Piper walked through the hallway with her friends, Annabeth telling her about how sweet Reyna was on their date. Piper was trying to listen, but her eyes got on messy black hair and ripped jeans. There he was, Percy Jackson. He was her opposite. He hung with different people, took different electives, liked different things.

Not to mention, he was a challenge. No girl lasted past three dates, and he seemed to always have sex with them. He had gotten some of her friends alone, and it took days for them to stop talking about whatever happened.

Piper couldn't help it, there was something so hot about not being able to have him. They had only talked once, but his voice made her heart race and her knees weak. Basically, and by popular opinion, he was a god.

“Piper?” Annabeth snapped Piper from her thoughts, “I asked if you skirt was new.” She looked down, smoothing her hand over the pale pink tea length skirt, little frills at the bottom. She had gotten it at a vintage shop, and remembered excitedly paring it with her cardigan for today.

“Oh, I got it at that vintage shop a few blocks from my house.” She nodded, smiling again, “I feel like a princess in it,” Piper giggled.

“It's adorable, we have to go there soon.” Annabeth complimented, and the bell rang.

“I'll see you at lunch!” Piper waved, turning to walk to her American Literature class.

It wasn't her favorite, but she had fun with the reading. She sat down in her desk and placed her book in front of her. Drumming her fingers along the cover, she waited for class to begin. The seat right next to her remained empty until the final bell rung.

Then, Percy strode in like her was early. Piper watched him slide into the seat next to her, leaning back.

“Alright, class. Today marks to first day of your group projects. I will pair you up and you must bring something in, besides a paper, to express the research You have done into the Great Gatsby. If you do a Power Point, either bring something into reference or make it twenty full slides at the least.” A few people groaned, not wanting to be paired up, “Unless you want to write a two thousand word essay on the novel.” He added, hearing the hush of the room, “Thought so.”

Piper only listened for her name, halfway daydreaming about going home and not doing anything for the whole weekend.


“Jackson, McLean. You two work together.” The words snapped out of her thoughts, looking over to Percy. He only had a tiny smirk on his face, and looked like he was planning something. Oh no. The noise she made drew Percy’s attention. Piper squeaked again, swallowing hard when he raised an eyebrow at her.

When she tried to smile at him Piper swore she saw him bite his tongue. Piper tapped the eraser end of her pencil on her desk, smirking to herself and looking down. A small paper was nudged between her elbows, right before a grading rubric was slapped down on her desk.

Piper folded it in her hands, playing with the little note on her desk. She flicked it between her fingers. She peeled it open, looking at the ten digits scribbled in blue pen. It felt like someone was staring at her, and Piper looked up. Sure enough, Percy nodded to her purse and mouthed ‘call me’ at her.

Percy waited for everyone to talk to their partners before nodding her over.

“Percy... I'll text you about when to meet up for the assignment. Maybe Sunday?” Piper stood, leaning her hip against his desk. It was like she felt his eyes trail up her body, and Piper rolled her eyes.

“I was thinking sooner. We don't even have to work on the project.” Percy leaned back, twirling his sky blue pen. They narrowed their eyes at each other, and Piper grinned.

“We have a project, Jackson. Tell me if you've got different motives.” Piper stood up straight, running her fingers along the edge of his desk. She hoped it didn't seem awkward. “I'll text you.”

Piper reached over and grabbed her purse, as the bell rung. She made herself walk quickly out of the room before she crumbled and threw herself at him. Crossing the boundary into the hall filled her with relief. Annabeth walked out from the classroom across the hall, and Piper almost ran to her.

“What's got you all panicky?” Annabeth looked her over. They linked arms and strolled down the hall.

“Percy Jackson. He is my partner for this stupid project in Lit.” Piper whined, leaning on Annabeth. Annabeth laughed, shaking her head.

“I thought you'd be happy. An excuse to tease him for weeks.” Annabeth joked, and Piper laughed.

“More like weeks of trying to keep my brain in my head.” Piper laughed. She sighed deeply, shaking her head as they walked. Their steps were drowned in the chatter in the halls.

“That bad?”

“I squeaked. Twice.”

“That bad.” Annabeth bit her lip to hold back from laughing. She let a small laugh slip, “Piper, you're in deep.”

“You think I don't know!” Piper squeaked. With a groan she pulled Annabeth into the cafeteria. “He is just sitting there, and I talk about the project because if I don't I'll explode. Then, Percy is just like-” Piper rambles, only to feel someone come up behind them.

“Talk about me a little quieter. See you Sunday, McLean.” Percy said from behind them, and Piper would've fallen if Annabeth wasn't holding her.

Piper tried to steady her breath, watching Percy walk away towards the lunch line.

“He caught you.” Annabeth snickered, and Piper’s cheeks were on fire.

“Well he- well- I'm 80% sure he asked me out.” Piper stumbled, and Annabeth slapped her arm. Disbelief was plastered on Annabeth’s face.

“No! You turned him down!”

“I have a plan. I think.” Piper shushed her. “Saturday. I'll pick you up, we are going shopping.” Piper walked with her to the cafeteria line, “And as a rule: the outfit may not pass a dress code test.”

---

Percy sat down across from Jason and Grover, Leo was late again. He poked at his soggy tater tots, thinking.

“What's got you troubled, Perce?” Grover asked, stealing one of the tater tots. Grover had already eaten his, and Percy didn't mind his being stolen.

“Piper McLean. We got paired up for a project, and she wants to work on it Sunday.” Percy explained, keeping quiet so Piper does do what he did and interrupt.

Jason choked on his water, “McLean. You mean Miss American Housewife?”

“Miss American Housewife? How do you-” Percy turned in his seat and saw Piper, one inch floral heels, pastel pink skirt that ended two in jest above the ankle, pale yellow and pink floral cardigan buttoned to just below the collarbones. The sleeves were folder up, not rolled, and her hair was in perfect curls. Nothing was out of place on her. “Holy shit. She is Miss American Housewife.”

“Told you.” Jason was eating, studying at the same time.

“We've got this project, and she actually wants to get it done. Though, she squeaked when we found out we're were partnered up.” Percy furrowed his eyebrows, frowning at his water bottle, “What does that mean?”

“Percy. You're the lady whisperer.” Grover shrugged, “You should know.”

“I have not heard a squeak like that. Maybe she was surprised? Anyway, it's only two days, right? Go home after school, chill on Saturday and meet with her on Sunday. Gave her my number.”

It was Grover’s turn to choke. “You never give out your number first!”

“We got paired up!” Percy’s voice raised in pitch, throwing his arms up, before hugging and covering his face. “Grover, calm down. After Sunday I will know exactly where I stand.” It took a second before Percy shook his head. They weren't getting it, it would be worked out. He’d win again.

“She’s gonna make this hard on you, Perce. Face it.” Jason shrugged, “But let me know if it doesn't work. I'd date ‘er.”

Percy threw a tater tot at Jason, “Girls like her are easy to win over, Jace.”

---

When Piper showed up at Percy’s house, he tried way too hard to get his mom to stop fussing. She was going off to work, and Percy thought it was perfect time for Piper to come over. He loved his mom, but he was trying to win Piper over. The knock on his front door sent Percy running to the door. With a breath he smoothed his shirt and ruffled his hair. Percy opened the door, and stepped aside to let Piper in.

“Hey Percy.” She said offhandedly, looking around. Percy was frozen in his place.

She was most definitely not Miss American Housewife. Percy was in shock, really. At school she looked completely different. She was so appropriate there, but at his apartment? That was different. Three quarters a skirt different. Three quarter sleeved purple crop top, a black velvet button on up high waist skirt that barely touched mid calf, purple thigh highs and black riding boots. He could see her collarbones, sure, but the outfit outlined her body so well. Holy shit. Her legs.

“So.. Where are we setting up?” Piper asked him, large messenger bag hanging off a shoulder.

“Oh, my living room.” Percy turned to walk down the hallway, hearing Piper’s shoes click behind him. He shut his eyes tightly for a moment before sitting down, trying to think straight.

“What, do I not look okay?” Piper asked, sitting down, “You won't look at me. Eye contact, Jackson.” There was a slight thud, Piper’s bag being set down on the coffee table.

Girls like her are hard to win over.

“Headache, sorry. What should we start with?” Percy shrugged it off, glancing at her eyes. They were different colors, one green the other blue. A hint of playfulness twinkled in them, but Piper cleared her throat.

“Let's work on what was happening in the twenties. Then we can rope in the characters.” Piper offered, and Percy nodded, opening his laptop on the coffee table. He typed away, trying to find sources. Truthfully he wasn't trying very hard. From the corner of his vision he saw Piper cross her legs and lean forward to rest her elbows on her knees, opening her own laptop. The skirt barely rode up, and Percy forced himself to focus on the assignment. Piper scoot over, closer to Percy just barely.

They say in silence, looking through search results. At least, until Percy realized he had waited too long to take his jacket off, catching Piper’s gaze flicking to his arms and back to the screen in front of her. His hand gently ran up her thigh as he pulled the sleeves off, and Piper held her breath. She bit the inside of her cheeks and crossed her legs tighter.

Could've been worse, right?

“I've got a few sources bookmarked, you?” Piper asked, nodding to the laptop in front of him. Percy cleared his throat, feeling as though he was swallowing cotton.

“Yeah. We can meet up again soon after going over our research?” Percy dug his fingers into his leg to stop from saying something - anything, really - about how hot Piper still looked. He had made it an hour, Percu could make it a little longer.

“Sure, but I've got a few hours to kill. Any ideas?” She asked him, and Percy was sure he imagined her looking him over. There were definitely a few ideas.

“I've got a few movies if you want to pick one out.” Percy pointed to the TV stand, little cabinet on the side with DVD cases. Piper smiled wide, standing up.

“Good idea.” She strode over to the shelves, hips seating just slightly. Had she always been doing that?

Piper scanned the movies and bent over to look at a lower stack. Percy left indents in his palms, seeing the back of Piper’s skirt move up just a little more.

“See anything you like?” Percy asked, hoping his voice wouldn't give anything away. The fact that she looked great. Or how she had tried to hide her reaction to him earlier. Maybe even the fact that he felt the urge to kiss her. Well, that's what movies are for, right?

Piper turned, shaking a case as him with a smile, “Only a classic horror flick. One of my personal favorites.” She winked, “Friday the 13th.”

A low laugh left Percy before he could think about it, unsure if she actually liked horror movies. Well, she already surprised him twice that week, what is one more.

“You like those?I would've pinned you for a Nicolas Sparks girl.” Percy shrugged, stretching his arms across the back of the couch. He watched Piper load the DVD and grab the TV remote, sitting down next to him.

“You also thought I was Miss American Housewife. I thought you were a badass who knows how to flirt. Guess we were both surprised.” She shrugs, turning on the TV screen.

Notes

~Nova~