth immediately assumes is Percy's boss.
"Hello Percy," the man says with a smile. "How are you enjoying the party?"
"Hello Mike, it's really good," Percy responds. "Unfortunately, we have another event, but we wanted to stop by here first."
His boss's attention moves to her. "Ah, and who's this young lady?"
Finally the question she's been worried about has been asked. And by his boss, no less.
She realizes then that Percy is just now understanding the predicament of bringing her to a work event. and despite her nervousness, mentally facepalms at his lack of forethought.
"My girlfriend, Annabeth," he blurts out.
His boss nods, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you Annabeth, I'd get my wife, but she seems to have disappeared towards the drinks."
"No problem, we have to get going anyway," Percy responds, and with a quick goodbye, he practically drags her out.
While she's not complaining, finally away from the awkward conversation, she's still buzzing a little from his word choice. She's not going to lie and say it didn't feel good to hear.
He visibly lets out a breath when they've made it outside and she pulls out her phone to get them an Uber to Piper's.
She's shaking just a little from excitement and hope, and it's not till after she confirms the driver is two minutes away does she turn towards him again.
"Girlfriend?"
-.-
Percy's expecting the question and yet still doesn't have a good way of answering it when it leaves her mouth.
She's looking at him with an unreadable expression, and he wonders if it's his imagination that picks up on a hopeful tone.
Well, this conversation was bound to happen. Everything was leading up to it, and though he hadn't really expected it to go down like this, at least it finally happened. He takes a deep breath. What the hell.
"Yeah, if that's okay with you?" He wants to give her a choice, make sure she knows there's no pressure or obligation, a route that just adds to his nervousness.
Luckily, after a moment, her face breaks out into a smile and she nods. "Yeah, that's okay with me."
And even though things have been going well and the answer isn't all that surprising, he's still filled with relief at her words. He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, feeling a weight he didn't realize he had, lift.
She wants to be his girlfriend. She is his girlfriend. The thought makes him giddy, and looking down, he sees a similar expression mirrored on her face.
Before either of them can say anything more, the Uber arrives.
She holds his hand during the ride, and all of a sudden it's his turn to be anxious, because it's become all too real that they're going to Piper's. They're going to his girlfriend's best friend's place.
This is a big deal. Evidently, it's the night for big deals.
Annabeth notices the shift in his attitude and shoots him a look. "What's up?"
"I think I get how you felt earlier," he says, remembering what she had told him when he had picked her up.
"Don't worry, Piper already likes you," she reassures, getting straight to the point. "And everyone else is really nice.
She considers for a moment "Well Drew, Piper's half sister, can be a bit of a diva but other than that, everyone's nice."
He nods, wondering if she's noticed just how sweaty his hands are and appreciates that, despite that, she continues to hold on.
Her reassurances help a little but he can't shake the feeling. Annabeth, noticing this, scoots a little closer, her warmth feels nice amidst the cold.
"Hey," she starts out softly, "don't worry about it, they'll just be glad to finally meet my boyfriend."
It's new enough that the word doesn't fail to bring a grin to his face.
He squeezes her hand back.
-.-
All they do is enter hand in hand and Piper somehow immediately picks up on the fact that something is different.
Before even letting them through the door, she narrows her eyes at Annabeth until she finally sighs and holds up their intertwined hands.
Piper breaks out into a smile. "I knew it!" she squeals, giving Annabeth a hug.
"I have no idea how," Percy speaks up. "It's impressive."
Piper shakes her head at him. "She's my best friend," she replies, as if that explains everything. "And it's also just a talent."
Annabeth interrupts the dialogue unceremoniously, announcing she's cold and Piper finally ushers them in.
The room is packed with people and there's an amazing smell wafting through the entire place, making his mouth water.
Being a smaller gathering, quite a few people notice them and walk up to Annabeth and he finds himself nodding and smiling at a few of her friends, focusing mostly on sticking to her side.
Luckily, she's looped her arm through his, so he can't actually lose her, and after excusing them from a conversation he's not at all been keeping track of, she leads him towards the table at the edge.
More appetizers fill the plates, though these look infinitely more appealing than the ones at the Fall Party.
Annabeth hands him a mini quiche and he can barely contain the groan as he takes a bite.
"Piper is an amazing cook," Annabeth explains, and he can't help but agree as he finishes the entire thing in the next bite and picks up another.
"Piper is amazing," Piper interrupts, appearing out of nowhere. "Well?" she asks, looking expectantly at his feedback on the food.
Percy's mouth is full of the best biscuit thing he's ever had. He lets out some sound that isn't dignified or attractive or even English in any way, but Piper seems to accept it. With a satisfied smile, she turns her attention to Annabeth.
"Did you see Drew's date?" she asks in a hushed voice.
Annabeth nods. "Why did you even invite her?"
"I had to be polite."
Annabeth frowns. "You're too nice."
"It has been said," Piper says dramatically. "Also Percy, remember to breathe."
He realizes he's been inhaling the biscuits instead of the air and slows down with a tint to his cheeks, nodding at Piper, who looks amused.
Right then, some girl approaches Annabeth, and suddenly his newfound girlfriend is whisked away, leaving him with a plate of biscuits and an amused Piper.
"Save some room for the actual food."
"Oh god, I'm going to die," he responds thinking that if the appetizers are this great, then the food would surely be astronomical.
"Don't," Piper says in a tone somewhere between joking and serious. "You just started a relationship with my best friend, dying isn't allowed."
"Alright then, I'll just take dying off the agenda," he jokes back nervously, hoping the answer is acceptable.
Though he had met Piper on his very first date, things are different now that he is Annabeth's boyfriend, he knows this much at least.
He falters a little under her scrutiny and wishes Annabeth was back by his side.
Piper nods approvingly. "Good. You're doing great so far."
"Are you going to threaten to kill me if I hurt Annabeth or something?" he jokes again, since it worked last time (though he's pretty sure it's doing little to hide his nerves).
"I don't need to threaten," she says in a dead calm voice, which is ten times more threatening than a threat.
Annabeth, it seems, has chosen her friends wisely. But she's also chosen a boyfriend wisely, in his opinion.
"You don't," he agrees, "Because I'm not trying to hurt her."
He hopes his tone conveys the truth behind the words, and Piper stares at him for a moment before she breaks out into a smile.
"Do you like pie?" she asks, and he takes this to mean he's in the clear.
By the time Annabeth finally returns, a little rustled from her abrupt kidnapping, Piper and Percy are in an intense discussion about apple vs. pumpkin pie.
They both agree that apple is better.
Annabeth squeezes his hand and he shoots her a smile because, of course, she was right.
A/N: And there you have it! So much happened, the biggest obviously being the start of their relationship, officially! Again, I'm trying to make this story feel real and I think that the double events, jam packed night and work events could definitely lead to some DTR lol
Hope you guys liked it! Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for reading!
See ya! :)