Annabeth's Struggle

The Gifts

A/N: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will, own PJO. I do, however, own the ever horrible Evelyn Bratner…I mean Blatner. Whoops...

 Percy’s PoV:

 This year, I wanted to take Annabeth somewhere special. Luckily, the 10th landed on a Saturday, so she wouldn’t yell at—I mean sternly lecture me about how “skipping school is bad” and other ridiculous nonsense.

 Anywhoosie, I was taking her to our special spot: our treehouse. We have had so many amazing memories up there; that was where we met up with each other for the first time, had our first real conversation, and where we told our secrets and fears.

 But it’s also seen our heart-breaking moments; when Annabeth told me that her dad was getting married to some lady named Helen (I don’t know...) when she was nine years old. When she was ten, Helen had the twins, Bobby and Matthew. It has also been the place where I told her my mom married a pig named Gabe when I was fourteen. Soon after, she divorced him and met Paul Blofis. After a year of dating, the high school teacher finally proposed.

 When I finally came out of my thoughts, I quickly put a blindfold over her eyes. To make her less suspicious, I started the car and drove around the block. After what felt like a good five minutes, I pulled back in front of her house—careful not to park in her driveway, of course. I led her out of the car and into the house. Once I caught a glimpse of a small, clueless 7 year old boy, I knew I needed to hurry. But, since the odds are never in my favor, I was too slow.

 “Per—“ Matthew started, but stopped abruptly after seeing a blindfolded Annabeth. He mouthed, “Oh,” and continued his homework with Bobby. I sighed, relief filling my being. Wait, when did Bobby get there? I hadn’t even noticed him. Oh, well. I continued on, weaving Annabeth through the house and to the backyard.

 “Are we there yet?” she asked, anticipation evident in her voice.

 “We’re so close,” I said, grinning. She couldn’t see it, but smiled as she heard it in my voice. I led her up the ladder on the tree, and she instantly knew where we were. I heard her gasp with joy as she climbed beneath me. I looked down to see her grinning, half-covered face. I kept going up until I reached the floor. I got up and helped Annabeth the rest of the way.

 “So many memories up here,” she said, still with the blindfold covering her eyes. I chuckled and gently untied the piece of fabric that prevented her from seeing my surprise. She grabbed it, pulling it off to see what I’ve been hiding from her for a week. Her eyes widened as she looked all around her. I had fixed up the place, with our friend Leo’s help of course, and repainted the walls greys and greens. I even put up a bunch of pictures of all of our friends: Grover, Thalia, Nico, Rachel, Juniper, Travis, Connor, Katie, Jason, Piper, Beckendorf, Silena, and Leo. Big group? Try adding soccer, swimming, debate, and basketball teams…She grinned more and more with each picture. But then, her smile suddenly faded away when she saw a picture of her, Evelyn, and I back when we were all just friends. I saw a gleam of hurt and—wait, is that guilt?—in her once happy eyes and a small tear begin to form at the corner of her eye.

 “What is it?” I asked, concerned that I messed up.

 Annabeth’s PoV:

 I smiled as I saw all the pictures surrounding the newly decorated tree house. He must have done this while I was at practice, I said to myself, grinning at the thought of him doing this for me. But then I saw it; a picture of Percy with me and Evelyn. My smile immediately changed to a hurt frown. I stared at it as I felt a tear just begging to start an avalanche. I heard Percy ask what was wrong, but I hardly understood anything through my thoughts. I told myself not to give in; not on this most special day. But the salty liquid disobeyed my orders and poured out, one by one. I felt Percy pull me into an embrace. I finally decided to answer him after his once dry shirt was soaked.

 “Nothing, it’s just so beautiful,” I lied. He looked at me skeptically for a moment until he grinned, knowing not to push me. I pulled him back into the hug and let one last tear escape before saying, “Now it’s my turn.” I wiped my cheek with the sleeve of my jacket and grinned mischievously.

 “Oh, this,” he gestured to the room, “wasn’t your present, just the location.” It was his turn to grin suspiciously as he took out a small black box with a grey bow on it. I looked at him, then at the small box, back to him, back to the box.

 “I thought we agreed that there would be no gifts this year,” I said, my eyes wide with shock.

 “No, you agreed to ‘no gifts this year’,” he said, imitating my voice with air quotes at the last part.

 “Well then I guess,” I started, pulling out a small box like his with a sea green bow on it, “I guess I won’t be needing this, since, like you said, I agreed to no gifts.” I began to put it back in my bag, but Percy stopped me.

 “What? Did I say that? I meant neither of us agreed to that.” He chuckled nervously and made a weird face. I started laughing hysterically when I realized that was his puppy-dog face when he was nervous. His funny expression turned into a confused one, and I made a failed attempt at calming down.

 “Your…face was…priceless…” I managed through gasps for breaths. He glared at me, but ended up just laughing with me instead. When we were able to breathe once again, we handed each other’s presents at the same time, accidentally bumping our hands. I could’ve sworn I felt lightning sparks, and by the deep blush that crept its way onto Percy’s cheeks, I’d say he did, too. We mumbled embarrassed apologies and moved our hands in opposite directions and handed the presents to each other. Percy let me go first. I opened the small box to find a beautiful silver necklace chain with an owl charm that had small diamonds for eyes.

 “Turn it over,” he said. I did as I was told and saw that Wise Girl was engraved. I smiled at the sight of my old nickname, but it soon faded as I realized that his gift was almost the exact same.

 “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” he asked, his voice overflowing with concern.

 “Huh?” I looked up at him as I processed his question. “Oh, uh, no, Percy, it’s fine! I love it! I just…” I trailed off, thinking of what to say. Then it came to me, and I still don’t know why it hadn’t come to me quicker. “Just open your present.” He nodded as he took off the lid and placed it beside him. I watched as Percy’s eyes widened. He brought the silver band out of its little bed and slid it onto his ring finger.

 “There’s writing on the inside,” I told him, trying not to sound as pathetic as I felt. He took it off and read it aloud: “Seaweed Brain.” He smiled at his nickname and chuckled.

 “You stole my idea,” he said playfully. What did I do? I maturely responded by sticking out my tongue at him, of course.

 “Kelp Head.”

 “Owl Face.”

 “Loser.”

 “Nerd.”

 *5 minutes of ridiculous name calling later*

 I hadn’t realized how with every name we had gotten closer, and now our noses were almost touching. I then noticed how we were both leaning in. Closer and closer, almost there. Please, I thought, please let this be real.

~*~

MWAHAHAGAHAHGAA!!!! CLIFFHANGER!!! I'm evil and cruel, I know. See you next Tuesday!!!

~Cali