The Dance at Camp Half-Blood - A Percabeth Short Story

PERCY - Part 1

     Percy hummed as he got ready in his cabin. The suit he'd bought for tonight hung unworn in his closet. Next to him, Tyson excitedly fiddled with his bowtie. "I am going to a dance," he said. "With Ella. Ella is pretty."
     As Tyson rambled on about Ella, Percy felt a pang of sadness in his chest. He had no one to go with. The dance had been Chiron's idea, a way to boost camp morale. Last weekend, he'd sent the cabins out in small groups to the nearest shopping center, and allowed them each to buy one thing to wear to the dance. Percy had gotten a suit, but he was getting less and less excited to wear it. He hated dressing up. It reminded of when he was little, and his mother would fuss over the state of his shirt collar before school dances. He had always gone to those alone.
     He changed into the suit he'd bought. The shirt buttons were annoying. This is why he hated dressing up. He slid on the navy blue coat and fiddled with the collar. He had debated buying a tie, but had decided it would have made it look like he enjoyed dressing up. Percy looked at his reflection in the mirror. He grabbed a comb and tried to flatten down his hair, but it stuck right back up in it's trademark messiness. He looked over at Tyson to see him in dress pants, a white button-down, and a black vest with a checkered red bowtie.
     "Do I look ok?" he asked.
     "Yeah. Yeah, you look great." Percy smiled and the two of them left Cabin #3. Supposedly the dance was the dining pavilion, but Percy didn't see how they could make wooden picnic tables fancy. The two split up as Tyson went looking for Ella and Percy headed for the Zeus cabin.
     Just as he got there, the door opened and Jason stepped out in a dark grey suit and black tie. His hair was combed back and he'd ditched his glasses. He looked all handsome and neat and perfect. Basically the exact opposite of how Percy looked, with his messy black hair and lack of a tie.
     "Hey, man." Jason said. "You look great."
     "Uh, thanks. So do you. I just thought I'd stop by. You know, so we can walk there together."
Jason smiled and nodded. "Let's go."
     As they approached the dining pavilion, Percy realized that it was much nicer than he'd anticipated. The wooden picnic tables had been removed completely and replaced by small round ones covered in white tablecloths. The large patch of grass in the center had been replaced by a black tiled dance floor, and the trees surrounding the area had been strung with thousands of fairy lights. Chiron was talking to Mr. D at the front, his human half in a tuxedo.
     Jason glanced around. "They really cleaned this place up, right?" Percy nodded. "Hey, I see Piper. Do you mind if I..."
     Percy glanced up. "Oh. Yeah, of course. Go have fun."
     Jason grinned. "Thanks, man. I'll see you later." He headed over to Piper, who was wearing a bright pink dress, her brown hair pulled back. Percy resigned himself to sitting at one of the tables and watching them, seeing as he had nothing better to do. As they danced and laughed, the sadness in Percy's chest only grew. After a few minutes, he was just about ready to check the time and head back to his cabin when he heard her voice.
     "Psst! Seaweed Brain!"
     He turned to see Annabeth standing behind him. His mouth dropped open. She was dressed in a silver gown, her blond curly hair tucked behind her ears and spilling over her shoulders. Ribbons of sheer fabric twirled around her, and she was wearing makeup. Percy had only seen her in makeup once before, after Circe's makeover. This time, it enhanced her features instead of covering them up. Her grey eyes sparkled and matched her dress perfectly. She was literally glowing. She looked good. Really good. It occured to Percy that he was gaping at her like an idiot. Or a fish.
     He opened his mouth to say something, but all he got out was, "Hee. Um, hi. I meant hi."
     She smiled. "Hi. Nice suit."
     "Thankss." He dragged the S out for too long, so he sounded like a dracaene hissing. He kicked himself internally. He looked like an idiot. She was making him nervous.
     She glanced over at Jason and Piper. "Do you want to dance?"
     The question took Percy by surprise. "Uh, me?"
     Annabeth rolled her eyes. "No, Seaweed Brain, the empty chair next to you. Yes, you. Just as friends."
     Percy got up. "Sure, Wise Girl. Why not?"
     As Annabeth took his hand and led him to the dance floor, the sadness in his chest melted away. She seemed to have that effect on him. He noticed Leo standing next to the DJ, whispering excitedly and occasionally glancing at them. The moment they reached the dance floor, the song changed from upbeat to a slow-dancing song. Percy stared daggers at Leo, but he just mouthed you'll thank me later and ran off.
     His annoyance at Leo must have been clear on his face, but Annabeth just laughed. "Relax, it's not that difficult. See, your right hand goes here." She moved his hand so it was on her waist. Percy felt his heartbeat grow faster in his chest. "Then my left hand goes on here." She stepped closer placed her hand on his shoulder. "Then your left hand goes in my right." She grabbed his hand. He was 95% sure that his palms were sweaty from nervousness.
     "Now we shuffle awkwardly until the song is over." She smiled, a radiant smile that made him melt a little.
     "Okay."
     They started dancing, and Percy thought it was going alright until something happened. Annabeth stepped closer and leaned her head on his shoulder. His heart was pounding so loudly, he was sure she could hear it. His stomach was full of butterflies, and it felt like hundreds of pachinko balls were bouncing off the walls of his chest. He tried to steady his breathing so Annabeth wouldn't think he was a freak who hyperventilated every time he came in contact with a girl.
     Once the song ended, Annabeth pulled Percy off the dance floor and sat down next to him at a table. Their knees were touching. "Not a bad dancer, Seaweed Brain."
     "Hm? Oh, uh, thanks. Neither are you." He wasn't typically the stuttering type, and he'd known Annabeth for years, but for some reason he felt nervous.
     Annabeth gazed at Jason dancing with Piper for a moment. "Truth or dare?"
     Percy glanced up. "Dare."
     "Go flirt with Clarisse," she said with no hesitation.
     Percy stared at her. "You're kidding, right? She'd snap my neck."
      Annabeth shrugged. "You chose dare."
     "Fine. I'm changing it to truth."
     She thought for a moment. "Who's the better fighter? You or me?"
     Percy hesitated. "I mean, you're a great fighter, don't get me wrong, but..."
     She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
     "Come on. Let's be realistic here."
     "Fine. How about a bet? We go to the arena right now. If you win..?"
     Percy took a deep breath. "You have to go on a date with me." It was risky, and he was terrified of her reaction.
     She just shrugged. "Okay. Let's go."