Chapter 21

It was a late night for Annabeth. She rubbed her eyes and pitched out a tired yawn. Ten O'clock, her phone told her. Annabeth was in Elysium's library with piles of books and the warm fire to make her cozy. It was a Friday night, and it would have been time for some fun Friday-night-stuff with her friends (she wasn't a huge fan of it to be honest, but she loved her friends too much not to spend time with them), but Piper was on a date with Jason, Hazel and Calypso were off to go buy dresses for the upcoming party, and Silena was gone for some French tutoring. This left some time for Annabeth to be left alone with some books, which she desperately needed. Ever since the incident with Jackson, her brain was left in a puddle of mess. She seemed to be in this sort of.. "funk"… that she couldn't describe. She would have hoped that books would be a treatment. Although Annabeth felt relaxed in the environment, her choices of books weren't helping her out. It seems that there is always a need for sappy romance when you're also feeling one as well. As much as she hated it, deep inside Annabeth delighted in the gooey feeling one gets from reading a cheesy book. The illustration of a kiss made her secretly wonder what it was like. She began imagining, letting her well-developed cerebral cortex run wild. She felt her insides churn and blend at the images: cuddle sessions here and some kisses there. She buried her face in the book, embarrassed at such thinking. She stayed in her cycle of desire of romance and shame of it until a voice she dreadfully (and delightfully) recognized behind her.

"You know, burying your face in a book isn't going to help you understand it."

Lo and behold, Annabeth turned around to see Jackson in all his glory. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants with a fitted black t-shirt. His wind-swept hair seemed wet as if he gone off for a swim. His hands were in his pockets as he walked toward Annabeth with a large grin on his face. He looked like a damn model to Annabeth.

"Hey," Annabeth said, trying not to sound as surprised as she did. Percy didn't take notice of it as he sat down beside her. Annabeth tried not to stare or blush as he began to lie down, stretching his toned muscles that were visible through his shirt.

"Hey, yourself. Pretty cozy place you got here. Any snacks for me?"

Annabeth shook her head at him. "It's late at night," she said.

Percy stared at her.

Annabeth tried to look away from his sea-green eyed stare. "Isn't it unhealthy for a late night snack?" she explained further, trying to find another place to look at other than him. "Shouldn't you mind your diet, especially because you're an athlete?"

Percy made a dramatic sigh. "Aw, come on," he complained, throwing his hands up with a flair. "My coach is up on me about my diet and I'm craving for some Poptarts and chips at the moment. I want Sour Patch, some gummies, and candy!"

Annabeth laughed at his antics. It was cute. "Well, lucky for you," she said. "I brought some snacks that I didn't eat for dinner."

His head perked up. He gave her a smile that could light up the whole world. "Now you're talking. Is it okay if I get some?"

Annabeth nodded her head and pointed towards her bag that was placed near a couch across the room. "It's in my bag," she said.

Percy turned his head towards the direction where she was pointing. "Ugh, distance," he said. "Too far away."

Annabeth raised her eyebrows. "Didn't you just say that you wanted some snacks?"

"I do. But too far away. It's a struggle."

She shook her head in amusement and disbelief. "And to think you're a prospective athlete."

"Hey now," Percy tried to defend himself. "Even an athlete has the right to be lazy."

"That doesn't mean you necessarily should, Seaweed Brain," She chided. The name 'seaweed brain' just automatically rolled off her tongue. Somehow, the nickname sounded right. It felt natural. And it felt natural for Percy too.

"Hey, now," he said. "Don't go all 'wisecracking' on me."

She laughed. This was the first time they made some natural conversation and it felt good to her. It was funny because just the idea of talking to him would have made her into a bumbling mess. But somehow, Annabeth could feel the predominant enjoyment by being near him. Maybe she wanted and enjoyed his company more than she would feel nervous about it.

She folded her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. She looks at Percy. "Is there anything else you do?" she asked. She was genuinely curious about him. He was quite a legend in school where his name was thrown around a lot. But despite the stories she heard (one including how he strangled some snakes as a kid), she never felt she got to knew him. Maybe this was her chance. "Other than pig around all day, of course," she teased.

"Hey, I'll let you know just how productive I am as a person," he defended himself. But the tone of his voice was light-hearted as he knew it was just a joke. He thought for a while. "Nothing much, I guess," Percy shrugged. He never really considered himself the one to be all that interesting.

Annabeth raised her eyebrows. According to Katie, Percy spent his whole entire life calling for trouble. His antics with Leo and Travis were according to Katie, "troublesome". And that was an understatement. Percy noticed her skepticism.

"What? I'm just a kid from New York."

"I don't believe you," Annabeth said. She mentally added the fact that he was from New York as well. It should have been an ordinary fact, but they seem extra special when it's about someone you care about.

Percy considered for a moment. The sound of crackling fire behind them. "No, I don't really think I have anything to offer."

Annabeth remembered the story Katie told her about the time when Percy stood up to his friend Grover against a man so big he was nicknamed the "Minotaur" before the people called the cops. There was another story about how he was basically a begrudgingly respected figure to the gang in town called the "Hunters" who basically persecuted all boys. Thalia, Jason's older sister, who Annabeth got along quite well, respected Percy. There were so many stupid (and extremely reckless), yet impressive stories about him. He was a quite a figure and it amazed Annabeth that he wouldn't mention any acts he's done to impress her. His humility made him all the more attracting to her. "There's got to be something," Annabeth insisted. "We all have something extraordinary in us."

Percy smiled. "Alright then," he said. "Why don't you tell me about yourself. You're the new girl here after all."

"Hey, you can't do that," Annabeth protested. "I asked you first."

Percy stuck his tongue out and Annabeth rolled her eyes at his childish antiques. "Fine, what is it about me that you want to know?" She didn't quite understand why she couldn't win an argument against him.

"Everything," he simply stated. "Parts of you that I think that matters. Which is everything."

Annabeth blushed. "That's too cheesy, Seaweed Brain," she said with a shove. He toppled over with a laugh. She shook her head, but she was smiling too.

As Percy was laying on the warm carpet, he spun around so that he could look up to see her face while she talked. "I suppose you like books?" he asked.

Annabeth shrugged. "They're great," Annabeth admitted. "I used to hate them as a kid because I was dyslexic. I thought I was stupid."

Percy frowned. "But being dyslexic doesn't mean you're dumb. Heck, being dyslexic doesn't mean you're all that different."

"You sound like you talk from experience."

It was his turn to shrug. "Maybe I'm dyslexic too. And yeah, maybe I had to work a little harder to get things right, but I don't think that a learning disorder defines me enough to make me be different than others."

Annabeth gave him a curious look. "You're a lot wiser than you look."

"Whatever," he said rolling his eyes. He was never good at taking compliments properly. Maybe it's because he never got one as a kid, but that particular fact is something Annabeth will learn later on towards the future. "Anyways," he continued on with the conversation. "Is there anything else you want to do?"

"Well…" Annabeth said hesitantly. "There is something I really enjoy and hope to do in the future."

Percy's head perked up. "What is it?" he asked with great curiosity.

"It's a little embarrassing," she said with a blush on her face. It was a sensitive, private subject to talk to anyone about. She hadn't even shared it with Piper or Calypso

"Tell me," he begged.

"I don't know," Annabeth hesitated.

"I won't force you, but please?" he said with bright sea green eyes that got bigger every second. Annabeth could have sworn he looked like a baby seal at the moment. The more she stared into it the more she wavered.

"Fine," Annabeth sighed. "I'll tell you."

"Yes!" Percy said with a fist to the air in triumph. He was really dangerous, Annabeth decided. Percy sat up, crossed his legs and patiently waited for her to continue on.

"Architecture," Annabeth said so silently that it came off as a whisper.

"What's that? I couldn't quite catch you there."

"Architecture, Seaweed Brain!" she said. She hugged her legs closer to her body in embarrassment, feeling exposed. "There, happy!"

"Of course I am," he said. He tilted his head as if there was something that confused him. "I'm happy because there's something that there's something interesting and exciting for you. Why would you be embarrassed by that?"

"I don't know," Annabeth admitted. "Maybe it's because my dream is so close to representing who I am that when I tell people what I want to do, I'm basically telling them a part of myself."

"I think it's beautiful," Percy confessed. "I think it's beautiful that there's a job out there to create something out of nothing."

Annabeth bashfully lifted her head at his compliment. "You really think so?"

Percy gave her a grin and it was something that could light up the entire world. "There's no way I would lie about that."

"What about you?" Annabeth asked. "It's your turn now."

Percy stopped and considered for a moment. "I don't know," Percy admitted.

"Don't know?"

"I don't know what I ought to do," he said. "I enjoy swimming and the sea. So maybe a marine biologist? I'm pretty good with horses for some reason. A marine-horse veterinarian sounds interesting to… If there's a job like that in the first place."

Annabeth smiled. "So you do have something you enjoy!"

Percy shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe there's more out there that I don't know about."

Annabeth laughed. "Well, it's a start. And like everything else in life, you got to start somewhere."

Percy considered for a moment. "Yeah," he considered Annabeth's remark. "I suppose so."

"Any future plans, like a college or anything like that?" Annabeth asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "A scholarship to Olympus University would be amazing, but even if I was fortunate to get it, I wouldn't know about committing myself to it yet." Percy was hesitant, not because he wasn't passionate enough about swimming or he thought he was financially stable enough to go to college. He needed the scholarship. Like, he needed it. But maybe there was something that's been bothering him. He couldn't figure out what, but there was something that he needed to resolve before he made a decision.

"There's something that's holding you back," Annabeth noticed. "What is it."

Percy looked into her eyes so intensely that she blushed and looked away. "I don't know. I just don't know yet." He gave out a yawn and stretched himself out. "But, it doesn't matter at the moment. Maybe there is something out there that's holding me back or maybe not. But the future has yet to come and I still have time to let myself decide."

Annabeth laughed. "I believe that's called procrastinating."

"You say that. I say being generous so that future-Percy can decide on his future. The Jackson family doesn't like being told what to do."

"Even to themselves?"

"Especially to themselves."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but it was in good nature. His silliness was well received.

"Well," Annabeth said. "You're a junior now, you have to consider something soon."

"Ugh," Percy complained. "You sound just an adult."

Annabeth laughed at his childish antics. "And what's wrong with that, Seaweed Brain?"

"You don't seriously suppose we should have figured out our lives together right now, do you? I don't even suppose adults have it figured out either."

Annabeth considered it for a moment. "I suppose you're right," she admitted. "But you know the people that end up nothing in life? They're usually the ones who never bothered to come up with an answer in the first place. We all don't know what the future holds, Percy, but we still got to try to answer that question. At least we have to try."

Percy sighed. "I hate the fact that you're right."

She smiled. "I usually am for most of the time."

"Wow, cocky much?"

"Arrogance is valid if it can be backed up."

"I think that's what you call 'hubris'."

Annabeth smiled at the small banter that they have exchanged. It was nice to talk to him. It was nice to finally have the chance to understand Percy Jackson for who he was. And so far, Annabeth couldn't help but fall for him harder.

"Homecoming," she blurted out of nowhere.

Percy frowned in confusion. "Huh?"

"I mean all your friends are going. Are you going to?" She said nervously. She didn't know why she brought up the subject about the high school dance. Actually, she did. She knew precisely why she asked him about it. But she didn't realize how bold she was going to be about it.

"I don't know, why do you ask?" Percy said with a smirk, expecting Annabeth to explain herself. That little jerk.

"No reason," Annabeth said with a blush.

Percy shrugged. "I don't know, Jason forced me to buy the ticket when he was planning on asking Piper to the dance. So I could if I wanted to."

"But….."

"But," Percy continued. "I just don't feel like going. It's just a high school dance."

"Oh, so Mr. Jackson here is too cool to go to a dance?"

"Hey! I never said that."

"Sure, sounds like it."

"Well, I'm sorry I don't know if I should spend my time in a dance with a bunch of drunk teenagers at school."

"How about spending the time with me instead?" Annabeth softly said, almost to an inaudible whisper. She braced herself the answer as her heart was beating out of her chest.

Percy stood there shocked for a while, trying to comprehend what she meant by that. At least, he wasn't that dense.

"Yeah…." He managed to say. "I could do that."

Annabeth made a relieved smile. "Cool, so we'll meet each other there?"

"Yeah."

"Cool."

"Cool, cool, cool. Can't wait."

"Sure thing."

"….."

It wasn't the best, nor the worst of moments in Annabeth's life. But it was a moment where she asked her crush to the dance. And that moment was special enough to her.

Plot consistency? What's that? As if I would know... Thanks guys for reading. Any commentary and criticism is appreciated. Thanks!