Title: Lost in Stereo
Genre: Percabeth Songfic
Word count: 2986

Author's Note: First one shot! I know that I already submitted this to crazedauthors1093 's book of one shots but maybe some of you didn't see it, idk. Anyways, hope you guys like it :)

~oOo~

"So," Percy asked, cleaning off the last table. "Any fun plans for this weekend?" He looked up from the glasses on his tray up to Annabeth's gorgeous grey eyes.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I'll be at Miranda's party, though. How about you?" She finished wiping off the table. She looked so beautiful, no matter what she was doing. Percy stopped staring at her before she noticed.

"I'll go if I can make it." Who was Percy kidding? He had no other weekend plans, for just about every weekend for the rest of his life, as far as he knew. But of course, Annabeth could never know this.

"Okay, hot shot." She smirked at him. Percy fought down a blush. "Come on, it's time for the dreaded dishes."

They made their way back to the kitchen. Working at Danny's Diner wasn't always that bad. Percy actually enjoyed his job there—he got to see Annabeth outside of school, which gave them a chance to breathe and just hang out, his boss was one if the nicest people he knew, and he was earning some good pocket cash. The one annoying thing about it was the dishes—Percy didn't mind anything else much, but the dishes were a different story. It was especially annoying that they got no service in the diner, meaning they couldn't even play music. That was the problem, until Annabeth found an old stereo in the back of a supply closet.

"Lookie what we have here," she said, plopping the dusty old thing on a counter.

"Oh god," Percy coughed, swiping the dust out of the air. "Does it even still work?"

"I think I could get it to play my mixtape if I clean it up a bit," Annabeth said, examining the stereo. She bent over to get a closer look.

"Wait, you have a mixtape?" Percy asked. He could barely believe what he was hearing.

Annabeth looked back at him, rolling her eyes and standing up straight. "Don't be so surprised. Some people like to keep it a little old school," she said, pouting her lips and furrowing her eyebrows.

Percy laughed. "Alright." He put his hands up in surrender. Annabeth then left to her car to get her mixtape. Percy couldn't help but think how awesome she was. How many 17 year olds could you say owned a mixtape, or even knew how to work a stereo? Percy couldn't say he knew anyone like that. Yet another reason Percy had to like her. His thoughts were interrupted when Annabeth came back.

"Found it," she declared, waving it around. She dusted off the stereo, using a nearby rag to wipe it off. "Alright," she said. "The moment of truth." She slipped the tape into the slot, pressing the 'play' button. Music flowed from the speakers.

"Hell yeah!" Annabeth exclaimed. She excitedly high fived Percy. He smiled almost as wide as Annabeth.

"Just a small town girl," Annabeth sang. She sounded amazing. "Livin' in a lonely world," she belted it out, spreading her arms dramatically.

Percy laughed. "You're really good," he complimented.

"Please," Annabeth scoffed. "You don't need to flatter me," she laughed.

"I'm serious," he insisted.

"Alright, let's start with these dishes." She changed the topic, making her way over to the sink. Percy decided to let it go and followed her to the sink. Annabeth turned the water, letting it run hot. She pulled on a pair of latex gloves, handing Percy a pair. He smiled and put them on. Annabeth grabbed a sponge, picking up a dish and scrubbing it. Percy followed in suit. Humming along to the song playing, Annabeth began bopping her head and ever so slightly swaying to the song.

She works for the weekend
Mixtape of her favorite bands
Tearing up the radio,
Lost in the stereo sound

Percy tried his best not to stare at her. Annabeth was a well known face at Goode High, not that she knew it, or even saw it that way. She said that it couldn't possibly be true when Percy told her. He just shrugged, chuckling to himself. Now, he fought the smile off his lips. Annabeth was one of those people who never lost sight of herself, and was very self-aware. She was probably the only person Percy knew who didn't have an embarrassing getting-drunk story. Or at least, he hadn't ever heard one of her, in the almost twelve years they had gone to school together. So when he saw her let loose a little and just get lost in the music, he couldn't help but grin.

"What?" Annabeth noticed his smile. She looked at him with a smirk.

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head, staring down at the plate in his hands.

"Bullshit," Annabeth called him out, grinning now. "What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing!" Percy insisted, laughing. It wasn't like he could just admit his love for her, here in the kitchen of Danny's Diner, washing dishes. No, that was not how Percy wanted to do things.

"Okay," Annabeth said, splashing him with sudsy water, smearing bubbles across his face.
"Oh, you're in for it now, Chase." Percy splashed her back, wetting her shirt and putting bubbles in her hair.

Her mouth fell open in shock. "You're so dead," she said, smiling and shaking her head. They both began splashing each other back and forth, getting water and bubbles everywhere. Percy grabbed her by the waist, picking her up and spinning her around, Annabeth laughing and squealing.

"Percy," she laughed. He carefully placed her down, staring down into her eyes. Her minty breath fanning his cheeks. She looked beautiful, droplets of water in her hair, her eyes shining. She chuckled.

"I totally won," she smirked at him, a bit out of breath. Her perfect white teeth gleamed.

"Not a chance." Percy smiled down at her, watching her grey irises gleam.

"Sure, Jackass." That was actually an endearing term that Annabeth had called him. It was a nickname she had made up as a joke. Instead of Jackson she said Jackass. Percy actually found it quite funny himself. He chuckled.

A few eternal moments of silence passed between them. They just stood there, taking everything in. Percy committed everything in front of him to memory, because he never wanted to forget these few brief seconds, however insignificant they might seem. Percy knew that these would be the things to remember.

"We should, um," Annabeth started, "finish the dishes." It was odd—Percy had never seen Annabeth caught off guard. She always seemed so sure of herself and what she was saying and doing; she had this undying, unwavering confidence. Percy had no idea how she did it. He could barely get by, and he wasn't anyone special.

"Yeah," Percy agreed. "We should." They both went back to washing the dishes.

~oOo~

"Welcome," Leo said, clapping Percy on the back, "to the party." Percy, Leo, Jason, and Frank all stood across the street from one of the craziest mansion parties Percy had ever seen. Percy tried to calm his nerves by telling himself that Annabeth would be there. Oddly enough, that didn't seem to help.

"You'll be fine," Jason told him. "Come on."

Percy sold smell cheap booze from the driveway. A few people were dancing on the lawn, and he winced as he watched someone empty their stomach behind a bush. He tried not to focus on that. It wasn't like Percy would be drinking anyways—he was designated driver because he never did. He told himself he would never be like Gabe.

The four boys squeezed their way into the house. They weaved between strangers as they danced, Percy trying to avoid getting whacked in the face. They finally found a small clearing, meeting Piper.

"Hey, look who made it!" She yelled over the music. She handed Leo a drink, which he gladly took. "You guys, this party is awesome!" Piper, unlike Percy, was a party goer. If there was some sort of huge blow out with music, drinks and large crowds, you could bet good money on seeing Piper McLean there. She was a party icon at Goode.

"Alright, time to dance!" Leo yelled, heading into the crowd of people. Frank said something to Jason before walking off. Percy looked and saw that he was headed toward Hazel, this girl that he had a huge crush on. Piper than dragged Jason off through the crowd to go dance, disappearing in a sea of teenagers.

Percy stood a bit awkwardly as music blasted through the house. Parties had never been his thing, so this was not the ideal way for him to spend a Saturday. However, he found that he actually knew, and happened to like, the song playing, surprisingly.

She's dancing alone
I'm ready to go but she's so
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo
She's out of control
So beautiful
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo

Percy finally decided that he would go grab a soda  instead of displaying how much of a loser he was by standing alone awkwardly in the corner. He squeezed his way through people, trying to make as little physical contact as possible. But that's when he saw her.

Shakedown on a Saturday
Sit back, gotta catch my breath
'Cause everytime I see her
I know she's gonna take it back somehow

She looked amazing, as always. Her curly hair was loose and wild, beautifully framing her face. Even in the dark, crowded room, standing 10 feet away, he could still see her grey eyes fierce and shining. The black fitted crop top she wore exposed her toned midriff, and a simple plant tattoo that ran down her right side, just peeking out. Her army green jeans fit her like a glove, displaying her long legs. Percy watched as she laughed, smiling with her pearly whites as she talked with another girl. She must have felt him staring, because suddenly, she looked over and they locked eyes. She turned back to her friend, saying goodbye. Then, she began walking towards Percy.

He suddenly didn't know what to do. He began clamming up, sweating a bit uncomfortably. Calm down! he told himself. He took a deep breath.

"Oh, look who decided to show," she said, smirking. Annabeth now stood three feet in front of him. She wasn't talking loudly over the music, like everyone else had been, yet he still heard her perfectly. She spoke with the same tone she always did, a tone that complimented her aura of silent power. 

"Yeah," he said, "though I'm still deciding whether its a bad idea or not."

"I'll save you some time—definitely a bad idea." She smiled at him, her irises twinkling.

"Damn." Percy pursed his lips, making Annabeth chuckle. That made him smile.

"Doesn't mean you can't still have fun," Annabeth pointed out, raising her eyebrows.

"Fun?" Percy asked jokingly. "What's that?"

Annabeth chuckled. "Right, I forgot; the fun always dies when you're around so you never experience it." Annabeth pretended to remember, playing along.

"Please," Percy scoffed. "You're night just got way better because you started talking to me," Percy insisted, wearing a classic 'cool guy' expression.

"You wish," Annabeth retorted, stepping closer to Percy and crossing her arms.

"Maybe I do," Percy said it before he could stop himself taking a step closer, the gap between them getting smaller and smaller.

Annabeth smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you know what I wish for?"

"What?"

"A drink." Then, Annabeth slipped past him and walked off, leaving him staring at the ground, where she had just been standing. He hadn't realized until now that his heart was racing. She really did get to him. He smiled and shook his head.

Tattoos with a switchblade attitude
Snakebite heart with a bubblegum smile
Sex in stereo, don't turn the radio dial.

"You've just been standing here the whole time?" Jason was suddenly standing next to Percy, a drink in his hand.

"No, I was talking to someone," Percy said, a bit distracted. He looked around to see if he could spot Annabeth, but he had no luck. He sighed.

"Oh, you were talking to Annabeth." Jason smirked. "But you scared her off."

"No I didn't." Percy waved him off. "She went to get a drink."

"Whatever you say, bud," Jason said, clapping him on the back.

"Fuck you, Grace," Percy retorted and smiled. "Piper is only with you 'cause you're on the football team."

"Yeah, she's with me for a lot more than that," Jason said smugly.

"You're the worst." Percy looked around one last time. He didn't want to go look for her because that would make him seem clingy, which was one thing he was not. But at the same time he worried that another guy was going to pick her up. Annabeth was definitely a girl that every boy at Goode pined over.

"Well, I'll leave you alone then. Piper's probably looking for me anyways." Jason spotted something over Percy's shoulder. "And go get 'em tiger." Jason winked and pointed behind him, before disappearing into the crowd.

Percy turned to see what Jason had been pointing to. And there she was.

She's dancing alone
I'm ready to go but she's so
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo
She's out of control, so beautiful
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo

Annabeth looked like a star as she danced to the music. Was it just Percy, or did she have a faint glow? He decided it was just him. He watched in awe as she spun and jumped and twirled. Suddenly, his feet carried him forward, toward her. His brain told him to go back, stay where he was. But his body had other ideas.

I've been, waiting
For so long, she'll never know
I'm losing hope 'cause she's so
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo

Annabeth finished another spin, looking straight at Percy. He stood there like an idiot, gawking at her. Her hair was a little wild, and her eyes had an excited shine. She smirked and grabbed his hands. He was suddenly pulled into action, dancing with Annabeth.

At first, he was stiff and his dancing was awkward.

"Just relax." Annabeth stopped dancing for a second, grabbing Percy's hand. "Look," she said, beginning to sway. "Just... move to the music." They started to dance easily, and Percy just let go. He found the comfort in Annabeth's arms and used it to relax, forgetting about everyone else. It was just Annabeth, him, and the music. He spun Annabeth, making her laugh. He smiled so wide. Annabeth really was something.

~oOo~

"Wow," Percy said, leaning on the counter and sipping his water. At this point, they were taking a break, catching their breath at the outdoor kitchen. It amazed Percy how many kitchens could fit in one house. "Fun is great."

Annabeth laughed. "See?" She leaned back on both elbows, exposing her midriff a little more. Percy stole a glance at her tattoo when she was sipping from her cup. It was an olive branch, he came to realize. It was simple, and pretty. "You enjoying the view?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"U-um," Percy coughed, stuttering a bit. "Uh, no I-" Percy was tripping over his words.

Annabeth laughed. "You having some trouble there?" She began taking slow steps closer and closer to him.

"Um, no I-I wasn't trying t-to be dis-disrespectful or a-anything, I-" 

"I'm sure that you weren't," Annabeth said, still getting closer. Her voice was smooth and sweet, like honey. It just flowed off of her tongue, and Percy would be lying if he said he wasn't turned on.

And I'm just like cellophane
'Cause she sees right through me
I know, she's glitter and gold

Annabeth was finally right in front of Percy, only a few inches between them. "Shhh." She placed a finger on his lips, and Percy was sure that he had turned bright red. He carefully took in every detail of Annabeth's face. The light freckles that dusted her nose, the fierce look in her eyes, and how her irises shined, as well as the thick black lashes framing those mesmerizing eyes. Her lips were pink, and looked soft. "Relax," she whispered.

She works for the weekend
Mixtape of her favorite bands
Tearing up the radio,
Lost in the stereo sound

"Uh..." Percy looked down at her. "You are making this really difficult," Percy chuckled quietly, smiling a bit.

Annabeth wrapped her hands around Percy's neck. He found his hands automatically wrapping around her waist. She looked deep into his eyes. "Well, I am never going to make things easy for you. So get used to it."

Before Percy knew it, Annabeth's lips were on his own. A warm feeling spread throughout his face, turning his cheeks pink, and then pervaded through the rest of his body. He pulled her even closer, gripping her waist with a stronger sense of desire as she entangled her hands in his hair. Percy didn't realize how much he had been holding back until he could let go. He had wanted Annabeth even more than he was aware of.

Damn.

After a few minutes, they pulled away. Annabeth took a deep breath, chuckling and biting her lip. "You're not bad, hot shot."

Percy was surprised. He had never really made out with someone before. But, it was easy with Annabeth; everything just felt right. "You're not too shabby either."

"Oh shut up," Annabeth scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Make me." Percy smirked at her.

"Maybe I will." Annabeth, narrowed her eyes at him before closing the very small bit of space between them once more.

She shut him.

She shut him up real good.

She's dancing alone
I'm ready to go, but she's so
Lost in stereo, lost in stereo...

~oOo~