His Lifeline

Chapter 34: Pancakes and Burgers

I woke up to someone repeatedly poking my face. So, of course, I stuffed my head under the nearest couch cushion and went back to bed.

The poking started again. Unfortunately, it was in between my shoulder blades, which made me freeze up.

Groaning, I pulled my head from under the cushions and turned to see my assailant. Annabeth.

"What are you doing up so early?" I asked as I sat up, yawning.

"I've been up for an hour or so. I've been studying, finals are coming up, and all" Annabeth shrugged as I scowled at the mention of school.

"I'm going to go make some breakfast. Want anything?" I stood up and ambled towards the kitchen.

"No, I'm good."

"Did you eat already?"

"No"

"Then I'm making you something" I quickly entered the kitchen before she could argue. I pulled out the pancake mix and started the process. Adding blue dye along the way, I turned on the griddle and poured the batter on.

"You don't need to make me food. I'm perfectly fine without breakfast," I heard Annabeth behind me, and I sighed.

"Listen, if I'm going to be making food anyway, why not make something for my amazing girlfriend?" I grinned at her flustered reaction and flipped the pancakes. I hummed a bit as I piled the batch of cooked pancakes on a plate. Pouring the remaining batter on the griddle, I made a picture. I chuckled to myself as I flipped it.

"Alright, your pancake, madam," I said in mock formality, handing her the heart-shaped pancake. She chuckled at me, muttering dork as she took the pancake. I felt a goofy smile spread across my face as I put the griddle and dishes into the sink. I turned on the hot water and let them soak as I grabbed a pancake from my pile and ate it.

We ate in silence. Standing there in the kitchen, eating blue pancakes. Once I had finished my third pancake, I turned towards the dishes. Quickly washing them, I rinsed and dried the dishes. Putting them away.

"I'm going to go back to work, thank you for the pancakes," Annabeth spoke, and I turned to see her walk down the hallway to my room.

I thought back to what Rachel had said. That Annabeth got super stressed around the finals. I then promised myself to keep a close eye on her health. I grabbed the remaining pancakes and took them to my room after grabbing my phone from the living room.

As I sneaked into my room, I saw Annabeth with her back to me, hunched over the table. I smiled at her as I tried to approach quietly. Take notice of the word tried. Yea, I ultimately failed.

I tripped over clothes, stubbed my toe on my bed, and almost managed to faceplant into the dresser. Not my proudest moment, of course, but it definitely wasn't my quietest. Throughout the whole scenario, I cursed under my breath and inhaled sharply in pain. It was a wonder that she didn't look at me, annoyed.

Sighing, I sat down behind her and snaked my arms around her waist. I felt her tense up, and I pulled her onto my lap. Then I stuck my head out over her shoulder and watched as she worked. Annabeth eventually relaxed as she grew more invested in her studies. Currently, she worked on Biology, and I read over her shoulder as she revised her notes and rechecked her homework. Even though It was insanely boring, I sat there, holding her as she worked.

I didn't know if being here was a problem for her. I hoped not. I don't know what I would do all day if she didn't like me hanging around.

I slowly undid one of my arms around her waist and dug my phone out. Then looking at the time, my eyes popped, almost 5 pm. That's crazy! Annabeth had gotten me up around 10sih. Had I really lost track of that much time?

Where was mom? She wasn't here as far as I could tell. I heard a door open and close.

"Percy, I'm home!" speak of the devil, and he shall appear. I heard my bedroom door open, and I turned my head to see my mom checking in.

"Alright, dear, dinner should be done in around half an hour." she smiled softly at me as I nodded. I turned back to what Annabeth was pouring over and saw math. My most hated subject. Scowling, I watched as she highlighted and wrote notes to herself on the corners of the page.

It was time for dinner, and the only way I got Annabeth up and out of my room was by distracting her. At first, I pulled her father into my chest, away from the table. She struggled as she tried to get back to her work, but I held tight. Next, I shifted my left arm to her head and pushed her face to the side, kissing her. Then I slid her off my lap and pulled her to her feet.

Annabeth scowled as pink, dusted her cheeks. I laughed at her and grabbed her hand, forcing her to come eat.

I smelt the wonderful aroma of burgers, and immediately I was excited about dinner. Walking into the kitchen, Annabeth and I made out buns as we waited for the burgers to finish cooking.

As we got our burgers, we sat down at the dining room table and ate in silence. Soon after Annabeth finished her food, she stood abruptly and mumbled a thank you before walking down the hallway. My mom looked quizzically at me, and I sighed.

"She's stressing out about finals" mom nodded her head in understanding and then advised me to make her do something fun to get her mind off of the tests. I thought to myself, what could we do at almost 6 pm. Then it hit me;

That guy's party.