"Race you to the road?" Percy said.

"You are so going to lose." Annabeth took off down Half-Blood Hill and Percy sprinted after her.

For once, he didn't look back.

"Ha!" Annabeth shouted with glee. "I told you, you'd lose, Seaweed Brain!"

Percy bumped her hip with his. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

"When is your mom getting here? And you're sure she'll let me stay with you guys?" Annabeth didn't look at him but it didn't take much to notice how her cheeks were tinged red.

"Any minute now," He answered. "And yes, I'm sure she'll let you stay."

Annabeth nodded in satisfaction. "Is that her pulling up?"

Sure enough, a grey car pulled up in front of them and the window rolled down, revealing Sally Jackson- almost Blofis. "Hey, guys! Annabeth are you coming over?"

"If it's not a problem with you, Mrs. Jackson." Percy rolled his eyes at his friend- no, his girlfriend. Gods it felt so weird but so good to finally call her that.

"Of course it's not!" She reached over and popped the trunk. "Put your bags in the back, please."

They did as they were told the slid into the backseat. His mom drove away from the hill and Percy watched from the window as Half-Blood Hill grew smaller and smaller.

"Mom." Sally hummed in response. "Annabeth's dad is letting her stay in New York but she doesn't have a place to stay. Could she maybe stay with us?"

Sally snorted. "Yes, I'm not going to let her live alone in a sketchy New York apartment."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jackson," Annabeth politely responded.

"Please, call me Sally." She smirked and glanced at them through the rearview mirror. "Now, is there any particular reason Annabeth wanted to stay in New York?"

"Nope!" Percy exclaimed much too quickly. How embarrassing would it be to tell his mother that he had his first girlfriend with that girlfriend sitting right next to him? Super embarrassing.

Sally raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Yup," Annabeth said weakly. She must have caught on that he didn't want to tell his mom just yet. "No reason at all."

Percy knew that his mom wasn't convinced but she went with it. She continued to drive while Percy and Annabeth avoided eye contact with each other in the back.

----

"Percy! Give it back!" Annabeth chased Percy down the hallway of his apartment.

They had arrived about an hour ago. First, they greeted Paul and exchanged hugs. Then Percy went to help Annabeth get settled into the guest bedroom. Once they were done, Annabeth laid down on her bed and started to read a book about architecture. Percy let her as he laid next to her and twirled a curl around his finger but then he got bored.

So that was why Percy stole her book and ran down the hallway.

He stopped running in the kitchen where his mom was making dinner. "No. You were reading instead of hanging out with me." She tried to grab the book out of his hands but he held it above his head.

"Just give me the book, Percy." Annabeth held her hand out.

Percy sighed and handed her the book, defeated. "Fine."

"Thank you." Annabeth stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. Percy smiled and hoped that his face wasn't too red. They stared at each other for a couple seconds, relishing in the fact that they were actually together. After five years of denying feelings for each other, it was finally happening.

Their trance was broken by a squeal. "Oh my gods! I've been waiting for this moment since Percy was fourteen!" Sally ran over and hugged them. She pulled away and laughed. "My baby's got his first girlfriend!"

Annabeth laughed. "Mom! Stoppp."

"Percy, you stop," Annabeth said. "It's sweet that she cares."

Even though it sounded like a harmless comment, Percy knew the real meaning behind it. She really did think it was sweet that his mom cared about him and his current love life. Her dad, Frederick, back in California didn't even think to call to make sure Annabeth was okay. They were doing much better with their relationship but it was still a bit rocky.

Sally nodded like- this girl knows what she's talking about. "Yeah, Percy. Let me be supportive of your relationship."

"Could you not embarrass me?" He asked.

"What? I can't be happy that my son is finally dating Annabeth." Sally brushed a stray curl out of Annabeth's face. "Anyway, dinner is ready. Let's eat."

----

A couple weeks later and it was finally the first day of school. Percy couldn't wait to start his sophomore year and hang out with his friends. He hadn't seen them since school ended due to the war. He also hadn't heard from Rachel in a while. To be honest, Percy was kind of nervous about how she would react to him and Annabeth.

He was in the middle of eating breakfast when Annabeth started scolding him for something but he wasn't listening. Percy was too absorbed in his mom's infamous blue pancakes. She even mixed chocolate chips into them!

"Percy!" He blinked and looked up at his girlfriend. She glowered at him, probably because he wasn't listening to her. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."

"Wise Girl, relax. Paul hasn't even left yet."

"I don't care! I do not want to be late on my first day of school!" Annabeth retorted.

"We'll be fine." Percy looked her up and down, ignoring the way his cheeks flushed. "You look good in a uniform."

Annabeth scoffed. "Why do we even have to wear these stupid things? Why can't I just wear shorts and a T-shirt?" She tugged on her plaid skirt awkwardly. "This thing is way too short for my liking. And- and this white long sleeved button up shirt with a tie? Ugh."

"Because it's the rules." Percy stood to wrap his arms around her waist. "Besides, you're beautiful in anything you wear."

"Even if I'm covered in dirt?" She raised an eyebrow.

Percy nodded. "Even covered in dirt."

"Awe, you're sweet," Annabeth said as she pecked his lips. "Now, let's go before we're late." She separated herself from him and walked across the kitchen and into the entryway where their backpacks and shoes were. "Come on, Seaweed Brain."

"I'm coming, I'm coming." He raised his hands in surrender until he had to lower them to tie his shoes. Shouldering his backpack, Percy shouted, "Bye Mom! We're leaving!"
It was a couple seconds before she yelled back, "Bye guys! Be careful!"

Then Percy followed Annabeth out the door, into the elevator, and out the apartment building.

They walked a couple blocks before stopping to get somewhere to eat since they had time. Annabeth wasn't too happy with him. After they ate, they finished their walk to school.

Annabeth stopped walking when they neared the steps that led up to the front double doors to Goode High School. She stared up at the building with wide grey eyes and swallowed thickly.

Percy squeezed her hand that was tightly intertwined with his. "You okay?"

"Nervous." She offered an unsure smile. He stared at her in confusion. "I haven't gone to school since I was thirteen."

"You're going to be okay," Percy promised. "You'll make friends and get all A's in your classes. You could join an upcoming sports team. Or-"

Annabeth chuckled nervously. "Okay, one step at a time please." She readjusted her backpack strap. "Step number one: get my schedule."

"Yes, Ma'am!" Percy squeezed her hand on more time before leading her up the steps and into the school.

It was overwhelming for Annabeth. Kids were everywhere and not how she's used to it. There's many kids at camp but they're all spread out. Here, they're all clustered together. And it was loud.

"Um, where's the office?" She tore her eyes away from a group of students who were pointing and laughing at a short nerdy looking kid.

Percy pulled her around the corner and stopped her right in front of a brown wooden door. "Right here." He noticed her hesitation and placed a hand on her back. "You can just walk right in."

Annabeth nodded and knocked. "Come in," A muffled voice welcomed. She pushed the door open and saw a shorter woman with brown eyes and black hair sitting in a chair behind a desk. "Hello, what are your names?"

"Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase," Percy answered for them. "We're sophomores."

The woman typed a few things into her computer then the printer next to it spit out two square pieces of paper. "Here are your schedules and have a good day."

"Thank you." Annabeth grabbed them from her and handed Percy his as they walked out of the office. "So, where are all your friends?"

Percy shrugged. "They may not be here yet but knowing Rachel, she probably is around her somewhere."

"Oh." Annabeth pursed her lips. "I forgot she went here."

"Hey." Percy stopped walking to stand in front of her. "You have nothing to worry about. I never even liked her that way. When I saw her my heart didn't do a little race in my chest like it did when I saw you." His eyes widened when it registered to him what he just admitted.

Annabeth grinned. "Did? Did see me?"

"Do. When I do see you," Percy corrected.

"Good." She held his hand as they walked.

A voice shouted from across the hallway, "Percy!"

Rachel Elizabeth Dare leaned against her locker, a bright smile splayed on her face. She wore the same uniform as Annabeth and the green in the skirt complemented her eyes. Annabeth had always envied her emerald green eyes.

"Hey Rachel," Percy greeted as they neared them.

"I haven't seen you in a while. How are you?" She asked, not noticing Annabeth's presence. Or the fact that her crush was holding hands with a certain Daughter of Athena.

Percy smiled down at Annabeth who was looking dead at Rachel. "Good. Really good."

That's when Rachel noticed her. She forced a smile. "Oh, Annabeth. Hi. What are you doing at Goode? I thought you lived in San Francisco?"

"I decided to stay in New York," Annabeth said in monotone. She wasn't very fond of Rachel, she never really was. She never thought she'd be the jealous type but she'd never had been in a relationship before.

Rachel nodded and turned back to Percy. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Nothing really. Getting ready for school and spending time with my parents and Annabeth." Percy nudged Annabeth with his shoulder. She smiled smally up at him.

"Well," Rachel started, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Have you thought about what I said to you before you had to leave? In your step-dad's car?"

Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "To be honest? Not really. Everything with-" He lowered his voice. "-the war and stuff, it wasn't the first thing on my mind."

Annabeth watched the exchange with a confused expression painted on her face.

"Oh, I understand." Rachel's face dropped. "I hope you have time to think about it now, though."

"Think about what?" Annabeth cut in. "What did you tell him?"

Rachel raised her eyebrows. "It's none of your business."

"It kind of is. Tell me."

"Fine. I told Percy that if two people happened to like each other, what would it get for the guy to kiss the girl," Rachel explained with hand motions. "If you didn't get it, the guy is Percy and the girl is me."

Annabeth smirked. "No, I got that. Percy? What do you have to say to her?"

"Rachel, uh, look." He smiled sheepishly. Rachel listened eagerly, thinking that he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend. "I like you as a friend but not like...that."

"Oh." Her eyes drifted down to Percy and Annabeth's locked hands. "Oh!"

"Yeah." Annabeth held a poker face.

Rachel let out a humorless laugh. "You guys are dating? That was kind of unexpected."

"Why?" Annabeth asked as she tightened her hold on Percy's hand.

She shrugged. "All you two is fight." That said, she turned around and walked down the hallway until she was out of sight.

"We don't fight all the time, do we?" Percy exclaimed as he helped Annabet put her school supplies in her locker.

Annabeth laughed. "I wouldn't say we fight because if we did we wouldn't be friends or dating. I'd say we playfully bicker." She closed her locker then planted a quick kiss on his lips. That made him smile. "What's your first class?"

"Geometry," Percy answered after he checked his schedule. "You?"

"Same as you. What teacher?" She slipped her fingers through them as they began to walk to the math hallway.

Percy looked down at his schedule. His dyslexia was pretty bad but he found a way to get the letters into the correct spot. "Mrs. Micheals."

"We've got the same first period." Annabeth smiled up at him and he couldn't help but grin back down at her. He didn't really want to admit it but he was head over heels for her.

They walked in a comfortable silence through the crowded hallways. Around them, teenagers talked, pushed each other around jokingly, and laughed gleefully. Percy glanced over at Annabeth and found her looking around with wide eyes. He knew she wasn't used to schools but he didn't understand why she seemed so shocked at everything.

"You okay?" Percy asked as they rounded a corner. She nodded, not saying anything as they came to their classroom and walked inside the room.

Unfortunately when Annabeth walked inside, she was instantly hit in the face with a flying pencil. She huffed, kicked the pencil away when it fell to the ground, and plopped down in a seat in the front row.

Percy frowned. "Why the front?"

"Because." Annabeth crossed her arms. "It's easier to see the board."

"Okay, sassy." He sat down in the desk next to hers, setting his backpack down beside it. He was about to say something else when a teacher, maybe in her upper twenties, stood in front of the classroom.

She cleared her throat at the kids throwing pencils around in the back. They instantly stopped. "Thank you." She turned back to the whole class. "I'm Mrs. Micheals and I will be your Geometry teacher. Before we begin, I have assigned seats for you."

The whole class groaned except for Annabeth who just rolled her eyes.

Mrs. Michaels gave her a pointed look. "You are Ms. Chase, correct?" Annabeth nodded. "I will take no such disrespect in my classroom from now on. Just a warning."

Annabeth nodded and moved to where she was told to sit.

Percy made eye contact with Annabeth and mouthed, troublemaker. She just smiled and shook her head. He was hoping that the teacher had accidentally assigned him and Annabeth together but there was a low chance.

And he was right because he got seated on the opposite side of the room as her. It was horrible. Next to him was a girl who wouldn't stop staring at him or asking him for his number. He had to tell her multiple times that he had a girlfriend, she was right across the room, and that he didn't have a number.

Halfway through class when Mrs. Michaels was giving yet again another lecture about rules and expectations, Percy looked over at Annabeth. He held in a laugh. She had the most murderous expression on her face because the guy sitting next to her, one of the pencil throwers, kept tapping her shoulder. He also seemed to be talking about something, maybe saying her name.

Annabeth puffed out her cheeks before turning to the kid. She gave him one of her death glares before saying, rather loudly, "Shut up!"

Percy held his breath as the teacher, once again, called out Annabeth's name. "Ms. Chase. May I see you in the hallway?" It wasn't really a question because Mrs. Micheals had already opened the door. "Now."

Sighing, Annabeth got out of her seat and followed Mrs. Micheals outside into the hallway.

A few minutes passed by when the door opened, Annabeth and Mrs. Micheals entering.

Annabeth walked down the row of desks, sending a look to Percy before she sat down.
Ten more minutes passed and the bell finally rang, allowing them to leave the geometry class. Annabeth, of course, was the first one out the door.

When Percy stepped out into the hallway, he found his girlfriend leaning against the wall, glaring at nothing. He laughed causing her to turn her head in his direction. She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.

"What did she tell you?" Percy asked as they walked through the halls, hand in hand.

"You have one more warning, Ms. Chase before you're taking a trip to the principal's office. I do not tolerate this behavior towards me or my students in my classroom and I will not hesitate to get you suspended or even worse, expelled." She imitated Mrs. Micheals voice poorly.

Percy chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Well then, troublemaker, what class do you have next?" He glanced down at his own schedule. "I've got chemistry."

"Bummer. I have Western Civics," Annabeth said. "Where is room 228?"

"Ummm." Percy thought about it. He remembered having history freshman year in room 225. "I think I might have an idea where it is. I'll walk you."

"Thanks." She grabbed his hand again and let him lead her to her classroom.

He stopped in front of a brown colored door, the same door like every other one in this school, and pointed at it. "Here you go. Room 228."

Annabeth grinned and kissed his cheek before walking inside, leaving Percy staring at the place where she once stood.

-----

After fifth period, she told Percy she had to go to the bathroom and he told her to meet him in the lunchroom. Annabeth nodded and hurried into the girls bathroom, did her business, washed her hands, and left the bathroom.

She looked around the lunchroom, lunch in hand. Annabeth wasn't sure what the food on her tray was supposed to be. It was round like a burger but was soggy but not like a sloppy joe. It looked utterly disgusting and she doubted she would actually eat it.

After what seemed like hours, Annabeth finally spotted Percy sitting at a table surrounded by teenagers. She made her way over and cleared her throat as she stood behind Percy, causing his friends to quiet down.

"Is it okay if I sit with you guys?" She knew it wouldn't be a problem since her boyfriend was sitting right in front of her.

"And who are you?" One of the boys who was sitting across from Percy asked.

"I'm Annabeth, Percy's girlfriend," She answered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel roll her eyes.

After Annabeth said that, they all made room for her so she plopped herself down next to Percy, right across from Rachel. "Thanks." They nodded.

"So, you're his girlfriend? We all thought he and Rachel were going to be a thing," Another guy said, seated next to the first guy. "I'm Mark."

She nodded and fought down the burning jealousy.

Percy spoke up, "I've told you guys that Rachel and me-" He motioned between them with his hand. "-are and will always be only friends."

Rachel's face dropped.

"Well then, Percy, where did you meet Annabelle?" Mark asked.

"Annabeth," Annabeth corrected, drawing out the 'beth' part. Why do pretty much anyone she meets think her name is Annabelle? She didn't understand. Belle and Beth don't sound anything the same.

Mark grinned. "My bad." He then glanced back at Percy. "So?"

"Oh! Our summer camp." Percy gave Annabeth a knowing look. "When we were twelve." Annabeth smiled at the memory. When he woke up and the first thing she told him was that he drooled in his sleep. "We started dating a few weeks ago. On my birthday."

A girl sitting next to Mark cooed. "That is so cute! I barely know you, Annabeth, but you and Percy are so adorable!"

She reminded Annabeth of Selina so much. "Thanks."

Rachel cleared her throat, gaining  everyone's attention. "Can we just eat and not talk about romance stuff. It makes me sick."

The first guy who talked laughed. "Oh, Rachel! You only don't want us to talk about it because you're jealous that Percy picked Annabeth over you."

"Shut up," Rachel grumbled and averted her eyes to the table.

This was going to be an awkward lunch, Annabeth thought.

---

School was finally over.

Percy and Annabeth walked out of their last class (they both had English) and walked down the hallway, hand in hand. They had no homework so they didn't stop by their lockers, just wanting to go home.

On the way down the front steps, a certain redhead slipped in front of them. Rachel gave Annabeth a sickly sweet smile. "Just because you're his girlfriend doesn't mean he liked you first. Remember, he always had a liking for me. I was his first kiss."

"You guys kissed? When?" Annabeth stared up at Percy.

"A couple months ago before he had to leave for Camp. We were in his step-dads prius-" Rachel said but was interrupted by Annabeth laughing. "What?"

Annabeth shook her head and sighed. "You weren't his first kiss, Rachel. I was. I kissed him when we were in the Labyrinth. Except, you weren't with us at that time."

"Yeah right," Rachel scoffed.

"It's true, Rachel," Percy said. "And I don't like you. There was a time where I thought I did, but I never really officially liked you. I had my eyes set on someone else. Plus, I didn't even respond to the kiss."

Rachel rolled her green eyes. "Well, anyway, we still kissed." She turned to Annabeth. "He had a liking toward me in the past. Don't forget that." Then she walked away.

"Come on," Annabeth said and tugged on his hand. "Let's just go home."

They were a couple blocks away from the school (they were walking) when Percy finally decided to speak up, "Look, Annabeth, I-"

"It's fine, Percy." She didn't meet his eyes. "It was before we dated. It's okay."

Percy shook his head and turned to stand in front of Annabeth. "I just need to clear up a few things. Annabeth, I know you. I know that you overthink, you're a daughter of Athena for gods sake!" He pulled a curl behind her ear, letting his hand linger near his jaw for an extra few seconds. "So I know that you're overthinking about Rachel."

"No, no, I'm not." Annabeth pushed his hand away and continued to walk but Percy grabbed her arm and pulled her back, flush against him. "Percy, we're in the middle of a sidewalk."

"It's New York, no one cares." She stopped trying to get away. "Now, will you listen to me without interrupting?"

"Yes."

Percy took a deep breath. "You don't have to worry about Rachel or any girl in that school. Yes, Rachel and I kissed but it wasn't like you think. She kissed me and pulled away before I could even do anything. And it didn't feel right. When you kissed me, I sat there, trying to remember my name."

"So my kiss almost got you killed?" She raised an eyebrow.

"No!" Percy laughed and kissed her cheek. "What I'm saying is, when I see Rachel, it's just like seeing a friend. When I see you, my heart does a little happy dance in my chest. It's been doing that even before you kissed me. I just didn't know what it meant."

Annabeth breathed out a laugh. "So cheesy."

"Anyway, I like you, Annabeth. I like you a lot and I have for a long time." Percy smiled. "I don't know when I figured it out but I'm glad I did. Because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to do this." He leaned down and kissed her.

Annabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. She smiled after she realized that he practically poured his heart out to her.

They broke apart when someone walked past them shouting, "Hey! I'm walking here!"

"Yes, sir!" Percy called back, causing Annabeth to laugh and bury her head in his shoulder. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "Gods, why can;t people just let us be!"

Annabeth laughed harder. "Seaweed Brain, we are on a sidewalk."

"Oh, right."

"Now, come on." She grabbed his hand and walked. "And you know, I like you a lot too."

Percy chuckled. "That's good to know."

Then that sneaky son of Poseidon stole another kiss.