Prom.

It was less than a week away, looming just on the horizon.

And I still had no one to go with.

Of course, I had a hopeful. The girl I'd only met this semester, and yet couldn't get over how amazing she was.

Annabeth Chase.

My crush. 

Now, I know what you're thinking. Then ask her, Carlos! Now or never!

It's not quite that easy. See, Annabeth was a friend. Just a friend.

And as much as I wished it to be, life isn't some kid's animated TV show where I can pretend to be someone else, hide my identity or something, get the girl to fall in love with me, and then bam! Reveal myself.

Annabeth was smart. She was levelheaded, strong-willed, and decisive. In reality, I was only her student body Vice President. We talked because we had to. We walked beside each other only when we had to. We only made eye contact when Annabeth was shooting down my ideas and proposing a better one.

I never really thought I'd be the kind of guy to have a crush. I'm in high school, for heaven's sake! A relationship right now was honestly childish, and it wouldn't lead anywhere unless I truly found my soulmate.

So I took all of this into account when I made the decision not ask her to prom.

But I do think about it. A lot. 

"Carlos, hey." Annabeth stopped at my locker as she was going down the hallway, holding a few books and a binder in her arms. "Did you get those flyers printed? Not that they're going to make a big difference, but Mrs. Canatella is set on decorating the entire school with flyers for prom."

She flipped through a few files in her grey binder as she spoke, barely glancing up at me.

But do you see what I mean? Prom. Everywhere I turn.

The universe hated me.

"Uh. . .yeah." I turned awkwardly and pulled a haphazard stack of papers from my locker, clearing my throat. "I thought it was kind of silly too. . .I mean, it's not like anyone can forget."

"Right?" Annabeth scoffed, finding what she was looking for in her folder. She swapped papers with me, not even looking at my freshly printed flyers as she set them with the rest of her stuff. 

I couldn't focus on what she was doing though, since what she had handed me was distracting. A folded, thick, creamy-white piece of card stock, with a homemade doodle of a red bow on top.

"What's this?" I turned it from side to side, looking for a name. 

"Ah.” Annabeth reached over and set a finger on top of the card, tapping it a few times. "There's a girl in your social science class, I think. She asked me to give that to you, said something about an emergency and that she wouldn't be able to give it to you herself."

A girl in my science class? Huh.

"Really? Weird." I shrugged, shoving it into my locker.

Annabeth made a face, one I wasn't familiar with. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyebrows raised. It looked almost like she was judging me, which was impossible.

"Uh. . .am I missing something?"

Annabeth shook her head, tilting it a bit and glancing inside my locker. "I think you should read that, Carlos. It seemed pretty important to her. She said you'd know who it was from when you opened it."

Um. . .?

Annabeth, caring about my personal life?

Was this some kind of progress?

Then I mentally slapped myself. She was telling me to open a letter from another girl.

"Uh, okay." I glanced at the card, unsure. "I'll do that later, I actually have a class I need to get to."

Annabeth nodded, pulling her bundle of papers and books to her chest. 

She didn't walk away, though.

So, naturally, I didn't either. Her eyes were focused behind me, when they hadn't been a second ago. They were fixed intently, and I watched in wonder as her lips perked up a bit, transforming into some sort of smile.

I stood a moment longer, feeling the awkward atmosphere take hold. The hallways were bustling around us, people talking everywhere, but Annabeth and I stood face to face, silent.

"Hey, um, Annabeth."

She blinked a bit, coming back to the present. "Yes?"

I grabbed for a topic, anything to dispel the uncomfortable lack of conversation. It was no surprise that it was the first thing that popped into my head: prom.

"Are you going to prom?"

Annabeth stared for a moment, and then sighed. "Nah. Not really my thing."

What?

Annabeth was an incredible girl--and she hadn't been asked? 

Maybe I should ask her.

But then that smile appeared on her face again. It graced her features, even as such a small thing. Her downcast eyes brightened, her round nose lifted a bit, just because her lips curled slightly at the corners.

And yet again, her eyes were nowhere near me.

I made a split-second decision and followed her gaze, trying to turn as inconspicuously as possible. 

No way.

I knew I was looking in the right direction, I could probably measure the angles and come up with an exact point. It wasn't my trajectory skills that I didn't believe, though. It was my eyes.

Annabeth was no doubt staring dreamily at a certain boy (who also happened to be in my science class). Disheveled, obsidian hair. Bright green eyes. Insanely chiseled figure, humble member of the swim team, top in his marine biology class.

Percy Jackson.

Again, I know what you're thinking. Stalker?

It's not like that. It probably sounds like an excuse, but I try my best to get to know my fellow classmates, as the Vice President of the student body. Annabeth was actually the one who suggested it, since we have to make decisions that affect the majority of us, and we're supposed to be approachable for anyone who needs help. I took Annabeth's words very seriously, maybe a little too seriously, I will admit. I probably know the kids of my grade better than the press club, and they dig up the craziest dirt on classmates.

So, yeah. I know the guy.

But Annabeth? Pining after someone like him? He was loud, and clumsy, and super passionate about what he believed in. Average grades, laid back attitude, the whole package!

A package of complete differences. 

Did she want this guy to ask her to prom?

"Well, I'll let you get to class." Annabeth waved absentmindedly, already shifting gears.

"Yeah," I mumbled, my own mind far away. "See you."

I turned back to my locker, gripping the open door. 

Nah. Not really my thing.

'Not really my thing' my butt. She clearly wanted this Percy to ask her. How could I have been so blind?

Well, I could only move forward from here. I can't ask her, she claims she doesn't want to go, and yet was harbouring a crush.

I had to talk to Percy.

I only got a few steps before I realized just what I was doing.

I was the student body Vice President. I made flyers, I organized fundraisers, I showed freshman to the bathroom. I did not mingle, I did not lead by emotion, and I certainly did not play matchmaker.

But Annabeth.

I shook my head, cursing my stupid brain for being like this. I really hadn't seen her smile like that ever before, with an almost sarcastic, giddy air. It felt weird, but if this were going to make her happy, then I should definitely go through with it.

Hah, Who was I kidding?

I turned right around and headed back to my locker.

"Oh, hey! Carlos, right?"

Almost made it. 

I turned slowly, a questioning look on my face. "That's me."

Percy Jackson stood opposite from me, one hand resting on his backpack. "Great." He smiled kindly, a lopsided grin that made my blood boil.

This was the guy stupid enough not to notice Annabeth, the jerk who she likes.

"Yeah, so I was just wondering if you got that card. Georgia was pretty set on getting it to you, so I told her Anna--"

"Who do you think you are?"

Percy hesitated, his dark eyebrows raised. "Um--? I'm Percy, I--"

"No, I mean, who do you think you are?"

Okay, so it was clear then that confrontation wasn't my strong point.

"Uh. . .are you okay?" Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "I feel like there's a misunderstanding here."

"A misunderstanding?" I scoffed. "Is that what you consider this?"

Percy paused, lowering his arm slowly. "I mean. . .yes?"

"Is that all she is to you? A misunderstanding?" Wow. I was really going off on this guy. But he deserved to hear it! And he had the nerve to be clueless. 

Please.

"She?" Percy's mouth formed a perfect o, and he hurried to hold his hands up. "Do you mean Georgia?"

"No, I--wait, what?" Who the heck was Georgia?

"Did you think I was interfering, or something?" Percy laughed uneasily, setting a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, Carlos, don't worry. I was just helping with the note, she's all yours. I have a girlfriend, dude."

It was becoming obvious that a mistake had been made. 

I felt the blood drain from my face. "What are we talking about, exactly?" 

Percy smiled again, the tension gone form his figure. "Yeah, so Georgia, from our science class? She wanted to ask you to prom--you read that in the note, right? Well I knew you were the Vice President, and my girlfriend was the President, so I suggested she give it to Annabeth to give to you, since she seemed too shy."

Welp.

I was being asked to prom by that cute girl Georgia from social science class.

And Annabeth was this guy's girlfriend.

"Oh."

It could've been worse. I had no idea Annabeth was in a relationship, so had I asked her I would've been shot down hard. And I had a potential date to prom, which I wasn't sure how I felt about.

But that still didn't make it okay for Percy to ignore Annabeth the way he was. She clearly wanted to be asked, and by him!

"Annabeth is your girlfriend?" I asked weakly.

Percy looked a little thrown off. "Uh, yeah. Why?"

I held my ground, clenching my fists. "Why haven't you asked her to prom?"

I watched as Percy's expression slowly morphed, from surprise, to understanding, to incredulousness.

"You're a funny guy," he observed, using his grip on my shoulder to turn me. In the direction of Annabeth across the hall. "Dude, take a look at her. Lemme ask you, have you ever seen Annabeth in a dress?"

Percy let it sink in, patting me on the back. "I brought it up last week and she made it clear we weren't going. She already has a whole plan for the entire night instead of the dance."

Oh.

"But," Percy continued,"I really appreciate you looking out for her." He turned me back, releasing my shoulder. "Little tip for the future though, Annabeth can handle herself. If she wanted to go, she'd be the one asking me."

"Ah." I had really stepped out of line with this one. 

"Let me know how it goes with Georgia, okay? She seems to really like you. . .and I know from experience not to leave a girl waiting any longer than she has to." Percy winked, and with a small salute, he left me standing in the middle of the hallway.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye as I made my way back to my locker, as he snuck up behind Annabeth with a hug and kissed her cheek, starting a casual conversation.

They were so in love, and I had failed to see it. Annabeth wasn't pining after anyone, and she really didn't need my help.

I blew out a breath as I opened my locker, scolding myself. This was by far the stupidest thing I'd ever done.

At least Annabeth had her soulmate, that much was clear.

The small card fluttered to my feet with the momentum of the door, and I knelt down to pick it up. I turned it around in my hands, only really looking closely at it now. The red bow was drawn on, that much was clear. There was some loopy writing in the corner, Carlos.

In short, it was adorable.

Prom was a week away, looming just on the horizon.

And it seemed I would be going.

a / n

hahahahaha idk what this is.

but i hope you enjoyed it, i went with the flow and wrote whatever i felt, and ended up with over 2,000 words.

so mortals meet ! how'd i do ?

thanks for reading !! ly guys <3

peace out in demigodishness and all that,

~ grace 💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙