A Little Ambrosia For Your Day (Percabeth One-Shots)

Middle School Romances

Percy's POV

"Happy birthday, man!" Leo announces, pausing to slap my back before sitting down with the rest of my friends.

I wince. "Thanks, Leo."

"Of course."

Frank's eyes round. "It's your birthday today?"

"Yikes." Leo whistles, "You're lucky it's Percy and not someone who cares."

Jason, Grover, and I laugh. Nico does this small sort of half smile. "Yeah it is. Don't worry 'bout it, bro."

And I mean it. It doesn't matter to me that much. Frank is such a good friend that he could forget my name and I wouldn't mind.

"I've known you for what, a year? We met last year in sixth grade? And I don't even know what your birthday is."

"Even I remembered, and I'm stupid," Leo says as he plays a beat on the cafeteria table. We chill in the café before school starts every morning.

Frank's smile drops.

Jason notices. "Don't get all sentimental, dude. He doesn't care."

"Does he care about anything?" Grover asks. I punch his shoulder.

"Shut up guys. It's fine Frank, really."

"Well, happy birthday."

"Thanks."

Leo's eyes rest on something behind me. Grover and I notice instantly. Grover waves before I can turn to look.

Annabeth waves back to Grover, and I instinctively raise my hand as well. I feel like a moron for a couple of seconds until she shifts her wave to me although it gets smaller.

We turn back around. The others greet me with a smirk.

"What?"

"Dont 'what' us," Jason says, shaking his finger at me like a grandma.

"Don't do that, man. That's weird." Leo tugs Jason's finger down. It's a wonder that girls even like Jason. He acts like such a grandparent sometimes. I guess if they're into that kind of thing it makes sense.

"But yeah, don't act like you don't know what you're doing," Leo adds, "She's really hot. If she wasn't so freaking scary, or your girl of course, I'd go for her."

"What?" My face grows hot. I have an idea of what, or who, they're talking about.

"Your little crush over there," Frank whispers loudly, pointing a finger at Annabeth from across the cafeteria. I just about die.

"Get your hand down, dude!" Jason scolds. "You're being so obvious."

Frank turns redder than me. "Sorry," he mumbles sheepishly.

"Grover, you guys are friends right? Why can't you see if she likes him back or something?" Leo asks.

Grover sighs. "I can't just go up to her and ask if she likes my best friend."

"Why not?"

"Yeah, why not?" I blurt out.

"See, Percy's curious." Jason wiggles his eyebrows.

"You look dumb doing that." I suck at changing the topic if that wasn't already clear.

"Who cares? Percy, just make a move!"

"It's not that easy, Frank. She doesn't even like me like that." Who would?

"You're really self-deprecating for a guy who pulls," Leo points out, "I'd get it if you were me, but you're godly around here. Which is stupid, because what do you have that I don't?"