So here's the fifth Chapter, finishing up the blind date (but not the story. Don't worry about that, we still have a long, long, way to go yet).
Review replies:
Demigod12 - I'd be delighted to!
Snowflake Eliza Cahill Sparkle - He really is, isn't he?
Son of Tyche - Thank you.
QueenOfStars23 - Thanks. Yeah, I thought that was tied up rather nicely.
Swordy10835 - Yeah, I figured you'd say that.
As usual, serious thanks to everyone who follows, favorites, Reviews, loves, enjoys, or even simply reads this story. You guys are just the best.
On with the Chapter!
"I still can't believe you actually said that!" Annabeth laughed.
I loved the sound of her laughter. It was like the sweetest music. Her laugh was infectious, and I couldn't help but laugh as well. "Yeah, I'm kind of surprised I said it too. But in my defence, she did kind of deserve it..."
"I can imagine. The nerve of some people, talking in the middle of a history lecture"
It had turned out to be a beautiful evening once we left the restaurant, and, unwilling to end our date there, the two of us had decided to go for a walk through Central Park. After around twenty minutes, we'd made ourselves comfortable on the first park bench that we came across, and somehow my arm had slipped around her shoulder. She didn't seem to mind though, instead leaning slightly more into me and resting her head on my shoulder. Wow. She must feel really comfortable around me to be doing this already. I get the feeling it's not the kind of thing that she usually does on a first date... I thought idly, only dimly aware that my hand was stroking Annabeth's arm. "Percy?"
I turned my head to her, looking into her stormy-grey eyes. "Yes?"
"It's getting late. We should probably get going".
I sighed, reluctantly nodding. I honestly hadn't had this much fun on a first date for ages, and if I was entirely honest, I wasn't exactly sure that I was ready to end it just yet. She raised an eyebrow. "Something the matter?"
I shook my head. "No, Annabeth, it's nothing. It's just... I haven't had this much fun on a first date for a long time, and I'm not exactly sure that I want it to end just yet".
She smiled softly. "To tell the truth, I'm not sure I want tonight to end either. I haven't enjoyed myself this much on a date with anyone since... well, since before Luke..."
Her comment surprised me. "I'm sorry, did you just say Luke? As in Luke Castellan? He's your ex-boyfriend?"
She stared at me in shock. "Yeah, we broke up four days ago, after he cheated on me with my best friend. You know him?"
I nodded. "I suppose you could say that. He's dating Thalia, my cousin".
"Thalia Grace?"
"She hasn't used her last name since her mother died in a car crash and left her to take care of her younger brother, but yeah, that's her. How do you know her?"
Annabeth's fists clenched momentarily. "She's the best friend that Luke cheated on me with. She's the straw that broke the camel's back, the reason that Luke and I broke up four days ago"
I pulled her closer. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. Thalia told me what she was doing, and I tried to stop her, but she refused to listen to me" I said quietly.
She gave me a soft smile. "Honestly? It's not your fault. Like I said, it was the last straw. Luke and I had plenty of other reasons to break up, it was just a matter of what would ultimately cause us to do so" she replied.
As she spoke, she stood, stretching lazily. "I really do hate to admit it, but it's time to go home. I have work tomorrow, and I'm pretty sure that you do too"
I stood as well. "You're right, I do".
~Shortly afterwards~
"Well, I guess this is it"
"Yeah, I guess it is"
Annabeth got out of the cab onto the street outside her apartment building, and I followed her out. As I emerged onto the pavement, she smiled at me. "I had a great time tonight"
"Me too"
Before I knew what was happening, she was leaning in, pressing her lips against mine in a brief kiss, before pulling away. "Do you want to meet for coffee at around 1 pm tomorrow?" she whispered.
I smiled, nodding, though I was still a little stunned by the fact that she had kissed me. "That would be great, actually"
Annabeth's smile widened. "Great. I'll give you a call when I leave work, and we can arrange a meeting place"
"Alright, I look forward to it".
And with those words, she walked through the doors that led into the lobby of her apartment building and I stepped back into the cab, settling into the leather seats and giving the driver my address. The sooner that I got home, the better.
~Around half an hour later~
Grover looked up as I closed the apartment door behind me. "How'd the date go?"
I grinned, shrugging my jacket off and slinging it over the back of my chair. "Really well, actually. I have no idea how you and Juniper did it, Grover, but Annabeth is absolutely amazing. She's brilliant, she's gorgeous, and I can actually have fun with her".
"You seeing her again, then?" my roommate queried.
"We're meeting for coffee tomorrow afternoon. It's kind of late, so I'm going to have a quick shower and then head to bed. Night".
Grover nodded. "Yeah, okay. Night, man".
So just to recap - Percy and Annabeth's date went extremely well, Annabeth kissed Percy outside the door of her apartment building after Percy pretty much escorted her home, they made plans to meet again for coffee the next day, it was officially revealed that Luke and Thalia are dating (and that Thalia is Percy's cousin), and Jason was mentioned as well (as was the fact that Jason and Thalia's mother was killed in a car crash, but I didn't really want to go into detail about that).
Percy and Annabeth will be playing a game of 20 Questions in a future chapter to get to know each other a bit better, so if you have any questions you'd like them to answer (mostly likes/dislikes, biggest regrets, what they'd do with three wishes, that kind of thing), feel free to PM me with them and I'll see if I can fit them in somewhere.
Anyway, please enjoy the Chapter, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!
Edit: Updated to fix a couple of minor timeline issues (primarily Annabeth saying she and Luke broke up five days ago instead of four).