Chapter 13

Annabeth POV

From the spot I was standing on the deck, I could see the sun slowing dropping behind the city scene, the water in the pool and hot tub glinting with reflection. I could see the neighrboor's tree house, that had been there since I was eight years old. The familiarity of the scene was alarming and peaceful, all at once.

The smell of ribs wafted up in clouds of smoke as I lifted the BBQ lid to check on the slowly cooking meat. My eyes flittered back and forth in between the charred meat, and the scene inside the window.

Percy had taken a seat on the couch, next to my father, and was engrossed in the football game. The fact that he seemed to share a love for college football made me giggle a little.

My dad would occasionally turn and say something, presumably about the game, to which Percy would nod or laugh, and reply with a short phrase.

I was ready to burst in and save Percy from any in-depth questioning, especially if I wasn't there. I had a gut feeling my father was teeming with questions to ask Percy.

To my luck, the conversation inside seemed to remain on the current football game, or other passing, frivolous matters.

My palms, usually clammy, were started to sweat just thinking about the addition of Matthew, Sarah, and the soon to be baby. I knew how excited Whitney and my dad would be, and knowing that I was going to live up to the expectation of producing a beautiful grandbaby was a slight jab to my gut.

Just breath… I told myself. As I did some meditative breathing.

Everything has been fine so far….

With one final exhale through my mouth, I plastered on a huge smile. Fake it til' you make it, am I right?

With my right arm holding the tray of ribs, I expertly pushed open the sliding glass door, and Whitney simultaneously said "Oh Matthew and Sarah are here!"

She pushed past me, almost knocking her tray of expensive meat down, and rushed to greet the golden couple at the front door. Everyone else in the room followed, but at a much slower pace.

Percy, instead of following the others, came to my side and wordlessly took the tray, which was beginning to burn my arm, and set it down on the counter. I looked up his tall frame, and hoped to convey my appreciation with my eyes.

He reached down and entwined our fingers, and I prayed to every god that I had ever learned about that my hands were overly sweaty.

My heart warmed at his simple gesture, but then my family members walked into the kitchen area, and I came face to reality and realized that him taking my hand was purely for show. He didn't actually want to touch me.

Ignoring the disappointment that seemed to resettle in the pit of my stomach whenever I realized that Percy wasn't actually my boyfriend, and ignoring the slight squeeze that he gave my hand, dismissing it as an accident, I walked forwards towards the new additions to the already full household.

Matthew was like a carbon copy of Whitney, except a boy. He was the ideal young doctor. Cleanly shaven, blonde hair trimmed to perfection, perfect upright posture.

I almost laughed aloud when Percy leaned down and whispered, "He is the complete opposite of me." His warm breath tickled my skin, and goosebumps appeared on my arms.

In response, I bumped him with my shoulder and gave him a scolding glance.

Once I made eye contact with the doctor in the room, I broke my contact with Percy, and approached my step-brother. He gave me the fake doctor smile, and then a fake, stiff doctor hug.

I tried not to cringe as he patted my back.

Percy then stepped forward and introduced himself, and I turned towards the expecting mother. Sarah gave me a clipped smile, and small talk flitted across the room. The weather and travel was mentioned, and fake laughs were exchanged.

Whitney's screech broke apart the noise. "Time to eat everyone take a seat."

I came to the realization that I hadn't had a meal all day, and was eager to stuff my mouth with food and hopefully ignore the jabs of jealously that would course through my veins when my parents would congratulate Bobby and Matthew on all of their achievements, and just happen to forget they raised a daughter too.

I set my hand on Percy's bicep, subtly appreciating the muscle definition, and led him to a spot on the corner of the long dining table.

After everyone, all eight of us, were situated around the table, the dinner was passed around.

"Can you pass me the salad?"

"Is that my fork?"

"Oh this looks great!"

"Boy am I hungry."

"Anyone want more biscuits?"

The preliminary talk descended around the table, and it felt like the calm before the storm.

As I bit into the rib, I sank back into my chair in pure joy. It felt so good to be eating real dinner, not ramen noodles or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

"So Matthew," my dad started, "How is the residency coming along?"

"Oh Fredrick it is phenomenal…" His voice trailed off and my attention drifted to the flavor in the potatoes, and then to Matthew's shirt, which was ironed to a crisp, without a flaw. Then to Fiona, who was seated next to Bobby, her hand on the table, flaunting her huge rock on her finger.

Then to Percy, who had rib sauce covering his cheeks, and was devouring rib after rib.

I laughed into my napkin, and then realized how out of place the two of us must look next to the perfection of the rest of the room.

I took my white cloth napkin and reached up to wipe his face, as the conversation about the hospital, and the baby, and the modeling was in the background.

Nobody seemed to notice as Percy and I laughed out loud as I struggled to clean his face, my white napkin becoming covered with BBQ sauce stains. It was if we were in our own little world of innocence, and my heart soared with the realization that I have never had someone to share these moments with before, and now I had Percy.

He was grinning, and his dimples showed. I had one hand on his thigh, and the other was wiping his face, even though he dodged my attempts.

"Percy, what do you do for a living?" Matthew spoke out, and I thought I detected a hint of smugness in his voice, but it was so faint I questioned if it was even there.

The whole table turned to face us, and I froze, my hand on his thigh, leaning on his body at the dinner table.

After I recovered from shock, I settled back into my own seat and cleared my throat. Percy did the same and after a tentative glance at myself, and a nod in affirmation, he said, "I'm a professional skier. Well, used to be one anyway." He chuckled at the end.

Shock was evident on the faces of every person at the table, except for Fiona, who had already recognized the hot, young professional skier.

Percy must have realized that the mood of the table had shifted to one of bewilderment, and he added, "I am sponsored by some pretty big names, and have a lot of really unique opportunities."

I reached over to grab his hand, sensing the fact that he was feeling embarrassed and out of place.

To my astonishment, Fiona spoke up, "Percy is kind of a big deal." And she winked.

Both Percy and I let out nervous laughs, and then thankfully my father added, "Well that is fascinating Percy. Tell us more about it."

My dad caught my eye, and his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, held a glint in them that reminded me of the old days. When he would beat me in chess. When he would teach me a new history lesson about some far-off country. When he would review on how to build a fire.

His eyes seemed to say, "I'm intrigued."

And that was a look that I hadn't gotten from him or Whitney since I left the house and visited on holidays. So, I counted that as a major success.

Percy began to tell of how he lived in Aspen, Colorado, and we met in New York when he was visiting his parents, and he even included the anecdote of me buying him a drink, and he told of his sponsorship deals from Red Bull and other big names. While still holding Percy's hand, I looked around the table. I was delighted to see everyone listening to what my fake boyfriend had to say with surprise, but also intrigue.

It was more attention than I had gotten in years, and instead of feeling jealous of the fact that he had taken the spotlight, I was grateful that he had given me just a slight slimmer of respect from my parents.

Matthew, with his hand on Sarah's large belly, interrupted Percy's explanation on his travel that he has done for filming ski videos, and said, "Oh mom! Fredrick! The baby is kicking, come feel it."

Whitney's chair pushed back and made a loud noise as she stood to go feel like slight kick, and the attention of the dinner table was shifted back to Matthew as quick as the blink of an eye, but when Percy squeezed my hand and used his other hand to gently grab my chin so I would look up and meet his sea green eyes, all I felt was comfort.

This feeling was so foreign; I almost didn't know how to accept it. I was at a family dinner, and purely because of Percy, I didn't feel like such an outsider. It was like Percy was the glue that was holding me together, and I wasn't quite sure how I would function when the glue was suddenly gone….

Because whether I wanted to admit it or not, dating Percy had an expiration date.

As we began to clear the table, and turn on the Christmas movie in the living room, I held tight to his hand, as if he would disappear if I let go.

A/N: I am so sorry! I know it has been almost three weeks, but I realized writing is a lot easier during winter break, and not quite as easy now, but I am trying my very hardest. Leave me a review, and I promise I will write faster! Again, sorry for any mistakes!