xxx. Happy Ending

Annabeth woke up with startled and sighed in relief when she checked her phone and realized school didn't start till tomorrow then quickly got ready, wondering in anticipation if her dad and Helen will finally talk to her about Percy. From what she had overheard a few nights ago, they should've already made up their mind—however, it seems like they're still disagreeing. She couldn't wait forever.

A soft smile formed on her face, remembering what occurred last night with Percy—dancing in the living room, dancing around in the refrigerator light, laughing. It was a memory she would forever cherished.

After getting dressed in a white turtleneck and jeans, she headed to the dining room where her family was eating breakfast.

"Good morning, Annabeth," Helen exclaimed, handing her a plate of eggs and bacon.

"Good morning," she responded, sitting down, then chuckled as Bobby chugged down his cup of orange juice.

"Bobby! You're spilling orange juice on the floor!" scolded Helen, taking away the cup from him, "What is this, your fourth cup of juice?"

Bobby pouted, "Orange juice is good though!"

"It has too much sugar in them, that's bad for your health," Helen shook her head. "Drink some water instead."

"But water is disgusting, mommy!" Said Mathew, joining in. "It has no flavor!"

"But it's healthy unlike orange juice," reasoned Helen then filled their cups with water, "Drink your water."

Bobby and Mathew began whining before quickly quieting when Helen threatened to take away their iPads and they silently ate breakfast. Her dad then greeted them all as he sat down a little while later and ate with them.

"Bobby, Matthew," the twins looked at Helen, "You know your friend Estelle Blofis from class?"

Annabeth's ears perked up at the mention of Estelle and she curiously looked at Helen, wondering why she was asking about the little girl.

"Yes, we do!" answered Bobby, "She's very kind! What about her?"

"Well, us and her parents agreed to have a play date at the playground today!" explained Helen with a smile, "Isn't that fun?"

Her brothers cheered in agreement, "Yes, it is!"

Annabeth softly smiled then asked as an idea formed in her mind, "Dad, Helen, I can help supervise their play date so you and Helen and Estelle's parents can have the day off to relax? Does that sound good?"

Annabeth was hoping she could also maybe hang out with Percy while babysitting Estelle and her brothers which she didn't really mind.

Helen and her dad exchanged glances then her dad said, "Actually, we were hoping that while Sally and Paul supervise their play date, we could talk to you and Percy."

Annabeth dropped her fork onto the plate in surprise and her eyes widened, "You...you wanted to talk to Percy and I? About us...dating?"

"Yes, about that," he nodded, "That's if you and Percy are free this—"

"Yes, we're free! We would definitely free today," she could barely contain the excitement and anxiety in her voice.

"Well, that's settled then. We'll meet at 1pm for lunch and discussed. In the meantime, let's continue eating breakfast."

It was finally 1pm and Annabeth chewed her lips and fidgeted with her bracelets as she awaited for Percy to arrive at the busy restaurant for lunch. Though Annabeth had been excited earlier, she was now overwhelmed with fear. Fear that this was the end of the endings.

Her eyes kept wandering around the restaurant and a soft smile formed on her face as she spotted Percy and he walked over to her.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Chase," he greeted and bowed, "I'm sorry that I'm late: traffic. How are you guys doing today?"

"We're doing good," answered Frederick, then said, "Please sit down, Percy. How are you today?"

"Good," Percy nodded with a kind smile then nervously said, "Uh, Annabeth said you guys wanted to talk to us about our relationship?"

"Yes, that's right," confirmed Frederick, "But shall we order first? I'm quite hungry."

"Thank you, that's all," said Frederick to the waitress and when she walked away with their orders, he turned to look at Percy, "Before I say anything else, do you love my daughter?"

"I do," Percy softly smiled at her and intertwined their fingers underneath the table, "I love her than everything in the universe."

"What about you love about her?" asked Frederick sternly.

"Everything," the fear within her slowly faded and she instead felt loved, "I love her beautiful smile. I always get so happy when I see it and I always try to make her smile. I love how happy she gets whenever we go to the library, bookstores, and cafes. I love her laugh, it sounds like a beautiful melody. I love when she tells me about random, interesting facts and the plot of the book she's reading whenever and wherever. I love how hardworking, ambitious, and wise she is. I love that she's super kind and loving. I love how happy she makes me. Whenever, I'm with her, I'm like I'm...home."

He then looked at her dad and Helen, "I know you're just being protective over Annabeth and worried that because it's been only an month since we started swung, our relationship will end tragically and bitter—I understand that. I can't promise you guys that we won't break up, but I can promise that I will make her happy."

Annabeth's mouth agape in surprise and her gaze fixated on him, eyes clouded with tears of pure happiness and heart fluttering and racing so fast. Not even caring her dad and Helen were there, Annabeth caressed Percy's cheeks and kissed him.

"I love you, Percy," she whispered when they pulled away,"I love you so much, Percy."

"I love you too," he tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead.

Annabeth and Percy then glanced at her dad and Helen and blushed, seeing their soft smiles, and watched as they glanced at one another.

They couldn't say no after Percy confessed his love for her right then and there. That was just cruel.

"Dad, Helen, you're not going to...break us up right?" her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Of course not, Annabeth," she and Percy instantly beamed at one another and he planted a kiss on her forehead, "I can see you really make one another happy and I thinks that's all that really matters at the end of the day."

Annabeth looked at Helen and her step-mom smiled, "Yes, it is."

After lunch, Helen and her dad allowed Annabeth to go whenever she and Percy wanted and she felt high from how euphoric she felt mindlessly traveling around Manhattan with her boyfriend, laughing and holding hands.

Annabeth was still grinning when she came home and got ready for bed and immediately FaceTimed  Thalia. Annabeth's eyes widened when Helen entered her bedroom and she quickly said goodbye to Thalia.

"Is everything alright?" she asked her step-mom.

"Yes," nodded Helen, sitting on the edge of her bed, "I just want to...apologize for doubting you and Percy's love for each other: I realized at lunch that you truly do love another—I have never seen you so happy. It's just I was worried..."

"Your argument was very reasonable, Helen," Helen looked at Annabeth in surprises and she blushed, "Percy and I both agreed that our relationship is very fast and we both know that we might break up, but it's okay because we're both really happy right now so..."

"Alright then, just be careful," half-smiled Helen then got up from bed, "Well, I'm going to bed and you should too. If you need anything, you know that you always come to me, right?"

"Yes, I know."

"Okay," nodded Helen, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Annabeth then called Helen's name as her step-mom was about to leave her bedroom

The woman raised an eyebrow, "What is it, Annabeth?"

"Thank you," she beamed.

[originally published on 11/25/20 && formerly titled  Just My Type.]

[11/25/20] author's note! Percy's innocence has been ruined and he (kinda) knows about Luke, not to mention, Percy loves loves Annabeth-I know what I'm doing hehe ;) Anyways, one more day of suffering till my break though on Wednesday, I have to some work to do so the suffering never truly ends. I hope everyone had a good Monday and a good day/night!! Thank you for reading!! Till next time! Much love, Lucinda! 💙