Chapter Four: Mistakes and Misunderstandings (Percy POV)
School went on. Annabeth and I continued to have fun together. As we continued to spend the days with each other, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was every day.
Even that day when she was kind of peeved at me.
"Perseus Jackson," she said sternly in the middle of science class, "Please stop throwing paper airplanes at Sai Nishiki over there."
I groaned. "Aw, man, Annabeth! I'm bored! Either way, why does me throwing airplanes at Sai even bother you?"
"Uh… because the airplane keeps veering off course and hitting me instead of Sai—!"
I sighed. "Geez, what a Wise Girl…"
"Ms. Wise Girl to you, mister!" With that, Annabeth turned back to the board.
I grinned and fished for another piece of paper from my bag. I found one and pulled it out. Then I stared at it in awe.
Goode Halloween Dance, the sign said. Students and teachers invited. Guests allowed.
A lightbulb lit up inside of me. Of course! This was a perfect chance for Annabeth and I to bond. After all, we both had feelings for each other, but the other person doesn't know that.
I smoothed the paper out and wrote on it with a blue marker, Wanna go together? I then carefully folded it into a plane and chucked it.
The airplane flew towards Sai, then turned and hit Annabeth squarely in the back. She immediately turned around and looked at me with a fierce look on her face.
"What, Ms. Wise Girl can't take a paper airplane?" I teased.
She stuck her tongue out and picked up the paper airplane I'd just thrown, contemplating what to do with it. Please open it, please open it, please open it… I thought in my head.
She turned the airplane over and stared at it more. Then she looked at me.
"Percy, what do you need to tell Sai so badly that you keep on sending him airplanes that just unfortunately veer off course?" she asked, unfolding the plane.
She stared at the dance poster for a moment, then her mouth opened into a little O.
"So, Percy, you were going to ask Sai to the dance?" she said to me. I thought I could detect something like hurt in her voice.
"N-no, Annabeth…" I began, but I was cut off by Sai squealing in delight.
"Oh my God! Someone asked me to the dance!" she exclaimed, putting her hands to her cheeks. No one ever asked Sai Nishiki to the dance. She had huge glasses, brown braces, and a face covered with freckles. Yet the wierdest part about her was that she would just stare into space and giggle.
I was about to explain that I had thrown it at Sai so that it would go to Annabeth, not that it was meant for Sai, but Annabeth held up her hand when I was about to open my mouth.
"I hope you have a fun time with Sai, Percy," she said.
She ignored me for the rest of class.
My heart felt heavy in my chest.
The night of the dance, Sai arrived at my house, breathless. "How do I look, Percy-kins?" she asked, twirling around. She was wearing a simple plaid dress with ruffly sleeves.
"Er… great," I said. I was wearing a professional black tuxedo.
"Okay then!" she exclaimed. "Let's go, dear!"
Yuck.
We headed to the school together and entered into the gym, which was filled with colorful flashing lights and people dancing. We immediately located Kat, who was with her cousin, Brandon.
"Hi, Kat!" Sai said.
"Oh, hehe! Hi, Sai! Hi, Percy!" Kat said, giggling. "Brandon and I were about to do a little dancing! Wanna join us?"
"Sure," I said. Sai and Kat went to the dancefloor together, chatting about… whatever girls talk about.
Brandon approached me. "It's Percy, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said.
He nodded. "Gee, I was pretty sure that you were going to take Chase to the dance, not Nishiki."
"I was planning on taking Annabeth but…!" I protested.
"Well, looks like you screwed up, man. It's too late for you now," Brandon said, pointing to something across the room.
Annabeth.
With Jared.
They were talking. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it seemed like a deep conversation. Then they hugged, and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
What the heck?
"Yeaaaah… you might wanna close your mouth," Brandon said, jolting me out of my thoughts. He patted me on the back. "Good luck with her."
I was about to run to Annabeth and be like, No! Please don't leaaave! but I didn't get a chance to. Sai came over and grabbed me by my arm.
"Let's go, honeybunches!" she gushed, and she pulled me along into the dancefloor.
We slowly took a few steps, then eventually got into the hang of it. It was actually pretty fun out there. Sai was a good dancer. I found myself staring at her, but then I gasped.
Annabeth was dancing in her place.
We waltzed around the room, my hands holding hers. Our bodies comfortably close. A curly tendril of her blond hair on my chest…
I blinked. Sai was back. I sighed. Annabeth had just been an illusion.
"Come on, faster!" Sai exclaimed.
Her image rippled, and I saw Annabeth again. She smiled at me. We danced around the room, a happy duo of two. She led me through the dancefloor. I spun her around, and dipped her low to the ground. I realized that I needed her. Badly.I stood and held her close. I leaned in, my eyes closed, ready to meet her kiss.
I opened my eyes. Once again, Annabeth was gone, and only Sai was there.
I was kissing Sai.
My eyes widened. No, no, no… out of the corner of my vision, I could see Annabeth standing in shock. I watched her turn away and run off.
No, no, no…
I immediately released Sai, who stared at me, breathless.
"Wow! That was amazing! Let's do it again," she said.
"A…nna…beth…" I whispered.
"Huh? I'm not Annabeth, I'm Sai," she said.
I snapped back to reality and faced her. "Sai, I'm sorry. I just can't do this," I said.
With that, I left her and ran off in the direction Annabeth had gone.
Sorry, guys! I know that this must've been a painful chapter to read. Don't fear! Percabeth will happen! Please review...