A/N- Thank you all SO MUCH for the reviews. Seriously, they make my day.
"Don't you have to go to work in the morning?" Percy groans and buries his head into the couch. After we stopped dancing, we sat in the room and sang to each other. I yawn. Thalia still hasn't come back, and it's 9:30. I'm about to crash down here again.
"Don't mention the 'w' word, please."
"Work? What's so awful about it?" I lean back into the other end of the couch. We're lying feet-to-face, looking at each other.
"What isn't awful about it? It starts before eight a.m., I have to wear a suit, and then I get to sit through meetings all day with a bunch of middle-aged men discussing investments and gods know what else."
"It can't be that bad." Though the idea of sleepy Percy in a suit is quite comical. I may get up early tomorrow just to see him in it.
"It is. The only time it's remotely interesting is when they talk about opening a new aquarium in Columbus. But even that's just building layouts and tank sizes and has very little to do with the actual fish."
"Mhmm. So, answer the question, Seaweed Brain: do you have to work tomorrow?" I give his shoulder a tap with my foot.
"I'm not sure. What are we going to do tomorrow?" Percy starts humming along with the music.
"I don't know-" my sentence is cut off with another yawn. Gah, why am I so sleepy?
"How about you go to sleep, hmm?" I roll my eyes at him, though he's right. Percy sits up, and then pulls me up.
"I can't. Thalia isn't back yet. And you're not my dad."
"I'll watch for her. You look like you're about to pass out. Goodnight, Annabeth." He pulls me into a hug. See, my subconscious argues. People hug you.
"Night, Percy." I stumble up the stairs to my room.
Percy
"Dad?" I knock on the door of his office, and then swing it open. "Dad? Could I ask a favor?"
He's sitting at his desk, going through papers. He barely looks up when I enter. "Percy. What is it?" He fiddles through the desk drawer, removing another stack of papers. In all of the years he's had this office, I can never remember the desk being this cluttered.
Chin up,Percy. Sound confident. Be polite, but do not beg. Be firm. Be clear. "Could I take off work tomorrow?" I ask. Dad looks up for his mountains of papers. These don't look like blueprints and aquarium designs. They look like.. Registration forms? No, that's not it...
"Is there a particular reason you wanted off, Percy?" Be truthful. Get to the point. Short and concise.
"I..." I'm suddenly very nervous. "I asked Annabeth on a... Date."
My father's warm smile is not what I was expecting. "That's nice that you twos re getting along. Annabeth's a lovely girl. What hours were you wanting off?"
I hadn't thought about that. "All day?"
"Are you sure you want all day off? You headed it like a question."
"Yes. Yes, I'm sure. We hadn't worked out a time arrangement, though I know she doesn't care for mornings."
"That sounds okay as-" The office phone rings. "Please excuse me for a moment, Percy." He answers. "Hello, this is Poseidon? Oh, Gerald. Yes, we need a new design." I motion to Dad that I'm going to go, and he waves before continuing to discuss the floor plans with Gerald. I exit the room and walk to my own.
This was a good day.
The next morning, since I don't have to dress like a monkey, I go for a swim before breakfast.
I love the water. Some of my earliest memories are of swimming. Dad has a thing for water, too, though he doesn't go in it much anymore, so I guess it's a hereditary thing.
After swimming fifteen laps, I jump out and run inside to get dressed for breakfast. Dad may be able to deal with pajamas, but dripping wet in a swimsuit is NOT an option.
The air conditioner is cold against my wet skin, and I try not to leave a trail of water through the house. Someone else could skip and fall; it happened to Lotta once when I was younger. She broke an arm and got the shock of her life; I had to eat whatever Paisley could cook, which wasn't always edible. The woman was able to burn macaroni and cheese. How do you burn mac and cheese?
There's music and the sound of water coming from Annabeth's room. Apparently she sings in the shower.
Thalia made it home at some point last night- her shoelace is peeking out from under the door.
I finally make it to my room. I dry off, put in a T-shirt, deodorant, and shorts, and then go to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Morning mouth is not the most pleasant taste in the world. I dry my hair, and run my fingers through it as a comb. It won't stay neat, anyway. Never has.
Now I'm left alone with my thoughts. What does one do on a date? What am I supposed to say? I should have thought this over more before I asked her out! Where are even going to go? What am I supposed to wear?
My thought train (thankfully) is interrupted by a knock on the door. "Mr. Jackson?" Grover. He's always so formal even though I've told him countless time to just call me Percy. He replied that it's hard to break tradition. I told him he was being weird. "Breakfast is ready, sir!"
I open the door. "Grover, you really don't have to call me that. Please, just call me Percy."
"It's a habit, sir. I do apologize." I meet Annabeth and Thalia in the hall. Annabeth's not what you'd call bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but she's at east dressed and has her hair brushed. Thalia, on the other hand, is glaring at the world through her bedhead and red eyes.
"Good morning," I greet Annabeth. "Are you going to sing to me later?"
Annabeth punches me in the arm. "Shut up, Jackson. It's not a good morning. And maybe."
"If anyone starts singing, I will tear them apart piece-by-piece and then grind their bones to flour. And then I'll mix it all up and bake it in the oven, and it will be the most delicious bread ever. And when people ask me what my secret is, you know what I'm going to say? Human flesh. So shut up." She scares me.
I send a panicked look to Annabeth, who simply shrugs. "She's not a morning person. Once threatened to stab my stepmother in the thigh just to watch her bleed out." She considered this statement for a moment, and then continues. "I suppose that it's not fair to say she's not a morning person. Thalia's more of a 'ten hours a night' person. So, if she goes to bed at seven, she can easily get up early." That makes sense, but that doesn't mean I'm not terrified for my life. "She'll be fine after a nap."
Thalia trains her angry eyes on Annabeth. Is she going to attack her? Turn her into bread? Slit everyone's throats and burn the house to the ground while singing 'God Bless America'? Raise demons and invite them to tea?
"Oh, and Mr... Percy, your father sends his regrets. He is unable to attend breakfast this morning due to an extremely important meeting." Grover looks at Thalia as if she might stab him with a fork. And who knows? Maybe she would, if given the chance.
We make it down to the dining room, and breakfast is served. Thalia sits at the head of the table, plotting world domination over a cup of coffee. Annabeth and I sit across from each other and enjoy our pancakes and fruit.
"What are you doing?" I ask. She's dipping her strawberries in her orange juice.
Annabeth pauses and then raises her eyebrow. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Well I...uh..." I stammer. It was just a question!
She laughs. "It's okay, Percy. It's something my mom used to do." She offers me a strawberry. "Try it."
I'm hesitant- strawberries and oranges? Kind of an odd combo- but I dip the berry into my own juice glass and take a bite. And ohmygods, it's so good. I think I let out an audible moan.
"This is manna from heaven." She looks amused. I take another berry and dip it in juice. "Yum."
"I told you so."
Thalia decides to speak up. "Shut it or you won't live to try anything else!"
Annabeth and I share a glance. Note to self- let Thalia sleep in from now on.