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Percy doesn’t think he has ever seen Annabeth so in her element before.
Sure, she was excited when they got to see the St. Louis Arch, but they only had a few minutes to admire it before her mother allowed the monsters to breach her so-called “sanctuary”. It was kind of hard to appreciate the architecture when you were about to die.
Watching Annabeth now, her eyes bright with childlike wonder as she surveyed the area around them. She moved slowly, carefully, as though she might miss something important if she blinked.
He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
The way she took in every sculpture, every temple. The soft smile gracing her face every time she walked closer to read the small plaque of information. Annabeth glowed underneath the Met’s massive sky lights, her dark skin seemed to shimmer every time she turned her head. Her braids were slightly tangled, mostly as a result from him running his hands through it on the train.
Percy could only stare at her in awe. She was here. Right next to him. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime. He had thought of her endlessly these past few months, desperate to see her again, and hoping she was doing okay. The sight of her moving, laughing, existing just within arms reach had made it difficult for him to breathe normally.
Annabeth Chase was here, and he had missed her. More than he had ever allowed himself to admit.
“-and the drapery on this one is unreal. Can you believe they made the marble look exactly like fabric? Percy?”
His dazed thoughts cleared at the sound of her calling his name. He cleared his throat.
“Um yes, it looks very.. fabric-y.” Percy said sheepishly. He moved closer to the sculpture, to her, so he could lean down slightly and admire the handiwork.
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
“Seaweed brain, were you even listening to me?” One dark eyebrow arched as her arms crossed over her chest, hip jutting out at the movement.
Percy's heart fluttered.
“Of course I was.” He lied smoothly. How could he listen to the words come out of her mouth when she was physically standing in front of him for the first time in months? It isn’t his fault she looked just as beautiful as the art she continued to describe.
“Really.”
“Mm-hm.” Percy gave her a thumbs up. He watched as she fought back a smile.
“What did I just say then?”
Percy opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Annabeth groaned.
“No wait! You definitely said something about fabric. Maybe crepes?”
“Drapery, Percy.” Annabeth sighed dramatically. She stared at him, dark eyes shining with amusement.
“Right exactly. I knew that.”
He watched as she took his hand and dragged him to the next sculpture. Percy marveled at the way his pale hand looked against hers. Her hands were gentle, soft. He couldn’t help but stare at the way his fingers engulfed hers.
They continued on for a while. Every few minutes Annabeth would stop at another piece and launch into another explanation about its architecture, symbolism, or craftsmanship. She pointed out details Percy would have never noticed on his own, her excitement growing with every new exhibit they passed. He watched the way her eyes roamed every aspect of the art, as if this was the only time she would ever have the chance to lay eyes on it. While she was taking in all of the art, Percy was memorizing her.
Percy would take her to the Met every Sunday if he meant he got to see her this happy again.
His stomach twisted. How had he not known she was living in New York?
The guilt sat heavy in his chest. He had picked up his phone more times than he could count. He religiously counted his drachmas every few days just to make sure he had enough when he worked up the courage to call her.
Percy knew she had been upset with him after the last call. He didn’t understand why at the time, and figured she would call him again when she had cooled off.
He never expected any of this. Her back at that stuffy boarding school, her having to be alone in her dorm because her sister chose to become a Hunter. The thought of Annabeth being completely by herself in New York all this time..
He felt sick.
Percy had convinced himself she was thriving in San Francisco. That she was doing just fine without him and didn’t care to reach out again. Looking at her now, he realized just how wrong he had been.
Annabeth hadn’t changed much since he saw her all those months ago. She was still stubborn, still just as brilliant, still so short she barely reached his shoulder. A small smile tugged at his mouth, then disappeared just as quickly. She looked thinner than he remembered.
The realization settled heavily in his stomach.
Her previously round face was slightly sunken in at her cheeks. Her collarbones were a little more pronounced as she leaned over and the hoodie shifted to expose a dark shoulder. Percy had never had to live alone before, but he couldn’t imagine she was getting a stable income to be able to afford to eat three times daily.
Percy frowned. Maybe he was just imagining it. Maybe his mind was distorting things.
Annabeth had always been small, but this felt different. She had spent months alone, trying to figure everything out by herself.
An idea popped in his head, and his mouth spoke before his brain had the chance to process it.
“You hungry, Wise Girl?”
Annabeth quickly turned around, the question seemed to have caught her off guard.
“What?”
Percy shrugged, suddenly feeling awkward.
“You haven’t eaten today, have you?”
Annabeth’s eyes flickered away. That was enough to answer his question.
His stomach sank.
“Annabeth.”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“I had something earlier.”
“And what would that something be, hm?” He asked gently.
“I had a granola bar.”
"Beth," he said, fighting a smile, "I hate to break it to you, but if you're still holding out hope for a growth spurt before eighteen, a granola bar isn't exactly helping your case."
She rolled her eyes.
Percy's smile faded quickly. The truth was, he wasn’t really worried about her height. He was worried that a granola bar was the only answer she could give. He was almost sure the fancy boarding schools in the city also came with a meal plan.
“Let’s go get something to eat, okay?”
Annabeth looked back to the sculptures, then to the sun in the sky light that was quickly lowering.
Percy watched as she thought over the idea for a few moments, stepped forward to him and softly nodded.
“Okay.”
—-
Percy dragged her through the streets of Manhattan, hopelessly searching for the pizza place his mom swore was the best in the city.
“-she said it was the best pizza she had ever had, that it was the one thing she craved while she was pregnant with me. Well, that and seafood. Which is weird now that I think about it-”
“Percy.”
He kept walking, tugging her along with him.
He heard Annabeth sigh, and felt her pace speed up to keep up with his long strides.
“Come on, Wise Girl. The pizza isn’t going to find itself.” Percy winked.
The pizza place turned out to be a hole-in-the-wall tucked into the side of the laundromat, The bright LED letters of the sign flickering every few seconds, and the paint was peeling off of the door. Percy turned around and flashed a winning smile.
“This is it!” He announced triumphantly. He watched Annabeth take in the faded sign.
Percy opened the door and gestured to her to go through first.
“After you, Beth.”
The smell was glorious. Garlic, fresh dough, melted cheese.
Annabeth’s stomach growled. She turned to him mortified.
“See? Even your stomach agrees with me.” He joked, moving them forward to the counter so she could look at the menu more clearly.
He noticed how Annabeth’s eyes drifted towards the side of the large menu, where the prices were written in bright red paint, then immediately away.
‘I think I'm going to get the ‘pepperoni master’. Sounds interesting, huh?” Percy stated, nudging her shoulder.
“I’m not that hungry.”
Percy’s jaw dropped in shock. The lie was so obvious it almost hurt.
“Not hungry? Wise Girl, I think the entire city of Manhattan heard your stomach growl. There’s no way you’re not at least a little hungry after walking around all day.”
His eyes flickered towards her clenched fist, towards the torn wallet that was slightly peeking out from her bag. He understood instantly.
“Get whatever you want, my treat.” Percy stated, as if she didn’t have any other choice. Because really, she didn’t.
“I can’t let you do that, Seaweed Brain.”
“Sure you can!” Percy grinned. “You spent all day teaching my tiny brain all about architecture. This is how I can pay you back.”
“Percy, can you even name the different types of chiseling used in-”
“No need to dwell on the past!”
“That was twenty minutes ago.”
“The past is still the past, Beth. Come on, pick something out.” Percy shrugged innocently.
He watched Annabeth give him a raised look, her lips almost forming a straight line.
Percy ignored her, and turned to the man at the register.
“I’ll have two slices of the pepperoni master, and a blue soda,” He rubbed his chin as he thought some more, “and some of those cheesy garlic knots.”
Then he gestured towards Annabeth.
“And whatever milady wants.”
The cashier looked between them. Percy watched Annabeth close her eyes and sigh loudly.
He felt entirely too pleased with himself.
—-
The door chimed as they walked back outside to the busy sidewalk.
The sun was settling low, painting the sky in burnt orange and light red.
Percy glanced down at Annabeth and couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked in this lighting. The sunset bringing out the amber in her eyes and the burgundy of her pretty braids.
His mouth felt dry.
Annabeth looked up as if she could feel his gaze.
“What?”
“Uh.. nothing.” Percy stammered.
“You’re staring, Seaweed Brain.”
“Well maybe I just missed you, Wise Girl.”
He heard her breath hitch, watched as her eyes became a little glossy. His heart stuttered inside of his chest.
“I missed you too, Percy.”
Something shifted. There was a subtle change in her demeanor.
Her shoulders drew inward. He watched as she messed with the long sleeves of his hoodie. The small smile she had been wearing all afternoon slowly slipped away.
“You alright?” Percy asked, his arm coming around to rest on the top of her shoulders.
Annabeth blinked.
“Yeah.” She forced a small smile.
Percy leaned back against the building, silently tugging her along with him. She rested her head against the top of his arm.
“What time do you have to be back?” He asked quietly, as if he didn’t want to address the fact that as great as today had been, he was going back to his home in the Upper East Side, and she was going back to her cold, empty dorm in Brooklyn.
Her expression tightened. His heart sank.
“Nine.”
That was in a little over two hours from now. Just enough time to get her back to the train station and get on the subway.
Annabeth stared out at the traffic.
“You’re dreading it, aren’t you?” He wondered.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know.” She gave a half hearted shrug.
“You can talk to me, you know. I’m here now.”
Percy dropped his head to rest against the top of her braids, softly breathing in the smell of lemons and some other girly scent he associated with Annabeth.
A small sigh escaped her, the fight leaving her tense shoulders.
“The dorm just gets.. quiet. It was nice to be out today. You know, with you.”
Quiet. Percy remembered how she had described it on the train. Empty. Cold. Lonely.
His jaw clenched. His mind reeled at the idea of her spending another night stuck by herself. Percy doesn’t think he has even been so angry at Frederick Chase before. Annabeth stood in front of him, a girl just shy of seventeen, yet she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Again.
A lump formed in his throat.
The sky continued to darken. The thought of her walking back into that empty building made something twist painfully inside of his chest.
Before he could second-guess himself, he spoke.
“Come home with me.”
Annabeth froze.
Percy immediately felt the heat crawl up his spine, settling across his neck, and high above his cheekbones.
Gods, that sounded bad.
He stood up straighter.
“Not-” He coughed, trying his best to clear his suddenly dry throat.
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“Not like-”
A second eyebrow joined the first. Percy groaned.
“You know what I mean.”
A laugh escaped her, and he felt a sudden sense of pride at hearing the soft sound.
“My mom would love to see you.”
Annabeth’s expression was gentle, her eyes wide and cheeks tinted a slight pink.
“You could stay the night. My room has a couch.”
It did not, but that was a problem for him to solve later.
Annabeth looked down at her hands, fingers twisting a small silver ring.
“You wouldn’t have to go back to an empty dorm tonight.”
Percy waited, and prayed to any god listening that she would say yes.
For a long moment neither of them spoke. Then, so softly he barely heard her-
“Your mom truly wouldn’t mind?”
The question nearly broke his heart. She sounded so careful, so hopeful. Percy almost fell to his knees to reassure her.
“Wise Girl.”
She finally looked up to him.
“My mom has been asking about you for months.”
She gave a timid smile, fragile and still a little unsure.
“Well I would love to see Sally again.”
Percy beamed, tugging her forward to crush her against his chest.
“Okay yeah, great.” He tightened his arms around her and closed his eyes, thankful he wouldn’t have to let go of her anytime soon.
She huffed a laugh against his shirt, her breath light and warm, and Percy loosened his grip a little to grin down at her. His face felt warm. She had said yes. Percy could barely keep the excitement out of his words.
“Let’s not keep my mom waiting, hm?”
—-
The walk to his apartment felt far too short.
Annabeth had been quiet for most of it, her hands tucked deep inside the sleeves of his hoodie while she followed him up the familiar apartment steps. Percy stopped halfway up the final flight of stairs and turned around.
He watched as Annabeth stood stiffly on the landing. Something uncertain flickered across her face. The excitement she had carried through the museum had faded, replaced with hesitation.
“Hey.”
Her eyes focused on him.
Percy stepped back down a few stairs. Hand reaching out to take hers.
“My mom loves you.”
“Percy-”
“No seriously, she asks about you all the time. I’m pretty sure half our conversations somehow become about you anyway.”
Annabeth still looked guarded, as if she couldn’t quite believe the words coming out of his mouth.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to adopt you tonight. I think she has been wanting to get rid of me for years.” Percy tugged her along up the steps, a hint of playfulness touching his tone.
That earned him a tiny smile.
Before Annabeth could talk herself into another spiral, Percy turned and opened the apartment door.
“Mom? I’m home!”
Footsteps sounded immediately, and he watched as Sally Jackson rounded the corner of their kitchen table.
“Percy, honey, did you grab the dry cleaning from the- Annabeth?”
His chest tightened, because he heard everything his mom had said within that one word.
Shock. Excitement. Love
Annabeth barely had time to react before his mom was crossing the apartment and wrapping her arms around the girl’s frame. Percy didn’t have it in him to hold back his smile.
He watched his two favorite people embrace, and something inside his heart had skipped a beat.
Annabeth timidly returned Sally’s hug, her arms tightening around the woman’s waist. As if she didn’t know what to do with all the affection.
When his mom pulled away, he noticed her eyes looked suspiciously shiny. Her face was slightly red. She gently brushed a loose braid away from Annabeth’s face.
“Oh sweetheart, look at you. It’s been too long.” Sally’s voice wavered.
“You have no idea how much we missed you.”
Percy watched something crack in Annabeth’s expression. Just for a moment.
How long has it been since someone has fussed over her? Since she has been loved on by a parent?
His heart ached.
“Hi, Sally.” Annabeth’s voice came out so soft, softer than he had heard before.
Sally squeezed both of her hands, then looked over to him, her eyes asking the question before she even spoke.
“Hey mom, I figured it would be okay if Annabeth stayed over tonight?” His voice came out higher than normal, he ran a hand through the messy curls on top of his head as he watched his mom tilt her head.
“Of course it’s okay.”
Percy blew out a relieved breath, and he watched as Annabeth’s shoulders relaxed.
“Now, let me find you some clothes to wear, I just did Percy’s laundry. You’d think after surviving a labyrinth he could at least wash his own-”
“Mom!” Percy felt his cheeks go red, and watched as Annabeth threw her head back and laughed.
Sally smiled and turned on her heel, disappearing down the hallway into Percy’s room as though she had suddenly been assigned a quest of her own.
A quest to make sure Annabeth Chase felt welcome.
His mom had always loved fiercely, and he knew that it was no different when it came to Annabeth.
He gave Annabeth a slight push as he stepped forward to head to his room, her demeanor much more calm now that she had been officially allowed to stay.
He watched her take in the sight of his small room. She stared at his skateboards, brushed her hands lightly over his many vinyls, and stopped in front of his wall mirror.
His eyes widened.
Annabeth’s gaze found him through the mirror and she smirked, lightly tapping the picture of her that was stuck to the glass with patterned tape.
Percy blushed, and turned around to look for his own pajamas.
“Percy.” Annabeth called.
“Hm?”
“There isn’t a couch in here.”
Percy suddenly became nervous.
“Oh, um.”
“You told me your room had a couch.” Annabeth placed her arms on her waist, hip dropping to the side. Percy’s mouth went dry. Gods, she was-
“Percy Jackson. Tell me you did not lie to Annabeth about your room having extra space.”
He shook his head, unable to get the image of Annabeth standing in his room out of his mind, her holding a change of his clothes to wear. He cleared his throat.
“Well, I-”
“Yes?”
“I may have exaggerated.”
Sally’s eyebrows rose.
“Exaggerated?”
“We have a couch in the apartment.” He nodded as if he was trying to believe his own lie.
“The couch that has two holes in the cushions?”
Percy winced.
“Um, yes. That one.” He smiled nervously.
“And a soda stain because you were convinced you could drink from a cup while sitting upside down?”
Annabeth whipped her head towards him. Percy looked up at the ceiling.
“That was one time.”
“It was three.”
“It was a learning experience.”
Sally folded her arms.
“Perseus Jackson. I will not have Annabeth sleep on a torn up couch.”
“No of course not!” He defended quickly, ears turning bright red.
Both women looked at each other, then back to him. Sally covered her mouth to hide a small smile, then gently shook out the extra blanket that was spread across his bed.
“Annabeth gets your bed.”
“Obviously.” He agreed.
“You can take the floor.”
“What?! Mom.”
“Don’t argue with me, Perseus. I have a perfectly good air mattress for you to use.”
Percy groaned.
—-
He had made his bed three times.
Not because it needed it, not really.
Because every time he finished, he would notice something else. The blanket he chose wasn’t soft enough, the pillow a little too flat, the room slightly too hot, and then a touch too cold. Percy had adjusted the thermostat twice. Then grabbed an extra blanket. Just in case.
“Percy.”
His mother’s voice drifted down the hallway.
“What?”
“You’ve changed the sheets three times.”
“They’re clean.”
“They were clean the first time.”
Percy ignored her. Instead, he bent down and adjusted the corner of the comforter. Again.
His mom laughed and walked away. He rolled his eyes, then reached to fluff the pillow.
The bathroom door clicked open. The smell of mint toothpaste and the ocean-scented body wash he preferred wafting throughout the room.
Percy glanced up, his eyes widening. His brain felt as though it turned into mush, the accent pillow falling out of his hands and settling on the floor.
Annabeth had stepped out of the bathroom, his dark t-shirt almost swallowing her whole. The navy blue fabric hung past her thighs, the sleeves reaching past her elbows. The gray sweatpants he’d lent her were even worse.
Or better.
Depending on who you asked.
The waistband had clearly been rolled over multiple times, the pant legs folded over and over at the bottom so she didn’t step on them. Percy’s heart skipped widely at the sight of her.
Annabeth paused.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Percy blinked.
“Huh?”
“You’re staring, Seaweed Brain.”
He couldn’t really help it.
It was because the sight of her in his room, wearing his clothes, smelling of his body wash, had nearly sent him into a spiral. He had to physically force himself to remain seated near the bed, every impulse in him screaming to tug her into his arms and squeeze her closely to his chest.
She looked so comfortable in his room. Relaxed. Like she actually did live there.
Which Percy wouldn’t be upset about if she did. At all.
There was no tension in her shoulders, no guarded expression on her face.
Instead she was standing here. In his bedroom. Wearing clothes far too large for her and looking more at home than she probably realized.
Percy doesn’t know if he has ever seen anything more beautiful.
She was alluring. A goddess in her own way. The way her braids ran over her shoulder, mixed in with the curly strands of hair he knew she loved. Her dark eyes framed by her thick lashes, unable to look away from him. Percy drank in the sight of her.
He gave her an easy grin.
“Just making sure you’re still real.”
Something soft flickered across her face, then Annabeth rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder lightly.
Yep, still real.
—-
Percy knew the air mattress was losing the battle.
He knew it the first time his hip hit the floor. He knew it the second time.
And he definitely knew it the third time.
A frustrated groan escaped him as he rolled over and tried to redistribute his weight. The mattress wheezed beneath him, then sank another inch.
Percy didn’t remember the last time they actually used this air mattress, but if he had to guess it was when he was about a foot shorter and maybe 75 pounds lighter.
A soft laugh drifted down from above him.
Percy looked up.
Annabeth was lying on her side, her cheek pressed into one of his pillows. The oversized t-shirt he had given her was bunched at the waist, and her braids were spilled across the pillowcase.
She was trying, and failing, not to laugh.
“It’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.”
The mattress groaned again. Percy glared at it.
“It’s defective.”
“Or,” Annabeth suggested, “you’re just enormous.”
Percy gave her a pointed look.
“Rude.”
“You’ve grown a lot, Seaweed Brain.”
“So have you.”
“Not a foot.”
Fair.
Percy settled back down. The mattress sank at the immediate shift in weight, and his shoulder hit the floor.
Annabeth’s laughter escaped before she could stop it this time. The sound filled the dark room and Percy smiled lightly. He couldn’t remember a time she had laughed this much.
The apartment had gone quiet hours ago. His mom had bid them goodnight with a kiss to each of their heads. The city outside had softened into distant traffic and occasional sirens.
Percy shifted again. The mattress hissed, then somehow became even flatter.
“Oh, come on.”
He stared at the ceiling.
“This thing hates me.”
He heard his bed dip slightly, and turned to look.
Annabeth had leaned over the bed, peering down at him. Her expression was soft and warm.
“You can come sleep up here.”
Percy’s mouth fell open.
“What?”
Annabeth shrugged, then spoke again.
“You can sleep up here.”
“Annabeth.”
“What?”
“That’s a twin bed.”
“I know.”
Percy looked at the mattress. Then at the bed. Then at the air mattress again.
The mattress chose that exact moment to wheeze dramatically, as if it were begging him to please remove himself.
Annabeth met his eyes.
“We’ve survived worse sleeping arrangements.”
That was true.
Temple floors, questionable camp cabins, the occasional patches of dirt.
Compared to those, his twin bed was practically a luxury.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure, Percy.”
The certainty in her voice surprised him, and a few minutes later, Percy carefully climbed onto the edge of the mattress.
Percy attempted to find a position where at least one limb wasn’t falling off the side. Annabeth tried her best to scoot over as far as she could into the wall, which wasn’t a whole lot. His bed was tiny. Not small, tiny.
He was definitely going to wake up with a crick in his neck.
Eventually they settled, or had at least found the closest thing possible.
They were both laying on their sides, so close he could feel her nose almost brushing his. Their hands were nearly touching, and Percy ached to reach out and hold hers.
The room had grown quiet, and neither of them had spoken.
“So.”
Annabeth’s voice broke the silence.
“So?”
“How has school been?”
Percy moaned.
“Oh, so we’re starting with the hard questions first.”
A small laugh escaped her, her dark eyes roaming over his face as if she were memorizing him.
He knew the feeling.
He spent the next few minutes telling her about school. About how he accidentally broke a beaker in chemistry class. About Grover’s increasingly terrible attempts at growing a beard.
About his grades, about his friends.
Annabeth listened quietly. Sometimes laughing. Sometimes rolling her eyes at the stories of his antics.
But mostly just listening.
Percy had forgotten how much he missed this. Missed talking to her. Missed telling her things.
Missed having someone who understood every ridiculous part of his life.
“Rachel says Grover’s beard makes him look like Mr. Tumnus from Narnia, and you know I’m actually seeing the resemblance.” The words had left his mouth before he thought about them.
Immediately, Percy felt Annabeth go still.
Just slightly, but enough. His stomach dropped.
He tried to catch her gaze, but she seemed to be more interested in the camp beads that were resting in the hollow of his throat. Too interested.
“Oh.”
The realization hit him.
“Oh.”
Annabeth glanced up, her brown eyes finally meeting him.
“Don’t.”
“Wise Girl.”
“Percy.”
A grin tugged at his mouth. He couldn’t help it.
“Are you jealous?”
“No.”
“That was the fastest lie I've heard all year.”
Annabeth shoved his shoulder lightly, then tried to flip to her other side so she could avoid his eyes. Percy threw a strong hand over her side and grabbed her shirt, preventing her from being able to roll over.
Percy’s grin widened.
Then faded when he noticed the uncertainty lingering behind her expression. The insecurity, the hurt. His arm tightened slightly where it was wrapped around her waist.
Gods, of course.
She’d spent months alone. Months imagining things. Months without him.
Percy shifted forward, his unruly curls almost brushing against her forehead.
“Annabeth.”
Her eyes finally met his.
“Rachel and I aren’t together.”
The words came easily. Because they were true.
“I don’t care.”
He huffed an exasperated breath.
“We’ve never been together.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“No,” Percy smiled softly, “you just got weird the second I said her name.”
That earned him another shove. This one stronger.
Percy chuckled.
“She’s my friend.”
Annabeth remained quiet, her hand coming to softly rub away the wrinkled lines on his shirt. Her hand felt soothing, and he tried to lean into it more.
“Just my friend.”
The silence stretched. Then a quiet,
“Oh.”
Percy nodded.
“Yeah.”
Something seemed to ease in her shoulders. Just a little, enough to where he noticed.
The city continued to hum outside, and the words escaped him before he could stop them.
“I missed you. So much.”
The fingers on his shirt froze, stopping their gentle movements all together.
“I know things got weird. And I know we both stopped reaching out.” His voice sounded rougher than he intended. He swallowed, closed his eyes, then continued.
“But I hated it.”
The confession hung in the darkness. Honest and painful. A humorless laugh escaped him.
“There were so many things I wanted to tell you. I’d read something in class and think you’d like it, or see something that made me think of you. There were so many times where Grover had done something stupid and I thought, ‘Gods, Annabeth would never let him live this down.’ ”
A small sigh escaped her.
The bed creaked softly as Annabeth shifted.
“I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”
Percy’s eyes snapped open.
“What?”
“Well, you never tried to call me back, or iris message me after our last call. I thought you truly were mad. That you didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“You didn’t call me either.”
“I know.” Annabeth used both hands to cover her face. Hiding herself from his gaze.
“Rachel spent half the year listening to me talk about you.”
That got her attention.
“You didn’t.”
“I did. She literally called me pathetic because I wouldn’t shut up about you.”
The look on Annabeth’s face was priceless.
“I’m not kidding.” His smile softened.
The words were quiet, guilty. Percy rubbed a hand over his face.
“There wasn’t anyone else.” His voice was calm. Certain.
He pulled a hand away from her face, holding it to his chest gently.
“There still isn’t.”
The words hung in between them, not quite a confession, but not quite innocent either.
Percy let his thumb drift across the back of her hand, her skin smooth and warm to the touch.
“I just.. spent most of the year wishing my best friend would call me.”
All those months, all that distance. Only because both of them had been too stubborn and too scared to make the first move.
“We wasted a lot of time.”
Annabeth nodded.
“Yeah. We did.”
They had wasted months, entire months. And now looking at her lying next to him in his too small bed, he couldn’t understand why either of them had let that happen.
“I’m not doing it again.”
The words slipped out, so soft he didn't think she heard them.
Annabeth looked slightly confused, she brushed his camp necklace with her pinky.
“What?”
His expression was firm, determined.
“I’m not losing you again, Annabeth.”
She stared at him for a moment, eyes searching his face like she was looking for the lie. Then slowly moved forward, her braids brushing his head gently. Percy could feel her breath on his face, his heart stuttering as she continued to lean into him. Her lips pressed gently to his cheek, soft and unhurrying.
Percy almost passed out. His pulse thrummed loudly throughout his ears. His eyes staring at her wide in shock, almost as if she had possessed him completely.
She lifted her head and smiled shyly as she laid back down, her head scooting closer to his so they could share his pillow. Her foot brushed his, as if to tell him it was okay, that he could scoot closer.
Percy was shaking. He slowly, as if to not scare her away, wrapped his arm around her waist, the fabric of the t-shirt she wore bunching up as he slid his hand to her back, inching her towards him.
Annabeth let out a pleased hum, and slid closer to him. Her forehead came to rest in the hollow of his throat. Her leg tangled with his under the softness of the blanket.
Percy couldn’t believe his luck.
Before today, he didn’t even know she was in New York. Every day he went without speaking to her had physically pained him.
Then he saw her on the train. Took her to the Met. And now here they were, limbs crossing over one another to the point where you couldn’t see where he started and where she began.
It felt like a dream. One he prayed he wouldn’t wake up from, but then she spoke.
Soft. And real.
“Thank you, Seaweed Brain. For today. For.. everything.”
Percy shifted closer, resting his cheek on her hair. The lemon scented oil soothed him, and reminded him of home. Of her.
“You’re welcome, Wise Girl.”
And then they slept.