Hey guys, gals and non-binary pals! I hope you all like this fic. It's my last one.

Absolutely Smitten

Percy knew that he was gone for Annabeth the moment he saw her twirling around under a bunch of trees in Central Park on a beautiful autumn day (he didn't usually call anything or anyone beautiful unless it was his mom, his sister, one of his friends or anything to do with Annabeth and Annabeth herself). He was walking in the park after a particularly hassling and stressful day at work when he first saw her.

She was walking, twirling and laughing underneath the trees as leaves of multiple colors fell on her. Under the canopy of the trees whose red, orange and golden leaves illuminated her in a soft golden light, she seemed like an ethereal beauty. He wanted to just sit down and stare at her for the rest of his life. He wanted to write poetry and compose ballads and songs about her regardless of the fact that he didn't know her at all, that he didn't even know her name.

The second time he saw her was when she came into the coffee shop where he worked. He worked there in order for him to save up money for renting a bigger apartment which wasn't cramped due to 9 people living there.

Okay, nine people didn't live there, only 3 people did - him, Jason and Nico. It just felt like that. Why?

Well, Piper spent most of her time there with Jason so she might as well live there.

Leo apparently liked their apartment more than his so he might as well live there too.

Frank and Hazel would visit them all the time, bringing a bunch of stuff for them and overcrowding their already overcrowded space (nobody had the heart to tell them to stop because they were just goddamn adorable and really nice people).

Thalia liked to pop in randomly and then proceed to hug the couch and the TV while simultaneously depleting their food supply.

Will made excuses for coming just so that he could talk to Nico, which occurred over 5 times each day, and would then proceed to try and stay there for longer so that he could subtly (read: creepily and very obviously) stare at Nico. It was a wonder that Nico didn't figure out that Will was halfway in love with him and made a move because he was also hopelessly crushing on him. Why are they so dumb and blind?

He loved his friends and they were his family and he never really was lonely because he always had someone to talk to. However, it would be better if they could move into a larger apartment where 9 people could be accommodated with little difficulty and they still had space for everything they needed. Preferably with sound-proof walls because Jason and Piper were well, loud, sometimes preventing him from sleeping at night.

Percy was having a horrible shift that day. Some Karen came up to him and fought with him over a little detail. What was that detail you ask? Her tissue had a drop of coffee on it and apparently, that's offensive and rude. She then demanded a refund and asked him to redo her entire order.

He wanted to scream at her. Lady! I do not need to redo your order because there's a drop of coffee on your tissue! You're acting like there's a whole ass bug in there!

But, he couldn't because customers were apparently god and they know best. Well, guess what? God is a vicious, two-faced prick!

So, he smiled kindly at her, took back the drink, went into the kitchen, changed the tissue, and gave it back to her. Correction: he waited a few seconds, turned around and made sure that she wasn't looking at him (she was, very creepily so he acted as if he was remaking it), spit in the drink, mixed it up, and then marched outside and gave it back to her.

"Enjoy your drink!" He said with the same sickly sweet and obviously fake smile. "It's been remade with lots and lots of love and care." She might have looked at him weirdly, but he didn't care because what they said was true, revenge is sweet. That, and he hated her and never wanted her to ever come back or come in his line of sight ever again.

If he could, he would pack her in a box and ship her to Antarctica or better, North Korea. She could never get out of either of those places so anything was fine with him. He'd happily pay for the shipping even if he had to sell his skateboard (which his mom had bought for him after he successfully didn't get expelled from a school. He did, on the last day, but his mom was still proud of him) and give up all his savings.

When she walked in, it felt like the whole world had lit up and nothing could ever be horrible again. Cliche? Yes, he knew. But did he care? No. It felt like a scene out of a freaking romcom but he didn't care even though he always made fun of Jason watching them. Why he watched them was a mystery. Even Piper hated most of them. She only watched them to make fun of them all the time. It was fun watching movies with her.

Someone snapped their fingers. "Um, hello? Are you there?" The same person asked. His vision focused. The first thing he noticed were grey eyes looking like storm clouds looked at him. They were beautiful yet intimidating, like she was thinking of what to kill him. He then registered the blonde hair and looked at the person.

It was her. She was actually talking to him! Her voice sounded like an angel's. It was nearly as beautiful as her.

"You've been staring at me for the past 5 minutes. Are you okay?" She asked him in probably the most irritated voice ever. Wait. She's talking to me. Oh.

"Sorry. I was spaced out." he replied. She cocked an eyebrow as if she didn't believe him.

"Could you just take my order?"

"Ye- yeah s-sure."

"A black coffee."

"Your name please?"

"Annabeth." Annabeth. It was a beautiful name. Unique and beautiful, just like her. It suited her too.

"Well, are you going to get my order?"

"Sorry! Yeah."

And that was the first time he actually interacted with her.

He saw her multiple times after that-when she came to the coffee shop. She came there regularly but why she came was lost on him. It wasn't very well known but yet there were always people. Karens visited all the time for some reason and he never even wanted them to be there. But why would a beautiful, young woman like Annabeth with such a promising future could ever come to such a place? He'd probably never know.

Over the few times he saw her, he noticed that she almost always carried around books in a bag. Her bag was simple, black in color, with a keychain on which a gold ring was there. She would finger that ring sometimes at the time when he suspected she was nervous but otherwise, she mostly ignored it. One time, while opening her bag, she stared at the ring with a sad expression.

She seemed to be studying architecture as well because he would sometimes see blueprints and large, heavy textbooks peeking out of the bag.

How did he know all this? He was just very observant. It's not like he was obsessed with her and stare at her all the time while trying to learn all he could about her. No. Not at all. It's not like he once searched about a book called 'Form, Space and Order' in order to find out what Annabeth did. It was also not like he would purposefully drop things near her so that he could try to "accidentally" touch her and you know, just be in her presence.

Oh! Everything I did was, correction, everything I do is kinda stalkerish. Okay. Very stalkerish. I get it. Since I'm already confessing, I guess I should confess about me secretly taking pictures of her whenever she isn't looking and I get the chance. Also about me reading the books that she brings to the shop so that one day, when I get the opportunity, not to mention the guts, to talk to her, it will be a nice line of communication.

The first time Annabeth actually talks to him, he thought that he might just burst out in a song-and-dance number right in the middle of the store.

"Um, Space Boy?" she said, snapping her fingers.

"Space Boy?" he asked.

"Um, you're always spaced out when I come here. Therefore, Space Boy."

He laughed sheepishly. "Yeah. I kinda am. Sorry." Don't freak out. Don't freak out. She has a nickname for me.

"Anyway, what's your name?" She's asking my name! My name! Stay calm, Percy. Deep breaths. It's not like the girl you've had a crush on for months is asking for your name.

"Jercy Packson. I mean, Percy Jackson." Well, that went better than I expected. At least I didn't say something stupid, well stupid-er like 'marry me' or 'go out with me' or something.

She smiled at him. Oh my god. She's smiling at me. Because of something I said. Don't freak out! Don't.

"Well, Jercy, I mean Percy, I'm Annabeth Chase. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Annabeth Chase." She smiled and walked back to her seat, where she was drinking black coffee as usual.

That was smooth, Jackson. Very smooth. Ha! As if lol. Whelp, that went better than expected. I guess? Ugh! Why is this so hard? It's okay. My next interactions will be better. Way better. I just know it.

He and Annabeth soon became good friends after that. They talked regularly during his shift and even while she was ordering and taking her drink. The best part, besides from talking to Annabeth, was the fact that the line got held up and the Karens had to wait. He felt proud and was so happy because they got a taste of their own medicine.

"So, give me your phone number." she asked one day, out of the blue.

"What?" he asked. Did she just ask for my number?

"Your number."

"Oh, yeah I knew that." I wasn't dreaming. It's really happening! She wants my number. Finally!

He pinched himself for good measure. Yup! It's true. Not a dream.

She gave him her phone and he typed in his number and gave it back to her.

"I'll text you sometime, okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Have a nice shift."

"Yeah. You too." Wait. Did I just say what I thought I did? God. She's going to think I'm stupid. Maybe she'll hate me and never come back here. She'll block my number, never talk to me again and leave right now. Maybe she'll leave the country. Wait. I'm just being overdramatic. Everyone says that I am. It's just that. Right?

She just giggled. "Really? It's okay. Have a great day."

"Sorry. You have a great day too."

She waved at him while going out.

Their friendship soon transcended his workplace and they soon started meeting at other places. They would text each other regularly and sometimes even go out to see movies. She would visit him during his shift even though she didn't need coffee or anything and he got to know more about her.

One day, everything changed. It started off normally enough. Annabeth walked into the store, talked with Percy for a while, ordered her drink. He went and chatted with her while she drank her coffee.

That day however, she stayed back a bit longer.

"So, why do you drink black coffee?" Percy asked.

"Dunno. It's black like my soul?" she answered.

"I've heard that way too many times."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, you need to try something else. I'll make you a milkashake. I insist."

"Fine."

He made her a strawberry milkshake because it was sweet. Like her. God. I am such a sap.

He gave it to her and she tentatively took a sip. He looked at her with bated breath.

"It's sweet."

"I know. It's strawberry."

"Really? Relax. It's great."

"Thank god. I thought it wouldn't be."

After finishing the milkshake, she asked him a question that caught him off-guard.

"So, why strawberry?"

"Because it's sweet like you. Oh wait, I meant-"

She cut him off by kissing him. Did she just-?

"I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

"Me too."

"We're idiots, aren't we?"

"Yes. So, let's not waste any time." he said, kissing her once more.

Fin

As a person my current age. I had you in the first half, didn't I? Did I? Lol. Anyway, my birthday is tomorrow! I've somehow survived this year and boy was it hard. Granted, most of it was in quarantine but still, it was hard. The quarantine was the hardest part though.

Honestly, I'm afraid and excited about my birthday. Like, I love my birthday yet I don't want to grow old. I wanna be a kid. I like being a kid. Plus, I have an exam tomorrow. On my birthday. Like, how is that fair?

Anyway, I've recently been obsessed with Starkid. Anyone knows about it? Please tell me you do because it's awesome. If you don't, go check it out. It's one of the best theater companies, the music and plots are amazing, plus all their musicals are on YouTube for free! If you do, what's your favorite musical?

Also, I'm obsessed with the members. Send help. Lauren Lopez is a queen. Everyone else are also kings and queens. Except Jim. He's non-binary royalty.

I know that I said that angst is next, but writing angst is hard. I couldn't bear to write it. I am writing it though, so don't worry. The story itself has 2 endings, a happy one and a sad one. I'll post the story after I complete them both.

This was my first shot at romance. How was it? Good? Bad? Was it believable? Tell me what you think in a review. Feel free to PM me any time because I need human interaction. Anyway, this is also my longest one-shot. 2125 words. Also, the title from dodie. Have you ever listened to her? If no, go listen to her. If yes, what's your favorite song of hers?

Anyway, have a great day, my darling readers. Love you all. 3❤️

See you as a person who's a year older.

edit: lol anyway, I'm uploading this as a *insert age* year old because there was some problem with the site yesterday and I wasn't able to log in. It's my birthday, everyone! My dad bought me 14 books and I'm on top of the world! I wrote this the day before my birthday too. I'm not rewriting my AN because I'm too lazy for that. Anyways, I love all of you. Have a wonderful day and stay safe. And of course, here are your blue cookies (::) 🍪