For the First Time- A Percabeth Story

Chapter 31- She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

Percy Jackson

That conversation, I realized something. I realized that I like Annabeth Chase. Even though she was stubborn and big headed and bossy, it didn't matter. I managed at make my way back inside and sat at the table. Annabeth's eyes looked everywhere but at me. I chimed into some of the conversations so it wouldn't look suspicious- hey, the big, bad Percy Jackson does not cry over a girl. Even though the one that I liked which in a relationship with one of my friends. Did I even have a chance with Annabeth? Of course I did. At the movie night. And I blew it like a bomb.

When I noticed her peek under the table and her face turn sheet white, I knew something was wrong. Why does every Thanksgiving have something bad happen to it? I knew right away what was going on. Travis and Katie were playing footsy, under the table... While that jerk was sitting right beside her.

I felt my teeth clench and my fists ball up. I felt the urge to protect her. 

Yeah, I sounded like a cliché weenie, but a heroic cliché weenie, right?

"That was amazing, Mrs. Stoll," Annabeth said. I knew her well enough to know that she was using her happy voice to cover up her straining voice. She knew how.

There were no more secrets.

I only wish I had gotten to tell her, so that maybe she'd come to me for comfort instead of having to deal with this and untangle the confusion.

Why hadn't I told her?

I don't know, I was going to, but then I saw how pretty she was today and I just... I had to let her know I liked her before Travis hurt her. Before she knew about Katie and Travis... And the tree and the footy... Also I felt like Travis should have been the one to tell her, not some third party bystander that just walked in at the wrong time. I decided that I was going to confront Travis and ask him what was going on.

"Are you done, Annabeth?" Mrs. Stoll asked, smiling tightly and blinking her long eyelashes. I guess she really liked Annabeth.

That makes two of us.

"Yes, ma'am. I need to call my, uh..." she trailed off. "My friend Malcolm."

"Malcolm?" Travis asked. "The smart one?"

"Yeah." She stiffened and didn't look at him. Instead, she studied the tablecloth when she spoke. She seemed really interested in it. To me, it didn't seem that interesting, though there was a pretty cool hole that looked like a slice of pizza.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "She still has my phone." 

"Yeah, I need to ask him about our science project," she lied swiftly. I knew it was a lie because she was in my science class and we had no project.

"Sure, honey. Rest up; we're leaving to go shopping at seven tonight," Travis said. Annabeth looked about ready to rip his head off when he called her honey.

"I don't think I'm going," Annabeth said. "I have a bad headache. I'm going to call Malcolm and then maybe take a nap," she directed to Thalia.

"Sure, do you need some Tylenol? I have some in my purse in my room," Thalia said. "I get dizzy sometimes in long car rides so I brought it with me."

"Thanks," Annabeth said, leaving the room.

"I'm kind of full now, too," Piper said. "I should go check on her..."

"Go ahead," Mrs. Stoll said a worried expression on her face. "You guys can go to the grocery store if you want, if she needs some fresh air or something."