xli. Paper Rings

When the clock struck noon, everyone cheered as it concluded the final day of midterms and the beginning of winter break. And that meant Annabeth could hang out with Percy and Estelle and she was excited to enjoy her first holidays in Manhattan.

Her grey eyes wandered about New York City and she smiled. Annabeth never thought she would love this city as much as she actually did—it was all thanks to Percy.

She waited for her boyfriend outside of Goode High School while listening to Dancing With Our Hands Tied and gazing around with her hands shoved deep into her cardigan.

I, I loved you in spite of
deep fears that the world would divide us
So, baby, can we dance
Oh, through an avalanche?—

Annabeth quickly took out of her headphones as she spotted Percy, however, her smile faltered, noticing Elle with him.

Elle and Percy were laughing about something and they grinned to one another afterwards. Annabeth then plastered a smile when Elle greeted her.

"Well, I'm going to go, Percy! Text me over break! You and Annabeth have a good winter break! Cya Elle waved goodbye and walked away.

"Cya!"

Percy greeted her with a kiss, "Sorry, Annabeth! I didn't mean to make you wait! I bumped into Elle on my way out and we began talking about winter break and got bit distracted!"

"It's fine," she reassured and intertwined their fingers with a smile, "Let's go home and start our winter break, shall we?"

"We shall," he nodded and they began walking.

Midway on their walk, Annabeth gazed at Percy and softly smiled, feeling her love for Percy overtake her.
They stopped walking and Percy raised an eyebrow at her.

"What is it, wise girl?" frowned Percy. "Is everything alright—"

Instead of answering him, Annabeth tiptoed and kissed Percy, leaving him dumbfounded and flushed.

"Of course, everything is alright," Annabeth then shrugged, "Besides the fact that I might have failed my midterms."

"I doubt you fail it," chuckled Percy, "I should be the one who is worrying because I have a greater chance of failing while you probably aced it all."

"Who know," she blushed, "Anyways, let's not talk about exams anymore! It's winter break!"

"Yes, it is," Percy grinned.

"I think that when we arrive at your apartment, I'm going to take a nap to relieve my stress and besides, I'm tired," Annabeth informed.

"Well," Percy smirked, "I think I have a better way to relieve the stress."

"Oh, which is?" she asked despite already knowing what her boyfriend was thinking.

"You'll see when we get home," he winked, "It's going to be my reward for studying with you five hours each day for the past two weeks."

"Alright," Annabeth cheekily smiled, "I can't wait."

Annabeth instantly frowned when they walked up to the apartment complex building and examined the snowmen and her eyes widened, realizing there was only four snowmen.

Annabeth's eyes widened, and she looked over to Percy, who shook his head and softly explained, "Unfortunately, one of them had got knocked over last night-Jason is dead."

"Jason is dead?" Gasped Annabeth, looking back to the cheery snowmen and quickly said, "Like the snowmen, not the-"

"Oh my god, no," Said Percy, his eyes widened. "The real Jason didn't die, well I think he didn't, um, yeah."

Annabeth bit her lips, "Does Estelle know?"

"I don't think so? I didn't tell her that Jason the snowmen died because it's going to break her heart, but she might already knows."

Annabeth and Percy then looked at each other with an idea that would hopefully keep Estelle happy and quickly rushed over to the fallen snowman where it's snow laid on the ground.

"Are we going to rebuild Jason?" asked Annabeth and he nodded, "Do you have all his belongings?"

"Yes, I hid it this morning in a bag so Estelle wouldn't find it," he then chuckled, "This is going to be Jason 2.0."

Annabeth nodded and looked down at the clumps of the snow. She laughed, "C'mon, Seaweed Brain, let's revive Jason from the dead."

After Jason 2.0 was built in the next fifteen minutes, they went inside to change into fresh new clothes and got distracted with one another in his bedsheets as grunts and moans filled silence of the apartment (Sally and Estelle were out grocery shopping and Paul was still at work to finish grading midterms).

They quickly cleaned themselves afterward and decided to watch a new tv-show (Hospital Playlist) while drinking hot cocoa and eating blue cookies in the living room.

Sally and Estelle eventually came home and Estelle ran over to Annabeth and they hugged.

"Annabeth! How are you?"

"I'm good," smiled Annabeth, "How about you?"

"I'm doing great!" exclaimed Estelle. "It's Christmas next week and I couldn't wait to show you my gift!"

"Oo, what is it? Can you tell me?"

Estelle shook her head with a giggle and sat down besides them, "No, sorry, I can't! It's going to ruin the surprise!"

Annabeth laughed, "I guess it would."

"Anyways, are you excited for winter break! I'm excited! Percy has a lot planned for us!" Estelle's words caused Annabeth to curiously look at Percy and he blushed.

"Yes, that is true," he sheepishly nodded, "I have a lot of activities planned for us throughout the next two weeks, I hope you're okay with that."

"I am, don't worry," she reassured, "I told you a thousand times before that I'm okay whatever you have planned for us: I'm happy to spend the next two weeks with you."

"I'm glad," he softy smiled and kissed her.

Estelle beamed then asked, "Do you guys want to play some cards games? I really want to play Uno."

She and Percy glanced at each other and they nodded, "Sure!"

In the next hour, Uno cards laid scattered across the coffee table and she and Percy were happily watching Estelle sing and dance to Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince by Taylor Swift, pretending to be her audience of her concert.

It's you and me, that's my whole world
They whisper in the hallway, "She's a bad, bad girl" (okay)
The whole school is rolling fake dice
You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes
It's you and me, there's nothing like this
Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince (okay)

Percy and Annabeth excitedly clapped and cheered as Estelle finished singing and the little girl beamed, causing her to swell with adoration. Her eyes then widened in amazement as Estelle asked her to join her and sing and Annabeth accepted.

Percy's grin widened as Annabeth and Estelle sang to Paper Rings and her cheeks reddened, avoiding his gaze.

Kiss you once 'cause I know you had a long night
(Oh) Kiss you twice 'cause it's gonna be alright
Three times 'cause you waited your whole life
(One, two, one two three four)

Annabeth then met Percy's eyes and he blushed, causing her to grin.

I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Uh huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want, and
I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
Uh huh, that's right
Darling, you're the one I want
In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams
Oh, you're the one I want

When the song was over, Annabeth sheepishly sat back down next to Percy and he immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap.

"Where are my kisses?" he pouted, "I want my kisses."

Annabeth laughed, knowing he was referring to the lyrics in Paper Rings, and kissed him—not only once, twice, thrice, but ten times all over his face—and her beloved boyfriend had became a blushing mess.

She finally pulled away from him and cheekily grinned, "You got your kisses, now where's my paper rings?"

Annabeth had said that as a joke, but a few hours later as she reading the the Last Olympian on his bed, Percy surprised her two paper rings; mouth agape, her eyes widened in surprise quickly softened into love and her heart began racing.

"Percy..." she softly whispered.

"Annabeth, I know it's quite earlier for this in our relationship, but after you jokingly ask where's your paper rings, I..." he confessed with flushed cheeks, "I realized I would marry you with paper rings, that's if—"

"I do," she interjected with a kiss, "I do, Percy Jackson."

[originally published on 12/18/20 && formerly titled Before the Storm.]

[this chapter has a way more happier ending than the original one (it implied that percabeth was going to break up soon ;).]

[12/18/20] author's note! I guess you can tell what's happening or can you? This chapter was supposed to be longer but time was running out and I need a break! I wonder what's going to happen tomorrow...I'm officially on my winter break and I have a lot of things planned for False God and other projects! I hope everyone had a good Friday and to those whose winter break started today-I hope you have a good winter break! Thank you for reading and have a good day/night! Much Love, Lucinda! 💙