It's the first time since he's started living with her that Annabeth is inviting her friends over. Apparently, it's taken this long because movie schedules don't always align easily (shocking) and Annabeth is clearly looking forward to it.

"It'll be chill," she had said. "We'll just get takeout and catch up."

But he'd insisted that he make the food instead, something he's just now starting to regret. He's always been confident about his cooking, but doubt is beginning to creep in as it gets closer to five.

Maybe he shouldn't have tried out new dishes. But he's been working on the menu of the café, and making finger food versions of the sandwiches and quiches is the best way to test out his ideas.

Plus, he'd figured that if Jason Grace and Piper McLean liked them (when they have probably had all the fanciest food) then they'd be good enough to serve.

"What are you thinking about?" Annabeth's voice cuts through his thoughts, her arms coming up to hug him from behind.

"Nothing important," he replies, basking in the warmth of her body against his.

She steps out by his side and raises her eyebrow. "Seemed pretty important."

"Not as much as you," he replies, effectively distracted by her lips, freshly glistening with lip gloss. He leans down to steal a kiss.

"Percy," Annabeth giggles as he steals another one. "I just put on lip gloss."

"I noticed," he replies with a grin.

Annabeth shakes he head. "You're—"

But whatever she's about to say is cut off by the buzzer letting them know that the guests had arrived. Annabeth glides out of the kitchen to go receive them while Percy finishes laying out the kitchen island with the assortment of food.

Jason is the first to spot him.

"Hey man!" He says with a smile going in for the official bro handshake.

"Hey," Percy replies, returning the smile. It's the most casual he's seen Jason in a while. But then again, the last time they'd hung out was at a famous restaurant for the double date.

Annabeth and Piper show up a second later as Jason eyes the food.

"Damn Annabeth, this is an upgrade from the usual," he comments, moving towards a quiche.

"All Percy," Annabeth responds. "You know if it was just me, we'd get the usual takeout. "

"Oh, I know," Jason laughs before taking a bite. Percy tries not to stare too hard to note his reaction.

"It all looks amazing, Percy," Piper says, stepping up the counter.

He shoots her a grateful smile. "Thank you, let's hope it tastes amazing too."

"Amazing confirmed," Jason pipes up, mouth still full of food.

"I believe you," Annabeth starts, "but how can you tell if you're inhaling it?" She grabs one of the mini sandwiches and takes a bite, giving him a thumbs-up as she chews.

"If only his fans could see him do this," Piper jokes, also picking up a quiche.

"Hey, it can't be all that bad if I managed to keep you," Jason replies, winking at her. But he turns back to Percy just as quickly. "Seriously, though, this is amazing."

"You should sell these," Piper agrees, having taken a few bites.

"That's the plan," he huffs out a nervous laugh.

"Wait." Annabeth's eyes are wide. "These are from your menu?"

He shrugs, all too aware of the attention on him.

"You're actually going to sell these?" Jason asks.

"Yeah, planning on opening a café," Percy responds. It's the first time he's really talking about it with anyone other than Annabeth and Grover and it feels a bit weird to say it out loud. At the same time, it feels a lot more real the more he talks about it.

"That's awesome dude!" Jason smiles. "I'll be the first customer."

"Um…." Annabeth throws him a pointed look, hand on her hips.

"Hey, I found Cali's before you, me and Percy go way back." Jason holds his hand out for a fist bump and Percy complies, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Whatever." Annabeth rolls her eyes, but he sees her attempt and failure to bite back a smile.

"What are you going to call these? 'Cause I think they're my favorite," Piper cuts in, having tried a few of the options.

And thus, the conversation turns back to the food, leaving Percy way more relaxed than when they'd first walked in.

A little while later finds them sitting on the large sectional, chatting. Or rather, Annabeth and Jason hashing out the best of the industry gossip.

"We should talk about something else," Annabeth says after a moment of silence. "We're probably boring Percy and Piper."

"What do you mean?" Percy jokes. "I'm about to make so much money off the tabloids when I spill the industry secrets."

"Then we should stop to protect our reputation." Jason says, laughing.

"Give me a cut of the profits, Percy," Piper jokes.

He shoots her a thumbs up. "You got it."

Annabeth is quiet for a minute, but there's a glint behind her eyes which Percy knows all too well.

"Jason," she starts slowly, "dare you to chug that." She nods towards the beer bottle in Jason's hand.

Jason groans. "Ugh, not this again."

"What?"

"When they did their last movie together, they kept daring each other to do things in between takes," Piper explains.

"It was stupid, we were bored," Jason declares.

"Well, it led you to getting the girl of a lifetime," Annabeth counters, then turning towards Percy she explains. "I dared him to ask her out."

"High-stakes game," Percy comments.

"Yeah well, it ended there….mostly," Jason replies.

"So you gonna chug or what?" Annabeth teases.

He makes an exasperated sound but chugs the drink anyway. "Ugh," he says when he's done. "Annabeth, I dare you to tell Percy the hat incident."

"Oh god."

"What's the hat incident?" Percy asks, curiosity sufficiently piqued.

"It's embarrassing," Annabeth mumbles, putting her hands over her face. There's a second of anticipatory silence before she continues.

"I was ad-libbing a little on a delivery of a line and I picked up a hat to put it on and it broke so the top of my head was poking out."

Jason has a picture ready and it's so endearing he can't help but chuckle.

Annabeth looks up at the sound and sees the picture, eyes turning to a glare.

"Sorry babe, it's cute though," he says when she crosses her arms.

"It definitely wasn't."

"Actually, the director—" Jason is cut off by Annabeth turning to Piper.

"Can I dare you to shut him up?"

Piper grins. "Of course." And then her hand is across Jason's mouth, causing him to sputter in astonishment.

"Percy," Piper says, ignoring Jason. "Want a dare?"

"Sure."

"Dare you to make me the official first customer of your café."

"Hey!" Annabeth cries, as Jason moves Piper's hand to say, "Unfair!"

Percy grins. "Well, she did dare me so…"

"You were right Jason, shouldn't have started it again," Annabeth says with a frown.

Percy leans over to kiss the pout off her face as Piper laughs (in victory no doubt).

Annabeth a little placated, he leans back to take a sip of his own beer and watch the three of them continue to bicker.

It's not first time he thinks that he's exactly where he belongs, especially when Annabeth intertwines her fingers through his somewhere along the way.

A/N: Shoutout to a few anons on tumblr who requested Percabeth with Jason and Piper hanging out and doing friend things! I just wanted showcase Annabeth's close friends in this one since the last how to handle fame and best friends featured Grover from Percy's side! Hope you guys enjoyed!

Please Comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading!