"Remind me why I have to accompany you to this useless reunion, Athena?" Annabeth snipped, glaring at her mother as she flipped through the fashion magazine on her lap. Athena gave her daughter a look as she trimmed a leaf on her olive tree, clear annoyance decorating her features. "Is it impossible for you to do a simple task without argument, Annabeth?" Annabeth rolled her eyes, choosing not to entertain her mother's words. "Just seems pointless. It's your friends, not mine. I haven't seen any of these people in years."
"Neither have I, Annabeth. That's the point of a reunion." With a sigh, Annabeth rose from the chair and tucked the magazine under her arm. "I guess I'll start packing," she retorted, turning on her heel and pretending not to notice the ever-present disappointment on her mother's face. It had become a stationary expression. Annabeth couldn't remember the last time her mother was proud of her. Maybe when she was born. As she ascended the stairs toward her room, she contemplated how the next few days would play out.
First, they would travel to California, where her mother attended college decades ago. Athena had a tight-knit friend group throughout college to the point where, almost forty years later, they still chose to meet up every five years for a "friend reunion". Annabeth had grown up with only two best friends who attended specialty colleges thousands of miles apart. She felt as if talking on the phone with Piper and Rachel a few times a month was enough for her. She didn't see any use in forcing them to fly to her just so they could have some lunch and talk about the same things they did on the phone.
Annabeth knew she was cynical, but it wasn't her in character to be overly sentimental. For how harsh and cold her mother was, she was surprised Athena held as much value in the reunions as she did. It didn't seem to suit her character. Annabeth was her mother's daughter, for sure, but this was one area in which she and her mother differed. This meant Annabeth would suffer while her mother would spend hours bragging about some new build she had created or another useless award she had won that month. It was all trivial and superficial in Annabeth's eyes. Her mother just wanted a reason to flaunt her accomplishments - as if she didn't do it enough.
By the time Annabeth was done mentally ranting about her mother's choices in life, she had messily packed her suitcase - she didn't pack nicely for occasions she didn't feel deserved it - and was sitting in her seat on their private jet, her headphones blaring music loud enough to drown out her mother's endless rambling. "We will see Sally first…her house is on the way…Percy is your age…not sure if you remember…" Athena's voice filtered in and out of Annabeth's range of hearing during pauses in each song.
Annabeth nodded, acting as if the mismatched sentences and phrases made any sort of sense to her. She did catch two names in her mother's words - Sally and Percy. Anger flitted in her chest as she slowly remembered who they were. Sally was Athena's best friend from high school who had attended college with her as well. Sally had a nineteen-year-old son named Percy who had driven Annabeth crazy since she was old enough to comprehend who Percy was. He liked to pull her hair, steal her books, and eat her food. Anything he could do to get under her skin.
She slid an earbud out, glancing at Athena who seemed surprised by her acknowledgment. "Percy is coming?" she asked, deliberately pronouncing each syllable of his name. Athena was fully aware of her daughter's hatred of Sally's son, Annabeth had complained about Percy since she could form sentences. Despite only seeing him every few years, she had practically grown up with him. He had been to Annabeth's house a few times when they were younger, back when Sally and Athena had more time to see each other.
"Annabeth, be nice. He's matured a lot since you last saw him." Annabeth scoffed, raising an eyebrow at her mother's ridiculous words. "I highly doubt that. I'm not sure his brain matured past the age of fourteen. He probably hit his peak intelligence then." Athena shook her head at her daughter once again. "If you continue to speak to him the way you are speaking to me, you are not going to have a pleasant trip. Remember, Annabeth, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
Annabeth mouthed her mother's favorite saying along with her voice, earning another glare from Athena. Athena turned back to her laptop, muttering under her breath loud enough for Annabeth to hear. "Percy is such a nice boy. Sally and I had always hoped you two would get married." Annabeth knew with certainty that would never happen. They'd kill each other before they could make it to the altar.
"Athena!" a loud female voice exclaimed, the sound filling Annabeth's ears and making her flinch. Annabeth wouldn't admit it, but she loved Sally. Sally was the complete opposite of her mother, a loving, caring woman who would give the world for her children. Percy's baby sister Estelle was propped on Sally's hip, happily chewing on her pacifier as her mom threw her arms around Athena. Annabeth smiled politely, fiddling with the strap of her sundress uncomfortably. Sally pulled back, gently hugging Annabeth with a wide smile. "My, my, Annabeth, you're so beautiful! Your mom must be so proud."
Annabeth resisted scoffing, instead smiling softly at Estelle who made some admittedly adorable baby noises in return. Annabeth began to reply when suddenly, a deep voice interrupted her and the pleasant silence surrounding them. "Mom! Where is the food? I'm starving!" Annabeth bit back a gasp as the owner of the voice came into view. The boy looked as if he had stepped off the runway ten minutes prior. His tan skin highlighted his lean, muscular figure, and complimented his jet-black hair that fell in a perfect swoop across his forehead.
Trying her best to keep a blush off of her cheeks, Annabeth simply watched as a look of amusement crossed Sally's face. "It hasn't been set out yet. You ate on the way here, you can wait another hour or so." The boy's identity become clearer, much to Annabeth's horror. It was Percy, but sure as hell not the Percy she remembered. The Percy from five years prior was a scrawny high school freshman with braces and hair that stuck up in all directions; not some Greek god that stepped straight of mythology and rivaled the likes of modern male models.
Percy's shockingly green eyes landed on Annabeth, who had been unsuccessfully attempting not to stare for the past five minutes. A slow smirk spread across his face, causing unwanted butterflies to flit across Annabeth's stomach. She couldn't stand the effect this boy had on her. "Annabeth Chase," he exclaimed, his eyes flashing with egotistical confidence. Annabeth hardened her expression, lifting her chin slightly in passive acknowledgment. "Hello, Percy," she replied.
His gaze slid down her figure before settling back on her face. "You've changed," was all Percy said. Annabeth scoffed at his words. "Five years does tend to change a person, especially during puberty." "Some things never change, Smartie," Percy laughed, emphasizing the old nickname he had given Annabeth after he had discovered she enjoyed reading architecture and science books in her free time. A familiar annoyance filed Annabeth at Percy's remark, and she began to retaliate before Athena placed a hand on her arm.
"Annabeth," Athena stated, her voice loud enough to drown out Annabeth's snarky remark towards Percy. "Let's get settled at our table. I need your assistance with some last-minute décor." Percy smirked at the pure rage on Annabeth's face as her mother dragged her away toward the seating area. Annabeth vowed at that moment to destroy Percy's massive ego - no matter what it took. It's about time someone taught him a lesson in manners.
Percy watched silently as Annabeth moved back and forth across the venue, her yellow sundress hugging her figure in a way he couldn't help but notice. Her blonde hair fell across her back in soft curls, moving along with her as she ran from table to table setting up silverware and plates. Popping a cheese cube into his mouth, he tore his gaze away from her - reluctantly - and made his way over to the snack table to refill his plate. As he walked, he pondered the events that had just taken place.
When Percy's mom had invited him along for the reunion, he had initially refused. At nineteen, he worked a part-time job on top of full-time classes and didn't see any value in taking off time from work and school to take a road trip across the state just to make small talk with people he hadn't interacted with in years. However, his mom seemed to know him better than he knew himself and subtly mentioned Annabeth would be attending. He never missed a chance to mess with her. When she was angry or annoyed, her cheeks turned pink and her gray eyes sparkled in a way that kept him coming back for more. She was addicting.
He had just piled his plate with more cheese and crackers when he realized he could no longer see Annabeth's form flitting across the patio. Confused, he glanced around, his gaze catching on a small yellow flash moving into the woods surrounding the venue. He realized with a start it was Annabeth, making her way down the wood's built-in trail. He knew Athena would lose her shit if her daughter were out of her sight for more than ten minutes at a time, so he was more than intrigued at Annabeth's sudden disappearance from the action.
Setting his plate down on a nearby table, he made his way towards the small opening in the trees a few hundred feet away. The entrance to the woods was admittedly beautiful, with flowering vines draped across the trees' branches. However, Percy was familiar with the outdoors after years of camping with Jason and Grover and knew that the dangers lurked within the expanse of flora. Despite her soft, feminine appearance, even Percy was aware of Annabeth's inner strength. Annabeth was wicked smart - hence the nickname he was quite proud of - and could very well handle herself.
Even so, Percy refused to let her roam the woods by herself. For the first time since the "friend reunions" began, they had chosen a different venue than their usual as it had been booked out for a wedding. According to his mom, Athena had a few choice words for the happy couple. Percy could only imagine living in such a household his entire life. No wonder Annabeth always had some sassy remark to each of his taunts. It was annoyingly attractive, the way she could cut down his teasing with a simple sentence - more than it should be.
Annabeth took a deep breath as she made her way deeper into the woods. Athena had become insufferable, more than usual, during the decorating. Annabeth had grown tired of hearing "Move that an inch to the left," or "It's crooked, Annabeth. You know how design works. You're the daughter of one of the world's most famous architects!" and made her escape when her mother disappeared inside the venue in search of a different shade of tablecloths. At first, the small opening in the woods draped with flowers had seemed inviting. Now, Annabeth wasn't so sure she had made a smart decision.
The darkness became more potent the further she trekked, the well-worn path becoming less smooth and narrower. It was clear most people didn't risk going as far as she had. Annabeth prided herself on being a generally brave, fearless person. Yet, even she could develop reservations from a dark wooded path. Her head snapped up at the sound of rustling nearby. "I know Taekwondo," she warned the darkness to her left. Despite her fear, her voice was strong. "Never let your fear show in your voice or posture, Annabeth. You cannot lose the upper hand." Her mother's voice filled her head, providing some form of comfort - at least as much comfort as Athena could provide.
A familiar chuckle resonated, causing Annabeth's heart to sink as she realized who had caused the rustling. "Good to know. I wasn't planning on breaking out my Karate skills today, but I'm always up for a match," Percy responded, stepping out into the small amount of sunlight filtering through the dark cover of leaves above them. Somehow, the dim light made him even more attractive - Annabeth wasn't sure that was possible. Annabeth rolled her eyes at his remark, crossing her arms across her chest. "What are you doing here, Percy? How did you even find me?" Percy laughed, a grin breaking across his face. "I noticed you leave and decided to tag along."
"I needed an escape," Annabeth replied, beginning to retrace her steps. "Clearly you don't know how an escape works." Percy followed her as she made her way back in the direction she had come from. "Oh, I do. The woods aren't exactly the safest place, though. I didn't want you to get lost." Annabeth scoffed, adjusting the strap of her sundress which had fallen slightly. Percy followed the movement, suppressing the feelings her bare shoulder conjured inside of him. "How sweet," Annabeth snipped, brushing a branch out of her way. "I can handle myself."
Percy smiled at the venom in her tone. "Oh, trust me, I know, Smartie." Annabeth spun around to face him, her grey eyes filled with fiery anger. "Why do you find such enjoyment in being insufferable?" she exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. Her sudden stop didn't allow Percy to react in time, and he collided with her, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Percy had landed directly on top of Annabeth, his arms wrapped tightly around her small waist, the hem of her sundress flipped up and exposing her thigh.
He couldn't keep the blush from his cheeks as he took in their position, slowly looking at Annabeth whose expression, for a split second, was one he couldn't decipher before it switched back to her usual combination of annoyance and superiority. Even so, her cheeks were as red as his, betraying her true feelings. Annabeth struggled against his grasp, glaring at him as he failed to let go of her for a few seconds. "Percy," she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "Let me go." Percy shot her a grin before lifting himself off of her, holding out a hand to help her up.
She instead pushed herself up, ignoring his outstretched hand, and brushed off the back of her sundress. "This dress was new," she griped, her cheeks still painted pink with a telling blush. "Not my fault you decided to stop in the middle of the pathway," he replied, holding his hands up in a sarcastic gesture of surrender. "God, you're impossible," Annabeth groaned, running a hand through her slightly-messy hair. Narrowing her gaze at him, she stepped closer, her lips pursed in repressed fury. "You never answered my question," she stated, her crossed arms pushing the front of her dress down slightly. It was incredibly distracting for Percy. She didn't seem to know just how gorgeous she was.
"It's fun," was Percy's response, the tension between them palpable. Annabeth threw her hands in the air, turning on her heel to continue walking. The motion caused her sundress to swish across her legs, making Percy clench his fists to prevent reaching out and pulling her into his arms. "Annabeth, wait. Let me help you find your way back." Annabeth was already several hundred feet away, her footsteps becoming quieter with each passing moment. "I can handle myself!" she yelled back, disappearing into the darkness.
Percy sighed heavily, beginning to follow. Annabeth said he was insufferable? She was the same way.
Annabeth had lost track of how long she had been walking. At this point, she couldn't even tell if she had walked in the same direction the whole time. She felt as if she was underwater, in the middle of the ocean, unable to tell which way was up or down. Her breathing had become faster as the minutes progressed. The darkness seemed to stretch on for miles, with only a small sliver of light hitting the ground from the gaps in the leaves above. She could no longer hear Percy's steady footsteps behind her, which worried her further. As much as she hated to admit it, she was glad he had come after her.
Annabeth had become accustomed to being alone due to her mother's frequent business trips, meetings, and awards ceremonies as well as an absentee father. She couldn't remember the last time a check had come in the mail from him. However, there were moments when she hated being alone. Deep down, she knew this was one of them. Annabeth may have been raised a strong, independent woman who could handle herself, but it didn't mean she didn't wish for another's presence at times.
Glancing behind her, she only saw darkness as she tried to make out a glimpse of Percy's form, or even hear the soft crunching of leaves beneath his feet. Annabeth soon realized she had made a mistake turning her head when she tripped over a stray tree root in the ground she hadn't seen. Time seemed to slow as Annabeth lost her balance once again, falling forward with her arms outstretched in anticipation of impact. Sharp pain shot through her wrists and arms as she collided with the ground, the sharp rocks and twigs digging into her skin.
Annabeth had let out a startled cry when she fell, which had thankfully alerted Percy of her location as she soon heard fast footsteps and his familiar voice yelling her name. Percy came into view, his eyes wide in alarm as he scanned the area. "Down here," Annabeth whispered, the wind knocked out of her lungs and a persistent, throbbing pain radiating from her left foot. "Oh my god, Annabeth," Percy exclaimed, concern etched across his features as he knelt on the ground next to her. "What happened, Beth?" he asked, his voice taking on an uncharacteristic softness.
Despite the pain she was in, Annabeth blushed at the tenderness in his tone and the shortened version of her name. No one had ever called her that. It was her new favorite thing. "I tripped over a tree root. I think I hurt my ankle," she replied, gesturing towards her foot which she realized was turned at a slight angle. Percy gently reached towards her foot, his face gravely serious as he touched her ankle ever so slightly. Annabeth whimpered softly at the contact, causing Percy to quickly retract his hand.
"It's definitely swollen. We need to get you some sort of medical attention," he stated. "I don't want you to walk on it, Beth. I'll have to carry you." Annabeth shook her head fervently, her face flaming at the thought. "I'm fine, I can walk." Percy shot her look which effectively stopped her in her tracks. "Please don't argue. Let me help you." Annabeth slowly nodded, sitting up so he could slip his arm behind her back. Percy then slid his other arm under her knees, bracing himself to stand. "Hold on tight," he instructed, slowly lifting her. She winced when her foot lifted, the movement causing sharp pain to shoot through her leg.
"I think it's broken, Percy," she whispered, her eyes landing on his sympathetic green ones. "It's okay, Beth. Just hold on tight. I'll get us back." Annabeth nodded, burying her head in Percy's shoulder and breathing in his intoxicating oceanic scent. She felt so comfortable in his arms, a feeling of belonging she hadn't felt in years. Somehow, she knew she'd be okay in his care, which shocked her to her core. Annabeth couldn't believe how much trust she held in this boy whom she had hated for so long.
Percy held Annabeth's body closer to his chest, secretly enjoying her warmth and the way she felt in his arms. Her skin was soft, her hair smelling of a sweet lemon shampoo. Percy's heart was beating so fast, he would be shocked if Annabeth hadn't noticed. The effect she had on him was unbelievable. Percy sighed in relief as the trail become lighter, sunlight filtering across Annabeth's body as the trees began to open up and the path cleared. "We made it," he whispered, watching as Annabeth's head lifted off his shoulder. A soft smile drifted across her face, her eyes lighting up. "It feels so good to see light," she whispered, glancing up at him.
Percy opened his mouth to agree with her statement when Annabeth moved suddenly, cutting him off. All coherent thought left Percy's brain in an instant as the feeling of her soft lips pressing against his filled his senses. She was overwhelming - in the best way possible. Annabeth's scent, her hand resting on his cheek, and the soft brush of her tongue against his bottom lip were all he could focus on. After a few seconds that felt more like a few hours, she pulled back, a wide smile across her face. "Thank you," she whispered, brushing his cheek with her fingers before turning back to face the entrance of the woods in front of them.
The next few minutes passed in a blur as Percy's brain hyper-focused on what had just happened. He didn't register his mom and Athena's concerned exclamations as they noticed Percy carrying Annabeth fireman-style out of the woods, or the 911 call made by Athena, or the stretcher Annabeth was placed on. His world had just tilted on its axis - and he wasn't sure he would ever be the same.
Eight Years Later
"Mommy," Chase whined in the way only a three-year-old can, clutching his stuffed owl tightly in his tiny fists. "Where are we going?" Annabeth smiled at her son, scooping him up and kissing him all over the face. He giggled happily. "To see Grammy!" she exclaimed, watching as Chase's face lit up. "Gammy!" he cheered joyously, squirming in her arms. "C'mon, baby," Annabeth said, lowering Chase to the floor and taking his hand. "Let's get in the car!"
Annabeth slid the SUV's door open, smiling widely at her son as she reached over and unbuckled him. He scrambled into her arms, scanning the area in search of his grandma. It was sweet how much he loved Athena, a blessing Annabeth had been asking for since he was born. Athena turned out to be an amazing grandparent, transforming into a loving, kind, caring grandma who looked out for her grandchild. She had even stepped up her mother game, supporting Annabeth more than she ever had. Annabeth couldn't ask for more.
Athena appeared at Annabeth's side, pulling her daughter into a hug before holding out her arms for Chase. "Hey, buddy!" she exclaimed, balancing her grandson on her hip. "Let's go find Aunt Sally!" Annabeth watched with a wide smile as they made their way to the seating area where Sally was standing, talking with one of her and Athena's college friends. Annabeth was about to turn around to lock up the car when a deep, cocky voice interrupted her.
"Smartie! Look who decided to grace us with her presence!" Annabeth rolled her eyes, spinning on her heel to face the man behind her, her arms crossed over her chest. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that," she retorted, watching as Percy's gaze slid down her body, pausing ever so slightly on her chest. "My eyes are up here," she scoffed. Percy laughed, stepping closer. "C'mon, Beth, can't I admire my wife? After all, she is the prettiest woman on the face of the Earth."
Annabeth laughed, uncrossing her arms. The light caught on the sparkling rings on her left hand, speckling across Percy's confident expression. "That might be an exaggeration, Perce," she replied, laughing softly as her husband pulled her against his chest in one quick motion. She looked up at Percy with wide eyes, blushing slightly at the look on his face. "I never lie, Beth," he said before pulling her face to his, his lips moving across hers in a way that never failed to fill her stomach with butterflies, even eight years after their first kiss.
When Percy pulled away, she interlocked their hands and they made their way towards the reunion which was in full force. Listening to the happy giggles of Chase in the distance, she glanced up at her husband who was watching him with a look of such love. In that moment, Annabeth knew she had found her forever - with someone she had never expected.