Percabeth, meet Others

Chapter Four: Laura Burns, the Swimmer

Hey guys! I'm so sorry for neglecting my stories, and I thank everyone who loves my stories. But to me, they sucked. I didn't even use one super important tool in writing with dialogue. I'll include it now though! I'm writing a book though, and I'm really busy, but this'll be a side hobby. I'll try to update whenever I find the time to. If you guys could give some ideas, that'd be nice. I'm just going with the cliche things, but with my own little twist. So... I don't own PJO, nor HOO, so yeah...

Laura's POV

If perfection ever was a human, it was Percy Jackson. He was a partner in my Olympics swim team, and he was godly. Godly! Ha!

Hot, athletic, sweet, he was... as I said before, perfect.

"Hey, Laura!" Percy's voice rang through the pool room. We were using a college pool, so...

"Yeah?" I brushed a hazel curl behind my ear.

"Well, I'm having a pool party at my house soon. Would you like to come?" He cast his gaze down, almost in a bashful manner.

"Of course! I was wondering when you'd finally invite me to your house." I added a wink at the end.

"Well your dreams. Have been realized." Percy smirked that troublemaker smile at me. I swear, my heart literally melted. (No! The correct term is figuratively! No!)

See, we'd had this on/off flirting thing for years. That meant he was definitely interested in me. I really wished he was. There is a time when we meet our destined one, and Percy was mine, I know it! At least I hoped. Because after this, I would be lucky to find anyone that could relate to me as much.

"Great, here's the address." He handed me a slip of paper, and our thumbs touched. Touched! "I really want you there!"

I nodded, giddy from his touch. Even if it was just a brush, I was a young adult in love. Who can relate? Every girl that has fallen in love, or very strong like.

Even if Percy had left, I stayed, rooted to that spot for another fifteen minutes. I held the slip in my hand. I wanted him to be mine so bad. I needed him, and next time, I would try my hardest, to be noticed for who I could be with him, and hope. And hope. That he would pay a little attention. And see a beautiful, confident girl that could be perfect for him. Just for him.

I don't care what Mrs. Popular says. I'm not useless. I have worth. Percy will give me hope. He'll be different. He will see that I am not just another girl. I'm special. I am! No matter what that girl I picked on said. I'm not just insecure. I have a conscience, and I have empathy. I have a heart! No matter what Annabeth says...

"You look so beautiful!" Sara, another swim mate, said.

I turned around, looking at myself in the long mirror. A pale green one piece with peacock feather designs made my body look a lot better than what it was. Natalie doesn't matter now. I'm perfect the way I am. My favorite part was that at the edges of the material, there was a delicate, sewed pattern of tulips. A small beauty, that you had to look to see. Not an outright beauty. Just like me...

"I think so too." I twirled around. I just hoped Percy liked it too.

"Laura! You're astonishing!" Those were Percy's first words when he looked at me in the previous bathing suit and a light, filmy beige jacket.