Another runner up cover by bellaschneeb!

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ANNABETH CHASE

A short ride later, Percy and I had arrived at a small park that I remembered fondly.

I grinned. "Wow, Perce, I knew you were sentimental, but this? This is even cheesy for you," I teased.

He rolled his eyes, shifting the car into park. "It's the first place I thought of, plus it has a few good memories attached."

I laughed, climbing out of the car and walking over to a bench that faced the water.

Percy wasn't kidding when he said the park had some nice memories connecting us to it. Not only had it been the place where I recognized my feelings for Percy, but it was also the place where he asked me out.

As my boyfriend sat beside me, I looked up at him with a smile on my lips. "Did you know that this is the place where I realized I liked you?" I blurted.

He quirked up a dark eyebrow, his green eyes shimmering mischievously. "Really?"

I nodded. "Yeah, back in eighth grade I came here after we had a small fight and I sat for hours, wondering why it hurt so badly."

Percy smirked. "It's because I am just so attractive, and always have been, so any time away from me is absolute torture," he joked.

I rolled my eyes. "Uh huh."

I relaxed into Percy's side as he threw his arm across my shoulders.

"Thanks for taking me away from that God-awful dinner, Perce."

He smiled and lightly kissed the crown of my head. "Of course," he murmured. "If I'm being completely honest, I wanted to hang out with you more anyway. I felt really bad about the whole airport thing, even though you told me it was no big deal."

I looked up into his apologetic gaze. "Percy, it's fine."

He removed his arm from my shoulders and scooted a couple of inches away from me. "That makes me feel like it isn't fine, Annabeth."

I sighed, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "It's not even really a problem. You accidentally fell asleep, we ran a little late, and I freaked out over it. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me, not you, Seaweed Brain."

Percy smiled a bit. "So you aren't upset with me, huh?"

I shook my head and squeezed his hand. "I'm more upset with myself than you. I overreacted, and I need to work on that."

Percy chuckled and pressed a kiss against my forehead. "I'm in love with you, did you know that?"

My breathing hitched. No matter how many times he told me that - at least twice a day for almost two years at that point - it still surprised me that the boy I was hopelessly in love with reciprocated my feelings.

"No," I teased, "I had no idea. Maybe you should tell me again."

Percy smiled, pulling me onto his lap and leaning close so that our foreheads were touching.

"I love the way your eyes sparkle and brighten when you're happy," he started breathlessly. "I love your cute button nose, even though you say it makes you look like a girly girl and hate it. I love the freckles dusting your nose and cheeks. I love the way you blush when I compliment you - like right now. I love your sweet, kissable lips. I'm in love with you, Annabeth, and I always will be in love with you."

I shut my eyes so I didn't have to stare into his burning gaze. Maybe I was his first relationship, but boy did Percy know how to make a girl feel confident and loved.

I brushed my lips against his and fell into a blissful state. Like always, Percy had a faint scent and taste of the sea.

He was caressing my waist beneath my shirt and I was running my hands through that jet black hair of his, and suddenly it was all happening so fast. Percy began kissing down my neck and I gasped as he focused on a spot near my collarbone. 

"Percy," I said, out of breath.

He pulled away from my skin and stared at me with his shimmering, mischievous sea green eyes. "Yes, Annabeth?" he whispered happily.

"I really do love you, but this is getting quite serious for a public park."

Percy laughed. "Do you want to go grab some ice cream?" he asked me.

I grinned. "You know me so well."

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An hour or so later, Percy and I had finished up our ice cream cones and were strolling around the park, chatting mindlessly. By the time the sun had fully set and it was pitch black outside, we decided to get back to the car and head back to his apartment.

"You sure you want to stay over tonight?" he asked me as he started up the Prius.

I nodded, buckling my seatbelt. "If I go back to my place, I'd be forced to explain what 'news' you had learned and if everything was alright, and I can't handle all that right now," I admitted.

"I get it," Percy said, "but make sure you text them and let them know you're safe at my place. We wouldn't want them to worry."

I smiled, digging my phone out of my pocket and shooting my dad a quick text. Percy was definitely a momma's boy, and it was cute that he thought about things like parents worrying about their kids' whereabouts.

Some of our favorite music played gently as Percy slowly drove us to his apartment. After just a few minutes, we were climbing out of the car and quickly making our way inside the building.

"Race you to your floor," I called as soon as we stepped inside.

Percy groaned. "Wait, Annabeth - ugh!"

I cackled as I sprinted up the first flight of stairs. By the time Percy made it to his floor, I was leaning against his door with my arms crossed and a smug expression coating my face.

I ran over to him and got up in his face. "You may be fast in the water, Jackson," I taunted, "but you're nothing on land."

Percy rolled his eyes. "At least I have good sportsmanship, Chase."

I laughed and we both made our way inside his apartment. As always, my worries were washed away the second I stepped inside the Jackson family's abode.

The second you walked in, the living room was to your right and the kitchen/dining room was to your left. The hallway leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms was straight in front of you, cutting the entire apartment in half. Down the hallway, Percy's room was on the right, across from Estelle's room, which was to the right of Sally and Paul's room. The bathroom was directly at the end of the hall.

Percy and I kicked off our shoes before he grabbed my hand and tugged me to his bedroom. I went straight for the drawer at the bottom of his dresser that was reserved for me by that point in our relationship. Inside were a few pairs of my own pajamas, but also my favorite pair of sweatpants I'd taken from Percy and several of his comfy t-shirts. I grabbed a pair of thin shorts and a worn green shirt - that smelled just like Percy, might I add - before heading to change in the bathroom.

When I came back, Percy was sitting on the edge of his bed, typing away on his phone.

"Who are you texting?" I asked curiously, sitting beside him and resting my chin on his shoulder.

He glanced up at me. "Jason. He's apparently transferring to a school really close to OAAA this year that he used to go to before he moved out looking for Thalia."

"That's cool," I admitted, tucking my knees beneath myself. "We'll probably be able to see him often then."

Percy nodded, smiling.

Jason Grace was Percy's cousin on the paternal side. During the summer after sophomore year, the two had met at a camp called Camp Half-Blood, because Jason was on the search for his sister, Thalia. They had been separated at a young age due to unfortunate circumstances, but ever since they had been reunited they couldn't have been happier.

Jason wasn't my favorite person, but I didn't mind hanging out with him. He was a good guy and I was sure that if we got to know each other more, we would be great friends, especially since we shared so many interests and qualities.

I yawned, ready to fall asleep even though it was hardly nine o'clock. Jet lag was a killer.

"Tired?" Percy asked.

I nodded, taking my head off of his shoulder and rubbing my eyes. "What gave it away? The bags beneath my eyes or the monstrous yawn I just let out?" I said sarcastically.

He chuckled and stood up. "A tired Annabeth is a sassy Annabeth," he stated.

Percy grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it off. I stared agape at his defined chest.

He smirked. "See something you like?"

I blushed and rolled my eyes. "As if," I teased.

I did, in fact, see something I liked, but Percy's ego didn't need to be blown up anymore. I liked that Percy was muscular, but not insanely buff. He was actually very lean, thanks to his swimming career.

I crawled under the covers and faced the wall away from Percy so that he could change his bottoms if he'd like to. The second I shut my eyes, thoughts swarmed my mind.

I always joked about Percy being egotistic and overconfident, but in reality, the opposite was true. He was so humble, so giving, and so oblivious. Up until senior year, he didn't even really comprehend that he was very attractive. I was constantly fending off girls that flocked around him like he was a shoe sale. I wondered if this trait he had was from something that occurred in his childhood, as almost all of his traits had.

I felt the bed shift as Percy settled into bed. I scooted back so that his body was molded against my own. He wrapped his arms around my waist and nestled his head into my neck.

"Night, Annabeth," he whispered.

"Good night, Perce."

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Hey hey hey! It's been a little bit but I'm baaack.

How'd you like this chapter? I think it's pretty good; not my best work but definitely not my worst ;)

All last week, I reread the entirety of Limitless Love (the book that comes before this that you should definitely check out if you haven't already) and edited it. Now I can officially say that I'm proud of it. Anyway, doing that has inspired me to write more of this story, so get ready :)))

If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a vote and a comment! They always make my day!