779

The days after Alice's birthday all me and Thalia heard about was Nemo, Alice's newly named fish. The way her eyes lit up when she first saw the fish made me wish I'd thought of it.

"I still can't believe you didn't tell me about this," Thalia said early one morning as she peered at the fish through it's small tank. "This was such a perfect idea."

I nodded as I took a sip of my coffee. "Yeah, it was great."

Thalia grinned. "I seriously can't believe you didn't tell me. And I can't believe I didn't think of it! Alice loves this thing. I just hope it doesn't die..."

"Yeah, me too," I replied, guilt growing in my chest. "Should we feed it?"

"No way," Thalia replied, eyes wide at my suggestion. "That's Alice's favorite part. We'll wait until she's awake or, well, who knows what she'll do."

"Probably make us watch Finding Nemo twenty times as punishment," I responded with a laugh. As I watched Thalia examine the fish I finally worked up enough courage to tell her the truth. "Hey, Thals, I need to tell you something?"

She nodded but didn't look up from the fish. "Yeah? What is it, Annabeth?"

"I actually didn't buy the fish," I admitted.

Thalia peered up at me and frowned. "What do you mean? What are you talking about? Did it magically materialize here overnight?"

I laughed nervously and shook my head. "No, Thalia, it didn't magically materialize here. Uhh, Percy actually bought it for her."

Thalia's eyes narrowed. She angrily peered at the fish and then at me. "Why—why? Did you tell him about her birthday? Annabeth, I thought we agreed—"

"I know!" I replied. "And no, I didn't tell him. Well, not recently. I briefly told him when he asked like, six months ago."

"And he remembered?" Thalia asked. "This isn't adding up. He barely knows her, how would he remember he birthday?"

I shrugged defensively. "I don't know! I guess...I guess he's just even better than I remembered him to be."

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "And he doesn't know that she's his? Like, he hasn't asked or anything? No offense, but I don't think he'd do that if he didn't know the truth."

"Thalia...I don't think he knows. I think he just does grand gestures like this," I responded. "I mean, remember Valentine's Day junior year? He sent nearly a hundred flowers to my house, causing Helen to complain about her allergies for weeks!"

"Or all those times he rather annoyingly brought you coffee in the mornings, always remembering your order," Thalia murmured, her arms crossed over her chest. "God, maybe he is just like that..."

I nodded. "We have to stop naming examples or I'm going to cry, Thals."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Ever so soft. I...I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but I think you should tell him. I mean, I hate him, don't get me wrong, but...I think he really likes you, Annabeth."

"Wait, what?" I exclaimed as I glared at Thalia. She smirked and shrugged in response. "Thals, a few months ago you were telling me to cut him out, just to get through this project—"

"I know," she interrupted, "but I see the way he looks at you, Annabeth! And if he's willing to do all this for a kid he doesn't even know is his....then I think you should tell him."

I closed my eyes, a million thought running through my head. "But what about the redhead girl?"

"Annabeth, I'm not telling you to propose marriage to him or anything," Thalia replied, snapping me back to reality. "Just....just tell him about Alice. He...he has the right to know."

"But—"

"Just tell him," Thalia said. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled. And if not, we don't need him. It's just, I don't think Alice is the whole reason he did that. It's you, too, you know."

Before I could respond I heard a door open. I peered down the hallway to see Alice trudge towards the kitchen, her hair a mess from sleeping.

"Nemo," she squealed tiredly as she made her way over to the fish. She grabbed the fish food and sprinkled several flakes in. Nemo swam for it, causing her to laugh. "Look, mommy! Look, Auntie Thals!"

Thalia smiled and ruffled Alice's hair. "It's pretty cool, huh?"

Alice nodded. "Thank you, mommy. This is the best gift ever!"

Thalia raised an eyebrow at me. "That's true. Now, you have to get to work. You have some business to attend to, correct?"

"Yeah, yeah, I do," I said with a newfound purpose. I kissed Alice goodbye before heading towards the door. "Bye, you guys. I'll see you soon."

Alice waved at me a final time. Thalia winked before turning back to the fish.

The car ride to work was nerve wracking. I sped and nearly broke all traffic laws. I ended up arriving nearly half an hour earlier.

I walked inside my office where I only saw Bethany, who was at her desk and looking annoyed as ever. She yawned as she saw me.

"You're early," she groaned. "Please don't tell me you need me to work right now."

"No, no," I replied, causing her to lighten up. My eyes scanned the office and I couldn't locate Percy. "Is Percy in yet?"

An evil smirk grew on her face and she nodded. "Oh yeah, the one you have a 'thing' for. He's in alright."

She spoke with a new sense of life. When she spoke she put finger air quotes around the word thing, making me angry.

I shrugged off Bethany and tried to remain calm as I made my may through the threshold of the office and into the conference room, trying my best to act normal.

Bethany was indeed right. Percy sat in the conference room hunched over his computer, typing something with a faraway look in his eyes.

"Hey," I said quietly as I slowly swung the door open. He looked up and grinned.

He closed his computer and stood up. "Hey, I just sent you the paint finalization for the first and second floors. I have to review the rest of the floors still, though, so I'm sorry about that."

I laughed and shook my head. "No, uh, I got it. I'm not worried about that. I actually wanted to thank you."

Percy's eyebrows furrowed with confusion. I took the moment of silence as an opportunity to close the conference room door as Bethany was definitely listening in.

"For Alice's birthday gift," I explained. "She loves it, really."

Percy's face lightened and a grin appeared on his face. "Ah, really? I'm glad. I was nervous about that, I thought you'd kill me for giving her a pet. What did she end up naming it?"

"I think you can guess that," I replied. He chuckled and nodded in response. "Nemo is still alive, so I'm glad about that. I'm awful with pets."

"Really?" he asked skeptically. "You seemed great with Mrs. O'Leary!"

Mrs. O'Leary was Percy's childhood dog growing up. Percy had found her in the street when he was in elementary school and had had her since.

"Well, I didn't how to care for Mrs. O'Leary," I explained. "I've had a few fish in my day and they've all ended up in the toilet at one point or another."

Percy laughed. "I wish Nemo a long and happy life. Anyways, I hope I got the day right. You told me about Alice's birthday so long ago..."

I nodded, my heart racing in my chest. When I spoke it was hard as if my throat was closing up. "No, you definitely did. February 4th."

"Ahh, well, I'm glad," he explained with a light smile. "I just wish I could've seen her face when she opened it. I mean, I was sure she'd love a pet fish as she told me all about it when she came in that one day. She seemed so excited about picking them out, and I'm sure at least ten fish that will go in the office building are named after Finding Nemo characters..."

I watched Percy as he continued to talk on and on about Alice. The ways his eyes lit up when he talked about her love of fish made my heart ache.

"Alice is yours."

The words came out quickly and unexpectedly. I quickly cupped my mouth with my hands as if telling him hadn't been on purpose. It was like my body had acted on its own. It was involuntary.

Percy's smile quickly dropped. His facial expression turned to confusion. His eyes were narrowed as he peered at me.

"She's—she's what?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

That was my chance to change the subject or just start laughing. Just doing anything. But I didn't. God, of course I didn't. I should've changed the subject, yet I didn't.

"She's yours," I repeated with a head nod, my face burning. "Your daughter. Your kid. You're her dad."

"I thought her dad lived in Oklahoma or Wisconsin or something," he said, punctuating each word. "It can't be me."

I shook my head weakly. "He...he doesn't. It's you. I-I lied..."

Percy's face grew red with anger and he spoke as if he was hyperventilating. "You...you lied to me? Why—why didn't you just tell me....oh, god, I—"

"I was dumb!" I admitted. "I was just a scared teen. I learned about it after I'd already moved to California, after I had already moved away to my dream college. And by then I was sure you would've moved on..."

"Oh, so your dream school was more important than me knowing my child?!" he shouted. "Why didn't you just call me? Or tell me when you graduated, or even six months ago when you saw me again?! Instead you just let me live in oblivion!"

Tears welled in my eyes and I knew Percy was right. I felt awful, selfish, and even evil. "I'm sorry!"

He shook his head. "Sorry doesn't cut it, Annabeth! All the times you could've told me, all the times I could've been there. For her, for you! All the things that I've missed...god, seven years, Annabeth!"

"I'm sorry!" I burst out again. "Percy, I'm sorry!"

Percy shook his head and rushed out of the conference room, leaving me running after him.

"I'm sorry!" I yelled down the hall, but he had already vanished. "Percy, no! Wait! Come back!"

But he was gone.