Water and Wisdom

#3 - The Sea-Green-Eyed Monster

#3 – The Sea-Green-Eyed Monster

Flashback

JOSIE

Looking back at the sea-green-eyed boy of her dreams, Josie smiled to herself.

Maybe her feelings were confusing.

Maybe her head was messed up.

Maybe she had had a sleepless night.

But she had never felt more awake.

Maybe, just maybe, this quest wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

PERCY

For some strange reason, Percy had greatly enjoyed Josie Adkin's company last night. Sure, she was pretty, what with the bronze hair and chocolate eyes. But it was her presence that just warmed him to the core. Of course, his night had gotten so much better when the love of his life, Annabeth, had appeared. Percy loved how her blonde waves flowed in the wind, and how her stormy eyes bore into him with every gaze. He just loved her in general and–

"Dude! Percy! Percy Jackson! Anyone in there?" Jason's voice broke Percy out of his daydreaming. Blinking heavily, Percy looked to his best buddy. "What?" he said in a dazed tone. Jason whispered, "You're staring at Josie." Percy's eyes widened, "What–" Leo chuckled, "Dude, it's fine. If you're sick and tired of Annabeth, then–"

"No! Leo!" Percy exclaimed. It was times like this that he wished that he had not begged Chiron to let the campers choose their own tables. Disbelievingly, he spluttered, "I was not staring at Josie! In fact, I was just staring into space, while daydreaming about Annabeth!"

Jason raised an eyebrow, "Did you seriously just tell us that you were zoning out because of Annabeth?" Nodding angrily, Percy protested indignantly, "Yes! Because it's the only thing that will convince you that I was not staring at Josie!" Frank glanced at him, "Whatever you say, Percy. Whatever you say."

Huffing an angry breath, Percy got up, locking eyes with a pair of grey pools. Annabeth inclined her head infinitesimally, suddenly scraping her chair against the grund as she got up. Announcing that she had blueprints to finish, Annabeth looked at Percy once more before heading to her cabin.

Percy grinned to himself. They had done this so many times. After she reached her cabin, Annabeth would double back the other way and walk towards the training grounds, slipping into the Poseidon cabin on the way. After ten minutes, Percy stood up abruptly, "Okay, I'm sick of you guys saying that I was staring at Josie."

"So you were staring at Josie?" Frank's eyes widened. Percy gritted his teeth, "For the last, bloody time! I was not staring at Josie Adkins!" It came out a little louder than he meant for it to. With all the eyes of the campers on him, including a blushing Josie, Percy stormed back to his cabin, ignoring the laughs of his friends behind him.

---

"Hey," A soft voice called out from behind him. Lifting his gaze off the floor, Percy turned to see Annabeth standing a few meters behind him, on the other side of his bed in the Poseidon cabin. Her gaze was wary, hiding something, secretive and calculating. Percy looked at her, saying weakly, "Hi."

Annabeth swallowed, "So... Look, we have to talk about something." Percy furrowed his eyebrows. She sounded so serious. He plunged into a fast recall of the previous day's happenings. Had he touched her stuff? No. Had he messed with anything she owned? No. Had he been spending time with her? Yes... No. But he had been busy training. Had he made out with someone else? Definitely no.