Chapter Nineteen

Jason got a dog. Well, was in the process of adopting one. The cutest little golden retriever Puppy foetus had looked at Jason and bam he was in the office signing papers. He would be able to take him home next week after signing the papers. Thank god he was 18, or else they never would have let him have one.

We still had a couple of hours left before we both needed to be home, so it was back to Christmas shopping for everyone. Mum and dad were easy, books and chocolate and all the generic stuff that I would be able to get closer to the time. Piper would be getting these cute feather earrings, Thalia would be getting a clothes voucher – because she would never trust me to pick out anything for her – and I would be getting Jason's online. Something to do with Superman I think, since he loved the franchise so much.

Now for Percy. Seriously if I didn't get anything within the next two weeks I would be asking him what he wanted fro Christmas. Why did have to be just so damn hard.

At least I was able to spend some good quality time with Jason, beating him a time or two at Horse in the sports store. The one time he actually won I shouted "DUCK AND COVER" just in case he started to dance. He didn't find it funny, choosing instead to chuck basketball after basketball at me. Which then turned into a pretty epic game of dodgeball. The only reason we stopped was because the store manager actually approached us and asked us to leave.

One we got kicked out, we made our way to the jewellery store so he could buy one of Piper's presents. This year he wanted to get her something shiny, but also something Personal. Thank god he had the card to keep up with the prices because the place we went to was expensive.

"What do you think she would like?" he asked, staring clueless at the display cages. "I don't know, she's your girlfriend"

"But she's one of your best friends. Do you think it's too early to give her a ring?"

"You're thinking of marriage?" that was a shock. I knew they were close and even though they had even considered that far in the future "I am, I'm not sure she is though. We haven't even talked about it yet"

"Well then I suggest you do before you go off buying any rings" I smiled, checking out the bracelets in another section. Everything sparkled here, exuding wealth and charm from behind the glass counter tops "Well what should I get here then?" he asked me, joining me by the bracelets "Well I'm getting her some earrings that don't look half as fabulous as any of these ones do, so why not a necklace?"

"She's not really a necklace kind of girl" he said, surveying the choices. "Well then, why not a charm bracelet? That way each year you could keep buying charms for her. Kind of like an on going present"

"I love it" he smiled, taking me over to the selection so we could have a look.

Percy opened the door almost immediately after I rang his doorbell, making me smile. Tonight was going to be a fun relaxed kind of night. Pop in a movie, maybe we could have that talk if we get round to it.

Okay, I know we needed to talk about it, but I wasn't in a rush. I mean, right time, right place and all that. "Hey" I smiled, stepping into Percy's house and giving him a light kiss. I still loved kissing him "Hey" he said, sounding a little down

"What's wrong?" I asked, taking his hand and leading him towards the living room so we could sit on the sofa. "It's nothing" he sighed, sitting down next to me, swinging my legs so they lay over his lap, my head resting on his shoulder. I loved this position because this way I got to be so close to him, feeling his heart beat under his top. "It's not nothing. Come on Percy talk to me"

"You would never cheat on me would you?" yeah, think I just found a conversation that was even more unpleasant then the sex one "Why are you asking me that?"

"I got sent an email"

"Okay?" I was worries about where this was going. Would I ever cheat on him? I thought the answer was obvious. "With Pictures" What pictures? The only guy I've ever hung around with is Jason and he's Jason. Hardly anyone I'm attracted to. Yeah, we're close but we have never thought of each other in that way. Well I haven't thought about him, and he had Piper. No way he was ever going to cheat on her

"That made you think I'm cheating on you? With who?"

"Jason"

"Okay, so you actually think I would not only hurt one of my best friends and the guy I love, which is you in case you didn't know, by doing things with a guy I consider a brother?"

"I'm just asking a question. Would you ever cheat on me?" now I was getting angry. I untangled myself from him as best as I could, getting up so I could walk around a bit "You're kidding me right?"

"Are you going to answer the question?" and apparently so was he. Of all the things I thought our first fight would be about, I never thought it would be this. And where did the pictures come from?

"No" one strong word. I needed him to believe me, I needed to believe he could trust me, because I wasn't prepared to choose between friendship and the guy that I love. "No what?"

"No I would never cheat on you Percy" I said, making my way to the door. The room felt too hot, I needed fresh air, to just get out of the room before I exploded. I'm not usually one to get angry and start shouting and throwing punches, but I'm sure in the right situation that could be bought out in me.

"Where are you going?" he asked, following me out of the living room "I'm going home"

"Why?"

"Why? Because my boyfriend doesn't trust me" and that hurt me more then I could ever say. "Annabeth" he called, his voice strained as he grabbed a hold of my arm to try and stop me from leaving.

"No, if you trust me then you wouldn't even be asking me these questions, not even with pictures. I've told you what Jason means to me before, and to think that I'm even capable of hurting anyone I care about like that...I need to leave"

"Annabeth please"

"Percy, just let me go" I asked, my voice lowering as I stared at where he was holding me. Slowly his hand loosened, letting my ar fall to the side. And just like that, I was out of there, making my way back to my own house where my mum was having a girls night with a couple of friends whilst dad was in his office working on his latest book. Home.