Chapter 1: The Start of School

"Are you nervous?" Annabeth asked Percy as they stood on the fire escape outside his bedroom window the day before school started. They were leaning on the railing, looking out at the buildings that seemed to go on forever across the island of Manhattan. The sunset was golden. It would have been romantic, if Annabeth hadn't been able to feel the tension in Percy's arm pressed against hers. When he didn't immediately answer her question, she nudged him gently. "It's okay if you are. You can tell me."

Percy jerked his shoulder in a half shrug, then exhaled. "I mean, I'm not nervous about starting at a new school. Been there, done that. About seven times. Or is it eight?" He tilted his head, apparently trying to mentally add them up, then seemingly gave up and shook his head. "Either way, I'm not worried about being the new guy. I just don't want to mess this up. This is the last school that would take me."

"You won't mess it up," Annabeth said. When Percy raised his eyebrows, she relented and said, "And even if you do, which you won't, there are still other options. There's online school or your GED. Whatever comes up, we'll figure it out. Because we are going to college next year. Together."

That got a smile from him. "Honestly, that thought will be the only reason I survive precalculus." Percy leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Well, that and you helping me with my homework."

"You assume a lot, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth moved to drape her arms around his neck, matching his smile with her own. "But yes, I'll help you with your homework. Help you," she added, "not just do it for you."

Percy looked mock-offended, even as he slid his hands around her waist. "Obviously. Do you actually think I wouldn't want to do my own math homework?"

"That's one hundred percent what I think." She moved in closer. "I know you."

"Dang it. That's true." The evening light highlighted his green eyes and tan skin. "Fine, I'll do most of it myself."

"Deal." Annabeth kissed him then, mostly just because she really wanted to, but also to hopefully impart some confidence in him for the next day. When Percy pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, she suspected it might have worked. She would never get tired of being pressed close to him like this, his mouth moving against hers, a tornado of butterflies spinning in her stomach. Regrettably, she eventually had to pull away to breathe, but she stayed pressed against him so she could tell him softly, "You're going to do fine tomorrow, Percy."

He nodded, his forehead brushing against hers. "I hope so. I'll do my best."

"I know you will." She kissed him again, softer and slower this time. "You always do."

He smiled again, a little uncertainly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Percy nodded slowly, then kissed her again. "Thanks, Annabeth."

"Of course." She squeezed his arm. "Now come on, we'd better go help your mom and Paul with dinner."

The next day, Annabeth arrived at the top of the stairs in the apartment building slightly out of breath partly because she'd hurried and partly because her backpack was already heavy with the textbooks she wanted to bring home and review this evening. There was no real reason to hurry, she was plenty early for dinner, but she hadn't been able to help herself. The Jackson-Blofis apartment was one of her favorite places. Especially now that Percy was returned to it. Plus, she wanted to hear about his first day at school. She was cautiously optimistic, but it was Percy, so who knew what might have happened.

When Annabeth knocked, Sally opened the door with a smile and gave her a hug. "How was your first day?"

"It was good," Annabeth said. "I think I'm going to like most of my classes."

"Most?" Sally asked as she closed the door.

Annabeth shrugged. "There are always going to be some classes that are better than others."

"True." Sally squeezed her shoulder. As Annabeth set her backpack down and kicked off her shoes, Sally called down the hall, "Percy! Annabeth's here."

A few moments later, Percy bounced to the end of the hallway. They'd been together over a year now, but when he grinned at her, her heart still skipped into a gymnastics routine. "Hey, Wise Girl."

"Hey yourself, Seaweed Brain," she said, returning his grin.

He leaned in to give her a quick kiss as his mom disappeared back into the kitchen.

"How was your first day?" Annabeth asked.

Percy winced. "It was…interesting. Want to come out onto the fire escape and I'll tell you about it?"

Once Percy finished telling her about his school day, Annabeth sat for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. It didn't exactly surprise her; this was Percy after all. If anyone was going to end up flushed into the Atlantic on his first day of senior year, it was him. The story did infuriate her (because what the hell, Zeus?), but she didn't think that was productive right now. So instead, she said, "That's ridiculous. Maybe I can get my mom to write you a rec."

Percy considered this for a moment, then pointed out, "Your mom doesn't like me. Besides, Poseidon was pretty clear. I have to do new quests for three gods. And the requests have to come from them."

"Ugh." Annabeth wrinkled her nose.

Percy nodded. "That's what I said."

Annabeth stared off through the maze of buildings, trying to think of a solution. But nothing came to her. She didn't see any way around this stupid requirement. But her having an attitude wasn't going to make things easier on Percy right now. She drew in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "We'll figure it out. We've been through worse."

Percy didn't answer right away. While she wasn't sure exactly what he was thinking, something about the way he was looking at her sent her heart on another tumbling routine.

"Maybe they'll be small quests. Like picking up garbage on the highway on Saturday or something." He shifted his shoulders. "But this is an I thing and not a we thing. I don't want to drag you into it."

Seaweed Brain, Annabeth thought in half exasperation, half affection. As if she hadn't dragged him into way worse situations than this. "Hey," she said, laying her hand on top of his, curling her fingers around his sun-warmed skin. "You're not dragging me into anything. I'm going to help you get through high school and into college with me, whatever it takes."

Percy's mouth quirked into a smirk. "So you'll write my essays?"

"Nice try." Annabeth gave him a look, then held his eyes for a few moments longer, until Percy's half-smirk turned into a more genuine smile. He turned his hand over beneath hers so that he could lace their fingers together and squeeze her hand. She returned the smile and the pressure, then nudged him with her shoulder. They sat there quietly for several minutes, just enjoying each other's company, until Sally called them in to help with dinner.

After dinner, Percy walked Annabeth to the subway station. He had gotten quiet again, though he occasionally met her eyes with a small smile as they walked hand in hand down the sidewalk. Finally, Annabeth said again, "We'll figure it out. We always do."

"Somehow," Percy agreed. He stopped near the entrance to the subway station and sighed. "I just—I thought things would maybe start getting easier now." He ran the fingers of his free hand through his hair, then sighed again. "It'd just be nice to catch a break, you know?"

"Yeah, I know." Annabeth brushed her fingers over his cheek, then cupped her hand around the back of his neck. "Hopefully this will be the last hurdle. But if it's not," she shrugged, "then we'll figure that out, too."

Percy gave a tiny nod, his eyes on her face. "You keep saying we, though. I hate dragging you into my mess."

"Percy." Annabeth shook her head. "I love you. I want to help you. Besides, do you want to talk about the last place that I dragged you into?"

The memory of the cavern in Rome yawned around them for a moment before Percy put his free hand on the small of Annabeth's back, pulling her closer to him. "You didn't drag me anywhere. I chose to go with you."

"Exactly." She kissed him lightly. "And now I'm choosing to help you with this situation. That's how this works, Seaweed Brain."

Percy gave a small grunt. "Do you know how annoying it is when you beat my arguments with solid logic?"

Annabeth laughed and kissed him again. "You love it."

"I love you," he said, suddenly sincere. "And I appreciate the help. Seriously. It's just hard to ask for it sometimes, you know?"

"I know. Believe me. But we're a team. You and me and Grover. But especially you and me."

"Don't tell Grover that."

"I think he knows."

"True." Percy kissed her and Annabeth felt a shiver run from her spine to her toes. "Thanks, Annabeth."

"Anytime." She slid her hand from his neck to his chest, letting her palm rest over his heart. "Want to meet up after school tomorrow? Himbo Juice?"

"Sounds great." Percy kissed her again. "See you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you, too. See you tomorrow."

There were no seats available on the subway, so Annabeth stood, swaying with the train and thinking back over the evening. It was definitely annoying that Percy would have to do these three upcoming quests. But she'd meant what she said; together, they would figure it out. They always managed. Somehow.

And like Grover had said at dinner, it would probably be at least a couple weeks before the first request even came in.

*Thanks for reading! Chapter 2 will be up next week.*