I apparently spaced on any kind of author's note last time so here's one for you! The title of the story comes from the Lauren Aquillina song Fools and the title for the chapter comes from Ingrid Michaelson's Are We There Yet. A huge thank you to Rida (gryhffindores on tumblr) for beta-ing for me!

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

Percy glanced up from his grade-book and frowned. Hazel, a fellow first year teacher, was standing over him with her arms crossed over her chest and looking much scarier than she actually was. He turned the music playing on his laptop down and sat back in his chair.

"Uh, you look nice today?"

She punched him in the shoulder and he winced- apparently she was scarier than he thought.

"Did you go out with Annabeth?"

It was a good thing Percy wasn't drinking any coffee this time because he would have spit it out again. As it was, he did a good deal of spluttering before he could form any real words.

"I did not! How did you hear about that?"

Hazel smirked triumphantly. "Percy, if you didn't go out with her, why would there be something to hear?"

"No! I mean, we did go for coffee yesterday, but it wasn't like that."

"Well the whole school is talking about it. Drew Tanaka asked me if it was true that you were dating and when I asked why she would think that she told me two students saw you drinking coffee and sitting very close together."

Percy felt the blood rush out of his face. He should have known Lacy and Mitchell wouldn't keep this to themselves.

"Why do high schoolers have to complicate everything? Don't they know two people of the opposite sex can have coffee without it meaning they're together?"

Hazel snorted and perched on the edge of his desk. "No they don't. Because they think it's impossible for two people of the opposite sex to be in the same room together without it meaning something. They're children."

Percy massaged his temples and sighed. "I'm gonna have to talk to Annabeth."

"I'd be careful about that. Who knows what students might think about two teachers talking in a room alone," she said wiggling her eyebrows.

Percy snorted and poked Hazel in the ribs. "Shut up. I'm gonna tell the principal on you."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Please, like Mr. D listens to anything you say."

Percy conceded the point with a shrug. "Well, thanks for the warning."

The bell rang and Percy sighed as kids rushed into the halls and his free period ended.

"I'll see you later. And if you hear any more about this rumor, make sure you squash it like a bug."

Hazel grinned and hurried off to get to her classroom.

As students came in, Percy noticed them whispering and sneaking glances over at him. When the second bell rang and Percy closed the door he turned around to find Miranda Gardiner with her hand raised.

"Are you and Miss Chase dating?"

Percy pushed his sleeves up to his elbows and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long day.

When he knocked on her door after school, Annabeth flinched so hard she dropped her pen. She scowled at him as he perched on a desk in front of her.

"Hey, you told me to knock."

Annabeth rolled her eyes but Percy could tell from her pursed lips that she was trying not to smile. She went back to whatever she was writing and Percy pulled his feet up.

"So…"

Annabeth held up a finger without looking up from her papers. Percy puffed out his cheeks and sighed. He looked around the room, smiling at the posters on the wall. Annabeth's classroom was one of the more personal ones in the school with movie posters and famous quotes on the walls. His favorite part, though, was her Wall of Fame with pictures of all her favorite authors and historians and artists. Percy was still working on getting his own classroom situated the way he wanted it, but he was definitely thinking of stealing her idea.

He hadn't even realized he'd started whistling until he glanced over at Annabeth and found her staring at him. He stopped and grinned.

"Sorry."

Annabeth snorted and dropped her pen on the desk.

"So what's up?"

Percy grimaced. "You haven't heard?"

Annabeth pursed her lips and scoffed. "Oh, I've heard. Laurel Smith asked me if it was true we were dating third period and then during sixth, Kayla Johnson asked if you were a good kisser."

Percy could feel his face heat up. "Wha- what did you say?"

"I told her you were alright, but I've had better."

Percy only had a moment to let that sink in before Annabeth laughed.

"Oh gosh, your face. Obviously I told her it was none of her business and that I had no idea anyway because we aren't dating."

Percy cleared his throat. "Right, obviously."

"All the girls seem terribly disappointed," she said vaguely.

"I mean, can you blame them? You're supposedly dating the hottest teacher in the school."

He had to duck to avoid the book Annabeth threw at him.

"That could have knocked me out!"

Annabeth smirked. "That was the point, dummy. Anyway, I think Will's probably the hottest teacher in the school. Or Jason."

Percy feigned indignation and gasped. "Certainly I'm in the top five."

Annabeth looked off pensively. "Well, I'd probably put Frank third. He's all big and buff. And then probably Coach Hedge. Then maybe you'd be fifth."

Percy picked the book up off the floor and chucked it back at her.

"That's just rude."

Annabeth laughed as she gathered her things up.

"Aah, so you're sensitive. I'll keep that in mind for our next date."

Percy chuckled weakly and followed her out of the classroom.

"The rumor mill around here moves on pretty fast," she said locking up her door. "Don't worry, by next week they'll forget about it and it'll be like nothing ever happened."

Percy didn't know why, but her words made his stomach lurch. The death of the rumors was a good thing- so why did Annabeth's relief come as a disappointment?

Probably because you've got a big, fat crush on her.

Percy actually shook his head. Where the hell had that come from? By the time he'd recovered from his mutinous brain's mutterings, Annabeth was staring at him expectantly.

"Huh?"

"I asked if you're leaving. I'll walk out with you."

"Don't you have decathlon practice tonight?"

She nodded. "I've got to run home first. I promised the kids I'd make some kind of snack so I have to bake a few dozen cookies."

"Aah. Well I've got to pack my stuff up."

She pocketed her keys and smiled. "I can wait."

"Oh no, that's alright. I don't want to keep you from your cookies. I'll just see you tomorrow."

Her smile hitched for a moment but she nodded and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Ok. Have a good night."

When he got to his classroom, Percy groaned and let his head fall against his desk. He'd panicked and now Annabeth probably thought he was rude and awkward.

Toldja you like her.

"Shut up."

You know talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.

Percy closed his eyes before he hit his forehead against his desk a few more times for good measure.