protection

seventeen

⚣

PERCY'S POV
I'm beyond shocked at how pretty the city really is. All you ever hear about the city is how crowded and smoggy it is, when in its own way it's almost perfect. That is if you looked on the bright side of things... Grover groaned as we entered a gas station in search for food. After our talk with Hades, I realized that A. I was starving, and B. Grover might have feelings for me that I might have accidentally shot down.

Oops?

I tried not to think about it, as I searched the isles for anything that could fill my grumbling stomach. Grover was up at the register, messing around with some keychains on display. I hoped he wasn't looking for his name, I really doubted "Grover" was going to be on a personalized keychain in a gas station.

I looked back to my options for food. Beef jerky or potato chips. I decided to grab a family size bag of potato chips. I knew Grover was Vegan — cause, duh, he's half goat — and I didn't want to get something to eat that would make him uncomfortable around me. Gods know we're already awkward around each other as it is.

I grabbed my wallet to pay for the potato chips and met Grover up by the front. He was looking at me in a weird way, I decided to ignore him. Even though the little butterflies in my stomach had other ideas. I paid for my food and walked up to Grover. "Ready?" I beamed opening the bag of chips and handing him one. He smiled, and grabbed the chip from me.

"Yeah, Perc," he followed me out of the gas station. He had a bit of sadness in his tone. Was he upset over what I had said after Hades game? I think my lying caused us both more hurt. I should come clean and tell Grover I really like him...

I reach for another chip.

I hand a chip to Grover who grabs it from me. I fee little sparks on our fingertips. Or maybe it's just me, but I feel excited, almost scared. I'm going to tell him that I like him! I should just do it!

"Hey Grover can we talk?" I squeak out. Grover turns to look at me. I feel my heart sink to my stomach. What if I tell him and he makes fun of me and leaves me here alone forever? I feel sick.

"Yeah? What's up?" Grover treads lightly, and I blush at his tone of voice. My mind is getting foggy, and I really wanna stuff ten chips in my mouth and forget I was going to tell him about my feelings.

"IthinkIlikeyou—" I blurt, waiting for him to process the jumble of words. He didn't say anything, he just looks down at me. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you when we were with Hades I just—"

His lips collide with mine.

It feels like a movie, almost. I want to laugh. My forehead bumps his baseball cap, which causes me to giggle into the kiss.

This is utter bliss. I don't want the kiss to end, but I pull away to see what Grover has to say. My face is beat red, and his face looks it too. Or maybe its sunburn, I don't know.

"I like you too, Percy Jackson,"

⚣

:3