Can Be Both (A Percabeth AU)

Chapter 5

Annabeth texts him two hours later, just around the time Percy's becoming highly concerned. He's explained most of the situation to his mom, since she's one of his best friends, too, and they're both eagerly awaiting Annabeth's response. (He somewhat forgets to mention the fact that he's started feeling weird around his best friend lately. As in, almost nervous but in a good way. Annabeth would know the right word.)

Annabeth: we talked and I'll tell you all about it tomorrow but I'm really tired

Annabeth: thank you though you're the best friend ever and I love you

Percy reads the texts aloud to his mom, who coos in adoration and starts dinner.

Percy: okay and i love you too

"It's weird," his mom says, after a few minutes of silence. "I've never really imagined Annabeth and Luke would break up."

Percy smiles something that closely resembles a grimace, tracing his name on the table. "Yeah, that's what everyone's been saying."

"But," she continues, "I also never saw them getting married."

"Really?" Percy questions, genuinely shocked. "Why not?"

His mom waves it off, laughing lightly. "Oh, it's just me being silly, I'm sure. I've only seen Annabeth and Luke together a few times, so I don't really know how serious they are."

"Serious enough for a six-year relationship," Percy comments.

She hums in agreement but shoots a look over her shoulder. "You and Annabeth have been friends for longer, haven't you?"

"Yeah, we have," Percy says. "But friends and boyfriends are different." He feels like he's said similar phrases a million times in the past few days. There's never been a reason to drive the point home until now, it seems.

"I still find it interesting that Luke thought you guys were going behind his back," she mentions, pausing to tie her brown hair back. There are a few grey strands here and there. "She must have done something to make him feel insecure in their relationship."

"Well, she has been coming over a lot," Percy says slowly. "And possibly avoiding him? I don't know the details." She tosses what looks like chicken into a skillet and Percy's stomach growls. "I and Annabeth haven't really given him a reason to think we are, or at least I don't think we have. I mean, we hardly even touch when he's around because he usually gets weird about it."

His mom lets the writer in her show when she replies with, "You don't have to touch someone to show you love them." She proceeds to relate it to a book she published a few years ago, relaying the plot to Percy even if he's heard about it enough to breeze through a book club discussion about the novel. He indulges his mother anyways and lets her ramble on about her past and upcoming novels.

It takes him a little longer to fall asleep that night. He has a hunch that it's due to the fact that Annabeth's probably not sleeping well either.