TASTE OF YOU . . . percabeth

eighteen

"ARE WE EVER going to talk about this?"

Emmy turned to Percy, raising her eyebrows. That didn't sound good. "Talk about what?"

It was August now, and today was the last day before Emmy set out on a trip to Rio. It was partly for business, but mostly for pleasure. She wanted to go to Rio so badly, and now she had the chance to.

When she'd told Percy about the trip, he'd looked relieved. And, honestly, even a little more excited than she was about the trip.

"How long?" he'd asked.

"Until the start of the school year, I think," answered Emmy, doing homework for one of her college classes because the grind never stopped with Emerson Sinclair. It was easier now that she wasn't taking high school classes on top of that, though. "At least until Labor Day. Why? Are you going to miss me that much?"

"Y . . . Yes!" Percy blurted. "I will miss you that much."

Thinking about it now, his tone had been weird, but naturally she'd waved it off because she's used to his weird behavior at this point.

"I'll grab you a souvenir," she told him. "Just don't forget about me."

"Forget you? Never."

"Did you hear what I said?" his voice brought her back to reality.

She frowned, thinking about it for a second. What did he ask? Oh, right. "No, I didn't."

"You don't listen to me at all, is that what I'm getting here?"

Emmy tilted her head, smirking at him. "Am I supposed to?"

"You—" he started, but then he cut himself off. "Whatever. Can you listen to me for a second?"

"I can listen," she said. "Doesn't mean I have to respond."

"So you don't want to explain to me what we are?" he responded. "Because we've kissed too many times to be just friends."

"What do you want us to be, then?" Emmy looked down at where she was crossing and uncrossing her ankles.

Percy sighed. "I don't know. I'm not ready for a relationship."

"And I don't have time," she said. "We're just friends, Percy, alright? It's okay. We don't have to put a label on anything. I don't think we're ready for that."

"Right . . ." he said, and he sounded so despondent that she sighed and got up, walking over to him.

"Hey," she said softly. "Talk to me. You can tell me anything."

He was quiet, not even looking up at her.

"I'm serious," she insisted. "I'll listen. If you want a response, I'll respond. If you want advice, I'll try my best. If you just need to talk, I'll just let you talk."

Quiet. Then: "can you do me a favor, first?"

"As long as it's not buying you a car for your birthday," she told him. "You have a Pegasus. Why would you need a car? From me, out of all people? You're friends with Rachel Dare. Get her to buy you a car."

Percy rolled his eyes, but she knew he was coming around. "Yeah, but you're richer. And you're allowed to buy me a car."

Emmy snorted. "Why, because I don't have a parent to oversee my decisions? I see how it is."

"You know I didn't mean it like that." His gaze went to her eyes, staring so long she felt a little uncomfortable.

"I hate them," she admitted, sitting on the chair in front of him.