Percabeth in the 1940's

Look, I didn't want to go to war. It is the worst thing I have ever experienced. To those people who try to romanticize it, I give them a big "F**k you." But I'll get to that later, let's go back.

The year was 1940, I was 17 and the world was in chaos. Europe was at war with itself and people were saying Japan was allied with the Axis powers.

Luckily I lived in America, with two huge oceans separating them and us.

So for at least a little while, I could live in peaceful bliss.

My name is Percy Jackson, and I am from New York City. I am a junior at Goode High school and I can't wait to graduate. I hate school, I stink at pretty much every class.

The only thing that gets me through the day is swim team practice. I am the co-captain and I am the best swimmer in the city. Or so I've been told.

I have always loved the water, I just feel so comfortable in it

I've never lived all that much of an interesting life, that is, until that one Friday at the local swim meet.

I was stretching, getting ready for my race, when I looked over at the bleachers to look for my mom. Childish, I know but hey, what can I say? I'm a momma's boy.

As I scanned the crowd, I saw her face and I was instantly drawn in.

She had curly, golden locks pulled up into a pony tail. Her skin was slightly tanned, a beautiful glow about her that was stunning.

But that wasn't what held me there.

Her eyes... her eyes were a gray, almost like a storm gray. That's exactly how to describe them. They were harsh, but beautiful at the same time.

I was so entranced that I didn't realize she was looking back at me, with an expression that said, "what are you staring at, creep?"

I also hadn't realized everyone else was on their starting blocks, waiting on me.

Feeling my face flush red, I climbed up and looked at her again. She was giggling at me, smooth move Jackson.

I get set and wait on the gun. But instead of the blue pool water I see nothing but those gray eyes.. Wow, they are amazi- No! Come on Jackson, focus on the g- *BANG!*

Crap.

I had a horrible start. I didn't even move until the others had hit the water.

Annabeth

I don't even know why I am even at this stupid swim meet. O wait, yes I do, my best friend, Thalia, brought me to cheer on her brother Jason.

So far, the only thing I have gotten from being here is that no one looks good in a speedo.

When Jason's race finally comes, the 100 meter freestyle, I look through the group of guys for his close cropped blond hair. But instead, what caught my eye is what can only be described as a tangled wild mass of black hair, dark as a raven.

My first thought was he needs a haircut, and was about to voice my opinion to Thalia, when I become dumbstruck.

Eyes, green eyes, green as the sea. I have never seen eyes this color before. Then they lock onto mine and my brain just stops, which never happens.

The longer he looks at me the more self-conscious i become. Maybe there is something wrong with my hair?

He finally looks away, seeing everyone else was on their platforms already, and he turned crimson. I start giggling, out of embarrassment for the both of us.

He is in the lane to the right of Jason.

"Jason is going to smoke that dark haired kid," Thalia whispered to me.

With my brain still slightly jammed, all I could respond with is "uhh...yeah." I see Thalia look at me funny.

My mind gets righted when the gun goes off, and I see the green-eyed kid enter the water far behind. I feel bad, that is, until i see him cruise ahead with ease.

The race finished quicker than I had imagined. Much to Thalia's dismay, Jason had finished second to green-eyes by a good three feet.

I wont lie, a small amount of excitement stirred inside of me. My face must be betraying my emotions, because Thalia, in a mildly teasing voice, says "What? You cheer for the first cute boy rather than your childhood friend?"

I felt my face flush.

"Come on, Jason is talking to him, lets join them." She had a grin on her face, making me more red.

"Are you crazy?! I don't even know him!"

With a large grin, Thalia mocks, "All the more reason to talk to him,".

Percy
How I won that race, I have no idea. The whole time, I had her going through my mind. Mostly her eyes, I almost swam straight into the wall at least twice.

After I got out of the pool the guy who finished second, a guy named Jason Grace, came up to congratulate me.

"Wow, the rumors are true! You're a machine!" he said, "How did you get so fast?"

"Honestly I have no clue, I just lover the water," I responded.

He kept talking, but at that moment, I saw my beauty and her friend, a girl with dark, spiked hair walking toward us. I wont lie, my heart started tap dancing inside my chest.

"Oh! Hey Thals!" Jason greeting the dark haired girl as they arrive, "Glad you guys made it."

"Wouldn't miss it little brother," Thalia replied. .

"You guys probably don't know this guy," he said pointing to me. "This beast is Percy Jackson, fastest swimmer in Manhattan. Percy, this is my sister, Thalia," he says, motioning to the dark-haired girl. Then he points to my real interest, 'and this is our good friend, Annabeth Chase."

I extend my hand to the gray-eyed beauty, and said the smoothest thing that came to my mind, "uh... hi... nice to meet my pleasure..."

Have I said how smooth I am?

Then she giggled, and I'm pretty sure I heard an angel laugh. I had to hear it again, so I followed with "I mean, nice to meet your acquaintance... I mean... hi"

Then I Heard that sound again and I could have died right there. It was the most amazing sound. She held out her hand to shake mine.


Where her skin touched mine, I felt an electric current. A feeling that connected us, that felt like a lighting bolt through my heart. Her handshake is strong, confident, but her fingers are graceful and soft. I realize I've been holding her hand for an eternity so I quickly dropped it and shook Thalia's too, so I didn't seem weird.

"Hello Percy, it's nice to meet you," she replies, still chuckling.



"So Percy, Thals, Annabeth and I are going to grab a bite to eat, care to join?"

"Oh, yeah, of course! I know a local diner a couple blocks away. My mom used to work there, best pancakes this side of the Appalachians."

"Sounds good," Jason says, "ladies, we are gonna go put on our clothes and we will head on out, sound like a plan?"

The girls nod in agreement, and Jason and I head down towards the locker room.


"So Jason, a table for four or five?" I ask.
"Only four, why?" Jason says, puzzled.
"Well, Annabeth is really pretty and she must have someone so I thought if she were going steady with someone they would join us." I speak fast because I'm nervous to know the answer.
"She was with a guy Luke a couple years ago, but he was trouble so she told him to take a hike. So, she'll be all alone," Jason says with a teasing smile.
"Gotcha." I smile back.

Notes