Alrighty, here we go. I've decided to start a little mini series of Percabeth in high school, but because I can't be bothered to write a whole book or try to figure out an entire plot, it'll be in the form of one shots, but all the events will co-exist and all be true from chapter to chapter... but not in chronological order. I'm pretty sure that doesn't even make sense but I've got lots of little ideas that I want to write. By the way, this is not an AU and (*SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ TOA OR MCGA*) the only canon thing I'm changing is that Percy doesn't have a baby sister. I love that Rick did that but it doesn't work so well with these stories, sorry! I'll have other one shots not in this series with her in them. Here's the first one!

Percy's POV

"It's getting pretty chilly out, are you kids sure you don't want a ride home?" Paul asked Annabeth and I when we stopped by his classroom at the end of the school to tell him goodbye like we always do.

"No thanks, we like the walk," I answered and Annabeth agreed.

"Okay then, see you at home. Be safe. And I expect to be able to eat at least some of the cookies your mother made this morning when I get there." He looked at me when he said the last part very pointedly but he was smiling.

"I will try my best sir," I fake saluted, then took off down the hallway, Annabeth right behind me.

"You're such a Seaweed Brain," she said once we were outside, nudging me with her shoulder and grabbing my hand.

"I know, but you love my anyway."

She didn't respond, just smiled sweetly.

Our walk home from school was my favorite part of the day, everyday. It didn't matter what crappy stuff had happened in my classes, I forgot about it all by time the two of us were walking down the streets of Manhattan, linked hands swinging between us. On days we were hungry we stopped by this little cafe that had great coffee but even better chocolates. Sometimes we talked about our day, and I complained about my math homework and Annabeth would always promise to help me with it. Other times we didn't speak at all, just enjoyed the peace and each other's company. I loved that her and I could do something normal for once, just the two of us.

"Hey, how'd you do on that Physics test you were stressing about?" I asked her after a while.

"Hm? Oh," she looked at me sideways, trying to hide her smile, "pretty good, I guess."

"Just pretty good? Or really good?" I pried, knowing she wanted to tell me badly anyway, fatal flaw being hubris and all.

"Oh... really good."

"Score?"

"Hundred." She rose up on her toes a little when she said that, which seemed to me like she was trying extra hard to be nonchalant. Probably because she knew the day I scored one hundred percent on a test would be the day Hades froze over. But hey, if she finally had the chance to be excited about a good grade instead of successfully deciphering a prophecy, I was sure as heck wouldn't be the one to stand in her way.

I slung my arm over her shoulders, pulled her against my side, and kissed the top of her head. "That's great Wise Girl!"

She wrapped her arms around my waist. "Thanks Perce."

"I told you there was no reason to worry about it."

"Yeah, yeah."

Too soon we were at the apartment building. But I wasn't too upset, considering I still was able to spend every minute with Annabeth. Our walks may be the best part of the day, but the best part of my life right now was that almost all my time was spent at Annabeth's side... because she was living with mom, Paul, and I. 

It was my mom's idea, actually, and Annabeth's dad gladly agreed to the plan. They thought it'd be good for us to be together after this summer, and "they'll be living in California next year anyway."

So yeah, for once I was loving life.

"Mom, we're home!" I called into the quiet apartment, kicking off my shoes.

"In here honey," I heard her voice in the living room. Annabeth and I strolled in and plopped on the couch. Mom sat in the armchair, laptop in front of her. She was almost finished with another book. She hadn't let any of us read (well, some of us attempt to read it), but I was confident it was wonderful.

"How was school kids?"

I answered quickly before Annabeth could say anything. "Miss 'I-need-to-study-for-fifteen-hours' had a perfect test score!"

"Oh sweety, I knew you would!"

Annabeth blushed slightly and mumbled a thanks. The three of us talked for a little while longer before I remembered something.

"Wait Mom, where are the cookies?"

"On the table Perce, try not to eat them all."

I tore off into the kitchen as Mom handed Annabeth an envelope. "It's from your dad, it just came in today."

I missed the rest of the conversation because I was too busy eating. Fredrick sent lots of letters, probably because he was trying to make up for previous years. Plus, he said he preferred actual mail instead of anything digital, which didn't make much sense to me considering he was, well, a genius and into technology. But whatever floats your boat.

Except when I went back into the living room, I could see that Annabeth was not happy with her father's letter.

"-told him I already made up my mind!" my girlfriend said exasperatedly.

"I know you have, but he really wants you to consider-" Mom stopped short when she saw me. Annabeth turned around, her grey eyes seeming stormier than they had lately. I looked back and forth between the two of them before holding Annabeth's gaze, silently begging her to fill me in. But she didn't. All she did was stand up and throw the letter on the coffee table and announce she was going to the bathroom.

I didn't say anything as she left and tried not to look at the table. If she didn't want to tell me, that was fine. She would eventually. Instead I averted my eyes to Mom, who was studying me carefully, and almost nervously. Finally I couldn't take it any longer.

"What?" I demanded. "What doesn't Annabeth want to do?"

"I think I should let her explain."

I sighed and crashed back on the couch. I focused on the ceiling as to not look at the letter, but focus was never really my thing. And anyway, if Annabeth really hadn't wanted me to know then she wouldn't have left it in plain sight, right? Sure. 

I glanced at the brightly colored paper, trying to make sense of the fancy font. This was no handwritten letter... it was pamphlet.

Mom didn't stop me when I picked it up. I vaguely recalled the school name on the front. Annabeth had talked about wanting to go there, but that was years ago. Flipping through the pages, words like "BEST ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY!" caught my eye. Then I understood.

I walked towards my room, finding Annabeth sprawled face down on my bed. I sat next to her gently and twirled her hair in my fingers.

"If you want to go to the school, Wise Girl, you should," I finally managed. The words hurt coming out of my mouth. I had been looking forward to us living in New Rome and going to the university there so much.

"I don't want to though, Percy." She sat up and crawled closer to me.

"But why not? You've always wanted to do this, now you have the chance."

"I'm not going to pretend the idea doesn't interest me. I mean," she took a deep breath and continued, "you're right, I have wanted this. But... my priorities have changed a lot lately." She looked at me, eyes shining. I think I could look at her like that forever.

"Huh?"

"I still love architecture, but I love you more." Now it was my turn to blush. "The only thing that matters is that we're together right? So I'm going to New Rome. And that's my final decision."

All the things I had come in here to say to her to change her mind left my brain. Her mind was set, and there was no changing it. And it wasn't like I was upset.

"So you're not going to regret skipping your dream to go to a mediocre school? No offense to the Romans or anything."

She laughed softly. "Never," she promised. Then she kissed me.