Letters of Love: A Percabeth story

Chapter 11

A/N: Wow, over 250 reads. You guys literally make my day. Thanks for sticking with this piece of weirdness so far. Here is the update as promised! :) -Lauren

PS: I plan on making chapter 12 a long one, so that might take a while to upload. I'll try my best to get it up within a week. Fingers crossed! 

"Percy?" I timidly knocked on the faded wooden door, nervously brushing my hair behind my ears. My words were met with silence, and I sighed heavily and rolled my eyes. He could be such a drama queen.

"Percy, I know you're in there. Now answer the door before I ninja kick it open," I called, only half-jokingly. His footsteps thudded against the floor as he finally made his way towards me, opening the door and giving me a wary look.

"No ninja kicking, please."

I cracked a smile for the first time in days. "No ninja kicking, promise. Can I come in?" I asked, attempting to push past into the shadowy cabin, but Percy had wedged himself in the doorframe and refused to move. It was clear I wasn't welcome.

"Okay, can you come outside?" I muttered, walking away for a bit before I turned back around and gave him a 'will-you-please-just-listen-for-a-sec' look.

"Percy, I just want to talk for a minute. I don't bite." I tucked more strands of hair behind my ears. My palms began to sweat. Was he going to refuse to talk?

'Please say you're not mad at me. Please,' my heart begged. His maintained his wary expression for a few heart-pounding moments before it slowly began to dissolve and he stepped out of the door, letting it slowly close behind him as he shuffled towards me across the warm grass. He finally stopped a few feet away from me, his eyes still guarded but curious.

"What is it, Annabeth?" I flinched. He hadn't called me Wise Girl. My pulse was racing but in a scared, panicky way. I was unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"I-" I began, then stopped. I looked into his sea green eyes, trying to read them, and my heart melted a little bit. I really missed talking to him, even though it had only been a few days. I guess it showed on my face, because Percy blinked and glanced away uncertainly, a slight blush heating his cheeks.

"Are you mad at me?" I quietly asked, shooting my gaze down to the ground. The silence lasted for a good few seconds, and my heart thundered louder and louder in my ears.

"No."

I exhaled in relief, a small smile lighting up my face despite my attempts to remain stoic. My heart leapt with happiness as I silently thanked the gods. "You're not? That's a surprise."

"Sure, but don't think I'm not-" I cut Percy off by wrapping him in a huge hug, resting my head on his shoulder and feeling the worry and panic slowly draining out of me. He hardly hesitated before hugging me back, his hands resting on my lower back and causing sparks to heat up my skin.

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain."

"Okay."

I continued to hug him, my skin heating up wherever it touched his. He smelled like salt and something else- something inexplicably good that was just... Percy-ish. His breath ruffled my curls (which were now smooth and frizz free, thanks to Aphrodite's miracle hair products) and I shivered with delight. I must have felt like I was crying because Percy went "you okay?"

"Yeah. Just really happy that you're talking to me again." I blushed when I said this because it was a little more personal than I'd meant for it to sound.

Percy sighed. "Sorry for being such a jerk. It was stupid. I was stupid," he admitted. I pulled back and laughed.

"You are stupid. Present tense."

"Thanks," he said, but he and I could both tell that we were joking. It felt good.

For a minute, I smiled at him, unsure of what to say next. Thankfully Percy broke the silence.

"So, uh, I was... well I was thinking that..."

Where was he going with this? "Yeah? Thinking what?"

Percy turned bright red. "Well, um, I talked to Chiron and he said it was okay as long as we didn't stay out too long..."

Okay, I was seriously confused now. I stepped back out of his embrace and crossed my arms. "I have NO idea what you're talking about."

"Well, I know you've been mad at me lately and I don't want you to be mad, and I thought you might enjoy it if... if I took you around New York City tomorrow?" He asked nervously, his gaze trained on my face and waiting for a response. I'm sorry, what?

"New York City? You mean THE New York City?"

"As far as I'm concerned, there's only one," He smirked. I stared at him, a small spreading across my face.

"But why? Why would you take me into New York City?"

"Look, do you want to go or not? And don't bother asking what we'll be doing because... it's a surprise."              

This must have been part of Grover's whole "water the flowers" bit. Well, I always loved visiting New York City and it had some of the world's most amazing architecture... oh who was I kidding. The guy that I loved was taking me on a "surprise" trip into NYC. I would get to spend the whole day with Percy, just talking and laughing and seeing all the sights. Two best friends hanging out. Well, one best friend who was in love with the other friend and said other friend who was totally oblivious to first friend.

In other words, how could I have possibly said no?

"Pick me up at nine tomorrow," I said, grinning up at him. He stared at me, uncertain for a moment, before he smiled so wide it nearly split his cheeks.

"Awesome. I'll see you at nine, then?"

"Nine," I agreed before heading off to my cabin.

"Annabeth?" Percy called to me before I had gone too far.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for not hating me. Oh, and wear something cute tomorrow," he winked before quickly turning back into his cabin and shutting the door.

Wear something cute? I'd show him cute.

Operation Love Letter was officially back in motion.