Chapter 49 - The Last Night
published: Wednesday, 18 November 2020

Percy stopped before the gate, reluctantly slipping his hand out of Annabeth's grip. "Guess this is it, huh?"

They'd been through the motions a thousand times before. They were neighbourhooders — according to Percy, a play on the word 'neighbours' — so they took turns on who got to be dropped off first after every date they had.

It was usually in the afternoon, and on rare occasions later in the evening, but tonight — tonight was different. Tonight was the end of an era, for Annabeth at least. She was clad in red and his collar was open, and it was their last night of high school.

He always dropped her off here. They'd say goodbye, maybe kiss if they were feeling bold. Annabeth would make a joke at his expense, Percy would make an indignant sound, but then they'd kiss again and then the "goodnight" comes.

Except tonight was different.

Percy was a gentleman. He always waited until she was inside of the house to leave. She did the same whenever she dropped him off at her house, but it always felt nice to be standing on her doorstep, then look over her shoulder and wave to Percy one last time. He'd flash a goofy grin and wave back.

Except tonight Annabeth stopped before she could open the gate. She turned around with bated breath. "Do you want to come in?"

Silence hung between them. It was never awkward with Percy, and it wasn't awkward right now. But there was a trepidation, a sort of anticipation in the air.

Annabeth knew that she wouldn't take another breath until he replied, which meant she could very well be passed out on the floor any second now.

"Sure," Percy said, off-handedly, but even in the darkness, Annabeth could see the small grin he allows himself. It made her smile at what a dork he was. Because that was Percy Jackson's best-kept secret. No one seemed to have cracked it yet but her.

Annabeth could feel butterflies flapping wildly in her stomach. The after-party had been at Silena's, and it was almost midnight by the time everyone started to file out. One last hurrah. There were teary goodbyes and promises to meet up again soon.

There was still the whole summer until Annabeth had to leave for school, so she knew she'd still see her friends. But Silena, Beckendorf, even Clarisse (which she'd never admit aloud)...she wouldn't be seeing them again for a long, long time.

It was a weird feeling, knowing this was the end of a lot of things. Annabeth missed the days when they didn't really know what was ahead of them.

It helped that Percy was here. In fact, he seemed to sense the mixed emotions radiating off of her because he took her hand in his and pulled her into his side.

They reached the doorstep, where Annabeth hastily turned the keys in the lock.

She was first to cross the threshold, taking her shoes off and putting them up on the rack.

"I can feel my toes," Annabeth sighed happily, wriggling her feet against the mat. She turned around to face Percy, who was standing awkwardly in the doorstep.

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "I wish I had a camera right now. You're such a Seaweed Brain. Come on, just leave your shoes at the front."

Annabeth dropped her bag on the couch. Even her house felt different tonight...although that was for a completely different reason.

"Helen's away for a conference. The twins are at a sleepover," Annabeth said, unable to keep the nerves out of her voice. She swallowed. Oh no. The one time she needed her wits about her and she was completely useless at communication.

To her relief, Percy seemed to feel the same way. His face was redder than a tomato. "So..." he paused. "We're alone."

Another beat of silence.

"Urgh," Annabeth groaned. "Is this too weird?" she demanded. "It shouldn't be like this, should it?"

"Probably not," Percy said, equally frustrated. He ran a hand through his hair, looking more dejected than she felt.

Annabeth felt bad. They'd talked about it too recently, put too much pressure on it. And now, after almost a year of buildup, the stakes were too high. What if it wasn't perfect? What if it wasn't everything she'd ever thought it'd be?

"We don't have to do anything, you know," Annabeth sighed. "I'm a terrible girlfriend. I didn't mean to pressure you into anything, and now it's made everything all—" She made a wild gesture to finish her sentence.

Percy chuckled, but he stepped forward and swept her into a hug. "You didn't do anything, relax."

They stayed like that for a few seconds. Annabeth rested her head on his shoulder as his hands curled around her waist.

"Remember our first date?" she asked, unable to help her mouth quirking up in the corner. "How awkward it was. I think we said a total of two things to each other in half an hour."

Percy groaned, but she was laughing. "Don't remind me." He paused. "Don't even talk about our first date, what about the first time we really spoke?"

It was Annabeth's turn to wince. "Oh, God." They drew apart, and Annabeth flushed embarrassedly. "I was actually headed the same way as you, but to avoid walking together, I made a giant round of the entire school."

Percy's jaw dropped. "No way."

"I know," she said, nodding gravely. "It's the reason I know it takes 7 whole minutes to circle the campus." Annabeth gestured to the stairs. "We can watch a movie. No one's home, which means we can put The Lion King on full volume."

Percy made a face. "No, that'll make me cry even more."

Annabeth grinned. "Ah, even better." She turned away to head up the stairs, but something stopped her. Percy's fingers brushing her wrist, sending a soft tingling up her arm.

Annabeth stopped in her tracks, spinning around to face Percy at the time that he surged forward and pressed his lips to hers.

A gasp escaped her. Instinct took over and Annabeth's hands sprung to his hair, slowly tangling her fingers in the strands.

Percy kissed like he did everything else — recklessly and without thought. It was the complete opposite of Annabeth, but maybe she was thinking far too much for a night like this.

"You can touch me, you know," Annabeth murmured against his lips. "I won't break."

It was hesitant, and the just the fingertips, but Annabeth felt him brush her cheek.

"Wow," she whispered. "Cheek action. Saucy."

Percy couldn't help it when he burst into laughter, almost bending down in front of her. "Watch out. Shoulder's next."

"You're ridiculous," Annabeth snorted, grabbing his hand and dragging him behind her as she raced up the stairs. Maybe she was just attracted to morons.

Percy yelped as he was hauled behind her, laughing as he almost fell off the staircase because of his socks.

They reached the second floor stumbling over each other, a tangle of limbs, giggling to each other. Percy pulled her in for another kiss, and Annabeth melted into it this time, her back pressed against the wall by her bedroom door.

"Helen won't be home tomorrow morning?" Percy whispered.

Annabeth shook her head, smiling against his lips. "We're alone." Reaching up behind her head, Annabeth pulled out the hair tie holding the top half of her hair together and let the curls tumble down, irritatedly combing out the kink in it.

"Are you sure about this?" Percy asked. "Because I've been celibate for a year. I can do it for a while more."

Annabeth laughed. "I'm sure, Percy."

And then, because Annabeth knew Percy would never, she made the first move. She tried to be gentle but ended up just roughly shoving his jacket off of his shoulders, it felt to the floor in a heap of black fabric, the rose lying abandoned.

"Are you sure?" she asked softly. "You'd tell me if you weren't ready, right?"

"Annabeth," Percy managed as he drew away from the kiss. His cheeks were flushed and his lips were red, raw from the kissing, and he was close enough for Annabeth to feel his heart racing in time with her own. "I'm extremely ready. You don't have to worry."

Annabeth paused the kissing to give him a suspicious look. "You so could not be celibate for another year," she panted.

"Tell you what?" he said breathlessly. "Tomorrow morning, we'll start a new competition about just that and I'll prove it to you."

Annabeth pressed her lips to his, eliciting a pleasurable groan from Percy. "Deal. Prepare to lose."

"Feel like I'm winning right now though," Percy said, his voice muffled. His fingers fumbled for the zipper, and Annabeth almost whined in annoyance when he pulled away.

She glared at him. "If you ask me if I'm sure one more damn time—"

"I swear I won't," Percy said with a sheepish look. "But your dress is—"

It took all Annabeth's energy not to laugh, but she mustered up all the strength she had and merely a grin came out. She turned around to help him with the zipper. The sound of it clicking at the end was one of finality.

"Last chance to back out," she breathed.

Percy pressed his forehead to hers, reaching up to cup his face in his right hand. "Not a chance," he whispered back.

Annabeth led him to her bedroom, pushing the door open. Her heart was racing at a mile a minute as he followed her inside and made good on that promise.