The Stroke of Midnight: Percabeth AU✔️

Fish-Dumped

Annabeth's POV:

Pacing back and forth, the next morning, in my room, I try to bring down my growing nerves. It feels like Mount Everest is falling on top of me. Have courage and be kind. Have courage. Have courage, Annabeth.

"Cinderella!!!! Time to go lazy butt," Helen screeches up at me and I gasp, looking at the time.

Gathering all of my things, I run my fingers through my hair as I run down the spiraling staircase. Reaching the door, which takes me to the rest of the house, I pause. "You can do this," I whisper to myself, opening the knob.

Drizella, finishing curling her hair at the table, throws me a disgusted look. Ducking my head down, I proceed to the door to start walking. Looking back, before stepping out, I see everyone carrying out with their life, not noticing a thing. Sighing, I close the door behind me, disappointment filling me. I miss the days when people would notice me leaving. Now, it's almost as if it's a relief. I've learned a long time ago, to shut my heart out from everyone. But, what I've felt with Percy is almost as if I've opened it back up. Maybe I'm crazy to think he'd ever like me. Maybe I'm not.

"Hey!" Piper says, falling in step with me when I pass her house.

"Hey, what's up?" I look back at her. Noticing her choppy brown hair in intricate braids, I smile. She only ever really braids her hair in the morning if Jason's going to be at lunch and not at a football practice or if it's a Friday. Both good excuses.

Piper shrugs, the sun gleaming off her multi-colored eyes. "Been tied down with Physics and French. What about you?"

Glancing ahead, I see Goode High coming into view, students milling around. "Oh, you know. Essays, assignments and such. The usual thing that gives me an excuse to stay in my room. Oh, and did I mention that today will be the riskiest day in my entire existence?"

She rolls her eyes at me, "You'll be fine Annabeth, chill out. When're you going to tell him?"

Exhaling, I reply, "End of the day, that way I don't have to see him the rest of the day if he turns me down."

Piper laughs, "Strategic. But what if he doesn't? Then you'll be sorry you didn't see him the rest of the school day."

"I may be a teenager, but I think I can wait 15 hours or so until I see him the next day at school."

Piper, as we're walking through the doors, places a hand over her heart. "Young love."

"You shouldn't be talking; do you think I don't notice you and Jason's flirtatious moves?"

She smirks, "Nope, I just think you're too busy staring at Percy." Approaching our lockers, she adds, "Or you taking notes, while Percy stares at you."

As I'm about to respond with a witty remark, Percy comes over. "Annabeth, I really, and I mean, really need help with bio. Please? With a cherry on top?"

Smiling, I stuff my backpack with more textbooks, "No problem, meet you at your place?"

Percy and I fist bump, then hip bump, then elbow bump. "Thanks, Annabeth, you're the best!" I watch him as he jogs over to Nico who's talking with Will. Sighing, I turn back to Piper who's staring at me with that sly look on her face. Sticking out my tongue at her, I close my locker door and start proceeding down the hallway. Great, now if I get turned down or not, I'm going to have to face Percy after school. Throwing my head back for a minute, and staring at the passing ceiling, I sigh, scrunching my eyebrows together.

***

The lunch bell rings and I exit the halls and into the cafeteria. The group starts filling the table as I order some pasta from the lunch menu. Looks good. Walking over, I slide the tray onto the table and sit down with a big exhale. Glancing around the table, I see Thalia in a heated debate with Jason about who's better, Loki or Thor; then Nico, Will and Reyna talking all about their favorite Bone comics; Piper who's talking with Hazel about graduation; and then Percy...who's staring at me.