As a lover of all things music and theater, it was a bit hard to write the beginning of this. But it's totally in character and an idea I've been toying with for a while so here it is...

Percy's POV

Let me make one thing clear: I do not like musicals. Nothing against singing and dancing and having a good time and whatever... but everything against singing and dancing and having a good time and whatever. It's unrealistic, it makes me uncomfortable, and honestly it's just a bit boring. So I've lived in New York my whole life and never seen a Broadway show. Sue me.

Correction: before this Christmas I had never been to a Broadway show and I wish it would have stayed that way.

It was a few days before winter break and I was happily eating my after-school snack in my mom's kitchen, not knowing that pretty soon I'd want to smash my head into the nearest wall. Annabeth and a few of our mortal friends were texting about fun things to do over break, and she seemed very excited. It would be our first Christmas together, seeing as I was asleep in the California wilderness last year so it didn't really count, and the girl loved to plan events. Her foot was hooked with mine under table like she was afraid I'd disappear again. Truth be told, I was a little afraid too. But of course I would never tell her that.

Annabeth gasped suddenly, causing me to look up in alarm.

"Percy!" she exclaimed before I could even ask what was wrong. "Let's go see a show. You know, like, on Broadway."

That sounded like something at the bottom of my  list of things I wanted to do. "I don't know, Wise Girl..."

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes and furiously began typing on her phone. "It'll be fun, I promise. I'm telling them we're in so too bad."

I suppressed a groan and tried again. "Aren't tickets, like, really expensive? And will we even be able to get seats this late?"

Her fingers froze for just a second, her eyebrows scrunching together. But just as soon as it came, the look passed and she went back to texting. "My dad keeps asking me for gift ideas and I know he wants to go big," she said, a bit uncomfortable. I acted like I didn't notice. "And anyway, I'm sure not every show is sold out."

We sat in silence for a few minutes while I sulked and her nails tapped away on the screen. Finally, she looked up. She was wearing an excited smile but it died a bit when she saw my face.

"If you really don't want to, we won't go, Seaweed Brain," she said softly. "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter what we're doing."

Between her sweet words and hopeful eyes and warm leg pressed against my own, my resolve crumpled. Swallowing  my pride, I replied, "Same here, baby. Let's go see the show. I could probably stand to be cultured anyway." I finished with a smile so she knew I was serious. It all seemed worth it when she threw her arms around me and squealed happily in my ear.

So that would be how I found myself, on a Sunday afternoon, dressed in black slacks and a maroon button up while it was snowing outside, ready to go sit through a three hour long performance. I fidgeted with my collar, reminding myself to be grateful that Annabeth had not insisted I also wear a tie. The things that girl can get me to do amazes me every day.

After what seemed like an eternity, my girlfriend walked out of the bathroom looking like a literal goddess. Her maroon and black dress fit her perfectly, paired with black tights and heeled boots. I'd be lying if I said I didn't stare as long as she let me. I decided that this wasn't such a bad way to spend my day.

"Quit drooling, Seaweed Brain," she said seriously, but there was a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she straightened my shirt.

"You look beautiful," I told her, very proud of myself for getting all those words out without stuttering.

"And you look handsome." It was my turn to blush.

When we arrived at the theater, I could tell something was wrong with Annabeth. She stood pressed into my side, eyes darting around wildly. I wracked my brain to see if she'd been acting weird earlier. To my knowledge, this behavior had just started.

Our friends were standing around, chatting loudly against the crowd of people waiting for the doors to be opened that lead into the room with the stage. I leaned into Annabeth's ear and asked what was wrong.

"There's just a lot of people here. Very crowded," she mumbled, grabbing my hand nervously.

"Hey," I spun her around to face me but kept her close, "nothing is going to happen." We were both a bit on edge, especially in public places, ever since we got back from the hell hole, but Annabeth was not a native New Yorker and was far worse off in busy, cramped places than I was. I felt like a bad boyfriend for not picking up on it in the moment. "We're here to have a good time and so is everyone else in the room. Pretty soon we'll all be sitting and spaced out. I'm right here and I'm not leaving you and I promise it's okay."

She smiled at me gratefully. "You're right. We're here to enjoy ourselves." She gave me a quick squeeze and tucked herself back under my arm. Right, right, enjoy ourselves. At this musical. Yep, for sure.

Then something hit me. "Annabeth? What show are we seeing?"

She looked up at me, a totally bewildered expression on her face. "What?"

"What show are we seeing? You never told me and I never bothered to ask." I shrugged innocently.

"You didn't look at the huge signs as we walked in? You didn't notice the merchandise that is right over there?" She pointed towards a vendors table but the shirts were too far away for me to read. Was that a flower on them?

"Uh... no." Suddenly she looked nervous again. I raised my eyebrows expectantly.

"It's called Hadestown," she finally answered in a small voice.

I definitely misheard her. I had to of misheard her. "Excuse me? We're seeing what?"

"Hadestown," she repeated a bit louder. My face must have been ridiculous because she started to get upset. "I just figured you already knew and were fine with it because you didn't say anything. I'm sorry I didn't tell you! I just..." She trailed off, but she didn't have to finish. I knew she was going to say that she knew I wouldn't want to come if she told me. "Our friends wanted to see it so bad, they love the music and I didn't have the heart to tell them no." She looked at her shoes sadly.

Don't be a jerk Percy, I told myself. Don't ruin her day.

"It's fine Wise Girl," I promised. "Really. It's just a show. It's not that big of a deal. It'll just be like watching Hercules or something." I squeezed her shoulder and she lifted her head. "I swear. It's fine."

"Promise you're not upset?"

"Promise. But what's it even about? Some poor schmuck who's sentenced to eternal damnation on Hades' underwear?"

She laughed softly as the doors across the room opened and the crowd excitedly filed towards them. "I don't know. Guess we'll find out."

And find out we did. I about ruined my own underwear when I heard the names Orpheus and Eurydice on the stage.

"Oh, you have got to be joking," I muttered as Annabeth sent me a look with her jaw in her lap. 

Of course it was about my least favorite Greek story. Of-freaking-course. I hated Orpheus - because I could easily become Orpheus. Yeah, I don't play the stupid lyre but I could totally see myself losing my girlfriend forever because I only trust Hades as far as I can throw him. Who would go on a crazy mission to save the love of his life from the Underworld? Me. Who would lose everything because of one stupid mistake and she'd be taken from him forever? Me. Who would live the rest of his life in absolute misery, leaving behind only a message to be a better boyfriend to begin with? Me. And here I was, about to watch the whole story acted out, accompanied by singing and dancing and jazz music. Could I be in a worse situation?

Annabeth squeezed hand tightly three times. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and squeezed back. Okay, I could do this. I love my girlfriend and I love my friends and all they wanted is a day to enjoy this show and I couldn't take that away from them. So I shifted in my seat and braced myself for the next three hours.

I started to feel better again after taking a bite of my cheeseburger. My friends were buzzing about how amazing the show was. There was lots a tears in the audience towards the end, even from Annabeth... and maybe a few from me. I was maybe crying for different reasons though.

They all wanted to know what I thought of it. "Percy, was it a good show?" "Percy, did you like it?" "Percy, wasn't the music magical?"

"Uh... yeah. It was good. Very well done." They all seemed content with that answer, except for Annabeth. She kept looking at me worriedly. "For real, Annabeth," I said so only she could hear, "it was good. I'm impressed. Those people are talented." I did mean it, even though I didn't really like it. She seemed satisfied and we all laughed the rest of the night.

When we got home, however, I must have seemed bummed out again because Annabeth took my face in her hands.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

I didn't want her to be sorry. I wanted her to enjoy Christmas break. I didn't want her to fuss over me. When I told her this, she started crying.

"I should have told them to pick a different show," she cried into my shirt. Now I felt even worse. "I didn't know that it would upset you so much and-"

I cut her off with a kiss, then said, "Of course you didn't know. It's not your fault. And hey, now I can say that I've been to Broadway. Anyway, I should be the one apologizing, I ruined your fun day." I stroked her hair softly while she sniffled.

"You didn't ruin anything," she promised. "It was all around just a bad experience for us."

"Life can never be easy for us, huh?"

"Nope."

We sat curled up together, still in our dress clothes, for a while longer.

I was the first to break the silence. "Promise me you'll never sell your soul to Hades? Just, like, stab me with my own sword or something if I'm ever neglecting you."

She gave a watery laugh. "Deal. You never neglect me anyways." She pressed her lips to mine and fiddled with the buttons on my shirt.

"I may not have liked the show," I mumbled in between kisses, "but I really like the dress you're wearing." Then she laughed for real and swatted my chest. "I'm serious!"

"I know you are, Seaweed Brain."

I guess going to Broadway wasn't the most horrible thing I've ever done.