Alex dropped me off at my house after another hour of standing awkwardly outside the mall doors second guessing my purchase and pretending I wasn't hungry even though I was just because I was feeling self conscious about the whole dress thing.

I came frighteningly close to throttling Alex and making away with his pretzel.

He will never know how close he came to losing a hand.

It's probably for the best.

I crawled out of Alex's car, moaning with hunger pain and dragging my shopping bag along behind me.

"Go eat something, stupid." He shouted at me. I slid the rest of the way out the door and curled up in a ball on the sidewalk.

"I swear, I'm not hungry." I groaned. Alex revved his engine.

"Percy's here."

I sat up with a bolt of sudden energy, my eyes wide like a deer in headlights, and almost squealed when I spotted Percy's car in my driveway.

I jumped to my feet, taking a second to cringe at the loud, painful rumble of my stomach, "What are you waiting for?" I hissed at Alex, "Away with you!"

Alex reached into his glove box and tossed a package of sweet tarts in my direction. I barely caught them, shooting him a dirty look as they slipped through my fingers.

"Sure, throw candy at the fatty." I snarled, "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

"I figured the sugar would tide you over until you're alone so you'll fucking eat." Alex shook his head, "Do you have any idea how severely I'll murder your ass if you get all stupid and girly on me?"

I fluttered my eyelashes at him and peered down into my bag, "I!" I paused for dramatic effect, "Am a woman." Then I turned and started slowly for the porch, "So suck my balls."

"Go find Percy." Alex chuckled.

"Okay."

"Peace out, Dr. Frank-N-Furter." Alex waved as he pulled away from the curb, and I waved after him with my middle finger.

I watched his car disappear around the corner before racing toward the porch. I leapt flawlessly over both steps only to crash full on into Percy as he came out the front door.

There were a few painfully awkward seconds of full frontal body contact before we were both stable again.

Percy smiled at me, an only slightly restricted laugh escaping him, "Hello, Starshine."

"Salutations." I slapped a hand playfully against his chest. Percy stepped backwards slowly, still grinning at me, and sat carefully down on the porch swing.

"I heard you bought your homecoming dress."

"Sure did." I leaned casually against the railing adjacent from him.

Percy cocked his head to the side, "Can I see it?"

I narrowed my eyes at him and glanced down into the bag I still clutched tightly in my fist, "Uh . . .no."

"Uh . . . why not?" Percy mocked me.

I shrugged and moved the bag behind my back protectively, "I think its bad luck or something."

"Alex got to." Percy whined, looking very pathetically insulted.

I smiled at him sweetly, "Yes, well I haven't seen Alex naked."

"Oh and that makes a difference?"

"Theoretically speaking."

Percy shook his head and sat forward on the swing, "First of all, we were eight."

I had to physically suppress the very animated grin that wanted to appear on my face.

"And secondly," He continued, "That was an accident. I had no idea you were going to walk in."

"You were in my room, Percy." I chuckled. He scooted forward further as he got more heated.

"Yea, but you were supposed to be at girl scouts." Percy pointed accusingly at me.

"Oh come on, you knew I never actually went to girl scouts." I dropped the bag behind me and crossed my arms. Percy scowled at me and sat back slowly.

"Touché."

"Besides you never really told me why you were naked in my room." I pointed out suspiciously.

Percy shrugged and kicked his feet up on the railing, "It will forever be a mystery."

"But you used my favorite stuffed animal as a loin cloth!" I shouted with horrified recollection. Percy smirked at me.

"It was really soft."

I shook my head at him, blatantly disturbed, "I can't even look at Baby Elton the Anteater anymore without seeing your scrawny body attached to him."

Percy's smirk got worse and he plucked absently at the hem of his shirt, "I look a lot better naked now."

My head shot up and I tried to disguise the blush that I felt heat up my face. Our eyes met for a split second during which I noticed that Percy was definitely blushing too, before we both looked away awkwardly.

Stop the unfair, dirty thoughts.

Nearly an entire minute passed by in excruciating silence when Percy cleared his throat and spoke.

"Wanna hear something really sick?" He asked.

I looked up at him, thankful for the distraction and disregard of what we were both quite obviously thinking about.

"Sicker than you violating Baby Elton?"

"Very much so. Like twenty times sicker."

"I'm intrigued."

Percy straightened himself up and smiled at me condescendingly, "I, Percy Jackson, was nominated for Homecoming King."

I didn't mean to, but I snorted.

Percy gave me a hurt look as I struggled to control my laughter, "Jackson, your pretends are getting less and less believable."

He sighed dramatically, "If only it was pretend."

I shook my head, "I refuse to believe you." I said stubbornly.

Percy sat forward, his feet hitting the porch with a loud, indignant thud, "I will fucking show you the fucking ballot!"

Once again, I didn't mean to, but I snorted.

"Then fucking show me the fucking ballot!" I mocked him.

Percy stood up quickly, visibly flustered, and dug through his pocket hurriedly.

"I will."

I watched him for a second, trying desperately to find the correct pocket, "It better not be on construction paper in green crayon..." I warned him playfully.

He glared at me and produced a folded piece of paper from his pocket, "Here."

I took it slowly and opened it. Indeed, it was a valid Homecoming ballot. And indeed, Percy's name was on it. Right below Luke. I read it over three times before I believed it.

"I'm voting for you." I said finally. Percy let out a groan.

"Don't vote for me."

I folded the ballot, "I'm doing it."

"Soph, no, it's bad enough my name is even on that thing." He sighed, "I can't win."

I gave him an incredulous, sarcastic look, "Like my vote is going to make a difference."

Percy sucked in a deep breath, "It makes a big difference to me."

I met his eyes and held them for a long time, carefully analyzing exactly what he meant by that and coming up with nothing other than the obvious.

"Please, Sophia?"

I sighed loudly and rolled my eyes at his pleading puppy-dog look, "Alright, but I'm keeping this." I slid the ballot into my back pocket, "Besides, I'm sure the 4H candidate would appreciate my vote."

Percy grinned, "Thanks."

"And hey, if you win anyway, we'll just switch clothes in the bathroom and I'll go up and give a speech for you." I added excitedly.

"Don't forget to thank the academy." Percy leaned back opposite me.

I nodded, "And profess your undying love of all things Willy Wonka."

Percy laughed, "I'd love to get my hands on a pair of those purple latex gloves." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"So you can spank the Oompa Loompas?" I asked, arching my own eyebrow.

"So I can spank Baby Elton." He corrected cheekily. My jaw dropped.

"Thats it, " I threw my hands in the air, "I am starting the Stuffed Anteaters Named After Gay Rock Icons Sexual Abuse Prevention Association."

Percy chuckled, "SANAGRISAPA?"

"It's a mouthful." I thought for a moment, "We'll call it the Percy Jackson Prevention Association for short."

"Ah yes, but then the world will know exactly how much you really do love me."

I opened my mouth to respond but changed my mind and looked down at my feet. After a second of silence I licked my lips and whispered, ". . . they could never know that."

Another beat of silence before Percy followed with, ". . . ditto."

I looked up at him curiously. He was watching me the exact same way. There was something going on here, and I was getting more and more confused with each comment he made that held some other hidden meaning. Or maybe they weren't so much hidden as timid.

Percy pushed off the wall and stepped closer to me, his hand coming forward to touch my cheek. I could feel him shaking nervously as his fingers brushed over my skin. I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat as he leaned down toward my face. His lips hovered, so close I could feel them tickling against my own.

"Percy. . ." I whispered, my voice scratching painfully as I forced it out. He didn't back off and he didn't get any closer, but he did take in a sharp breath.

"I have to go." He said. I could hear the same strangled will power come out as his breath cascaded against my face.

"Okay." I croaked back. Percy's eyes scanned my face rapidly and his chest heaved in and out with each deep breath; it matched the eager but terrified rhythm of my own, and he was standing so close that we touched each time.

His head dipped a fraction of a centimeter closer, but still he didn't kiss me. Then he stood up straight and swallowed loudly, running a hand over his forehead.

"What?" I felt the sting of tears hit the back of my throat and my eyes. Why was he doing this? Getting so close but always holding himself back. If he wanted me the way I wanted him, why the fuck was he acting like this was so wrong? "What, Percy?" I repeated.

He held his breath briefly before clearing his throat again and answering, "It's, uh. . my parent's anniversary." He said very softly.

My body slumped with a mixture of relief, shame and sympathy. Percy was going through something terrible, and I was being selfish.

He nodded slowly and wouldn't meet my eyes, "My mom doesn't wanna be. . .ya know, alone."

I stepped forward and reached for his hand. It was trembling.

So was mine.

"Do you. . .want me to come with you?" I asked carefully. Percy looked up, locking eyes with me.

And I almost died inside when I saw the tears gathering in the corners.

He just stared at me for the longest time, fighting back the sadness. Percy was stronger than I could ever hope to be, but sometimes it's just too hard to force everything down.

His grip tightened on my hand as the tiny drops crept over his eyelid and began to slide down his cheeks.

Percy stomped his foot and bit down on his lip, frustrated by his falling tears. My mouth fell open as a silent sob escaped me and I reached up with my free hand to wipe them gently away.

He struggled with words for a bit, stopping my hand with his and holding it against his face, "Yeah." He answered finally. I nodded slowly, mesmerized as the tears seemed to stop instantly.

Percy sighed shakily and turned to step off the porch, still holding onto my hand with so much force that a fleeting worry of broken bones entered my mind, but I didn't say a word.

Because he needed me.