Chapter 19

Percy POV

"Yes!" Thalia shouts. "Jason you owe me ten bucks."

Jason leans his head back. "Thals I thought we were just joking around!"

"Oh I never joke about money," Thalia says, and holds out her hand.

Jason reluctantly gives over the cash and Thalia sneers, tucking the money into her jacket pocket.

It's about ten in the morning, and the three of us are currently sitting on the couch in Jason and Thalia's room watching reruns of Love It or List It. The two of them always place bets on whether or not the couple on the show will decide to, well, love it or list it, and I thought that Jason would've learned his lesson by now.

Apparently I was wrong.

"Thalia, I swear to gods, how do you always bet correctly?" Jason whines. "It's like you can see the future or something."

"Or something…" Thalia mumbles under her breath.

"What?" Jason asks.

"Nothing."

I laugh. One of these days, Jason is going to figure out that these are reruns and that Thalia's already seen every episode. Until then, however, I'm going to enjoy watching him get cleaned out by his sister.

"Hey, Jase," I say. "Before you put your wallet away, I also need to settle another bet that I know you two made behind my back."

It takes a second for the two of them to catch on to what I'm talking about, but I can tell when they finally do because Jason puts his head in his hands, and the expression that takes over Thalia's face could fool an onlooker into thinking she just won the lottery.

She jumps up out of her seat and screeches, "Percy you didn't!"

I shake my head at her, grinning. "Not that it should be any of your business, but yes. Annabeth and I kissed last night."

"Oh hell yeah!" Thalia shouts, and starts doing a touchdown dance behind the coffee table. "Jason you owe me forty for that one!"

Jason glares at her and reluctantly hands over the cash.

I shake my head at Jason. "Man, I would feel bad for you, except I'm too offended that you bet against me. It's a sad day when Thalia has more faith in me than you do."

Jason crosses his arms. "Oh let's be honest Percy, she definitely had faith in Annabeth, not you."

"It's true," Thalia admits, taking her seat on the couch again.

"Hey!" I say.

"It's just the truth," Thalia shrugs. "Anyway, I gotta go." She waves her new cash in front of our faces. "I'm gonna go treat my girl to a congratulatory brunch."

"Why don't I get a congratulatory brunch?" I pout.

"Because you're not my girl," Thalia says, and stands up, heading for the door.

When I hear the door lock shut behind her, I lean over to Jason. "How long do you think it will take before she realizes Annabeth is working for her mom today."

Jason laughs. "Never. There's no way that's actually how she was going to spend her money."

"True," I chuckle.

The two of us stand up and head into the kitchen.

"You want Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies?" Jason asks, opening the pantry doors.

"Corn Flakes," I say.

Jason shakes his head. "Hopeless."

I grab two bowls and set them on the counter as Jason starts to pour the cereal.

"So, are you bringing Annabeth to the dinner party tonight?" Jason asks.

I mentally groan. I'd totally forgotten about that.

"That's tonight?"

"Uh, yeah that's tonight." Jason puts the cereal boxes away while I grab the spoons. "So, are you taking her or not?"

I shrug. "I don't know man. We literally just kissed for the first time last night. I don't even know if she's my girlfriend yet. Can I even ask her to something like that this early?"

Jason and I sit down at the table.

"Well the way I see it," he starts. "She's gonna be there anyway, so you might as well just go together."

"True," I say, taking a bite.

The idea of asking Annabeth to the resort board's dinner party is so ominous, it makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come out again, but I know that Jason's right. She's gonna be there anyway, and if we really are "a thing" now, it'd be weird for me not to ask her.

Reluctantly, I pick up my phone to text Annabeth.

It takes me what feels like an hour try and figure out how ask her, but finally, I just cave and send the stupid text. Then I throw the phone onto the couch and groan, putting my head in my arms on the table. "Why is the world so complicated?"

Jason laughs, finishing off his cereal.

"I'm going to meet Piper," he says, standing up. "See you tonight?"

I shoot him a thumbs up, not bothering to lift my head from the table.

When I finally hear the door shut closed behind Jason, I let out another groan and head over to the couch. I find it kind of funny that I'm in Jason and Thalia's room without either of them here, but I'm not planning on leaving any time soon. (They have better food than I do.)

I check my fallen phone, but Annabeth hasn't responded yet.

I know it's only been like two minutes, but the anticipation is already killing me.

I roll over and look out the window.

For once, it's not sunny out. Dark grey clouds loom in the sky, churning with the sea. The clouds are the same color as Annabeth's eyes, and that makes me smile.

I don't think I'll ever be able to appreciate the sun again, because it would mean that the stormy-grey clouds aren't out to remind me of her.

I can't help the grin that takes over my face when I think back to last night. I still feel like my lips are on fire.

I've kissed girls before, but they were just meaningless pecks. Nothing like what happened with Annabeth last night.

I don't think anything will ever be able to compare to that.

Annabeth had looked beautiful last night, her blond princess curls shining bright in the moonlight. And then we'd kissed, and it had felt like a piece of me that I didn't even know I'd been missing had returned to my body.

Suddenly my phone chimes beside me, ripping me out of my thoughts. I shoot up so fast, I probably give myself whiplash.

I grab my phone and turn it over, glancing Annabeth's name and quickly reading the message. It pretty much takes all my self restraint to not shout out in joy when I see what it says.

DUH, SEAWEED BRAIN. WHO ELSE WOULD I GO WITH, MY MOM?

I read it one more time just to make sure my mind isn't playing tricks on me, then decide to head back to my room, better food be damned. I need to get ready.

I get up, grab a bag of potato chips from Thalia and Jason's cabinet, and dash out the door.

As soon as I'm back in my room, I lay out my suit and tie on my bed. This summer has honest to gods probably been the most I've ever had to wear a suit in my life, and it makes me feel bougie af.

I make sure to text Annabeth about arrangements and call my dad to tell him that I'll meet him at the dinner party.

I'm so jittery, I even go as far as to lay out my socks.

Stupid ADHD.

The next couple of hours pass like molasses. I feel like time decided to slow down just to be annoying, and I'm pretty sure that I see the clock tick backwards at least three times. I slowly watch it grow brighter outside, and then darker, and my nerves escalate with every minute that passes by.

I try watching Netflix and playing videogames, but I can't focus on anything. The idea of seeing Annabeth again is all-consuming.

I can't help that I keep thinking back to last night. To the feel of Annabeth's lips on mine and my hands around her waist. I remember the way her hair had fanned out around her in the water, making her look surreal, like the subject of a painting.

I almost physically ache to see her again. It's like now that I know what it's like to kiss her, I'll never be able to get enough.

In addition to thinking about Annabeth, I also can't help but think about what she disclosed to me last night… All the stuff about the confidential files she found.

The idea that the resort is probably engaged in illegal environmental affairs that will make my dad's job complicated scares me out of my mind, but the idea that Annabeth would put herself at risk to tell me about it scares me even more.

It means the world to me that she would risk disclosing something like that for me, but she put herself in serious danger to do so. This is a messy situation, and if anything were to happen to her, I'd never be able to handle it.

I decide that I can't tell my dad about what Annabeth found out. I know that it would put his mind at ease to know that there is a reason (however messy it may be) that he can't acquire his research permits, but I could never do anything at Annabeth's expense.

If something were to happen to her because of me, I could never live with myself.

No, I have to keep this a secret for her sake.

Man, when did my life get so complicated?

Around 5:30, I hop in the shower and then get dressed in my suit.

When it's time to go, I hop into my car, and as I start driving, I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest.

I have no idea what the expectation is for tonight, and it makes me nervous as hell. Are we in a relationship? Am I supposed to introduce Annabeth as my girlfriend?

I'm also surprised to find that some small part of me is worried that our dynamic won't be the same. What if the kiss changed something important between us?

I take a deep breath and as I pull onto the street her room is on, trying to calm myself.

When I finally get up enough courage, I step out of the car and head up to Annabeth's door.

I've just barely touched the door to knock when it swings open under my hand, scaring the shit out of me.

I jump back and Annabeth smirks.

"Jumpy much?"

I blush. "Not as much as you apparently, I barely even touched the door before you threw it open."

Annabeth's eyebrows scrunch together in playful anger, and she lightly punches my arm. "Oh shut up."

Annabeth looks amazing, despite the fact that she just punched me. She has on this sleeveless, light pink dress that makes my pulse race even faster than it already was, if that's even possible. The dress is high collared and floor-length, and Annabeth's long blond hair is braided down her back.

But the most beautiful part about her is her smile. She grins, and I feel like I've just seen sunlight for the first time in a century.

Annabeth laughs. "Percy, if you stare any harder, you're going to burn holes through the dress."

I smirk. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

When she punches me this time, it's a lot harder than before.

"Oh shut up," she smirks.

I nervously mess with my hair. "But seriously, you look incredible," I say.

Annabeth stares into my eyes for a moment before slowly leaning forward, and placing a kiss on my cheek.

She lingers there for a moment before pulling away. "Thank you."

I feel heat rush to my face, but somehow I still have enough self control to offer my elbow to Annabeth.

"Shall we?"

She throws her head back with a laugh, but takes my arm anyway, and we head down to my car.

When we reach the doors, Annabeth stops abruptly.

"Hold on," she says, and then straightens her posture and makes her way over to the driver's side, opening the door and motioning for me to get in. "Sir, your chariot awaits."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "Is this reverse-chivalry thing going to go on forever?"

"Absolutely."

I chuckle and get in the car as Annabeth holds open the door. As soon as I'm in, Annabeth shuts the door behind me and then begins making her way to the passenger side.

I watch her through the windshield as she walks in front of the car, completely in awe. How on earth did I ever get this lucky?

When Annabeth gets in the car and sits down next to me, I watch as she puts on her seatbelt and straightens her dress. She looks like a goddess.

When she sits back, Annabeth finally seems to notice that I've been staring at her, and her cheeks turn as pink as her dress. She looks adorable when she blushes.

Slowly, I reach over and wrap my fingers through hers. Annabeth gives my hand a light squeeze. Her reassurance means everything.

We're both venturing into uncharted territory, but as scary as it is, it's one of the best things I've ever experienced.

I look down at our interlocked hands.

Something about the sight just feels right.

And whatever worries I had been harboring about our relationship changing evaporate in that moment. Because our relationship is different now, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I shoot Annabeth one last smile before turning my attention to the road, and heading off for the Colosseum.

We hold hands the whole way there.