Dancing in the Dark- Percabeth Dance AU

:Part 8:

Lot's of dialogue. I had so many tests this week I'm tired 

If you've ever felt like a third wheel, that's how Percy felt. Annabeth was always around Luke except for when they were working on their applications, but her being who she was they finished those and had sent them off. Percy tried not to think about it too much but every time he reminded himself that he could be off to California in a few months. Annabeth didn't even hang around them for lunch she would always have off campus lunch with Luke. 

"So my question is why didn't you just ask her out like earlier?" Piper asked while they ate lunch. 

Everyone looked at Percy trying to get the answer out of him. 

"WHAT!? I don't like her like that! I mean yeah she's pretty, and nice, and smart, and just totally awesome, but I she's only my friend! I'm not saying I wouldn't date her, I would. I just mean that- uhhh you get what I mean." 

They all looked at him strangely. 

"Bro, no. We don't get what you mean..." Leo said raising an eyebrow. 

Everyone except Percy laughed and he rolled his eyes. 

"See if Annabeth were here she would've just shut him up with a kiss." Piper tossed a chip into her mouth and everyone started laughing even harder. 

Percy was bright red and he wondered if Annabeth had told anyone about those almost kiss moments. 

"No she wouldn't!" Percy protested. 

"Ah see Percy even I don't believe you." Hazel said with Frank's arm around her, "The way Annabeth looks at you..." Hazel's eyes turned softer and more like she was reconciling a memory. Probably of one with her and Frank. "She looks at you the same way I look at Frank." 

Frank laughed and blushed. 

Percy then shook his head, "You guys are crazy. She would never like someone, especially me for that matter." 

"You want the honest truth Perce?" Asked Jason. 

Percy nodded his head. 

"Annabeth told all of us in the 7th grade she wanted to ask you to the dance, but then you couldn't go cause your mom was taking you up to New York. Then she told Piper she thought you were cute. In 8th grade she told Hazel she was dropping hints at you. Freshman year when you guys walked to school together, her dad could've driven her but instead she wanted to spend time with you. Then she kinda shifted her motives from boys to dance. Now look at her it's dance 24/7 until her injury. THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR YOU TO STEP UP!" Jason explained. 

"I don't believe that." 

"Oh my god Percy! We aren't kids anymore! We all heading to college next year! Get a grip and ask her out before this Luke guy is permanent!" Piper looked at him with a glare in her eyes. 

Everyone looked at him and suddenly Percy felt like he was understanding. All those times when Annabeth scooted closer to him on movie nights, when she would randomly just say he's cute when he did something stupid, or all those times she was okay with the him wrapping his arm around her.

~~~~

7th Grade

"Truth of dare....Annabeth?" Piper pointed to her.

They were all having a sleepover; Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel. 

"Truth!" 

"Who do think is cute in our class?" Piper smirked and Annabeth turned a light shade of pink.

"I mean...well...maybe one person..." She looked to the ground and her face became redder. 

Hazel and Piper looked at each other 

"WHO?!" They both asked at the same time. 

"Percy...I mean he's adorable! Like his messy hair and the way he smiles... At first when we met yeah he was annoying, but I don't know...he's cute I guess." Annabeth tired rot distract herself from her friends reactions. 

~~~~

 Freshman Year

"You wanna walk together to school tomorrow?" Percy asked while he and Annabeth were having a snack outside of the coffee shop.

"Oh- My dad was gonna bring me but sure!" 

"Cool. It's a date then." 

Annabeth almost choked on her drink then looked at him with disbelief. 

"A date?" She questioned. 

Percy immediately realized his mistake. 

"I meant as in plans! You know not like a date as in you and me going on a date! Not like that! I mean it'll be just the two of us, but- I'm gonna shut up now." 

Annabeth started laughing and eventually so did Percy. 

"It's fine, your cute when you ramble." She reached over to ruffle his hair and Percy tried to stop her hand. 

"Hey! C'mon!"

"AHHH NO WAY!" 

They went back and forth pushing and shoving each other lightly. He kept trying to push her hand away while she protested to just let her do it. 

~~~~

Present Day lol 

A: I went to the dance studio today

P: Really? How'd it go

A: Good, like nostalgic almost lol. Luke helped me through it 

P: Of course he did

A: Whats that supposed to mean?

P: Nothing. I mean isn't that what boyfriends do?

A: I wouldn't know. I've only had one crush in my entire life, well two including the tiny one of Luke 

P: Who was the first guy?

A: None of your business Seaweed Brain ;)

P: I'm gonna find you who it is! I wanna know if he's better then Luke

A: Oh haha. My old crush would make a good boyfriend, well at least I think so. He doesn't like me that way though.

Pfff yeah he does, Percy said to himself.

A: But I do like Luke, well at least a little

P: So your dating a guy you only semi like?

A: He's just very different from the other people I hang around 

P: Oh

~~~~

The next day at school Percy was helping Annabeth carry her books. Now with the knowledge of knowing she seriously liked him he was so awkward around her. It was like every sentence he tried to get out he just couldn't.  Even Annabeth could tell something was up with him. 

"Percy, you've been acting strange. Is this about Luke? He's only here for another couple of days you know." Annabeth looked at him with worried eyes. 

Percy fought the urge to tell her. 

"I'm fine. Just- a- uh- just a little jungled- I MEAN jumbled." 

Annabeth smiled. 

"You don't sound fine but I believe you." 

The amount of times Percy wanted to tell her that he knew, were endless. Sometimes he wanted her to break up with Luke, but that would be mean to get in the way, so now it was Percy's turn to fight back.

Game on Luke.