scales and arpeggios

chapter seventeen: annabeth

Percy and I walk into school on Monday together, as we usually do. We head to band together and talk about random things. We had decided to tell our friends at lunch, considering they'd go ballistic asking a million questions. I head to my seat, trying not to seem too happy. I can feel Percy's gaze on the back of my head, and I turn around to face him.

"What?" I ask.

"Oh, nothing." He smiles at me and I turn back around.

Lunch comes surprisingly fast. I had helped Percy with chemistry homework during free period, and now we were all sitting in a circle on the grass eating lunch. Percy was on my right, and Piper was on my left.

"Hey guys," I say, and they all look at me. "Percy and I are dating."

"Since when?" Jason asks.

"This weekend," I answer.

"I knew it," Leo announces. "I've called this for so long. I knew you two were going to get together." I roll my eyes at him and move closer to Percy.

"Hey, no PDA. That's not acceptable," Reyna says as he wraps his arm around me.

"Do I look like I care?" Percy says. I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder. I listen to Leo and Frank bicker about little things while eating chips, and too soon it was time for our next class. I say goodbye to everyone as we walk inside the building, following the rush of teenagers to fifth period.

;;;

"Hey," Percy greets me as I walk out of my last class.

"How'd you get here so fast?" I ask him.

"I'm just magical like that." He starts crutching back towards the front doors of the school.

"Hey, dummy, wrong way. It's volleyball time." He turns back around and hobbles towards me.

"I'm so sick of this leg."

"Want me to cut it off?"

"Haha, very funny." I smile and start walking toward the gym. Once we get there, Percy makes his way to the bleachers and I head to the locker room to change.

"Hey, Pipes," I say to Piper when I walk in.

"Hey! Are you ready for practice today?"

"Eh, I'm a little tired. You?"

"I just hope I'm not too rusty after Thanksgiving break."

"You'll be fine, come on." She follows me out to the court, and I glance at Percy, who seems to be working on homework. He glances up and smiles at me. I smile back and turn to my coach.

"Warm up with a partner for about 10 minutes, I'll be right back." She walks out of the gym and I grab a ball.

"Ready, Pipes?" I ask, and Piper nods. We begin passing and hitting between the two of us, and my mind switches to volleyball mode.

"You have to teach me how to play," Percy says after I leave the locker room.

"Wait, you really want to learn?" I ask, glancing at him as we walk to my car.

"Once I get this stupid cast off my leg, sure."

"When are you getting it off?"

"What day is it today? The 30th?" I nod. "Two weeks."

"So you'll have it off before the winter concert?"

"Yup." I unlock my car and climb in.

"Do you want me to drop you at your house?" I ask, pulling out of the parking lot.

"I think I need another tutoring session."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yeah, even though I already finished my chemistry homework, I need help with chemistry."

"Fine, I'll help you." I look over at him and smile, and he grabs my hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. We ride in silence back to my house, and pretty soon we're sitting on my bed. I open my backpack and pull out my binder.

"I have a lot of homework, do you just want to sit and watch me?" I ask him, and he leans back against my headboard.

"Sure." I roll my eyes at him and start my English essay.

;;;

"Okay, I'm finished with all my homework," I tell Percy a few hours later.

"Finally, I was starting to get bored."

"Starting? You've been whining the whole time."

"Pfft, lies." I shake my head and lean back onto my pillows.

"I'm tired," I tell him.

"Well, you just wrote a whole essay. Who wouldn't be tired?"

"That's a good point." I pull a blanket over my body and get comfortable, ready to sleep. I feel Percy lay down too, and he wraps his arms around me. I fall asleep quickly, listening to the sound of his breathing.

;;;

When I wake up, it's pitch black outside and Percy's gone. I pick up my phone and glance at the time: 4:38 A.M. As I check my messages, I read my text from Percy, telling me he had to go home and that I'll see him tomorrow. I lay back down and drift off for the remaining time I have until I need to wake up.

"Hurry up, slowpoke," I say as Percy makes his way towards me.

"I've had these crutches for six weeks and I still move slower than a turtle."

"I think you mean tortoise."

"Maybe." I laugh at him and he places his hand out. I intertwine our fingers as we begin driving off.

;;;

"Can I pick you up today?" Percy's text reads.

The last couple of weeks with Percy had been amazing. We were inseparable, spending every free second together. Yesterday, he had gotten his cast off, and now he wanted to drive me to school. I text back a quick, "okay" and continue getting ready. I throw on black leggings and a Nike sweatshirt before grabbing my bag and walking downstairs. I grab a pitcher of coffee and pour my usual drink. I hear a knock on my door and open it to see Percy standing there, with no crutches.

"Look at my leg!" he says enthusiastically. "I can walk now."

"You're a dork," I say, closing the door behind me.

"I know." He grabs my hand as we walk to his truck.

"Are you excited about the concert tonight?" I ask him.

"I'm nervous."

"Me too."

"Don't be, you'll do great." He runs around to his side of the car and jumps in, then starts the engine.

"Music?" I ask.

"Music," he answers. I put on "cardigan," and we sing as he drives to school.

;;;

"The concert is tonight," Mr. Fletcher says once we're all seated. "I've already gone over all the details, but remember, 5:30 P.M." We all nod and rehearse the music a few more times.

;;;

"Are you almost ready?" Dad yells up to me fifteen minutes before we have to leave.

"Almost," I yell back down. I throw on some mascara and look at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a white bodysuit and black pants, with a simple silver moon necklace. I throw a pair of silver studs in my ears and pull a few strands of hair out of my bun.

"Annabeth, we're going to be late!" I grab my clarinet along with my music and run down the stairs.

"I'm ready."