"You agreed to what?!" Piper's voice echoed through the crowded coffee shop, leading Annabeth to shoot a glare at her friend as half the shop's occupants turned their heads towards the commotion. "Piper!" Annabeth hissed, smiling apologetically at the young woman seated near them, who had dropped her stack of papers she had been holding. "Calm down. It's the best deal I could find." Piper scoffed, sipping her coffee in response. "The best deal would be paying a little out of your set budget. Not agreeing to live with a man you've never met, whose main stipulation is that you have to share the same bed!"
Annabeth sighed, toying with the end of her messy braid. "It sounds worse when you put it that way." Piper rolled her eyes, her incredulity written across her face. "Besides, we're not sharing the bed…in that way. Only whenever one of us isn't there. He works nights as a security guard at the museum downtown, so by the time I leave for work in the morning, he will just be getting off his shift. We might not ever see each other." "That's a big "if", Anna. Are you sure you can trust this guy?" Annabeth nodded, leveling her gaze with Piper's. "Apparently he's an old friend of Leo's."
Piper laughed, shaking her head. "Any friend of Leo's should be questioned." Annabeth rolled her eyes at her friend. "Piper, we're friends with Leo." "We're the exceptions," she responded. "Actually, I'm the exception. Maybe you're just as crazy as him with this idea of yours." Sighing at Piper's continuous nagging, Annabeth stood up, pulling her purse over her shoulder. "You'll see, Pipes. It will work out perfectly, and then I'll be able to say 'I told you so'!" Piper laughed in response, hooking her arm through Annabeth's. "Sure, Anna, sure."
Annabeth slid her key into the door's lock, gently turning it until she heard a soft click. She pushed open the door slowly, her apprehension getting the best of her despite her earlier confidence in the situation. As she surveyed the spacious apartment in front of her, Annabeth felt her nerves dissipate slightly when her gaze landed on the view outside of the window. "Wow," she whispered to herself, stepping further into the room, the sound of her suitcase against the hardwood breaking the silence.
As she moved from area to area, Annabeth couldn't believe her luck. When she had stumbled upon the listing on one of the local housing websites she had become all-too-familiar with over the past few months, she thought it was a joke. A stunning Manhattan high-rise with the lowest monthly rent she'd ever seen, with the condition that there was only room for a single bed? The poster, who simply identified himself as Percy Jackson, went on to explain that due to his long hours on the night shift, he was never home.
Annabeth's heart had filled with sympathy as he described that after his mom had became sick, he fell into debt due to the expensive hospital and treatment bills and needed an extra source of income to pay them off. Thus, his idea to have an "invisible" roommate was born. Annabeth fit the description of his ideal roommate perfectly; she worked a day job that lasted until dinner time, and wouldn't arrive home until he had already left for work. In theory, they would never have to interact. It would be as if they both lived alone.
The next day, the ad had come up in a conversation with her longtime friend Leo over their weekly dinner at their favorite Manhattan diner. Leo, ever the character, had immediately been on board with the idea. As he was reading through the posting, his face had gone slack-jawed. Percy Jackson had been Leo's best friend in high school. Leo was quite the tech whiz and within minutes confirmed Percy's identity.
It hadn't taken her long to make her decision.
When she reached the single bedroom, she sucked in a breath before entering. She was surprised to see a queen-sized bed, dressed in a simple white comforter with matching pillows. Percy wasn't kidding - despite the lavish interior of the apartment, there wasn't room for a second bed. The other two rooms were a bathroom and a laundry room. Annabeth sank onto the bed, pulling her suitcase up beside it. "Here we go," she whispered to herself, shrugging off her cardigan.
That night, Annabeth stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, combing her hair as she contemplated how the rest of the night was going to play out. She had changed into her sleepwear long ago, but procrastinated actually climbing into bed. The idea of someone else using the bed just as frequently as her was something she couldn't quite wrap her head around. "It's basically a hotel bed," Annabeth muttered to herself, making her way back into the bedroom. She pulled back the covers, sinking down into the soft material of the mattress.
The first thing she noticed was how good the comforter smelled. Since she had been expecting a detergent smell, it took her a second to realize it was cologne. She hadn't even considered the idea that her new roommate would wear something so…captivating. It smelled like a mixture of everything good in the world, paired with a day on the beach. A smile creeped onto Annabeth's face as she pulled the covers around her, breathing in her new favorite scent. It was distinctly male, causing her to blush slightly as the reality of her situation set in. "What have I gotten myself into?" Annabeth whispered into the quiet apartment.
She fell asleep within minutes.
Percy tossed his jacket onto the back of the kitchen chair, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Today had been particularity tiring, as a few drunk NYU kids decided to have a party outside of the museum at three in the morning, causing a commotion that about lost him his job. He glanced around the apartment, his gaze catching on a small suitcase tucked in the corner of the room near the bedroom door. His roommate must have arrived yesterday afternoon, according to the bag's presence.
If he was being honest, Percy didn't know too much about his new roommate. He had been so desperate for any sort of income that he had picked the first application he found that didn't give him a headache. There were some odd individuals in New York; so when he stumbled upon her application it had been a refreshing change in pace. In his haste to find a renter, Percy hadn't thought to ask for any kind of identification other than proof of prior residence and a valid bank statement. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have at least a picture of the person who now lives in his apartment.
All he knew about her was her name was Annabeth Chase, and she was a year younger than him. She had previously lived closer to downtown, in a small apartment complex Percy had passed a few times on his way to work when his usual route was blocked. His first thought after contacting her was how pretty her name was. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he tried to force himself to think of something else. It's not like he was ever going to see her. Their schedules didn't overlap for even one hour of the day.
After brushing his teeth and raising an eyebrow at the sheer amount of hair and makeup products now occupying two of his four bathroom drawers, Percy entered the bedroom and took in the neatly made bed, the pillows strategically propped up against the headboard. He pulled open one of the dresser drawers, relieved to find his own clothes still in their place. Percy quickly changed before sliding into the covers, freezing when he registered the soft lemony scent currently overtaking his senses.
Percy's heart beat faster as he realized it was her scent. Annabeth had slept on the same side as he did last night. It occurred to him in that moment how distinctly lonely his life had been since his mom fell sick. He had pushed his friends away, and hadn't dated since his ex, Rachel. That was years ago. "That's why you're acting so weird, Percy. You're just lonely." Even to him, his own reasoning sounded like a lie. As he settled beneath the covers, he whispered to himself, "What have I gotten into?"
He fell asleep within minutes.
Annabeth knew she should have stayed at Piper's house after she came down with a fever, but she had been too weak to even pick up the phone and call her friend. In her grogginess, she hadn't realized that by staying home from work the next day, she'd break the cycle her and Percy had kept up for the past two months - she comes, he goes; she goes, he comes. So when she awoke the next morning - or afternoon, she wasn't sure - the first thing she had seen was a pair of green eyes staring back at her.
She was too weary to react physically, but her heart stopped for a second before she registered the sunlight streaming through the window and the time on the clock that certainly wasn't seven-fifteen A.M. Memories flooded back of the night before, when suddenly she felt she was burning up and called off of work while fighting off a bought of nausea. Percy, she thought to herself, taking in his concerned expression. He was holding a leather jacket and a pair of car keys, his messy black hair falling into his eyes as he stood a few feet away from the bed. He was even more attractive than she ever could have imagined.
Annabeth tried to sit up, but winced as pain sliced through her head. Percy seemed to snap out of his shocked state, setting down his belongings before stepping closer to her. "Annabeth?" he questioned, his voice wary. All she could do was nod in response, holding a hand up to her forehead. "Are you okay?" Percy continued, sitting down on the small section of the bed near her right side. Even through her pain, she could smell the familiar scent of his cologne, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe properly. He was so close.
"I think I have the flu," she whispered in response, her throat flaring in pain. Percy winced in sympathy, reaching up and gently pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. "You're definitely warm," he noted, eyeing the bottle of medicine on the bedside table. "Have you taken any of this?" Annabeth nodded. "I took two last night, and then immediately fell asleep. I was hoping the fever would break overnight." Percy chuckled slightly, reaching over and picking up the medicine bottle. "The flu lasts longer than a day, Annabeth," he replied softly. The tenderness in his voice did things to her heart she didn't want to admit.
"I didn't want to break our deal," Annabeth whispered, looking down at her hands. She sucked in a breath when she felt his fingers gently lift her chin until she was looking into his gorgeous green eyes. "The deal doesn't apply when you're sick. It's your apartment. You're allowed to stay home to rest." She blushed slightly as she realized he had nowhere to sleep. "What about you?" Annabeth replied, gesturing to the bed. "I can sleep on the couch," Percy answered, shaking his head when she began to protest. "Let me do this, Annabeth," he whispered, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, before turning around abruptly.
Annabeth blushed scarlet as she watched his retreating form, chiding herself for feeling the way she did. How did she have such strong feelings towards a man she had quite literally just met? How had Percy Jackson become such a focal point in her life?
Percy tossed and turned on the uncomfortable leather couch, shifting under the thin blanket he had dug out from the linen closet. It wasn't just the couch's lack of comfort preventing him from sleeping. It was the girl in the room twenty feet away from him. It was an understatement to say he was surprised when he arrived home from work and discovered the prettiest girl he'd ever seen laying in his bed. He hadn't meant to wake her, but the hinge of the door he kept forgetting to oil creaked loudly when he had opened it.
Annabeth's blonde hair and striking grey eyes kept dancing across Percy's vision, her lemon scent coming back to him as clearly as if he was lying in bed like every other night, simply imagining what she looked like. Although he could have easily found her on some form of social media, Percy decided against it because he could feel himself falling for her despite not knowing anything about her besides her signature scent, the foods she most frequently left in the fridge, and her penchant for floral blouses and skirts if the closet was any indication.
Percy berated himself internally for allowing his feelings for Annabeth to shine through the way they had earlier. Something had possessed him to touch her chin, to push her hair behind her ear, to focus way too much on her lips. The idea of falling in love with someone solely from their scent was laughable at best, yet Percy knew deep down he had somehow made it a reality. He couldn't even fathom the idea of her feeling the same way, yet something about the way she had looked at him during their encounter made him wonder.
Could they ever be more than invisible roommates?
When Annabeth awoke several hours later, she felt much better than she had that morning. Sitting up slowly, she glanced around the darkened room and realized it was well past four P.M., the time that Percy usually left for work. A glass of water rested on her bedside table, and she downed the whole glass before sliding out from under the covers, adjusting the tank top and cotton shorts she was still wearing from the day prior. Annabeth had just pulled open the door when she stopped dead in her tracks, shock flowing through her system.
Percy's back was to her as he stirred a pot on the stove, the soft sounds of the TV filtering into the kitchen from the living room. "Percy?" Annabeth exclaimed, stepping further into the kitchen. He spun around, smiling when his gaze fell on her. She felt her heart flutter as she took in his smile. "You're awake," he replied, turning off the stove and pouring the contents of the pot into a bowl next to the stove. "I was just about to finish dinner." Annabeth's could feel her hunger building, and she wrapped her arms around her mid section, narrowing her eyes at the man in front of her.
"Why aren't you at work?" Percy set down the salt shaker he had been holding, stepping closer to her. "Did you think I was going to leave you here when you were sick?" "It's just the flu, Percy," she responded, a blush rising on her cheeks at the look in his eyes. He looked like he truly cared about her…but that couldn't be right. They barely knew each other. "It doesn't matter," he replied, his face serious. Annabeth realized in that moment that he was referring to his mom. As far as she knew, Percy's mom was still sick. Yet, the sincerity in his expression puzzled her. Could he care about her more than he let on?
"I'm feeling better," Annabeth decided, gently wrapping her fingers around his wrist and pulling his hand up to her forehead. Percy didn't look away as he pressed his hand against it. "You've cooled down," was his response. His eyes had turned a shade darker, which led Annabeth to realize the distance between them had dwindled significantly. If she moved an inch forward, they would be touching. "Is there any other reason you didn't go to work tonight?" Annabeth whispered, surprising herself with her boldness.
"Oh, Annabeth," he sighed, reaching out and wrapping an arm around her waist. She gasped in surprise, registering the warmth of his skin through the thin cotton material of her tank top. "For the past two months, I've told myself it's impossible to develop feelings for someone without knowing them, but I was lying. Every night since you moved in, I've slept better than I have in years. When my mom became sick, I pushed everyone in my life away. Until you came into my life, I never realized how lonely I was. You filled the emptiness in me, simply with your lemon shampoo, and your floral blouses, and your endless hair products. Just knowing those things are what made you, you, was enough for me to love again."
Annabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing. For a moment, she wondering if she was only dreaming, and she would wake up in the empty bed, the smell of Percy's cologne being the only thing linking her to him. He…loved her? He loved the small things that made up who she was, like the same shampoo she'd been using since middle school, and her obsession with anything floral print? Annabeth could feel her eyes watering as she wrapped her arms around Percy's neck, pulling herself closer to him. His gaze drifted to her lips before snapping back to meet hers, a question in the depth of his eyes.
She didn't think before she crashed her lips against his, shivering as his hands grazed the strip of exposed skin at her waist from where her tank top had ridden up. Pulling her against his chest, Percy deepened the kiss, walking them backwards until her back pressed against the kitchen counter. Annabeth threaded her fingers through his impossibly soft black hair, whimpering softly when his hands ran up and down her sides, his lips moving to her jaw for a moment before he kissed her again, softer this time.
Annabeth pulled back a few minutes later, resting her forehead against Percy's. She feels his thumb swipe against her cheek, and realizes there are still tears glittering on her lashes. Her heart is racing, her lips tingling and warm. Annabeth never wants to move from her position in his arms, his wrapped around her waist holding her tight. She feels as if she's floating.
Looking into the eyes of the man who she never imagined falling for, the one person in her life who's made her feel as no one else has, she realizes something for certain.
She's in love.
And she plans on never letting go.
"Okay, Mom. I'll make sure she knows. I love you," Percy responded, his tone exasperate as he tried for the third time to get his mom to hang up. Finally, the line clicks and Percy slides his phone into his pocket, pulling out his keys and unlocking the door. A soft humming filters through the house, bringing a grin to Percy's face that gets bigger the closer he gets to the kitchen.
His gaze lands on the woman in front of the stove, watching as she hums along to a Christmas song coming from the radio at the end of the counter. Her long, curly blonde hair spills over her shoulders and down her back, coming to rest at the waistband of her white skirt. Setting down his bag on the counter to alert her of his presence, Percy steps up behind her and slides his arms around her waist, his palms resting on the swell of her stomach.
Annabeth giggles softly, turning in his arms and pressing into him. She's wearing this captivating red lipstick that Percy can't seem to take his eyes off of, and she notices, biting her lip and moving just out of his reach. Shooting his wife a playful glare, he lowers his mouth to hers, suppressing a grin when her protests are muffled by his lips. Percy knows he's messing up her lipstick, but with the way her hands trail under his shirt, he knows she doesn't really mind.
Annabeth tastes like the apple pie filling simmering on the stove, and Percy can't get enough of it, of her.
She's everything he ever could have wished for, and all it took was a spur-of-the-moment post for Percy to find his forever home with the girl of his dreams, and the child they have created.
He couldn't ask for more.