Percy's POV

"Hey, Wise Girl?" I threw my hacky-sack into the air again, catching it before turning to Annabeth, who was sprawled out on my bed, scrolling through her phone.

"Yep?"

"Do you have a plan for after high school?" I had been thinking about it a lot more recently—I knew it was a late start, but at least it was a start at all. I had applied to a few colleges—some closer to home, and others father. By father, I mean UCLA. I hadn't gotten the chance to tell Annabeth yet. I honestly had no idea whether I'd get in or not, but either way, I was going to need a plan.

"Well, I think we both know college isn't really an option for me. I'm just barely graduating," she pointed out, turning to face me. "Not that I'm proud of that, because I'm not," she mumbled, glancing around the room.

"Hey, that's fine. It's just, I applied to a few colleges," I said sheepishly.

"What?" Annabeth suddenly sat up, a smile on her face. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't get the chance," I reasoned, shrugging.

"Well, where did you apply?" Her eyes were bright and beautiful, as usual. She pushed her golden blonde locks behind her ears. I noticed how her grey tank top was fitted, and was suddenly distracted by how her waist comes in and then ou—

I stopped myself, refocusing. You'd think that by now I'd be used to it—but I realized I'd never not be in awe of Annabeth Chase. "A few local colleges, you know..." I trailed off. I was afraid of her reaction, so I stalled. Would she be mad? Would she be happy? I didn't know. I just hoped for the best.

"I'm sensing that there's something else that you're not telling me, Jackson." She raised an eyebrow.

I opened my mouth to start speaking, a sigh coming out instead. "I applied to UCLA. In California." I said it quickly and bluntly—like ripping off a band-aid.

Annabeth's eyes were still bright, but she wasn't really smiling anymore. Her mouth just fell open, making an 'O' shape. She stayed that way for a few seconds before swallowing and blinking a few times. "Okay."

"Okay," I repeated. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't awful, and I was gonna take what I could get. "That doesn't mean I got in," I said, trying to calm the situation. 

"Yeah," She said, nodding.

"But if I do..."

"We need a plan." She looked me right in the eyes now, where as before she had been avoiding eye contact. "Do you... have one?"

"Well, if I get into a local college, obviously that's not a big deal. If I get into UCLA,"

"That's a big deal." Annabeth finished my statement.

"Yeah but I was thinking," I paused for a second, considering if what I was going to say next was really the right decision. "Would you... maybe... come with me?" I swallowed, awaiting Annabeth's response.

She was silent for a short while. "Yes." She nodded. "Yeah," she smiled.

"Really?" I was so excited I shot out of my chair.

"Yeah!" Annabeth stood up as well, smiling so wide.

"Yes!" I whooped, pumping my fists in the air. "We can get an apartment, and we'll live together—"

"And we'll get a dog and I'll get a job there," Annabeth continued, gushing with me.

"Yeah!" We both said a few more times, just for the hell of it.

"Yeah!" I hollered, picking Annabeth up by the waist and spinning her around as she yelped. When I put her down, my hands still wrapped around her waist, she was laughing with the brightest grin.

"Yeah," she nodded again.

I finally planted a kiss on her lips, pulling apart once only to smile at her, before kissing her more passionately. We made out for a few minutes before we pulled away. "I love you," I said.

"I love you too."

><•><

"So, how's it feel to be back, Jase?" Leo clapped Jason on the back.

"Feels good, guys." Jason smiled wryly. He always seemed to be wise beyond his time—definitely looked that way with all his knowing smiles, and his glasses. He just seemed to have an old soul—calming. It was a presence that our crazy group definitely needed.

"I can't believe you're excited to be back in this hell hole." Annabeth scrunched her nose in disgust (which I found adorable).

"Well, it's definitely better than being cooped up at home all day. I had nothing to do. Do you understand how horrible the reality t.v. shows are at 10 a.m.? I was stuck with Rachel Ray." Jason explained.

"Hey!" Calypso protested. "Don't hate on my girl Rachel! She knows where it's at, okay?" She defended.

"Dial it back, babe," Leo said, placing a hand on Calypso's arm. "He doesn't understand the art of creating food."

"He certainly to understands the art of eating it," Piper snorted. Annabeth snickered along with her.

"Okay, guys, which is a better kids' show," Will spoke up out of nowhere. "Rugrats, or Cat Dog?" I assumed that was the topic of debate between Nico and Will—there always was one.

"Ooh, Rugrats was the shit," Annabeth said, nodding, Piper agreeing with her.

"No wonder you turned out this way," Will muttered while shaking his head.

"Hey, fuck off, okay?" She snarkily joked.

"Yeah, Will, clearly Rugrats is better," Nico protested, high-fiving Annabeth.

"You're both wrong," Jason said, pointing to Nico and Annabeth. "Cat Dog was my favorite show, ever."

"I have to agree with Jason," I shrugged. "I loved that show."

"What?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes at me.

"Look, all I'm saying is that I liked Cat Dog better than Rugrats—not that Rugrats was bad, I still liked that show, just not as much as Cat Dog." I found that it was important to deal with these things rationally before Annabeth would bite my head off. (Just kidding—she wouldn't go that far. Maybe just break my arm.)

"Nope. You're wrong. Rugrats was better, right Reyna?" Annabeth raised her eyebrows at Reyna.

"I have to go with Annabeth here." Reyna agreed.

"Yeah, I'm with these two ladies," Leo said, throwing his arms over Annabeth and Reyna's shoulders.

"What?!" Calypso said. "Cat Dog was great."

"Oh! There it is!" Will said, giving Calypso a high five as she joined him in the Cat Dog group.

"I have no idea what any of you are talking about," Hazel admitted with a confused expression.

"Cat Dog was a better show," Frank said. Reyna's mouth dropped open and Leo shook his head.

"Yes, Frank!" I fist-bumped him as he came to walk next to me. Will and Calypso smiled.

"Come on, Hazel! Trust us when we tell you that Rugrats is the better show." Piper beckoned Hazel toward her.

"No! Cat Dog was way better!" I protested, trying to convince Hazel to join the better group of this debate. However, Piper can be very persuasive. Meaning, we lost Hazel to the Rugrats.

"Yes!" They cheered.

"Ugh," we groaned. "Fine, but just because more people liked that show, doesn't mean it's better," Will said.

"Yeah it does, Sunshine." Nico stepped to the front of the group.

"Please, Death Boy." Will rolled his eyes. "You know that Cat Dog was better just admit it."

"Sorry, can't do that, because it's not true," Nico said smugly, crossing his arms.

"Um—" Will abruptly stopped. The two seemed to notice the rest of us watching them go back and forth like a game of tennis. Both of their faces flushed red, and Nico dropped his hands back to his pockets. I saw Reyna smile from the corner of my eye, as well as Annabeth smirking next to me.

"Anyways," Hazel stepped in, interrupting the awkward silence. "The bell is about to ring. Let's get to class."

We all moved along to our classes, Annabeth walking close by my side.

"That was, interesting, to say the least," she mumbled to me.

"That's one way to put it," I chuckled.

"Do you think...?" She trailed off, but I knew exactly where she was going.

"Definitely." I nodded. I was never really good at being able to tell when someone had a crush, but this time was different. I just had this feeling that Nico was really clicking with Will—he was really into him. And from what I've seen, Will feels the same.

The only other time I've been able to tell with something like this is between Frank and Hazel. They obviously have crushes on each other—I see the way that Frank looks at Hazel. I understand how he admires her, because it's similar to the way I look at Annabeth. I just hoped they acknowledge those feelings soon.

"Imagine if they were together," Annabeth let her mind wander. "Piper would freak." She laughed.

"Of course she would—she's Piper," I pointed out.

"There's not a better way to describe her," Annabeth said, both of us laughing. "Alright. I have bio." Annabeth stopped in front of a classroom. "I will see you later, I'll text you."

"Okay," I nodded. "I love you," I said, smiling as the words left my mouth.

"You're a dork," Annabeth gave me a quick peck on the lips before turning and walking into the classroom. I chuckled and continued on my way.

><•><

"So, how has everyone's day been so far?" Calypso asked, starting up a conversation at the lunch table.

"My day has been great," Annabeth said, sending me a sly smile. I shook my head and chuckled.

"Uh, what's that supposed to mean?" Piper raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Annabeth asked innocently.

"That little smirk," Leo joined in the conversation.

"What smirk?" Annabeth asked playing it off.

"You just smirked at Percy," Jason said bluntly. "What did you do when you left class, Annabeth?" He narrowed his eyes skeptically.

"Nothi—"

"OH MY GOD!" Leo shouted, cutting Annabeth off. "THE JANITORS' CLOSET!"

"No," Piper said in disbelief, her mouth falling open.

"You wanna shut it?" Annabeth growled at Leo. "Relax."

"She's not denying it, guys!" Leo pointed out.

"Percy, what did you do?" Jason looked at me.

Frank turned red. "I don't like this conversation." Hazel looked as if she agreed.

"Percy, answer the question." Nico leaned in closer from the the end of the table.

"Um," I swallowed. Being the center of attention sucked.

"Oh my god no," Reyna said, almost laughing.

"You're not serious are you?" Will asked. "That's... oh my,"

"Okay look," Annabeth said, cutting off all other comments. "Could all of you kindly fuck off? Thanks."

"Guys, leave them alone, it's none of our business," Calypso said, trying to get them off our backs. I gave her a grateful look.

"Fine," they all surrendered. "But I think we all figured it out either way." Leo gave a cheeky smile, for which Annabeth then kicked him under the table. "Ow!"

"Anyways," Piper interrupted. "Graduation?"

"Don't remind me," Annabeth put her head in her hands.

"What's so bad about graduation?" Reyna asked.

"Annabeth hates big parties—or any celebration really." Jason nodded.

"Well, maybe it doesn't have to be a big celebration," Calypso suggested. "Maybe we all get together, just us, some drinks, music..."

"That sounds pretty fun," Will agreed.

"But where would we do it?" Frank asked.

"Maybe the pond?" I turned to Annabeth. "Unless you don't..."

"No, I think that's fine," she nodded. "We have the perfect place." She glanced at me with a smile, then turned to the others.

"This is gonna be lit!" Leo hollered.

"You're so annoying." Calypso rolled her eyes.

"But you love me, Sunshine."

•••

Authors note

Okay I know this story is kind of going nowhere but

We're getting back on track okay

I'm sorry this took so long.

It's like I'm in a hole with just Never Be.

Like I'm getting all these other ideas, just not for Never Be.

But I think we're close to the end guys. I think we're almost there. I've decided I'm not doing a prom chapter, considering I did the winter formal and I don't really think Never Be needs it since I'm doing graduation so

Also I don't think that debate abt Cat Dog and Rugrats was valid bc I think they're an even number of people, but idk???? Rugrats was better tho ;)

Yeah hope you guys enjoyed another shitty chapter

Don't forget to vote comment, etc.

Thanks love you!!
-bella💕