True Love [Percabeth]

Seven - The Truth

I gasp for breath as soon as I resurface. As I start coughing, I try to kick and propel myself upwards, but my shoes are making it hard to do so. My head goes under the water again and I try to use my arms as I struggle to remain afloat.

"Annabeth!" Percy shouts, jumping in after me.

"No, don't-" I go back under again and feel Percy's arms wrap around me. I try to get out of his grip but he's holding me tightly.

Percy turns me around to face him. I try to turn my head and look away but his hand stops me. He touches the side of my face and I feel electric sparks shoot around my body at his touch. No, Annabeth. I scold myself. Don't fall for him again.

"Annabeth," Percy starts to say, and I focus my attention on his words. "Yesterday I saw you here again and I went to go look for you immediately after the show in the lobby where everyone was. Turns out you went back into the arena," he chuckles. "You came out into the lobby and I went to go up to you but Drew stopped me and then kissed me. I pushed her away and went to go after you, but the damage had already been done." He pauses, and I feel his breath on my face as I stare into his sea green eyes. Rachel said that there were probably none like them in the world. I think she's right.

"Wise Girl, from the moment when I first saw you at the show, I've known that I've liked you. And now I know that you liked me back, but I can see that you hate me now." He sighs, and I feel immediately relieved, like a weight has been lifted from my chest. I can breathe freely again.

He still likes me! I think, happiness taking up my body. I want to kiss him, to tell him that I love him, but then I notice the worry taking up his expression and I wonder if he's given up on liking me right now.

"Seaweed Brain," I sigh. "I haven't given up on you yet. And I won't. Not now; not ever.

"At the first show, I was amazed. Slowly, I began to fall for you as the shows continued on. But I never had the courage to talk to you sooner because of Rachel. She liked you too, and she would always go on about you. That's why I was hesitant to like you. Then she admitted that we would make a cute couple, and I let the feeling wash over me. I know now that I love you, and I'm not afraid to hold back. And I think you aren't afraid either." We stare into each other's eyes and I see the relaxation in his expression. He still loves me.

From the stands, I hear Thalia shout: "Just kiss already!"

I oblige to her command. At first Percy doesn't kiss me back and I was scared that he would push me away, but then our lips started moving in sync. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he held onto me tightly as we went underwater.

And from that moment on, I've always known that I'll love him forever. It's true love, after all. And nothing can stand in the way of true love.