Soulmate AU (PJO/HoO)

16. Percy

I hadn't realized how beautiful she was before.

To be fair, she was halfway across the hall and I was about to get beat up, but still.

Her blonde hair was bouncing on her shoulders whenever she moved her head, and her eyes were a stunning shade of grey, that for some reason I loved.

But back to the point. Nobody just says, 'you drool in your sleep' on a regular basis.

I think.

I'm not good with people.

I sat up, realizing I wasn't in the hall anymore. "Nurse's room?"

"Mhm," She hummed.

"Great. Anyway, I'm Percy," I introduced.

"Annabeth," she replied, "Do you get beat up often?"

At school? Nah. Home? I mean, kinda.

"Nah, today was just my lucky day," I shrugged, sitting up a little taller as I propped myself up on my elbows.

"Some luck you got," She chuckled.

"Heh, yeah," I rubbed the back of my neck, sheepishly, "can I ask you something?"

"Depends. What is it?"

"Have you, uh, found your soulmate?"

She stiffened before relaxing, slightly. "Why?"

"Well, uh, this might sound crazy but, uh, I thought maybe we were soulmates, because you said, 'you drool in your sleep' and those are what's on my arm so," I rolled up my jacket sleeve so she could see.

Her eyes narrowed as she scanned my tattooed arm. "I don't want to sound like one of those stuck-up girls who say 'I have a boyfriend', but I do,"

Oops.

Good going Percy, what a wonderful first impression you've made, asking her right off the bat like that. "Oh, uh, sorry," I apologized awkwardly.

I let my need for a soulmate blind me. Talk about smooth. But I was still sorta disappointed. Annabeth seemed really nice, and there was something about those eyes that I loved.

"It's alright. You got excited, happens to everyone," Annabeth shrugged it off easily,
which was both a disappointment and a relief.

"Nah, I was being a bit of a jerk asking just like that. I should have at least gotten to know you a bit first. Soulmates are a personal topic," I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly.

Annabeth seemed surprised at my response and I wondered if I'd said something wrong, other than the fact I'd been incredibly direct.

After a second, the surprised expression had left her face and her normal bored stare was back.

"As I said earlier, it's totally fine," Annabeth repeated and I nodded, trying to save the conversation without looking too stupid.

Thankfully, as if he was drawn to the awkwardness, Grover entered the room. "Percy!" He squealed and threw him arms around me.

"Ow," I winced in pain, still in pain from earlier, "Grover, you're gonna kill me man,"

Grover's grip loosened instantly. "Ah, sorry. I'm just glad you're okay!" He beamed, and I noticed he was holding an enchilada.

"Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow and looked over at the enchilada.

"Stress eating!" He defended, and I laughed.

"My humble apologies for making you eat your favourite food,"

"The nerve,"

I noticed Annabeth had stood up to leave. "Hey Annabeth," I said, trying to get her attention.

She looked over at me, right hand on the doorknob. "Yeah?"

"I'll see you around!" I waved, trying not to feel stupid (which I did).

I think she chuckled before saying goodbye and closing the door, and I heard her footsteps disappear down the hall.

"Well?" Grover dragged out the word just long enough to be annoying, "what happened?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Dude, she told me she was going to tell you that you drool in your sleep, and I know those are your soulmate words!" Grover beamed excitedly and I felt even worse knowing I was going to have to crush his hope.

"So did she say it?"

"Yeah, uh, word for word. But-"

"Really? That's great!" Grover celebrated, throwing his hands in the air and cheering.

"Grover, she has a boyfriend," I blurted before I could stop myself.

"Oh. Well, that is a minor setback,"

"Minor setback? Grover, clearly she's not interested,"

"You don't know that. People date people who aren't soulmates all the time, it's pretty common,"

"Yeah, but I'm not going to hope they split up. Annabeth seems happy with this guy. Or girl. Or neither. Whoever she's with right now,"

Grover sighed and shook his head. "Damn Percy, you really are a great guy,"

"Thanks Grover, for stating the obvious," I winked and he laughed.

"Anyway, how much work did I miss in Mrs. Shieto's class?" I asked, changing the subject.

Grover winced.

"Oh no. Don't tell me-"

"Sorry dude. Quiz tomorrow on the math we learned today in class," Grover had an apologetic look on his face.

I tipped my head back and stared into the light above me. "Why does the universe hate me?"

Wow, it has been a long time, and I apologize for that. But here it is, finally, an update. Wrote it in a bit of a rush and I'm too tired to properly proof read but Meg wants this published now so here we are.