TASTE OF YOU . . . percabeth

seventeen

"I SWEAR TO the gods, Emmy, if you don't get your assignments done . . ."

Emmy turned so she could raise an eyebrow at Annabeth from where she was staring out at the snow, absentmindedly petting Snowball, who had ventured his way out of the cat room and into Emmy's lap, staring wondrously out at the snow. Every year he stares out at the snow as if it's the newest, best pair of shoes ever and never looks away. She wishes she could be that carefree.

Even now, Snowball was meowing and pawing at her in an attempt to make her turn back. She turned him around without looking at him so he was still in her lap and looking out at the snow falling on her balcony.

"What are you gonna do about it?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at Annabeth.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at Emmy. She'd been frustrated ever since Emmy told her that she hadn't done any of her homework during the weekend. In her defense, she'd had an event to go to Friday night, Theo had performed yesterday, and here they were today. Of course Emmy didn't have time to do her homework. She wasn't a genius kid like Annabeth who could probably make time bend in her favor so she had extra time to work.

It was so fun, riling Annabeth up. One of Emmy's favorite pastimes.

"I'll steal Snow from you," threatened Annabeth.

"That'll make him angry," Emmy pointed out. "And you don't want Snow mad at you, don't you, angel?"

She ran a hand down Snowball's spine, cooing: "My little snow angel. You don't want to leave me, right?"

In an act of betrayal, Snowball stood up in her lap, stretched, then hopped down and sauntered out of the room.

As Emmy glared after him, she saw in her peripheral vision Annabeth smirking at her. "He's on my side," Annabeth said smugly. "So do your homework, Em."

Emmy scoffed, crossing her arms. "This doesn't change anything."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but Emmy could see the beginnings of an idea forming in her head. Yet she couldn't figure it out.

Not until Annabeth stood up from her spot from Emmy's desk chair and walked up to her. Annabeth paused for a moment, as if reconsidering, before she apparently decided against it. Then she leaned down and kissed her.

Funny, how the last two first kisses she'd had had been the sweetest, gentlest kisses. And the last two second kisses she'd had had been passionate, unrelenting. Clashing lips and noses. Surprised, because she hadn't been expecting it.

This is what happens when someone else initiates the kiss.

But she wasn't complaining, not when she tilted her head so her nose wasn't colliding with Annabeth's. She leaned into the hand on her cheek, drawing from Annabeth's warmth.

As sudden as the kiss had happened, Annabeth pulled away, leaving Emerson Sinclair a breathless, hot mess.

"Every assignment you get done, I'll kiss you," Annabeth said as if nothing had happened.

Emmy stared at her, unable to find any words to say to her.

They never talked about the kiss that Emmy had given Annabeth while Emmy had been sleep deprived. Not after Annabeth had woken her up, not after they'd had dinner together, not before Annabeth had left.

It's been almost a month. Nothing has happened. Maybe Emmy's looked at Annabeth a little weirdly. Longingly. But nothing has happened. Emmy hasn't even told Kylie about it.

Not until now, at least. 

Annabeth smiled down at her. "Are you going to do your homework now?"

Emmy blinked, then nodded. "Yes. Um . . . yeah." Then she whined, putting her head in her hands. "But they take so long!"