Disclaimer: Why should I say anything?

*shot*

A/N: From 57 to 80 reviews? Yes, guys! You're one loyal band of followers. Maybe I should change my name to Robin Hood.

So Rachel's been dumped on her ass. I saw one review by megagamer321 that said they kind of smidgenly felt bad for her. Me too. =[

Then again, she deserved it. Just gonna say; I've noticed that a LOT of people hate Rachel. PJATO has quite the fanbase here.

So guys! Read and review book-freak20's story "Perfection". For me, okay? Or else no more chapters.

R&R!

SLTF =]

..:..:..

I literally dragged myself around for the rest of the day. Do you know when you were having a good day (not that I'm having a good day in the first place) and then one small thing (like an exchanging of phone numbers) completely makes you a huge bum for the rest of your life? That's exactly how I feel RIGHT. NOW.

When the final bell rang, I couldn't wait to go home and sleep. I started dreaming about not getting up for forty hours straight. Then I remembered.

That.

Stupid.

Party.

Ugh. Luke is a total freak. Great. I sighed as I threw my things into my locker. Whatever. It's not that big of a deal. Parties are fun, right?

Right... Maybe I'll just get wasted and drown my thoughts with booze.

I said my goodbyes to Nico and Bianca. As I was walking out the front door, I saw Annabeth's blonde head bobbing in the direction I was going to go. I bolted down the steps, my heart pounding. I caught up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. She turned quickly and put a hand on her heart.

"Holy SHIT, Percy!" she swore. "Don't ever scare me like that again!"

"Sorry!" I put both hands up in surrender. "I didn't mean to."

"It's okay... you just surprised me." She said, letting her arm drop.

"Boo." I smiled.

She laughed and I did too.

"So what are you doing?" I asked nonchalantly, walking beside her. She gave me an odd look.

"Going home?" she giggled.

"Right. That could be one thing to do after school." What the hell am I saying? And I completely phrased that in the wrong way. She's going to think I'm going to ask her out on a date. I mean, I want to, but seriously? It would be so wrong to do it after what happened earlier. FML FML FML.

"What are some other things?" she played along while keeping eye contact with me.

"Well, psh, you know..." I trailed off and scuffed my shoe on the ground.

"No, I don't know. I'm new, remember? Care to elaborate?" she smirked.

Holy frig. What should I do? "Well, there's like, parks, some café's around here..." I glanced at her. "You're a girl, so you must like Starbucks, right?"

"That's a pretty sexist statement right there, buddy," she punched my lightly in my good arm. "Watch out. The Women's Rights Movement might hunt you down."

"Sorry, sorry."

"But yeah, I do. What can I say? Do you know any Starbucks that are nearby?"

"There's actually one near my house – " my words caught in my throat and my face flushed. I made myself continue. "If you ever want to go, we could meet up or something."

Her grey eyes searched mine for a second before a smile broke out on her face. "That would be great. I'd love to do that."

HO-LY SHIT. She agreed to do that. Is it a date? Or just hanging out? Why am I such a retard around her?

"We could go tomorrow before Luke's party, if you're free then - " I hesitantly said.

"Yeah. Let's do it." Her smile grew wider. "Where do you live?"

"Not even five minutes from here." I pointed down the street. "I'm number 344."

"If you live so close, why don't you go there for lunch?"

"I did before, but I just go lazy, I guess." I stuck out my tongue.

"You're a sloth."

"Am I really that hairy?" I made a point to check my arms, as if looking for huge amounts of hair. She started laughing. Then I heard a cell phone ringing. She pulled it out of her shorts pocket and motioned for me to hold on a second.

"Hello? No, I'm talking with a friend." She flushed as the person on the other line said something. "Yes, Dad, but I don't see how that's any of your business. I'll be around in a minute. Just wait! I'll be there in a sec. Okay. Bye." She ended the call and pursed her lips. "Sorry, that was my dad. He's waiting for me, so –" she jerked her thumb over her shoulders at a line of cars.

"No problem. I'll let you go." I said. "So what time do you want to meet up?"

She smiled. "How about five thirty?"

"Sounds good. In case you get lost, you're going to have to give me your cell phone number. You're new, remember?" I joked smoothly. Wow. That went well.

"You're right. I'll probably get lost." She laughed and we exchanged numbers. "Cool phone." She commented.

I smiled. "Thanks. Right back at cha." Hers was white with a slide up keyboard. The LG rumor, I think it was.

"Meh. Anyway, Percy, I'll see you tomorrow."

"It's a date." I smiled at her. She gave me a wave and a big smile before walking towards the line of cars.

I started my walk down the street, watching each car go by. I looked in the window of every one until I saw Annabeth in the passenger seat. She waved and I waved back. I spent the rest of my walk beaming.

..:..:..

"Crap! What the hell am I supposed to wear?" I shouted angrily at myself. I kicked a pile of clothes that accumulated in the middle of my room into a corner. My mom hasn't finished the laundry yet and I need something NOW. It's five and Annabeth is coming to meet me here before we go to Starbucks. I grabbed a white t-shirt and threw it over my head, cursing my chunky cast.

This is too plain. Where is Mom? I thought. I jogged down the stairs and saw her lounging on the couch, reading a book.

"Mom! Laundry! Clean clothes!" I yelled.

"Done. Basket. Laundry room. Don't yell at your mother." She replied monotonously.

"Sorry." I said sheepishly before running into the laundry room. There was a large basket filled to the brim with neatly folded clothes. I grabbed a plaid blue white and black from the top and threw it over my shirt. Hey. I could be a fashionista. Not.

"How does this look?" I asked, turning for my mom to see. She scrutinized me.

"Good, for once."

"Ouch, Mom. What's with the hating of the son here?" I complained.

"I don't like it that you're going on a date with a girl the day after you broke up with Rachel."

"Okay. Thanks for telling me how you feel. I'll see you later, okay? Don't wait up."

"What do you mean, don't wait up?" she sat up on the couch and gave me an odd look.

"Uh – " Shit. I didn't say anything about the party? "It's Luke's party tonight. I'm sleeping over."

"Okaay..." she rose an eyebrow. "Let me know earlier than now for next time."

"Got it. Sorry. Going now. Later, Mom!" I called. I ran back up to my room. I grabbed thirty bucks and shoved it in my back pocket. I slid my cell phone into my pocket after checking for any new texts and made my way back downstairs.

"Bye!" I called.

"Bye."

"A little less enthusiasm, please." I smiled as I closed the door behind me.

I waited outside, constantly checking my phone. I got a text from Annabeth (which made my heart jump a mile) that she was almost at my house. A few minutes later, she appeared around the corner. I anxiously shoved my hands into my pockets. Holy shit, I'm nervous.

She was wearing a black A-line stretchy skirt that came just above her knees and a teal tank top with a black necklace resting on her collarbone. Her hair fell in gentle waves over her shoulder. When she saw me, a smile broke out onto her face, along with mine.

Once she got closer, I walked to meet her.

"Hey," I said, heart pumping.

"Hey. Look at you." She looked me up and down and laughed. "You clean up nice."

"You don't look so bad yourself."

"Is that a compliment?" she teased.

"Indeed it was. You wanna go?" I jerked a thumb down the street.

"Sure." The smile never dimmed from her face. We chatted about minor things as we walked towards the busy road.

"Excited for the party?" she asked, her eyes trained on my face.

"I guess. I just kind of wanted to sleep all day today, but I had promised Luke that I'd go." I glanced at her. She cleared her throat and looked down.

"You didn't have to come with me today, if you wanted to sleep." She said quietly.

"No no no no!" I backtracked quickly. "That's not what I meant. I meant that at the end of the day as I was putting my things in my locker, I just wanted to go home." I took a deep breath. "But I want to be here right now. I do."

"Are you sure?"

"Completely." I held her eyes to let her know that I was serious. She nodded a bit and fiddled with her fingernails. I saw a light blush creep onto her cheeks and I smiled.

"Are you excited for the party?" I tilted my head.

"Yeah, kind of." She smiled again. "I've been to a few, but none here, obviously. I haven't been here a week."

"That's very true." We reached the main road. I pointed for her to take a left. We walked for a little longer before the classic Starbucks building rose in front of us. I held the door open for her and as she walked in, I unconsciously put my hand lightly onto the small of her back to guide her forward. The moment I realized I did this, I took my hand away. I felt my face burn in embarrassment. She looked over her shoulder and gave me a smile. I gave her a quick one back before mentally punching myself in the face.

We walked to the counter and Annabeth order a double chocolately chip frappuccino and started to pulled out a $20 bill. I pushed her hand away and got a passion fruit iced tea lemonade and put my money on the counter.

"I'll pay for mine – " she started to protest and I shook my head.

"It's good." I said. "Thank you," I told the lady. She smiled and nodded.

Annabeth stomped her foot defiantly and clenched her fists.

"I brought money for myself. You didn't have to pay!"

"Annabeth," I pushed her towards the small counter where they would serve our drinks. "I know that you brought money for yourself. But I want to pay. It's manners." I smiled.

She pursed her lips then relaxed. "Thank you, Percy."

"Anytime." I replied with another smile. We were given our drinks and we found a small table with an umbrella and two chairs outside. We talked a little longer and finished our drinks. I tossed my empty cup into the trash, as did Annabeth.

"You got a girly drink, you know." Annabeth giggled as we walked slowly down my street again. We were going to walk to Luke's house since it was also nearby.

"Hey!" I said defensively. "That shit is good!"

"I know it is. But it's girly." She smirked. "I want to do your make-up sometime. You'd look fabulous as a girl." She leaned forward and brushed my bangs to the side.

I don't know what made me do it.

It just happened, and it was a sudden decision that I'm sure I could have thought through before I acted.

I stopped, took her chin in my good hand and met her halfway. I pressed my lips to hers, closing my eyes. She didn't pull away, which was a good sign. I felt her let out a breath and I tangled my hand into her hair. Her fingers tenderly grazed my cheeks and I kissed her more firmly. After a second, she responded with as much enthusiasm. She grasped the back of my head and pulled me to her. She molded her body to mine and let out a gasp. I ran my fingertips through her hair and melted into her.

I don't know how long it was until we broke apart, but we were both left out of breath. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that she was staring at me. Neither of us moved.

"Sorry," I whispered. "That was stupid." My head was spinning and was fuzzy with happiness.

"It kind of was," she breathed. "But I'm not complaining."

"We should probably start to go to Luke's." I murmured.

She 'mhm'ed but didn't move.

I slowly pressed my mouth to hers one more time before stepping away. Her eyes were softer now. We started to walk again, and her hand bumped mine. I laced my fingers through hers and held her hand tightly.

Maybe tonight wouldn't be as bad after all.