A/N: I own nothing
Stage 2-Our First Date (Tuesday)
Annabeth Chase POV
I fume silently at myself for finding a way into this mess. Its late afternoon and I sit in another chair at another vanity table, staring at myself though the mirror as Piper hums to herself and pulls a brush though my hair. It's not like I never brush, but Piper always manages to make me feel like I didn't spend enough time in front of a mirror this morning.
The table stands out sharply from under the leaning willow tree, looking like something you find at the set of a movie. How Piper managed to get flat iron working is beyond me.
We're at some godforsaken park that I had no idea existed prior fifteen minutes ago, as much as I hate to admit, its rather pretty here. Soft and gentle with old graceful trees and swaying overgrown grass, farther left sits a rather modern playground. I itch for my sketchbook and pencils, wanting only to draw.
I'm wearing another one of Piper's genius inventions, a washed out jean vest over a lacy tank top (lace seems to be her thing) and light blue cut-offs, the whole thing belted at my waist. A pair of floral peep toe wedges adorn my feet and the only jewelry I wear are simple gold stud earring in the shape of owls
A sharp pain explodes in my scalp as Piper wrestles with a nasty knot.
"Ow." I say without any enthusiasm and I can see Piper frown at me in the mirror. I spot Thalia advancing towards us carrying her equipment and trudging though the grass with a determined look on her face. Following closely behind her is Percy. Dammit.
"Annabeth, I know you're not one for love stories-" Piper begins then seems carefully put together the rest of her thoughts, "But we showed some sample picture of our first shoot to some of my Dad's marketing company people and they loved it. I think that this could be really good for all of us."
"Yeah?" I ask dubiously, "They liked me and Percy cuddling over a table?"
"Yes." Piper says busying herself with twisting open a tube of waterproof mascara.
"What sick human beings they must be." I muse. To my surprise Piper giggles. Before I can say anything to her Thalia stomps up to us waving around her arms in annoyance.
"No, Percy, we can't!" she snaps and I reflexively try and look up. But Piper, who has capture my face and started to draw the mascara wand though my lashes, jerks it back in to position.
"Can't do what?" Piper asks for me. She turns to do the other eye.
"Percy wants to do this scene in a restaurant," Thalia says scowling with a frustrated look on her face. Piper gasps for some unknown reason and they start arguing, teaming up against Percy. I shut my eyes obediently when Piper brandishes the eye shadow and their voices fade off into the distance.
"Annabeth?" I hear Thalia ask and I jerk awake quickly. They're all staring at me and I wince sheepishly.
"Sorry," I say, "I was up all night writing a speech on the fine works of Claude Monet." I resist the urge to rub my eyes. Percy looks amused and his lips quirk up as if to say aw, isn't she adorable when she sleeps? I straighten up slightly, willing Piper to hurry up. She does no such thing, taking another twenty minutes on my face while I force my eyes to stay open.
"All done!" Piper chirps finally and I sit up in my chair, startled. Glance at the mirror. Piper's gone for a more subtle look, using pale pink eye shadow and lipstick; my hair sits flat and drapes over my shoulder like a compliant curtain.
"Thanks," I say sleepily and jump up off my chair, swaying slightly. While I was sleeping Percy's taken off his jacket and under it he wears a short sleeved orange t-shirt and has shrugged on a thin black hoodie with two angel wings popping out of either sides. As if he notices me staring he offers me a grin. I look down annoyed at myself.
"Watch out everyone, she's going fall," Percy says. My eyes snap up at him and I glare, then stalk over to the picnic blanked spread out neatly next to the vanity tables, sit down, lean against the tree and pull out my sketch book.
Percy chuckles mysteriously. Geez, I think Piper's about to have heart attack.
"Alright," Thalia interrupts our glaring contest. Well I'm doing the glaring and Percy's smirking at me, his eyes glinting under his lashes. "You know the drill. Percy jump out from behind the tree with the picnic basket and try to scare her. Annabeth, act amused. Don't actually get scared." I roll my eyes at her and Thalia laughs then continues," Then try to be as natural as possible. Remember this is a first date; everything has to be light and happy. Oh, and I know your vegetarian Annabeth, so there's no meat in the food."
"Thanks," I say, surprise she remembered. She nods at me with a little smile.
"Ready?" Piper asks and moves to stand beside Thalia.
"Sure." I say then settle against the tree trunk more comfortably, my legs crossed underneath me. I pull my caramel colored messenger back into my lap and stared at my phone screen, texting my friend Katie.
The camera's shutters whirl and Thalia begins taking pictures.
"Surprise." Percy says in a low voice as he skates the side of the tree and comes to sit down in front of me. He places the picnic basket in front of me. I smile at him and hope that my eyes light up, like they should.
"Hey, nice wings." I say locking my iPhone and sliding it into my bag. My sketchbook lies open next to me, along with a thin tin box of color pencils and my favorite set of drawing pencils. I scope it up along with a sharpened pencil.
"Thanks," he says with a grin and twists so I can get a better look. The scene is embedded in my mind and without really noticing it my pencil flies over the paper and when I look down I see Percy, tilting his back towards me so I can get a better look.
I smile at him then show him my sketch. Thalia snaps a couple more pictures. Percy's eyes widen.
"Wow, you're really good. That took you, what, half a minute?" He says looking impressed and I can't tell if it for show or he really finds my quick sketching good.
"Thank you," I say then flip to another page. "So, what are we eating?"
The next hour is full of Percy and me eating sandwiches under the shade of the tree and me sketching out our landscape. At one point Percy moves to lean next to me on the tree and I find myself actually enjoying his company. He's funny and sweet when he's not being a stuck up idiot, which is 95% of the time. And he's rather attractive.
With the trash all packed away and the sun lessening its grip on us, I lean into my sketchbook and draw on last picture. An image of Percy sitting in front of me with his knees drawn up, his can of Coke balanced next to him, his hands splayed out on the grass behind him. He's laughing at something I've said. I can't remember if I was insulting him or it was something truly funny.
The real Percy beside me, leans into the sketchbook too and grins when he sees the picture. I tuck my hair behind my ear and turn to look at him. I'm suddenly aware of how close we're sitting; we're both leaning to see my sketch. Percy notices the proximity and gives me a naughty smile; he's looking at me though his lashes, his eyes glittering dangerously. I freeze as he leans in closer, to me not the sketchbook spread between us. The camera's shutter click open and closer in rapid session, the noise wakes me up and I jerk away, my heart pounding,
"Geez, Percy!" I snap, heat rising to my cheeks. I look up at Thalia and Piper, who look amused and almost satisfied.
His low laughter sets my cheeks on fire.
"Can we wrap this up soon?" I ask angrily rubbing my cheeks.
"Get up," Thalia says stifling a smile, "And say you're goodbyes, then Percy? You walk away." I sigh; I can't tell if it's either from relief or disappointment. Percy lets out an annoyed noise and climbs to his feet. He stretches then holds out a hand. I begin to scramble to my feet. Piper lets out a purposeful cough. I roll my eyes then take Percys hand.
I stretch out and give him a careful smile.
"I gotta go," he murmurs to me.
"Yay," I say though my smile. A gorgeous grin spread on his face and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
"Thanks for the date," he says softly then, before I know what's happening, brushes his lips on my cheeks. I turn a furious shade of pink then open my mouth to yell at him.
"Stay like that!" Thalia calls, "No wait-Percy, lean closer!" He inches towards me a smirk on his face. I hold my breath, pulse pounding, while Thalia takes enough pictures to wallpaper my apartment in.
"Done!" She says giving me a self-satisfied smile. I jerk away and Percy gives me a wicked smile. I glare at him, willing the color on my cheeks to go down, then stalk over to the vanity table and sit down in the chair.
"Aw," I hear Percy say, "She's cute when she blushes."
My cheeks flare up again and Percy laughs. I narrow my eyes at him and he winks.
The nerve.
A/N: Thanks for reading:)
~LivGirl16