His knuckles shown white, like he was clutching the steering wheel for dear life. And he was only at the bridge between Manhattan and Queens.

Percy turned the radio up, trying to flush out the nervous thoughts of Annabeth.

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end

Letters I've written, never meaning to send

Beauty I'd always missed with these eyes before

Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore.

Cause I love you, yes I love you, oh how I love you.

This song was not exactly helping Percy's mood, but he didn't turn the volume down.

Even though he'd told himself that Aphrodite's advice had been meaningless, and stupid, he couldn't get that out of his mind either.

He glanced at the clock, seeing it was already 8:30, he'd probably have to get away with speeding to get to Annabeth's at exactly at nine. Percy didn't really feel like seeing Annabeth in an angry flare.

-x-

"So what are we doing here exactly? Percy and Annabeth are together already!" Grover said as he walked into a secluded grassy area of Central Park.

"I know, but something's happened." Nico said calmly.

Tyson was leaning against the tree, his one eye closed as he dozed in the shade.

Grover glanced up at the Cyclops, "How long has he been here?"

Nico shrugged. "He was here when me and Thalia got here, and that was at seven this morning."

"Well shoot."

"I know."

"So where is Thalia?" Grover moved to look around the tree out at all the joggers out in the morning.

"I don't know. She mumbled something about being sort of hungry, and tromped off." Nico shrugged his aviators jacket more tightly around him.

"No need to fear! I'm back!" a girl's voice sounded from behind the tree. Thalia came around into sight with a huge sack.

Nico's eyes widened at the sight of her. "Where the hell did you get that?"

"No where."

"Oh, yeah, no where. I'll bet."

"Listen Zombie Boy-"

"Alright enough! Quit bickering!" Thalia and Nico both turned their heads slowly towards the satyr.

"Don't give me those looks. We need to discuss this." He waggled a finger at them.

They both sighed, and sat cross-legged on the ground, and started to talk about this predicament.

-x-

"Dad! Adrian! Percy's here! I'll see you later tonight!" Annabeth called up the stairs as she grabbed her bag. She swung the door open and ran out to the Mustang, still running.

She opened the passenger door, setting her bag at her feet, and slamming the car door after her.

"Hey." Percy said. He reached his hand out, holding the back of her neck as he pulled her forward. It was only a chaste kiss, nothing too big.

Percy pulled away only an inch. "Is he watching?"

Annabeth glanced up at her father's study window, and sure enough, Fredrick Chase was poking through the curtain.

"Yup. Just start driving." Annabeth pushed his hand away, and leaned back, strapping her seat belt.

Percy pulled out of the driveway, keeping his hand on the back of Annabeth's head rest.

"So what are we doing today?"

"I don't know. You pick."

"Don't even start this game with me!"

Percy smiled. "Ok…how about a movie?"

"Movie," Annabeth confirmed, holding up her index finger. "What else?"

"Now it's your turn to pick."

"Well, I wanted to check out this bookstore, because there's just this one book that I can't find!"

Percy reached for her hand and held up her next finger. "Bookstore is number two."

"And then I think we should go to a restaurant. Not just a stand or a café, but an actual restaurant."

Percy didn't say anything to her request for a minute, just watching the road.

"Um…which restaurant were you thinking of? I don't have much money…"

"Well not like some really fancy restaurant, like Applebee's or something!"

"Er…sure."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Why not."

Aphrodite's voice rang through Percy's head again; "Just do what you think is right!" And about all of the stupid "hero always has a plan" and stuff. If he just made her happy, maybe she would feel bad for liking another guy, and just not cheat…

He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, making Annabeth jump and give him a strange look.

He didn't understand any of this. It was all just too confusing. Why couldn't Annabeth and him just have a steady relationship with nothing out of the blue happening?

"Ok…so what movie?" Annabeth asked nervously.

"Hm? Oh, uuh…"

"I was thinking 'Clash of the Titans'. You know? So we could make fun of it…"

Percy couldn't stop the smile that grew on his lips.

"And that, Annabeth Chase, is why I love you."

And at the stoplight, he reached over and kissed her cheek lightly.

A/N: Don't get me wrong, Clash of the Titans actually looks like and epic movie, but I mean…for Percy and Annabeth? They'd be like "What? That didn't happen!" and able to say all this crap because of what actually happened to them!

So there's chapter threeeeeeeeee!

R&R!