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Annabeth sighed. Another poster hanging promoting the school's worst tradition.
Prom.
If she had to witness one more stupid promposal that includes roses, big stupid signs with big text, or cheesy music, Annabeth is going to scream. She pulls it down and scrunched it in her hands.
"What did that poor poster do to you?" She jumped as Grover appeared beside her, unlocking his locker. She huffed, throwing it in the closest bin before going to her own locker. "Nothing."
She scowled, flinging her locker door open. Grover watched her, smirking at her furrowed brows. "Ah, I know what's happening here." He turns his head back to look into his locker, pretending to grab something while he senses Annabeth's curiosity. "What?"
He smiles, keeping his eyes off her. "Percy hasn't asked you to prom yet."
Annabeth's eyes widened, her head whipping round to glare up at Grover. "What? What are you talking about, Grover? Why would Percy do that?" While her words were strong, her tone gave away how much Grover might have read her like a book.
"Come on, Annabeth, just admit it." He sighed, looking down at her. He could see the flush growing on her face. "You love Percy, and Percy loves you." She goes to argue, but is interrupted by someone running towards them, panting while ripping his backpack off.
"Percy, what the hell?" Grover questioned as Percy unlocked his locker. swiping all of the textbooks into the bag. "I woke up late, and now I have Mrs. Lawson. She said she'd give me a month's detention if I were late to chemistry one more time."
Annabeth laughs, rolling her eyes. "Good luck, Seaweed Brain. The class starts in 3 minutes." Percy looks up at her from where he's kneeling on the floor. "Honestly, no faith in me, Wise Girl."
His blue eyes looked particularly beautiful in this harsh school light Annabeth thought.
She sighed, grabbing the textbook he'd forgotten. His chemistry textbook. He gave her a tight-lipped smile, taking it from her. She watched him zip his bag and stand to his full height, which always took her breath away.
"Thanks, I'll see you two at lunch." He swerved past her, tapping her head as he walked past. "Enjoy detention!" She called after him. He flipped her off, making her giggle.
Grover huffs out a laugh. Only Percy Jackson could make Annabeth Chase giggle.
"That's what I'm talking about, Annabeth." The smile that was plastered to her face, which only Percy was able to create, was loud. "How do you not see it?" Grover shrugged, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. "Or maybe you do, but you don't want to admit it." Following this, he pats the side of her arm and heads to class.
Annabeth stands there, her brain racking through all the information she'd just taken in.
Grover has a problem with sneaking up on people; he has crazy ideas about her feelings towards Percy, Percy needs a new alarm clock, his eyes look beautiful in the lights of the corridor, and Grover can see right through her.
A lot of new information. Some good, some very good, and some very, very bad.
The cafeteria was buzzing with life. Students filling the space with loud chatter, mediocre food, and a certain giddy feeling in the air that was pissing Annabeth off.
"I can't believe how many people are taking this whole promposal thing seriously. The other day, someone hired the whole marching band to play a stupid song from some stupid movie." She stabbed her potatoes while Grover and Percy looked at the girl in amusement and slight fear. "It was from Ten Things I Hate About You. It's a classic." Grover argued.
Annabeth looked up with a bored expression. "It's stupid. That's what it is." She returned her assault to her lunch.
Percy smirked, pushing a carrot around on his plate. "Jennifer Jones asked me to the prom yesterday." He announces as if it's a casual thing. Annabeth's fork drops.
"What? Jennifer Jones asked you to the prom?" Her eyes were as wide as saucers. Percy challenged her gaze with his own. "Yeah, after Math." Annabeth was not a fan of his nonchalant tone. Or his cute smirk.
She stared, waiting for him to continue, explain himself. Instead, he looked at her with nothing but that smirk. "And?" She pushed. "And what?" She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "And, what did you say?" Percy laughed, taking a bite out of his lunch, purposely making her wait for his answer. She couldn't tear her eyes away. She needed an answer.
"I said no." The feeling of relief that fills Annabeth is embarrassingly strong. She nodded, looking back down at her plate. Grover looked between the two of them. This song and dance they've been playing for years was really starting to boil over. And it was driving Grover insane.
"Hey Annie!" Sarah Green, a girl in her debate club, greets her. Annabeth smiles, setting up her cue cards for today's debate. "Have you bought your prom dress yet?" Annabeth had to fight to hide her eye roll. "Uh, no, not yet." Sarah sighs, a sort of dreamy sigh that always leads to some retelling of something that happened to her between the last time she saw her and now.
"Mickey asked me last night. He did the thing from Say Anything." She said as if it were common knowledge. "Say Anything?" Sarah smiled, clearly just waiting for someone to ask.
"He stood outside my room with a speaker playing my favourite song. And then asked me when I opened the window." Annabeth raised her eyebrows.
"Wow, that's actually pretty sweet." She surprised herself with her response. Sarah nodded in excitement. And it was in this moment that Annabeth admitted to herself what she actually wanted.
She wanted Percy Jackson to ask her to the prom for gods' sake.
He was just so oblivious. There he was with his cute blonde curls, freckly face scrunched in concentration as he put together the LEGO Poké Ball his mother had bought him as a well done for his swimming tournament. He was blissfully unaware of his best friend's intense glare.
Why couldn't he see she was telling him to ask her to prom through her eyes?!?!
She sighed, possibly loud enough for him to hear. Maybe that was her intention, even if she would deny it. Still, it did it's job.
"You alright, Wise Girl?" He asked, his eyes still focused on his building. She sighed again, shorter this time. "Yep. I'm good."
This pulled Percy away from his LEGO.
He could see frustration clear on her face. Her brows were scrunched, the cute way he's always loved. Her arms were tightly crossed over her chest, which wasn't new for her, but still put him on edge.
"Are you sure? You're looking a little tense there." She looked at him with the same gaze he'd seen her give people like Clarissa. He definitely didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of those looks. She reached her head forward slightly. "Do I? Do I look a little tense, Perseus?"
Her eyes were squinted, challenging him in something he had no idea about. And that was clear on his face. Which only pissed Annabeth off even more.
"Uh...yeah?" He raised a brow, offering his best response to the girl. She groaned in frustration, getting up and leaving the room. Before she could get too far away, she popped her head back through the door.
"You, Perseus Jackson, are obtuse!"
With that, she was gone, leaving Percy staring at the spot where she had just been standing. He tried to wrap his head around what had just happened, struggling immensely with how sudden and random it all was.
"Was that Annabeth?" Sally came into his room after hearing the front door close. Percy nodded, still locked in his confusion. "Was she alright? I thought she was staying for dinner." Percy sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "I thought she was, too! I asked her if she was okay because she was all quiet, and then she like blew up and walked out! And she called me Perseus."
Sally raised a questioning brow. "Did she say anything else? That doesn't sound like her." Percy nodded. But just before Sally left, he remembered something else. "Oh yeah, and she called me obtuse. Whatever that means." He goes back to his LEGO, not witnessing his mother's smirk.
"She'd be right about that, honey."
The big day had arrived.
Annabeth's stepmother, Diana, cried as she snapped what seemed like hundreds of pictures of her daughter in her beautiful emerald green dress.
Annabeth wanted to complain, but if she was honest, she'd never felt more beautiful. And she was thankful that Diana was here to witness it. And don't think she didn't catch her father wiping away some tears as she put her coat on.
The drive to the school was full of excitement. While Annabeth was somewhat disappointed that Percy hadn't asked her and had practically ignored him for the past two days, she didn't want that to ruin her night.
Her smile was wide as her father ran down the rules of the night. "I want you home before 12 at the latest. I know some comedians like to sneak alcohol in those punch bowls, so avoid all of that." Annabeth rolled her eyes in endearment. She could tell he'd been waiting to give this short speech his whole life.
"Okay, Dad." She said with little seriousness. "Oh, Annabeth, you make sure that boy behaves himself!" He shouts through the window. Annabeth's face scrunched. "What boy?" Before she could get an answer, the car drove off.
She didn't have enough time to wonder, however, as a squeal pulled her out of her thoughts. "Oh my gosh, Annabeth! You look so beautiful!" Sarah exclaimed. Her smile was the size of the sun. She was practically shaking with excitement. "Thank you! You look beautiful as well! That colour looks so amazing on you!"
Mickey was standing behind them, looking almost proud at the fact that he was the lucky boy who got to take Sarah to the prom. He should feel proud, Annabeth thought. She looked amazing in baby pink.
"Thanks, Annabeth! Are you coming in?" Annabeth looked around, hoping to see Percy somewhere around. But he wasn't anywhere in sight. "Yeah, I'm right behind you."
The three made their way inside, picking up Grover closer to the entrance. He looked very smart in his tux. The music practically vibrated off the walls of the corridor as they got closer to the main hall. 'Part Rock Anthem', getting louder and louder.
The doors opened, revealing the hall as something she'd never seen before, somewhere that actually looked inviting! The room was decorated with hundreds of little fairy lights, accompanied by a blue wash that made her feel almost like she was under the sea.
Under the sea.
She missed Percy.
"Well, well, well, Wise Girl." She turned at the sound of his voice. There he stood, in a dark suit. He looked devastatingly handsome. Screw him. "You look..." Annabeth was prepared for a cheeky remark. Something about how her dress looked like the colour of Seaweed, making it ironic how that was his nickname rather than he- "beautiful."
Her thoughts were immediately halted. Percy thought she looked beautiful.
"Wise Girl? Hello?" She realised quickly that she'd been staring up at him for the entire time he'd been there. She shook her head as if she were in a cartoon, shaking away her thoughts.
"Beautiful?" She repeated, her eyes wide, doe-like. Percy grinned, enjoying immensely making Annabeth flustered. "The most." Annabeth flushed, accepting the drink he'd offered her.
The two spent the rest of the evening almost tiptoeing around each other. Shy glances and brushed arms. Grover very much enjoyed watching the two act as if they were the only two people in the world. It entertained him to no end.
"It's now time to announce the King and Queen of tonight's prom!" The crowd of students all cheered as the head teacher pulled a golden envelope from his suit pocket.
Everyone moved closer to the stage, apart from Annabeth, Grover, and Percy. Annabeth had spoken at length about how silly she thought the idea of prom king and queen was. How it was just a popularity contest. But in reality, it made her sad to think about how she'd never win over some of the nicer girls.
"And tonight's prom king and queen are Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson!"
The next thing Annabeth knew, Percy was looping his arm through hers, and they were making their way to the stage. She had no control over her mouth, and she was sure she looked downright silly as she accepted her crown. Plastic, but still pretty.
She turned to Percy, a cute blush washed his face as he reached out for her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, finally being able to take in his smell. He smelled like the sea. Classic Percy.
"Congratulations, Wise Girl. My queen." She giggled, that girlish laugh that she'd never admit she was capable of. "You too, Seaweed Brain, My King."
"It's now time for the king and queen's first dance!" The crowd erupted in oohs and aah's as the couple made it to the centre of the floor, where everyone had left an opening for them. 'I'm Kissing You' by Des'ree filled the room as they looked at each other as if they were 12-year-olds. Awkward and red.
Annabeth sighed, grabbing his hands and placing them on her waist in defiance. Percy gave her a nervous, tight-lipped smile. The feeling of Percy's hands on her waist felt like finally finding the right key that slots in the keyhole. Or putting in the last piece of the puzzle that's taken 9 years to finish. It felt right.
"I can't believe we won," Annabeth spoke softly, looking around at the rest of the students as they slowly filled the space again, slow dancing alongside them. Percy smiled, bringing her in slightly closer. "I knew we'd win." He said with the confidence he was known for. She smiled, rolling her eyes.
The song was reaching its peak. "I bet half of these people didn't even know we existed. How could we have been voted king and queen?" She could feel his warm breath on her face. Percy's smug grin was making her melt. "I'm sure some of them did." He said casually.
Annabeth cocked her head to the side, trying to decipher Percy's statement. But a decade of friendship is good at one thing: you're able to read every facial expression, understand every word. "Oh my gosh, you rigged the vote, didn't you!" She whispered/yelled.
She swatted his arm as he laughed at her wide eyes. "I'm sorry! What can I say, I really wanted to dance with you." In times like these, Annabeth relished her love for the New York accent. It made her skin sizzle.
"Why couldn't you have just asked me like a normal person?!" He very much enjoyed it when Annabeth spoke to him in that pushy tone. It alighted something in him. No one save him; he's exactly where he wants to be.
"I wanted to make a big declaration of how sorry I am." He put his hands up as an apology quickly, before returning them to her waist. "Sorry for what?" He sighed, leaning forward and placing a soft, meaningful kiss on her forehead. Annabeth closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his soft lips on her. It may not be her lips, but it was close enough for now.
"For not asking you to prom, Annabeth." He spoke into her skin. Annabeth gasped softly, locking her hands tighter around him, hoping it said everything she wanted to.
He lowered his head, making their eyes level. "I was being, how you say, obtuse." He smiled, reaping the reward of seeing Annabeth grin. As the song was coming to an end, the two felt their heads pull together, like magnets.
Sea salt and citrus began to mix as they entered each other's atmospheres. Percy's hand began to rise up her side, making its way up until he was cupping her cheek. Annabeth's full lips, painted with the red wine lipstick Diana had bought her, was pulling Percy in like a Siren enticing a pirate at sea.
Just as they were about to collide, Percy felt someone grab his shoulder. "Yo, Jackson! Want some of this?" Hudson Smith, a boy on his swim team, crashed into the pair, holding a cup that was obviously spiked with something, due to his swaying and bloodshot eyes.
Percy looked over at Annabeth, and a frustrated sigh escaped him as she seemed to be controlling herself. "No, I don't, man." The friend shrugged, stumbling away, and Annabeth cleared her throat. "Thanks, Percy, I never thought I'd be Prom Queen." She gestured to her crown.
Percy smiled, reaching up and making the crown more centred on her head. "Anything, Wise Girl, you know that."
The two spent the rest of the night tied at the hip. And when Sally Jackson came to pick the pair up and drop Annabeth home, the pair realised that they had been holding hands ever since the dance floor.