I paced back and forth across the porch, tapping my fingers on my thighs anxiously. There was only one light on the porch, but the new summer sky was still light, even though it was close to seven. Six fifty-eight to be precise. I must have been quite a sight for her neighbors, but living in California (and living next to a demigod like Annabeth) had probably prepared them for things such as a seventeen year-old guy in a suit on a porch. Just another Saturday night in San Fran. I glanced at my watch. Seven o'clock exactly. Running my hand through my hair one more time (like it really made a difference, but whatever), I hesitantly pressed the doorbell. I could hear kids running around and a faint shout of "Annie! He's here!" The door opened to a middle-aged man wearing old-fashioned aviator's goggles. His face lit up as soon as he saw me.

"Percy! How've ya been? My daughter's been so excited she's been talking about this for weeks. I've never seen Annabeth so concerned over what the Hades am I supposed to wear? or Do you think these shoes match this dress?" He used a girly, high-pitched voice for the final few sentences, coming his invisible hair or pretending to pose and put on makeup. Mr. Chase beckoned me inside.

"Nice to see you too, Mr. Chase. Is Annabeth ready?" I smiled.

"She'll be just a minute," a small voice said. I couldn't help but laugh as I saw two familiar faces sprinting towards me. Bobby and Matthew (don't tell them this, but I still couldn't tell them apart) started to bombard me with questions as usual.

"Are you and Annabeth going to her prom tonight?" "Are you boyfriend and girlfriend?" "Are you going to love each other forever?" They reminded me of Nico when I'd first met him.

"Boys! Stop bugging Percy! Get back here and finish your dinner!" I heard Ms. Chase call from the kitchen. With a wave and a grin, they ran back to their mother, their socked feet slipping on the hardwood floor. "Annabeth! Percy's here! Hurry up, you don't want to be late!" Annabeth's stepmom called upstairs.

"I'm coming already! I think Percy can wait a few more seconds, gods know how many times I've waited on him..." Annabeth's voice echoed down the stairs. A few seconds later, I heard her clacking awkwardly down the stairs, obviously having a little difficulty with the heels she was wearing. She emerged from the stairwell, and had this been one of those cartoons, my jaw would have been on the floor.

Her gray eyes sparkled and her blonde curls shimmered like gold, pulled into some kind of loose hairdo (I'm a guy, sorry for not knowing different girls' hairstyles) that made her look like a princess. Her strapless dress flowed to her knees, a shimmery blend of sea green, sky blue, and teal, and her ankles wobbled just a hair in her silver heels. She wore silver jewelry to match, and her subtle makeup made her face glow.

"Percy!" She ran as best she could to me, and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Annabeth!" I hugged her back, and kissed her on the cheek. We finally broke apart, and the daughter of Athena wasted no time in examining my entire ensemble.

"Gray, Percy? Why are your vest and bowtie gray?" She asked suddenly.

"Well, I figured your dress would be gray... what with Athena and all..." Her small frown morphed into a giant smile.

"My dress is blue because of you, Seaweed Brain! Nailed the whole 'ocean' thing pretty well, huh?" She spun slowly.

"You're much prettier than the ocean," I smiled.

"But how ironic, you wearing Athena's color and me wearing Poseidon's?" I could see the gears turning.

"I guess that just means that even the gods can let things be just for tonight. Now stop thinking, leave that to me for the night."

"If I do that, we'll all de doomed," she laughed. Ms. Chase ran up to us, camera in tow.

"You two look absolutely adorable! Let me get some pictures and I can email these to your mom, Percy." We struck various poses, but eventually Annabeth shooed her stepmother away.

"Enough! We're going to be late! Bye Dad, bye Susan!" She grabbed my hand and yanked the keys to her dad's car off of their hook as we ran out the door. I opened the door for her and helped her in, then hopped into the driver's seat. Probably a bad idea, considering I had no idea where the Hades I was going.

"Your other left, Seaweed Brain!" SCREECH! It took about three times as long as it should to get to the gym at Annabeth's school, but at least we got there, right? We walked hand-in-hand into her school, and immediately a swarm of people surrounded us.

"Annabeth! Where were you? We thought you like died or something!" One girl exclaimed.

"I'm fine, Greer. My idiot of a boyfriend got me lost."

"Not lost, temporarily... displaced..." I protested. For the first time, everyone seemed to notice me. Annabeth smiled as she put her hand in mine.

"Let me introduce you to my boyfriend. This is Percy." I waved.

"Wait, Percy's real? Not like some figment of your imagination or your excuse as to why you've turned down every guy in the school?"

"Ha ha ha." Annabeth laughed sarcastically. She turned to me. "Percy, let me introduce you to some of my friends. She motioned to a few different people.

"Nice to meet you guys," We danced together for a bit until a slow song came on. I bowed to Annabeth. "May I have this dance?"

"Of course you can, Seaweed Brain."

Oblivious to the world around us, I tried not to step on her feet as she put her head on my shoulder and I put my arms on her waist.

"Percy?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah Annabeth?"

"I love you,"

"I love you, too."