Annabeth's POV
"I can't take it anymore! You're not listening to what I say!"

I frowned and couldn't decide whether to turn around and leave or knock on the door.

Percy invited me over to hang out after school (whatever that means) but I wasn't sure what was going on inside his room.

I stood at the door for another minute or two before deciding to knock.

Suddenly it was silent in the room and a few seconds later Rachel's head popped out the door.

"Oh hey Annabeth. What're you doing here?"

I felt a weird pit in my stomach but I pushed it down.

"I was coming to see Percy but it seems he already has company."

She huffed. "I was just leaving. He's all yours."

Rachel brushed past me and left.

I peeked into the door and saw Percy sitting by his desk frowning.

I cleared my throat. "I can see this may be a bad time so I'll just come back later-"

"No don't go! I mean, it's fine. You can stay."

I stood there for a while until curiosity got the best of me.

"What happened in here with Rachel? Why'd she storm out like that?"

Percy winced. "Well, you know Rachel and I are pretty good friends."

I felt that same feeling earlier but ignored it and nodded.

"Well since I can remember she always gives me advice and helps me with the future."

"That's.... nice of her."

He snorted. "Yeah most of the time I hate what she has to say but I know it's the truth. I've learned to just accept it you know?"

I was itching to find out what kind of truths Rachel was telling him but I bit my tongue. "Then why'd you guys have a disagreement earlier?"

"She keeps telling me something but I don't think it's true. Well I guess I know it is but it doesn't seem to be like that."

I couldn't help but ask. "What was it?"

He looked at me for a few seconds before shrugging.

"Doesn't matter. What do you wanna do now?"

I eyed him. "'Doesn't matter?' Are you sure about that?"

He grinned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. Wanna go to the park?"

"Um, sure. Why not."

"Okay let me get some snacks downstairs."

"Oh?"

"What?"

"Is it like a picnic in the park?"

Percy looked at me. "Well duh that's why I'm getting snackies."

I laughed. "What do you plan on doing at the park? Isn't it just for little kids."

Percy looked genuinely offended. "How could you say that? The park is so fun. You can never be to old for it."

I snorted. "Obviously."

He playfully glared at me. "You know what? I'm going to prove you wrong."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me downstairs.

"Mother! I have a code p-6 N. Do you copy?"

I gaped as his mom somehow understood his code talk.

She smiled at us and motioned to the cabinet on the side of her.

"Open that and in the fridge there's prepacked sandwiches and fruits."

Percy gathered all the stuff while I talked to his mom.

"H-how did you understand that?"

She smirked. "A mother never tells her secrets."

Percy was done packing and ushered me out the door.

"Come on! Let's go!"

As he rushed me out of the door I looked at Sally one last time before she winked and said, "Plus I can hear what you say from down here."

--------

By the time we got to the park, it was a little before sunset, and the children were starting to leave.

Percy grabbed the picnic basket and grabbed my hand and we started walking.

I glanced down at our hands and felt the heat rising up in my cheeks.

But neither of us let go.

"So. What now?"

We walked to a patch of grass just off the side of the playground and Percy plopped the basket down.

"Let me demonstrate how one operates a picnic."

I scoffed. "I think I know how a picnic works, Percy."

He let go of my hand and I admit, I missed it as soon as it left.

Cliche, I know.

Percy set out a blanket and took out all the food.

"Come." He patted down a spot on the blanket. "Sit."

I looked at him. "Did you just- pat for me to sit?"

His eyes widened. "Uh no. Of course not. Well yes. But actually I-"

I laughed. "Seaweed Brain I was kidding."

I plopped down and popped a grape in my mouth.

I moaned. "Mm. I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning."

He grinned. "Well I packed some breakfast foods if you don't mind. My mom made some pancakes for us."

He took out a container with blue pancakes in them and ate one.

"Oh my gods it's so goooodd."

I snatched the container from him and smirked. "Well they're mine now."

Percy put his hand on his chest. "I'm wounded. How dare you take my blue pancakes. You need to be punished."

My eyes widened as Percy got up and grabbed me and lugged me over his shoulders, making me drop the container.

"Percy! What are you doing? Put me down!"

"No!"

He ran to the playground set while all the remaining people there looked at us like we were crazy.

We played on the playground for another hour before it started to get dark.

Percy pushed me on the swing before sitting on the one next to me.

"So what were you saying about playground being just for little kids?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're a kid at heart."

He flashed me a smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Oh but of course."

The park was empty now with just the two of us.

"Hey, thank you."

Percy looked at me and tilted his head. "What do you mean."

I swung my legs and turned my head so I would face him. "I mean that today was fun. Honestly probably the most fun I had in a while. Thanks."

Percy flipped his nonexistent hair and looked at his nonexistent nails. "Yeah I was right. What's new."

I reached over and smacked him in the back of his head.

"Ouch!"

I smiled before looking out into the rest of the city.

I'd always wondered about this soulmate thing.

The person you're meant to be with.

I'd never given it much thought, because I've never really worried about it before.

But I found him. I found my soulmate.

And now I was scared of losing him.

I realized that's why I didn't want to go forward in our relationship.

Why try to have more when I'm happy with what I already have?

I turned to face Percy to find him already looking at me.

"Hey."

The corner of my lips curved. "Hi."

"What are you thinking about in that wise brain of yours?"

I contemplated for a while before answering truthfully. "Us."

He looked at me surprised. "Oh."

I couldn't help but feel deflated by his response.

"Yeah." I looked down at the ground before I felt his hand lift my chin.

I looked at his eyes before they diverted to his lips.

I looked back up at him to see him looking at me.

I grabbed his face and told myself 'stop being such a baby. do it.'

I closed my eyes as my lips met his.

I felt him smile and I pulled back, out of breath, and my heart rate elevated.

We both looked at each other for quite some time before he began to open his mouth, but we heard a ring.

I felt a buzz in my pocket and I looked at him one last time before grabbing my phone out and looking at the caller ID.

"Dam it."

I answered the call only to be greeting my a screaming lunatic.

"Annabeth!"

wow this is probably the longest chapter i've ever written. oki enjoy!