The Titan's Curse dance

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own the amazing work of Rick Riordan. I don't even own this plot. This is just what I thought Annabeth might've been thinking. Enjoy!

Finally, I thought. That stupid minor godling I had been dancing with got a little too—oh, how should I put it—frisky? In other words, he tried to take me to his miniature castle thing and... I'm not going to continue that. Let's just say it was really awkward and I was really glad that I had gotten away.

I caught sight of Grover who looked like he was having the time of his life. Some nymphs were dancing with him. I decided that I shouldn't bother him. I mean, it was Percy I was looking for anyway. I was still wondering what he tried to tell me.

"Annabeth, don't," he had said. "Look, I need to tell you something. I couldn't stand it if... I don't want you to—" he never continued. I couldn't make any sense out of it. It was starting to drive me insane.

"Annabeth!" Thalia exclaimed as she ran up to me.

"Hey, Thalia," I hugged her. "Have you seen Percy around anywhere?"

She frowned. Oh, right. Hunter. No boys. "No. Why?"

"I thought that he needed to tell me something. I still don't know what though," I confessed.

She looked around. "Oh, well, looks like you've got a problem."

I spun in a circle. "What? Did you find him?"

"Yeah, he's over there," she pointed, "but—"

I didn't hear her finish. I ran over to him. "Percy!" I shouted, weaving my way through the crowd.

I didn't even see my mom until I had gotten right up close. "Oh... Mom."

"I will leave you. For now." she said to Percy before turning and walking through the crowd. It was strange: the crowd parted like the Red Sea around her.

"Was she giving you a hard time?" I asked genuinely concerned. She could be so rough sometimes.

"No. It's... fine." he lied. I knew he wasn't going to tell me the truth, especially if it was awkward for him.

That was when I noticed the grey streak in his hair. I took special notice in the fact that it looked and felt exactly the same as mine. It was our painful souvenir from holding up the sky.

I dropped my hand and looked straight into his eyes. "So," I said quizzically. I was trying my best to read him. "What did you want to tell me earlier?"

I noticed that the song I was hearing changed into a bit of a hopeful love song. Coincidence?

He looked nervous but I decided not to say anything. "I, uh, was thinking that we got interrupted at Westover Hall. And... I think I owe you a dance."

I knew this was not at all what he was trying to say to me earlier. I had a slight feeling I knew exactly what he did, now. I could feel a smile creeping onto my face as I realized I was quite excited. "All right, Seaweed Brain."

He took my hand and I placed my other one on his shoulder. He placed his free hand on my hip. He obviously had no earthly idea what he was doing but he covered it up well.

We danced in silence for a little bit and our arm placements changed so that both his arms were around my waist and mine were on his neck.

The silence started to get awkward so I decided to make some conversation. "So, uh, Percy?"

"Hmm?" he muttered.

I looked away, feeling rather awkward. "What did you really want to tell me?"

I felt him tense at this question. He was obviously uncomfortable but I wasn't going to back down. He knew that too. "Well, I honestly don't know."

I gave him a stern look. "Don't lie to me Perseus Jackson. I know good and well you're hiding something."

He sighed. "Can we just forget about it?"

I looked at him, shocked. "Do you really think that I am going to just forget about something that impor—" I gasped as he prodded a finger into my side.

He raised an eyebrow. "Tickle-ish, are we?" I giggled as he wiggled his fingers against my midriff.

"Stop!" I managed. "Please!"

"Only if you drop the subject," he laughed.

"Okay! Alright! I'll stop if you stop!" I yelled and he stopped, finally.

"Okay then," he smiled.

I shook my head at him and chuckled, walking over to the food table. I heard him following me and we both reached the table at the same time. "So, what happened on your quest?" I asked, literally dying to know all of the details.

He blushed. "Actually, it wasn't my quest. I wasn't technically allowed to leave the camp."

I gasped and choked on my brownie. "What? Then why did you come?"

He blushed again and I realized he was hiding something. It's a little scary; knowing someone for so long that the expressions on their face give away their deepest emotions. "Well, I wanted to find you."

I gaped at him, blushing furiously.

"I mean, you are my best friend and all. I couldn't have you go and die on me. That would kind of suck," he chuckled and cleared his throat. "Well, I took Blackjack most of the way and Mr. D caught me on top of a building and basically threatened to throw me off..."

He went on and filled me in on almost everything that I had missed. Though, while talking about Arizona and this strange taco shop, he had seemed very uncomfortable. I had a feeling he told me about everything else, though, so I let it go.

When he was done, I nodded and sighed. Now we just have to figure out where Luke and his demon infested cruise ship went off to."

I could see him getting tense at the mention of Luke. "Annabeth, that fall was really, really bad."

I looked at him defiantly. "I already told you. He isn't dead. I can't explain how I know, I just do. He's alive."

"Come on, Annabeth—"

I held my hands up to stop him. "Forget about it. This night is supposed to be a party. You saved Artemis and me and you stopped a Titan. Let's just have fun, ok?"

He nodded obviously reluctant to drop the subject. "Fine. Then would you like to dance with me again?"

I grinned and obliged. This time, there was no talking. Just me with my head on his shoulder—did I mention that it fit perfectly—and his head resting atop mine.

"I'm so glad you're safe," I heard him mutter. I didn't think he had meant for me to hear that so I just shifted a little.

"Me too," I whispered.

"Even if you're still just a stupid Owl Head." I could hear the smirk in his voice. Maybe I had been meant to hear it after all.

I giggled. "Shut up, Seaweed Brain."

"Gods, I missed that nickname," he said, his voice filled with sarcasm.

I just smiled and we danced the rest of the night.

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