A/N: Hey guys! I think that the last update was missed since I moved it to Chapter 3, so PLEASE GO READ CHAPTER 3 FOR THE LATEST UPDATE!
Since ffn doesn't like me moving chapters, this update is going to be the out of order until the next update.
So for reference: This happens after Chapter 4!
It's the first time Percy's ever been to her house. He tries not to let his jaw drop.
It's not a ridiculously huge mansion as he thought it would be, but it's really nice. Definitely a few million dollars, given LA prices.
It's gated and private with a fair amount of foliage to hide the high fence. He's pretty sure he catches a glimpse of a pool as he walks past the lawn on nice cobblestone behind Frank.
Franks stops at the door and rings the doorbell. It's such a normal act that for a second it just feels like he's pulling up to a friend's house.
It takes almost a minute for the front door to open and he peeks behind Frank to see an adorably disheveled Annabeth squinting at Frank.
"Yes?" she grumbles.
Frank doesn't say anything, just steps to the side to reveal him standing there. And of course, he has to be awkward by waving at her.
"Hey Annabeth."
Annabeth's eyes widen impossibly. "Oh shit! Percy! I forgot!"
"You asked me to drive him here," Frank reminds her.
She's hastily running a hand through her hair. "Yes, yes, I know. I'm sorry, I just forgot."
The apologetic look she shoots him makes his heart drop. It's really looking like she doesn't want him here at all.
"It's okay," he finds himself saying, though his heart sinks every second. "Do you need me to go…"
"No!" she shouts. "I mean, sorry, just, come on in. Sorry It's um…a little messy."
She steps back, bringing some amount of hope back to his heart. Frank takes off down the side path to somewhere, leaving him to cross Annabeth Chase's threshold.
"Shit, I'm so sorry, I meant to get up earlier and clean and—" she's rambling but he's busy taking in the space.
It's a big wide entryway/living room, that is, indeed, extremely messy. There's confetti glitter on the floor and bottles scattered around reminiscent of the party that had happened last night.
"Looks like you had fun," he teases, mostly to end her rambling.
Annabeth groans, running her hands over her face. "God Percy, I'm so sorry. I'm such a mess. I wanted the first time you came to this place to be…not like this."
He turns her, surprised that she hasn't figured out the reason he's here is her. "And I just want to spend the day with you. It's okay, go get ready. I'll wait here for the official tour."
She runs towards him, tackling him into a hug. "Thank you," she mumbles against his chest. "I'll be right back."
And then she sprints off down the hall.
Partly by habit and partly just to have something to do, he starts picking up the various bottles and throwing them away in the trash that seemingly not enough people used.
He's halfway through (he started picking up popped balloons too) when Annabeth returns.
"Oh my god Percy!" she rushes to stop him. "You don't need to do this!"
"You said you were going to clean," he reminds her, resuming his path towards the trash.
"Yes, but—" she flounders for words, picking up the last of the bottles and following his lead. "That doesn't mean you!"
"Why not?" he asks, turning to face her. "I want to help."
"Oh, this is not how I wanted to spend today," she says, picking up some popped party poppers off the floor since he's already brushing off the couch.
Percy smiles. "Got a broom, or a vacuum?"
"Yes, but I'll do it, you sit, please."
He doesn't follow her orders, but hangs back as she sucks up the confetti.
"Okay," she says, turning off the vacuum. "That's all, I'll have come cleaners come in tomorrow and do a deeper clean."
She puts the vacuum down and walks up to him. "Thank you, Percy. I didn't want to make people work today but you ended up doing some anyway."
He smiles, grabbing her hand (something he still can't believe he gets to do now) and squeezing it.
"Worth it to spend time with you. Now come on, show me this place!"
And so, he gets an up close and personal tour of Annabeth Chase's house. (He'd add this to his memoir but the way she holds his hand the entire time and looks at him as if he hung the moon is too personal, too raw to ever explain to people).
It's then he realizes just how far gone he is. He's always liked Annabeth, first as an actress and then as a person. But seeing her today, disheveled and raw, cleaning up the remains of the party like they had just hosted one together felt so…natural and domestic, it makes his heart ache.
He wants her, in every way. Wants to be there when it's hard or tough or when she's making mistakes. He wants her midnights, last midnight, and every morning after.
She's curled up beside him on a comfier couch in the den when she looks up and asks him how his party was last night.
"Good, Hazel and Cali got wine drunk." And it would have been better with you.
As if reading his thoughts, she rests her head on his chest and says what he hadn't been able to out loud. "Next time, we celebrate together."
"Agreed."
Annabeth yawns and snuggles closer.
His heart isn't racing anymore, it just feels like it's about to burst. He holds her tighter.
"Thanks again Percy," she says sleepily.
"Thank you," he says softly. "For letting me start off the year with you."
She hums back. "And you gotta come the next day and the next and the…" she trails off, succumbing to sleep.
Percy smiles. "Forever and then more."
A/N: Happy New Years! (did anyone catch the song lyrics?)
Shoutout to anon on tumblr for the prompt! I hope you guys liked this!
Also once again! THE LATEST UPDATE BEFORE THIS IS CHAPTER 3!
I tried to put this in chronological order and ffn doesn't like it lol. So this chapter, which is supposed to be read after Chapter 4, will remain as the latest chapter until I post again.
I know it's a bit confusing but this is the only way I can circumvent this!
Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for reading!
See ya! :)