➵ don't joke she loves telling my baby stories

_________________

percy tapped his foot anxiously. he could barely concentrate in any of his classes all day. and now he stood awkwardly against a tree, pretending to check a text on his phone.

the brief  feeling of relief he had felt after wise girl texted him was quickly eclipsed by uncontrollable anxiety. W why did she think he didn't like her? what had he done wrong?

percy felt his phone vibrate and he almost dropped it in surprise. an incoming text from his number neighbour told him to look up.

he did as instructed and saw nothing. panic rose up and he looked left, then right and then, annabeth chase.

annabeth chase was standing at his elbow smiling nervously “hey seaweed brain”

“annabeth? wise girl?”

she laughed uncomfortably and shoved her hands in her pockets “the one and only. sorry to disappoint”

percy's mind was racing. annabeth chase, captain of the hockey team, smarted person in the school and his crush was wise girl? and she thought he hated him.

“trust me, I'm far from disappointed. I mean just wow umm. wait, hold up, why did you think I hated you?”

“you- you don't?” annabeth looked suprised but also- relieved? “then what's with all the running away when you see me?”

now percy understood.

“you're really going to make me say it huh?”

“make you say what?”

percy took a deap breath “I ran away from every conversation, every chance to talk to you because” he was looking anywhere but the girl in front of him. “ireallylikeyoulike, likelikeyoubutiwastooscaredtosayso"

“what?”

percy steadied himself and forced his eyes to make contact with annabeth's.
“i really like you annabeth, but I was too scared to tell you.”

annabeth's mouth was open slightly and Percy couldn't help but think about how easy it would be to bend down and kiss her. no don't do that percy, that's really weird. shut up brain.

“its fine, honestly, you don't have to like me back or anything” percy laughed awkwardly and crossed his arms over his chest. “I should probably go”

he turned to leave but annabeth grabbed his arm “wait percy, I like you to”

“you do? your not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“no, I mean yeah. I like you percy jackson. I just don't think I've realised it until now”

they stayed in that stance for what seemed like years, Percy turning to leave, annabeth holding his arm. staring into each others eyes for a few seconds before snapping out of it.

an idea suddenly formed in percy's mind “it's my turn”

annabeth looked confused.

“our game of twenty questions. it's my turn”

annabeth snorted “im pretty sure it's my turn but I'll let you off. what's your question?”

“do you maybe want to get something to eat? I know a nice place a couple of blocks away. like, as a date. maybe?”

“I'd love that” she smiled and her hair glistened in the afternoon sunlight, gods she's beautiful.

“great” he smiled back, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice “um so, do you want to go now-?”

“sure thing seaweed brain”

_

annabeth and percy walked side by side down the bustling new york streets. the sound of cars honking and people yelling seemed irrelevant to the two teenagers.

their hands kept brushing against eachother until annabeth gave in she grabbed percy's hand and held it in a strong grip. they both kept facing forwards but now with a drunken smile on their faces.

percy pulled annabeth down a  alleyway. she looked sceptical but allowed herself to be dragged along “If you end up being a murderer I'm going to be so pissed”

“don't wory, it's a short cut”

-

soon they stood Infront of a bright yet slightly dilapidated café. The neon sign spelled the name ‘rick's’ in colourful letters.

“I know the owner, he always gives me a discount” percy explained as he pushed open the door. “hey rick!”

Rick looked up at the sound “percy! it's been a while, great to see you. how's your mother?”

“she's good, busy with stella, but her books coming out soon, she still won't let me read it.”

“tell her I give my best”

“of course, now can we have a slice of blueberry cake, a coke and...” he looked at annabeth expectantly.

“a vanilla muffin and a hot chocolate please”

rick got the food ready on two mishmashed plates and in response to the teenagers pulling out money he quickly said. “on the house, my treat. I'll be over with the drinks”

percy thanked rick gave annabeth an ‘i told you so’ look then guided her to a table in the corner by a window overlooking the street.

they sat down, neither sure of what to say. percy took a bite out of his cake for something to do.

“this place is cool” annabeth noted

“yeah, ricks old friends with my mum. he even helped her with her book

“why won't she let you read it?”

percy frowned “i don't know, she won't even tell me what it's about”

“maybe it's just full of embarrassing baby stories”

“don't joke she loves telling my baby stories”

annabeth held back a laugh, rick had come over holding a tray with two drinks on.

“enjoy” he said with a wink both of them ignored.

annabeth sipped her drink “do you want to play that game where you have to make up a life story for the people passing? it's not very date like but it's fun. I used to play it with thalia all the time”

percy grinned “sounds fun” it was only just dawning on him that everything wise girl had told him about her life was about annabeth.

her dog, her friends, luke.

_

“you see that guy with the hat? he was definitely struck by lightning and gained superhero powers but has to hide them from the world” when annabeth had suggested playing the game she expected it to be more awkward but after a few rounds they had really gotten into it and had created some very imaginative possibilities.

“no way he was one hundred percent a guinea pig in a past life”

“that's the third time you've said that” annabeth hitting him playfully. “im staring to think you were once a guinea pig”

“what can I say, the people of new york give off that vibe”

rick smiled at the couple, they had spent the last half hour coming up with the most ridiculous stories for the passers by. their food was left almost untouched. He could see their relationship lasting a long time.

“ok she was abducted by aliens and is now spying on the government for them”

“alright I'll agree with you there but she was also a guinea pig-”