"Annabeth."

"Not now, Percy."

"But Annie. . ."

"Percy." This time she said it as more of a warning. 

Percy was usually pretty good at leaving her alone when she was reading, most of the time making himself comfortable next to her and finding something to do himself -- whether that be staring at the wall and running his fingers through her hair, or struggling to get through a few pages of his own narrative to make her happy. He knew just as well as she did that reading demanded her full attention, and she could quickly become an enemy if interrupted.

But today, he'd walked into the living room of the Jackson household, his hands in his pockets. Percy hadn't taken a seat beside her, he hadn't given her a reason for his presence, he simply stood, watching her read.

Then he'd tried getting her attention, and it was rather distracting.

"Annaaaabethhhh."

"You interrupt my reading once more, and this book becomes a lethal weapon."

Percy held up his hands in surrender. "I don't doubt it. . ."

Annabeth eyes found the line she'd been on and resumed reading, immersing herself in a world different than her own. She found it funny how easily she could get lost in books, in stories that were impossible (yet, somehow, more believable than her own).

She barely noticed the fact that Percy hadn't walked away -- or maybe she'd chosen to ignore it -- and he inched closer before reaching down, swiping the book from her hands, and retreating a few steps back, all in one swift move.

Annabeth pursed her lips, staring at the spot where her book had been for a few, long seconds. 

"Percy. Give it back."

She finally looked up to see him grinning happily. Annabeth's eyes narrowed, studying her boyfriend's face. He looked slightly too excited for simply stealing her book. What was he up to?

Percy, in reality, was still a child. So, really, it could be anything.

She sighed, stretching her hand out. "Just give me the book. I don't even want to know what you've done now."

Percy laughed, putting the novel behind his back. "Nope." 

He had the nerve to pop the p.

Annabeth watched him for a moment longer, weighing her options. She could give him the satisfaction he wanted and chase after him, or she could ignore him and move onto something else.

But really, when was the second one ever an option?

The blonde stood from the couch, brushed her hands together, and stared her boyfriend down. Percy winked and held her book in the air as she went to grab it.

"Ohhh no, it's not going to be that easy, Wise Girl." Percy dodged her lunge for the book and danced to the left, holding it upside down in front of his face and pretending to read. 

"What is this, Annabeth? It's unreadable!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes and made to move to the right, then backtracked when he reacted and went in from the left. But Percy recovered and retreated from the room, turning his back on her as he fled into the kitchen.

"Percy! I'm not going all the way in there! I'll just get another book if you're going to be so troublesome."

She could hear him tsking from her spot in the living room. "You better come get it, or I might just drop it into this puddle of--"

"Don't!" Annabeth was in the kitchen in less than a second, armed only with her glare. Just as the saying went -- if looks could kill, Percy wouldn't be breathing at that moment. "Don't. You. Dare."

But the book wasn't even in her boyfriend's hands, sitting safely on the counter behind him. 

In it's place was a puppy, shaking with pure excitement in Percy's arms.

Annabeth's jaw unhinged, her tense stance dropping scarily quickly. Her hands went up to her mouth as she choked out a muffled, "Oh my god."

Percy grinned wider and held the dog up for her to see. "We got a puppy!"

"You did not." Annabeth couldn't suppress the laugh that forced its way up her throat, and she quickly rushed forward for a closer look. "Oh my gods Percy, you didn't!"

He set the young dog into her arms and stepped back, a proud air about him. "I did! Just like the ones you were looking at the other day, right? Her name's Marley."

Annabeth stared in shock at the brown and white animal in her arms as her tail wagged uncontrollably and she struggled to reach Annabeth's face to kiss it.  Percy had brought home the exact breed and coat color she'd been simply looking at earlier that week, without her having to say a word.

"How did you know?" Annabeth lowered herself onto the tile floor as Marley almost jumped from her grasp, and Percy plopped down in front of her. 

Marley yipped twice, her excitement incomprehensible as she jumped from one lap to another.

"I saw you looking at the picture of it, and then I asked my mom about it. She knew a breeder around here, but I looked at the prices and they were way too high -- I find it kind of silly that you have to buy a dog in the first place, I mean its like buying and selling a life! But anyways, I forgot about it until this morning, when I ran into Mrs. Smith downstairs. Turns out you two have the same taste in dogs, because hers just gave birth to a whole litter, and she asked me on my way to the elevator. Technically she found me, though, since--"

Annabeth, much like Marley, couldn't contain her own excitement and pulled him towards her, meeting his lips in the middle and cutting him off. 

Marley interrupted the kiss, forcing the couple to pull apart and laugh at her antics.

"So? Do you like her?" Percy pulled the puppy into his lap and nuzzled his nose against hers. "Because I wuv her."

"She's perfect," Annabeth agreed.

They spent the rest of the evening playing with the energetic Marley, and by the end of the day Annabeth had almost forgotten about her stolen book.

a / n

holy pepper jack cheese and crackers, i meant to update sooner.

but, you know how it is, i got caught up in my other books and started some other projects i really shouldn't have and now i have too much to do but it's okay because i have no life anyways and sleep is for the weak and--

well anyways, for those of who didn't know, i finished my first original work! it's got a pretty simple writing style and it doesn't have too many chapters, so feel free to check it out ! the sequel will be coming monday :)

also, haha, this oneshot was born from pure procrastination and wasn't going to be this week's update, but it happened and marley is based off of my dog, so you better have enjoyed it or she'll be sad :'(

yours in demigodishness and all that!

~ grace 💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙

( aldfhirghfvnsf i'm going to be known as the fanfiction author of many long author's notes, aren't i ? )