Prompt 11: Based on 2nd part of previous one, about Percy and Annabeth in college as their relationship continues to develop

SOCKS

As she flipped through her textbook and shuffled her notes, Annabeth felt a pounding headache start behind her left eye. It was nearly midterms and she'd been studying for what felt like hours, sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed in her New Rome University dorm room. Her roommate had gone home for the weekend, so Annabeth had the room to herself, which was a rare treat. And Percy was on his way over with dinner, so that was good news, because on top of developing a headache, she was starving. She'd skipped lunch to keep studying. Which was starting to feel like a huge mistake.

A knock at the door signaled Percy's arrival. Annabeth bounced up from the bed.

"Hey." She smiled as she opened the door.

"Hey." Percy grinned back as he held up the takeout bags from their favorite Mediterranean restaurant. "Dinner is served."

"You're the best." Annabeth kissed him, then shut the door behind him as he walked in and kicked off his shoes.

They ate sitting cross-legged on her bed while her laptop, balanced on top of the stack of books on her nightstand, played reruns of a TV sitcom. Annabeth tried not to groan as she bit into her falafel pita, but it was tough. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was until now.

"Oh gods, this is so good." She poured more tzatziki sauce over her pita and took another bite. "Magnus would be so jealous right now."

Percy laughed, then frowned thoughtfully. "Wait, can't he order whatever he wants from that hotel?"

Annabeth shrugged and took another bite of falafel. "According to him, there's nothing like falafel from a real Earth restaurant. Apparently there's a specific one in Boston that's the best."

Percy's frown deepened, a furrow appearing between his brows as he tapped his index finger against his own pita. "I bet New York has a place that's even better."

"Getting a little competitive there, New Yorker?" Annabeth nudged his socked foot with her own.

Percy's frown melted into a grin. "New York City over Boston every time, baby." He nudged her foot back, then took another bite of his own food. She returned his smile, even as she shook her head.

Suddenly, for no obvious reason, the easy intimacy of the moment hit Annabeth. Just the two of them hanging out in her tiny college dorm room on a Saturday evening. Nothing special, just cozy and comfortable. A frisson of tension buried between her shoulder blades loosened as she took a deep breath in and allowed herself to relax.

Reaching out, she put a hand on Percy's knee, giving it a light squeeze. He met her eyes with another smile, then put a hand on the small of her back, leaned over, and kissed her cheek.

"How was your day?" he asked her.

"Ugh, so much studying." Annabeth crumpled up her falafel wrapper, tossed it into the brown paper takeout bag, then scooted closer to Percy, laying her head on his shoulder. "How was yours?"

And with that, they settled into the familiar, contented ease of the evening.