"It's for you, I swiped it from the batch Mom made for Paul this morning, it's the anniversary of when they first went grocery shopping together, I think. They celebrate everything," Percy explained as I held the blue cupcake in my hand.

It was adorable, his face was flushed.

"Well that certainly explains the hearts, seaweed brain," I smiled, pulling one apart and offering it to him, "Sally and Paul are perfect for each other," I cooed, taking a bite as the frosting practically melted in my mouth.

"I'm glad mom's happy," he leaned back, popping the heart in his mouth as I devoured the remaining part of the cupcake shamelessly.

"Now come on," I smiled, pulling grabbing the duffel back from behind me and discarding the outer wrapper, "You promised we could study."

"Did I?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Yes you did," I stood my ground, passing him a book I had brought from the library, "Turn to page 394. It references a theory that-"

"I'm boreddd," Percy whined, snapping the book shut, "can we please do this tomorrow?" he begged.

"We literally just started."

"But I'm tired."

"Percy, no. We have to-"

"There are more fun things to do right now! and I promised tomorrow!"

"Like what?" I asked, giving him my best annoyed expression.

"Like making you laugh!"

"I'm not amused right now."

"What can be easily remedied, Annabeth my dear," Percy said, the glint in his eyes freaking me out. Oh no.

"What do you mean?" I asked, scooting away from him.

"Last I remembered, you're very ticklish," he gave that troublemaker grin, that made me scoot even further away from him, which just solidified his stance as he inched closer.

"Percy, no," I ordered, setting my papers aside.

Ignoring me, Percy went in for the kill, his hands reaching for my waist.

Oh hell no

I don't know how I managed to do it, but I pushed him into the water before he could even reach me.

The loud splash, and the droplets that followed woke me up from my temporary stupor. I laughed, waiting for Percy to surface.

The show off had been down there 4 minutes already, and I leaned down to get a better look at where he was.

And that's exactly when he chose to surface, bringing his face just centimetres away from mine. Gods he always glowed in water.

"Hey,wise girl," he greeted, drenched in water.

"He..hey," I tried in vain to stiffle my laugh. But I couldn't help but it.

"I'm so sorr- Ahhhhh!!!" I screamed, as Percy had flipped me over and caused me to land in the water too, the water rushing into me in a cold welcome.

"Percy!" I yelled, when I finally stood up. I glared at him, "You just pulled me in!"

He motioned to his own wet figure, "Really?" he grinned.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't fight my smile as I shrugged, "touché."

We relaxed, after a while. Embracing the water. It was awfully relaxing.

"20 questions, we tell the truth," Percy suggested as he lay atop the water, like the leaves that passed by us.

"How deep do you want the questions to be?" I asked as an answer.

"As deep as you want them to be," he answered.

"Me first?"

"Well, it is ladies first. And I can't help that you happen to be one. So yes," he chuckled, the water rippling as he did.

"Oh shut up," I found myself amused too.

Time to get the answers you wanted Annabeth but the question is...are you ready for it?

Yes

"Did...you ever think about me? You know when you moved away? At least once?" I asked him, feeling the pressure of the question that haunted me for years dull slightly.

I felt Percy move closer to me, his body was pressed against mine and I could see his face, "You're kidding right?" he asked, but went on without waiting for an answer," You're literally all I thought about. It's honestly sad. I got out of bed every morning and wondered what you were doing, same thing everytime I went to sleep," he answered, his hand holding mine, giving it a squeeze.

I gave him a light squeeze back, turning my head to finally look at him.

"I...I was going to ask the same question," Percy said, looking back at the sky.

"Everyday. And I hated that I couldn't get you off my mind," I surprised myself with the honestly, the words had spilled out of me before I got the chance to even think them through.

The effect this boy had on me

Percy squeezed my hand in response, the smugness rolled off him in waves and I couldn't help but laugh, earning a weirdly amused look from him.

"Did you really hate me? Like actually hate me? Do you still?" he asked.

"Yes. No. Half of my heart, hated you Percy. You left me."

"The other half?"

"Just...missed you," I answered him, suppressing embarrassing the truth deep within me. Nobody needs to know.

"Your turn again," he said as he rubbed circles along my wrist, taking me back to the time in the movie theatre which made it awfully hard to concentrate.

"Hmm what's your dream?" I asked.

Percy let out an akward laugh, "don't laugh, okay?" he made me promise, "I want to be an Olympic swimmer. Win gold."

"Why would I laugh for that? I'm sure you can do it."

"What about you?" he asked.

"I want to have an architectural firm, just like my mom's but I want to own it. I want it to be all mine," I explained.

The rest of the questions raised from amusing, to deep. To heartbreaking answers and hilarious ones. From embarrassing childhood stories, to Percy's time in Manhattan.

We talked about everything, both of us giving away almost all of our cards to the other, without much prompting.

Twenty questions soon became thirty, then fifty and we lost count after that, but who knows? Could've been in the hundreds.

"Okay okay last one, I'm pretty sure we have go go after this. Or mom might actually bring me back here and drown me," Percy grinned, looking at our pruny hands.

"Also I had to give you something."

"What is it?" I asked, moving to get out of the water with him. I twisted my hair as I waited for his question, water oozing out of it.

We didn't bring any towels or change of clothes.
And given how there was a light breeze, I'm sure the walk home was going to be delightful. If we don't fall sick in five minutes.

"It's more of a promise...not exactly. Wait," he waddled over to where our things were. Shit we still didn't do our projects.

He procured two necklaces of sort and I peered down to look at them.

"We made these years ago at camp. You must've left it at my place cause I have yours too," he passed it to me.

I felt the leather cord, glass beads hung from it. There was something painted on each one, but the dim light made it hard to see.

"I...I don't ever want to loose our friendship again. So I was hoping...you know, we could wear them as a promise for that. To always tell each other everything," he said, eyes shining.

I was pretty sure my heart melted.

Should you, Annabeth? Maybe? I don't know.

"That's a good idea, seaweed brain," I said, sticking it in my pocket. He placed his around his neck.

Gods I wanted to, I really wanted to.
I don't know what was stopping me from.
Maybe I lied, maybe I still resent him.

"So...promise?" he asked, his voice going an octave higher at the last word.

I laughed, "It's a deal," I shook his hand.

Percy smiled, relief flooded his face, "come on, let's go. You're practically turning to ice!" he said, grabbing his bag and mine and beginning the walk home without so much as a glance at me.

"I'm not!" I huffed, following him.

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I mayyyyy or may not have a secret announcement for next week-

Anyways! How's the chapter?
Stay tuned!!
—S