Annabeth

I can tell Percy is nervous. He keeps stumbling over his words, fidgeting with things and blushing.

It is adorable.

I am pretty nervous as well, I mean, how can I be anything but nervous? This handsome, athletic boy, with eyes that show so much passion, and a trouble maker grin, was sitting directly across from me.

We make small talk for a while, talking about school and what we want to study in college. He wants to do something involving the ocean, though he isn't sure of the specifics yet. I tell him I want to be an architect.

"Wow, I haven't met many women architects, but I get a feeling, if any woman could handle it, you can," he says with an honest smile.

I can't help myself, I blush crimson.

I see his hand laying on the table, and I want to hold it, but don't want to seem too forward.

Once our food arrives, the talking dies down a bit, mostly because we all sit around and marvel at how much syrup Percy is putting on his pancakes.

Once he realizes we are staring, he smiles sheepishly. "What? I like syrup"

We all burt out laughing, Percy included.

He has a contagious laugh, a full body laugh, my favorite type of laugh. The same type of laugh my mom had before-

No, do go doing that, not here, not now.

Once we pay our tab, we head to the door to go home. We just get outside when Thalia groans loudly, "Oh dang! I forgot my college id at the pool! Jason come help me find it!"

"But what about Anna-"

"Now Jason!" she yells cutting him off with a smile and a wink to both Jason and myself.

"Oh! Right! Of course! Hey Percy, can you make sure Annabeth gets home alright?" he says, with a smile that crosses all of his face.
"Uh, uh, y-yeah! no problem!" stammered Percy, his face turning more crimson by the second.

I know my face is either a similar shade, if not worse. "Thanks guys," I whisper to them. "You owe me" Thalia mouths, pulling Jason away, both of them grinning like idiots.

I turn around to Percy and say "Sorry about them"

"Don't be," he says smiling, "they seem fun, honest, and they are nice."

"And evil," I grumble to myself.

Percy
"So what do you like to do, when you have time?" I blurt out, not really knowing what to talk about.

"Well, I love to read, although I struggle with it, the words get all jumbled and-"

"Jump around?" I finish for her. "I know exactly how you feel, I'm the same way. It doesn't help that I can't stay still either."

She chuckles, "Me too, I've gotten into a lot of trouble at school for it. But I enjoy it, I love learning."

"My mom would probably love it if I brought you home." I start. But immediately my eyes bug out and I flush red. "I mean... like... to help me study! Like tutor me and stuff."

She turns red and laughs at me. I felt our hands bump, does she want me to hold her hand? I think. Nervously, I reach out and grab a finger, then two, then intertwine our fingers, and it just feels right.

I look over at her and she is wearing a beautiful smile, and it is all for me.

Once we get to her house, we sit on the porch for a short while longer. No words are said, we just enjoy each other's company, holding hands the whole while.

After a time, though, she states that she should go inside. To which I asked if I can see her again.

"Come by tomorrow around three in the afternoon. My dad has to meet a guy before he allows me to date them.

Oh crud! is my first thought. I always get nervous meeting fathers. But I can tell this girl will be worth it.

"Of course!" I say with a grin.

"Great" she beams her beautiful smile at me.

"Good night Annabeth," I say while waving as she walks inside.

"Good night Percy"

Notes