Word Count: 1,441

All that I am

all that I ever was,

is here in your perfect eyes,

they're all I can see.

So, I admit that I was extremely anxious to go to this cotillion with Annabeth. As much as we'd practiced the one dance that we were expected to perform, I just had this aching feeling that I'm going to mess up. The only time I've ever danced in front of anybody was at my third grade talent show. That was a day that would haunt me forever. Annabeth however probably had eight years' worth of ballet and tap dance. She was so natural when she was on her feet, like a professional salsa dancer in disguise. As weird and creepy as it sounds, I won't deny the fact that that has popped up in my head once or twice while we practiced.

That afternoon after school, I searched for tuxes and suits in my closet. The last time I did wear something of the sort was at the eighth grade spring fling. My date was Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and I regretted the moment I brought my hopes up because I was let down big time that night. Besides the fact that I was going crazy, I occasionally took deep breaths to return to what I was originally doing. I eventually fell upon a clean, black and white tuxedo. I didn't understand the difference between a suit and a tuxedo until I saw what was before my eyes. Tuxedos had bows. What sane male would wear this? Bows are for girls! It was then that I realized that I would be forced to wear such a contraption to participate in the cotillion. As much as I wanted to burn the bow and pour the ashes into the Hudson River, I was aware of the predicament of me not owning a single tie.

It was torture. Immensely difficult. Exceptionally melancholy. There was only one reason why I even considered to put on such a thing, and it was Annabeth. I practiced with her for multiple hours and accepted her request of attending the cotillion with her, so bailing on her the day of the event is just selfish and shallow. Besides, I did a pretty good job leading. It's not like she could dance alone and lead herself. I pondered on the thought of at least trying to fix my hair up in some way or another. In the end, I ran both my hands through it and called it a day. Soon enough, my phone was ringing.

"Hey Percy. You're still picking me up at 6:30, right?"

"Yeah, I'm going to be heading out the door soon. I just have to find some dress shoes to go with this stupid, stupid tux."

"What's wrong with your tux?" she questioned chuckling to herself.

"It has a bow. Bows are for girls, and the last time I checked, I had male parts and-

"Is it really necessary for me to hear all of this?" she sounded like she was a tad bit disturbed by my speech.

"I'm just stating facts. I don't own a single tie."

"I'm pretty sure most of the guys are going to be wearing tuxedos anyway. It's not like you'll be standing out or anything." she stated nonchalantly.

"Great, so I'll be in a room filled with appropriately dressed girls and bow wearing dudes." I huffed.

"Just make sure to get here on time, my step-mom is going to kill me if I'm late."

"Sure thing, Wise Girl. I'll be there soon," I snickered with a shy smirk on my face. I hung up the phone and exhaled. There was definitely an amusing evening ahead.

I think that I tripped walking through the door. The place was absolutely astonishing and beautiful. It was like what every girl's dream prom would be, but fancier, and it definitely suited the occasion. Annabeth on the other hand looked stunning from head to toe. The top half of her dress sparkled like a blue ocean and the bottom half shimmered in the white lights that occasionally reflected off of her.

"They went all out with this year's theme, huh?" Annabeth exclaimed. I couldn't stop myself from staring at her. It was certainly long than normally accepted, but she was killing me. She was internally killing me, thrashing and tearing apart my insides with the way she looked, and it confused the hell out of me. And apparently it confused her, too.

"You still there, dude?"

"Oh, what? Yes, um yeah. Of course, sorry I sidetracked a few seconds." Or minutes. She chuckled with a light-hearted smile and her adorable, stormy, and fierce grey eyes almost had me mesmerized. A bunch of tornado whirlwinds were filling my head, and there was a disaster in my mind leaving me with no choice but to not think straight. Then it was time to dance and my palms were all sweaty in the non-attractive oaf kind of way.

It was embarrassing, really. She couldn't stop laughing at me, and I couldn't decide on whether I liked it or was offended. Although, it didn't seem as if she cared much either way, she'd still be laughing in my face. I was a total mess. Dancing alone with her was like flying on a cloud with Italian music, and in front of a bunch of rich looking perfectionists, I was the skater dude from across the street. Fortunately, my level of serenity seemed to improve and I was as graceful as a papa bear who just ate diner. It was as good as it was going to get.

"I just want to say thanks…again. I mean, it seriously means a lot for you to cancel whatever plans you may or may not have had to dance with me at some fancy cotillion." I could do this every day with you if I had the choice, I wanted to say. I'm finally really happy about something and that hasn't happened in a while. I settled for something else.

"It's honestly no problem. I had nothing better to do. Anything to support a friend, right?" Good job queuing the awkward tension. I saw a flash of something, dear Lord there was something in her eyes that gave off a not-so-positive vibe, but it passed as quickly as it came. She looked down at her brick red shoes and peeled her gaze to meet my eyes. It was suddenly like we were in the gym all over again.

We could dance to anything, and I could dance without glancing at my feet every 3 seconds. I wasn't aware of what was going on below Annabeth's face but it was working, and I was most definitely enjoying my view. She started to grow a little smirk across her lips, and her eyes looked devious like a black cat. Somehow I still found it endearing, and her hands were mocking me. The presence of her fingers lingering on my shoulders made me want to shiver with anticipation. Everything came into play but my mind stayed pushed back to the far corner like a reject. Everything I did in that moment came from my heart and body, and frankly, it couldn't be controlled. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and—

"Oh my goodness, Percy! We need to get home! I have this physics test I have to study for and I can't afford to get a bad grade!" she started shaking and moving around frantically like she was having an episode of PTSD. It was kind of scary.

"It's okay, chill out. I'll take you home right now." I couldn't help but laugh at it. It was adorable.

"Ok, right now, let's go. Right now, Percy. Percy!" and I laughed and laughed until I choked. And then I just kept laughing.

"Percy, come on. I'm serious!"

"OK...ok. Let's go." I withheld the laughter until it subsided as we walked to the car.

I walked to my room and sat on my bed thinking. Just thinking. It was a night to remember. It was with Annabeth. I couldn't help but feel something like butterflies inside my chest. It was more than that. My insides would tingle and burn simultaneously and my heart started beating a hundred times faster than it was used to. All I knew was that I never felt that way about a girl before. Heck, I didn't even know it was possible to feel that way about a girl before. I was pulsing with dry admiration. I was like a river that needed water. Annabeth was my water. My phone buzzed with a text tone.

Thanks 4 tonight. Ur way more fun than studying for a physics test by the way…;)

More water.

Thanks for reading! It's clearly been waaayyy too long and I seriously hope you guys can forgive me for not posting for so long, but it's been really hard. I rarely ever have time to write because my social studies teacher must believe that is the only class we have and that we have NO LIFE! *clears throat* Anyway, hope you peeps enjoyed the chapter and look forward to chapter 5 for some spiciness...Also, if you have any suggestions to what you want to see and what I should write about, I'm open to anything you all have to share. Wow, long author's note. Anyway, byeeeee!