And they were roommates

Chapter Seventeen

We drove around for a while before finally picking a place to eat. We walked into the restaurant and picked a table.
After ordering she started to talk about random things. If I was being honest, I wasn't exactly listening.

I caught myself just staring at her. Her blonde curls were wild and covered in sand. Her grey eyes were bright with excitement and life. Her cheeks were flushed and she talked with enthusiasm. Her amazing smile brought the whole masterpiece together.
"Percy?" Her voice brought me back to reality. I hoped my cheeks weren't red.
"Y-yeah?" My voice cracked in 4 different languages.
She laughed and her smile left butterflies I'm my stomach. "Uh nothing. You were just staring."

"No I wasn't." I bit my lip and looked down at the table.
"Oh come on Percy. It was pretty obvious you were staring."
"I-" Before I could answer the waiter came to our table and brought our food.
"For the lovely couple." He said.
"Oh um-"
"We're not together." Annabeth's words left a weird feeling in my chest. Something I didn't want to feel.
"Oh my apologizes. Enjoy your dinner." He flashed us a kind smile and left the table.

I glanced at Annabeth and she bit her lip. She looked down at her plate and started eating. I did the same and tried to stop the butterflies in my stomach.
Why did feelings have to feel?
We are in silence throughout dinner. I kept stealing glances at her. She had a smudge of food on the edge of her mouth.
I smirked.
"What?" She demanded.
"Here." I grabbed a napkin and whipped the food from her face. Her cheeks burned red.

"Uh thanks." She mumbled. We finished our meals and the waiter brought the check.
"Here let me get this." I reached for the check but her hand sprung out and slapped it away.
"No. You took me to the beach. The least I can do is-"
"Absolutely not." I grabbed the check and held it away from her.
"Percy-"
"No, I'm paying. And you can't-"
She nudged my leg a little too hard and while I was distracted she swiped the check out of my hands.
"Hey that's no fair-"

"Whatever, Seaweedbrain."
"What's with the nickname?"
She smirked and stood to pay. She laid a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "You've had a piece of seaweed in your hair this entire time." She smirked and walked off before I could reply.
I patted my head and sure enough there was a green piece of seaweed. I smiled and put it back onto my head for safe keeping.
She returned to the table and smirked.
"Find it yet?"

"Nope. I may never find it actually." I flashed her a lopsided smile.
"Whatever, Percy. Let's go." She stood and took my arm pulling me out of my seat. I felt an emptiness when she released her arm.
We walked out of the restaurant and back to my car.
As we drove home I couldn't help but wonder what I felt about her. She made me happy in a way I didn't think I could be before. She made me want to live life as best as I could. She made me a better person.

I shook off my thoughts and glanced at her. She looked at me and smiled. The butterflies came back again and I didn't try to stop them.
I faced my attention back to the road with a content smile on my face, as I turned the street back home.