A/N: Hey guys!
NOTE: There were some issues with the last upload so make sure you read the previous chapter before this!
Anyway, I'm back again with a longer chapter to make up for last week! Hope you guys like it!
Annabeth is so ready for the new year. As fun as this year has been, she's ready to take on new adventures and start fresh. Or maybe it's just because this is the first real party she's throwing since moving into her own apartment.
Speaking of said party, she's got an hour to go, but Percy and Piper are already there, supposedly to "help" her put the finishing touches on everything. As it is, though, the two have made themselves comfortable on the couch and armchair and are engaged in an animated discussion about whales or something. She doesn't really know.
She shakes her head from her place at the kitchen, checking to make sure the appetizers and snacks are ready to go. As she plates them, however, she can't help but be glad that the two of them get along despite not having many things in common. She doesn't really know what would have happened if they didn't.
She smiles at the two most important people in her life currently. Beyond approving of her boyfriend, it seems that Piper has found her own someone. She remembers the conversation they had not that long ago.
Piper has been checking her phone every minute or so and Annabeth can't find it in her to be upset about it. This must've been what she was like when she first found Percy.
Overall, she's more than happy for her best friend who's done nothing but support her through everything.
"What's he saying?" she asks, amused, as Piper checks her phone again.
Shooting her an embarrassed smile, Piper apologizes, "I'm sorry."
She waves it away. "It's fine. Now tell me, what's going on?" She leans forward.
Piper shrugs. "Well he's obviously flirting now, and I think trying to ask me out on another date?"
Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Of course he is, if he stumbled over ties when he first saw you and stuttered through the first ten minutes of your first date, he's in deep. "
Piper smiles again and Annabeth imagines that this would be the moment she would blush if her skin didn't hide it so well.
"Should I invite him to our New Year's Party?" she asks hesitantly.
Annabeth laughs because even though it's technically her New Year's party, Piper isn't remotely wrong in claiming ownership.
"And put him out of his misery? Let him struggle on that date first."
Piper laughs along.
(But they both decide to help the poor guy out and send an invitation.)
Shaking out of her reminiscence, she grabs a bottle of wine and some snacks and walks them to the coffee table.
Their talk has turned to the semantics of Finding Nemo and she rolls her eyes again.
"Would you like more wine?" she asks sarcastically, breaking up their conversation and moving towards the couch.
Piper shoots her a wide grin and holds out her nearly empty glass, the little shit. Percy, on the other hand, has the sense to look a little more apologetic and asks if she needs help with anything.
"Kiss up," Piper grumbles at him when he stands up.
"I actually get those if I help," Percy replies as Piper makes a face. Annabeth decides to pull him in for a kiss just to prove a point.
"Gross!" Piper squeals in the background but when she pulls away and turns to her best friend, she's smiling.
"You guys suck," she says with a fake pout and stands up to help out.
-.-
Jason's the first guest to arrive, either because he's punctual or he really wants to see Piper.
Percy guesses it's the latter from the stories he's heard and watches as Annabeth greets him with a smile and a very not subtle analyzing stare. "Hey! It's good to see you again!"
"You too," he replies politely. "Thanks for inviting me." He looks a little nervous and Percy knows he wasn't the only one to notice her assessment.
Annabeth nods and gestures towards him. "This is my boyfriend, Percy." Jason smiles and holds out a hand, still somewhat nervous.
Percy shakes it and shoots him a thumbs up from behind Annabeth's back. It brings a smile to his face and Percy feels like he's done his part in helping the guy relax a bit.
But then Piper shows up and it's so clear the guy is gone on her. Percy doesn't stop the smile that appears on his own face—he's pretty sure he probably looks at Annabeth the same way.
Will and Nico show up soon after ,and in no time at all, the party's in full swing. Percy mostly sticks by Nico and Will unless Annabeth pulls him away for an introduction. Beyond Nico, Will, Jason and Piper, three of her friends from college are there and two have dates.
Annabeth's a flurry of movement, going from person to person, catching up, offering drinks or food and generally being a perfect hostess. But as impressive as it is, he wants her by his side again. He knows it's a selfish wish, since he sees her all the time and these people don't, but he can't help it.
"She's a good hostess," Will comments, seeing Percy watch her.
Percy nods. "Yeah…"
Will smiles and pats him on the back. "Don't worry, she hasn't forgotten about you."
Percy can't stop his face from heating up because Will's nailed it. Seeing her with all these other friends reminds him of the part of her life that he wasn't a part of. He looks away from her and towards the food where Jason's awkwardly standing around while Piper is whisked away.
"Jason!" Percy waves him over and a look of relief washes over the guys face as he walks over.
"Piper go missing?" he asks, handing him a drink.
Jason nods and gratefully accepts the beer. "Yeah, some girls showed up and she was gone before I could blink."
"You know man, it takes guts to show up to a party where you don't know anyone else besides the girl you're dating," Percy says.
Nico nods alongside him. "Yeah, it's impressive."
Jason flushes under their gaze. "I...I really like her."
Will laughs. "We can tell dude, but she really likes you too, going by the way she looks at you."
"Really?" Jason asks, glancing over to Piper who's still talking with the girls. She looks up to see him staring and shoots him a wink.
All three of them burst out into laughter. Percy pats Jason on the back. "Yeah man, I think so."
-.-
The TV is set to the Times Square ball drop and everyone's ready for the countdown. They still have ten minutes though, so she relaxes a bit and leans closer to Percy. They're standing behind the couch and his arm is snaked around her.
Everyone has settled around the TV, and it's the first time she feels like she can slow down. Coincidentally, it's also when Percy's arm is around her.
"Ready for the New Year?" she asks him in a low voice.
He squeezes her waist. "Ready to make more memories with you."
It sounds like something out of a Hallmark card and he's paired it with the cheesiest grin. She can't help but smile at the words.
"Yeah, me too."
In the next five minutes she's gotten two bottles of champagne and handed them off to Piper and Will to do the honors.
"You sure you don't want to do it Annabeth?" Will asks when she hands it to him. She shakes her head.
"Nah, I'll miss the mark, I trust you."
"You don't trust me?" Nico pipes up.
Annabeth gives him a look. "Percy has told me one too many stories about you guys and glass bottles."
Nico glares at Percy, who just shrugs in response.
"The countdown is starting!" Will interrupts and all eyes are on the screen and timer counting down from sixty.
"Are we doing this?" he asks her as the numbers change.
50.
She grins back. "Oh, of course."
40.
He chuckles and pulls her close. "Then I guess you need to be here."
30.
Will and Piper ready the champagne bottles.
20.
She loops her hands on his neck, pulling him down to her. "And you need to be here."
10.
Everyone cheers and but all she can look at is the green in his eyes.
5.
She feels a rush of adrenaline at the way he tightens his hold on her.
4.
3.
2.
They lean in, his lips barely brush hers.
1.
They don't say it since their lips are too busy.
-.-
His eyes feel heavy and he has no idea what time it is, when he feels a hand tug him away from the living room where Piper and Jason are knocked out on the couch and some other friend has taken the armchair.
He thinks Nico and Will were the last to leave, only needing to go up two floors, and everyone else has filtered out.
The tugging increases and he stumbles his way through the front door and blinks in the harsh light of the hallway. Squinting, he sees the shape of his girlfriend leading him up the stairs, and a few minutes later a cold wind whips his face, effectively waking him up.
They're on The Roof™. Seeing the barren, cracked concrete and the two lone lawn chairs now covered in snow brings a warmth and sadness to his chest. They haven't been up here in what seems like forever, the cold weather combined with Annabeth's constant free space deterring them.
She drags the brick, covered in now, to the door and the yellow light floods the scene. Looking beyond the small concrete wall he can see the lights of many of the surrounding buildings still on from the parties and the sky is a clear deep blue.
It's beautiful.
He looks at Annabeth who's also taking in the sight, a warm smile on her face. Her hair is messy from the festivities and there's a tiredness to the way she's carrying herself, but her eyes are bright when she looks up to meet his gaze.
"Happy New Year," she says breathlessly, huddling closer to him for warmth. It's already a good two or three hours into the New Year but he wouldn't trade this moment for the world.
Instead of answering, he wraps his arms around her and leans down for a kiss. It's slower, sweeter, than the one from the countdown, and they take their time with it, savoring each other's presence.
Maybe it's the cold, or the lights, or the way stars are unusually clear, but something about this moment, this kiss, on this rooftop, feels special.
They pull away slowly, smiling, and Percy feels a tug in his gut at just how much he cares for this girl in his arms. She's peeking up at him through her lashes and he runs his thumb across her cheeks.
Her eyes flutter shut and their warm breath fogs up between them. She looks stunning.
"I love you," he finds himself whispering, not entirely of his own volition, but he's not entirely upset at the words tumbling out.
Her eyes snap open and she stares at him for a moment before her mouth forms a sly smile.
"I think," she whispers back, crowding into his space even more. "I think I might love you too."
They're the only two people on the roof and they've been together for a while now, yet they whisper and blush like it's a secret.
Except it's not. Not anymore. He's said it out loud. The words he didn't fully realize he had inside him.
"I love you," he repeats with a grin, because even though it's like three in the morning, she's got him on a high even alcohol could never achieve.
She giggles, and all of sudden they're like teenagers who've snuck out of the house after curfew to see each other.
"I love you too," she says before pulling him into another searing kiss. Her warmth, her slightly minty taste, the way she opens her mouth to let him in all just serve to strengthen his words.
They should get back to the apartment. Someone might wake up and wonder where they are. But right now, in this moment, everything is perfect.
And he doesn't want to let it go.
A/N: And there you have it! The big declaration of love, it's official guys! I hope you guys liked this fluffy chapter after the angst of last one.
Once again, there were issues with the last upload so make sure you've read that one before this!
Also, this is going to be a Piper, Jason paring. Some people made comments regarding the last book and Piper and I have two things to say about that. 1. This fic was written last year, I'm not going to be changing it. And 2. I love and support bi Piper! But I also like Jasper, so I'll interchange when I feel like it, but this fic is strictly Jasper.
Thank you guys for the support on this fic and I hope you're liking it!
Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for reading!
See ya! :)