Chapter Text
Annabeth wore a gray top that complimented her eyes. She slipped on a jean jacket to match her denim shorts. She didn’t bother with trying to brush out her curly hair, and instead just tied it back into a messy ponytail. The dare was to go out with Percy, not to impress him.
Piper picked her up on the way back from her fencing class.
“Chase, you could’ve put a little effort in.”
“Suck it up,” Annabeth muttered.
“Fine. This’ll be fun to watch.”
When they got to her house, Percy pulled up in his car with Leo at the same time. He was wearing a hoodie with his swim team’s logo on it and baggy jeans. His black hair was swept to the side, as usual. He had an unbearable cocky grin plastered on his face.
“Hey, Annie!” He started.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Noted. Let’s head inside, Annie.”
She rubbed her temple and hopped up the steps to the door.
“Ladies first,” she smiled pleasantly as she held open the door.
“Thanks, you’re such a gentleman.” Percy replied.
Piper, being Piper, blasted Good Luck Babe through Bluetooth to get the party started. Hazel brought snacks, Frank brought pizza, and Jason, being Jason, brought board games. That no one played the whole time.
“Do you want a drink?” Percy asked.
“No thanks,” Annabeth faced the wall away from him. Piper shot her a glance from across the room.
“Fine. Can you get me a cup of doctor pepper, honey?”
He snorted, “sure. Why not doctor salt, though?”
“It’s impressive how bad that joke was.”
“Thank you, I think.”
“You're welcome, I think.”
Percy came back with their drinks. A beat of silence passed.
“So, you didn’t have anyone else to come with to this thing?” Percy mused.
“Nope,” Annabeth smacked her lips.
“I thought you and Luke were together?”
“Castellan? God no, he’s like my brother. And what about you, weren’t you dating Rachel Dare?”
“She dumped me. We’re still friends, though.”
“I would say ‘her loss’, but saying ‘she’s so real’ sounds more fun.”
“Ha-ha. If we’re gonna talk about romantic failures, don’t pretend like you don’t have a crush on Piper.”
“Shut up,” Annabeth shoved his shoulder.
“Whatever you say, Annie.”
“Really? It seems like you’re still talking.”
He grinned. That stupid, unbearable, cocky grin.
It was kind of cute.
“Ok, how about we both say something we’ve never told anyone before?” Percy said.
“Wow, you’re real fun at parties.”
“I know right!”
A smile tugged at Annabeth’s lips.
“I’m… afraid of spiders.”
Percy was surprised.
“You don’t strike me as the arachnophobic type.”
“You just googled that word, didn’t you?”
He stuffed his phone into his pocket.
“Whatever, Annie.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Sure, Annie. My turn. My… full name is Perseus.”
Annabeth choked on her drink. Percy was about to
ask if she was okay, then saw that it was because she was laughing.
“Perseus? That makes you sound like you’re from Ancient Greece. Next thing you know my name is actually Athena.”
“It’s not that funny.”
“Sure, Perseus.”
“How about we play another game?”
“Fine.”
“Here, let me tell you a riddle.”
“Shoot.”
“You enter a classroom. There are twenty students. Ten leave. How many are left?”
“Ten.”
“Nope.”
“What? Why not?”
“It’s eleven. Since you’re in the classroom, too.”
“But you said twenty students. For all we know, in this hypothetical situation, I’m not a student. I could be a teacher, a visitor, or a janitor.”
“Ok, well, um. That’s just stupid.”
“The riddle was stupid.”
“Your moms stupid.”
“Clever.”
“Says Miss Wise Girl herself.”
“At least I didn’t have to look up the word for a phobia of spiders.”
“Touché.”
“I’m surprised you actually know what touché means.”
They went back and forth like this for the next ten minutes.
When Annabeth finally got sick of laughing too hard, she found Piper in the crowd dancing with her girlfriend. Once she was done, Piper hung out by the counter, out of breath. Annabeth leaned against the counter with her.
“You know, I’m actually kind of glad you dared me to ask Percy out. He’s… interesting, I guess is the word for it.”
She thought Piper would look smug or happy, but instead she looked upset. It was a look of pity.
“What? I admitted it! Percy Jackson is actually making me happy. Who would’ve thought?” She grinned.
“Oh, Chase. I’m sorry. Leo told me he only agreed to the date because of a bet.”
Annabeth frowned. Why did she feel hurt, when it was a pretend date on her part too?
“It’s fine,” she joked, “we’re both just messing around. What’s the harm?”
“If you say so,” Piper took a sip from her plastic cup.
“Hey, I’m gonna get some air.” Annabeth headed for the door.
She stumbled down the steps onto the sidewalk and sat miserably. Was Percy even having fun, or was he just pretending to for a bet?
And of course, speak of the devil, footsteps came from behind.
Out of the front door came waltzing, the most annoying fucking person ever.
When Leo told him that Annabeth had only asked him out on a dare, Percy thought he was just messing with him. It wasn’t a funny joke, considering he was actually upset.
For some reason, which he didn’t really understand yet.
He saw Annabeth heading out the door, looking down. With scrunched eyebrows, he followed her out.
“Annabeth!”
“What, no nicknames?”
“What’s the point? Those were probably just you faking, right?”
“And all the laughing you were doing along with me? Don’t pretend like those were real!”
They both continued to yell at each other beneath the moonlight. How romantic, Percy thought.
“Be honest. Did you ask me out on a dare?”
“You be honest. Did you agree because of a bet? Hope you at least got the money.”
“I asked you first.”
“That doesn’t mean anything!”
“Does too!”
“Does not!”
“Does too!”
“Does not!”
“Okay, we’re not doing this again! Answer the question!”
“Fine! Yeah, I asked you out on a dare, Percy. Did you ask me out on a bet?”
“Yeah!”
“Then if we were both assholes, why are we screaming at each other?”
“I don’t really know!”
“Ok!” Annabeth panted furiously.
A cricket chirped.
“Just kiss already.” Leo called from the open window of Piper’s house.
“Shut up!” Both of them shouted back in sync.
Percy looked down and sighed.
“Look, Annabeth, I’m sorry for asking you out on a bet.”
She didn’t respond.
“Well? Are you gonna apologize back?”
“No.”
“Huh? And why the hell not?”
She pulled his hoodie collar toward her face and kissed him.
“Why would I apologize for asking out a guy I like? That’s pretty normal, if you ask me.”
He looked dumbfounded at first, then kissed her back.
“Smartass response, Annie.”