𝒞𝒶𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝒸 | ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ¹

11. A break in routine

｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡

If the sun refused to shine

Baby, would I still be your lover?

Would you want me there?

If the moon went dark tonight

And if it all ended tomorrow 

Would I be the one on your mind?

｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡

❤︎ Helena's eyes dart back and forth between her phone and the door.

She had finished reading all of Percy's letter's yesterday and then decided to listen to all of his voicemails and read the texts and the emails. 

All of it led up to this moment.

She steeled her nerves and smoothed out the non-existent creases on the dress Ethan had helped her pick out. 

And as the time changes on her phone from 5:59 to 6:00, a knock echoes through the apartment. Every day at six, like clockwork.

She throws the door open and is met with a very startled Percy Jackson.

She watches as he quickly stands up, straightening his shirt and gives her an awkward smile.

"You, uh, I—hi," Percy stutters out. "You don't, um, normally open the door when I leave the flower."

"No, I don't," Helena said.

"Why -" Percy's voice cracks; he clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck. "Why is time different?"

"Do you want me to close the door?"

"No!" Percy almost steps on the flower as he places a hand on the door, stopping her from closing it. "It's just—this is different."

Helena sniffs lightly, trying to act like this wasn't a big deal. "I needed a change."

"Like your hair?"

Helena rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.

"You are going to take me out. On a date. Right now."

Percy's eyes widen, and his mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.

"I'm going to take you on a date," he repeats. "Would you like to go out on a date? With me?"

"Yes," Helena said. "Right now."

"Like, right now, right now?"

"Right now, Percy."

"Right now," Percy repeats. "Like now?"

Helena takes a deep breath. "You know what? Forget it."

She bends down, picking up the flower and starts to close the door but Percy is faster than she is. He grabs her arm and pulls her away from the door and into the hallway. 

She stumbles slightly, head hitting his chest. Percy doesn't seem to realise or care; he's too busy muttering under his breath. The door to her apartment clicks softly into place behind her.

"You want to see a movie?" Percy asked quickly. "Or are you—have you eaten? Are you hungry? We could go eat? Or I don't know—fuck."

He prattles on about places he could take her. Helena watches him with thinly veiled amusement.