Loverboy (PERCABETH AU)

Chapter 37

Percy POV

The afternoon sun was warm, soft light bouncing off the sidewalks as we walked toward the boardwalk. Reyna had cornered me earlier that morning, her stoic expression hiding a hint of unease.

"Percy," she said, voice calm but firm, "I need your help with something. I... I don't even really know what's going on, but me and my boyfriend broke up."

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to smile at the awkward honesty. "Alright. Lead the way."

Piper and Jason insisted on tagging along, of course, their easy banter keeping the mood lighter than it probably should have been. And, much to my surprise, Annabeth quietly trailed behind, arms crossed, her expression unreadable but her eyes betraying curiosity.

As we reached the little café at the edge of the boardwalk, Reyna spotted him. He was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, shoulders slumped slightly. He looked guilty, nervous, and a little lost.

"There," Reyna said softly, almost to herself. "That's him."

I glanced at her. "So... what happened?"

She hesitated, then shrugged. "We just... got stuck. We fell into a pattern, and then one day we just... broke. I don't know. I guess we stopped paying attention to what we were actually feeling."

I nodded thoughtfully, smiling a little. "Okay. First things first—you're still in love with him, right?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, a faint nod barely visible. "Yeah. I am."

"Good," I said. "Then listen carefully. If you don't like the way your love is going, if it feels stale or boring, you don't stop. You don't give up. You find a new way to make it work. Take a walk on the boardwalk instead of the usual coffee date. Try a picnic instead of the same old dinner. Change it up, be creative, and most importantly... don't stop loving the person you care about."

Her eyes widened slightly, like she was considering it for the first time. "You... really think that can work?"

I shrugged, grinning. "I've seen it work before. Sometimes all it takes is a little perspective, a little courage... and maybe a push from someone who believes in you."

Her boyfriend looked up just then, finally noticing us. His eyes met hers, shadowed with guilt. "Reyna... I'm sorry," he murmured, voice low and tentative. "I didn't realize... I wasn't paying attention to what we had. I thought I could just keep going like nothing had changed, but I see now that I was wrong."

Reyna smiled faintly, her tension easing. "I'm sorry too. I guess I didn't know how to fix it either. I wanted to make it work, but I didn't know how."

I stepped closer, just a little, and offered them a reassuring grin. "See? There's your chance. Shake things up, try something new, and keep loving each other. That's all it takes. Well... that and honesty."

They laughed softly, awkwardly at first, then more naturally. Slowly, their hands brushed, testing the waters, tentative but promising. By the time they smiled at each other properly, I knew they were on the right track again.

Annabeth, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke, her voice soft but incredulous. "Percy... that's actually... really smart. I didn't think you'd... think like that."

I grinned, tipping an imaginary hat. "Sometimes the best way to help is to remind people that love doesn't have to be the same every day. Just... keep trying, even when it's messy."

Annabeth shook her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You really have a way of making things make sense... even when you're being ridiculous."