Pernico :)

#8 I Start Dating A Pretty Girl Known As: Annabeth Chase & I'm Assigned a Quest

I felt someone shaking me awake.
It was definitely way past dinner.
Was I asleep that long?
Looking up, I saw her face.
She was smiling and looked relieved.
"Oh thank gods, you're not dead!", she said, total seriousness to her tone.
I laughed.
"No Wise Girl, I was just sleeping"
She gave me a look.
I bit my tongue to keep from making anymore stupid remarks.
"Anyway", she said, plopping down on the bed beside me.
"What do you wanna talk about?"
I sighed.
How was I supposed to go about this?
Was I supposed to give her a present?
Take her out to dinner?
I didn't know.
Oh well, here goes nothing.
"Annabeth, I love you. Would you like- like do me the honour of being my girlfriend?"
Whatever she had thought I was about to ask her before, that was clearly not it.
She was silent for a few moments, then nodded her head, smiling.
"I'd love too, Percy!"
Before I could say anything more, she hugged me.
She seemed so happy.
What had I done?
Oh, gods.
I thought.
Now, I'm screwed...

That afternoon, Chiron suddenly rode up to us, looking worried.
He was in full centaur form and his white stallion body shone in the sun.
"Percy, I got a quest for you. Someone has taken Hades's helm and you need to go get it. The Lord of the Dead says that if he doesn't get that helm back by the summer solstice, he will declare war on Poseidon."
I rolled my eyes.
My uncle and my dad were always feuding with each other.
That was nothing new.
"Um okay, when, and who exactly would be going with me?", I asked.
He smiled and pointed in the direction of a darker looking cabin.
Unlike the others, it was literally pitch black and had an eery feel to it.
I knew who lived there and my heart started to pound.
No, not...
But, it was too late.
Chiron smiled again, as if he could read my thoughts.
"The new one will be accompanying you on your quest. I believe you know him? Nico Di Angelo? The Son of Hades?"
I nodded.
I was a little too familiar with that name.
I wanted to protest, so I did.
"Why him?"
The centaur looked at me as if I'd swore.
"I beg your pardon? Did you just ask why he us going with you?"
I nodded.
"Yeah, I did. Can't I go with Annabeth or Grover? I mean, she has a thing sorta like Hades's helm anyway"
Chiron looked angry.
"Percy Jackson, you know better than to question with who your quest partner will be, right? Now, you know I don't decide that. It's the Oracles's doing, and besides I've been told that you too aren't exactly 'bosom buddies'", he made air quotes when he said it.
I sighed, clearly I'd lost this argument.
"Alright, I'll go with him.", I told him, reluctantly.
He smiled.
"Good choice, Percy. Now, go back your things, you're leaving soon."
I watched as he galloped off to go do something else of importance.
Then, I slowly made my way over to my cabin and got packed.
Finally, dreading what was to come, I closed my door and walked over to where the boundary, (which was Thalia's tree) stood.
We didn't look at each other as we got into the car Argus was driving.
He would drive us to the bus station and than we were on our own from there.
I took a deep breath.
Annabeth ran up and hugged me.
"Goodbye Seaweed Brain, I love you!"
Before I could reply, she suddenly kissed me.
I closed my eyes and tried to pretend I like it.
But, the truth was I didn't.
Her lips felt different compared to his.
His had been petal soft and felt like velvet.
Hers were slightly sticky due to the lipgloss she'd put on.
I sighed.
I was so utterly confused.
Here I was: on my way to rescue my uncle's helm when I could barely find my own head.
Oh, well.
Let's get it over with.
I thought, as I got into the seat beside him.
This was going to be a long ride...