Loverboy (PERCABETH AU)

Chapter 24

Percy POV

It was one of those Thursdays where everything felt like it dragged. I'd forgotten my lunch at home, my locker jammed (again), and I swear my history teacher had it out for me because she kept calling on me even though I obviously wasn't paying attention.

By the time last period rolled around, I was already mentally checked out, counting down the minutes until I could crash on my couch with some leftover pizza.

I didn't even notice Annabeth hanging around by the front steps until I heard her say, "Seaweed Brain."

I slowed down. "Hey... weren't you supposed to have debate club today?"

She shrugged, shouldering her bag. "It got canceled. Walk you home?"

"Uh... sure?" I glanced at her, trying to read her expression. Annabeth's hard to read at the best of times, but there was something about the way she kept glancing at her phone and smiling to herself that made me suspicious.

We walked most of the way in comfortable silence—well, as comfortable as it gets with Annabeth, which means she corrected my math homework halfway there and reminded me twice to actually study for Friday's quiz.

When we got to my building, she followed me inside like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Your mom home?" she asked.

"Nope. She's at work 'til six. Paul's picking up Stella from daycare."

Her smile widened. "Perfect."

"Perfect for...?"

She didn't answer, just set her bag down on the counter and disappeared into the hallway for a second. When she came back, she was holding a bakery box with both hands.

"I made a stop on the way here," she said, setting it down in front of me.

I raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me it's not flashcards."

She rolled her eyes and lifted the lid. Inside was a chocolate cake, frosting neat but not too fancy, with bright blue letters across the top: Happy 3 Weeks!

I stared at it for a second. "...We've been dating three weeks?"

Her eyebrow arched. "Yes, Percy. Today."

"Oh. Right." I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the tips of my ears go warm. "Uh... cool cake."

She crossed her arms, still smiling in that way that made me feel both flustered and weirdly guilty. "Cool cake? That's all you've got?"

"It's—no, it's awesome. Just... I didn't know three weeks was an anniversary thing."

"It is if you want it to be," she said simply.

And that was Annabeth for you—turning a random Thursday into something that actually felt like it mattered.

Annabeth pulled two plates from the cupboard like she owned the place—which, to be fair, she's been here enough times that she probably could've given me a tour of my own kitchen. She handed me one and grabbed forks.

"You didn't answer my question," she said, slicing into the cake with laser precision. "Do you want it to be an anniversary thing?"

I shrugged. "I mean... I guess? If you're into that."

She gave me a look. "I wouldn't have bought a cake if I wasn't into it."

"Fair," I admitted.

We sat at the small table by the window. The cake smelled like actual heaven—rich chocolate with just enough frosting to make my dentist nervous. I took a bite and, not gonna lie, it was good enough to make me temporarily forget that my wallet currently contained exactly four dollars and a train ticket stub.