Loverboy (PERCABETH AU)

Chapter 20

Percy POV

I was halfway to my locker when Jason showed up beside me, all casual like he hadn't just disappeared for three days because of "family stuff."

"Morning, Waterboy," he said.

"Morning, Sparky," I shot back. "You've been MIA. Thought maybe I'd plan your funeral."

Jason smirked. "Nah. You can't get rid of me that easily."

Right on cue, Piper swooped in from behind and slid her arm through his. "You wish, Grace."

Then she tilted up and kissed his cheek before leaning against him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I stopped dead in the middle of the hallway, clutching my chest like I'd just been personally victimized. "Oh, come on. PDA before I've even had breakfast? My eyes, Pipes. My poor eyes."

Piper rolled hers so hard I thought they might get stuck. "It's literally a cheek kiss, Perce."

"It's betrayal," I corrected. "You know, I still can't believe you stole Jace from me. We had something special."

Jason gave me a look. "We did not."

"Don't lie to yourself," I said gravely. "You and me, Sparky, we were unstoppable—until she came along."

Piper smacked my arm on her way past. "Get over it, drama queen."

I trailed after them, still shaking my head. "One day, Jace, you'll realize I was the one who truly understood you."

Jason just laughed, and Piper groaned. "You two are hopeless."

"Yeah," Jason said, slinging his arm around her shoulders, "but you love us anyway."

"Unfortunately," she muttered, but she was smiling.

We made it to our chem class just before the bell. Piper dropped into her seat next to Jason, and I took mine behind them.

Annabeth was already there, hair pulled back, pen in hand, flipping through her notes like she was single-handedly keeping the class from descending into chaos. Which, let's be honest, she probably was.

"Morning, Wise Girl," I said, sliding into my chair.

She didn't even look up. "Morning, Seaweed Brain. Did you do the homework?"

I winced. "Technically... yes. If you count doing it in my head and forgetting to write it down."

She gave me that slow, calculating stare that made me feel like she was mentally writing a detailed list of all my flaws. "That's not doing the homework."

"Agree to disagree."

Class went by in a blur of me trying to keep my eyes open and Annabeth giving me that look every time I started doodling in the margins.

By lunch, Jason had to head off for some student council thing, so Piper and I sat at our usual table. She was picking at her salad like it had personally offended her.

"You're quiet," I said. "That's scary."

"Just thinking," she replied.

I narrowed my eyes. "About what?"

"About how you've been hanging out with Annabeth a lot lately." She smirked. "More than usual."

Here we go.

"Pieps," I said, pointing my fork at her, "don't start."

"I'm just saying—"

"Nope."