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As I listened to Annabeth, I felt a weird sensation in my stomach.
It felt like this feeling to protect. Why, I'm not sure. I listened to the last sentence she said and I thought.
I thought about Grover and Tyson and my mom. I thought about last summer, about the train ride where Annabeth opened up to me. I thought about this last year, no contact with Annabeth. The picture I had.
I took a deep breath and I said, “Let’s go do the impossible.”
I stuck out my hand and she took it.
What we didn’t know was that the boat was about to rock.
As she got up and I felt her hand in mine the boat shifted in my direction. I accidentally pulled too hard and her hands landed on my chest and my hands ended up, I don’t know how, at her waist.
“Oh um,” I said nervously then mentally kicked myself over.
“It’s fine let’s just get to bed.” Annabeth basically jumped off me and brushed herself off because there had to be something on her.
“Oh yeah let’s um go.” My voice cracked so I genuinely want to jump off a building. Annabeth’s lips curved up and I took that as a good sign.
(Don't ask why I was staring at her lips)
As we headed to our “beds” we walked in silence.
When we got there we looked at each other, and I smiled. “It’s gonna be okay, I promise,” I said hoping to get a smile out of her.
She half smiled (still a win) and said “Yeah I know, let’s get to bed seaweed brain.”
I was smiling as I said, “Whatever you say wise girl.”
It was morning at least I thought it was. I heard Tyson stir, I lifted my head to see not only Tyson stretching but Annabeth sleeping.
I looked at her face, so peaceful compared to her normal face.
My eyes went across her hairline seeing her braids for a reason I don't know but I loved.
Then my eyes went to her eyelashes resting on her cheeks, so long and so dark.
Then finally my eyes went to her lips. The cupids' bow and the natural pink tint. The fullness of them the way the bottom lip was a little bigger than the top. The way I suddenly wanted mine on hers.
Okay woah. Full stop. Let's hold on a second.
Did I just think that? Oh my gods.
My insane train of thought was broken when Tyson started speaking.
“Why were you staring at her?” He asked in a confused voice.
“I wasn’t!” I explained.
Unfortunately, my voice was too loud, Annabeth stirred. I watched as she scowled even before she opened her eyes.
“Did you just wake me up by yelling?” Her voice was deadly.
“Um no?” I tried to lie but she opened her eyes and her brown eyes bore into mine and it felt like I was compelled to tell her the truth.
“Yeah, I did” I started to talk really fast “but I didn't mean to, and I would really appreciate it if I could stay alive and” I caught my breath then continued “It's time to wake up anyway! But I'm sorry.” I exhaled a long exhale.
“Percy it's fine just don't let it happen again.” She said that last part in a whisper so I genuinely started planning my funeral.
Tyson was silent during the entire interaction with Annabeth and I had.
“Do you always look at Annabeth like that?” He asked me.
“Like what?!?” my voice echoed “I was only looking at her because I was talking to her no other reason!”
Annabeth looked at me with a weird expression on her face. “Let's get ready, okay?” She said while looking anywhere else but at me.
“Yeah let’s go” I said trying to change the subject.