Forever- a Percabeth story.

Chapter 51

Annabeth

"You guys did fantastic, that was delicious, thank you both." My stepmom said, standing up from the kitchen table.

Paul grinned as he and Sally cleared the table, "Percy suggested Italian, figured we'd celebrate the good news that Annabeth is going on the class trip to Rome." He told us.

I glanced over at Percy, who was in the living room setting up a board game with Malcolm, Tyson, and my dad.

He had suggested an Italian dish because of me.

And I had ditched him in sixth period because I was scared.

I wanted to grab his hand, run to the park and kiss the daylights out of him.

I wanted to tell him the truth.

Sally's voice dragged me out of my sad thoughts.

"Speaking of Rome, Percy?" She called out to him from the kitchen.

Percy stood up, adjusting one last piece before he started to answer her.

"Yeah?" he asked, heading in our direction. I met his eyes for a second before he leaned on the counter and talked to his mom.

"Are you all packed?" She asked him, placing dishes in the sink as she did.

Percy nodded, "For the most part."

"Ah, in Percy's language that means he's still got a stack of clothes on his desk." Paul chided.

Percy huffed "I'm almost done! Grover helped me and everything."

I had just missed Grover when my family and I had gotten here, I almost wished he would have stayed, it might have made things less awkward if he did.

My stepmom laughed, "Annabeth's been packed since yesterday." she commented.

"See? When is some of that responsibility going to rub off on you?" Sally asked Percy.

Percy rolled his eyes, "We can't all be Annabeth Chase." He said, tossing an arm up at me.

"Well, go finish before we play Risk," Paul nodded at me, "Annabeth can help you." he said.

My heart started to pound at the ever approaching idea of Percy and I, alone in his bedroom.

"Nah, she doesn't have to." Percy said, starting to walk away.

Oh.

"You don't want me to?" I blurted out at him, turning in my seat to face him.

Percy seemed startled. "I mean, I just, um, I guess I didn't think you'd want to?" He scratched the back of neck as he responded.

"So you do want me to?" I asked again awkwardly.

Percy chuckled nervously, "I just um, you don't have to, that's all I said," he brought a hand out as he spoke "not that I don't want you to, just that you know you don't have to, I mean you can do whatever- whatever you want." He stuttered.

"Okay." I said.

"Alright." He responded.

Neither of us moved.

"So... do you want to?" Percy asked, glancing at the ground.

"Alright." I said.

"Okay."

Slowly, I stood up.

As I followed Percy up the stairs, I heard my stepmom, Sally, and Paul laughing, "Good god, what is the matter with them?"