Chapter 8

"What class did you have earlier?" Grover asked before he began to dig into his lunch, a cheese sandwich."Oh, I had biology. Apparently I sit close to Annabeth." Percy said, looking at the food on his tray. Percy stared at the food and he grimaced. "Eugh, why does school food have to look so disgusting?"

"Disgusting? I think that looks pretty good!""... Grover, you're crazy. Why are we friends again?""... Because I'm the only person who will do anything for you and the only person who doesn't think you're a weirdo? Well, I do think you're a bit of a weirdo but-""Thanks, Grover.""No! I mean, I'm also a weirdo. Us weirdos gotta stick together but-!"

Annabeth looked over at the table where Percy was sat, talking to the male she saw a couple days ago when Percy was in the nurse's office.

Annabeth hasn't verbally spoken to Percy again. They've waved and smiled at each other and then Annabeth would feel her cheeks flush and quickly look away from him. Percy was a cute guy, she will admit that. I mean, his sea green eyes... his black hair, his dorky grin-

"You fantasizing about Percy?"Annabeth snapped out of her thoughts as she looked at Luke, who was sat across from her."What else would she be doing?" Thalia grinned.Annabeth huffed at her friends."Oh shut up." Annabeth grumbled.

"I just... I noticed that he's sitting over there."Annabeth glanced over at Percy's table as she watched as Percy's face scrunched up in disgust at the food once he and his friend had stopped bickering. Thalia and Luke looked to each other."... Y'know, if you want, you could go over and have lunch with Percy and Grover." Luke said."Grover, huh? I'll have to keep that in mind." Annabeth mumbled to herself.

"Annie. If you don't go over there, Luke will go over there himself and say something to Percy! Likeee... perhaps how you can't shut up about that weird moment you two had? How you sit close to each other in biology? How desperate you are to talk to him again-?" Thalia began."Please don't do that! That's embarrassing!!" Annabeth exclaimed, looking to Thalia, her cheeks turning red.

"I can't go over there. What if I say something stupid?" "Hah! Annabeth Chase saying something stupid? C'mon Annie, that's just stupid. Right, Luke?" Thalia looked to Luke. "Yeah, Annie, you never say anything stupid. Plus, didn't you say that Percy loved hearing you just rant?" Like questioned. "Well, I didn't say loved it, first of all. I think he just... enjoyed listening to the facts! And second of all, I do say stupid stuff sometimes. For example, just now. When I said 'what if I say something stupid?' and you guys reacted as if that was a stupid thing to say!" Annabeth exclaimed.

Luke looked to Thalia. "... She's got a point." Luke shrugged. Thalia rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I mean, Percy is sort of a cute boy in your year, it's just soon other girls will realise that and Percy will have a range of girls to choose from and-" Thalia began. "Ugh, if I go over and say one thing at least, would that work with you?" Annabeth questioned, looking to Thalia. "Absolutely." Thalia nodded.

Annabeth sighed and she took a deep breath. She glanced at where Percy sat and he was playing with the food on his tray, not happy about eating it. Annabeth grabbed her bag and grabbed a bar of chocolate, and she looked at her tray, picking up the apple on there.

Luke and Thalia watched as Annabeth got up from her seat and began to walk towards the table where Percy sat. "... I'm winning this bet." Thalia said. "... Yeah, I think I made a mistake." Luke sighed.

"Dude, you need to eat something." Grover said, watching as Percy played with the food on his tray. "It's too gross, I can't." Percy frowned, pushing his tray towards Grover. "You have it." "Because I'm your personal trash can-?" Grover began. "No, because you are literally always hungry. And you think that looks good." Percy raised his eyebrows at Grover. "Now eat. Or else, your stomach will growl during your afternoon classes and it'll be super embarrassing." Grover hesitantly began to eat Percy's lunch.

Percy rested his cheek on his hand, sighing as he heard his stomach growl quietly. "Do you seriously want to faint again?" Percy blinked as he looked over and saw Annabeth by the table. Percy smiled at Annabeth. "Hah, if it means ditching class and talking to you more, I think I'd be happy with that!" Percy exclaimed. Annabeth smiled and she rolled her eyes.

"Here. A chocolate bar and an apple." Annabeth said, holding out the two items towards Percy. "Next time, don't grab random slop from the cafeteria." Percy blinked and he gently took the apple and chocolate bar from Annabeth. "Huh, thanks." Percy grinned at Annabeth. "You're really nice, Annabeth!"

Annabeth's cheeks turned red as Percy grinned up at her. She cleared her throat and smiled nervously. "Hah! Well, I need to get back to my friends. Please eat, don't faint!" Annabeth exclaimed, backing away. Percy blinked as Annabeth got flustered, but he smiled as his own cheeks warmed up and he watched as Annabeth quickly turned around and rushed back to the table she sat at before.

"... Wow. In front of my salad?" " What? Grover, you don't even have a salad!" "That's not what- nevermind. So, you and Annabeth, huh?" "W-what?"

"I can't believe myself, my god, why can't I stop blushing?? Why can't I prevent myself from getting so flushed?!" Annabeth wailed as she sat down across from Luke and Thalia again, hiding her face in her hands. "Pfft! Haha! Awh, this is an adorable sight!!" Thalia laughed.

Luke smiled at how Annabeth got so flustered and he glanced over at Percy. Percy was munching happily on the chocolate bar Annabeth gave him and the apple sat on the table. "Pfft, alright. I'll be right back." Luke said, getting up from his seat. "Annie, you... just relax." Luke patted Annabeth on her head and Annabeth let out a whine as Thalia continued to tease her. Luke then walked off.

"There is no 'me and Annabeth', I don't know what you're talking about.""Dude, you two were totally flirting?? I mean, what?""F-flirting-?!"

"Excuse me."Percy's reddened face turned to look to see Luke standing there, smiling at Percy."Oh, hey Luke!" Grover exclaimed."Erm, hi." Percy said quietly.Luke blinked. When Annabeth came over, Percy seemed so smiley, so... glad that she was there.

Luke got out his phone and he began to tap on the screen, unlocking his lock screen."Look, Annabeth is being a little... difficult, and I mean that in a loving way." Luke said, tapping some stuff on his phone and scrolling. "So, I think you should have her number. Message her when you want, since you both seem to struggle talking when you're at school."Luke held his phone towards Percy, showing him Annabeth's number.

Percy blinked and he quickly grabbed his own phone from his school bag and instantly began to unlock his homescreen and go onto his contacts."Erm, is Annabeth okay with this?" Grover asked as Percy looked at Luke's phone and copied the numbers into his new contact."She'll be angry at me at first, but she'll thank me." Luke grinned at Grover."... Ah." Grover nodded.

Percy saved his new contact and he smiled up at Luke as he put away his phone. "Maybe you're not as bad as I thought you were!" Percy exclaimed. "But if this is a fake number, or it's someone else's number... I will hate you forever." Luke blinked and he smiled at Percy."I promise, it's Annie's number. Just, message her whenever. She's usually free." Luke said, putting his own phone away now.

"I'll see you guys around!" And like that, Luke turned around, going back to the table with Annabeth and Thalia, neither of them noticing Luke went over to Percy's table.

Percy looked at Grover and Grover raised his eyebrows. "... So, you gonna start flirting with Annabeth on text now?" "Grover, I am not flirting!!"

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Word count: 1384