Chapter 23

Percy felt nervous as he stood on the porch of Annabeth's house. He knocked on the door, now he was waiting for Annabeth to come out. Percy held the picnic basket, filled with the food, Annabeth had claimed she'd bring some drinks and if anything, they could buy some more as the park was close by to some stores. Percy also had a blue blanket for them to sit on.

Percy's grip on the basket handle tightened and he could feel his palm getting a little sweaty. This was his first date ever. And of course it was with his soulmate! I mean, supposed soulmate. Though, Percy knew Annabeth was the one, how couldn't she be? She was so... perfect, and she seems to really like him. Unless if Percy messes it up on this date and does something stupid and-!

The door opened, cutting Percy from his thoughts. Percy looked up and saw it was Annabeth's step-mom. Percy stayed silent, looking at the older woman and she seemed to sigh before turning around. "Annabeth! Your date is here, hurry up so he isn't waiting any longer!" Annabeth's step-mom called before walking off. Percy blinked. Yeah, that was... not what he was expecting!

Percy's attention was brought to the staircase and he saw Annabeth quickly making her way down with two bottles of something blue in her hand. Annabeth seemed to grumble as she made it down and she blinked as she saw Percy standing there. "Oh! Hey!" Annabeth smiled, making her way over. "This is some sort of blue lemonade, I found it at a shop when my step-mom and I went out shopping-"

"You and your step-mom went out shopping... together?" Percy raised an eyebrow. Annabeth looked at Percy. "Yeah, ever since you... scolded at her, she's been making an effort to treat me better." Annabeth said. "So... we've been doing a couple of mother-daughter type of activities, that's why I haven't been able to message you or call a lot after school."Percy hummed and nodded.

"Anyway! Put these in the basket, I gotta get my shoes on!" Annabeth exclaimed, handing Percy a bottle. Percy took the bottle and he placed it into the picnic basket, underneath the blanket and Annabeth set the other one in too before going over and grabbing some converse shoes and slipping them on.

Annabeth then stepped out of the house once she had her shoes on and she shut the door behind her, grabbing her key from her pocket and locking the front door. Annabeth then faced Percy and she smiled.

"So! Where are we heading?" Annabeth asked, instantly walking off.Percy blinked and he quickly followed behind Annabeth, managing to catch up alongside her."Woah, relax, Annie." Percy smiled as he slipped his free hand into Annabeth's hand. "We can take our time. We're going to have a picnic nearby the lake at the park, sound good?"

Annabeth looked down at their hands and she gently squeezed Percy's hand before she looked up at him and smiled. Percy noticed a faint blush on her face and Percy adored that she was blushing from just holding hands."Sounds great." Annabeth nodded.Percy grinned. "Great!"

The two of them walked hand-in-hand, just discussing normal things so far. Percy swung their hands back and forth, Annabeth didn't mind. The walk to the park was peaceful and it took a while, but eventually they made it and Percy had found the perfect spot to sit down nearby the lake at the park.

Annabeth watched as Percy set down the picnic basket and grabbed the blanket, setting it over on top of the grass and then placing the basket down on one of the corners before sitting down. Percy looked over his shoulder, smiling at Annabeth and he patted the spot next to him, urging her to sit down next to him. Annabeth rolled her eyes, but smiled as she went over and sat down next to Percy on the blanket.

"So, what sort of snacks have you brought?" Annabeth asked as she grabbed the basket and slid it in between them, grabbing the glass bottles of blue lemonade from the top. Annabeth peered into the basket and saw... well blue. A lot of blue. "Me and my mom made a lot of blue treats!" Percy exclaimed.

"And I also bought some blue sweets..." Annabeth blinked and she looked up at Percy. "... Also some blueberries." Percy bit his lower lip as Annabeth stared at him blankly.

"... Too much?" Percy asked. Annabeth let out a laugh and she smiled as she reached over and placed a gentle kiss on Percy's cheek. "Pfft, it's fine, Percy. I should've expected you to do this. You do love blue foods a little too much." Annabeth answered. "A little too much? Mmh, I love blue food a normal amount!" Percy retorted. Annabeth rolled her eyes but she still smiled.

"See, it was a good thing I bought blue lemonade for us." Annabeth said, taking out the food in little boxes out onto the blanket. "Otherwise, it would've ruined your whole aesthetic and-" Annabeth stopped as she held up a box of brownies and she looked to Percy. Percy smiled at Annabeth. "Your favourite!" Percy exclaimed. "Now, it does slightly ruin the whole blue aesthetic, but... well, if it makes you happy, I don't mind."

Annabeth stared at Percy and Percy smiled at her before he set the basket aside once everything else was set onto the blanket. Annabeth looked at the box of brownies and her heart skipped a beat. She set aside the box of brownies before she shuffled closer to Percy, pressing their shoulders together as they faced the lake.

"You're a hopeless romantic, Jackson. You sure you haven't taken many girls out before?" "Gosh, Chase, how many times do I gotta tell you? You're the first and only girl I'll ever take out." "Only? That's bold.""Well, I truly believe we'll last together for a long time!"

*****

Percy and Annabeth had talked and messed around. Percy attempted to catch blueberries in his mouth and Annabeth laughed at his ridiculous self, which didn't make Percy feel embarrassed, in fact Percy loved hearing Annabeth's laugh whenever he failed to catch one.

Now, they had eaten a lot of the food and it was all packed away. They were still sitting about, just waiting for Sally to drive close to the park to pick them up. Percy and Annabeth were sat really close to each other, they even held hands as they were looking out into the lake.

Well, Annabeth was mostly looking out into the lake as Percy kept looking back at Annabeth. Annabeth could tell he was nervous as he kept gently squeezing her hand. Percy wanted to talk to her about the whole soulmates thing, but... would she believe in such a thing? Would she think Percy was being too forward? This was just their first date.

"... Do you need something, Percy?" Annabeth asked, looking to him. Percy blushed as Annabeth clearly knew he wanted to talk about something. "Oh! Well, erm." Percy cleared his throat, using his free hand to scratch at his neck. "I was just... well, I was wondering if... you believed in soulmates!"

Percy wanted to slap himself.

"Soulmates?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Erm, yeah." Percy said, averting his gaze from Annabeth. "My mom has always talked about soulmates since I was a kid and I never really believed in them until... well, until..." Percy felt a lump in his throat as he looked to Annabeth and met her gaze. "Until I met you."

Annabeth blinked and her cheeks warm up. "... You believe we are soulmates?" Annabeth asked, tilting her head slightly as she met Percy's gaze. "I know that we are soulmates." Percy corrected. "I mean..." Percy leaned in slightly, taking in Annabeth's eyes, how beautiful they were, how her pupils seemed to be dilated. "Ever since we held eye contact, there's just been this gut feeling, this emotion of certainty. Whenever I'm around you, I feel... I feel complete. I feel whole again." Percy stated.

"Do you know of the Greek myth about soulmates?" Annabeth looked into Percy's eyes, seeing how he seemed to be certain, how his eyes were shining as he stared into hers. "Of course I do, Zeus split people apart, which made us have only two arms, two legs, one head, etcetera." Annabeth answered, her voice slightly hushed. "I loved that myth. It's... it's an interesting one. Us humans just roaming the earth, searching for our other half."

Percy nodded. "Mmhm, and I believe that you are my other half, Annabeth." Percy said. "I-I know that this seems... sudden, and a lot, especially since we aren't even dating, and we haven't known each other for long, but Annie... you have been... you have been such a great help to my family. Me and my mother are finally free from Gabe. And my mother absolutely loves you. I just... Please don't think I'm crazy for saying this."

Annabeth smiled at Percy and she brought her free hand to Percy's cheek, gently caressing it with her fingers. Percy gulped at the touch and he kept his gaze locked on Annabeth's eyes.

"... When we first met, there was something about you." Annabeth finally said something. "I mean, holding eye contact with you... was weird, your eyes were so beautiful to stare into and... I just, time felt as though it slowed down. It was strange, truly strange." Annabeth's gaze stayed on Percy's eyes and she continued to smile as she leaned in, pressing her forehead against Percy's.

"I don't think you're crazy for saying that, Percy. In fact, I think... I think you're right to say that we're... we're soulmates." Annabeth whispered as she kept staring into Percy's eyes. Percy bit his lower lip as he noticed Annabeth glanced at his lips for a split moment. "... See, when you say it, then it really doesn't seem crazy at all." Percy smiled, leaning in a little further. Annabeth giggled as Percy got closer. "You're a dork, Percy." Annabeth said quietly.

Their lips were inches apart before Percy's phone went off. Percy let out a grumble as he backed away and he picked up his phone with his free hand, checking what the notification was. "Oh, my mom's here to pick us up. C'mon." Percy said, letting go of Annabeth's hand and getting up. Annabeth let out a hum as she got up. Percy grabbed the basket and Annabeth folded up the blanket once she lifted it up from the ground. Annabeth placed the blanket on top of the things in the basket and she smiled at Percy.

The two of them began to walk off, quietly talking, as they made it over to where Sally was awaiting for them. They reached closer but Percy stopped as he was sure they were still at a good distance where his mother wouldn't be able to see them. Percy turned and faced Annabeth. Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows but she faced Percy.

"Yes?" Annabeth slightly tilted her head to the side. "Well, it won't be super romantic if I ask you out in the back of my mom's car, will it?" Percy grinned nervously. "Soo... Annabeth Chase, would you be my girlfriend?" Annabeth smiled at Percy and she took a step closer towards him."I will be your girlfriend, Percy Jackson." Annabeth said softly as she reached up for Percy's lips.

Percy's heart fluttered as Annabeth got quite close. Percy instinctively leaned in, meeting Annabeth's gaze. Annabeth's gaze flickered to Percy's lips before she closed the gap between them and kissed him. Percy felt the shivers down his spine as Annabeth's lips were against his once more after a week. The kiss wasn't long, but it felt like it lasted an eternity, though Percy didn't mind it, he loved being this close to Annabeth.

When Annabeth pulled away, Percy looked down at her, her cheeks were flushed, but Percy was certain his face wasn't any better. Annabeth smiled and she slipped her hand into Percy's free hand. "We can't keep your mom waiting, c'mon." Annabeth said, walking off now. Annabeth slightly dragged Percy for a moment before Percy moved his own feet after getting out of his trance of admiration.

They quickly made it to Sally's car and Percy opened the door for Annabeth to get in first. Annabeth entered and she smiled as she saw Sally looking through the rear view mirror at them. "Hi Sally." Annabeth greeted Sally as Percy got into the car next to her and set the picnic basket below his feet.

"Hey Annabeth, did you enjoy your time?" Sally asked as she turned her head to look at Annabeth now. "Mmhm, I really did. Your son was very respectful." Annabeth said as she fastened her seat belt. "Of course I was respectful! My mother raised a gentleman!" Percy exclaimed, fastening his seat belt now.

"Well, I'm glad you two had your fun." Sally said, facing forward now and starting the car. "I'll drive you home, Annabeth.""Thank you, Sally." Annabeth thanked her.

Sally began to drive off and she glanced at the rear view mirror, noticing that Annabeth and Percy held hands and they were smiling and just talking about something with each other. Sally smiled as she paid full attention to the road.

She did catch a glimpse of her son and Annabeth sharing a quick kiss from afar, and she felt happy for her son. He had found his love, and Sally was confident that her son and Annabeth would last a long time. Even though they were just fourteen, Sally had a gut feeling that they'd spend their life together.

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Word count: 2305