It takes a month for Percy to gather up the courage to kiss Luke.

They're walking to class (because that's something they do now) and Percy stops in the middle of the sidewalk and just does it. Luke doesn't react, not even when Percy is pulling away and then running away because he figures bad things can't happen if they can't catch you, right? And he's already late to class as it is. A part of him hopes that Luke will chase after him and they can skip class and sit up on the balcony and kiss some more, but he makes it all the way to class without stopping. He's pretty sure his heart's stopped (only it hasn't because he's really out of shape and it feels like it's going to fall out of his chest.)

He sits in the back of the class and checks his phone for texts from Luke. In a fit of desperation, he texts Luke first. Of course Luke doesn't have his read receipts on so there's no way for Percy to know if he's even seen the message. But he assumes that Luke has and is just ignoring him, filthy friend kisser that his. He would probably ignore Annabeth if she kissed him.

No, he wouldn't. Maybe Luke just hasn't seen the message?

There's no message from Luke for the rest of that class or the next one. Percy texts him several more times in case the first message didn't go through and then texts him a few more times after that apologizing for texting him so much.

sry 2 bother u

ill stop txtng u now

just say smethng

plz

luuuuuuuuuuke

luke castellan

lucas castellan

fine

c u

The last message is sent in a fit of rage in Annabeth's dorm room. He's been there for an hour, raging about how stupid he is and how stupid Luke is in equal measures. Annabeth has long since begun ignoring him. He can see her doing homework out of the corner of his eye.

He throws his phone at her bed where it lands squarely on her pillow.

What am I going to do?

She rolls her eyes.

Go talk to him. You know where he lives.

Percy wants to tell her how bad her idea is. He wants to tell her that Luke would never want Percy anywhere near his apartment. He wants to tell her that he doesn't know where it is.

But her idea is pretty good, it's not really about what Luke wants anymore, and he's been there a thousand times. Maybe Luke needs to see Percy in real life to work things out.

Percy sends the obligatory "I'm coming to your apartment right now don't be naked" text on the way to Luke's apartment. He stops by a coffee shop and buys them both a muffin. He considers taking Luke some flowers but realizes that would probably make things worse. He buys the flowers anyway and throws them in a dumpster. He begins typing a speech.

Dear Luke,

Ignoring people is not very cool. I guess kissing people who don't want to be kissed is not very cool either. Either way we're both being not very cool right now but I want to be very cool. With you. I want to be very cool with you.

Please can we be friends? I promise I won't kiss you again.

Sincerely,

Percy

He reads the speech over and over again in the elevator on the way to Luke's apartment. He reads it a few more times in the hallway. When he's one hundred percent sure it can't be that bad he knocks on Luke's apartment door and waits. And waits. And waits.

He knocks again.

And again.

And one more time.

There's another long pause before the door finally opens to reveal Luke looking very annoyed. However, when he sees Percy, his face relaxes. It's not the disgust Percy expected so he's happy, at least for the moment.

"Percy."

Percy nods and holds out his phone.

Luke looks at it.

Percy looks at him.

Luke looks at Percy.

Luke steps closer.

Luke leans down.

Luke kisses Percy.

Percy kisses Luke.

Percy remembers his speech and pulls away.

"Percy-"

Percy gestures to the phone and grins when Luke takes it. He watches while Luke reads the speech and then they're looking at each other again. Percy really hopes they can kiss again.

Luke seems to be thinking very hard about something. He hands the phone back to Percy and holds up a finger, telling Percy to wait. He gestures and Percy assumes he's trying to sign something. He gestures again and Percy frowns.

"I only learned this an hour ago." Luke says defensively and Percy smiles.

i believe it

"I'm trying to be romantic, Percy."

ok ok

"I want you to go on a date with me."

ok

"Do you want that?"

Percy could kiss Luke.

He does.

That's answer enough.