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DarkChillArtist and Daughter of Athena, Mistynl, username1096 and swimmerreader!

It's hard to look for the place Annabeth wanted to go to but I've tried my best. :D

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Love So REAL, Love So TRUE

Chapter 5: Here I Am

Annabeth's POV

It took Percy another hour to finish his lunch. After he bought 2 and took mine, he bought another burger for himself. Total: 4 burgers.

It's kind of a miracle that he could still walk after eating all those. But knowing that he's strongly built, he wouldn't collapse of overeating. If he does, then he wouldn't be able to take me to where I want to go. I haven't told Percy yet, but I really want to go to Manhattan Beach. Why?

Last night, Thalia called me to see how I was doing. She kept asking question about how Camp Half-Blood's doing and so on. I answered all her questions then she asked me how I was doing. I told her I came to live in New York because of my dad's job. Then she told me about this beach that's the 'thing' during summer. At first I really didn't want to go, but thinking that Percy might want to go, I said yes. Him being the son of Poseidon and all. Thalia surprised me when she said that she and Nico are going too. I was surprised because, 1. Thalia and Nico didn't get along and 2. Wasn't Thalia still a Huntress? I decided that it isn't the right time to ask her that. Long story short, Thalia, Nico, Percy and me were going to the beach but not until I get Percy's approval.

"Hey, where did you want to go, Wise Girl?" Percy asked, cutting off my flashback.

"I'm not sure if you want to go." I responded.

"Just name it. If I know how to get there, then let's go." His brilliant smile was on his face again. His wonderful smile.

"Manhattan Beach." I mumbled.

"And why wouldn't I want to go there? It's a beach for Poseidon's sake!" he said, his smile not wavering.

"And Thalia and Nico will be with us." I continued. For a second, his smile turned to a frown. You wouldn't notice if you're far away but I was near and I saw it.

"I thought Thalia was still Huntress of Artemis and I thought Nico was playing with the dead?" he asked, half-smiling.

"I'm not sure. Thalia called me last night and asked me to ask you."

"You really want to go?" he asked.

"Percy, if you don't wanna go then let's go somewhere else. I'll tell Thalia." I answered.

"No, do you want to go? he asked again.

"I want to go, but Percy, if you-" But before I could finish, he cut me off. Again.

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" He put on his blinding smile and put his arm around my neck, pulling me where we would go next.

I would have normally blushed. Since Percy's arm was around me, but I was still deciding if he really wanted to go or not. Guilt's power.

He must have seen the look on my face since he let go and told me: "It's fine, Annabeth. I haven't been there anyways. Wanna see what it looks like."

He smiled even more, if that was even possible. His reassurance made me feel a little better. Maybe he did want to go somehow.

"Annabeth," his tone, a little less cheerful "I don't know how to get there." At that I laughed. Percy laughed with me too. "No, seriously, I don't know how to get there."

I stared at him, face shocked. Pretending to not know either. His face looked troubled now. He was just too handsome with that!

I laughed, meaning to take the burden off his shoulders. I walked to the nearest bus station, Percy following behind me, still troubled. "Come on, I know how." I looked back, and what I saw was a very handsome, smiling Percy on his way to my side.

Percy's POV

Don't get me wrong. I really want to make Annabeth happy. She wanted to go to Manhattan Beach, then fine. I love beaches anyway. But when she said Thalia and Nico are going, well, that was not good.

While I was busy eating my burgers, I decided that I should tell Annabeth tonight. Finally tell her that I love her. It might surprise her but I can't keep it to myself anymore.

Selfish? No. If she says she doesn't like me that what can I do? I'll just accept it as is. Although it will hurt me and my ego. And I'll probably never love again. Yes, yes. It sounds cheesy but it's true. She's the only one I have loved since I was 12.

Anyway, I decided that I'd tell her whether or not Thalia and Nico were there. They don't matter anymore as long as I could tell Annabeth and get this load of my chest. I won't act all zoned out anymore and creep people out. Good right?

"Percy. You sure you want to go? We can get out now if you want." Annabeth suggested.

"I'm sure, Wise Girl. We get to see Thalia and Nico right? When was the last time we saw them?" I answered, looking straight at her gray eyes. Her beautiful gray eyes.

"Fine. But make sure you don't regret it."

"Yeah. I'm sure." I laughed, intending to make her stop worrying about me.

She mumbled something like "You're such a Seaweed Brain." and I couldn't help but smile. She's the one who gave me the nickname and I love it when she calls me that. It's kind of insulting but it came from Annabeth's mouth.

We were on a bus that will bring us directly to Manhattan Beach. I didn't know how to get there and it's a good thing that Annabeth researched about it last night. She is the daughter of a goddess of battle and strategy after all.

I wonder what made Annabeth want to go to Manhattan Beach. From what I know, she's not such a big fan of beaches. Maybe because it's summer that she wants to go?

"Hey. What were you thinking about a while ago?"Annabeth asked.

"And why would you ask that?" I replied

"Because you were zoning out and that gave me the creeps. Seriously, what were you thinking about?" she asked again.

"Nothing. Just normal stuff. Like school and monsters." I answered. I couldn't really tell her the truth now, can I? What will I say? "About you. How I don't want us to be just best friends. You know, that I like you?" As if I could say that. It would just give her more creeps.

"I don't believe you. I'm not stupid Percy."

"Don't believe if you don't want to but I'm saying the truth." Well, I was saying the truth. I did think of school and monsters with a lot of Annabeth. So it wasn't exactly a lie.

"Fine. Whatever. I'll find it out myself." she said. "I'm sleepy. Wake me up when we arrive. It's gonna be quite a long ride." With that she put her head on my shoulder. At first, I was surprised but then I relaxed myself and told myself it was fine. It's just Annabeth and she's sleepy so why not let her sleep on your shoulder?

Before I knew it, my eyes were closed and I was drifting off to sleep.

Annabeth's POV

When I woke up, the first thing I realized was the bus had stopped moving. The second thing I noticed was that there was a head on top of mine. Ironic right?

I lifted Percy's head and tried to wake him up but he won't.

"Stupid Percy. Wake up, Seaweed Brain!" I shouted in his ear but he still wouldn't wake up.

"Excuse me, Miss. We're here. Would you please go down now." I didn't notice the driver make his way over here. Weird.

"Oh yes. I'm sorry. I'll just wake him up and we'll go down." I replied. "Percy! Wake up!" I shook his head and slapped his face but all I got was:

"5 more minutes, Mom."

"I'm not your Mom, Seaweed Brain! Wake up!" I yelled again!

This time, he lifted his head and looked at me. "Huh? We're here? Oh okay." he said it as his head went side to side.

"Would you need some help? I could carry him down, if you please." the driver said.

"No, it's okay. He just needs a little shake. That's all." I shook Percy but he just looked like a drunkard that's walking home.

"No, I would rather carry him down so I could go back to fetch the next batch of people." the driver insisted.

"Okay then. Thank you." I couldn't help but say yes, it would be easier anyway.

The driver carried Percy down and placed him on the bench. I followed behind them carrying Percy's things and my things. When I reached the bench, I said a quick 'thank you' to the driver and he left, nodding his head.

I looked at Percy. He was still half-asleep. If I don't wake him up soon he'd be back to full asleep mode.

"Your hard to wake up, you know, Seaweed Brain." I told him.

"Mhmm." He answered. Yup. He's still half-asleep.

I didn't know how to wake him. I studied him for a moment, wondering if I should slap him again or push him of the bench. I decided neither and I did the riskiest.

I kissed him on the cheek.

I didn't know why I did it. I just felt like it. And probably because I wanted to do that since we kissed at the lake.

I guessed it worked since his eyes opened. Like, opened open. His sea green eyes were big and they had a questioning look.

Oh gods, why did I do that? I didn't regret it at all. But maybe he'll regret it.

I didn't know what to do next so I got my stuff, turned back and walked to the beach. My face still hot and I'm very sure red.

-END OF CHAPTER 5-

Hey Pips.

Like it? Hate it? I didn't know what to write anymore... :|

Anyway. Look forward to the next chapter. You'll know how Percy feels. :)

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