A/N: Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I didn't realize that there have been reviews on this fic since ffn has not been notifying me, so I'm really sorry. I just thought people weren't really reading my work on this site since so many people are over on ao3 now. But I will be better about replying from now on, sorry again for missing the reviews, I did go through and read all of them though and I want to thank you for your support!

It shouldn't be funny.

But the whole situation is so utterly ridiculous that she can't stop a laugh from escaping. Of course, that makes all three of them turn towards her in various states of confusion.

And for some reason that just makes her laugh even more.

"Come on," she says to group, grabbing Percy's hand to pull him along. "We haven't found Jason and Piper yet."

Percy lets himself be dragged and the look on his face suggests he's bewildered towards the approach she's taking with the situation.

They make it to the gym doors only to run into the people they're looking for.

"What happened?" Piper asks, taking in the looks on everyone's faces.

"They kissed!" Leo blurts out, clearly unable to keep his shock in.

Now that the giggles have started, she can't stop laughing and Piper looks at her like she's grown another head.

"It's hilarious," Annabeth says by way of explanation, patting Piper on the arm. "Anyway, you guys wanna get out of here?"

"Aren't you hoco president?"

It's the first thing Percy has said this entire time.

"Yeah, but we're all done for the night, except Travis and Connor, but they've been switching off."

She turns towards her stunned group of friends. "Ice cream?"

Thalia is the first to break the silence, looking at Annabeth curiously. "I mean it's like forty degrees out so yeah, I'm down."

Piper turns to her. "How does that make sense? Also what ice cream place is even open right now? And can we back up to the whole kiss thing?"

"McDonalds," Leo supplies helpfully.

"Great, let's go." Annabeth decides, turning towards the exit and walking down the hall. Whatever questions they have, she doesn't have answers anyway so might as well just keep moving the night along.

She just wants to enjoy whatever this is while it lasts, tomorrow-Annabeth can deal with the thinking it all through part.

Percy pulls up right beside her a second later and she wonders what he has to say about the whole mess. Other than being on the same page about their friends finding out about their kiss they also haven't talked anything through.

He leans in closer to her and she holds her breath as he murmurs quietly so only she can hear.

"Didn't realize you were this bossy outside of school too."

She turns to him in a mixture of shock and creeping anger until she catches his darkened gaze and realizes it's not the mockery she thought it was.

Oh.

"In many more places than you can imagine," she teases back, unable to stop her gasp when his hand slides onto her waist as he opens the door for her.

"I think I can imagine just fine," he replies, the smirk on his face is suddenly entirely too attractive.

"Hey lovebirds! Car is this way!" Jason calls out, forcing them to turn away from each other and towards the group that have caught up to them. Percy removes his hand from her waist (and she definitely doesn't pout at the loss of contact) only to grab her hand instead.

His smile indicates that maybe he didn't miss her pout either, and shoots her a wink as they run up to catch up to their friends.

-.-

They get the back of the minivan this time and she really doesn't mind that he can be right up next to her without anything in the way.

Well, that is until Percy's hand comes to rest firmly on her leg. It's respectable (if something like this can be) it's right where her dress ends so there is some fabric breaking up the contact.

But his fingers are touching her thigh and she's having a hard time following the conversation that the others are having. Her head spinning with too many thoughts while she's just trying to savor every touch.

"Orders!" Leo calls out as they approach the drive though.

"Oreo McFlurry," she calls out at the same time everyone else yells their order.

"One at a time, people!" Thalia attempts to bring order to the chaos.

But they're at the drive through and Leo is relaying his order. Somehow they manage enough cohesion for Thalia to order and then Piper on behalf of her and Jason.

Annabeth is about to speak when Percy recites her order.

"Oreo McFlurry and nothing for me."

She makes a face at him as Leo pulls up to the window.

"I could've said that."

"I know." His mouth is right by her ear as he responds, sending shivers down her spine. "But I wanted to see how you are with other people being bossy. Well…" he pauses to lean even closer, "specifically, me."

She wants to say something, anything, in response to that but her mind is just supplying her with more of Percy's lips on hers which is by far the least helpful thing it's ever produced.

"No one spill anything," Leo commands as he starts to hand back the various orders.

"No promises," Percy jokes back.

How he's capable of joking and acting like everything is normal (with his hand still on her leg, by the way) is a little baffling.

Leo turns to glare at him. "Percy, I will end you."

It's clearly a joke since he goes back to smiling after a second, but if she hadn't been sitting right next to him, she wouldn't have felt the way his body jolted at Leo's words.

Percy doesn't respond, but his hand slips off her leg. "Yeah, whatever," he finally says, quietly enough for Leo not to hear and late enough for everyone else to have already moved on.

Something is off, something is wrong, and she knows enough to realize the telltale signs of Percy closing up again.

His free hand is curled into a fist and there is anger in his face that shows even in the street light. Mean Percy is slowly coming back.

No.

Not this, not now.

She reaches for his hand and he shakes her off.

The hurt that runs through her at the rejection makes her even more mad. No, she refuses to let this happen, to let him ruin the great night they've been having so far.

"Annabeth?"

"Huh?"

She turns to see Piper shooting her a concerned look. "You cool going back to my place?"

Annabeth nods in response. "Yeah, that's fine."

But her mind is still locked on Percy. She's almost angry enough to stop trying all together, but the feel of his lips is still fresh so she gets herself to try. Just one more time.

She goes in again, grabbing his hand and prying his fingers just enough to slip her hand in. And though it's clear he didn't ask for this, they're holding hands now.

He doesn't try to let go this time.

That's something at least.

She can't really eat her ice cream so she sets it aside in a cup holder and focuses on Percy. A minute later he's slowly running a thumb over her knuckles. It's such a soft gesture that she nudges even closer to him.

She wishes that the punch had been spiked to blame her behavior on alcohol, but she's got no excuse except her crumpling willpower as she leans her head on Percy's shoulder.

Immediately, he adjusts the way he's sitting to make it more comfortable for her.

And not for the first time tonight, she thinks, it shouldn't be this easy or feel this good.

-.-

They haven't talked about it. They haven't even talked to each other. Between sleeping over at Piper's, making her way back home only to have to drive her stepbrothers to morning soccer practice, she's barely had a minute to think, or process, anything.

So it's not till much later that night, after a nap she couldn't help and a shower, does she realize that she's heard nothing from Percy.

Not that she normally does. Their texts are mostly plan based, with a smattering of flirting mixed in. She opens up his text chain to read the last message she sent.

Be at Piper's by six, we're doing pictures.

Sure thing princess

And though it hadn't been particularly flirty she can still imagine the smirk on his face as he would have said that.

But the smirk and taunt turn into him leaning in, pushing closer and suddenly she's wrapped up in the memory of that kiss. How sparks shot through her body the moment his lips pushed onto hers, the way he held her—

She needs to stop.

Shaking her head, she pushes her phone away from her, groaning.

This is so messed up.

Piper and Thalia had, thankfully, not pushed her on it. Possibly because she was half-asleep by the time everyone left and possibly because they were trying to give her space.

But their questions would come soon, and she still doesn't have answers.

She doesn't know what going on. She doesn't know what she's feeling. And she definitely doesn't know if this is still a game or something more.

She doesn't know what she wants it to be.

Biting her lip, she ends up grabbing her phone and pulling up the text chat with Percy.

Fuck it, she thinks, if she has no idea what's going on, she might as well do whatever she wants anyway. And right now, she wants to text him.

Hey

It's a lame start but it's something at least.

The longer she waits for a response, the more worries nag in her mind. What if he doesn't want to talk to her? What is he's avoiding her after everything because he's embarrassed or regrets it?

But then again, the way he pulled her in, desperate and hungry, and then the soft touches afterward? It's hard to believe that he doesn't, at least on some level, care.

The night stretches on with no reply, though, and she tries to tell herself that he's asleep (it's eleven after all).

By some miracle, she manages to push thoughts of him away for long enough to fall asleep.

-.-

She wakes up to her phone buzzing loudly on her bedside table.

Just barely awake enough, she answers the call without checking who the caller is.

"Hello?"

"Good morning princess."

And that wakes her up. She jolts upwards, heart pounding in surprise as she tries to get her mind back.

"Percy?"

"Who else."

Is she insane or is his voice even deeper?

"You're calling me."

"No shit."

"It's…" she pauses to check the time. "Five in the morning."

"You're stating the obvious here Princess, I thought you were supposed to be smart."

He's just an infuriating as ever, she's wide awake now.

"Why?"

"Just saw your text."

"So you decided to call me!" She can't believe him.

"I'm driving, can't text."

"Oh my god," she groans, falling back into bed. "Percy!"

"Yes princess?"

Holy fuck.

He's messing with her.

He has to be.

The tone of his voice, the undercurrent of mirth that she's just now catching up on, the fact that it's freaking five in the morning and he knew she'd be asleep.

And especially the way he just said those last two words.

She hates that her entire body is tingling, and she wants nothing more than to see him again.

"Ugh," she tries to hide her groan with annoyance, but it doesn't work going off of Percy's deep chuckle. (Seriously, how is his voice deeper?)

"So why did you text me?" he asks, casually. "Anything you need?"

You.

And the damn bastard knows that.

"Where are you driving?" she asks instead.

"Home."

"What? Where were you?" Without realizing it, she frowns.

"Had a late one, ended up sleeping over."

"Where?" It sounds much more demanding than she means it to be.

"What's with all the questions? Jealous?"

"No!" She just…wants to know, she's curious.

"Had a not so hot date," he replies.

Anger surges through her and she sits up again.

"With who?"

Her anger is apparent enough for him to start laughing, which just makes her more mad.

"You're cute when you're jealous, princess," he chuckles. "With Leo. I was at his place."

"I'm not jealous," she responds, without much bite, more relieved than anything. But still pissed at him for playing the joke.

"Sureee," he says, drawing out the word. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"It's the last thing on my mind when I sleep at night," she retorts. Not her strongest comeback, but it's five AM and she's compromised.

"That makes sense," he muses. And before she can express her surprise at his agreement, he continues.

"I'd keep you up at night."

The words hold a promise that she finds herself shuddering at.

"Doubt it," she lies. If the thought of him could keep her up, she knows he would have no trouble accomplishing that.

"Want me to prove it to you?"

It's like nothing has changed and they're back to playing their game of chicken, brazenly flirting, and blurring all the lines.

Except it's different. Because now she knows how he feels against her. Because they both gave in and now everything feels a lot…more.

"What are you doing later?" she asks instead.

"Going to the skate park, why?"

"Just curious."

"What are you doing later?"

"Hanging out with Connor."

"WHAT!"

She smiles smugly to herself, keeping silent causing him to continue.

"Seriously?"

"You're cute when you're jealous Percy."

She can imagine the frown on his face. "Not funny."

"It wasn't funny when you did it earlier too," she retorts.

"Annabeth!" She rolls her eyes at his whining.

"Yes Percy?"

She keeps her voice even, adding just the slightest upward tilt at the end.

She feels better about her bad coverup, when she hears Percy, clearly trying to move his phone further away, groan.

It's validating to get that response out of him. Maybe she wasn't the only insane one the other day.

"I'm home," he responds, the sound of his blinker seeming to indicate that's actually the case. "I need sleep."

"Try not to dream about me," she teases as she hears the shuffling of him most likely getting out of his car.

His voice is soft as he answers, the tiredness evidently taking over. "It'll be hard princess."

It catches her off guard as all the tension that was building mellows out and now she just longs to cuddle into his side like she did in the back of the car and fall back asleep.

"Talk to you later Percy," she says instead.

"You too."

Then the phone clicks and he's gone.

She sighs, laying back in bed and staring up at her ceiling. She still has no idea what's going on.

But she knows she's screwed.

A/N: Idk about you guys but that phone conversation was really run to write so I hope you guys enjoyed it too! The plot moves, thought a little slowly. Each update is like 2k words but maybe I should make them longer so more plot happens? Or do you guys like the size of the chapters?

(Most unrealistic thing I've ever written is that they went to McDonalds and the ice cream machine was not broken)

Tune in a Nov. 8 to find out what happens next between the budding feelings of Percy and Annabeth!

Also as I previously stated, I haven't been getting review notifications from ffn so I'm really sorry I haven't been responding to them. I changed the settings so hopefully they'll work and I'll be able to reply. But a big thank you to any of you who have been reviewing this fic! I really appreciate it and know that I did go and read all of them! I'm glad that people on here are still reading my work!

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

Thanks for reading!