The Runaway Princess

21. Singing, Pool Noodles, and Old Ladies Named Karen

Percy was singing. I bite back a laugh after I caught onto the song. It was Stitches by Shawn Mendes. The weirdest part is though, that he wasn't actually that bad. Percy Jackson could sing, who knew? I finally get over my shock and notice Sally biting back a laugh. I blush and make my way down the hallway. Percy is sitting in his desk chair, singing and throwing a mini basketball in a hoop mounted to the wall. I tiptoe up behind him and get ready to scare him. However, right before I jump, Percy whips around and grabs me by the waist. My face turns red at our close proximity. "Trying to scare me?" Percy asks. "Maybe...." I say, trying to hide my guilty smile. "Oh well in that case," he pulled me closer and closer with every word. My breath catches as I'm now basically like sitting in his lap. That's when the laughing starts. Percy tickles my sides and I just lose it. "Stop! Stop!" I beg in between laughs. Finally Percy stops and I scramble away. Percy looks amused as I try to catch my breath.
I roll my eyes and take a seat on the carpet. "So, about that play idea-" I start but Percy cuts me off. "It's not working," he states with a frown  and I nod. "But-" I say, causing Percy to perk up, "I have another idea." Percy, looking anxious, gestures for me to go on. "Well, what if we did like a model of a Greek city or something," I suggest and Percy smiles. "Sounds great Wisegirl." My heart races at the nickname, but I try not the let it show. "Well, as great of an idea as it might be, we don't have any material," I say, my heart returning to normal pace. "Looks like we need to go shopping!" Percy says with a goofy grin. I smile back. Oh boy, this should be interesting.......
                           ~
"Percy put the pool noodle back!" I exclaim as he grabs it from a bin full of different coloured pool toys. We've only been in Walmart for 10 minutes and Percy's already managed to drive me crazy.
"PERCY!" I shout, as he proceeds to hit me on the head with the pool noodle. "What?" He asks innocently, but I can tell he's trying to hide a smirk. "Put. The. Pool. Noodle. Back." I say sternly. "No!" Percy replies, sticking his tongue out like a little kid. I roll my eyes and walk to the arts and crafts section.

I pull out the list and start piling things into the cart, as Percy swings the pool noodle around like a lightsaber. Suddenly, a short women appeared in the aisle. She appeared to be in what might be her late fifties with grating hair and crinkled skin. She wore a red apron and her name tag read; Karen. Obviously, she worked here. I watched carefully as she walked up to Percy, whom had stopped swinging thee noodle the minute he saw her. Percy looked horrified as she reached over and plucked the noodle out of his hands. "These are not to be played with sir!" She declares angrily. "Can't you read?!" She exclaims, pointing a finger towards a sign taped to the noodle bin that reads: DO NOT PLAY WITH

Oops. "No. For a matter of fact I can't." Percy replies calmly. The lady glares at him but doesn't say anything and eventually just walks away. I have hold in a laugh, because the moment that the lady turns the corner, Percy runs to the pool noodle be and grabs a blue one. He walks back over to me and shoots me a boyish grin. I roll my eyes and try to hide my ever growing smile, but fail miserably. Suddenly a thought occurs to me and I stop smiling. "Wait-can you actually not read?" Percy simply nods. "I'm dyslexic," he adds and I nod. We're silent for a while before Percy starts hitting me with the pool noodle....again. He laughs as he bonks me on the head with it. I roll my eyes and continue down the aisles, throwing things into a basket.
"Nice singing by the way," I say with a smirk as we walk into parking lot.
Percy laughs and scratched the back of his neck. "Um yeah about that....can we like....forget that ever happened?" He asks, his cheeks pink.
"So, you mean you don't want me to tell your girlfriend about it?"
Percy freezes.
"No! No please don't tell Emily about that! I'll do anything just don't tell her!"
I chuckle at his panic.
"I was just kidding Seaweed Brain!" I exclaim.
"Seaweed Brain?" Percy asks, raising his eyebrows.
I feel myself turn a little red. "Um yeah...you love the water, so I assumed maybe your head is full of kelp...." I ramble and look up to meet Percy's eyes. To my shock he's beaming. "Well then, I guess I'll just have to call you Wisegirl!"
I tapped my chin for a moment. "I like it." I say simply. Percy smiles. Suddenly I remember Stephanie's plan to have me break up Percy and Emily. Guilt fills my heart and have trouble looking Percy in the eye. I have to tell him the truth, even if it means wrecking my chances of being with him..........