Mortals Meet Percabeth

Crossed Current

This is something different, it's a percabeth high school AU

Percy's POV

Annabeth Chase had it all – she was smart, driven, and captain of the debate team, with a spot waiting for her at practically any college of her choice. Everyone loved her, and honestly, it was hard not to. She was helpful and kind to pretty much everyone, even though she had a certain air of unapproachable brilliance. Some of the guys in her crowd called her "the goddess," which didn't surprise me. They were mostly in the Honor Society, the kind of people who breezed through AP courses, like they were born to do it.

Then there was me. Captain of the swim team, decent grades – okay, maybe a little below decent if you asked any of my teachers – and popular enough. I had my friends from the team, and we knew how to have a good time. But if there was anyone who made me feel like my best wasn't enough, it was Annabeth Chase.

For whatever reason, our friend groups didn't get along. Maybe it was because her friends looked at us like we were the reason there were pizza stains on the cafeteria ceiling, and we thought they were too stuck-up to chill. Either way, it was an unspoken rule that we just didn't mix.

It might have stayed that way, too, if we hadn't been forced to work together on a school project.

Day 1: The Project

Mr. Alder, our U.S. History teacher, announced the group projects like he was performing some grand feat. I didn't think much of it – I figured I'd probably end up paired with one of my buddies, maybe do a presentation on the Civil War. Nothing too bad.

But Mr. Alder looked straight at me and called out, "Percy Jackson, you'll be working with Annabeth Chase."

The class went silent. I felt every eye on me and, just out of the corner of my vision, saw Annabeth's head whip around. Her eyes locked with mine, and I could practically see the thoughts running through her mind.

This wasn't good. She was bound to get annoyed with me, and I couldn't imagine she was thrilled, either. I mean, her friends were whispering, and mine were just as bad. My best friend Grover gave me a pitying look like I'd just been sentenced to detention for the rest of the semester.

As soon as the bell rang, Annabeth approached me, her gaze as sharp as her words. "Look, I know your group usually does things at the last minute, but I don't work like that. If we're going to do this, we're doing it right."

"Relax, Chase," I said, rolling my eyes. "I get it. We'll do it your way."

She narrowed her eyes, looking as if she was evaluating me like some ancient artifact. "Good. Meet me in the library after school tomorrow."

She didn't wait for a response, just turned and left, her blonde curls bouncing with each step.

Day 2: The Library

The next day, I walked into the library with a bit of an attitude. If Annabeth thought I'd just sit there and let her call all the shots, she had another thing coming. But when I got there, she was already seated, a mountain of books and a laptop spread out in front of her.

"You're late," she said, not even looking up.

I glanced at the clock. "By like, two minutes."

"Still late." She finally looked up, those storm-gray eyes focused intently on me. "Did you bring anything?"

I held up my history textbook, feeling a little lame compared to her mini-library setup. "Right here."

She sighed, as if I was some hopeless case she'd been tasked with saving. "This project counts for 20% of our grade, Percy. I need you to take it seriously."