#Grades than Annabeth cause he's more used to school and all than she is

[ilovewatermen]

"Because I've seen your GPA."

Doesn't he have better grades than Annabeth? :)

[thebonggirll]

chapter one

< book three: the titan’s curse

< previous: about

"Here," Harris said placing a bowl of popcorn on the small table in front of her.

So far, she has been dealing with all of it pretty well. At least that's what she thinks. Y/N hasn't been quite over it though. It was always at the back of her mind. No matter how much she tried to get over it, questions used to fill her mind. Was it fun for them to watch her hide her feelings when they had a clear idea of what she was like? Was it fun for him?

"You're not concentrating," Harris said pulling her cheeks.

Y/N chuckled and looked back at him. "I am!" she said, looking at the laptop, "Draco is a pussy!"

She moved to an apartment in a crowded area, to keep her parents safe. To keep her tiny brother safe. She didn't want to take any risk.

She was the risk.

Well, that meant living alone which got her mind to go back to the moment again and again. But, that also meant she could invite her friends over. Correction, friend. Cause that's really the truth. He was the only person she really trusted the most. Somehow, she started to understand why Annabeth did whatever she did.

She was starting to look at Harris in a different light. Something more than just a friend. Her heart started jumping whenever they made any kind of physical contact. She even takes a day off from school and tries to look 'pretty' whenever she knows he was coming to visit her. And to top it off, they were all alone in her apartment.

"He has been dealing with pretty serious stuff," Harris reasoned, "Of course, he has some things to hide."

"Well, what about you?" she said looking over at him. "You....have been a bit distant."

That was true. He used to reply to her texts instantly. She could understand, of course, he has his own life to live. But...no this felt like something else. Maybe she was just overthinking. But she didn't want to be the only one who shared all her struggles while he just smiled through all of his pain. She wanted to be there for him as much as he was there for her.

"Really?" he asked. She felt the look in his eyes change for a moment but it went back to his usual self instantly. "You miss me?" he asked leaning close to her face.

Her eyes went momentarily towards his lips. "Yes," she whispered, looking back into his eyes.

Oh, this was dangerous. But it was something she was looking forward to.

"Mhm," he mumbled looking at her lips, "Can I....kiss you?"

Her cheeks flushed hearing the words. "Of course."

The last thing Percy wanted to do on his summer break was blow up another school. But there he was Monday morning, the first week of June, sitting in his mom's car in front of Goode High School on East 81st.

Goode was this big brownstone building overlooking the East River. A bunch of BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars were parked out front. Staring up at the fancy stone archway, he wondered how long it would take him to get kicked out of this place.

"Just relax." His mom didn't sound relaxed. "It's only an orientation tour. And remember, dear, this is Paul's school. So try not to...you know."

"Destroy it?"

"Yes."

Paul Blofis, his mom's boyfriend, was standing out front, greeting future ninth graders as they came up the steps. With his salt-and-pepper hair, denim clothes, and leather jacket, he reminded him of a TV actor, but he was just an English teacher. He'd managed to convince Goode High School to accept him for ninth grade, despite the fact that he'd gotten kicked out of every school he'd ever attended. He'd tried to warn him it wasn't a good idea, but he wouldn't listen.

Percy looked at his mom. "You haven't told him the truth about me, have you?

She tapped her fingers nervously on the wheel. She was dressed up for a job interview—her best blue dress and high-heeled shoes. "I thought we should wait," she admitted.

"So we don't scare him away."

"I'm sure orientation will be fine, Percy, It's only one morning."

"Great," he mumbled. "I can get expelled before I start the school year."

"Think positive. Tomorrow you're off to camp! After orientation, you've got your date with your girlf—"

"It's not a date!" he protested. "It's just Annabeth, Mom. Jeez!"

"She's coming all the way from camp to meet you."

"Well, yeah."

"You're going to the movies."

"Yeah."

"Just the two of you."

"She is my ex!"

She held up her hands in surrender, but he could tell she was trying hard not to smile. "Well, I thought both of you were getting back together. What happened to the other girl? You seemed to get along with her quite well."

He was quiet. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't just say "Oh, we stomped on her pride and heart and destroyed our friendship in the process."

"I don't see the both of you hanging out anymore. Is everything okay?"

He couldn't utter a word. Nothing was fine. He couldn't gather the courage to even send her a text after everything went down. Of course, he tried but...seemed like she blocked him. Annabeth wasn't handling it all that well either. She literally lost the closest friend she had. And she had no one to blame but herself. He stopped talking to her as well.

That was until he realized how hating her won't do any good. They needed to sort this out. He didn't know how to work it out but he wanted Y/N back in his life. Everything felt overwhelming and dull without her. Y/N was the only thing that made Annabeth and Percy meet each other, and he wasn't about to lose a friend for a stupid mistake.

But all of their plans were of no use. She moved to some new apartment as far as he remembered from their last conversation. And there's no way her parents would let him go anywhere near her.

"Oh well, you'd better get inside, dear. I'll see you tonight." His mom said, receiving nothing but silence from her son.

He was about to get out of the car when he looked over the steps of the school. Paul Blofis was greeting a girl with frizzy red hair. She wore a maroon T-shirt and ratty jeans decorated with marker drawings.

When she turned, he caught a glimpse of her face, and the hairs on his arms stood straight up.

"Percy?" his mom asked. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," he stammered. "Does the school have a side entrance?"

"Down the block on the right. Why?"

"I'll see you later."

His mom started to say something, but Percy got out of the car and ran, hoping the redheaded girl wouldn't see him.

What was she doing here? Not even his luck could be this bad.

Yeah, right. he was about to find out how much worse his luck could get.

Percy burst out of the alley onto East 81 stand and ran straight into Annabeth.

"Hey, you're out early!" she chuckled, grabbing his shoulders to keep him from tumbling into the street. "Watch where you're going, Seaweed Brain."

For a split second she was in a good mood and everything was fine.

Then the red-headed girl, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, still covered in monster dust, came charging out of the alley, yelling, "Percy, wait up!"

Annabeth's smile melted. She stared at Rachel, then at the school. For the first time, she seemed to notice the black smoke and ringing fire alarms.

She frowned at him. "What did you do this time? And who is this?"

"Oh, Rachel—Annabeth.Annabeth—Rachel. Um, she's a friend, I guess."

He wasn't sure what else to call Rachel. He barely knew her, but after being in two life-or-death situations together, he couldn't just call her nobody.

"Hi," Rachel said. Then she turned to him. "You are in so much trouble. And you still owe me an explanation!"

Police sirens wailed on FDR Drive.

"Percy," Annabeth said coldly. "We should go."

"I want to know more about half-bloods," Rachel insisted. "And monsters. And this stuff about the gods." She grabbed his arm, whipped out a permanent marker, and wrote a phone number on his hand.

"You're going to call me and explain, okay? You owe me that. Now get going."

"But—"

"I'll make up some story," Rachel said. "I'll tell them it wasn't your fault. Just go!"

She ran back toward the school, leaving Annabeth and him in the street.

"Hey!" Percy jogged after her. "There were these two empousai ," I tried to explain. "They were cheerleaders, see, and they said camp was going to burn, and—"

"You told a mortal girl about half-bloods?"

"She can see through the Mist. She saw the monsters before I did."

"So you told her the truth?"

"She recognized me from Hoover Dam, so—"

"You've met her before?"

"Um, last winter. But seriously, I barely know her."

"She's kind of nosy."

"I—I never thought about it."

Annabeth kept walking toward York Avenue.

"I'll deal with the school," He promised, anxious to change the subject. "Honest, it'll be fine."

Annabeth wouldn't even look at him. "I guess our afternoon is off. We should get you out of here, now that the police will be searching for you." She muttered, "Maybe Y/N really deserves someone way better than you."

Percy heard that. Oh, this bitch didn't just-

"Oh, you wanna talk about Y/N deserving better now?" he scoffed, "Maybe if you told that to yourself before, we wouldn't have messed up our friendship with her."

"Ha! Friendship?" Annabeth laughed, "What friendship gives the right to friends to kiss when one of them isn't in a fucking right state of mind?!"

"You should know more about that Annabeth, you've got that fucking experience with me."

"God, you're so annoying!" Annabeth sighed, "When are you going to realize how you really feel about her?"

"I just like her as a friend."

"No, you're just satisfied to be just a friend to her cause no way she's gonna accept anything more than that with you after all that went down." Annabeth shouted, "At least you have a fucking hope to hold on to, which you're about to lose for that red-haired girly."

Behind them, smoke billowed up from Goode High School. In the dark column of ashes, she thought he could almost see a face—a she-demon with red eyes, laughing at him.

Your pretty little camp in flames, Kelli had said. Your friends made slaves to the Lord of Time.

"You're right," he told Annabeth, his heart sinking. "We have to get to Camp Half-Blood. Now."

"After getting Y/N," she said.

"Right," Percy muttered, "it's an emergency. Finally, a plan that will work out."

next: chapter two >

book four: the battle of labyrinth

percy jackson x reader series

MASTERLIST

[seattlesea]

Why Percabeth Isn’t a Good Ship (Sorry 2x)

I’m definitely getting cancelled- 

1. Annabeth is physically abusive. The fandom makes this point seem controversial and debatable, but it’s really not. The definition of abuse is hitting someone. Annabeth hit Percy. Therefore, Annabeth abused Percy. Is that really that hard to understand? Annabeth hit Percy for the first time in The Titan’s Curse when she, Percy, and Thalia were looking for the di Angelo siblings. She punched him in the gut when he asked her who he should ask to dance with him. Annabeth knows that Percy can be oblivious at times...but punishes him when it benefits her? The second time was in The Mark of Athena, when she judo-flipped him because she missed him. That’s...what?? Usually when people are worried about someone else, they hug or kiss them, not flip them over their shoulder. And yes Annabeth kissed him first, but the judo-flip was completely unnecessary. Annabeth punished Percy for ‘leaving’ her despite him being kidnapped and his memory wiped. And everyone’s like ‘But Percy didn’t feel any pain!!11!!1!’ The chapter wasn’t in his point of view, so that claim is a guess. Just cause he didn’t say ‘Ow’ doesn’t mean he wasn’t in pain. Also- Annabeth slammed him on a stone pavement on his back. That definitely hurts, even if Percy is a demigod, physically strong, and has gotten hurt a lot. There’s a difference between ‘playful hitting’ and actually hurting someone. Yes they trained a lot, but this isn’t training. This is Annabeth punishing Percy for being traumatized with yet another life-threatening quest and being kidnapped. I don’t remember Percy judo-flipping Annabeth after he saw her again when she got kidnapped in TTC. Besides, the Romans were about to take out their weapons when they saw Annabeth attack Percy, so if all of them thought it was an attack...it was most likely an attack. Even Annabeth said herself “I only attack my boyfriend like that”. The thing is, if it was Percy who flipped Annabeth over his shoulder and slammed her on her back or punched her in the gut, all the fans immediately would’ve freaked out and cancelled him, calling him a horrible and abusive boyfriend, but because it’s the girl hitting the guy, it’s fine apparently. Nothing wrong with it, right? And then Riordan (and the fandom) had the audacity to romanticize that abuse. Abuse isn’t a sweet, romantic gesture. Stop making it seem like it is. That’s disgusting. 

2. Annabeth is also verbally abusive and toxic. Annabeth canonically lowered Percy’s self-esteem, constantly insulted him and his intelligence despite knowing he was insecure about it and always getting kicked out of schools and getting bad grades (even with her so-called ‘endearing’ name for him ‘Seaweed Brain’), and the overall idea of Percabeth is a super smart, pretty girl making a guy with below average intelligence feel insecure about himself. Percy’s self-esteem has plummeted since he met Annabeth and her behavior is never called out or even noticed, which implies some manipulation going on. Annabeth is shown to be extremely capable of manipulating her enemies and anyone else she pleases, and there are quite a few signs she’s using it against Percy (his feelings of obligation, fear, and guilt of and over her, questioning himself, having strings attached, always only thinking of her and no one else in his life, etc.), especially since Percy begins to gradually stop noticing Annabeth’s wrong and toxic behavior as the story progresses. 

3. Annabeth only likes Percy cause he’s the chosen one. Annabeth only hung around Percy since The Lightning Thief cause she thought he was ‘the one’ and so she could finally go on a quest. She literally used Percy to go out to the mortal world and ‘prove herself’ cause really, all she cares about is glory, which is shown multiple times throughout the series with all her pride and ambitions. Plus the fact that Chiron made Annabeth swear on the River Styx that she would keep Percy from danger is a pretty clear sign she didn’t stick around him just cause she wanted to, but because she felt obligated to and cause it would benefit her. Take all of this and it’s kind of obvious Annabeth only hung around Percy cause he was the chosen one of the prophecy, a son of one of the Big Three, and was destined to go on multiple quests and play a big part in the mythological world, which is what she always wanted since book one.

4. It was forced. Since the beginning of book one, it was so obvious that Percy and Annabeth were going to get together that their relationship ended up being boring, dull, and flat. Riordan made it so obvious they were going to be a couple that nothing that happened to their relationship really mattered, cause everyone knew it would work out in the end (which is probably why everyone *wrongly* hated on Rachel) so what happened in between didn’t matter. Their relationship was the typical ‘male lead and female lead’, ‘bad boy trouble-maker skater and nerdy good girl’ power couple that was way too clear. And Riordan made it worse by pushing their relationship and shoving it into the readers’ faces way too much. In MoA Annabeth states that she’s always had a crush on Percy (since they were twelve) which immediately rips all the development their relationship (which was supposedly ‘friends to lovers’, but not anymore) had away. Riordan made up a bunch of honestly dumb scenarios that were legit cringe to make Percabeth seem like ‘OTP’ that really didn’t make sense.

5. It ruined their characters. Percy and Annabeth would’ve been way better off as just friends. After they got together in HoO, all their personality and everything else that made them independent was destroyed to make room for more ‘Percabeth’. All of Annabeth’s skills, bravery, intelligence, pride, ferocity, judgmentalism, and all the other traits and flaws that made her a well-written character were never utilized or even mentioned. All she thought about was Percy, and the same goes for him. His loyalty, sarcasm, humor, obliviousness, etc. disappeared to make room for arrogant Annabeth fanboy. In PJO, they were amazingly well-written and great role models for younger readers (especially Annabeth), but in HoO their characters were exclusively ‘Annabeth’s boyfriend’ and ‘Percy’s girlfriend’. Their characters were completely dependent on each other, and they were way better off as just friends. 

6. Annabeth is way too possessive. And creepy. It’s fine and honestly normal for people to get jealous when another person likes someone they do, but Annabeth’s jealousy was downright creepy. Not only did she not know if her feelings for Percy were reciprocated or not, but she also didn’t know if Percy and Rachel liked each other, either. The very first time she met Rachel she immediately hated her. That’s not ‘I’m jealous cause this girl likes the guy I do’, that’s ‘I’m jealous cause the guy I like has another female friend’. She had no reason to believe that Rachel and Percy liked each other and has no say in who they can like, either. She thought that she and Percy absolutely had to be in a relationship and that he couldn’t even have friends with different genitals than him. And remember when Annabeth literally stalked Percy in The Sea of Monsters? Like when she creeped by his window, constantly watched him, and kept tabs on him just cause she ‘couldn’t find the right time’ to tell him something cause he was ‘never alone’ despite him being alone multiple times and despite the fact that she literally could’ve just knocked on his door like a normal person instead of creeping around his cabin and staring at him through the windows? Again- switch the roles. If it was Percy who was stalking Annabeth, everyone would’ve immediately called him a creep. If- according to Tumblr and almost everyone who read Twilight- Edward is a creep for stalking Bella, then Annabeth is a creep for stalking Percy. 

7. It’s mostly fan love. Honestly, the fandom is the only thing that fuels Percabeth. Riordan just destroys it. He shoved it down the readers’ throats, forced it way too much with really dumb and honestly unrealistic scenarios, and made it abusive and toxic. On its own, Percabeth freaking sucks. The fandom’s version of Percabeth is 1000x better than whatever the hell Riordan was doing, but even that version is toxic. Like, I’ve seen way too many jokes about Annabeth hitting Percy (as if abuse is hilarious and amazing meme fuel and not an extremely sensitive topic that triggers multiple people who actually went through it). Half the time, the fandom fixes Percabeth and the other half of the time they over-glorify and ruin it. The fandom over exaggerates and over glorifies it way too much. It’s not that great of a relationship, to be honest. Most of y’all only like it in the first place cause Riordan made it canon.

8. It was cringey. Like I said above, Riordan wrote some really dumb scenes for Percabeth. I mean- the matching gray streaks in their hair despite Atlas and Artemis not getting any? Percy’s tie to the mortal world while bathing in the River Styx being Annabeth and not his mom, Grover, etc.? Percy only remembering Annabeth, the girl he’s only known for four years and not his mom, the only woman who actually cared for and took care of him or Grover, his best friend who protected and continuously cared about him? Percy turning down immortality only for Annabeth and not even bothering to mention the pain of leaving behind his life, friends, family, memories, etc. behind if he accepted it? The romanticized judo-flip? The whole ‘dark-haired rebellious bad boy/nerdy blonde good girl who can be bad’ trope? Even the boring predictability of Percabeth is cringe. 

9. It’s a bad influence on younger readers. Basically the lesson of Percabeth is ‘Once you get a love interest nothing else in your life matters’. Besides that one single scene that took like three lines in The Son of Neptune, Percy never even thought of his own mom, nor did he think about any of his friends or passed allies like his dad, Rachel, Grover, Paul, Silena, Luke, Ethan, Bob/Iapetus, Tyson, Calypso, Charles, Michael (whose death he accidentally caused), Bianca, Zoë, etc. Even when in Tartarus with the curse of the Arai being forced to remember all the people he forgot and feeling guilty about abandoning Bob and Calypso, all he thought about was Annabeth. Even when faced with the man who broke the heart of the girl who sacrificed herself for him, Percy didn’t even think of her, only his jealousy of Jason. Same thing with Annabeth. She never thought about her mom, Luke, Thalia, her step-mom or step-brothers, etc. It was all about Percy. Cause yes, Riordan, that’s exactly the lesson you should teach your younger readers- forget everyone you ever knew the moment you get a partner. Besides that, it also teaches readers that being rude to people who like the same person as you is completely okay cause no one will care and once you start being rude, bitter, and possessive you’ll get exactly what you want (that’s literally what happened, with Annabeth and with Calypso, too). He also teaches that after you get a partner, everything that makes you you will disappear and you’ll be completely dependent on them and nothing in your life will matter, even your own independent life and personality. 

10. The fandom tries to excuse and explain Annabeth’s behavior??? What??? Since when does explaining and excusing hitting people put you in the right again? And the excuses aren’t even good, too! Percabeth fans use-  Annabeth was full of emotions/mad and doesn’t know how to deal with emotions. Annabeth really loved Percy. It was only one time. Annabeth was worried about Percy and mad that she left him. Annabeth didn’t mean to hurt him. Annabeth didn’t know what she was doing cause she was full of emotions. ??? Annabeth was full of emotions/mad and doesn’t know how to deal with emotions- Annabeth was seventeen years old, the daughter of the wisdom goddess, and is supposedly the smartest character in the series who is shown to be extremely good at reading people and their emotions. And y’all are really trying to say she doesn’t know how to deal with her emotions?  Annabeth really loved Percy- SO? A mother might really love her child, does that excuse her for hitting them for dumb reasons? It was only one time- actually, it was twice, and so what? If someone was slapped across the face ‘only one time’, does that mean they weren’t abused? ‘Abuse’ doesn’t mean ‘hit constantly’, it means ‘hit’. If someone was hit, they were abused. Is that really not a known fact in this fandom? Annabeth was worried about Percy and mad that she left him- last time I checked, people didn’t hit others when they were worried about them. If I was worried that my friend was going to get hurt, I wouldn’t hurt them myself. That literally makes no sense. And again- Percy didn’t leave Annabeth. He was kidnapped. Do y’all not know the definition of that, either? Annabeth didn’t mean to hurt him- yes, cause that’s why she decided to flip him over her shoulder, slam him on a stone pavement on his back, and punish him for ‘leaving her’.  Annabeth didn’t know what she was doing cause she was full of emotions- Annabeth??? the daughter of the wisdom goddess??? not knowing what she’s doing??? huh??? I mean, would any of you really, legitimately try to use any of these dumb excuses to excuse a man from hitting his wife? Hopefully not. And if you did, you would immediately get hated on and legit cancelled. So what makes this any different? Also- I see the excuse ‘Annabeth didn’t know Percy lost his Achilles Heel and thought he was still invincible’. Under different circumstances I’d accept that, but Annabeth knew that Percy’s Achilles Heel was on the small of his back...BUT SHE SLAMMED HIM ON HIS BACK. If Percy hadn’t lost the Achilles Heel, Annabeth literally would’ve killed him. Abusive enough for y’all? Or is attempted murder excusable and still ‘OTP’? 

11. They had no chemistry whatsoever. Was I the only one who felt...absolutely no chemistry between Percy and Annabeth? Like some of their moments were cute, their friendship was really good, and they had a lot of potential, but they didn’t feel right for each other. Remember- opposites don’t attract (they just argue, and no one has ‘another half’ that needs to ‘complete them’, everyone is their own person), they cancel each other out. I mean, Reyna and Annabeth had more chemistry in that one chapter of the New Rome tour in MoA than Percy and Annabeth had in 12+ books. They’re just...not right for each other, I guess. 

I’m definitely getting cancelled-

Edit 2: Sorry if I offended anyone with that last note. Just wanted to let y’all know that I am not here to start any drama, hurt anyone, or disrespect any Percabeth shippers. I respect your opinions 100% and only ask you do the same for me. Like I literally only wrote this at 12 am when I was bored and had nothing else to do and couldn’t sleep (same goes for pretty much everything else I write about PJ). Besides, why argue and start drama over dumb stuff like that when we can just find something we agree on? Don’t like Piper McLean? Let’s talk about that. Think Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano is a queen? Let’s talk about that. Think Nico di Angelo is freaking amazing? Let’s talk about that. Think Theyna would be adorable? Let’s talk about that. Want someone to vent to about writer’s block? Why the hell not? Want random writing advice and tips for writer’s block? Sure, I got plenty. Instead of arguing and starting beef over trivial fictional ships. 

[chironshorseass]

I u want, could u mayhaps write about annabeth seeing percy after a long time apart and realizing his voice grew deeper? I saw a post about it once and I think u would nail it perfectly<3

TIME PASSES SO QUICKLY AHH but here it is! I also got another request of pre-relationship percabeth and let’s just say that y’all read my mind. Also sorry that I can’t seem to write anything under 1k words 😩

read on ao3

“So I heard Percy’s coming today,” Silena said casually, holding a basket against her hip.

Annabeth yanked one of the strawberries so hard that its leaves came along with it.

“He is?”  

She didn’t try to shroud her excitement like she would’ve done, not too long ago.

“Yeah. Charlie told me.”

She felt a twinge of jealousy that Percy hadn’t even mentioned it to her, but she quickly clamped it down. It wasn’t his fault. Not entirely, anyway. They’d IM’d at the beginning of their semester as freshmen, but then it had gotten to the point of him mentioning Rachel all the time, and then the year had gotten busier, and…

Well, they’d lost contact.

Realizing she’d zoned out, she blinked away the fog from her eyes.

“But honestly I wasn’t supposed to tell,” Silena was saying. “He said something about it being a surprise or whatever. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

Annabeth must’ve been doing something strange with her face, because Silena gave her a smug look, raising her eyebrows. She was used to her doing that, so she didn’t mind.

Well, maybe a bit.

But the daughter of Aphrodite already knew everything there was to know about her feelings for Percy. Probably before even Annabeth first realized that she was in love with her best friend. So again, it was pointless to hide from her.

“So.” Silena bumped her gently on the shoulder. “What are you gonna wear?”

Annabeth lifted her sun hat and stared at her for a couple of seconds. The latter looked as perfect as ever, despite the grueling sun. With her pink crop top, mini shorts, perfect makeup, and her dark hair pulled back into a low bun, Annabeth had little doubt that she could help her choose a different outfit other than her torn camp wardrobe. But, still, this was Percy.  

Her best friend.

“Mmm...no, it’s fine. We’ve got to finish the south side of the strawberry fields, so, we can’t lose time, ya know?”

Silena gaped at her, then scoffed.

“What am I going to do with you, Chase?” she muttered, crouching to the ground again and shoving her hands into the foliage. “But whatever—it’s your call. Like, you’re so pretty that you actually look good in that sorry excuse of an outfit.”

Her eyes roved over Annabeth’s shirt and jeans. She felt herself blush at the attention.

“Hey, is that blood?”

“Uh...Maybe—but it’s old! Don’t worry.”

“A lost cause, I tell you.”

:

It had been too long since she’d caught a glimpse of that tell-tale curve of the shoulders and those raven curls.

Percy was early. Most of the summer campers always came the next week or so from this one, but she wasn’t complaining about his untimely arrival. Not when he looked that cute in his school uniform and with that ridiculously messy hair.

She regarded him from afar as he chatted with Beckendorf by the Big House porch, a bag slumped over his shoulder. Something about him—in the way he laughed or how he suddenly looked taller—made her stomach drop like a volleyball, made every blade of grass seem brighter.

Running up to him, she yelled, “Hey, stranger! Why so early?”

He turned to the sound of her voice, flashing her that crooked grin of his. Gods, she’d missed him.

“Hey yourself!”

When she finally reached the two boys, she skidded to a halt in front of Percy and gave him an exaggerated once-over.

“Why’d you still have your uniform on, Seaweed Brain?”

“Do I?” he gazed down at his white shirt and gray pants. His eyes flicked to her again, smiling sheepishly. “Oh. Kinda forgot I had it on, I guess.”

“Man, I’ve already told you,” Beckendorf said. “Leave the fancy shit home.”

“I forgot, okay? You know I hate this stupid uniform.”

In her honest opinion, the uniform seemed to be quite the opposite of stupid. Really, it should've been a crime to look that good in white and rolled up sleeves.

“Yeah, whatever.” Beckendorf glanced back and forth from Percy to Annabeth. He smirked and patted Percy on the back. “Anyway,  I’ll leave you to it.”

She watched him stroll to the Big House and step inside. He’d probably been here—with Percy—in the first place because of a favor from Chiron.

They stood there, letting the silence build up.

His eyes were warm, green like the shallow sea. Annabeth had always thought that she’d get used to that color, that luminescence. But she never did. Every time she peered up at them, it felt like the first time all over again. She could drown in those eyes and beam up at the fading sky and not beg for breath.

But now, it was worse. It was worse because she could tell that he’d grown. Actually grown. She didn’t quite know how to feel about the fact that his voice had abruptly dropped at least an octave lower than from last summer and that from now on, she’d have to lift her chin to meet his eyes.

“You’ve changed,” she blurted out.

She probably winced a little. Hopefully, she’d sounded casual.

“In what way, exactly?” His mouth twitched into a grin, cheeks dimpling, and her nervousness faded to a quiet buzzing. “That I’m finally taller than you?”

She pushed him away lightly to cover up the flush that was surely painting her cheeks a light pink. This was stupid. He was just being stupid. It was just Percy, for gods’ sake.

“Yeah, taller than me by like, an inch.”

“Admit it, you’re jealous.”

“I hate you.”

That was a lie, and Percy knew it.

“No, you don’t.”

“How am I supposed to keep things out of your reach, now?”

“See, that’s the point. Now I get to pick on you. Shortie.”

Annabeth stuck her tongue out. “You’re such a child.”

He laughed again, giving her whiplash from how different the sound rang in her ears. His laughter had always been a comfort to her, something that made her chest warm and gave her the motivation to try and let it out of him, again and again.

And it still was.

But this new laugh, however, had a richness to it that she felt down to her toes. He threw his head back, eyes crinkling like they always did. And yet, she found new angles to it. Saw a strange glow. He stood under the spotlight of a brand new theater, making everything he did seem like something new and foreign.

It dawned on her that she was staring like an idiot, even after Percy’s smile had faded to a lingering tug of the mouth.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, plain and honest. In many ways, he hadn’t changed. Not really.

“Me too.” Their eyes stayed interlocked for a couple more seconds. She cleared her throat. “Have you, uh...told Chiron you’re here?”

“He already knows.”

“Psh. So am I the only one that didn’t know about you coming here?”

She didn’t mean to sound so accusatory, but there was no backing out, now.

He ducked his head. It was barely recognizable, but she could always tell when he was blushing.

“I...well, you know, wanted to, um—surprise you.”

Another awkward pause.

Percy scratched the back of her head. “Do you, uh...wanna walk with me? To my cabin?”

“Sure.”

:

“You know,” he said. “My mom made you cookies.”

“Are they any good?” she teased.

He turned to give her an incredulous look. “This is my mom we’re talking about. Of course they’re good.”

“Okay...well, what are you waiting for? Hand them over, Seaweed Brain.”

“In a sec. I’m too lazy to open my bag right now, in the middle of camp.”

As they walked, Annabeth noticed how heads turned when the campers got a good look at the two of them together. Most of them just stared at Percy. They passed by some of her siblings carrying spears; she saw Malcolm wink and felt herself blush again.

“Anyway, you wouldn’t have guessed what I got on my finals,” Percy was saying.

She glared pointedly at Malcolm, then whirled her head to look at Percy again. “What’d you get?”

“Guess.”

“Oh my gods, Percy. Just tell.”

He smiled and gave her a sideways glance. “You’re no fun.”

But even if he said it casually, the comment dug deeper than she would’ve liked. Did he think Rachel was fun? She decided not to dwell on that.

Annabeth was the one talking to him. Not Rachel.

He glanced at her once, but seemingly decided to fix his gaze forward. His eyes sparkled in a way that she knew meant he was trying to hold back a grin. He’d failed in the attempt, though.

“Okay, I’ll just say it: A ‘B’ plus.”

Her jaw dropped. “Percy!”

“Yeah,” he laughed.

“Oh my gods!”  

Clarisse, standing by the Ares cabin, mimed Annabeth, mouthing her words and making kissy faces. She mostly ignored it, too distracted on what Percy had just said.

Her heart swelled at the thought of all the work he must’ve put himself through.

She grasped his arm. “I’m so proud of you, Perce.”

“Yeah, me too. Paul helped, though. And mom.”

“Give yourself some of the credit.”

He sighed happily. “I guess I can say that I didn’t cheat. Well, maybe a little.”

She tried to shove him, but he danced away.

“Ohh, don’t tell me that you’ve never cheated on anything.”

“Okay.” She rolled her eyes. “Like maybe once or twice.”

“See?”

“But whatever. You got a ‘B’ and that’s what matters.”

“Yeah. It is.”

They smiled at each other for a second, then, he shouldered his bag and stopped by cabin three. The abalone shell seemed to glow brighter when he stood next to it.

Before she could stop herself, she said, “We should celebrate.”

He lifted one of those thick eyebrows of his and leaned back against the door frame. “What do you mean?”

“You know…” she kicked some of the stray pebbles from the ground, suddenly flustered. “Your grades. It deserves a celebration, don’t you think?”

His face lit up once more. “Oh! Yeah, like a picnic or something? We could eat the cookies Mom made—unless you want them for yourself, which is fine—”

“No!” She bit her lip. “I mean—sharing is cool. I’d like that.”

Annabeth decided it best not to visibly cringe at herself. Who’d even say “sharing” and “cool” at the same time?

Luckily, Percy nodded along with her. “Okay. Cool. Wait—that reminds me…” He unzipped his bag, hands already roaming around inside it. “Ah, here it is.”

He took a take-out like box with red flowers painted around the sides. They looked handmade. She accepted the gift with a smile.

“Who made these?” she asked, examining the paintings closer. “They’re pretty.”

When she saw his smug look, she didn't have to think twice about who had decorated it.

“I did,” he said. Her expression must’ve still been akin to impressed shock, because he chuckled. “What? You think I can’t be artistic?”

She shrugged. It was a simple fact, really. “Since when did you learn?”

“Uh, Rachel taught me.”

“Oh.”

He nodded tightly.

Right. While she’d lived on the other side of the country, alone and with a family who still wasn’t that comfortable around her, he’d been off with his new mortal girlfriend. And how much time must it have taken for Rachel to teach him how to do those precise brushstrokes? To combine those colors properly? Days or more, she knew.

They’d been busy.

She pretended not to care, anyway, opening the box to check on the cookies. “They, um...They look good!” She met his eyes so that he could see just how sincere her words were—because they really did look divine. Divine and blue. “Give Sally my thanks. And you must’ve worked really hard on this. So, thanks also.”

Annabeth noticed how he relaxed at the change of subject. Idiot.

“I will. And nah, it was nothing. I just really wanted to, um, to contribute with the gift. I guess. And mom loves you, so…”

“Loves me more than you?”

He snorted. “Probably.”

The edges of her mouth quirked up. “So...when are you up for that celebratory picnic thing?”

“Uh...from what I remember, I think my schedule’s got like, free time at around five. That sound good?”

Her mind buzzed through her list of daily activities, relieved to find something else to think about other than the awkwardness that now lingered in the air.

“Yeah, I think I’m free at five, as well. Tomorrow, right?”

“Sounds good to me.”

:

It wasn’t the same. That, she could tell.

She bit the inside of her cheek, watching him fight with Clarisse. So they’d go on a picnic together. Big deal.

She’d just barely stepped outside cabin three when Silena had dragged her away, begging for every detail.

Annabeth wasn’t going to lie: she was excited. More so than she’d let on. And yet, she wasn’t sure if he liked her that way.

Not with other girls fanning over him, now. Girls like Rachel.

How could she have let him go so easily? How was this the first time in months since she’d last seen him?

She’d spent the day pretending it was fine. Her heart ached whenever he was near, but it also hurt when he was gone. She couldn't have it both ways.

So yes, everything was fine.

Maybe if she said those words enough, then she'd start to believe it and stop with this feeble act of hers. This pretending that none of the shit they’d been festering against the other mattered. And in the process, also pretend that these new feelings she had for him—that didn’t feel so new—never existed in the first place.

Then again...what was she thinking?

This was her best friend. Her best friend whom she’d tried to kiss about a year ago and who hadn’t even breathed a word about it since. Who talked to her like he was stepping around eggshells. Who was clearly not interested in her in that way if what she suspected about Rachel was true and who had suddenly become one of the most attractive guys in Camp Half-Blood.

She hated this. This sensation of her heart beating faster, her breath coming short. Her brain fading any thought away, leaving it lustrous with the image of Percy. Percy this and Percy that. His stupid smile and his stupid laugh and—

Ice-cold water struck her skin, stopping her thought process short like a shock wave.

“Sorry,” Silena said, not actually sounding sorry. Stray water dripped from her hand. “You were spaced out for a while.”

Their canoe boat rocked back and forth along with the gusts of wind.

“Okay,” Annabeth said, glaring at her friend. She wanted to wipe that cheeky grin off her face. “Now you’re just asking for it.”

With a sharp, practiced tug, she flipped them over. Silena’s screech died when they hit the water.

She resurfaced, spluttering, splashing Annabeth again and again.

“You little shit! I am going to kill you!”

“What?” Annabeth laughed, choking on water. “I thought your makeup’s waterproof!”

Silena threw more water at her.

“Your point?”

And okay, maybe they looked like fools fighting in the middle of the lake, laughing and joking around. But it was fine; no one was there to witness it except perhaps the naiads and the cicadas that roared in the woods along with the rogue monster.

Well...there was one person.

But the girls didn’t have the mind to notice him.

Percy sat on the back of the pier and smiled, shaking his head.

Maybe someday, they could move on from this strange faze. From skipping around each other, then acting like friends all over again.

Someday.

The sound of the conch horn in the distance brought a reluctant stop to the chirping of the crickets. Dinner time.

He stood up and made his way back, wishing that just maybe, he could be brave enough to tell her how he felt. To unashamedly look at her and no one else as though she were the fading sun, inviting for the naked eye to gape at directly as it caressed the sea and the tree tops while coloring the sky a deep purple. To kiss her in front of all those stupid people and hug her and make her laugh and smile, all golden and beautiful.

Rid himself of the worries, once and for all.

But it couldn’t be.

Maybe, just maybe…

Someday.

[annabethy]

“don’t lie to me” + percabeth if u are up to!!!

“Don’t lie to me.” Percabeth teacher au!! <3

Annabeth couldn’t think of a better way to spend her mornings than with Percy. He was always so sweet and warm when he first woke up, making him the perfect person to snuggle up to in the middle of a New York winter.

The ride to work was no less lovely with her sitting in the passenger seat, a steaming cup of coffee that Percy had made “with love” in her right hand, and her left hand intertwined with his. Watching the snow fall in a comfortable silence was so delicate and magical, and it’s truly the best way to start her day.

As she’s walking into the school with him, hand in hand, she leans closer to him, using his arm as a buffer from the biting wind. Percy just gives her a lopsided smile, something akin to adoration in his eyes, and pulled her into his side. There weren’t many students around this early in the morning, so she doesn’t bother trying to separate herself from him. She doesn’t even know if she could because he’s acting as her personal heater, and that may be too good to give up.

“You look adorable,” Percy comments as he holds open the door to the school. “The red nose really tops off your whole look.”

Annabeth sniffles, trying to subtly wipe her nose with the hand that’s still holding a travel cup of coffee. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m being serious,” he whispers playfully, bumping her arm with his elbow and prompting her to roll her eyes fondly. He guides her through the halls of the front office, reaching for her hand and lacing them back together. “You always look pretty, but right now you look so huggable.”

She can feel the flush still on her cheeks, but she doesn’t know if it was from the cold or his kind words. Almost a year of dating and he still made her feel just as giddy as she did on day one. “I love you.”

“Couldn’t possibly love me as much as I love you,” he quips, but he presses a kiss to her temple before changing the subject. “So, I was thinking. After work, cuddles and a movie?”

“Only if we can get snacks first,” she says, biting her lip in a smile. If there’s anything she loves more than waking up next to the love of her life, it’s getting to spend Friday night with just the two of them. There were no kids to bother them or tests to grade. It was a time for the two of them to just exist with one another, and she cherished every week when she got to go home with him.

“We can stop for snacks, but then we’re watching Finding Nemo.”

“What’s with your obsession with the ocean?”

“I think clownfish are cute,” he answers, because of course he thinks clownfish are cute. “All fish are cute. That’s why I teach marine.”

Annabeth expected nothing less of him, and she decides to humor him. “Did you know I once had two goldfish and I named them Ren and Nephr?”

“Unique names,” Percy says, sidestepping a kid frantically making their way down the hall.

“They both mean kidney.”

“You would, Chase.”

“I also had a fish named Ornith.”

“That means bird,” Percy states.

“I liked the irony,” she tells him, taking a sip of her coffee. It’s still steaming in the cup, and it burns her tongue slightly. “Regardless, I think your obsession with the ocean is alarming.”

“At least I don’t go around screaming law of cosines,” Percy says, pointedly looking at her. “I didn’t even know what that was until you started crying about how stupid they were last week when you were grading papers.”

“That’s because they are stupid, I swear to god. They were all I-don’t-know-when-to-use-law-of-sines-versus-law-of-cosines like it’s hard!”

“I’m sure it’s so easy,” he says, but his laugh gives his sarcasm away. “You just have to accept that you were a fluke in the system, and no one will ever be a smart as you.”

Annabeth smacks him upside the head with her cup of coffee lightly but she’s still smiling. It’s moments like this that really get to her. She could just be herself around him, and they could tease each other but know that they love those things about each other at the same time.

She loved him.

Annabeth bites at the inside of her cheek, loving the way he looks at her out of the corner of his eyes, before she slowly pops the lid of the coffee off to try and get it to cool down faster.

Percy’s arm is snug around her waist, so she doesn’t look up as she continues walking. She blows around the rim of the cup, the steam swirling up in the air. It smells mouthwateringly delicious and it’s starting to cool off, so she brings it to her lips just as they round a corner, and—

Someone slams into them, and suddenly the only thing Annabeth can register is pain.

“Shit.” The scalding coffee seeps through her shirt almost immediately, and her skin feels like it’s on fire. The cup falls from her hand, the rest of the contents splattering on the floor, but she can’t be bothered to care as she tries to break the shirt’s contact with her blistering torso.

“—you okay?”

Annabeth’s mind comes reeling back as Percy’s voice reach her ears, and she can pick up the frantic edge to it.

“Annabeth,” he prompts again, his hand sliding down her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Instead of answering him, she glances to the person cowering in front of her, and her skin is on fire for a completely different reason.

Octavian stares back at her, terror clear as day on his face, and she is about to explode. This kid was always the center of something, causing problems with every single breath he takes. He had no shame, and he always had the audacity to do whatever it is he wants to do, and now he’s ruined her favorite part of the day, and she can’t breathe.

“Octavian,” she says tightly, scrunching her nose in mock politeness. “Did you maybe think it would be a good idea to check where you’re going?”

The kid stammers.

“It would be smart not to go running around the halls and bumping into people carrying hot drinks,” she says, her voice dangerously steady. “God, you’re so—” There’s so much she wants to say, to scream, at him, but even in her heightened sense of rage, she knows she can’t, so she clenches her fist hard enough for her nails to indent her skin and she pauses for a second before she storms off in the direction of her room.

She doesn’t look to make sure Percy is behind her, too busy trying to hold back rising tears, and she really doesn’t know why she feels this way. All she knows is everything was perfect, and now it’s not.

As she unlocks her classroom door, Percy’s hand is settling over the dip in her waist. She steps inside the room, and she doesn’t know what exactly she was going to do except perhaps have a meltdown, but she never got the chance because Percy wastes no time before pulling his sweater over his head and holding it out towards her.

“What are you doing?” she asks miserably, still forcing back her frustrated tears.

“Take it,” he says, gazing at her earnestly.

Annabeth bites her lip, her eyes glossing over. He was too good for her. “I’m sorry,” she chokes out. She doesn’t know how to express what she was sorry for, but she has a feeling he knows.

“Don’t be sorry.” Percy’s arms seek out the bottom of the sweater so he can help her into it. He slides it over her and once it’s on, he reaches forward to tilt her head towards him so he can give her a forehead kiss. “It was an accident.”

“Octavian was an accident,” she whimpers, dropping her head against his chest.

She doesn’t understand why she feels so upset. She just knows that she doesn’t like the hole in the pit of her stomach or the tightness of her throat.

“Why are you so sad?” Percy asks, cupping her cheeks and pouting.

“Today was going so well,” she complains, wincing away from his fingers that go to wipe her tears.

And maybe she does know why she’s so upset. Mornings were her favorite time of day because she got to be with Percy. She got to see him in ways that no one else did and listen to his words that he doesn’t say when anyone else is around. When they’re at work five days a week surrounded by children, he didn’t get to show her affection in the ways he does outside of school. Morning was her chance to see that.

Never had something interrupted those perfect moments before. Not until now.

The moment had been so perfect, so private and loving, and it was destroyed.

“You told me I looked adorable,” she says, sniffling. It was the only way she knew how to explain the torrent of emotions she was feeling. “Now I have a big coffee stain on my shirt, and I look disgusting.”

“You still look adorable.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she chides.

“I’m not lying,” he says softly. “You always look adorable.”

She just drops her forehead back against him pitifully.

“You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen,” Percy says. “I tell you that all the time.”

“You’re a big fat liar.”

Percy’s lips tilt up in a smile. “I’m not. In fact, you actually look even better right now, all cute and warm in my hoodie.”

Annabeth looks down as though for the first time realizing she was wearing it. It was too big on her, but it smelled like him, the picture of a sunny day at the beach, warm on the sand.

“You’re so so so pretty, especially when you’re wearing my clothes.” Percy’s arms wrap around her squeezing tightly, and she feels secure in his embrace. “Don’t let this ruin your day. Octavian’s stupid. This isn’t new information.”

“But our morning is ruined.”

Percy squeezes her tighter, slightly swaying back and forth. “Lucky for you, it’s Friday. We can go home and pretend it’s morning again and take lots of naps.”

“And watch Finding Nemo?”

“Oh, yes. That part’s nonnegotiable.”

Annabeth’s lips pull up at that as she nestles deeper against him. “I love you.”

Percy’s response is an affirmative hum and a kiss on the top of her head.

So maybe her morning hadn’t gone quite as planned, and maybe she was overreacting just a bit, but there’s always tomorrow, and there’s always their Friday night snuggles.

As long as she has Percy, she figures everything would be alright.

[vaguewriting]

vague fic fragment #4

solangelo rwrb au

Will was seventeen when his mom became the president of the United States, and there were some things that he hated.

He hated moving out of his childhood home in Texas, even if it was incredibly cool that he got to live in the White House. He hated having to transfer schools for his last semester of high school (and had begged Naomi for the months leading up to her inauguration to let him finish school online). (She didn’t go for it.) He hated that they’d all been too busy with campaigning and then packing and then moving, and that when Will finally got his driver’s license, it said DC instead of Austin.

But everything else, well. That was all really cool. 

When they moved into the White House, back when Will felt like he had more reasons to feel bummed out than anything, he made himself a list. He liked making lists. They helped him relax, and they helped remind him of what was important - homework that was due the next day, or cities that they were visiting along the campaign trail. During the first year of his mother’s presidency, he made a new list. A list of every good and awesome and okay thing there was about being the First Son of the United States. 

First and foremost, Naomi had made history. In 2016, a female Democrat from the great state of Texas reached over 300 votes by the electoral college, and she had done it all without a husband by her side. And Will wasn’t going to let himself be upset about moving schools while his mother made history.

And point one, subsection A, there were now a good handful of states separating them from Will’s father.

His two best friends - Annabeth and Magnus Chase, daughter and nephew-turned-adopted-son of Vice President Frederick Chase. Annabeth had been helping her father’s campaign since she was old enough to speak, and had been crucial to Naomi’s ascent to the White House. Magnus had always been there to share his weed whenever Will got anxious. (The media had dubbed the three of them The White House Trio because they’d been so active in their parents’ campaign.) (Sometimes The Golden Trio, but that was usually more mocking.)

The three of them had all become something of minor celebrities. Sure, they were no Kardashians, but they got invited to events. The only event that Will could remember attending that wasn’t entirely political was his junior prom. 

They traveled - all over the world! Will was pretty sure he had no reason to tag along to some of the places that his mom went, but he’d barely left Texas before the campaign started. 

He got to meet so many amazing people. There were doctors who cured cancer and lawyers who fought for justice and so many people out in the world that wanted to help. Will had gotten teary eyed on more than one flight back to DC after some visits to different youth shelters across the country. 

Oh, and did he mention the plane? The private jet that he got to fly in? He’d never flown before, and he knew that Air Force One had definitely gotten him spoiled for air travel ever again.

He was going to meet royalty. 

His newest addition to the list was scribbled out in a rush after his mother announced that they would be attending the Olympics in Rio - and Will got to choose which events they got to see! (Well, some of them.) (Okay, he got to pick one, because they were only going to be there for a day or two.)

His choice was clear to him in an instant. He knew from some light social media stalking - he was a teenager who was suddenly famous, he didn’t know how things worked yet - that there was supposed to be a special guest at the soccer fields. And he knew exactly who that special guest would be. 

The Prince of England.

He had always known for as long as he could remember - for as long as he’d known what royalty was - that there was a prince about his age. There had been a girl in Will’s third grade class who had once told him that she was going to marry the prince and become a princess, and then someday, a queen. Well, Will didn’t want to rule a country. He was just on the hunt for a new friend.

And how cool would it be to have the Prince of England as a friend?

Suck it, Molly, Will couldn’t help but think as he, Annabeth, and Magnus wandered around the VIP area at the soccer fields. They were so high up above the stands that he didn’t understand how anybody could see anything that was happening in the game, but he figured it didn’t matter, since he wasn’t there to watch, anyway. He was there to search. 

“You know, chances of finding him here are ridiculously low,” Annabeth pointed out, not for the first time, as they started another lap around the stadium. “A prince is going to have a huge security detail, even bigger than ours, and everyone in this section is so surrounded by buff guys in suits that--” 

“And girls,” Magnus cut in.

“What?” 

“Guys and girls,” Magnus told her. “Or, sorry, women. Half of our security team is female, you can’t generalize like that.” 

Annabeth elbowed him and rolled her eyes. “Oh, whatever. You knew what I meant. And the point I was trying to make is that--” She cut herself off when she walked straight into Will’s unmoving form. “Will?” 

“That’s him,” Will whispered, eyes glued on a boy his age, standing beside a single bodyguard. 

Prince Nico was shorter than Will by a few inches, and was wearing a well-tailored black suit, as always. He tended to look like he was either on his way to a funeral, or on coming back from one. He stood with perfect posture, his pale hands clasped behind his back, though the way he held himself made Will think he wanted to lean over the rail to get a closer look at the game. Will knew he’d be here somewhere. Nico loved soccer. 

“I’m gonna go say hi,” Will mumbled, ignoring Magnus’s, “Maybe you shouldn’t--” because he was already walking. 

His first word to Nico was, “Um,” and then, “Hi, um, Your Highness.” 

Nico looked unimpressed. There was a pout to his lips and a coolness to his eyes that he never showed to the camera. (No, not coolness. Coldness.) 

“I’m Will,” he continued, unable to stop the words now that they’d already started, and he held out a hand. Nico didn’t take it. “Um. Will Solace, I’m the--” 

“I know who you are,” Nico told him. His voice was quiet, yet held commanding authority. Will wondered if that was something he’d learned alongside table manners and perfect posture. That authority in his voice was giving off a vibe of quit bothering me.

While Nico had clearly trained his tongue well, Will had never learned how to shut up. “You do?” he asked with a bright, genuine smile - he still hadn’t perfected a fake smile for the cameras - and looking at it seemed to cause Nico pain. “That’s… That’s crazy! I mean, I’m, like, a total nobody compared to you. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you! Can I hang around and watch the game with you?” 

Nico’s head turned back toward the field below, and Will took that as a yes, until he heard a whisper from beside him, voice accented in that way that nobody’s but Nico’s was: “Can you get rid of him?” 

Will’s heart plummeted. 

Thankfully, he didn’t get the opportunity to react (though he wouldn’t have minded a chance to apologize) before Annabeth was tugging on his arm. Above the thoughts suddenly swirling in his head, he thought he heard Annabeth saying, “Sorry, Your Highness, he didn’t mean to intrude,” before he was dragged away. 

They started back around the stadium, returning to their starting point - something of a suite that had been reserved for the US president and her guests. 

As he flopped down onto an empty couch, Will added one more item to the list of things he hated: Nico di Angelo.

[mka1098]

She Wears the Crown of the School and Key of My Heart - A Percabeth Percy Jackson One-shot Fanfiction Story

Want to have the story read out loud for you ? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnJmrjvaXpo&list=PL_yqxljCzSpIEMPBUYLmUcUnPmSOtc2aN&index=5 

Annabeth Chase. She was the queen of the school no doubt. And she just happened to be Percy Jackson's childhood crush from grade 2. She moved here, sophomore year, and in one year, she had everyone wrapped around her finger. Luke, the popular boy that was set for Yale, Drew the old It girl who lost her status and can't move a muscle again the new queen, Piper, her first friend at the school and now her maiden in waiting. Everyone was hooked on her. First the new girl, now the most popular girl in school. She most certainly had Percy Jackson under her spell. Even as a young 7-year-old, Percy was bewitched. And now, ten years later. He still was. 

"Dude stop staring at her," Grover told his best friend who was watching the queen spin around and around on the dance floor with her king. Her jr prom king. 

"She's so beautiful," Percy said dreamily. 

"Yeah, you say so all the time." Grover rolled his eyes. "I'm going to go talk to my girlfriend over there." The ginger announced and left his smitten friend to just stare. Percy admired her dress, it was simple yet elegant, even amongst this mosh pit of students. 

"It's probably bad to still be in love with the same girl that you've not been dating for 10 years," Percy muttered to himself and moved to the drinks table to snatch a soda. He found the basket of soda's and grabbed the coke. 

Only for another hand to be placed on top of his. And said hand had a french manicure. And remarkably familiar infinity bracelet. 

"Sorry, did you want it?" A fruity voice spoke to him. Percy's eyes went wide and he turned to look at the blonde who had spoken. She had heels on but still, she was a ways shorter than him. Percy stood at 6'3, Annabeth at most was 5'11 with heels. His mouth didn't move and nor did his brain. He was captivated by the beauty in front of him. Her princess curls were twisted up in an updo, with hair framing her face perfectly. Her grey eyes were still strikingly gorgeous, even in the low lighting. Her lips were painted a pink color, like an innocent little princess but the cat eyeliner said that she cut like a queen. 

"Uh, do you still want it?" She said awkwardly. Percy slowly shook his head. She nodded and was about to walk away when without thinking, Percy grabbed her arm. 

"Wait." He said. She looked at him confused. 

"Yes?" She asked. "We know each other!" He said. Annabeth opened her mouth and then closed it before saying a word. 

"...yes." She looked at him suspiciously but Percy broke out into a grin. 

"You know who I am!?" 

"You just said we knew each other."

"yeah, but like do you know my name?"

“Uh, yes Percy I do. Do, uh, you know mine?"

"Yeah!" 

This was a very weird and awkward conversation. But Percy's lovesick brain didn't compute that. At least it wouldn't for a while longer. If you have him maybe 3 more days, it'd catch up and he'd freak out over it.

"Uh, is there anything else you wanted to tell me?" Annabeth smiled politely but it was clear she didn't know what was happening with this conversation. 

"We were in second grade together." Percy gushed out. Annebeth's lips pressed into a tight line. 

"Well, yeah we're in the same grade." She said slowly. Percy shook his head. "No, we were in the same class." Annabeth's eyebrows crinkled together before her face lit up and she snapped her fingers and clapped once. 

"Oh! Percy! I remember now! You gave me this bracelet." She held up the arm Percy was still ahold of. 

"Oh sorry." He let go sheepishly. Annabeth just laughed. \"You're fine." She was all eased up now. "I forgot about 2nd grade, well everything but this here." The blonde twisted her wrist around. 

"Congrats on the crown." Percy pointed to the plastic crown in her hair. Annabeth reached up and touched it. "Oh, yeah thanks." She smiled at him. 

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" A voice yelled and Annabeth and Percy both turned to face the sound, which was coming towards them. "I knew you were cheating on me!" Luke roared. Annebth's mouth dropped. 

"I- what! I am not." She yelled back. The place went quiet, even the music stopped. 

"You were holding his hand!" Luke yelled back. Annabeth growled. "He was holding my wrist because he recognized the bracelet." She defended herself. 

Percy wanted to die. Was he causing the perfect couple to fight? Yes, yes he was. Great going Jackson. 

"How?!"

"He gave it to me!"

"Oh so now you're accepting gifts from your side dude?"

"Oh my god, WE WERE SEVEN WHEN HE GAVE IT TO ME!"

"And you kept it?!"

"Yes! A gift from a friend."

"I know you're cheating on me."

"I AM NOT!"

Luke snarled at Percy. Percy only looked at him, they were close in height so it was a battle of not looking away. "I'm not anything like that to her," Percy stated. Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah sure like I believe that. If you're going to be like that, I will too." He growled. 

The Blonde boy's eyes caught onto the nearest girl that wasn't Annabeth and pulled her to him and started furiously making out with the girl. Said girl screamed and pulled away, kicking him in a sensitive spot. Annabeth had no choice but to watch the scene of her boyfriend accusing her of infidelity and then doing it himself. The other girl started screaming at him and slapped him in the face. "And for the record. Annie was loyal to you. You are a pig." The other girl stormed away and no one in the either place spoke. 

"It's over," Annabeth said softly. "I never cheated on you nor thought of it. But if you don't believe me and think it's okay to do it back and kiss a girl without her consent, and still think I'll stay with you, you are crazy." The Blonde queen of the school spun on her heel and walked out the door. 3 seconds passed and Percy ran out after her, hearing the shouts at Luke and lots of soda spilling onto the floor. Odds were the people were protecting the queen, punishing Luke. Percy looked around the area and found the girl walking somewhere. 

"Annabeth." He called, making her turn around. She looked at him sadly. Percy frowned, Annabeth should never be sad it didn't suit her.

"He didn't believe me." Her voice was barely audible, it was clear she was holding back tears. Percy wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. "He didn't believe me." She said again, he felt water hit his shoulder. Her tears were quiet, just quiet and painful. After a minute the water stopped. She weakly clung to his arms.

"Do you want to away from here?" He asked gently. She nodded and Percy led her to his car and opened the door for her to get in. 

His mom was working late so she wasn't home to question why he was bringing home a crying girl. Annabeth took of her heels and sat down at the couch. Percy went to the kitchen and grabbed 2 ice cream cones. Coming back to the main room, he handed her one and she took it gratefully. 

"Thank you." She said softly. 

"Are your parents expecting you at 12?" Percy asked her. She shook her head. 

"No, I was supposed to stay at Luke's," Annabeth said quietly. Percy nodded, wishing he hadn't said that. After a minute of silence, Annabeth laughed humorlessly. "I never thought I'd be that girl crying in her prom dress." A hand reached up and touched the crown. "Or, I guess the crying prom queen." She laughed hollowly. 

Despite what was going on, Percy couldn't help but admire her dress. It was a light blue color, his favorite color. Mermaid style, it hugged her body and flared out at the bottom. It was off the shoulder and was clearly something a princess would wear. 

"I didn't cheat on him. Not with you. Not with anyone else." Annabeth said softly. Percy nodded his head. 

"You would never. He was a fool to not listen." He said. Annabeth laughed humorlessly and looked up and then back at him. 

"I should have known that would happen. He's always been crazy jealous and asks me about all my male friends." She took a bite of ice cream. "I brought it upon myself didn't I." Her voice was weak, small, fragile. Things Annabeth was not.

 Percy shook his head in disagreement. "No, you just cared for him enough to look past the flaws." Annabeth smiled at him. 

"Thank you. For just getting me out of there. Sorry, I'm invading and running your night." The blonde said shyly. She was not doing such things. "It's okay, I wasn't doing much." He told her. Percy looked at the TV and then back at her. 

"Wanna watch a movie?" He asked. She nodded her head. "Sure."

They put on a funny movie, but soon realized that it was much more fun to do commentary on it. Then they realized it was even more fun to just talk and ignore the movie. Percy told her about his life in high school and things he could remember from grade 2. Annabeth laughed at his stories and told him about her adventures with friends. 

"Really? That was you and Leo?" She laughed. Percy nodded his head. "That was so funny!" Percy was so happy to make her laugh after a night like this had occurred. "Thanks for cheering me up and helping," Annabeth said when her laughter died down. She had a smile this time on her pretty face. Percy tried to act nonchalantly but it probably wasn't working. "This makes us friends now... I think... are we?" She looked so hopefully, like a little owl with those big eyes. 

"Of course!" Percy said with a grin. Even without the cute eyes he would have said the same thing. They were friends now. 

And for the next 3 months, they became closer and closer. He helped her with the breakup, the school had done right by their queen and Luke was no more a beloved king amongst villagers. He was now the lowest of the lows, like dirt or a mouse everyone drove away. The feeling Percy had had since age 7, only grew and grew till he was sure he was completely in love with this girl. It came down to the end of the year party, set at the beach and the entire 11th grade had come out and was planning to have a blast together. Percy was planning to tell Annabeth how he felt, after some 10 or 11 years. 

"Wise girl! My mom made cookies, come help me!" Percy called Annabeth while standing by his car. 

"On my way." She said from the other line. Annabeth did come up to Percy's very blue car. 

"I'll grab these two boxes... and then run away." She laughed before printing away with said boxes. 

"HEY!" Percy yelled after her, locking his car and following her across the beach. 

"Hey Reyna, here the cookies." He smiled at their class president and he and Annabeth stacked the boxes. 

"Hey wise girl. Wanna go for a beach walk?"

That's how they ended up in a secluded part of the beach, not private, just less public. It had lots of palm trees around it and the water was clear as can be, no people or sea creatures to be found. Annabeth had excitedly taken off her coverup and got into the water. Percy tried not to faint from seeing her in a swimsuit. He didn't like her just for her body, but she was a very attractive person. 

"Too slow?" She called out to him. Percy dramatically put his hand to his head and stumbled back. He was a swimmer for goodness sake and a pretty good one. Taking off his shirt he dived into the water after her and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her down to the sand. He let go soon enough so she could get on her feet but her pouty face was too adorable for Percy to say anything too. 

In all honestly, Percy's felt his face warm up, even in cool water by touching her. He ran a hand through his black hair and prayed that she didn't notice the redness splashed on his cheeks. Annabeth's sly face on was on and before he knew it, she ran at him and knocked him on his back, her landing and laughing on top of him. Oh, there's the red. Percy's face was so hot you could probably grill on them. 

"Annabeth." Percy started seriously. The blonde stopped her giggling and corked her head, a sign she was listening. "I have to tell you something." Percy took a deep breath and sat up, Annabeth did so too, sitting next to him on the sand. 

"I li-"

He was cut off by Annabeth's lips on his. The words fizzled out when his brained realized it. Annabeth tasted like lemon drops and vanilla cake. Percy had kissed girls before but this one with Annebth, it was gentle and sweet. It was perfect. Just like her.  

After a few seconds, she pulled apart, but not straying too far. "You may be a seaweed brain and oblivious as ever but it doesn't I am. I've been waiting months for you to finally tell me." She laughed and it sounded like music to Percy's ears. 

"Dang, so I could have kissed you months ago?" He joked. The blonde rolled her eyes. 

"Yeah, you could have. Like since prom." Annabeth told him. Percy looked at her unconvinced. 

"Oh don't give me that look. I kept your bracelet for 10 years. I liked you then and I like you now." She tapped his nose. Percy sputtered. Wait, 10 years ago? 

"Yes," Annabeth said as if she could read his mind, but she was probably just reading his facial expression. 

"I'm kind of glad I waited though. This is the perfect place to kiss you." Percy said after a minute of trying to compute. Annabeth laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. 

It was a romance over ten years in the making. Finally set off on a night where Annabeth Chase, Queen of the school, and Percy Jackson, a mere villager came together. She had the crown of the school, the prom queen's crown atop her head. But a special monumental, the gift he had given her years ago, the key to his heart and gift to his love, a bracelet on her wrist. And now his heart was in her hands. Whether she decided to squeeze it into dust or protect it at all cost didn't matter. 

Percy Jackson had given his everything to the queen. 

And.

Annabeth Chase gave her everything to the new king.

[greekgrad12]

It Takes Two: percabeth!au

chapter two :)

Mattie Jackson and Hayley Chase meet at the start of summer and discover that they are each other's identical clone. With a little more investigating, the two girls discover that they are, in fact, twins. Things only get crazier when they find out that their adoptive parents were once in love. Now, they have to work together to reunite Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase before Mattie’s dad ends up dating the new camp counselor and Hayley’s mom gets married to a kid hating, gold digger.

And what better way to do that than to switch places?

or

i rewatched It Takes Two and decided to make it percabeth :)

read on ao3

chapter one here!

************************************************

The faded white stone was the first thing Annabeth Chase noticed when she and her daughter pulled into the driveway of their summer house. Well, summer house was a loose term now. Annabeth had been living here all year while working on a new project. One that was very near and dear to her heart. When Chiron called and asked if she would be willing to redesign the old camp, she was more than happy to. She even threw in a family discount, because that's exactly what he was. Family.

Annabeth Chase was a very famous name in the architecture world. She graduated top of her class at Berkeley and quickly got a job at Medusa & Co. Architecture. Her coworkers were somber, but the work was good. Working for a big company like Medusa & Co. brought on a lot of challenges, but that's what drew her in. Annabeth loved a challenge. What she didn't love were the rumors and scandals constantly going around about faulty cement, old metals, and rickety wires being used to create their buildings in an attempt to make more money. When she decided to investigate and learned that the rumors were true, Annabeth just had to leave. Creating her own Architecture Company took some time, but the exposure and resources she acquired while at Medusa & Co. helped her along the way. And the money she got from her tip to the media about what was really going on at her old job didn't hurt either.

Now, she was the proud owner and head architect at Parthenon Architecture. Having expanded her company to five different states all over America, Annabeth was a busy woman. So busy that she never really had time to think about her life outside of work. She knew she wanted to get married and have a family. Something permanent. But even with the casual dates, her friends insisted she go on, Annabeth never felt that spark that she knew made something worth pursuing. She knew what that felt like. She'd experienced it before, with-

"Woah," The sweet voice of her daughter broke Annabeth from her thoughts, "Remind me why we don't stay here more often?"

Annabeth didn't have time for romance, but she wanted a family. Thanks to adoption agencies, she could have that. But honestly, Annabeth wasn't even sure if she was ready to be a mother when she went in for a consultation with the agency. Her parents divorced when she was young, and due to her mother's career in government at D.C., Annabeth was left with her father. Eventually, her stepmother came into the picture and the blonde little girl was pushed into the background. The woman wanted absolutely nothing to do with Annabeth and her father did nothing to help. Things only got worse when her little twin brothers came into the picture.

Annabeth's mother would come back every other month and the two would spend the day together, but she couldn't be there every time the girl needed her. The best thing her mother did for her was sign Annabeth up for Camp Half-Blood when she was a seven. That first year at camp changed her life. She made friends who became family and finally found a place that felt like home. People who felt like home. A boy who felt like home.

"Remind me how often we come to Rhode Island?" she teased the ten-year-old.

The girl turned back to her mother and responded with a straight face, "Ha-ha."

Annabeth laughed at that, "Come on, Hayley, let's unpack. I wanna show you something in the house."

Despite her estranged relationship with motherhood, Annabeth never had to think twice about adopting Hayley. Before adopting the girl, she did her research. Apparently, Hayley's birth mother moved to California a week after she was born, hoping for a fresh start with her new child. Unfortunately, her new life didn't have room for a baby. The woman tried for about two months before abandoning the little girl at an adoption agency. Annabeth knew what it was like to feel abandoned, so she was happy to claim the two month old as her own.

She tried her best to be an attentive and caring mother, and being her own boss helped make that possible. Still, with Annabeth being so busy with the camp reconstruction plans, she and her daughter hadn't been able to spend as much time together this year. Hayley had spent the greater part of last year begging her mom to let her join them in Rhode Island, and as much as Annabeth wanted her around, she wasn't about to pull her daughter out of school for a whole year. Especially with everything they've gone through at past schools.

Much like Annabeth, Hayley Chase is a famous name. Hayley wasn't a problem child. She is a good kid. A good kid with bad luck. Getting her daughter into schools was the easy part. As the granddaughter to a Congresswoman, an American and Military History professor at West Point, and the daughter of the third most famous Architect in the United States, schools were eager to have Hayley in their programs. And having an eleventh-grade reading level didn't hurt either. It was when the school year began that things usually went south.

Wrong place, wrong time basically sums up Hayley's life. Nothing too crazy happened, but it was usually enough to ensure that the girl wouldn't be getting an invitation back. So far, she had been kicked out of three schools. Once for getting too many detentions due to 'continuous disrespect,' which is just a fancy way of saying, "You're child pointed out too many of my teaching mistakes and I'm sick of being contradicted."

Another time was when a nasty girl in her class tripped Hayley in the lunchroom. The girl's tray went flying, and the food fight that ensued was blamed on her. The last incident was the result of a classroom fire, but there's really no time to unpack that. Hayley never meant for these things to happen. She knew how hard her mother worked, and she admired her greatly for that. The last thing she wants is to add stress to her life.

What Hayley didn't realize, however, was that she made Annabeth's life anything but stressful. The woman couldn't be prouder to have a daughter as clever, kind, and patient as Hayley. Annabeth spent her whole life wanting to build something permanent, but when she finally did, she looked around and realized that it's wasn't worth much without someone permanent beside her. She wants to do right by her daughter, and that's one of the reasons why she was so excited to finally have Hayley over at the summer house with her. Not only would she get to spend time with her daughter again, but Annabeth would get to show Hayley where she grew up. Her home.

Camp Half-Blood.

Hayley was now carrying a backpack over her shoulders and tugging a suitcase behind her as she walked up the steps to the giant house, "What is it?"

"It's a surprise," The woman answered, simply. Annabeth had just dropped her bag onto the porch and was currently scrummaging in her bag for the door keys.

"What kind of surprise?" Hayley pressed while admiring the exterior of the house. The two story mansion had once belonged to her great-grandmother, but it hadn't been used in years. The green-eyed girl suddenly found herself hoping that the surprise wasn't spiderwebs and dust. Then again, her mother had been living here on and off again for the past six months. If there was even a hint of spiders, the house would have already been hosed down by exterminators, "Surprise like, 'I'm doubling your allowance for not causing trouble this year!' or surprise like, 'Grandma's coming to visit'?"

Annabeth had unlocked the door but held it ajar, "Actually, yes, your grandma is coming in a few days to visit."

A grim look overtook Hayley's face. It's not that she didn't like Grandma Athena, it's just that she was very... controlled. Hayley always assumed that it was the Congresswoman in her that made the old lady so uptight. Every time she came to visit, her mom would get anxious and start to stress work. The little girl knew all about her mother's upbringing. The mother-daughter pair were very close, and Hayley was protective of the people she loved, so she never enjoyed seeing the effect her grandmother had on Annabeth.

"Why is she coming here?" The young girl asked, trying her best to hide her disapproving tone, "The only thing she does when she comes over is stress you out and give me passive-aggressive looks for not indulging myself in nonfiction books."

"Hayley, if you want to read Agatha Christie, read Agatha Christie. If you want to read Marvel Comics, read Marvel Comics. Don't let her make you feel bad about your interests," If there was one thing Annabeth was willing to face her mother for, it was her daughter. It pissed the woman off to no end when her mother, the one who had basically abandoned her as a child, tried to tell Annabeth how to raise her daughter.

That's another thing Hayley loved about her mom. No matter what she did, her mom was right behind her with unconditional support. When Hayley entered the Spelling Bee, her mother stayed up the night before and helped her practice, even though she had scheduled an early meeting the next morning to ensure she would be off on time to attend the contest. When the girl wanted to join an art class, Annabeth went out and bought her a whole new art supply kit. When, at the age of four, she decided that blue and yellow were magic colors, and her mom decided to make blue cookies for her. She only made them once, and Hayley was young when she did, but the girl still could have sworn she remembers her mother tearing up when her daughter took her first bite of the blue food.

And there was the time when she was three, and Hayley had her first asthma attack.

Annabeth had been a wreck for the entire process. Of course, Hayley had recovered quickly, and thanks to her Flovent medication, she hasn't had a major attack in years. All thanks to her mom. If Annabeth Chase was anything, it was a planner. Hayley was on a strict schedule when it came to taking her medication. Even though her daughter's asthma hadn't acted up in years, she wasn't going to chance losing her ever again.

"Rebel against Grandma?" Hayley joked, "Sounds like a plan."

Annabeth huffed out a laugh, but Hayley could tell something was off. She just now noticed that her mother hadn't been looking her in the eyes and that she was still standing in front of the cracked open door, blocking the girl from what's inside. She also noticed that her mother didn't answer her question about why Grandma Athena would be visiting.

"Why don't we go inside? I may have lied about the surprise- or rather, the extent of it. There is actually more than one."

Hayley's confusion must have been very noticeable, because right as she was about to ask more questions, Annabeth opened the front door to reveal two people waiting inside.

"Piper! Leo!" Hayley dropped her bags onto the porch and ran to her godmother and honorary uncle. The two dropped down and hugged the little girl with just as tightly as she did them.

"Hey, Hay!" Leo teased the girl as her arm wrapped around his neck.

"Oh my goodness, there is no way you got this big over one school year!" Piper exclaimed as she pulled back from the girl's other side, "You get any taller and you're gonna outgrow Leo."

While that was definitely an exaggeration, Leo still scoffed at the girl. Watching as the three got reacquainted, Annabeth picked up her daughter's bags that were abandoned on the porch and laid them inside. After she placed her own bags on the floor, Piper's dark eyes shot up and reached Annabeth's gray ones.

The woman smiled down at Hayley before walking over to give her mom a big hug. Piper McLean and Annabeth had been friends for years. The two met in the third grade. They bonded over daddy issues and a mutual love for Skittles. You know, normal kid stuff. After decades of sleepovers, secret handshakes, bad haircuts, and One Direction phases, the girls were still inseparable. If anyone could read Annabeth like a book, it was Piper. They were a fantastic duo. So much so, that Piper was her personal assistant. Technically, she was here for work, but Annabeth was just grateful to have her best friend here for the occasion.

Annabeth met Leo Valdez in college. He was the smartest person on the robotics team and the two shared many classes together throughout the years. They became fast friends, bonding over conspiracy theories and arguing over who was the better Property Brother. When Annabeth needed a Head of Construction at her firm, she knew exactly who she wanted by her side. Leo was more than happy to accept.

Leo and Piper were great employees and even better friends. They were supportive when she told them she wanted to adopt. They were always there to remind her that it's okay to take a break. And whenever one of them decided to take her out and let her live a little, the other would watch Hayley. And they both loved Hayley.

"Glad to see you're still alive," Piper's tone was flat and quiet against Annabeth's ear. She knew her friend didn't want Hayley hearing what she had to say, and honestly, neither did Piper, "Oh, and look at that. Is that a phone sticking out of your back pocket? A phone that I have been trying to reach you on for the past hour?"

Annabeth pulled back from the hug and Piper could finally see the guilt written on her face, "I know. Look, I'm sorry I didn't answer, but I knew what you would be calling about. I couldn't exactly have you yelling at me with my ten-year-old in the passenger seat."

"So, she doesn't know then?" The black-haired woman knew the answer, but the way she was now staring Annabeth down -arms crossed, eyebrow raised- made her realize the real question she was asking went along the lines of, what the hell is your plan here?

"No," Annabeth sighed out, "I was going to tell her on the drive over from the airport, but there was just so much to catch up on-"

"Yeah, Annabeth!" Piper whisper-yelled as an exasperated look took over her face, "There is so much to catch her up on. Starting with-!"

"Hey, you two," Leo coughed out, loudly. As the girls turned their attention back to him and the little girl, they saw Leo motioning to Hayley. Annabeth's daughter sent confused glances to the three adults, "Annabeth, why don't you show Hayls what's outback?"

Annabeth clasped her hands together and moved past Piper, who was now giving Leo the death stare, "That's a great idea, Leo. Come on, Hayley, there's another surprise waiting for you."

Hayley loved a good surprise as much as the next girl, but she was very aware of the mumbled bickering going on between Piper and Leo as she and her mom walked to the back of the house. That kind of put a damper on things. There was definitely something being kept from the little girl, and she had an idea that whatever it was wouldn't be found outback.

"Come on, kiddo," Annabeth said as they reached a little study. Hayley almost missed the door as they walked up to it. The wood of the door matched the wall around it, and a few strayed out plant decorations hid it even more. It was like the room was intentionally being hidden away. Once her mother opened the door, Hayley could see why. It appeared to be a private study- a homey, little room. There was a desk that sat in the middle, surrounded by comfortable looking chairs and giant bookshelves. To the side, there was a giant bay window that let the sun in and overlooked the coastline. A telescope stood off to the right of the window and a globe of the world to the left.

"Wow," The girl breathed out. Hayley stepped into the room and heard her mother chuckle from behind her.

"Just wait," Annabeth took her daughter's hand and lead her to the giant bay window. Annabeth sat down on the cushion while placing the little girl in her lap. She pointed out towards past the water and to an open area that was covered by what looked like to be a camp.

"Is that the camp you've been working on up here?" Hayley asked, eyes still set towards the campground, "It looks beautiful."

From what she could see, the cabins were beautifully designed with different symbols on each building, "What do the different symbols mean?"

"Each camper is placed in a certain cabin based on what you designed your schedule to look like. For example, if you wanted to spend the majority of your summer in the gardens, you could request to be placed in the Grain cabin. It's just to help to keep campers organized," The woman explained, "Obviously you could still participate in the camp singalong with the Lyre cabin, or go swimming with the Triton cabin, but this way you could be focused more on your interests and be surrounded by people who shared them."

"You said you went there, right?" Hayley turned to look back at her mother, "What cabin were you in?"

"I was always in the Owl cabin," Annabeth grinned at the memory, "We spent a lot of our time in the arts and crafts department. We also held the highest number of wins in Capture the Flag."

"Capture the Flag?" The girl stared at her mother with an amused expression, "What's that like?"

Annabeth grinned down at Hayley, "Well, I guess we'll have to go over there one day and let you find out for yourself."

Her daughter's green eyes widened as she jumped from her mother's lap, "Wait, really? I get to go?"

"Well, since we won't be here the whole summer you're not an official camper, but yes. I talked to the activities director and he said they would be happy to have you come down and join in on the fun," she explained, "My only condition is that you aren't allowed to ditch me when your grandma get here. THAT, and I want a ceramic mug."

Hayley wrapped her arms around her mom's neck, "I will, I promise! It'll say Worlds Best Mom and everything."

There were many surprises in store for Hayley Chase this summer, but her daughter finally getting to experience Camp Half-Blood was Annabeth's favorite. With the architect's demanding schedule and her daughter's extracurriculars, the two didn't have a lot of extra time for just them. Summer was when they could be together the most, and no matter how much she wanted her daughter to experience the same joys she did at camp, Annabeth didn't want to send Hayley to the other side of the country without her. And there was no place for Annabeth at camp now.

However, due to her new project being Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth had the perfect excuse to bring her daughter to the place most special to her. She wanted to share her experiences with her daughter. Show her the giant pine tree right at the camp entrance where she would sit under the shade and read. Tell her about the firework show that the camp would have every year. Share every strategy she helped come up with to win almost every game of Capture the Flag. Bring her to the dock where she spent almost every day with a boy. A boy with messy hair and sea-green eyes. Green eyes that Hayley's own resembled. Annabeth wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse. Looking into those eyes remained her of the boy she loved. The boy she wanted to build something permanent with. The boy who teased her, encouraged her, and stuck by her no matter what. Her best friend.

The boy who she tried to keep. The boy who she couldn't keep. Annabeth thought fate was a cruel being. For years, the blonde girl just wanted someone who would stay. Someone who wouldn't leave. And when she finally found that someone, life forced the two apart. Although she hadn't seen him in years, Annabeth would still think of that boy and wonder about the man he became. While working at camp, the woman was reminded of him more than ever. The memories -and feelings- they shared.

Yes, Annabeth wanted to share her experiences with her daughter, but she could not share him. Annabeth could not tell Hayley about the boy who was shorter than her for a majority of their youth together, and how he would glare at her when she teased him about it. She could not tell her daughter about the boy who would sit through every one of her architecture rants with a smile. She could not tell her daughter about how he could coax the truth out of her with a single look, and hold her when it hurt too much to talk about.

Annabeth could not tell her daughter about her first love, P-

"Annabeth!" A voice shook the woman from her thoughts. As Annabeth's daughter pulled away from her, she noticed that her once ecstatic expression was now replaced with a look of confusion. And it wasn't hard to figure out why.

When she turned her head towards the voice, Annabeth came face to face with Luke Castellan, her fiancé.

[solange-lol]

not so typical love song - ch. 1/13

Chapter Title: Rollarcoaster

Words: 3,050

Note: my piece for the @pjo-hoo-bigbang !!! special thanks to @shelbychild and @wisdom-walks-alone for editing and helping me develop this story! it wouldnt exist w/o y’all!

Art by @lizzybizzyo! <3

[ one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight (coming soon)]

read on ao3

—

Nico is staring at his computer, wordless. This isn't writer's block or surprise; it’s just the unknown reality of what this situation could lead to.

Another gay kid in his school. Another gay kid that isn’t Mitchell—who’s been out since 8th grade, and the only one to be out since then. Another kid at their school who’s hiding a secret. 

Nico doesn’t even know if this kid is a boy or a girl or what, and frankly, he doesn’t care. There’s another kid like him. And he has no idea how to respond to the post.

The post is a submission from their school’s gossip blog on Tumblr, the notorious ‘hb-secrets.’ Piper had called him an hour ago, asking if he’d seen it yet.

“Seen what?” he had responded.

“The post on hb-secrets? About the closeted gay kid?” It hit Nico like a wall of bricks as he quickly went to pull up the website. Did somebody know? It was a relief when he saw the clipart Ferris wheel and a few short lines submitted by a blog called blue0919.

“I bet it’s that Brazilian sophomore. Paolo or whatever? Or maybe it’s Connor Stoll! I swear he’s been flirting with Mitchell, but Annabeth keeps telling me that he’s into Lacy or someone,” Piper continued as he read, but it was going in one ear and out the other as he processed the words on the screen

Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck on a Ferris wheel. One minute I’m on top of the world, and the next minute I’m at rock bottom. Over and over all day long, because a lot of my life is great. But nobody knows I’m gay.

“Gotta go. I’ll talk later,” Nico said quickly, switching off his phone. He knew it would raise suspicion, but it felt like time was turning in on itself. Nobody knew about Nico. In fact, nobody ever even suspected. He’s never been called names besides “Death Boy.” And yet, there were the exact words that described his life, written out in front of him like they were a second thought.

And now, he was staring at his computer with an empty Gmail draft open. The original poster had left their email at the end of the post, so Nico after glancing quickly at his Panic! at the Disco poster still proudly hanging on his wall, typed out a new address. He was stuck, though, unsure of what to say from here. 

So, he started from the beginning.

From: bettertoburn@gmail.com

To: blue0919@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 6:48 PM

Subject: Hey

Somehow you’ve managed to type exactly what I feel. Sorta scary, as if you’re inside my head or something. Maybe it’s just a gay thing to be speaking in metaphors about the pressure of everyday society.

That’s what I am. Gay. I don’t know if I’ve ever really said it out loud to myself.

It’s weird because I never really had a perfectly normal life. My mom died when I was young, so I never really got to meet her. My sister and I have always been super close until she went away to college. Now, not as much. I guess that’s just what happens when you live a million miles away. 

And I’ve known my stepmom longer than I knew my real mom, but it was only a few years ago when I met my half-sister when she came to live with us because her mom died as well. Meaning, she isn’t the daughter of my stepmom. It’s a long story, and not really one I want to get into.

She’s super nice though. It’s funny, but despite being polar opposites with my older sister, they’re both mushy inside. Same with my stepmom. And my dad… he tries his best. We’re like exactly what you expect from a slightly broken family. Plus my dog who my cousin gave to me during a rough time. Honestly, she’s probably my favorite sibling out of them all. (Both my sisters would kill me if they knew I wrote that.)

And then there are my friends. I have some that are closer than others; Two of them I’ve known for a while now, and one who I only met recently but treats me better than some of the people I’ve known my whole life. While I admit, I’m not the most social person in the world, they’re pretty amazing as far as friends go. 

So there it is. My perfectly normal life. Except for that huge ass secret.

He typed and retyped each line what felt like a thousand times, deleting word after word. He didn't know what was too much. It all felt like too much, really. He didn’t even know if he could trust this person.

Signing it was the worst part; he didn’t have any good pseudonyms. Eventually, he decided to leave it blank.

Without a second thought, Nico hit ‘send’ before leaning back in his chair and putting his hands over his head. Only a second later, a light knock came from the door, causing him to quickly sit up as Hazel popped her head in.

“Dinner’s ready if you wanna eat,” she smiled. She left just as quickly as she came, curls bouncing as she walked away. They had gotten over the awkwardness of having a new sibling only months after Hazel moved in, but there was still some strangeness. To this day, Nico was still a lot closer to her than Bianca was. Either way, Nico knew he would do anything for her. (Not that he would admit that. He didn't even need to, Hazel already knew.)

Nico glanced back at his computer, but there was nothing in his inbox besides the Gmail “Welcome” email. It was stupid to think this person would respond that quickly, seeing as Nico didn't even know if they would respond at all. Heaving a sigh, he got up to join his family for dinner. Maybe he could even convince them to watch Steven Universe instead of The Bachelor.

---

Dinner went as expected. It’d been a while, actually, since they were all together for a meal. Hazel talked about her psycho geometry teacher and a boy she talked in the class named Frank, who seemed sweet but apparently had a shared hatred for math just like her. Nico didn’t say much, although chimed in at the latter, saying he better be the flower boy at their wedding. That even got a short scoff out of his father, which tended to be the closest Nico ever got him laughing. So, that was a win. 

However, he was a little more distant than usual. The pending email response was in the back of his mind during the entire meal.

Even afterward, as they watched reruns of Glee (a compromise made between Hazel and Nico, much to their father’s dismay), Nico couldn’t focus. It felt like a weight was burning through his back pocket. After the second episode (and laughing his ass off at his father’s reaction to Kurt’s ‘Single Ladies’ dance) he finally excused himself. 

He tapped the Gmail app on his phone as soon as he had reached his room. It felt like his heart skipped a beat when he noticed the new notification, a response from the original poster. With slightly shaky hands, he tapped the response, and a message opened up.

From: blue0919@gmail.com

To: bettertoburn@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 8:12 PM

Subject: I’ve never done this before

Dear anonymous person on the internet,

I really don’t know where to begin. I’m also not sure if you're a real person. For all I know you could be some random pedophile like one of those cases they warned us about in health class for the past 5 years, even though it’s never happened within the last decade.

But in case you are real, hello! I’m the original poster from that hb-secrets thread about life being a Ferris wheel. I’m rereading what I wrote there and I can’t stop cringing, so I’ll start by apologizing for that. I’m not usually one for metaphors, even the bad ones.

Anyway, it sounds like you identify with what I wrote. I’m glad you emailed me; I didn’t think anyone would actually do anything with the email that I left. Except maybe be extremely homophobic. But it made me feel less like I was shouting into the void, so thanks for that. And I assume you’re okay with me writing back since you sent me the first email. Though, I can’t believe I’m actually writing to you. I really didn’t think I would.

I guess I’m thinking it could be nice to talk with someone who can relate to how I’m feeling. No pressure, of course, but feel free to write back if you want to. I don’t want to use my real name, but you can call me Blue. 

It was surreal. Someone who was like Nico. Someone who wanted to talk to Nico because they were like him. 

He started to type again, with more excitement than he’s ever felt. He’s never been able to express this part of him before. It was almost like first date jitters-type feeling. 

(Not that he really knew what that was like.)

From: bettertoburn@gmail.com

To: blue0919@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 8:23 PM

Subject: Re: I’ve never done this before

Hi, Blue

Wow, I’m actually kind of flipping out right now, because I seriously didn’t think I’d hear from you, especially so quickly. Wow. Okay. First of all, thanks for your email and also for your Tumblr post. I really liked it, Blue, and it wasn’t cringy at all, I promise.

So do you go here (here meaning HBHS)? I do, I’m a junior. And I’m a guy (are you a guy?) Anyway, I could relate a lot to your post, Like, pretty much all of it, but especially the part about being gay. You probably figured that out already though. And I’m not out yet either, which you probably figured that part out too. 

I guess a part of me wants to be out, but a part of me’s like… no. It’s hard to explain. I don’t know. Maybe you get it.

So yeah, it’s really nice to meet you! This is kind of cool, right? Even writing this email makes me feel eleven times less alone.

-Angel (not my real name either, two can play at this game. It’s not like a pet-name type thing. If you ever find out who I am, you’ll understand why.) 

He was worried about the whole name-signing thing. ‘Angel’ was just the easiest thing; it was a direct translation of his last name. He was really hoping Blue still didn’t take it in a weird way, even with that last note.

Relief flooded through him when he read the first sentence of Blue’s next email. 

From: blue0919@gmail.com

To: bettertoburn@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 8:41 PM

Subject: Re: I’ve never done this before

Angel, huh? Maybe like guardian angel perhaps. 

Also, eleven times less alone? That’s oddly specific. :) But I know exactly what you mean.

Anyway, wow. Hi. You wrote back, and quickly too. I’m really glad you liked my post. Now I’m actually happy I put it out there. I have to admit, it’s strange to be writing a somewhat personal email to you when we don’t know each other’s identities. Though, in a way, I guess that makes it easier. Sorta like a therapist, except we’re both blindfolded and have the same problem. So not really a therapist, I guess.

Do you think therapists have therapists? Like, if the problems get to be too much for them? Is there an Almighty Therapist who just absorbs everyone's issues and feels nothing?

Anyway, I am a guy, and I’m also a junior at HB. I think you’re actually the first other gay guy I’ve met here. It’s pretty surreal to be talking to you. (In a good way though.) I wonder if we know each other in real life. 

And I think I understand what you mean. I feel like I’m constantly going back and forth about wanting to come out. I have these moments where I’m almost bursting to tell people. Of course, that’s where I was when I posted the thing on Tumblr. But I always feel so weird about it a few hours later, and sometimes I’m intensely relieved no one knows yet. What about you?

-Blue

From: bettertoburn@gmail.com

To: blue0919@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 9:12 PM

Subject: Re: I’ve never done this before

I mean, let’s be real, eleven is the best number, which is perfect because we’re both in eleventh grade. And I can't believe we’re both juniors. The class is pretty small compared to the others, so I bet we do know each other, which is weird to think about. What if we’re actually enemies in real life? Do you have enemies? I don’t think I do, not really. Various people tend to annoy me a lot. It’s not even their fault; some people just have really punchable faces.

 (I’m usually a really nonviolent person. I’m more like a violent person who at the same doesn’t really want to hurt anyone, so I have to resort to fantasizing about punching people, which just ends in eating my feelings in large quantities of McDonald’s.)

It’s funny for me, it’s actually not so much that go back and forth about wanting to come out. It’s like I simultaneously do and don’t want to be out. Which is pretty freaking exhausting, honestly. Like I’m in this constant state of JUST SAY IT and NO NEVER. Do you think that ever ends? I don’t know, maybe I’m just a really indecisive person. I think part of me is also just holding out until college when I’m away from anyone I know and can just reinvent myself.

So what kind of stuff do you like to do after school and everything?

-Angel

From: blue0919@gmail.com

To: bettertoburn@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 9:34 PM

Subject: Re: I’ve never done this before

I don’t think I have any enemies, but now I’m definitely wondering if I’m the guy with the punchable face. How do you know if you have a punchable face? I’ve never been punched, so hopefully, that’s a good sign. 

I will say, I’m definitely with you on the issue of eating your feelings. I’m the person who has never smoked a cigarette or gotten drunk or anything like that, and I'm usually relatively healthy. However, I once ate five jars of Nutella in one sitting. I do not recommend, 

I’m indecisive, too, in some ways. Okay, full disclosure: I was really conflicted when you sent me that email. I kept going back and forth about whether I should email you. I was (and am) definitely intrigued, but I guess I was also a little bit paranoid. It’s just that you could have been anyone, and it’s hard to know sometimes if someone’s being a jerk or if they’re being sincere. Plus my cousin sort of actually outed me. Not to anyone else, he’s the only one who knows, but now I’m super paranoid about coming out. (Exactly what you said about holding out until college. I’m thinking I can move to LA or somewhere where nobody really cares. Although I wouldn’t want to reinvent myself. And I don’t want you to reinvent yourself either, you’re pretty cool as you are I think.) Anyway, I’m really glad I decided to email you, though.

So, you’re probably going to think I’m ridiculous, but I’d rather not answer your last question. It’s just… I think I like being anonymous for now. Is that okay?

-Blue

Okay, that last part was fair. Nico understood the wanting-to-be-anonymous thing. Sure, they go to the same school. But Blue had no reason to entirely trust him; Nico didn’t really trust Blue at all. This could entirely be some random asshole anywhere in the world trying to find him and beat him up, or worse. It sucked that homophobia was still a thing in their day and age. 

But Blue said he liked talking to Nico, and it was thrilling to talk to him. It was another secret of his, but not one he entirely minded keeping. So, he chose to believe that Blue was actually who he said he was. 

From: bettertoburn@gmail.com

To: blue0919@gmail.com

Date: Oct 2 at 9:57 PM

Subject: Punchability

Blue, you have so much to learn about the rules of punchability, starting with the fact that it is completely impossible for you to have a punchable face. Rule number one: guys who make metaphors about Ferris wheels are automatically unpunchable. Rule number two: There isn’t one. Just rule number one, so memorize it. Everyone else can catch these fists. (Catch these fists? These hands? This would probably be more intimidating if I knew the correct phrasing)

Also, five jars of Nutella in one sitting is the worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life. Challenge accepted.

I don’t think you’re ridiculous, Blue. I totally understand why you don't want to tell me about your extracurricular activities (I’m guessing interpretive dance, though, you seem like the type.) But seriously, I get it. It’s this weird contradiction, right? It’s so much easier to be open with someone who doesn't know you at all. We’ll be each other's Ultimate Therapists. 

(Except I don’t think I could ever be a therapist.)

Anyway, I’m really glad you decided to email me back, too :)

-Angel

That smiley face was really unlike him. 

Nico sent the email, but after nearly an hour, he didn’t get on back, which meant Blue was probably asleep. Which was different from what Nico was used to; he tended to stay awake until the early hours of the morning most nights. But it wasn’t anything he minded. He had a conversation with Blue, and even if that was the last one they would ever have (which, he was hoping it wouldn’t be), it was good to know that there was somewhere out there like him.

[whydoesthiskeepappening]

Three Percy’s AU TLT Plot Part 1

I wanted to continue this so I shall.

For the people who didn’t see the last post here you go: Here it is

If you don’t want to read through that here’s the important stuff: Book!Percy is still Percy, Movie!Percy is Theseus but goes by Theo, Musical!Percy is now Orpheus I don’t have a nickname picked out for him. There are three Annabeths as well; Book!Annabeth keeps her name, Movie!Annabeth becomes Annabell, Musical!Annabeth gets to be Anna Lee. We have three Grovers to match the others, Book!Grover stays Grover, Movie!Grover takes the name Cliff, and Musical!Grover is Flint. Ages are as follows: Book!Trio = 12, Movie!Trio = 11, Musical!Trio = 10.

The Plot:

The Jacksons and the Underwoods all attend Yancy Acadamy, in their respective grades.

Theo and Cliff have learned to avoid and ignore Nancy Bobofit so she picks on their brothers more.

Nancy enjoys picking on Percy and Grover because why not, she did leave Orpheus and Flint alone for a while but then they tried to make her stop wedgying the first graders.

They’re all eating launch by the fountain when Nancy starts throwing her sandwich at Orpheus and Flint causing Percy to get angry at her and use the water by accident 

Mrs. Dods calls “The Jackson boy’s” to meet her by the sphinx

She attacks and Percy instinctively puts himself between the fury and his brothers.

Mr. Brunner shows up and throws Percy a pen, when he catches it, it’s a sword.

Percy kills Mrs. Dods and when they look up Mr. Brunner isn’t there either.

They go outside and Mr. Brunner chastises them for leaving the group

Later he tells them that they’re expelled

Mr. Brunner says, “I can only accept the best from you three.”

Percy feels bad that their mom is going to have to find them some other school to go to because they couldn’t keep in line here, Theo just hopes that the next one will be better. Orpheus doesn’t fully understand why they keep getting expelled from schools nor does he grasp how much this will make life more difficult for their mom.

They get home and Percy ushers Theo and Orpheus into their shared room to unpack

Sally gets home and finds them and tells them that they’re all going to Montok, just the four of them, no smelly Gabe.

So go they to Montok and Sally tells them about how she met their father. 

Orpheus mentions something about not being normal and Sally tells them that no one is normal and kids does the whole “Strong” spiel.

They’re trying to sleep when the Underwoods show up, and Sally herds them all into the car. 

They make it to the hill and make a break for it. Grover id passed out

They do the dodging thing from the book. 

The minotaur grabs Sally and she’s sent to the underworld

Percy jumps on it’s back and as it’s trying to get him off its hand knocks Orpheus to the ground

Percy rips off its horn and jumps down

Theo, Cliff, and Flint are trying to get Orpheus and Grover out of the minotaurs way

It turns to Percy and is about to charge when Orpheus grabs the pen that Mr. Brunner gave them, takes the cap off shouts, “If Mrs. Dods was really a monster than I hope you’re really a sword!” and riptide appears.

Orpheus is about to attack but Percy sees and stabs the minotaur with its own horn before Orpheus can get any closer

Orpheus passes out because of everything that just happened.

Percy, Theo, Flint, and Cliff gett Orpheus and Grover to the big house before Percy and Theo pass out from an adrenalin crash

Percy remembers at one point waking up to a blonde girl telling him he drools in his sleep

Orpheus wakes to a different blonde girl telling him that they all drool in their sleep.

When Percy wakes up for real he’s with Grover. The first thing he asks is, “Where are my brothers and where’s my mom?” Grover replies with, “Your brothers are still in the infirmary, we can go see them if you want. And your mom... she didn’t make to camp...”

Percy goes to find his brother who both just woke up

Orpheus asks where their mom is

Percy tells him and Theo that she isn’t here anymore...

The Underwoods take them to see Mr. D and Mr. Brunner

The names Mr. D calls them are: Percy -> Peter Johnson, Theo -> Thomas Johnson, Orpheus -> Ollie Johnson

When Chiron becomes Chiron then Orpheus does the whole, “Mr. Brunner, you’re a horse!?!?!?” thing.

Percy is a little skeptical of the place but Orpheus and Theo think it’s the coolest thing ever

They ask about who their dad is and Chiron tells them that he doesn’t know he almost thinks that it could be... but no that’s impossible 

Theo feels drawn to cabin #3 but is told that no one has slept there for years

This was also way longer than expected and will be continued

Edit: Part 2

[thisisawesomeness1825]

oops, i (fake) love you, ch.08

viii. Percy

"We're screwed up," Percy mutters while running his hand through his hair.

"Right we are," Annabeth mumbles. She's leaning on the wall of the janitor's closer she pulled him to, right after their confrontation with his friends.

Confrontation. Sounds about right.

Once they've concocted a believable backstory, Percy had foolishly believed that it will be the end of their problems. That it would finally convince his unbelieving friends on his and Annabeth's fake dating ploy. But no. It had to be replaced with a bigger problem: a double date with Piper and Jason.

"Ugh. I can't believe this," he says. The absence of light makes it difficult for him to see Annabeth, but he assumes that she's frowning too. "Double date with them? Pshh. As far as I know, they haven't been dating until now. They just probably made that up."

"I get the feeling that they still don't believe us. They staged a fake dating of their own to observe our relationship. They want to catch us faking it," Annabeth concludes.

"That's what I think too." Percy sighs. He's just tired of lying to his friends. Should he just cancel this whole arrangement? "Do you think we can pull this off?"

Through the thin light coming from the door, he sees her shrug. "I don't know. Maybe. But they're certainly going to expect more from us."

"How much more?" he can't help but ask.

"Enough to get them off our backs," she answers. Annabeth removes herself from the wall and tugs his hand. "C'mon. We can't be late. I don't want to get caught in the closet while classes are going on."

"Or you just don't want to get caught in the janitor's closet with me?"

"I don't want to be caught in a closet at all, thank you very much."

"Why? Cause it would tarnish your good girl reputation?" Even through the darkness, he can feel the heat of her glare. That's just how powerful it is. "I mean, being caught in the closet would definitely seal us as a couple. Don't you think that will make things easier for us?" he says with a smirk.

"Shut up," she retorts and shoves him to the side. Annabeth quickly opens the closet door and steps out.

Then she freezes.

Deciding that going to class is the better thing to do, he pushes against the doors and Annabeth's body. His eyes find the shocked look of a girl from their mythology class. Juniper, if he'd remember correctly.

Annabeth starts waving her hands frantically. "I swear, it's not what you think—"

Juniper, bless her, starts blushing and nods her head. "Of-of course. I really didn't see you two coming out of the janitor's closet. I'm just a regular student passing by a regular closet without any activity happening inside it at all." She gulps at the mortified look on Annabeth's face. It's so funny Percy wants to laugh, but he really doesn't want to invoke the blonde's anger upon him.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone what I saw at all," Juniper mumbles before dashing out of the corridor.

"But nothing really happened...," Annabeth argues weakly. Then she rounds up to him, poking his chest repeatedly. "You! Why didn't you deny it?"

He raises his hands defensively. "It's useless arguing about it. She saw what she saw. We can't do anything about that. Besides, Juniper is trustworthy. She won't just tell anyone."

"You better be right or else I'm gutting you like a fish," she says. "Ugh. All those years of building my reputation, and I'm reduced to a closet girl."

"With me," he adds. "That's a very important fact."

"Not really," Annabeth says as she rolls her eyes. Then she struts off, leaving him alone.

"You're late," is what Annabeth says the moment he enters the diner.

To be fair, it's not like he wanted to be late on purpose. It just so happened that the diner is a little harder to find than what he initially thought. It's basically a hole in the wall, with its faded brick walls and warm atmosphere.

Percy sits across her. "This place is hard to find."

She smiles. "Can't have them spying on us."

"How did you come across this place anyway?"

"I was having a bad day then. I took off and walked aimlessly. And then I saw this. This has been my safe haven after that."

"Thanks for trusting me with this," he says with a smile.

"I don't really trust you. More like, I'm forced to trust you."

"Way to hurt my feelings, Chase." He makes a choking motion and pretends to hold his heart in his fist. He holds up his palm. "Look at my heart, it's all broken."

Annabeth makes a stabbing motion at his heart. "Oh no! I hope it's dead."

"Why you cruel girl."

"And you're a clueless boy who can't keep track of time."

"You're mean," Percy says while clucking his tongue. "Really mean."

"At least I can flirt," she teases.

"That's a low blow."

A waitress skips towards the table. Her dark brown hair is pulled into a high ponytail. And she looks regally bored as ever. Her name tag reads "Reyna".

"Welcome to CC's diner. How can I help you?" She recites in monotone as she hands them the menu.

"I'll have my regular," Annabeth says without looking at the menu.

"I'll have, um, a large fries and a guinea burger? Wait, is this made from a guinea pig meat?" He looks up questioningly at Reyna. The girl doesn't spare him a glance. "Who's this?" she asks Annabeth.

"That's Percy. My boyfriend."

Reyna's eyes peruse him like a scientist observing a rare species. Then she shrugs, unfazed. "He doesn't look like your type."

"Um," Percy interrupts. "He's just right in front of you."

"Guinea burger is not made from guinea pig meat. The burger is just shaped like one," Reyna answers to his previous question. "Now, will you order it?"

"Ah, I guess."

"Good." Reyna scribbles something on her note and then she skates off.

He faces Annabeth. "I didn't know we're still pretending here."

The blonde just raises her eyebrows. "Reyna goes to go to Goode."

"Oh." He hasn't seen her before. "Why are we here anyway?"

"I need to know how you will do on your first date before going on a double date with Piper and Jason. She pauses and looks at him. "This is your first date, right?"

He blushes at the question. So, he might not be the best guy around the dating department (and probably the only one in their school who is yet to go on a first date) that's why the question makes him extremely embarrassed.

"So that's a yes?" Annabeth asks as she gestures to his blushing face. He nods. "Don't worry, everyone is awkward in their first date."

This catches his attention. "You? Awkward? No way."

She laughs at the disbelieving look on his face. "Yes, I was. Remember 7th grade when I still had my braces? That's how awkward I was."

He grins at the thought. She had really been awkward then, especially around the girls their age who were more flawless and more feminine. Her insecurity is the one thing he's glad she had left.

"Who's your first date?" he asks out of curiosity.

The smile on her face slips a little. She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. You don't need to know who he is."

Something feels off, like she knows he knows the guy, but isn't willing to tell him who. Nevertheless, he respects her privacy. "Okay."

Reyna interrupts them as she brings their order while skating. He doesn't really know how she can manage to do that without spilling anything or bumping into a table at all. If that was him, he'd surely broken a bone or two as soon as he starts. Balancing is really not his thing.

Reyna places the food on their table, including a chocolate smoothie with two straws that he's sure they didn't order.

"Um," Percy begins but interrupted by Reyna's stare.

"It's on the house. Hylla says that it should make things exciting for your date."

Annabeth frowns. "I don't really know how sharing a smoothie will make things exciting, but give Hylla my thanks."

"Sure," Reyna says before skating to another booth.

"You surely have been on this place a lot," Percy comments as he unwraps his burger. "Oh! It really does look like a guinea pig." He looks at her food. "Why does yours look like a Parthenon of fries?"

"What can you do, I love architecture." Annabeth dips a fry into the smoothie and eats it. She grins. "Best trick in the book."

A chuckle bubbles in his throat. Despite all their ridiculous fights, he never ceases to find her amusing. "I think everyone knows that trick."

"What? No."

"Really."

"I'm not believing you."

"Fine. But you should know that you're not the first one to do—ow. Why would you throw a fry at me?"

"Shut up."

"But it's true!"

She throws another fry at him, but this time, he manages to catch it in his mouth. A wide grin splits his face.

"Would you look at that? I have extremely good reflexes," Percy says as chews the fry. He beckons to her. "Throw another one at me."

She throws him another one, and he catches it again. Percy mimics a bow at her like he's a magician who just finished performing his tricks in front of the crowd. "Bet you couldn't do that," he taunts with a smirk.

If he still knows her well, he can perfectly predict what she'll do next. Her thirst for competitiveness is always a blow he'd like to strike whenever the opportunity presents itself. And just as he thought, she sits up straight, her eyes shining with a challenging glint. "I really can."

He raises his eyebrow, disbelieving. "Really?"

"Yes." She inches the fries closer to him. "Try me. "

He throws her one but it just lands on the empty space beside her.

"That was just a warm-up," she explains. "Another."

Percy gives her another and another and another. And she missed every single one. The closest she got to catching it was when it hit her nose and slid down the inside of her shirt.

"Ew," he says.

She just rolls her eyes and sticks her hand inside her shirt to get the fry. An old lady happens to glance at her and looks away, scandalized.

He bends over their table laughing. "Look at what you did to that old woman."

Annabeth's leg delivers a swift kick to his legs. There's a fierce look on her face, but it's betrayed by the chuckle that escapes her mouth. "It's not my fault, you Seaweed Brain!"

The smile on his face grows. "You know, you should be wiser than to rise up to my taunts, Wise Girl."

The bright grin she sends him when she hears that old nickname makes it worth it. "You're crazy," she says.

"Crazy in love with you," Percy retorts with a wink. Annabeth raises one eyebrow at him.

And then he slams his palms on the table. "See?! That's how you flirt! Was I good? Did I earn cookie points? Did I pass the test?"

"That's pathetic," Reyna quips as she cleans the booth next to them.

"First of all, no. Don't ever repeat that to any girl ever again because that sucks. You did not earn cookie points. And you still haven't passed the test." Annabeth sips at smoothie. "Where did you pick that up?"

"A wikihow blog."

"Ah, that's why."

"Listen, wait I've got more." He brings out his phone.

"No more please."

He looks at Annabeth confidently. "Are you a water?"

"Ooh. I want to hear this." Reyna stops cleaning and stands by their booth.

"No. I'm not a water."

"Ask why."

She huffs. "Why?"

"Because you make me wet. Oh, wait—that's wrong! That's not it! Hey! Hey, stop laughing!"

Reyna laughs so hard, she doubles over. Annabeth facepalms, but there's a smile behind her hand.

Percy just groans in mortification.

Ah. So much for a first date.

A/N: Hello! Here's a quick update for now. This is just a filler chapter, as you may have noticed. And just because I can't resist, I hope you noticed that little B99 reference.

Tbh, this should've been up days ago, but I haven't had the time (classes suck!) to type the whole chapter so I had to use a speech to text program.

Hopefully the next chapter won't take too long, but I still doesn't have a draft, so good luck to me. Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter, so leave a review!

Lastly, if you want to see some fanarts or ask me some random questions, feel free to follow me on tumblr at: thisisawesomeness1825

[poorlilbeans]

my fic for day two of sickdays! this is my first time writing for pjo, i hope i did an okay job! also this fic is really dark and deals with attempted suicide so pls be warned

             Percy Jackson was five years old the first time he had a panic attack. That day was the day it really hit home that he was different. It was also the day he learned that the American school system had no place for the mentally ill. In hindsight, he thought, he had been too young then to have to learn that.

           Percy was seven the first time he was expelled. Several things had happened that led up to it; several detentions, several fights, several panic attacks deemed “temper tantrums.” He was almost excited the first time he was expelled. Maybe the next school wouldn’t be so scary, and maybe the words on the chalkboard would be easier to read. The people with grotesque faces and too many limbs and hate in their eyes wouldn’t watch him as he walked home, the other kids wouldn’t kick him in the shins for bouncing his knee and tapping his fingers on his desk. Maybe the next school would be cheerful and colourful like the ones in the movies, and maybe Percy would fit in there.

           Percy was ten when he came to the conclusion he wouldn’t fit in anywhere. Three more schools had gone by, but in his mind they were just three more failures. At ten years old he decided he was an idiot, and he’d be an idiot forever. He’d have to accept that no one could ever love him except for his mother, and that love would only last so long. It was only a matter of time before Gabe’s abuse caught up with her, before she had been through too much and her kind heart would break forever.

           Percy was twelve when he thought, for the first time, that maybe he had a place in the world. It never occurred to him that a friend could last longer than a few weeks… then again; it also never occurred to him that a friend could be half goat, so he supposed his best friend was an anomaly in more ways than one. He wasn’t used to the playful bumps on his shoulder or the affectionate nicknames he received from Grover and Annabeth. He told himself not to get used to it. It was only a matter of time before the bumps were punches, the nicknames were curse words thrown at him with drops of spit from a sharp tongue. Happiness was temporary; that was the way it had always been.  Camp was good. He felt at home there. That was how he knew it was too good to be true.

           Percy was fifteen when he realized how jaded he was. Three years had passed since he had begged himself not to get attached. Now, if he closed his eyes, he could feel Grover’s heartbeat. In his own heart he held tangible evidence that his best friend was alive, was real. Annabeth’s hand was soft in his own, but not soft in the way he’d always imagined a girl’s hand might be. It felt sturdy- Annabeth’s grip strength was insane, even in the gentleness of her holding him, grounding him. Her hands were calloused from years of training for war, and her palms were always just a little bit sweaty, and it somehow made holding her hand even more perfect. Annabeth’s hand, really, wasn’t soft at all, but it made Percy’s chest feel soft, and that feeling was something foreign and beautiful. He wondered if it was something mortals got to feel all the time.

           Percy was sixteen when he tried to kill himself. He was sick of war, sick of hurting, sick of seeing people die, but no, that wasn’t why he did it. Really it had nothing to do with that. He’d heard the turn of phrase before, when people had a tough time they had “been to hell and back.” It made him laugh now; a bitter laugh that fortified the hardness in his chest he’d once felt so elated to lose. Going through hell didn’t make him stronger. It didn’t make him better. It made him torture someone, knowing full well what he was doing and continuing to do it. It showed him how powerful he was. He had the power to stop someone’s hard with the flick of his wrist. He could draw the moisture from someone’s throat until they would suffocate. He could hurt so many people with so little effort. He didn’t deserve to live. He didn’t deserve the glory of winning this war. Not this time. So, when Polybotes filled the sea with poison, a special cocktail catered just to kill one Percy Jackson… he charged. He was ready. The idea of living with the knowledge of what he was made him sick. The effect was immediate and all encompassing. Everything hurt. He vomited harder than he ever had in his life, and the water around him was suddenly tangible, impossible to breathe in. He was drowning. Regret crashed over him like a tidal wave. He was going to die like this, in shame, leaving the others to fight a lost cause. The prophecy called for seven demigods. He was one of the seven, and he blew it.

           Then, he wasn’t dying anymore. Strong arms dragged him to safety, and feeling returned to his body, reminding him of how sick he felt, how his blood felt like carbonated water. He threw up again, because he wasn’t enough of a joke already. He was shameful. When Jason asked him what had happened, Percy told the truth- and Jason, bless him, was too naïve, too sweet to understand the weight of what Percy had tried to do. Percy asked Jason not to tell anyone, and he agreed because he didn’t understand. Thank the gods he didn’t understand.

           Percy remembers that day when he sits with his head between his knees, doing his best to breathe as slowly as Annabeth is. He thinks every day how much stronger than him she is. He remembers it when Annabeth sneaks in his cabin at night, too plagued by nightmares to sleep on her own, how he had almost left her that day. He wonders if suicide would’ve landed him in the fields of punishment. His lungs are damaged forever by the toxic air of Tartarus. He, Annabeth and Nico all have custom inhalers, carefully constructed by the healers of the Apollo cabin. His is blue, Nico’s is black and Annabeth’s is green. Sometimes, after a hard day of training when he needs the inhaler to breathe, he remembers the feeling of the poison filling his lungs. Life is hard, now. He still can’t eat much without vomiting. His stomach has been terribly sensitive ever since the incident and he’s lost weight because of it. Everyone feels bad for him. They don’t know he did this to himself. Still, though, he’s glad he survived. There’s a support group at camp that he attends sometimes. He hasn’t found it in himself to say anything, but listening helps. Everyone is hurting after the war.

           It’s after one of these meetings that he realizes he needs to tell Annabeth. She’s worried about him. His intense bouts of nausea had started way back on the ArgoII, and now his weight is the lowest it’s been in years. She doesn’t know why- all she knows is that it started after Kymopoleia attacked. His heart is pounding as he sits on his bed, welcomes Annabeth to sit in his lap. Keeping this to himself has been so terribly lonely. His mental health has always been a dark side of himself, one that he was desperate to keep hidden. He got better at it over the years, and it was a relief at first- but hiding that part of him has created a greater monster, one that looms and suffocates him. The loneliness is terrifying; it feels endless. He has nightmares about living the rest of his life unable to feel. If he loves Annabeth, he owes it to her to let her love all of him, even the ugly parts… and so, he tells her.

           Telling the truth is easier than he thought. Once he starts the words flow naturally, before he even has time to think about them. Annabeth holds him, buries her face in his hair, and lets him talk. He doesn’t know how long he talks but his voice is sore by the time he runs out of things to say. Annabeth is crying, and Percy realizes, with some surprise, that he is too. He doesn’t feel sad, though, not like he expected to. He feels safe, which is weird. Percy isn’t sure if he’s ever felt safe before. They sit and cry, and Annabeth holds onto him like she’ll die if she lets go. It strikes him that he doesn’t just love her; she loves him, too. Months or years ago that would have been scary to him; he would’ve thought he wasn’t worth loving, or wasn’t safe to love. Now, though, it feels right. Percy knows he isn’t fixed. He knows it’s only a matter of time before his next panic attack. He knows he still has to get through his twelfth grade exams and put up with working a million times harder than the mortal, neurotypical kids. He knows he’ll have nightmares tonight, just like every night. But now he isn’t afraid of the future. Annabeth knows everything that he is, and she’s still here. Now he knows that as much as he’s hurting, he doesn’t have to hurt alone.

[sickdaysofficial]

The Fear of Forever

Sick Days Day Two: Chronic Illness (Percy Jackson)

BIG TRIGGER WARNINGS: I went for mental illness for this one, so… yeah. Implied depression, adhd, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts/attempted suicide, slight mentions of vomit.

            Percy Jackson was five years old the first time he had a panic attack. That day was the day it really hit home that he was different. It was also the day he learned that the American school system had no place for the mentally ill. In hindsight, he thought, he had been too young then to have to learn that.

            Percy was seven the first time he was expelled. Several things had happened that led up to it; several detentions, several fights, several panic attacks deemed “temper tantrums.” He was almost excited the first time he was expelled. Maybe the next school wouldn’t be so scary, and maybe the words on the chalkboard would be easier to read. The people with grotesque faces and too many limbs and hate in their eyes wouldn’t watch him as he walked home, the other kids wouldn’t kick him in the shins for bouncing his knee and tapping his fingers on his desk. Maybe the next school would be cheerful and colourful like the ones in the movies, and maybe Percy would fit in there.

            Percy was ten when he came to the conclusion he wouldn’t fit in anywhere. Three more schools had gone by, but in his mind they were just three more failures. At ten years old he decided he was an idiot, and he’d be an idiot forever. He’d have to accept that no one could ever love him except for his mother, and that love would only last so long. It was only a matter of time before Gabe’s abuse caught up with her, before she had been through too much and her kind heart would break forever.

            Percy was twelve when he thought, for the first time, that maybe he had a place in the world. It never occurred to him that a friend could last longer than a few weeks… then again; it also never occurred to him that a friend could be half goat, so he supposed his best friend was an anomaly in more ways than one. He wasn’t used to the playful bumps on his shoulder or the affectionate nicknames he received from Grover and Annabeth. He told himself not to get used to it. It was only a matter of time before the bumps were punches, the nicknames were curse words thrown at him with drops of spit from a sharp tongue. Happiness was temporary; that was the way it had always been.  Camp was good. He felt at home there. That was how he knew it was too good to be true.

            Percy was fifteen when he realized how jaded he was. Three years had passed since he had begged himself not to get attached. Now, if he closed his eyes, he could feel Grover’s heartbeat. In his own heart he held tangible evidence that his best friend was alive, was real. Annabeth’s hand was soft in his own, but not soft in the way he’d always imagined a girl’s hand might be. It felt sturdy- Annabeth’s grip strength was insane, even in the gentleness of her holding him, grounding him. Her hands were calloused from years of training for war, and her palms were always just a little bit sweaty, and it somehow made holding her hand even more perfect. Annabeth’s hand, really, wasn’t soft at all, but it made Percy’s chest feel soft, and that feeling was something foreign and beautiful. He wondered if it was something mortals got to feel all the time.

            Percy was sixteen when he tried to kill himself. He was sick of war, sick of hurting, sick of seeing people die, but no, that wasn’t why he did it. Really it had nothing to do with that. He’d heard the turn of phrase before, when people had a tough time they had “been to hell and back.” It made him laugh now; a bitter laugh that fortified the hardness in his chest he’d once felt so elated to lose. Going through hell didn’t make him stronger. It didn’t make him better. It made him torture someone, knowing full well what he was doing and continuing to do it. It showed him how powerful he was. He had the power to stop someone’s hard with the flick of his wrist. He could draw the moisture from someone’s throat until they would suffocate. He could hurt so many people with so little effort. He didn’t deserve to live. He didn’t deserve the glory of winning this war. Not this time. So, when Polybotes filled the sea with poison, a special cocktail catered just to kill one Percy Jackson… he charged. He was ready. The idea of living with the knowledge of what he was made him sick. The effect was immediate and all encompassing. Everything hurt. He vomited harder than he ever had in his life, and the water around him was suddenly tangible, impossible to breathe in. He was drowning. Regret crashed over him like a tidal wave. He was going to die like this, in shame, leaving the others to fight a lost cause. The prophecy called for seven demigods. He was one of the seven, and he blew it.

            Then, he wasn’t dying anymore. Strong arms dragged him to safety, and feeling returned to his body, reminding him of how sick he felt, how his blood felt like carbonated water. He threw up again, because he wasn’t enough of a joke already. He was shameful. When Jason asked him what had happened, Percy told the truth- and Jason, bless him, was too naïve, too sweet to understand the weight of what Percy had tried to do. Percy asked Jason not to tell anyone, and he agreed because he didn’t understand. Thank the gods he didn’t understand.

            Percy remembers that day when he sits with his head between his knees, doing his best to breathe as slowly as Annabeth is. He thinks every day how much stronger than him she is. He remembers it when Annabeth sneaks in his cabin at night, too plagued by nightmares to sleep on her own, how he had almost left her that day. He wonders if suicide would’ve landed him in the fields of punishment. His lungs are damaged forever by the toxic air of Tartarus. He, Annabeth and Nico all have custom inhalers, carefully constructed by the healers of the Apollo cabin. His is blue, Nico’s is black and Annabeth’s is green. Sometimes, after a hard day of training when he needs the inhaler to breathe, he remembers the feeling of the poison filling his lungs. Life is hard, now. He still can’t eat much without vomiting. His stomach has been terribly sensitive ever since the incident and he’s lost weight because of it. Everyone feels bad for him. They don’t know he did this to himself. Still, though, he’s glad he survived. There’s a support group at camp that he attends sometimes. He hasn’t found it in himself to say anything, but listening helps. Everyone is hurting after the war.

            It’s after one of these meetings that he realizes he needs to tell Annabeth. She’s worried about him. His intense bouts of nausea had started way back on the ArgoII, and now his weight is the lowest it’s been in years. She doesn’t know why- all she knows is that it started after Kymopoleia attacked. His heart is pounding as he sits on his bed, welcomes Annabeth to sit in his lap. Keeping this to himself has been so terribly lonely. His mental health has always been a dark side of himself, one that he was desperate to keep hidden. He got better at it over the years, and it was a relief at first- but hiding that part of him has created a greater monster, one that looms and suffocates him. The loneliness is terrifying; it feels endless. He has nightmares about living the rest of his life unable to feel. If he loves Annabeth, he owes it to her to let her love all of him, even the ugly parts… and so, he tells her.

            Telling the truth is easier than he thought. Once he starts the words flow naturally, before he even has time to think about them. Annabeth holds him, buries her face in his hair, and lets him talk. He doesn’t know how long he talks but his voice is sore by the time he runs out of things to say. Annabeth is crying, and Percy realizes, with some surprise, that he is too. He doesn’t feel sad, though, not like he expected to. He feels safe, which is weird. Percy isn’t sure if he’s ever felt safe before. They sit and cry, and Annabeth holds onto him like she’ll die if she lets go. It strikes him that he doesn’t just love her; she loves him, too. Months or years ago that would have been scary to him; he would’ve thought he wasn’t worth loving, or wasn’t safe to love. Now, though, it feels right. Percy knows he isn’t fixed. He knows it’s only a matter of time before his next panic attack. He knows he still has to get through his twelfth grade exams and put up with working a million times harder than the mortal, neurotypical kids. He knows he’ll have nightmares tonight, just like every night. But now he isn’t afraid of the future. Annabeth knows everything that he is, and she’s still here. Now he knows that as much as he’s hurting, he doesn’t have to hurt alone.

[readingbooksinisrael]

Books Read in May 2022

r-reread

*-top 3 recommended

Act/Kayla Miller (Click #3) (middle grade realistic fiction graphic novel)-When Olive finds out that their are kids in her class who can’t go on a field trip she decides to fight the unfairness by running for student council, but this might cause a rift in her friendships.

* Batman #501/Doug Moench, Mike Manley, Adrienne Roy (adventure comic)-Jean-Paul has another vision of Saint Dumas. The apparition commands Jean-Paul to cast aside his training as an assassin, and take up a more noble directive: to become a protector and defender of life, and do justice to the name of Batman. This is to be his crusade.

A Big Day for Baseball/Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #28) (children’s fantasy time travel)-When Jack and Annie are nervous about their baseball tryouts Morgan sends them back to Ebbet’s Field on April 15th, 1947: Jackie Robinson’s first Major League game.

* Big Little Lies/Liane Moriarty (adult thriller mystery)-During an school trivia night to raise funds a murder occurs. Six months before that, on the day of school orientation new-to-town Jane befriends school mothers Madeline and Madeline’s best friend Celeste, and makes enemies with another school mother.

r City of Flowers/Mary Hoffman (Stravaganza #3) (young adult time travel alternate universe fantasy)-When Sky wakes up in a monastery in 16th century Florence he thinks he’s dreaming, but he soon discovers that he’s in an alternate 16th cent Florence where dangerous plots are being woven tighter and tighter every day...

Clash/Kayla Miller (Click #4) (middle grade realistic fiction graphic novel)-A new girl comes to Olive’s school. Olive wants to make friends with her, but the new girl seems to want to make friends with anybody but Olive.

The Darkness Outside Us/Eliot Schrefer (ya/new adult sci fi)-Five years ago Minevera Cusk was sent to settle Saturn’s moon, Titan. The day she landed her camp went dark. Three years ago a distress signal was sent out from her camp. Now, her brother, Ambrose, is sent to save her. Only, he wakes up on his ship with no memory of the launch and a strange new door that was not on the ship’s plans.

The Demigod Files/Rick Riordan, illustrated by Steve Jones and Antonio Caparo (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4.5) (short story and companion middle grade anthology)-Three new stories starring Percy, Annabeth, Clarisse, Nico and Thalia, along with two word games, an illustration of Annabeth’s suitcase, pictures of some of the gods and heroes, and a letter from Rick Riordan.

The Easy Life in Kamusari (Forest #1)/Shion Miura (adult slice of life)-Yuki was kicked out of his home in Yokohama and sent to an out-of-the-world mountain village to learn forestry. At first all he wants to do is leave but as the seasons change he becomes more and more a forester and mountain man.

r Eric/Terry Pratchett (Discworld #9) (adult humorous fantasy)-Eric finally summons his first demon. Unfortunately, the doors were open the wrong way and he gets Rincewind, the failing wizzard, instead. 

Henry and Ribsy/Beverly Cleary (Henry Huggins #3) (middle grade 1950s realistic fiction)--Henry’s father told him that if he keeps his dog, Ribsy, from getting into trouble he can go fishing with him. It’s all easier said than done...

High Tide in Hawaii/Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House #28) (children’s fantasy time travel)-The Magic Tree House is back with the final clue before Jack and Annie become magicians. They need to find a ship. They’re whisked off to pre-New World Hawaii where they encounter a tsunami.

Life on the Line: Young Doctors Come of Age in a Pandemic/Emma Goldberg (adult non-fiction)-When the coronavirus hit NYC medical students in their final year were given the option to graduate early and serve in the corona wards. This book follows six of the doctors who chose to do so.

Otis Spofford/Beverly Cleary (Ellen Tebbits #2) (children’s 1950s realistic fiction)-There was nothing Otis Spofford liked better than stirring up a little excitement, but when he goes too far will he get his comeuppance?

r * We Are the Ants/Shaun David Hutchinson (ya magical realism contemporary)-Henry knows that his mom is struggling to keep the family together and coping by chain-smoking cigarettes. He knows that is older brother is a college dropout, that he is slowly losing his grandmother to Alzheimer’s and that his boyfriend resorted to suicide. What he doesn’t know is why aliens started abducting and returning his when he was thirteen, or why they have given him the choice to save the world by pressing a button. What he doesn’t know is if he’ll press it.

[save-the-cronch]

Demigod AU

this actually sucks

I really hate it

and I’m sorry

Running had always been one of Connor’s favorite pass times. However, lately Connor realized that running from harm is much less exhilarating. Why was Connor running exactly? Well, recently Connor had found out why his dad had always seemed to resent him so much. It turns out that Connor’s dad, Larry was tricked by a Greek Goddess into thinking that she was his wife. Then, nine months later, Larry found Connor on his doorstep. Larry wanted to toss Connor, his new born baby, into an orphanage. Cynthia, however, begged to keep Connor. She knew that Connor wasn’t hers, but Larry had already told Cynthia what had happened. She wanted to raise Connor as her own, and she hates the thought of her husband just abandoning his child.

Connor still doesn’t know who his mother is. He’s not even sure he wants to know. All he knows about her is that she’s a Greek Goddess, and she can make herself look like his mom. Step mom? Connor isn’t sure anymore.

Currently, Connor was running from a serpent like animal. Thankfully, Connor wasn’t alone. He was with two other people, both students from his grade, both people he could tolerate. One of them was a boy named Evan Hansen, he seemed to be very anxious about a lot of things. Connor always saw him eating lunch under a big oak tree at their school. The other, was a girl named Alana Beck, she had gone to school with Connor and Evan since seventh grade, extremely smart. Alana had apparently been sent to watch over them during the school year. She told them that she was a daughter of Athena, no shock there, and was suppose to take them to some sort of camp if anything bad happened. Well, three days ago, a cyclops had stumbled upon their town, and nearly destroyed the mall, which Connor, Evan, and Alana all happened to be in. Connor was picking his sister up from a movie, Evan was working, and Alana was at the movie with Zoe, Connor’s sister. Alana instantly sprung into action, she had a dagger hidden in the soles of each shoe. Luckily the cyclops was a baby, and Alana was able to kill it with only getting a few scratches and a sprained wrist. Evan had been worried, but Alana stated that nectar and ambrosia would fix that. Connor had never heard of such medicine, and it turns out they weren’t medicine. Nectar was a drink, and ambrosia looked a lot like lemon bars.

“Gods! If we could just stop running, I could grab my daggers and kill the bitch!” Alana yells. Connor has also learned that Alana doesn’t swear, unless she’s angry or in combat mode. “Boys, cover for me, I need my fucking daggers.”

Evan and Connor both halt and stare at each other, watching as the serpent closes in on them. Evan seems to get an idea, as he closes his eyes, and screws up his face. Connor watches in awe as a nearby tree’s branches extend and wrap around the serpent. The animal thrashes and snaps at the branch. Alana then looks up, and is glad to see that one of the boys has a power, and a handy one at that. Alana believes she’s with a son of Demeter, but you can never be sure until you’re claimed.

Alana leaped forward and dug one dagger into the beast’s chest, and the other in the head. The serpent thrashes once more, then slumps. Two seconds later, Alana is covered in golden monster dust, and Connor is clapping. “Well done you two, glad to know I don’t have to run anymore, how much longer until we get to this camp place?”

“After three days of buses and walking, Camp Half-Blood is about a thirty minute hike from here. Once we’re there, we’re safe. Come on, just cause the serpent is gone, doesn’t mean we can’t still get attacked.” Alana places the daggers back into her shoes, and continues to walk.

“Y-you mean we, uh, we can st-still get attacked?” Evan stutters out, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. At the beginning of all this, Evan had had a cast. Alana had given him ambrosia and nectar, and then cut the cast clean off with her blades. Evan had said his arm had never felt better.

“When a demigod is not in Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter, they’re never one hundred percent safe,” Alana informs the two boys that were walking behind her.

“What’s Camp Jupiter?” Connor asks.

“The Roman demigod camp, we’re going to the greek camp. We’ve found away to know if you’re Roman or Greek, and recently we found a way to know if your parent is from a different god.”

“Wait, there’s more than just the Greeks? Are you kidding?” Connor  is shocked, but also a bit confused. So if there are multiple sea gods, do they like each live in a certain area, or do they switch out from time to time?

“Yes, there is Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, and probably many more, but those are the ones that we know about.”

“We, a-as in C-camp Half-Bl-blood?”

Alana nods her head in clarification. “A couple years ago, a demigod named Percy Jackson got the Greek and Roman gods to promise that they will claim any of their kids when they walk into camp, and so, if none of the gods claim a kid, Hermes comes in and is able to recognize which set of gods the kids godly parent is from. Because of this, the Hermes cabin isn’t over populated anymore, which his children greatly appreciate.”

They walk along in silence after that, Alana leading the way, and Evan and Connor take in the new information.

Ten minutes later, they arrive next to a giant pine tree, with a golden fleece on a branch, and a dragon sleeping at the base. Once the trio is next to the tree, the dragon springs up, snorting at us. Once it sees Alana, the dragon smiles, or does the closest thing to a smile a dragon can do, and lays back down to sleep.

The three march forward, and at the top of the hill, Connor and Evan stop, staring down at the field below.

In the middle, there were a bunch of cabins, all seemed to be designed differently. One was blue, no windows except for the wall facing the lake, one was red with barbed wire everywhere. One of them was glowing in the sun. Two of them were pitch black, the main differences would be that one had what seemed to be a wheel above the door, and the other was surrounded by dead grass. Connor noticed that Evan kept staring at the green one with a garden on the roof.

There also seemed to be a rock wall with lava rocks falling from the top. There was a stable and two girls were grooming a horse with wings. There was an arena, where sounds of metal on metal could be heard. There was so much to look at, Connor wasn’t sure what he liked most.

“Come on, I gotta bring you to the Big House so I can then checkin with Annabeth. She’s my sister, and head councilor.” Alana begins to walk down the hill, waving for the two boys to follow. Alana leads them down the hill to a big blue building, where a man drinking a Pepsi is playing a game with another man in a wheel chair.

“Chiron, Mr. D, I have the two demigods I was sent to look after,” Alana informs the two men, as she walks up the steps to the building.

“Ah, Ainsley, well done,” The man with the Pepsi says. The other man in a wheel chair smiles kindly, and moves his hands on top of therm rests, and pushes himself. Connor and Evan watch in shock and amazement as the man’s lower body turns into that of a horses.

“Thank you, Alana,” The horse man says, “Will you please go and find Will Solace, he was assigned for the camp introduction for these two.”

Alana nods, and runs inside the blue building.

“I’m Chiron, and this is Mr. D, more commonly known as Dionysus, we are your camp directors.”

“W-wait, Chiron? And Di-dionysus? L-like the centaur trainer Ch-chiron, and the g-god of wi-wine Dionysus?” Evan asks, amazed. Connor is more amazed by the fact Evan knows this stuff.

Chiron smiles, “Yes, that would be us.”

Mr. D grumbles from his chair, sipping his Pepsi.

“Now, which one of you is Connor, and which one is Evan?” Chiron asks, placing his hands on his hips.

“I’m Connor, that’s Evan.” Connor jabs his finger towards Evan, and leans up against the Blue Building’s porch.

“Are these the new campers Chiron?” Another boy emerges from the Blue Building, Alana behind him. He has a mop of curly blond hair, and hundreds of freckles scattered across his face. He has a surfer’s tan, and bright blue eyes. He’s wearing an orange shirt that says ‘Camp Half-Blood’, khaki pants, and blue flip-flops, with a doctors coat over his clothes, and a stethoscope around his neck. His neck also holds a necklace with beads of different designs on it. “I’m Will Solace, head counselor for the Apollo Cabin, and head of the infirmary.”

“I’m Connor Murphy.” Connor ignores Will’s out stretched hand.

“I-I’m Evan Ha-hansen.” Evan shakes Will’s hand, not looking away from the ground.

“Alright, I’ll show you around camp, then I’ll show you the video. Where we are right now is the Big House, it’s where the counselors have meetings, where we put quest artifacts, where the infirmary is, and where Mr. D and Chiron live” Will continues to show them around everywhere, having done this a few times. While walking around camp, Will introduced Evan and Connor to a few people. The first person they saw was someone named  Leo Valdez, he was carrying a lot of metal. Apparently he is a son of Hephaestus. Then they met Annabeth and Percy, Annabeth is a daughter of Athena, and her boyfriend, Percy, is the son of Poseidon. They then ran into Connor and Travis Stoll and Katie and Miranda Gardner. The Stolls are sons of Hermes, and the Gardeners are daughters of Demeter. Finally, they met Nico Di Angelo. He’s the son of Hades, and Will’s boyfriend. Nico accompanied them to the camp intro video.

After they were done with watching the video, Will takes them to the pavilion for dinner. Pretty much the whole camp is there already. Once we pass the front entrance, a the grass at the base of the steps spring up and wrap themselves around Evan’s legs. Then a glowing symbol appeared above his head, as if a glowing vine was growing from his head. Everyone looked up at Evan, and Katie Gardner from earlier, run up to the boys.

“Oh good, you defiantly seemed like a Demeter kid, come on you can sit with us.” With that, Katie grabbed a frightened Evan by his wrist and dragged him to his new siblings. Connor sighs, he was alone again. He continued on to the food line, and once he was about to dump some of my food into the fire as Alana just told him to, some sort of sacrifice for the Gods or whatever, a sudden warm feeling over came him, and he looks up to see a broken wheel glowing darkly above him.

“Awesome, welcome to the Nemesis cabin.” Those words were spoken by a kid with ear length dark brown hair, he was leaning on his table and staring at Connor. “well, come on, you’ve got some new siblings to mingle with.” The kid beckons Connor over. Once Connor is done at the fire, he waltz over to his new ‘siblings.’

Through out the entire meal, they try to talk to Connor, but he mainly ignores it. Instead he decides to stare at the Demeter table where Evan actually seems to be getting along with his siblings. Connor wishes he wasn’t so closed off. But hey, what is he gonna do?

For the rest of the summer, Connor, Evan, and Alana all stay at Camp Half Blood. Evan and Connor both adjusted rather quickly. Connor learns he’s happier without is dad around, and Evan figures out that his siblings are really calming and caring. They both learn that they defiantly love it at camp. Connor wants to stay year round, his father makes him come back for school. Evan doesn’t mind going back home for school, he misses his mom to much while he’s gone. But now, because of camp he has two new friends at school, and many new friends at camp.

For once in their lives, both boys are very happy.

Ugh, I’m a horrible writer and I wish this had a different ending.

[nocturnityy]

Serendipity

A Percabeth fanfiction based on this prompt from @stars-above-luna​

Check it out on fanfiction.net too! –> click here!

Annabeth had been so excited when she’d first entered Bianca’s, a quaint little Italian restaurant near her house. It was her first date in a while. Lately, she’d been doing a lot of extra credit work. It was worth it, but it had cost her sleep and left little time just for her. Then, Matt, a new kid had asked her out. He had floppy brown hair and olive skin. His cheeks were dotted with freckles. He’d moved to New York a few weeks ago and she didn’t really know much about him. So, left without a single reason to say no, she had said yes. Annabeth remembered how Matt had asked if she knew any good places near by. And so she’d recommended Bianca’s. Annabeth had a friend who owned the place and she knew that the service was great, despite not actually having been there many times. Annabeth had given well-researched directions to from bianca’s to Matt. She texted it to him several times as well to appease her anxiety.

Then the night came. She’d picked out a silvery grey blouse that shined like moonlight. It was her favorite, one of the few gifts she’d gotten from her distant mother, Athena. A strange one, too, considering the rest were mostly books and a few other hard-to-find antiques. But it had brought her nothing but good luck since her mother had given it to her. Annabeth wasn’t exactly a big fan of superstition, but it couldn’t exactly hurt, could it? Under it, she chose to wear a purple pleated skirt along with dark grey tights and a pair of indigo flats. She wore the same owl stud earrings she always did and skipped makeup entirely. She could sketch the Eiffel Tower easily from memory but she was hopeless with makeup. Oh, how the Fates must hate me, Annabeth would sometimes think to herself sarcastically.

She ignored her stepmother in the kitchen playing with her two half brothers, they’d had a fight recently and things were a bit tense between them. Instead, she went straight to her father. After saying goodbye, she’d Uber’d to Bianca’s and arrived at 7 on the dot, exactly when they planned to meet, though Matt didn’t seem to have arrived yet. After being led to her reservation by the maitre d’, she set her bag down and looked out the window, maybe Matt was close.

After maybe 5 minutes, she’d given up on looking. The waitress, a short girl maybe a few years older than Annabeth, had come by once already, asking from behind her dark locks of hair if Annabeth was ready, but he wasn’t here yet so she had asked for a few more minutes. Matt was late, but surely he’d be there any second, right?

To pass the time while she waited for Matt, Annabeth decided to look over the restaurant more thoroughly. She hadn’t been there in several months and they’d obviously done a bit of renovation since the last time Annabeth had been there. Some things were the same. The wallpaper, for example, hadn’t changed at all. In fact, it looked as pristine as the day she had first seen it, several years ago. The tables, on the other hand, were decidedly new. Before, they’d been small tables with square linoleum surfaces. Now though, the tables were some kind of antique wood with white linen tablecloth on top that added to the restaurant’s charm. Overall the space felt much more spread out, too.

A voice interrupted her thoughts and Annabeth looked up to see the waitress with dark hair at her table once more.

“Are you ready to order yet?” She asked patiently.

Annabeth winced. This was the fourth time she had asked and Annabeth was no more ready than she had been 20 minutes ago. “Oh, um, could I just have a few more minutes, please?” Annabeth asked.

The waitress sent her a pitying glance but nodded politely before turning away and walking off to serve another customer. Annabeth’s heart plunged. It seemed everyone in the restaurant was aware that her date had stood her up. The apologetic glances only served to make her feel worse and even Annabeth was beginning to doubt that Matt was ever going to arrive.

Annabeth glanced up at the small clock on the wall. 7:28, it read. Matt was nearly 30 minutes late, or at least he would be if he had even planned to show up at all. Annabeth felt like crying. Five more minutes, she decided. Five minutes, and if Matt still hadn’t shown up after the five minutes were up, then… then- then she’d leave, her silver blouse having brought her nothing but bad luck for once.

Annabeth waited then. The pitying stares had only gotten worse. Every few minutes she would hear a “poor girl” or something similar echoing around the restaurant. She wanted nothing more than stand up and say that she didn’t want their pity. But she couldn’t do that, no, the last thing she wanted was to cause an even bigger scene than the one already unfolding at the moment.

Annabeth counted down the seconds in her head, trying not to let the tears that had already begun to well up in her eyes fall. 30 seconds left. 20. Ten.

Then, just as she was nearing 0. Someone new entered the restaurant. Annabeth wouldn’t have paid attention to such a thing, but he was heading towards her. He looked 17, her age, with inky black hair and sea green eyes. He wore Khakis and a sweatshirt with the words “Goode Swim Team 2016” on it, as if he’d tried to look nice but had given up halfway through. He strode towards her table with confidence. She had never seen him before in her life, but that didn’t stop him from striding over to her and sitting down at her table opposite of her.

Loudly, he said, “Sorry I’m so late, babe, traffic is crazy right now.” He smiled earnestly at her but her only response was confusion. But the stares had backed off. No longer did she feel like she was choking under their gazes. She felt a million times better. Though, she couldn’t help but stare at the boy in front of her, a question in her eyes.

“I’m Percy,” he whispered to her, “just go with it, okay? Whoever didn’t bother to show up is a dick.”

Annabeth could hear her heart beating in her chest. This stranger had covered for her, prevented the embarrassment that no doubt would have occurred at this very moment had he not shown up, had she been forced to leave, tears threatening to fall because Matt had stood her up. But that hadn’t happened, and she would be forever grateful. Of course she would “go with it” because he was being sweet and trying to save her.

At that moment, though, before Annabeth even had the chance to introduce herself, their waitress returned, smiling brightly. “Ready to order?”

“Oh, I think so,” Percy said, but he hadn’t touched the menu in front of him. “I’ll have one Chicken Alfredo, you have that, right?” She nodded. “Oh, and a cherry coke please.” The waitress wrote it down and then turned her head to Annabeth. 

“And you?” She asked.

“I’ll have water, and the Spaghetti Marinara, no meatballs, please,” Annabeth said easily, she had studied the menu several times over while waiting for her douche of a date, Matt. She could probably recite it from memory by now.

“Alright,” the waitress said, “should be ready soon.”

As soon as she was out of hearing range, Annabeth introduced herself. “I’m Annabeth, thanks for the save.” She smiled gratefully.

“Hey, no problem,” Percy responded, “My apartment is right across the street and I noticed you sitting here. I had to do something.“

"Well,” Annabeth said, “aren’t you a hero.”

Percy rubbed the back of his head, “I guess, my best friend Grover says that I have a saving-people thing.”

Annabeth tried to stifle her laughs. “Like Harry Potter?”

Percy grinned. “Exactly like Harry Potter.”

“So,” Annabeth said,“ tell me about yourself. Let’s make this a fake date to remember. You’re in high school right? You look my age, at least.”

Percy raised his eyebrows teasingly. “Yeah? Okay, well, my name is Percy,” his cheeks reddened, “um, as you already know. And yeah, I’m in highschool, I’m a Junior. You?”

“Oh, I’m a Junior, too.” Annabeth didn’t really know what to say next, though. The silence continued on for a few more seconds and only seemed to get more awkward. Trying to break through the ice, she asked, “You come here often? Since you live so close.”

“Not really, but my friend Nico hangs out here often so sometimes I peek in to see if he’s here. His sister owns the place.”

“Oh, really? I guess I’m friends with his sister, then. Bianca, right? We met a couple of years ago.” Annabeth said.

“Really? Cool, well look how much we already have in common, then.” Percy grinned, flashing pearly white teeth at her.

“Yeah,” Annabeth agreed, “guess so. How long have you lived in New York?”

“My entire life, though, I still seem to get lost every so often.”

“Huh, well that’s another thing we have in common then. Getting lost, I mean. I used to live in San Francisco, but I moved here in 9th grade. Even with getting lost, though, you must know a whole bunch of shortcuts, wanna regale me with them?”

Percy smiled, he seemed to be quite talented at that, “I’d love to, but first, I think our food’s here.”

Annabeth turned, and sure enough, Percy was right. Their food was here. Percy’s Chicken Alfredo looked delicious while Annabeth’s Spaghetti Marinara seemed to glow in the soft lighting of the restaurant. As they ate their food, they continued to make small talk. Laughing every so often and smiling at what they had in common and what they didn’t. Eventually though, the clock ticked nine o'clock and Annabeth knew that she had to go home soon, her father had asked her to be home before 9:30 so she wanted leave in the next few minutes.

“I had a wonderful time, Percy, but I should really be leaving soon.” Annabeth said.

“Me too,” Percy agreed. “If I stay out too late, no doubt my mom will think I’ve gotten into trouble. She’s really paranoid about that sort of stuff. But, um, Annabeth?” He sounded unsure.

“Yeah?”

“I had a great night with you, and I was kind of wondering if maybe you’d like to go on another date? Like, with me?”

Annabeth grinned. “I’d love to.”

Percy, who had been fumbling with his hoodie’s drawstring, lit up like a Christmas tree. “Great! How about, um here, I guess? Next Friday!” Percy pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket as if he had been waiting for this moment. He pressed the paper into the palm of her hand. “My phone number,” he explained. Then he backed a few feet away from her, said goodbye, and crossed the street to his apartment.

Annabeth smiled as she watched him go. Maybe, despite the disaster that was Matt not showing up, her silver blouse was lucky after all. It had brought Percy into her life, hadn’t it? She couldn’t wait for next Friday.