Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed last chapter! I see that most of you want it to go that way. I already have an excellent idea planned. Details later, though!
On request, I'm going to do some different points of view. This chapter is in Annabeth's POV, obviously, but I might make one in Sally's POV some time, too!
WARNING: CHEESY FLUFF STUFF.
Oh, and also warning: There is going to be some OOC-ness in here and dragging-out-ness because I can't possibly resist. :D
oOo
ANNABETH'S POV
The next morning I woke and—finding myself in Percy's arms—I was tempted to stay there until he woke up. The past times I got up quickly, feeling like the longer we stayed on the same bed, the higher of chance my mom would unleash hell upon Percy, which was honestly the last thing I wanted. It wasn't too much of an issue, though, because I nearly always woke up before him.
Careful not to jostle the bed too much, I wriggled out of the covers and padded to the door, only stopping for a brief moment. Back on the bed, Percy lay sprawled out, face expressionless with slumber, snoring endearingly and had one of his arms hooked over the place where I'd been sleeping. I wasn't sure how I felt about him, but I knew there was definitely affection somewhere in there, not too deep.
Smiling a little bit to myself, I crept out of the room, grabbed some clothes from my suitcase and began making my way to the bathroom.
When I walked past his room, Percy was still snoring away (I swear that boy could sleep through a freight train attack). Maybe he could stay asleep long enough for me to take a short jog. I wasn't an exercise freak, but every time I imagined myself 250 pounds and waddling around camp in a too-tight orange T-shirt, it frightened me enough to keep in shape.
After trading normal day clothes with a pair of sweats and a sports bra, I went into the bathroom to change. Though I sincerely didn't care that he'd seen me in my underwear (I'd worn bikinis around him; the two don't seem too different in my eyes), I made sure to close the door behind me before dressing.
Only checking to make sure Percy was still dead to the world (he was) and shoving down a piece of toast, I left and started a brisk pace down the shore.
Within a few minutes I felt my heart pumping. It felt good, and the air had warmed up a fraction that day. Clouds had mostly left the sky and things were looking beautiful again. Though the water was most likely to be too cold to swim in again yet, with all things considered, it was a gorgeous day.
About a mile down I turned around to head back.
As I was running, nearing the cabin again, I could see a tiny figure standing out in front. That tiny figure was in a pair of green swim trunks and a T-shirt, was squinting at me, and was ruffling his messy-from-sleep hair.
I slowed to a stop and took a moment to breathe heavily before approaching Percy.
"I thought you'd stay asleep," I told him, panting and wiping the back of my sweaty neck.
"Good morning to you, too." Percy's grin was wide and hi eye-roll was nearly as good as mine. "I was just curious since you weren't anywhere in the house. Have you had breakfast yet?"
Always looking out for me. I wanted to make some smart-aleck response, but I just shrugged. "I had some toast."
"Mom's fixing pancakes if you want some," he suggested, and then reached up to flick a piece of my hair away like he did often.
I was disgusting and covered in sweat, so I told him I was going to take a quick shower before accepting his offer.
On the way past the kitchen, I saw Sally Jackson at the stove, humming lightheartedly. When she saw us walk past, she turned and said, "Before I forget, Percy, on my way back from the store yesterday I noticed the boardwalk a few miles down the beach from here with rides and music and such. It'd be a fun place for you two to visit if you don't mind the walk."
Though Percy looked a little exasperated, he smiled at his mom and said, "Yeah, that sounds great!"
It was hard not smiling to myself as I went to rummage through my suitcase for clothes. This whole trip… What was there to say about it? I admit to being sick of my family, and a whole week with Percy seemed almost too good to be true. I expected monsters to pop out of the sand and attack us at any second, but in the meantime, I enjoyed the peace with him.
Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon…
He was so awkward and sweet. I loved just watching him sometimes, his ridiculous facial expressions and how he tries so hard but most of the time ended up making a complete fool of himself. It's endearing. I'm not exactly one to go skipping around in a field of dandelions talking about love or other mushy junk, but something inside of me skips when I catch him giving me that look. The look with his eyes slightly narrowed and the corners of his mouth turned up in an adoring look and the little pinkness to his cheeks.
What was it about that boy that caught my eye? I really had no idea, but I enjoyed it.
With my hands stuck in my suitcase, I rummaged for a second more until my fingers felt some light material folded at the bottom of the bag. I brought it out, but felt ridiculous doing so. How come I'd packed a dress? I didn't wear dresses. It wasn't colorful or particularly flashy; just a plain white, cotton dress that had small straps and ended at my knees.
The battle inside my head was quick, but I deduced that no harm could come of wearing it, so I zipped off to the bathroom before I could change my mind.
The look on Percy's face was absolutely priceless when I came out of the bathroom, hair braided down one shoulder. I was feeling terribly self-conscious, but made an effort to act as casual as possible, walking over and taking a seat at the table next to him and propping my elbows up on the wood.
Percy's eyebrows were arched, and he was about to say something before I interrupted him.
"Don't even think about saying anything, Perseus Jackson." I narrowed my eyes.
He held up both hands protectively. "I'm not. I was just going to say you look really nice. I don't often see you in dresses."
Thankfully, just then, his mom swept down to the table holding a giant plate of blueberry pancakes and a jug of maple syrup.
I gave him my best glare while pouring syrup over my breakfast.
He just grinned.
After breakfast, Percy and I filled my messenger bag with snacks, stuffed some money in our pockets and set off. It was the most casual of casual walks; we left our shoes back in the cabin, wandered around patches of rocks and beach clay and laughed and held each other's hands. Percy had a habit of wandering off into the waves and walking up to his ankles in the saltwater.
Even if he hadn't been claimed, soon enough it would have been obvious of him being the son of Poseidon. The way he was around the sea… It was like he was a completely different Percy. Freer, happier…and of course, there was that glint in eye that I knew so well. That was where he belonged. The open sea, the salty breezes and the seagulls calling and the sun beating hot on your shoulder.
Percy glanced down at me and smiled, nudging me with his shoulder. "What? Do I have something in my teeth?"
"No." I shook my head and looked away again, taking care to step over a patch of rocks. "You just look really at home. I like it when you're so…carefree."
He grinned again, wider, and then surprised me by wrapping an arm around my waist and pressing his lips to my cheek. "Good thing you're here. Makes it ten times better."
"Want some wine with that cheese?" I teased, but straightened my face back a little. "I'm glad I'm here, too. Beats finishing up the summer listening to reruns of SpongeBob and my stepmom griping at me. Instead, I'm at a gorgeous beach, taking a walk down the surf to spend the day at a carnival with my boyfriend."
Saying it out loud made it sound even better, but I didn't add the whole dress factor. Annabeth Chase never wears dresses. Shush.
That word—boyfriend—made Percy's lips purse with an effort not to smile even broader. He didn't say anything at all, but that was okay. There was no need.
It was a long—but lovely—walk to the mini fairgrounds. The boardwalk began and the first thing Percy pointed out was a booth quite near us. Behind the counter was a middle-aged man holding a handful of darts and trying to convince passersbys that it wasn't really that hard to pop the balloons on the opposite wall.
"I bet I could do that," Percy whispered to me, bumping his shoulder against mine.
We watched as two little kids came up to the booth and began popping balloon after balloon, and walking away with fistfuls of candy.
"I bet you could, too, Percy."
We walked on a bit, sauntering past booths and watching families with children try their hand at games. Briefly Percy stopped and bought us bright red balloons.
"So where to?" I surveyed the area, toying with the ribbon of my balloon, which was tied around my wrist. "Rides?"
"No, I want to try my hand at that booth over there."
He was pointing at one where you threw balls and had to get them into certain targets. The ones that earned higher point were many feet away.
"This ought to be good," I mumbled, amused, and followed him over to the booth.
Percy had on the funniest look of concentration as he rolled up his sleeves and demanded five balls from the tender.
"Don't forget that the angle you throw matters on the velocity and the force behind the throw," I told him, mostly to be sarcastic.
Percy gave me an exasperated, affectionate glare. "Wise girl…" he mumbled, and then turned his attention back to the game.
5 points scored a piece of candy. 20 a small stuffed animal. 50 a giant stuffed animal.
Percy used several dollars to throw the balls over and over again, but after nearly twenty minutes at the booth he only had a handful of candy.
I winced as his last ball it the corner of the 5-point stand. "Percy, maybe we should—"
"No, no! I've got this!" He slapped another dollar down on the counter and the tender gave him the balls back with an irritated sort of look.
Percy managed ten each with three balls, fifteen with one and five with the last. He gave a triumphant laugh.
The tender's eye twitched, and he reached up to grab a stuffed animal that was dangling from the ceiling. With a tight, "Congratulations," he handed it to Percy and turned his back on us.
As we were walking away, Percy knocked his hip into mine. "Hey, Annabeth."
I raised an eyebrow at him.
"All yours." He put the stuffed animal in my arms.
Was I in a movie, or did that actually just happen? Percy spent at least ten dollars on a game at the fair to win me a giant stuffed panda. Was it his stubbornness that made him continue or was he really aiming to get me a stuffed animal?
I wasn't sure, but whatever happened, it made me uncharacteristically skippy. I hooked the panda under my arm and put one of my hands on Percy's cheek to kiss him. I could feel his smile beneath my mouth, though it didn't last too long.
"Did you just spent half of our money on a single game just to get me this stuffed panda?" I asked him, holding our faces not even an inch apart.
"Yes, ma'am, I did." He winked. "Promise to name it after me?"
"What? Seaweed Brain? Dipwad? Arrogant Idiot?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of Percy the Panda, but to each his own, I suppose."
Somewhere, music was playing. I imagined it was from a live band by its quality, but it sounded a ways off.
"Where to next?" Percy wondered aloud as we began meandering around again.
There were so many rides to choose from, but there were also games and rides and music— I had no idea. That was okay, though, because wandering did us good. We needed time to relax and talk, just Percy and just me.
When lunch came, we bought ourselves greasy carnival hotdogs and sat at the end of the boardwalk to eat. Percy the Panda sat at my right while Percy the Human sat at my left.
It was turning out to be a beautiful day. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, speckled with few clouds. Though the ocean was peaceful the noise behind us disturbed the would-be serenity. Clamors of laughter, shouting, ringing of bells and music and whirring of the rides pounded behind my eardrums.
With the sound came smells: burning sugar and popcorn and greasy fried foods and salty sea air and trash and the smell of New York: the smell of people.
It overwhelmed my senses but made me strangely happy. Away from the high expectations and sweat of camp, away from my family, away from normal, mortal school… There was no place I'd rather be right then than sitting on the boardwalk there with Percy eating fatty hotdogs and watching seagulls dive-bomb each other over the ocean.
"Hey, Annabeth, can I see your bag real quick?" Percy asked, interrupting my pleasant reverie.
I nodded and passed him my messenger bag while sucking the last bit of relish off my thumb.
Percy opened it and rummaged for a second before pulling out one of the disposable cameras.
"You brought it?" I sighed in dismay. It wasn't that I didn't think I was photogenic or anything. I just really hated things being pointed and clicked at me. For Percy, I put up with it, only because I wanted this week to be documented as much as he did.
When he aimed the camera at me, I drew my stuffed panda into my lap and forced a smile onto my lips.
"Shall we be off then?" After taking the picture and stuffing the camera back into the bag and standing, Percy offered his hand down to me.
"Are we going back to the cabin already?"
"Not unless you want to." He helped me up and scanned his eyes around the rides. A smirk began forming on his face. "…I see a carousel with your name written all over it."
"And I see a freak tent with you name written all over it," I retorted.
"And I see a dark alley with a pedophile waiting for you with your name writing all over it."
"Percy Jackson!"
"What?" He shrugged, trying to conceal his laughing expression. "If I was a pedophile I'd rape you. You're cute enough."
"Cute enough?"
"You're not bothered by the rape comment?"
"By the gods, Percy, you worry me sometimes." I grabbed my panda and let him follow me stomping back off into the crowds.
Percy caught up quickly. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned in a little closer to me to be heard over the racket. "For the record, Annabeth, you're far cuter than 'enough'."
"You're digging your hole deeper and deeper, Seaweed Brain."
In the end, he managed to drag me over to the carousel anyways. Fantastically decorated pastel horses in different poses rotated around the middle stand as whimsical, doinky music played from speakers. Young girls sat atop the lavish-looking saddles, clinging to the poles, giggling to one another as the ride revolved.
"There is no way in Hades you could pay me enough to get on that," I declared, crossing my arms and planting my feet firmly on the ground.
"Come on." Percy grabbed my hand and when the carousel slowed to a stop, he towed me behind him up onto the platform to buy a ticket.
The elderly man took our money with a wheezy chuckle at my reluctance and obstinacy. "Enjoy childhood while you can, darling. If people see an eighty-year-old up on those things I'm sure they'd be a lot less appreciative."
Though he had a point, I still gave Percy my best glare before giving in.
"You owe me so much for this Percy," I snarled, hoisting myself up onto the nearest horse. It had a cotton-candy-pink coat and a baby blue mane that curled around its ears as it reared up on two blue hooves.
He just smiled up at me and adjusted Percy the Panda in my lap. "I already do. Now try to wipe the scowl off and enjoy the ride, okay? It beats staying home, does it not?"
"…It does," I admitted reluctantly, grumbling. "I just feel so…foolish on one of these things."
"I don't know." He winked, just as the carousel began rotating slowly again. "Pink is so your color."
I chose to ignore that.
To be perfectly honest with myself, I wasn't too upset about that. I really did feel foolish, but some part of me wanted to make it last. There I was, a sixteen-year-old demigod (daughter of Athena, nevertheless) riding atop a pink pony on a carousel with a stuffed panda in one arm, a balloon tied to my wrist, wearing this stupid dress, skipping around at a carnival eating ice cream and giggling with Percy.
Truly? It did beat being back home. It beat nearly getting mauled by hellhounds and being in charge of everything and holding the weight of the world on my shoulders (and trust me, I've done it before). What the old man said was truer than I gave him credit for; I wouldn't be allowed to be a kid for long, so I should enjoy it while it lasted.
Percy knew that I felt that way. I could see by in the fond glint in his sea-green eyes and the triumphant smirk. One of his arms was resting behind my hips on the horse's rump, and the other was still in his pocket as the ride crawled on.
"I want so badly to take a picture of you right now," he admitted, grinning up at me. "It would make fantastic blackmail. Imagine: Annabeth Chase, head of the Athena Cabin, Little Miss Pain-in-the-Butt herself riding on a carousel."
The glare slid back onto my face and I beat him down with it. "If you dare, Perseus Jackson—"
"That would be the third time you've used my full name against me today," Percy noted, interrupting my death threat. "If I promise not to show the picture to anyone?"
"No."
"If I keep it in a box under my bed?"
"No."
He cupped his hand and whispered into my ear, "Or I could tell everyone you wear lacy red underwear."
"PERCY!" I snapped, smacking his shoulder. "You are in so much trouble, young man, when we get home—"
"I'll take the picture," volunteered the old man who ran the carousel. He was hobbling out of his spot in the center, laughing his wheezy laugh, holding out his hand for the camera.
Percy thanked him and stood next to me while the picture was taken.
"You're dead meat," I hissed menacingly to him, crossing my arms even tighter.
For a few minutes I sat there on that stupid horse, arms folded stubbornly, scowling, until the carousel began to slow. When it finally stopped, I got off and stormed over to the nearest food vendor and bought a large black coffee.
"…You really are a spoil-sport."
I chose not to be bothered too much by his overwhelming attitude and arrogance at the moment—not responding to his last comment—but made him buy me some more ice cream to make up for it.
"No wonder you've been acting so strange today," I pondered aloud to Percy while strolling through the crowds. "If there's anything I've learned today it's to not give an ADHD teenage boy sugar."
He grinned at me over his double scoop of rocky road. "My mom learned that years ago. Yet my blood runs as pure corn syrup."
"That's revolting," I said, getting a terrible mental image. True as his ADHD may be, it was I who'd kept feeding him sugar the past few days. And okay—I admit—it was a little endearing when he got to such a sugar-high his confident skyrocketed. He rarely ever treated me like a typical boyfriend would treat his typical girlfriend, thank the gods, but getting enough confidence to tell me I was cute enough to be raped was…flattering (once you get over the disturbing part).
"Sorry I'm such a buzz-kill," I told Percy with a little smirk.
"Sorry I said I'd rape you." He put his arm around me comfortingly. "I wouldn't. You're kill me."
"Well, that's reassuring…"
It was nearing 7:00 at night. We'd eaten so much junk food my stomach hurt, and played games until we only had a few dollars left. With the last of it, we bought tickets for the ancient-looking ferris wheel. The ling was long, but at last we managed to get some seats. I wedged my stuffed panda in between me and the side of the box and huddled against Percy as we were strapped in.
"Afraid of heights?" he teased.
"No. Afraid that this rickety old thing snapping apart and burying me under four tons of metal."
It was true; the ride did look about 50 years old. I could see rust on its support joints and the bolts that held our seat together. I knew that I'd be safe, but just in case, I clung tightly to Percy's arm.
The ride started up and we began crawling backwards. To be honest, it was a little anticlimactic at first. My grip eased on my boyfriend and I was able to relax, just as we were getting near the top.
The view was shockingly beautiful. It was like you could see the entire Earth from our perch atop the ferris wheel. Water stretching to the east as far as the eye could see. So many colors form the carnival rumbled underneath us a vivid streak; balloons slipped from hands and soared up past us, miniscule people ate and laughed and danced and walked in clusters. Past the carnival, the world continued, with trees and a city nearby.
"Still afraid of this thing falling apart?" Percy asked, taking his arm away to wrap it around my shoulders.
I shook my head and closed my eyes, savoring the taste and the feel of the moment before it ended. The soaring of my chest every time our spot on the wheel lifted, the wind blowing in my ear (or maybe that was just Percy). I'd submerged myself so much in the sensation of it all I didn't realize when the ride beneath us began letting out an ominous shriek.
Percy's arm tightened around me. "Don't freak," he wanted, and I opened my eyes right as the ferris wheel let out a final CLANG and shuddered to a stop.
My heart stopped with it.
"Don't freak," Percy repeated as I swiveled my gaze out the ground below us.
Fifty feet. At least. Maybe 100.
People scrambled around like ants, shouting at friends and relatives stuck on the ride.
And we were at the very top.
I reached out with one arm and grabbed my panda and the other clung to Percy's shirt.
"Percy," I squeaked, voice rising an octave. My eyes refused to tear away from the ground. "PERCY."
"They'll get it up and running in no time, Annabeth, just breathe. Close your eyes if you'd like."
I did that exact thing, leaning into him for extra support. Part of me felt incredibly weak for having a minor panic attack like that. At least it wasn't spiders, though… With their eight little legs skittering all over and their little hair bodies and their eyes and…
Breathe.
This is not spiders.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. Listen to the ocean. Feel Percy's arms around me. You will survive.
You will survive.
I took another breath and opened my eyes.
It was no longer terrifying.
Beautiful, in fact.
We'd been at the boardwalk all day long, long enough to be there to see the sunset. As high we were then, it was more the gorgeous. Spears of purple and orange and pink and red shot from the horizon, turning the bottom of nearby clouds numerous shades of sherbet. The Earth seemed bathed in the warm, golden light. Maybe the ferris wheel would collapse and we'd all die, but at least we'd get to see one last picturesque sunset before we did.
The breathtaking sight made me forget about my fear. My eyes would hardly blink, being so mesmerized.
I looked up at Percy and found that he was staring not at the horizon but…me. Instead of looking away in embarrassment like he usually did, he shook his head and smiled down affectionately at me. The romantic part of me wanted to do something like kiss him on the cheek. Thankfully, the real Annabeth Chase took over.
I punched him on the shoulder instead and turned back to watch the sun. Though the slight disappointment was obvious on his face, he just rolled his eyes.
Down below us, a man with a megaphone apologized to those of us stuck up on the wheel and guaranteed to get us down within just a few minutes and refund the ride. As promised, it wasn't even five minutes before the ferris wheel hissed to life as people were deposited safely on the ground.
"Let's not try that again," I suggested with a shaky laughed while we stumbled out of our box.
It was getting dark out—okay, it was dark out. Everything was bathed in a dark blue light, but that didn't slow anything down at all. Twinkling lights and flashing bulbs and glow-sticks donned the carnival. People were still walking around and laughing and playing games. A certain amount of spirit was spotted by the stage where live music indeed played.
"How about one last stop before going home?" Percy asked, eyeing the music with a certain glint I was sure I liked.
However, I agreed reluctantly and let him lead me over to the space where people were dancing around to grinning people up on a stage with microphones and guitars.
"Might I remind you that I'm unable to dance," I told him, hesitating before entering the crowd. "And our lives aren't exactly on the line this time."
"Are you rejecting me, Miss Chase?" He put one of his hands on my hip and took my other in his own.
No. I wasn't. Without saying anything else, I put my free hand up on his shoulder and let him lead us into an ungainly dance.
We'd gotten there a little late; the song ended not thirty seconds later.
Percy and I paused and shared a tentative smile before slower music began, keyboard and guitar and hushed voices into a microphone.
Normally, I wasn't much of a dancer. During the school year—last year—I'd been forced to take an entire quarter of swing dance at my mortal school. Let me tell you, I've been to the Underworld and back, slept in sewers and disemboweled monsters and have been peed on by hellhounds. Nothing was worse than putting on tasseled dresses and getting swung around by guys I didn't even know.
Dancing with Percy was different. He was awkward and clumsy, but gentle. His hands were careful on my waist, and every time he'd step on my toes he'd apologize until I told him to shut up.
Halfway through the song, I wrapped both my arms around Percy's neck and put my head on his shoulder.
"Hey, Percy?" I asked as we turned an inelegant circle. "Do you think your mom's going to be upset that we've been out this late?"
"…Probably, but she's Mom." He folded his fingers behind my back. "But she can't complain too much since we can't exactly carry cell phones with us. She'll be fine."
His mother was being seriously merciful. If I was her I'd never in a million years let my teenage son and his girlfriend out of my sight, nevertheless spend a say alone miles away at a carnival without any means of communication or curfew or anything. If what Percy said was true and Poseidon convinced Sally to leave us alone in that sense, then he much have more power than Im previously thought.
Even then, dancing as close as we were, I wondered what was on Percy's mind. I knew him better than anyone else (except his mom) and I knew for a face that something else was said during his dream about Aphrodite. Whether or not it affected his boldness with me that day, whatever was said played a significant role in his point of view of me. Though I was dying to know exactly what it was, I let him keep it to himself for the time being.
I was so absorbed in my curiosity; I almost missed the end of the song.
Percy noticed my distraction, but kept his arms around me even after the song ended. "You up for a few more or are you wanting to go back?"
"…Maybe one or two more," I told him, but before the musicians started up again, I reached behind me to take my hair band out, letting my hair fall down my back.
Yet again, Percy got that twinkle in his eyes, looking at me like I was the first sunrise he'd seen in years. The expression was gone quickly, though, replaced by an ashamed blush and furrowed brows. I was certain whatever Aphrodite had told him was causing that shame because Zeus knows it was never there before.
The next song was just as slow as the last. I found it slightly annoying that Percy was holding me at arms'-length for that one, keeping his brows creased and the guilty expression on his face. I was so annoyed, in fact, that I found myself closer to him, just to defy whatever stupid feelings that were hindering our dance. I twisted the tips of my fingers around his hair and leaned into his solid, familiar chest.
Percy wavered a moment before lifting his hand to touch my cheek unsurely.
Maybe I was denying it—but what was there to deny? The feelings I had for this idiotic boy? Every time I thought about it my mind wandered elsewhere, as if I was subconsciously not permitting myself to consider it. I was never completely allowed to think about how I felt for him—only uncertain snippets. There in his arms, feeling his hand on my cheek and lips in my hair, I forgot about our parents' rivalry, any obstacles.
Instead of worrying about my mother, I let memories of Percy slip into my mind.
His first year, the arrogance all new demigods had, but his protectiveness over me and loyalty to both me and Grover. His second year, with the Sirens, the first hint of feelings I had for him but forbid myself to feel. His third year, risking his life to find me after I'd gotten kidnapped, that look in his eyes when he rescued me. His fourth year, all those days in the Labyrinth, in Mount Tam when I kissed him. His fifth year—all that bloodshed—turning down the offer to become a bog—the look he gave me, as if I was the sole reason to stay—when I kissed him and he didn't realize he'd sighed into my mouth, and Clarisse dumped us into the water and he made a bubble for us—and that underwater kiss—
To Hades with our parents.
I cupped Percy's face in my hands, bringing my lips to his ear, and I whispered something to him. My cheeks burned but I didn't care; it needed to be said.
Percy's steps faltered and he sucked in a barely audible breath.
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything," I told him, smiling nervously and dropping my hands back down to his shoulders. "I just thought you should know."
Looking as though I'd hit him over the head with a plank of wood, he just inhaled deeply and nodded.
The rest of our dance was—I admit it—a little awkward after what I said. When the song ended, we let go of each other and I grabbed my stuffed animal from his hiding place behind a popcorn machine. After silently agreeing it was time to head home, we both said goodbye to the flashing lights and candy smell of the boardwalk to go home.
Percy was silent. He only acknowledged my existence when I took his hand, just glancing over to give me a worried smile.
The darkness had settled smoothly upon the beach as nighttime took over. With the serenity, however, came shaped in the dark that did nothing for a high-stung demigod's sense of security.
"Do you have Riptide with you?" I asked Percy, glancing behind us to where the boardwalk fair looked like a handful of fireflies.
He checked his pants pocket before nodding. "You worried? Do you see anything? Smell monsters?"
"I'm still human, Barnacle Head," I snorted. "I don't smell anything but the beach. Nor do I see anything. I just don't like behind out in the open in the dark out of the borders of camp."
"Don't worry… I'll keep you safe."
Every other time he's teased me about that, I'd joked about not needing his protection. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't; it didn't matter. I just didn't say anything about that in response.
Thankfully, the monsters must have had a pretty filling lunch, because none came to eat us. Soon, the dark lurking shape of the seaside cabin rose in front of us. By then, it was nearly pitch black out. The ocean gurgled menacingly and—don't get me wrong, I'm not actually afraid of the dark—I was relieved to step into the glowing warmth of the cabin.
All was quiet.
The only light visible in the house came from the kitchen, which was unoccupied. Sally must have left it on when she went to bed, because judging by the lack of life from her bedroom door, she was fast asleep.
Percy and I automatically walked into the kitchen. Though there wasn't Sally, she'd left a note on the table, which read:
Percy—
I would have stayed up late enough to see that you two got home safely but my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer. If you're still hungry there is plenty of food in the refrigerator, including leftover cake.
Hope you kids had fun and got home alive.
Go to bed soon, and don't cause any trouble!
Love you,
Mom
Percy glanced over at me. "…You hungry?"
"Nah." Just then, a yawn escaped my lips and I reached up to rub my eyes. "Actually, I'm pretty exhausted. I say we call it a night."
To change for bedtime, we parted ways into separate bathrooms. I absentmindedly yanked my dress off—tossing it across the towel rack—and pulled on a pair of pajama pants and an old tank top.
When I went back into the living room, Percy was perched on the arm of the arm, frowning heavily at the back of my George Orwell book. When he heard me, he glanced up and set the book down on the covers with a thump.
"I don't see how you can stand looking at those tiny letters for more than three seconds without getting a headache," he said."
"Practice." After moving the book, I stretched out on the hide-a-bed covers, resting my head against my hand to look at him. "And my dyslexia isn't as bad as yours since I'm a daughter of Athena."
"Don't' remind me." Percy grimaced, but then laughed and stood up. "Well, I'm going to…go to bed now… See you in the morning, okay?"
"…Okay."
My eyes followed him all the way to his room, even after he closed the door.
Damn it, Annabeth. You ruined everything.
You shouldn't have told him that.
Now he doesn't even want to look at you.
I grabbed my panda from the other side of the couch and stuffed it over my head. Idiot.
No, no, no, another part of me said at the last second. You just made him nervous. Percy is awkward enough without you confessing things like that to him. He just doesn't know quite how to respond.
He still likes you, the voice said.
You didn't ruin everything. Merely…stalled things a bit, which is easy to fix.
I pulled my face back to look at my stuffed animal miserably. His black, plastic eyes stared lifelessly into mine.
Take control of your own life, Annabeth Chase.
That's right, I thought, gripping my panda and swinging my legs off the bed. You're the daughter of Athena. You're supposed to be pushy and annoying. Plus, Percy never had a problem with you sleeping in his bed before.
Still, I hesitated before cracking open Percy's bedroom door and shuffling inside.
All the lights were off. Through the very faint grey coming in from the open curtains, I saw Percy laying on his stomach on the bed, face pressed into a pillow, blankets pulled up around his bare chest.
When I came in, he rolled his head to the side and squinted at me inquisitively.
Wrapping both arms around my stuffed panda, I asked in a quiet voice, "Mind if I join you?"
"'Course not." He reached across his bed to turn the covers next to him down.
It was hard ignoring that wary look in his eyes as soon as I was aware of it. Okay, maybe "wary" wasn't a good word for it. Unsure, definitely, but also… concerned. For a brief second I stared hard at him, trying to figure it out, but gave up and crawled into the blankets next to him with my panda.
When I got settled down, using my stuffed animal as a pillow, and Percy hadn't said anything, I crossed my legs under the blankets. "Thank you for taking me to the boardwalk today," I said quietly.
He smiled tiredly at me, but it dwindled down to a look of worried concentration.
"Something's bothering you, Percy," I noted finally, breaking my vow of keeping that observation to myself. "It's driving me mad. If it was important, you'd tell me, right?"
"Of course I'd tell you. IT's just…not something you'd normally tell." His voice was nervous, maybe a little sour.
Our eyes met and Percy looked so distraught that I lifted my hand to touch his shoulder, but didn't push the subject.
There was silence for a bit. Neither of us moved where we were; Percy on his side facing me, me on my side facing him, with a hand on his shoulder and head on my stuffed bear. Then Percy suddenly sighed.
"Annabeth, back at the boardwalk, during the dance, what you said…" he started carefully, biting his lip.
I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"No, no!" Percy's cheeks began reddening and he reached out as if to hold my hands but stopped at the last second. "I'm…I'm glad you did. I just wanted to say that I…I…"
I waited with baited breath.
"I just wanted to let you know that I…I think I love you too." His face, even in the dark of the room, glowed an embarrassed scarlet and he flopped over onto his back to avoid meeting my gaze. "Just so…just so you know."
What was there to say about that?
I couldn't stop the grin from slowly spreading across my face.
To my surprise, Percy started laughing completely out of the blue. He ran his fingers through his hair with a gusty exhale. "You have no idea how good It feels to finally say that. A weight off my chest."
My grin wanted to become laughter, too, and I had a terrible time keeping it in.
"You're laughing at me!" Percy said, almost indignantly, but was still chuckling.
"I'm not!" Scooting closer to him, I snuck under one of his arms and curled my own around him, using his bare shoulder as a pillow. "That doesn't mean I'm not laughing with you, though."
"A fact that's going to wake my mom us and get us both in serious trouble." Percy stretched his arm across us to tuck the blanket up to my chin, something that hadn't been done for me since I was a little girl. "…Goodnight, Annabeth."
"Goodnight, Percy."
For the first time in—okay, the first time ever, I actually let myself enjoy him against me. I'd chosen a night to visit when he slept shirtless; under my head and arm I felt the result of how hard Camp Half-Blood worked him. The hard muscle, the soft, tan skin, the scars.
And he was mine. Percy, in all his sarcastic, adorable, charming, overconfident, gorgeous, arrogant glory. Despite everything, there we were, and—
Footsteps could be heard out in the hallway. They paused in front of the bedroom door and the doorknob rattled. A wedge of dim gold light was cast across the backs of my eyelids as the door opened. Though I kept my eyes closed as if I was sleeping, I knew it was Sally awake and checking on Percy.
She sighed, obviously at my refusal to sleep in my own bed. A second later, the door shut again and the footsteps faded away.
As soon as the sound disappeared, bother Percy and I stifled laughter, even though neither of us said anything.
There were no more disturbances that night, and after a while, unconsciousness found me and I dropped off into a dream-ridden sleep.
oOo
So let me know what you guys think, okaaayy? That was a terribly long, drawn-out chapter, but I admit, it was SO MUCH FUN. Hehehe.
But did y'all get what Annabeth whispered to Percy when they were dancing? She told him she loved him. Ehehehe so sweet!
Anyways, review if you wanna, and I'll try to update ASAP.
