The Stories of Our Heroes

Broadway

As a lover of all things music and theater, it was a bit hard to write the beginning of this. But it's totally in character and an idea I've been toying with for a while so here it is...

Percy's POV

Let me make one thing clear: I do not like musicals. Nothing against singing and dancing and having a good time and whatever... but everything against singing and dancing and having a good time and whatever. It's unrealistic, it makes me uncomfortable, and honestly it's just a bit boring. So I've lived in New York my whole life and never seen a Broadway show. Sue me.

Correction: before this Christmas I had never been to a Broadway show and I wish it would have stayed that way.

It was a few days before winter break and I was happily eating my after-school snack in my mom's kitchen, not knowing that pretty soon I'd want to smash my head into the nearest wall. Annabeth and a few of our mortal friends were texting about fun things to do over break, and she seemed very excited. It would be our first Christmas together, seeing as I was asleep in the California wilderness last year so it didn't really count, and the girl loved to plan events. Her foot was hooked with mine under table like she was afraid I'd disappear again. Truth be told, I was a little afraid too. But of course I would never tell her that.

Annabeth gasped suddenly, causing me to look up in alarm.

"Percy!" she exclaimed before I could even ask what was wrong. "Let's go see a show. You know, like, on Broadway."

That sounded like something at the bottom of my  list of things I wanted to do. "I don't know, Wise Girl..."

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes and furiously began typing on her phone. "It'll be fun, I promise. I'm telling them we're in so too bad."

I suppressed a groan and tried again. "Aren't tickets, like, really expensive? And will we even be able to get seats this late?"

Her fingers froze for just a second, her eyebrows scrunching together. But just as soon as it came, the look passed and she went back to texting. "My dad keeps asking me for gift ideas and I know he wants to go big," she said, a bit uncomfortable. I acted like I didn't notice. "And anyway, I'm sure not every show is sold out."

We sat in silence for a few minutes while I sulked and her nails tapped away on the screen. Finally, she looked up. She was wearing an excited smile but it died a bit when she saw my face.

"If you really don't want to, we won't go, Seaweed Brain," she said softly. "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter what we're doing."

Between her sweet words and hopeful eyes and warm leg pressed against my own, my resolve crumpled. Swallowing  my pride, I replied, "Same here, baby. Let's go see the show. I could probably stand to be cultured anyway." I finished with a smile so she knew I was serious. It all seemed worth it when she threw her arms around me and squealed happily in my ear.

So that would be how I found myself, on a Sunday afternoon, dressed in black slacks and a maroon button up while it was snowing outside, ready to go sit through a three hour long performance. I fidgeted with my collar, reminding myself to be grateful that Annabeth had not insisted I also wear a tie. The things that girl can get me to do amazes me every day.

After what seemed like an eternity, my girlfriend walked out of the bathroom looking like a literal goddess. Her maroon and black dress fit her perfectly, paired with black tights and heeled boots. I'd be lying if I said I didn't stare as long as she let me. I decided that this wasn't such a bad way to spend my day.

"Quit drooling, Seaweed Brain," she said seriously, but there was a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she straightened my shirt.

"You look beautiful," I told her, very proud of myself for getting all those words out without stuttering.