Define Beauty

Annoying Ass Ex-Boyfriend

Annabeth waited as Piper spoke with her mother outside the room. Annabeth swore she had some sort of magic in her mouth. It had already been twenty minutes. Annabeth's stepmother was never this talkative.

"I really do need to go now, Mrs. Chase. Yes, of course, I'll make sure Annie stays out of trouble. You too, Mrs. Chase. Okay. Good night, Mrs. Chase. M'kay. Bye."

Annabeth could almost hear Piper sigh exaggeratedly before the door opened to reveal the slightly annoyed Native American girl.

"Good Christ," She complained loudly as she flopped into bed. "She almost talked my ear off. I thought she'd never shut up." Piper exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air then letting them fall back onto her chest, crossed. Annabeth almost giggled at the sixteen year old girl, huffing like a child.

Almost as if she was able to detect Annabeth's amusement at the situation, Piper looked up with a mock glare. "Don't laugh. No matter how pretty it makes you look." She added, now smirking kind of deviously as all trace of laughter left Annabeth's features to be replaced by an embarrassed look as color quickly rose to her cheeks.

"You said you wouldn't do that." Annabeth said, shoving her face into the nearest pillow to attempt to hide her blush.

Piper's smirk turned into a full-fledged grin. "I said I wouldn't do it quite so much."

Annabeth whined unhappily.

Without warning, Piper reached over and laced their fingers together, making Annabeth quickly look up with a surprised squeak. Before Annabeth could complain about the abnormal color of her face she noticed a light in Piper's eyes, not quite the merry glint she always had. Something a bit more genuine and intense. Annabeth felt her heart stop.

But then it was gone as quickly as it came and Piper flashed her another killer smile.

"Well, it's been a while but whenever I have someone over my dad let's me order pizza. Cheese or pepperoni?"

But Annabeth was still breathless. Whatever it was she had seen in Piper's eyes she wanted it.

"Hello? Earth to Annabeth? Annie?" Piper asked, slowly swiping her hand over Annabeth's line of vision. That's what it took for Annabeth to snap out of it as she shook her head twice and spouted of the first answer that came to her mind.

"Cheese." Piper nodded and pulled out her phone.

As Piper left the room to order their pizza, Annabeth threw herself back onto the bed. "What the hell was that?" She muttered to herself, feeling her heart was still suffering the effects of stopping and being restarted. So much for trained emotions, Annabeth's brain had almost short circuited. But it wasn't even a debate in her mind now. She was going to see that glint again, no matter what it took.

Piper came back and the first thing Annabeth saw was that her eyes had turned so blue they were almost purple. "Pizza's on it's way. Wanna watch something?" Annabeth nodded, tearing her eyes away.

They started watching what was apperently Piper's favorite series. Annabeth enjoyed seeing how invested she was in the characters' emotions. How her entire face seemed to light up, how her body seemed to react on its own, hand smacking her pillow in outrage or her entire form collapsing in relief. It distracted Annabeth to the point that she didn't realize Piper had sneakily tangleled their legs toegther, their ankles crossed, under the blankets. Annabeth wondered if her face would ever be the color it was supposed to again.

With that, Piper's phone rang.

She picked it up without taking her eyes from the screen, putting it on speaker and muting the show, though the subtittles were on and Annabeth could tell her attention was more focused on them than the conversation she was having with the caller.

"Yo, Pipes, where you at?"

"No where, Grace."

"Aw c'mon girl, I used to be Sparky."

"You used to be many things. Including less annoying."

"Haha, real funny Pipes."

"Seriously, Grace fuck off already. I don't wanna have to block your number."

"You're the one who hasn't hung up yet, and that makes me think that there might still be a-"

Piper pressed the hang up button.

"Sorry about the interruption, I thought it was the pizza calling."

Annabeth couldn't quite find her voice.

"Who was that?" She really hoped her voice didn't sound as unsteady as it did when she heard it.

"Annoying ass ex boyfriend who won't stop bothering me."

Annabeth hoped she hadn't heard right.

Piper turned the volume back on just as her phone rang again. She hit the button so hard Annabeth jumped a bit.

"Grace, I swear to God-"

"Your pizza is here, Miss McLean."

Piper calmed down. "I'm sorry, Ann, I thought it was someone else calling. Can you send it up?"

"Sure can. Would you like plates also?"

"And napkins, that'd be great Ann, thanks."

Annabeth was relieved to have something to do with her hands when the pizza came up. It was six slices, three for each, though Anmabeth didn't want her third. Piper made sure she wouldn't be hungry, before calling and having someone take it away.

She turned off the tv and threw herself back onto her bed dramatically. She glanced up at Annabeth in a silent invation to follow her.

"Anywhere you need to be tomorrow?" Piper asked. Annabeth shrugged. Her family would probably be dragged off to church by her stepmother. She herself being an atheist was happy not doing that.

"Anywhere you want to be tomorrow?" Piper once again began threading their legs together. It distracted Annabeth for a while so it was a few seconds before she answered.

"I don't want to trouble you."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Let's phrase it like this. Please, please, please give me and excuse to not be in this house tomorrow for the better part of the day."

Annabeth laughed, which made Piper smile and scoot closer. They were both laying on their sides facing each other, inches apart.

"Well," Annabeth stretched out the word, seeing Piper's eyes light up. "There's a new bookstore opening up about a half hour away. My favorite author is gonna be there to sign copies for his new book. If you wouldn't mind-"

"Of course I wouldn't. I'll get you there bright and early and you'll have the time of your life."

Annabeth cheered hapily. She had been counting down the days to the event. She had been sure she wouldn't be able to go. Now the thought of seeing the man face to face made her entire body shake with anticipation.

Piper smiled wide and leaned in like lightning. She pressed their lips together as Annaneth made a very loud squeak and then wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist snuggling into the crook of her neck and hitting the control for the lights with her foot, swiftly putting it back next to Annabeth's.