Fate (PIPABETH FF) ✔️

"I Wish It Wasn't Pretend..."

P I P E R

I sat down at my table and tried not to let myself look weak.

In reality I was grinning evilly and staring at Annabeth, who was still standing at the middle of everyone, blushing madly. She made her way to her table and I tried not to feel the stares of everyone boring into me. I sat down, crossing my legs, looking very ladylike, and I turned to where Annabeth was and winked at her.

GODS, PIPER. HOW DUMB ARE YOU?! STOP THIS FACADE. HADES, SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE. STUPID.

I saw her clear her throat, collecting herself. Her naturally calm and collected nature came back to life, but she was still tainted pink. She sat down at her seat and immediately everyone started talking. My siblings were asking, "DO YOU LOVE ANNABETH?!" and "OH MY GODS YOU SHOULD BE TOGETHER, RIGHT?!" It was overwhelming. I shrugged at them. Then Drew came. I groaned. "Yes, Drew, I just DID kiss her." I grumbled. She laughed, to my surprise. "I know. I was just pretty annoyed on how you two were so OBLIVIOUS to your obvious love. I mean, Piper, as a daughter of Aphrodite, you're kinda..." I rolled my eyes. "Kinda... out of place." She finished. "But then again, it's about time you two got together! The whole camp already had thoughts about you two." Drew said. I coughed awkwardly.

She raised an eyebrow. "McLean, if you say you aren't together yet, I'm going to throw you in a huge makeover. With a dress." She warned. I rolled my eyes. "...We're not together." I said. She groaned and scooted away from me. I then continued to eat my bagel in silence.

-

I walked to the strawberry fields. I looked around. I swear to the gods, if Annabeth is here--

To my relief, the coast was clear. I sighed and sat down in a sunlit area. I closed my eyes, drinking in the warmth. Then I was slapped in the back with my own problems.

Piper, what about your kiss?

Piper, what about Annabeth?

Piper, what about yourself?

I shook my head and opened my eyes. I rubbed my eyes and held back the urge to yawn. I stood up and decided to head back. After all, what else was I supposed to do here? Think? Nah. That was Annabeth's thing.

Speaking of Annabeth...

-

I steadied my shaky hands and took a deep breath. But before I knocked, I heard a "psst"! I turned and saw Will Solace waving at me and giving me a thumbs up. I blushed and gave him an "okay" sign. He smiled and headed to the Hades Cabin. I sighed and inched my fist closer to the door. Come on, just knock, Piper. Put your fist down and make a noise in the door...

I launched my hand back and prepared to knock hard. For some dumb reason. Then the door opened, and slow motion literally happened. Annabeth, due to her demigod reflexes, dodged it with a small, quiet, "woah". I, also on instinct, used my other hand to shield her from my fist. I looked up at her with a sheepish smile and the corners of her lips twitched slightly. I scratched the back of my neck. "Um, so, hi..?" I began awkwardly. She sighed and shook her head slightly, though the small smile on her lips never disappeared.

"So, what brings you here, huh, Pipes?" She asked, leaning in the doorway. "Um. Actually, I have no idea, now that I look back at it. But now that you're here..." I said, an idea forming in my head. I felt myself grin mischievously and Annabeth sighed. "What is it this time?" She asked.

I crawled up behind her and pushed her out of the way of the doorway. Then I jumped into her back, making her give me a piggyback ride. I rose an arm up and pointed forwards, and with the other arm, held her so I wouldn't fall. "Onwards, lackey!" I ordered.

I felt her sigh, but I could literally feel her smile. "...And onward I go." she replied, gripping tighter. She began jogging around camp and I started whooping. Some people gave us weird looks, some people smiled, and most just laughed. Once we had made at least eight laps around, she stopped, panting. "Congratulations, lackey. You have served me well." I said, bowing. She laughed, but was panting still. "I would've dropped you, you know." She warned, a bead of sweat dripping off her face. "Right. I don't exactly follow my ideal weight plans."

She sat down, breathing heavily. I sat next to her and smiled softly. "So, really, Piper, what DID you come to my cabin for? And don't just say for the ride. I know it's something else." She said. GODS. Why was she so good at guessing?!

"Er, I, uh, just wanted to ask if what I did earlier- You know perfectly well what it was, if that was okay. Because I know I'm impulsive sometimes, so..." I said. She stiffened. "Oh." She obviously wasn't comfortable with what I had asked, so I tried to change subjects. "Oh. Whatever. You don't have to answer that. Uh, so, are we pretending or not?" I asked quickly. She was still staring straight ahead. Her brows were furrowed and her lips pressed down into a tight line. Ah, the familiar "I'm thinking" pose.

"Hey. Annabeth?" I asked, nudging her shoulder. She didn't budge. "ANNABETH!" I shook her slightly harder. I didn't want to really, you know, shake her too hard. Because she HATED getting surprised. You know, because Tartarus. And stuff.

Eventually I just got fed up and I shook her hard. She snapped out of her trance and instinctively grabbed my arm and shoulder, ready to flip me. I sighed and hugged her tightly, not even going to complain on who was watching. We had just plopped down in the middle of camp and I'm sure people were entertained watching me shake Annabeth out of the clouds.

I felt her muscles relax and she let go of my arm and shoulder. Her arms were just up awkwardly and I just didn't care anymore. I just mumbled, "Too lazy to get up. You're warm and everything. So we still pretending or not?" I asked lamely.

I swore to HADES I heard her whisper, "I don't want to pretend."

But then again, there was imagination.

But there was also me, whispering,

"I wish it wasn't pretend, either."

=

....

we don't talk about the drawing. 

there is no drawing. there never was a drawing. 

ever.