Best Friends

The music blasted in his car as Percy nervously banged his head to the beat and tapped his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel.

He was sure he hadn't even been this nervous in his life before.

The Led Zeppelin song ended as a slower Elton John sang began to play.

He chuckled at the irony and started humming along and eventually singing.

"Don't go breaking my heart"

God, he hoped she wouldn't.

It felt like he was driving towards a test. The most important test of his life that is.

Maybe you're familiar with the feeling; first it's not really there. Just the thought of it. But then it slowly comes. The uncomfortable feeling in your stomach that grows and grows and the only thing that seems to make it stop is to get it over with. To get those nerves out of your system by giving them no reason to stress.

Well that was what he tried to do.

Eventually he slowed down and stopped at a parking lot he knew as good as his own.

He took a few shuddery breaths and closed his eyes to try and slow his heartbeat down, but of course that didn't work.

His heart beat loudly as he walked up the staircase.

His heart seemed like a drum and his heartbeat the sound of the drum.

It got louder and louder. He heard the pounding in his ears.

Boom. Ba boom. Ba boom.

The thumping became unbearable by now. He kept walking.

It seemed like hours had gone by, yet it had only been seconds.

Why was he even so nervous? He could guess the answer and he was fine with that.

He just needed to get it off his chest.

Just like this raising heartbeat.

He squeezed the bouquet of flowers too tight, a few of the thorns cutting in his skin. But he didn't care.

Ba doom. Ba doom.

He recited the speech in his head. Reminded himself that she and Luke were something of the past.

They broke up more than a month ago. He was sure they wouldn't get back together this time.

He couldn't help but smile a bit at the thought of Luke finally gone. He hated Luke. And Luke hated him. They were both open about it. At first when Luke had started dating her, they had tried to keep it civil for her sake, but of course, that didn't last long.

He was sure she was over him. She had told him that enough times this past month that it was over. And sure, she told Percy that every time they would break up. But this time it felt different. There had been the flirting. There had been this moment between them and the kiss-

No. He shook his head. No, no, no. "Don't get your hopes up."

But his mind did. It brought him back to the night when he stayed over, because she had been scared Luke would come over since he had left her some drunk voicemails.

Percy had already stayed over the first two weeks after the break up, since Luke could be pretty aggressive. But he was happy to help her out.

His mind brought him back to the middle of the night. The disturbance of sleep because of the rumbling he heard in the room. Thinking it was Luke, he stood up, but instead he bumped into a smaller someone.

He had muttered an apology, to which she didn't respond. He wanted to walk away, when he suddenly felt her lips on his. Both melted into the kiss.

Both wanted it.

But when they pulled away, she was the one who apologized and hurried back to her bedroom. Shutting the door. And thus, shutting him out.

They hadn't talked about it. But he couldn't stop thinking about it. And that's why he had come with the decision to finally confess.

It had to be done with the lingering hugs and touches. The hand that hold his a little too long. Finger interlocked like a perfect puzzle. The stares. The kisses. Her.

It had to be done with the tiptoeing around the subject. It had to be done with the lies.

He hated lying to her anyways.

And then he was there. Before he knew it he stood before her front door.

Ba doom. Ba doom.

All his thoughts seemed to stop as he knocked on the door.

And then he saw her. Blonde curls in a loose bun. Grey eyes, watching him carefully, seeing joy fill into them as she broke out in a smile while he did the same.

He wrapped his best friend of 15 years in a big hug. "Beth." He muttered almost relieved.

Eventually he let her go and she ushered him in the apartment.

"Percy!" She shouted and hugged him again briefly. "What brings you here at 8 pm?" She asked, though they visited each other almost every day without a valuable reason.

But today he had one.

"Can't visit my favourite girl huh?" He teased with a grin and handed her flowers. "I brought those. I, uh, I thought that you would maybe like them." He had a light blush, but Annabeth didn't really notice or give it attention, she smiled widely and went to put them into a vase.

"Hey? Do you have some food in here?" Percy asked as he followed her into the kitchen and opened her fridge to find some cake in there. Strange for Annabeth, but good for him.

"You look beautiful by the way." He commented and kissed her cheek. People always thought they were a couple, and maybe they acted like that in some sort of way, but it was all platonic. She sat on the counter smiling and he walked back to the fridge.

"Cake will do." He mumbled and grabbed a piece and a plate. Annabeth chuckled from the other side and he plopped down across from her at the table. They talked for a while about their day and Annabeth seemed more happy than usual, but when he asked her about it she dismissed him.

Eventually they had moved over to the couch to watch some tv. Percy scolded himself; he needed to tell her.

That's why Percy turned the tv off and turned a little so he could face her. "I need to tell you something Annabeth. And I can't have you interrupting me. And promise that you are not going to hate me when I'm done." He pleaded and she nodded, her eyes softened. "I could never hate you Percy."

He took a deep breath and sat up some more.

"I think I'm in love with you." Percy confessed. "Screw that; I know I'm in love with you Annabeth. Hopelessly I'm afraid."

"Percy-" Annabeth tried to interrupt but he shook his head and she shut her mouth.

"Since always I think. Since the first time we really became friends. When we 6. 15 years ago. When you stood up for me when those kids picked on me." She chuckled and he continued, "From that moment on we were together, Percy and Annabeth, Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl. Sure, sometimes other people were there; Grover, Piper, Jason. But we have been together since we were 6. We were each other's first kiss, because you intended." He smiled at the memory. Two nervous 14 year olds. They had been in his room and he had prayed that his mother wouldn't walk in.

"We even did the school musical, because you said it would be fun."

"Grease." She breathed out and had a light blush. "Yeah. Do you know when we had to kiss? And you in leather. God." She laughed and the blush increased. "Well it's the deal when you play Danny and Sandy."

"But, Percy-" Annabeth tried interrupting but he stopped her.

"And do you remember when we were almost 14, almost 15, and you'd met this guy that you had the biggest crush on? And you wanted to practice kissing with me for him?" He scrunched his nose up, yet he had a big smile.

She shook her head and laughed while also making a face. "God, we were weird."

"I hoped the entire time that you would get feelings for me too and tell me that you didn't need to practice anymore. I could have told you; yet I was too scared."

"And the time when we were 16 and some bitch had stuck gum in your hair on the day of photo day?" She nodded. "You ran away and I followed you. Eventually you were in the broom closet and I had to cut it out. Luckily I had my Yankees cap and I gave it to you. Well actually lent, but you never gave it back." He said the last part with shrugging shoulders.

"I still have it." She told him.

"Or on Valentine's day? When in 4th grade when you had no Valentine cards? And I stuffed your locker with cards and still do it?"

"Your cards are my favourites, though this year you over shot. My mailbox couldn't close." She added with a broad smile on her face.

"All those times I tried to ignore my feelings towards you. Feelings that wanted to be more than friends. And just focus on the love I have for you as my best friend."

She nodded and got tears in her eyes.

"But I can't fight my feelings any longer. It's been getting worse and worse. Mostly since the last couple of weeks. When we went out for the first time since you had broken up with Luke and we danced the entire night. And you got really drunk." She laughed. "I held your hair back. Luckily I was sober."

"You're always sober." She reasoned. "Still." He responded.

"But when we walked home and you looked over your shoulder and smiled at me it seemed as I was the drunk one."

"But Annabeth," He held her hands softly and looked her in the eyes, which were filled with tears. "What I want to say is that you make me a better person, you lit me up and made me feel like I was enough all these times in school and you still do. And it's okay if you don't feel the same; I totally get that actually." He laughed at the last part.

"Just don't hate me." She shook her head and a tear trickled down her face, which he wiped away with his thumb. "Things can still be the way they were. I will get over it."

"Percy," She started and his heart already shattered at her tone. He knew her too well for this.

"Yeah, I'm done. Fire away." He gave her a kind smile and lightly squeezed her hand.

"I didn't actually want to tell you today, because I knew that you would get angry. And I didn't see this coming. But," She looked at him expectantly but he was as oblivious as ever, not having a clue what she wanted to make clear.

"Uh, Luke and I, we, uhm. We got together today. He came over and we made up."

Percy immediately let go of her hands and shifted backwards. Away from her. The tears welled up in her eyes again and immediately began to fall this time. 

"Please. Understand." She muttered. Percy stood up, but Annabeth stayed down.

"Why? He's such a dick." Percy didn't even care that Annabeth always got angry when he insulted her boyfriend.

"I love him. And he's different when he's with me. We need each other."

"We both know that's not true, Wise Girl." Percy silently said. "Is everything you normally tell me false? The nights that you call me to come and sleep on the couch when you're scared? Or when the neighbours call me when they hear screaming? Or that one time that he'd hit you?" His eyes flashed dangerously with the last part.

Percy could still remember that after when Annabeth had reluctantly told him he had gone over to Luke's house and beat him to a pulp. Normally he wasn't a violent guy, but that one time he couldn't help it. Annabeth didn't want to talk to him for a week after that but they'd eventually made up.

Percy had rushed in his car too many times to count, rushing into her apartment seeing them fighting or Annabeth alone crying and angry.

"This time it's different." She quietly mumbled, it sounded more like she was convincing herself.

"It won't be. Annabeth, please. Why him out of all people? He's such an asshole and a creep. He's taking advantage of you!" Percy had walked closer to her but Annabeth pushed him away.

"I know what you think of him! We talked about this enough times." She shouted at him.

"So you don't think that it's creepy when some guy who is seven years older waits for a girl until she is 18 to persuade her into dating him?"

Annabeth had met Luke at the bookshop she used to work. But she was 16 at the time and he 23. So they, but mostly Luke in Percy's mind, had waited until she was 18 to begin dating. Though he doubted that it was really not before her 18th birthday. But Annabeth had never wanted him to tell that. Now it was three years later and they were 21 while he was 28.

"What I also told you many times." Annabeth said through gritted teeth. "I wanted it too. I also waited and it was my own choice, Percy. I'm sorry not everyone wants a perfect story that includes falling in love with your best friend since the age of 6." She bit the last part but her eyes immediately blew wide when she realised what she had said.

Percy gulped one time, keeping his emotions low. "Tell me Annabeth, are you truly happy with him. Because you were so much happier this last month. No scared calls. No needing to clean up your house after a fight or calling me to come over or picking you up at his house. I just want you to be happy. And that doesn't need to be with me. Like I said; I will get over it. And don't get me wrong; I don't mind coming over to your house or do anything when you ask me. I would do everything for you, Wise Girl."

Annabeth stared blankly at him with tears streaming down her face, still sitting at the couch.

"But how would you feel if I met a girl who is 16 now and I agree with her to wait until she is 18 to date? It wouldn't creep you out? Because it creeps me out."

She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by her door clicking open and someone stepping in.

Percy knew before he turned around who it was. "Great, she had already given him her key again. Then she could change it again when they would break up again."

"Luke." He said without surprise in his voice.

"Percy." Luke said with an even colder tone to it. "Again hanging out here? Shouldn't you find a girlfriend?"

Percy gave him a very forced smile. "I'm a very happy single, thanks."

"Probably for the better. Wouldn't know who would date you."

"Of course your circle of pedophiles wouldn't know somebody." Percy remarked.

Annabeth just shook her head and wanted to open her mouth to say something but Luke had already walked over to her to kiss her while Percy was standing there.

He just sighed when Annabeth didn't push him away and went over to the kitchen to grab some more cake.

"Ah, I see you found your way to the cake that Annabeth and I bought to celebrate us getting back together." Luke remarked and snaked his arms around Annabeth. He couldn't see it exactly but he was sure his hands were resting on her butt.

"I see it too now." Percy acted like he didn't care and just began eating it. When he was done eating Annabeth asked if they wanted to watch a movie.

Luke looked at Percy and then at Annabeth. Percy rolled his eyes, but decided that he didn't want to see Luke touching Annabeth all night.

"I should actually go. I'm hanging out with Grover." He explained and went to retrieve his shoes and jacket.

"Good plan. Bothering more people late in the night." Luke commented and Percy's blood boiled.

"Yeah. Maybe even visiting my mom." He added with a grin and walked over to pull Annabeth softly with him to the door.

"Bye Luke." He said with no emotion and he just got a nod from Luke. Which Percy returned with an eye roll.

He kissed Annabeth's cheek and pulled her into a hug which she returned. Luke wasn't even looking as he was too busy with his phone. "Just call me when you need me." Percy whispered in her ear and she nodded.

"Have a good night." He said to her some louder which Luke overheard. He gave Percy a grin, but not one like Percy's, more irritating and gross. "We will."

He just made a puke noise, kissed Annabeth's forehead just one more time. And waved a final goodbye.

Percy walked outside and sighed deeply. Deciding to just go home and dwell on his own sorrow's in his bed with some Led Zeppelin.

---------------

"So what did she say exactly?" Grover, his other best friend asked. They were at lunch catching up. He had just told him about the conversation he had with Annabeth last night.

"That she and Luke were back together. Then he came in and I left quickly after that." Percy explained with disgust in his voice.

"Why do you even hate that guy so much?" Grover asked and Percy couldn't believe him. He made wide guesteres with his hands in the air and had a look that screamed "Seriously?" Grover laughed.

"I mean we all don't like him, but we are at least civil towards him. You two are at each other's throats each time you're together."

"He isn't nice to me either. He's worse than I am. Besides that we have been civil for a year that he and Annabeth were dating. And before when he would creep around in the bookstore."

"You never really were."

"Oh? So I should be nice to the pedophile and the one that abuses our friend?"

"It would make Annabeth happier." Grover said unusually calm. Percy didn't really get where this was coming from and asked him.

"She doesn't tell you this, but most of Annabeth and Luke's fights are because of you. He's jealous of you, Percy. And he doesn't like it that you two are so close."

"She's my best friend. And just that. We're as platonic as it can get. Why are you even defending him?" Percy asked with raised eyebrows. He knew that Luke didn't like having him around but jealousy was a bit far.

"Really? Everybody knows that you're not as platonic as you think. Remember the truth or dare that one time when you were 17 in junior year and they dared you to do 7 minutes in heaven?" I nodded not liking where this was going.

"We all know you really did it." I gulped because we indeed did. It had been Annabeth's initiative and that he had first refused. Annabeth had convinced him that they could better practice on each other and that they could better pass their time.

Now that he thought about it it was weird on Annabeth's part, but they were two hormonal teenagers and he was hopelessly in love with her.

"We never went any further than kissing. She's just my best friend."

"The one that you're hopelessly in love with."

"Correct." Percy couldn't help but grin a little. Then he let out a frustrated groan, which earned them a few stares. "What do I need to do. Should I stay away from her so that she has less problems with Luke? Are you even sure about that? And why wouldn't she tell me herself? I don't get it. Arghh." He groaned again and looked at Grover expectantly.

"Don't beat yourself up so much about it Perce. And I don't think it would help to stay away. You two are inseparable. And she would miss you too much and you her. Besides that you're the only one that she wants to ask for help. I don't really know to be honest. She's just scared that he's going to hurt you one day. If you knew it would only make him even more angry."

"I don't care about that."

Grover shook his head, though he smiled. "I know. But another topic; did she tell you how she felt."

"Not directly, but she rejected me. So I don't think she feels the same. And she's back together with Luke."

Grover looked at him with sympathy but He shrugged it off and they luckily talked about other things and not Annabeth anymore.

---------------

It was a week later when he got a call in the middle of the night. It was one of Annabeth's neighbours. Mrs. Brown, who was an elder lady. He thanked her for calling and rushed to Annabeth's apartment.

This was unlike a week ago when he had driven down to her apartment at a slower pace and he was happier then. The only thing that was the same was that he was just as nervous, maybe even more this time.

When he ran to her door he waved at Mrs. Brown who was watching him from her window. He opened the door with his key and walked in. He could hear the faint yelling. When he walked him they didn't notice him. He shut the door softly behind him and he could only see Annabeth, though he could hear Luke clearly.

"He's just a loser! Dump him!" He heard Luke shout. He had heard a lot of arguments between Luke and Annabeth but this one was new for me.

"You're crazy!" She screamed back at him. "He's amazing! You could learn from him!"

"He hates me!" He retorted. Maybe they were talking about someone else. "Because you treat him like shit! You always did!"

"He's a psycho he just came over to my house to beat me up!" He was sure now that it's about him. "And I'm sure that you have fucked the whole time that we've been together!"

"Don't speak of him like that! And how dare you think that!" Annabeth shouted back. Wow. She sounded and looked really mad flailing her arms.

"I'm not going to dump my best friend of 15 years because you say so Luke! Screw you!" Annabeth screamed and it finally dawned on him about what they were fighting.

Percy walked a bit farther and acted like he'd just come in. Though he knew Annabeth wouldn't buy it.

"Percy." Annabeth breathed out and looked his way. Luke's head snapped up at him and Percy already sensed that he was drunk from the way he walked and smelled.

"Percy." Luke said, but not like Annabeth had said his name. This was angrier and drunker. "Prince Charming." He pushed me and Percy let him, not wanting a fight. "Coming little Annabeth to the rescue." He pushed him again. "That's why you're here right? Like a sad dog. With nothing else going on in his life." Percy got another push and slowly started to get angry. "Seaweed Brain." He spat at him and pushed him harder this time.

Percy blinked the red spots in his eyes away and breathed in and out. Just like his guidance counselor from middle school had told him to do.

"It's better if you go." Percy spoke surprisingly calm.

"It's better if you go. Or I go and I take her with me." Luke responded spatting each word at Percy. He went in Annabeth's direction, but Percy placed him in front of her. That was what earned Percy the first punch. It was a sucker punch in the gut which made him double over in pain and gasping for air.

Annabeth screamed and wanted to rush to Percy, but Percy shouted that she should stay behind him. Which earned him another punch which made him fall to the ground. And Annabeth shouting even harder. Luke began kicking him shouting at him.

"Jackson, always being the hero. While fucking my girlfriend behind my back! And having the guts to beat me up and meddle with me and her."

When Percy raised his head Luke began kicking him there and blood gushed out of him. Annabeth ran to look and begin hitting his back and pulling his arm, begging and screaming for him to stop. Percy screamed for Annabeth to leave now but she ignored him. Luke pushed her away and made the mistake of turning to her, wanting to punch her instead of him. But this was enough motivation for Percy to get up and pull Luke to the ground.

Percy was now on top of Luke and punched him a couple of times before he hissed, "Get away now. And don't come back."

Luke nodded and passed Annabeth. Who pulled at his arm forcing him to look her in the eyes. "We're over. For good this time." And to Percy's surprise she punched him with her fist on the face. When Luke was gone Annabeth rushed to the bathroom to probably get her first-aid kit he guessed.

"I'm so sorry Percy." She apologized while cleaning him up. He had needed to take his shirt off because of the wounds there and he even needed a couple of bandages.

He winced as Annabeth touched his face gingerly. She was crying and a mess. After a while and when Percy was all cleaned up he brought Annabeth to her bed, explaining to her that he would sleep on the couch like normally.

But this time Annabeth wasn't having it and she asked him to stay with her. And that they could share a bed.

So they did and Percy laid down next to her. He winced as he laid down next to her and she saw it. She grabbed Percy's arms and wrapped them around her.

Percy nuzzled his face into her hair and tried to ignore how well they fitted together. "Just platonic." He told himself and fell asleep.

----------------

Percy woke up to someone kissing him. First he thought that it was a dream, but when he realised that it wasn't he shot up. He winced at the pain in his body and then remembered last night.

"What are you doing?" He exclaimed with his eyes blown wide. Annabeth looked at him just as confused. "I'm sorry." She stammered out. "I don't know what came over me."

"Yeah." He nodded and immediately stood up. He couldn't help but wince in pain and ignored Annabeth's worried gaze. He realised that he was shirtless and grew red. Sure it wasn't the first time that Annabeth had seen him shirtless a lot of times of course. Even a few naked accidents, though that wasn't on purpose which caused them, they couldn't look at each other in the face for a whole week.

"Do you still have a few of my shirts? I'm afraid that I can't fit into yours." He asked and she just laughed and walked over to her closet, where he had his own little space. "You dumped these by me." And she tossed him a shirt.

"How are you feeling?" Annabeth asked him and her eyebrows were scrunched up together.

"Oh, I'm fine." He casually told her, while making breakfast for the both of them.

Annabeth sighed, sounding annoyed that he didn't really understand. "If someone would break all of your bones you would say that you're fine." And she rolled her eyes which made him laugh and earn him a smack on the arm from her.

"It's not funny! I see you wince when you walk or stand up. You shouldn't have come last night. You should've told anyone who called you that it wasn't your business and gone back to sleep. But no. Perseus Jackson the forever hero coming to the rescue." She almost spat. He winced as his real name was used.

"Sorry, are you mad?" He asked gently, walking over to her with pancakes on a plate and giving them to her.

"Yes! I'm mad!" She shouted standing up so that she could face him better. "You're hurting! Because of me!"

But even when she was standing, he was a head taller. When Percy looked at her and saw tears in her eyes he took a step closer.

He pulled her softly in a hug and Annabeth hugged him back hard. He didn't let her notice that he was hurting in fact and that hugging wasn't helping, but this was Annabeth. She could hug how she wanted. And he wasn't going to concern her even more. Besides that he felt braver when he said that he was fine.

"Come, I want to eat, Wise Girl." Percy joked and let her go softly.

She laughed and they ate at peace, ignoring the tension that hung between them in the air.

--------------

A few days later and Percy was basically staying at Annabeth's house. He wanted to make sure that Luke didn't come back so he slept on the couch. Annabeth had tried to convince him that he could also sleep on the couch, but he was still kinda shocked with the kissing part and he didn't really trust himself so this was for the better.

"We broke up a lot of time because of you." Annabeth suddenly said during dinner.

He looked up with questioning eyes and his eyebrows scrunched into a frown. "Why?"

Annabeth looked down her plate and only answered for a minute or so. "He was always jealous and irritated with you. Already from the beginning."

"Oh. I got the irritated part, but why be jealous? And from the beginning?"

He could remember coming a lot more to the bookstore since Annabeth had met Luke. But Percy and Luke had been kind of civil for a little while.

"Uhm, with you being with me all the time, us knowing each other longer. And our friends, when they would tease that we are always together or when people think that we are a couple. I also chose you mostly before him and at last he was convinced that I was cheating on him with you."

"Yeah, he mentioned that. It's stupid really. Of him I mean. You're my best friend. That's all we are."

She just shook her head sadly and kept her head still down. "I don't even know why I'm telling you this. But I wanted you to know I guess."

"I'm glad you did." Though he had no idea why she was suddenly telling him this.

"He and I are over for good this time." Annabeth told him after another silence and she finally looked up.

"Oh." He mumbled, trying to conceal his happiness.

"I know you're happy Percy." He gave her a wry grin that she hesitantly returned. "What was the final decision?" Percy asked, feeling brave.

"You." She told him and didn't look away from his questioning gaze.

"What? I, uh, I don't get it." He stammered out.

"You were right after all this time, I was scared of leaving him. I was afraid that there was no one who was going to love me when he was gone. He'd told me that enough times. And I was waiting for you to leave, to finally get sick of me and leave. But you didn't. And I always kind of wished that you did, not only because you deserve better than me as a friend, but also because I was always afraid that Luke would one time go after you. I'd promised myself that if he'd hurt you I wouldn't forgive him." She was softly crying and I stood up to wrap her in a hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Wise Girl." He whispered in her hair and she only cried harder.

--------------

Percy opened his apartment door whilst brushing his teeth and to his surprise Annabeth was standing there.

He gestured that she could walk in and he went to put his toothbrush away. "What brings you here?" He asked, happy that she was visiting him.

"We need to talk, Percy. We can't ignore what you told me three weeks ago. We have done it long enough."

"Uh, okay." He responded stretching out the a. "Not a happy visit then if your tone is giving you away."

She rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch looking at him expectantly, only after a while he realised that she wanted him to sit down next to her.

"I get it Annabeth. You don't need to turn me down. I already got it. Impressive huh?" He tried for a joke but Annabeth didn't even give him a smile. "I love you and you don't love me. It's fine I will get over it. I just need you in my life. And if you don't want to go further than being friends then friends it is."

"No no no. Percy you don't get it. I don't know what I feel for you. A long time ago in high school and middle school I had the biggest crush on you, but you didn't act on any of the signs that I gave you and I was too scared to do so."

His eyes were blown wide with shock. Annabeth had been in love with him?

"And I started dating Luke as a distraction and I had convinced myself that it was better to be friends with you. I thought that my feelings would fade when I was someone else and I think they did but then you told me that you are in love with me and it's just confusing." She explained further.

"So... you don't know how you feel about me?" Percy asked to clarify and when she nodded he only began to freak out even more. "Is that why you kissed me?"

"I don't know. I was confused and wanted to find out how I would react, but it was stupid."

"Well, let's settle it now then." Percy stated and sat up some more.

"Uhm, what do you mean." Annabeth asked, confused as Percy pulled her to her feet and close to him.

"Come on we've kissed before. If you don't feel anything then I get over my feelings and we just go on with our lives being friends. If you do feel anything we have to figure it out from there." He explained and put his arms around her waist while she just stood there.

"Uh, Percy, I don't know if this is the -" But she was interrupted by his lips crashing down on hers.

She sighed into the kiss and began to kiss him back and she tangled her hands in his hair.

Eventually Annabeth luckily tiptoed so that he didn't need to bend his head that much.

Percy tried to enjoy the kiss as minimal as he should, since in his head it was most likely that Annabeth didn't feel the same way. Yet he failed miserably.

"Why would she still be kissing you if she doesn't feel the same?" His inner voice asked and Percy couldn't help but silently agree.

When they pulled away for air Percy couldn't help but grin a little. Annabeth didn't really show any emotion. She touched her lips briefly and then looked up at Percy.

"I, uh, I think that we need to try that again." Percy wanted to open his mouth to ask why, but Annabeth put her hand above his mouth to shut him up and lightly pushed him onto the couch.

She straddled him and kissed him again.

"Yeah, I think that we have a problem." She muttered as she pulled back from the kiss. Percy sat there in shock and looking in awe at her.

"Yeah." He beamed and she stepped off his lap to sit down next to him.

"What should we do? I clearly have feelings for you and you for me. So I think that the clearest option is to start dating." She simply said as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

"Dating? Are you ready for that? After Luke I mean." He asked her, not wanting to force her into anything.

"I think that I love you too, Percy. And that I want you to be my boyfriend." She told him and looked at him expectantly.

"I would love that." He was sure that he was beet red and had a goofy grin, but he couldn't help it.

So he turned over to kiss her again. Annabeth Chase, his best friend of 15 years and girlfriend of a few seconds.