Annabeth's pov:
I go downstairs to see Thalia, Jason and Piper already seated at the dining table for breakfast. All three of them glance at each other as I take a seat beside Thalia.
"Annabeth, are you alright?" Thalia asks with a worried look in her eyes.
"Yes...?" I ask, confused by the question.
"You seemed quite disturbed yesterday Annabeth" Piper says frowning at me, observing me carefully.
"And you don't seem too happy right now. Percy hasn't left for office without meeting you today, you know?" Jason adds.
I sigh tiredly and say "it's nothing guys. It's just-"
"Good morning everyone" someone says interrupting me.
Calypso enters the dining room dressed in shorts and a top. She can make the simplest of clothing look gorgeous. She smiles at us and takes the seat near Piper, just like yesterday.
"Morning Calypso" Piper replies smiling as Jason and Thalia nod their head in acknowledgement- their mouths occupied at the moment. I merely turn to look at her and move my gaze back to my food. Why hasn't Percy arrived yet? He's usually here before us.
Mrs O'Leary comes through the doorway, and places herself near Calypso's chair. Calypso smiles down at her and lovingly strokes her fur.
"Why have you named it Mrs O'Leary?" Jason asks frowning, with a confused look in his eyes. That's something even I want to know. 'Mrs O'Leary' is a pretty weird name for a dog.
"Her" Calypso corrects.
"Mrs O'Leary is a girl" Calypso further explains when Jason looks at her in confusion. "And you'll have to ask Perseus for the answer to that question. She's his pet after all." She says smiling, with a faraway look on her face. The same look I often see on Percy's face.
Sara sets up Mrs O'Leary's food, as she wags her tail in anticipation.
"Breakfast's amazing Sara, I forgot how good your cooking was" Calypso says referring to the various dishes prepared by her. Mrs O'Leary too is wolfing down her food.
Sara smiles softly and says, "that's why you should come here more often dear."
Mr Jackson comes in dressed in a navy suit, ready for office, and greets us good morning.
"Calypso, did you sleep well?" he asks, looking towards her.
"I did da- Mr Jackson" she says correcting herself. I narrow my eyes at her. What was it she was going to say earlier?
Mr Jackson doesn't notice the slip-up, or maybe decides to ignore it and says smiling, "good. I'm afraid I'll have to leave now" he says frowning, looking down at his watch. "Percy's staying home for the day though" he continues. I don't fail to notice the inconspicuous wink he gives Calypso while saying this. What was that about? Calypso seems to notice the gesture too, as she quickly looks down at her food, frowning and looking deep in thought.
Mr Jackson gives us a brief smile before leaving the room. Almost instantly Percy arrives dressed in some casual jeans and a navy blue shirt. His hair is slightly wet, probably from the shower he just took. Something seems different about him today though. I can't pinpoint what it is exactly, but it's as if he's just a bit more...happy today? A bit more lively? And it's weird and confusing, because he always seems this way- full of life and energy, always smiling. But today it's just different. His eyes seem just a bit brighter, his smile just a bit wider.
He takes a seat beside me and I turn to look towards him, smiling softly.
"Morning seaweed brain" I greet him and lean forward to kiss him on the cheek. "You're staying here today aren't you?" I ask him grinning. I'm glad he's spending the day with me and not going off to work for once.
"Yes, wise girl" he says smiling before moving his gaze away from me. I frown at his short reply, and turn to see him staring at that girl. Again. She glances at Percy, before continuing her own meal.
Percy thankfully eats his food instead of staring at her the whole time. Why does he even stare at her? She's not that beautiful or attractive is she?
Thalia and Jason want to complete their Avenger series, so we basically have a lazy day filled with movies and junk food.
With everything that's going on, I need some time to process things. I lay my head on Percy's lap as Jason plays the movie. I notice Calypso looking at us and unconsciously move a bit more closer to him. She turns her gaze away, looking back at the TV.
Sara brings us some popcorn amidst the movie- some of which I secretly stick in Percy's hair. He notices soon and tries to shake them off, adorably shaking his head to get rid of them. I laugh at his failed attempt to get them off his hair, and run my fingers through his soft hair to remove them. Calypso notices our interaction, and I notice the frown and pained look on her face. I smirk internally at her sour expression.
Wait, where did that come from? I'm jealous, I realize. Of course I am. Here comes a girl whom I've never seen, never known, never heard about. And she is friends with mybest friend of nine years, whom I love dearly. She suddenly enters the house yesterday night with Percy's dog shocking all the residents of the Poseidon Mansion as if they never expected to see her again. Sara is as close to her as she is to Percy, loves her just as much as she loves Percy. It was quite evident by the various conversations they have had till now. Mr Jackson seems to like her a lot too. The concerned and caring tone with which he talks to her, shows his obvious fondness for her, just like a father's love. And most importantly? Percy never told me anything about this friend of his in Athens. And he always tells me everything. At least that's what I always thought.
Every girl wishes Percy Jackson stares at them the way he stares at Calypso. But he never did. Not until now. And I hate it. I hate it that she has that effect on him. I hate it that I am not the girl his eyes desire. I hate it that she holds that power over him, and that I can't even get him to properly acknowledge me since her arrival.
He hasn't said much to me since morning. Come to think of it, he hasn't talked much at all. His eyes are fixated on the television, but he's not really watching it. They have the same faraway, distant look they have when he's at the beach or at the tree watching the sun as it goes down the horizon. His eyes occasionally flicker towards Calypso who is staring intently at the television, as if avoiding meeting someone's gaze- more specifically, Percy's.
I sigh and look up at him. I have to tell him soon. I have to before it's too late. So this what the schoolgirls feel like? When they are desperate to confess their love for the swim team captain before anyone else does, before anyone else steals his heart? I never thought I would be in this situation, desperate for a boy's attention, scared to lose him, afraid of it being too late, terrified of making things worse.
TIME SKIP
Mr Jackson arrived some time ago, just as we were having our dinner.
Percy's fists are clenched tightly I notice. He's frowning deeply, looking down at the wooden floor. He continuously taps his foot, his teeth clenched tightly. He looks at war with himself, as if deciding what he should do next. I don't think anyone else notices this sudden change in his behaviour. Thalia is busy teasing Jason as Piper laughs in the background. Mr Jackson is nowhere to be seen and Sara is probably in the kitchen cleaning up after the dinner we just had. I don't really pay attention to what Calypso's doing right now, too busy at observing Percy's strange behaviour.
It's almost 10 by now. I have to tell him. It's now or never. Just as I am about to put a comforting hand on his tense shoulders, he stands up. Taking a deep breath, he walks over to where Calypso is sitting, staring at his approaching figure. He leans down, takes her hand in his and pulls her up. Thalia, Jason and Piper all stop what they're doing when they notice the two of them. He hasn't talked to her since she arrived. It was obvious there was some tension going on between the two, but we never pushed Percy for answers knowing he needed some time. Here he is now suddenly holding her hand in hers- so this obviously spikes our interest, makes us curious, gives us hope that we'll finally be able to figure out what the matter is.
Calypso is too stunned by his sudden approach, unable to say anything. He takes her up the stairs, keeping a firm grip on her wrist as if afraid she'll vanish if he doesn't pay attention. Calypso opens her mouth to say something- protest maybe- but Percy seems determined. His steps don't falter as he drags her along with him.
I am too shocked by this sudden turn of events, not knowing how to react. Guess he finally decided what he wanted to do- which cost me another chance of confessing my feelings for him.