The Runaway Princess

28. Night Annabeth

My foot taps against the floor as a sit on a couch in the library. Where is he? I wonder as wait for Percy to arrive. As of right on que the library doors swing open and Percy casually walks in. When he spots me, his eyes light up as if he's a child seeing his new puppy for the first time. "Hey," he says, taking a seat next to me. I'm fully aware of the mere inches between us as I reply with a simple "hey."
"I broke up with Emily," he bursts. I stare blankly at him, my mouth slightly ajar. "I-uh-you-you um-sorry what?" I fumble. "Why?" I ask and he looks down, his face slightly red. "Um I-" he starts but I interrupt. "Is it my fault?" I ask cautiously. "No! God no!" He replies quickly. "Well it had to do with you but it's not your fault," he says with honesty. "Then why-"
"Because she was a jerk. Because she thought that she was better than everyone else. Because she changed," he states and I nod. "Also...because she treated you like crap, when you've done nothing wrong. You've got enough to deal with. And besides, you're my cr- um friend, so I can't have her hurting you like she does." Did he almost just call me his crush?
Did he break up with his girlfriend as way of standing up for me? I stare at him with a new passion and respect. Then I did something crazy. I kissed him. Not on the lips. But ever so lightly on the cheek. "Thank you," I whisper. "No problem," Percy says with a boyish smile. At that moment my stomach growled and I realized I hadn't eaten anything at lunch. "Hungry?" Percy asks, and I can tell he's trying not to laugh. I nod. "Pizza?" He asks. "Yes!" I exclaim then blush at my excitement. Percy just laughs leads me out to his car.

The pizza place was a cute, quiet (unusual for New York), spot not too far from our school. I smile as Percy holds the door open for me and we wait to be seated. Our waitress is an older women, a lady in about her mid-fifties, with curly brown gray hair tied back in a bun and soft brown eyes.
"Is this a date?" She asks with a playful smile as Percy and I sit down. I look at Percy and notice that his face looks about as red as mine feels. "No ma'am...we're just friends," I say politely. She looks at me then at Percy. "Ok, well what will you be having to drink?"

"Coke," Percy and I say in perfect sync. The waitress raises her eyebrows before walking away. I look back at Percy. "Well that was awkward," Percy says with a bright smile. I nod and smile back. We meet eyes and both burst out laughing. I wrap my arms around my stomach, trying to contain my laughter. "Why are we even laughing?" I ask once we calm down and Percy shrugs. About 5 minutes later the waitress comes back with our drinks and we order our pizzas. "I need to tell you something," I say halfway through our meal. Percy raises his eyebrows and gestures for me to continue. "I- you know the dance our school threw a few months ago?"
Percy nods.
"Well, I'm Cinderella," I say quietly. At first Percy looks shocked, but gradually with expression brightens and a smile forms on his face. Confusion fills me when he doesn't say anything. I want him to at least say something. He just sits there smiling. Finally, he asks the waitress for the bill. "Next time you folks come here, it had better a date!" She said with a wink and a friendly grin. We laugh and exit the restaurant before heading back to the car.
"I knew it all along, you know that right?" Percy says as we get in the car. "Knew what?"
"That you were Cinderella," he says with a smirk. I roll my eyes. "No you didn't!" I exclaim as he starts the engine. "Did too!" He says with a smirk. "Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!" He exclaims then blinks. "Wait! You tricked me!" He says sounding hurt and I laugh. We continue to talk as he drives back to the school parking lot. Now normally I'd have him drop me off at home but my car is still in the school parking lot so we have to go there.
When we reach the parking lot Percy turns to me and smiles. "Thanks," I say. "For what?" He asks looking puzzled. "Everything," I say. "No problem," he says with a nod. I smile and get out of the car.
I've just reached my car when I hear another car door slam. I turn around and saw Percy walking towards me. I raise my eyebrows at him. He smirks, and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. "Night Annabeth," he says before hopping back in his truck and driving off, leaving me there in the school parking lot, my mouth hanging open, a hand lightly touching the spot where his lips touched my cheek.