Chapter 17

At two in the morning, Annabeth woke up to the sound of thunder. Slipping out of bed, she went into the bathroom and splashed water onto her face.

Walking out, she realized that the lights were still on downstairs. She went downstairs and saw that Percy was awake, sitting on the couch with a can of beer in his hands.

"Hey,.. couldn't sleep either?" she asked, walking over to sit next to him.

"Nope." he said, smiling back at her, "beer?" he asked offering the drink to her.

"Sure." she said, taking the can from him.

"So, I'm going to ask you a very serious question…" he paused for a moment and gave her a frown, "Do you want to watch a horribly sappy movie and laugh at it with me?" he asked trying to keep his frown.

She started laughing, "You read my mind, Perce. I'll go get the popcorn."

Percy broke into a smile as they both got up from the couch. He went over and picked a random Nicholas Sparks movie from his luxuriantly stacked movie cabinet and put it in.

When he was situated again on the couch, he called to Annabeth.

"Hey, you need any help with the popcorn?"

"No, I got it."

Microwave beeping sounds could be heard from the kitchen.

"You sure?" he said, turning around and immediately thanking the gods that he did.

Annabeth was reaching up to the microwave to slip in the popcorn— but by doing so, her shirt rose up and Percy got an incredibly tempting view of her nice ass.

He turned around just as she brought a bowl of popcorn over.

Smiling, he reached in to the bowl and threw a popcorn into his mouth as if he hadn't just been ogling her enticing butt.

He rested his arm around her on the couch. She, in turn, leaned into him— he let out a sigh of content. She was in a very comfortable position with one leg up and the other down. He knew she would never have let anyone see her that comfortable— and it made him happy that she was like this with him.

Percy wondered if she was like this with Luke. If things were truly serious between them, he didn't know what he would do.

Halfway through the movie, Percy looked down and saw that Annabeth had fallen asleep, her face dangerously near his neck. A certain part of his neck started flaring up as if it remembered the mouth that had left its mark in that very spot. He didn't know if he could be able to resist her if he stayed next to her any longer… so Percy tried to gently lift her off his shoulder and lay her on the couch.

He was about to get up, when a soft hand touched his in a light grip. Percy looked down at her, sleeping. Her beautiful face was ever so peaceful as she slept. She was an angel—divine and flawless. Percy couldn't help himself and finally let himself embrace her, holding the hand which had touched his.

The sound of her soft breathes, the feel of her body close against his and the faint, but fragrant scent of her eventually lulled him to sleep—a sweet deep sleep he hadn't had in a while.

~o00o~

It was seven in the morning and Crystal was disgusted and seriously done with everything. She needed to access her bank account and Percy had the passkey for it. Apparently, dad had thought it would be wise that Percy had the stupid password, being the oh so responsible person that he was.

"Ugh." she groaned as she got out of the taxi and went up to Percy's apartment. It was early and the sun wasn't even rising, but she knew her always depressed brother would be up.

Punching in the passcode to his door, she walked into the apartment.

Crystal looked curiously around.

Where the hell is he? she thought to herself. And just as she was about to call for him, she saw two figures on the couch.

Un-fucking-believable, she thought, with wide eyes at the unmistakable scene in front of her.

There was Percy half lying half sitting against the arm rest of the couch with a certain blonde lying comfortably in his arms. She was wearing nothing but one of his shirts, which exposed her slender, tanned legs— Legs, which Crystal could only dream of having.

Ugh gross, why was she being jealous of the bitch she had hated her whole life?

… Oh, but, look at this— the fates really are in her favor.

Crystal smirked and lifted her phone, snapping a picture of them. She came for her bank account, but this was so much better.

Before they could wake up, Crystal snuck out of his apartment as quickly and silently as she could with the same lucky smirk planted on her face.

~o00o~

Annabeth woke up in someone's warm embrace. The beats of a steady heartbeat and the sound of deep sweet breathes almost lulled her back to sleep. She lifted her head to see a raven haired guy whose face looked calm and full of warmth.

She sat up so that she was sitting on his lap, taking a moment, watching him sleep. He was asincredibly gorgeous sleeping as he was awake.

The straight of his nose, the sexy jaw line covered in a neat layer of stubble— and that luscious raven hair, which made you just want to run your fingers through it. She had one sexy ass guy for a brother.

That reminded her… — the feelings that had come over her last night. They had made her confused then and they were very much as confusing now. Maybe she had just a little too much alcohol, she mused.

Finally she decided to wake him.

"Percy..Percy." she said, shaking his shoulder, "Wake up."

Percy's eyes fluttered open to see her sitting there on his lap.

"Hi" he said in a husky low voice.

"Hey… we must have fallen asleep during the movie."

"Yeah." he said rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hand, "Do you have any other meetings today?"

"No… why?"

"I thought maybe… if you wanted to… uh— we could go on a cruise."

She looked at him with raise brows, "A cruise."

He nodded, "A cruise" he said bringing his arm back to scratch the back of his head in a nervous gesture.

Annabeth broke into a smile, "Well, don't we need tickets for that?"

"Um..I have a boat." he said chuckling softly.

She smiled again, "Right, I forgot how rich you were."

He stared at her, "You're rich too, Annie." he said.

"What? What are you talking about?" she said with confusion.

"Dad was supposed to tell you…Did he not?"

"About what?"

"...Your own trust fund and inheritance of half the stocks and property of the company."

"A trust fund?…and the company?" she said looking at him incredulously.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but he trusts you, Annie, and frankly you would make a whole lot more use of it than Crystal."

"No. Dad shouldn't do that. That inheritance is Crystal's, not mine."

"You're as much his daughter as she is. He gets to choose who is more liable for the inheritance and that's you. It's how business works, Annie. It's fine."

She let out a sigh, "Does Crystal know?"

"No. She doesn't, yet."

"Gods," Annabeth buried her head in her hands, "She's going to hate me for life, now."

"Don't worry about Crystal. She wouldn't know what to do with all that responsibility."

After a moment's silence, he spoke up, "Anyways, so..you still up for the cruise."

She sighed then smiled, "Alright, let's invite some friends."

"Sure thing, Miss."

She smiled at him, making his heart flutter in his chest. Annabeth got up to go make coffee for herself— completely oblivious to the effect she had on him.

If he got heart problems when he got older, he was going to blame her, he thought to himself.

As he was about into the kitchen after Annabeth, something about the front door caught his eye.

It was unlocked. That's weird, he never left the door unlocked...

~o00o~

Piper was sitting next to Jason in the indoor swimming pool of the yacht that Percy had invited them on. They were both listening to Thalia and Nico argue really furiously about irrelevant things then suddenly get really awkward with each other. It was really hard to look at. Piper seriously wanted to just stick them in a room together and make them realize they liked each other. She needed a prank buddy. Knowing Annabeth would be perfect for the job, she then realized Annabeth wasn't with them. Percy wasn't there as well, but he was piloting the damn yacht.

Finally seeing Annabeth outside, she kissed Jason on the cheek and left the bicker pool. Piper went up to Annabeth who was standing near the front of the boat with a glass of wine in her hands.

"Hey, Annabeth. What are you doing here alone?"

She turned and smiled at Piper, "Oh hey. I'm just… enjoying the view."

Piper smiled back at her and went to stand next to her. Annabeth was wearing a large baggy grey shirt which she had folded at the sleeves and some jean shorts. The strings of her bikini could be seen tied around her neck. Her golden hair was pulled up in a high stylish ponytail.

As a daughter of a famous fashion designer and makeup specialist, Piper had always been impressed by Annabeth's natural beauty and the effortless way she could attract people. Mind you, Piper rarely thought that about anyone.

"Missing Luke?" Piper asked.

Annabeth looked at her and pursed her lips, "Yeah.. I guess you could say that."

"You guess? Annabeth, honey. You say it like that and it sounds like you mean the exact opposite."

She let out a sigh, "I don't know anymore, Pipes" she laid her forehead on the railing, "My life is so complicated."

Piper laughed at her friend's dramatics.

"It's fine, Annabeth. Just do what I do when Jason is being a dousche sometimes."

"And what is that?" Annabeth asked sipping her drink.

Piper shrugged, "I get him in bed."

Annabeth choked on her drink, "Thanks for the great advice, Piper." she said sarcastically.

Piper laughed, "Fine, what I really do— is I just sit down with him and talk."

"Talk?"

"Yeah. It works wonders, actually. It's like I can charm him with my speaking or something. He listens and then simply agrees with me." she nodded, "Yeah, I'm that good."

Annabeth laughed softly, "Thanks. I guess I'll try that then."

"Glad, I could help." Piper said, smiling, "… Anyways, I was going to ask…"

"Yeah?" Annabeth said turning to her.

"Do you want to help me play a prank on Thalia and Nico? They're driving me crazy with all the awkward talking and arguing."

Annabeth laughed, "Gods yes."

They both laughed as they walked back inside the yacht.

~o00o~

It was in the night and everybody had retired to their bedrooms, exhausted from all the partying. Everybody except Annabeth. She couldn't sleep, as usual. Too many things were crowding her head. And to be honest, the most she had slept was when she had stayed over at Percy's.

Percy— He had been busy steering the whole day.

She decided she should go check up on him.

Annabeth went up the stairs, past the living quarters and to the main control room. She knocked before walking in. The control room wasn't huge, but it had enough space for five people to help pilot the ship. All these buttons and controls were on the panel.

And there was Percy sleeping with his head laid on the stirring wheel.

She smiled at the scene and went over to him.

"Percy?… Percy, come on. Let's go get you to your room." she said, trying to get his arm over her shoulder.

His breathe was lazy on her neck.

Oh gods, he was heavy. He was leaning his whole weight on her.

Soon, she somehow got him walking and into his room, which was gratefully unlocked. She let him fall onto his bed, letting out a sigh.

Blowing a strand of hair out of her face, she said "You better thank me for that in the morning."

As she was about to leave, his hand suddenly caught hers and pulled her onto the bed with him.

~o00o~

Percy had been acting asleep and it had taken all his will to try to not laugh as she struggled to help him to his room.

"You better thank me for that in the morning." she grumbled quietly, making him bite his lip to try and not laugh.

As she was about to leave, he caught her arm and pulled her on the bed with him just like she had done to him last night when she stayed at his place.

"Oh, my gods." she said as she crashed onto the bed.

Percy rolled over to her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. He placed his lips to touch her neck, getting a gasp out of her.

Still in his feigned sleep, his steady breathes fanning her neck made her shiver. She had stopped struggling to get out of his grasp soon enough and he was reveling in every moment having her in his arms. It was exhilarating and unbelievably calming at the same time.

She had placed her hands on his chest, trying to keep enough distance between them, but she slowly lowered them down, letting him bring their bodies ever so closely together. Her breathing was close and sweet against his forehead.

He so wanted to touch his lips to hers. It was aching inside of him and he wanted it badly.

Percy slowly opened his eyes and looked up at her. Her grey eyes looked back with an intensity which vibrated through his very core being.

"You're awake?" she said in a hushed confused whisper.

"Annabeth." he simply said back, reaching up to cradle her face with his hand.

She was breathing fast as he leaned closer to her face. For a moment he thought that she was leaning closer as well, that is... until she pulled away and moved away from him.

The look in his eyes was pained and it hurt Annabeth to have done that so suddenly, but she had to clear her thoughts without him so close to her.

The same aching feeling from last night dragged at her stomach.

"Oh gods, what am I doing?" she said more to herself than to him, standing up off the bed.

Percy moved towards her, standing up from the bed as well, "Annabeth.."

She turned to him, her breathes still loud and quick. Her hand was holding her forehead, as if she was getting a headache.

"Annabeth." he took her hand, ".. Annie."

She let out a sigh and dropped her hand from her face, looking him straight on. His eyes looked so sweet and loving towards her.

"I.. — I'm going to bed." she said quick and breathless, before stepping away from him

and leaving his room…

leaving him standing there with his mind going haywire from what had just happened.

Author's Note:

Review, favorite and follow.

You guys are the best.

I know I'm killing everyone with the almost Percabeth. But don't worry, it'll happen soon enough. I've got everthing under control- sort of.