Annabeth POV:

He wasn't here. Why wasn't he here?

Percy had agreed to take me to a fancy restaurant, the kind with the fancy silverware, the chocolates on the plates, and the candlesticks on the tables. Let's just say he lost a bet against me. On another note, it turns out the Stoll brothers can get Chiron into a prom dress a second time.

But he wasn't here.

The seats were by the huge glass windows, and I looked at every on-comer with hope, then disappointment. The red velvet seat cushions started to feel more uncomfortable. The white laced tablecloth seemed to dull. Every few minutes, a waitress would come along and ask if I was ready to order. I would insist that she wait a few more minutes. I knew that Percy would come. Something must have held him up. Yet, people at other tables started to look at me sympathetically. They all felt bad for the girl who seemed to be ditched by her date.

As I looked out the window again, I saw a boy my age across the street. He had brown hair that fell into his face, and was talking to a white-haired woman next to him. Based on the familiarity of his body language, I'm guessing a family member. He finished his conversation with her, and then darted across the busy street. He walked into the shop nonchalantly, exclaiming loudly, "Sorry babe, traffic was terrible! You ready to eat?" Leaning in closer, he whispered, "Just go with it." Then winked. 

He was playing hero.

Not that I minded. Everybody looked away, and I finally got some food to eat. The waitress seemed a little less sympathetic, but still treated me kindly. I learned that this boy's name was Peter, and his Aunt May had convinced him to come eat dinner with her, to save her the embarrassment. It turns out that they had seen me wait for fifteen minutes, and once being in a similar situation herself, she had him come over to at least chat with me.

We got talking, sharing little tidbits about ourselves, and essentially having a good time. It turns out that he has a crush on this girl named Mary Jane. He found out that I want to be an architect when I get a job. The conversation eventually turned to what we didn't like. When I said spiders, he seemed to sag a little. Sensing that it was a touchy subject (though I don't know why), I switched the topic to him. It turns out that he hates goblins. "Creepy little buggers," He calls them.

After we had paid for the food, he walked me out of the restaurant and down the street a bit. "We can't have people knowing that I'm not your boyfriend, right?" He joked. I didn't mind. When we rounded the corner at the end of the street, some guy ran right into Peter.

"Sorry dude, but I'm in a hurry to--Annabeth!" Percy shouted, engulfing me in a hug. 

"Wait," Peter said, "Are you her boyfriend? The one that didn't show up for the date?" He looked a little angry, almost like he was disgusted.

"Yeah, something came up on my dad's side of the family. Sorry I couldn't make it Wise girl." I glanced at the leg of his jeans, catching sight of a fine golden dust.

"His dad's family is a bit crazy, actually. I swear, his Aunt tried to kill me once!" I joked, hoping that Hera wouldn't smite me later.

Peter's face softened a bit. "Well, I hope you two have a good night!" He called as he took off into the crowded street behind us.

Percy and I walked away, arm in arm. "So what did you do this time, Seaweed brain?" I jibed.

"You wouldn't believe it! So, I was just walking down the street, when, from an alleyway, this basilisk came out of nowhere  and started to hiss, 'Percccccy Jacksssson,' and I was all 'walking faster...' and then..."

Yours in demigoddishness,

MarineDolphin