Annabeth and Percy were inseparable, ever since they were 6 years old nobody could ask for one of them and not get the other. It all started when they were in the second grade and Nancy Bobofit had been bullying Percy. He was known to be a bit different from the rest and Nancy took that to her advantage.
Percy was backed into a corner as Nancy and her friends teased him and called him names. Annabeth saw this from the other side of the playground and sort of felt bad for Percy. She knows what it’s like to be different, so Annabeth walked up to Nancy and shoved her to the ground. Nancy and her friends quickly run off leaving Annabeth and Percy alone. She sits down next to Percy.
“Are you okay?” Annabeth asks him, seeing tear marks down his face. Percy nods and hides his face in his arms.
“You don’t have many friends, do you?” He shakes his head.
“Well, now you do. I’m Annabeth.” She smiles at him and he smiles back.
“Percy” He whispers.
“You know what,” Annabeth stands up and offers her hand to Percy. “We should be best friends.”
Percy takes her hand and nods. From then on, Annabeth and Percy were tied together as one.
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At the age of 13, Annabeth Chase realised she was in love with Percy Jackson. They had been lying in his room, Annabeth on his bed and Percy on the floor. His window was broken so the room was freezing cold. Annabeth was shivering as she completed her homework. Percy handed his jumper to her. She put it on and felt warm, what was even better was that it smelled like Percy. Annabeth looked down to see Percy now shivering in the cold. She smiled to herself and that was all she could think about for the rest of the day.
A couple weeks later, Annabeth’s mom and dad started fighting more and more. It got to the point where she couldn’t take it anymore so she ran out the door to the only place she finds comforting now. When Sally Jackson opened the door and saw Annabeth’s face she immediately let her in.
Sally had been more of a mom to Annabeth than her own. Annabeth was sure that Sally was the nicest person on the planet and definitely the best mom in the world. She led Annabeth inside and gave her the biggest Sally Jackson hug ever. Annabeth may live somewhere else but this was her home. Annabeth walked into Percy’s room and everything was right again.
“Annabeth? I didn’t know you were coming- are you okay?” She slowly shook her head and Percy walked over to her and hugged her. Annabeth melted into the hug and smiled. She knew Percy would make her feel better and he did. Percy pulls back but leaves his hands on her shoulders. He smiles.
“You’re wearing my jumper.” Annabeth turns bright pink and laughs.
“Yeah, it’s comfy.” He smiles again and pulls her into another hug. Annabeth thinks she could stay there forever in that moment. Her in Percy’s jumper and Percy hugging her.
“Do you think your mom would be okay with me staying tonight? I don’t really want to go back.” Annabeth says into his t-shirt.
“Yeah, of course. I don’t think she would let you go back anyway.”
Annabeth laughs and wishes everyday could be like this.
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A week before Percy’s 15th birthday he tells Annabeth he’s moving away to California. His mom received a really good job offer and even though she doesn’t want to move, it will help them a lot.
Annabeth is really upset, obviously, her best friend is moving to the other side of the country. Her mom had moved out leaving Annabeth with her dad and his new girlfriend, who doesn’t like Annabeth in the slightest. Percy was the only good thing about her life and now he’s moving away too.
At Percy’s 15th birthday party, Annabeth and her close friend Piper were talking in a corner away from everybody else.
“You have to tell him, Beth. It will make you feel better and he definitely feels the same, trust me babe.” Piper has been trying to get Annabeth to admit how she feels to Percy for years now. Annabeth is not sure he feels the same.
“There’s no point, he’s moving away and I’ll probably never see him again.”
Annabeth sighs and looks at Percy, he’s with Jason and Leo laughing and drinking, she wants him to feel the same but it will never happen.
“Even more reason to tell him. Look, worst case scenario he rejects you and doesn’t feel the same. But at least you would have tried, he would be stupid to not be head over heels for you.”
Annabeth smiles and nods.
“Ok, fine, but not tonight. I will eventually, but not now.”
Piper smiles and squeals.
“Awwww, my Annie is finally going to admit it” She hugs Annabeth and then runs off to find Jason.
Percy walks towards Annabeth, his black hair dishevelled over his face and breathing hard. Her breathing picks up and her heart hammers in her chest.
“Hey Wise Girl.” he says and leans against the wall next to Annabeth.
That name.
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Annabeth was 10 when Percy came up with the nickname. They were revising for the quiz the next day. Percy was struggling so she was helping him. He kept on getting the questions wrong so Annabeth kept on correcting him.
“What is 36 divided by 3?”
“Umm, 28?”
“Wrong, 12!”
“Ok then, Wise Girl, what’s 23x17?”
“391 and I don’t like that name”
“Well, too bad. That’s your new nickname.”
To be honest, Annabeth had been calling him Seaweed Brain ever since they went to the beach one day and a piece of seaweed got stuck in his hair, so this is payback.
In secret, Annabeth doesn’t mind the name, she actually really likes it but she’ll never tell Percy this.
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“Hey Seaweed Brain,” She smiles at him. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks, why are you here by yourself? You should be out there with me and the others.” He tucks a piece of hair behind Annabeth’s ear.
It’s moments like this that makes Annabeth fall in love with him all over again.
“I’ll be there in a sec, I just needed some time alone.” She smiles at him.
“Oh, are you feeling okay?” He frowns and looks genuinely worried for her,
“Yeah, I’m fine, go have fun, it’s your party after all. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be out there in a minute”
“Are you sure? I can stay here with you if you want?”
Annabeth smiles. “Percy, I mean it. Go!”
“Ok, ok, fine.” He walks backwards and pulls Annabeth’s arms. “But you’re coming with me.” He smiles and she follows him to the others.
Piper smiles at her when she walks over holding Percy’s arm. Annabeth looks at Percy and smiles at him, she almost forgot that in a few weeks he would be leaving and she wouldn’t see him for a long time.
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The day Annabeth hoped would never come did. The day her best friend leaves. She is walking to Percy’s car holding a box with all his swimming medals and trophies in it. Percy walks up to her and tries to grab the box from her hands.
“Thank you Beth, you’ve helped so much, let me take it from here.”
Annabeth moves to the side avoiding his hands.
“Uh-uh,” She shakes her head and carries on walking. “I’m doing the last one.”
Percy laughs and leans against the car watching Annabeth put the box in the back. His mom is already in the driving seat waiting for Percy.
Annabeth stands in front of Percy, takes a deep breath and kisses him. His lips are soft and warm, it’s not a long kiss but it sure feels like it to Annabeth. She breaks away and looks at Percy.
“Good luck, Seaweed Brain.” Annabeth turns around and walks back to her apartment, her heart pounding and her cheeks burning. She doesn’t see Percy’s reaction but she hopes it was a good one.
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Annabeth and Percy call almost everyday, they talk for hours on end and only have to stop to go to school or do homework. Sleep had become a thing of the past and neither of them minded.
Annabeth is happy that Percy and her are still close but one thing bothers her. He doesn’t mention the kiss. It never even comes up as a topic. She’s hurt by this and thinks that maybe he doesn’t feel the same and just wishes it never happened. Annabeth wishes it never happened too.
Piper goes over to Annabeth’s more often and Annabeth tells her about it. The conversation ends with Annabeth in tears on Piper’s lap.
“Look babe, Percy is being an idiot. You have every right to be upset and angry at him but maybe he’s scared of what will happen next.” Piper says and she strokes Annabeth’s hair.
“Then he’s just being a coward, if he wanted to know what happened next he should just ask.” Annabeth says tears rolling down her face.
Piper nods. “You’re right, he is a coward. But he’s just a boy”
Annabeth lifts her head from Piper’s lap.
“He’s not ‘just a boy’ Piper, he’s Percy, my Percy, and now I’ve ruined everything.”
More tears fall down Annabeth’s cheeks as she lies back down on the bed.
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Months later, after Annabeth’s 16th birthday, Percy and his mom both come back to New York so they can see everyone again. Annabeth is happy that she’ll see Percy again but nervous.
The last time she saw him, she kissed him and they didn’t say anything about it. What’s it going to be like now?
All Annabeth’s worries disappeared when she saw Percy’s face. She’s waiting for him at the airport. When he sees her he runs up to her and hugs her. Annabeth hugs back.
“I missed you so much.” Percy says, squeezing Annabeth tight.
“I missed you more.” Annabeth says back.
Percy pulls away and smiles.
“Not possible.” He says looking into Annabeth's eyes. She laughs and they walk out of the airport together.
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They spend every day together, catching up on things they forgot to mention on call and doing all the things Percy missed while he was in California.
Percy and Annabeth are on the sofa watching a movie at Annabeth’s while her dad, his new wife and her kids are out of town. Annabeth is laying on Percy’s chest as they watch Finding Nemo (Percy’s favourite).
He taps Annabeth on the shoulder.
“Annabeth, I need to talk to you about something.”
Her breath catches in her throat. Is he finally going to talk about the kiss?
Annabeth sits up and looks at him.
“Of course, what is it?” She says as normal as possible as her heart beats loudly in her ears.
“I-i don’t think I want to go to college.” Annabeth’s heart sinks, she definitely wasn’t expecting this.
“What do you mean? We had a plan- we were going to go to Columbia together.” She starts thinking of all the plans they made; sharing an apartment, making new friends together. Why would he not want that?
“I know Beth, but I want to travel the world too and I want to do that soon.” He puts his hand on Annabeth’s but she snatches hers away and stands up.
“Just do that after college, you can’t just expect me to be fine with you leaving me again?”
Tears start to well in her eyes as she paces the room.
“I’m not leaving yet, we still have to finish school, Annabeth I thought you wouldn’t mind?”
She looks at him, her face filled with hurt.
“Of course I would mind, I don’t want to go through college by myself.” She starts crying and Percy stands up too, she storms over to him. “You know what, I think you’re just scared, scared of what will happen next. You’re a coward, Percy Jackson. When you’re scared you run away, you’re a coward.”
Annabeth is in front of Percy, breathing hard, with tears cascading down her face. Without hesitation, she runs out of the apartment door. Percy follows her outside, it must be really late because the only light comes from the streetlights up and down the road. Rain pours down around Percy as he shouts after Annabeth who is walking away.
“I know you aren’t talking about college anymore, Annabeth” She ignores him and carries on walking with her arms crossed.
Percy runs after her. “Beth, look at me.”
She stops in her tracks and turns around slowly, her arms still crossed and tear stains down her face. Percy’s hair is soaking wet and stuck to his face, his clothes are drenched, like hers and he’s breathing hard, staring at her.
“I’m not a coward, Annabeth, because I’m not scared to admit that I’m in love with you and I’m not scared to admit that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss because it’s all I’ve wanted for years.”
Annabeth’s heart stopped beating. She smiles slightly as he carries on.
“I’m sorry that I hurt you and I’m sorry for making you think that I don’t love you because I do, more than anything in the world.”
She slowly starts walking up to him.
“Look, I understand if you don’t want to forgive me but-” Annabeth walks faster up to him and interrupts him.
“Shut up, Seaweed Brain”
She runs up to him, throws her arms around his neck and kisses him hard. Percy is taken aback at first but then doesn’t hesitate to kiss her back. He moves his lips over hers desperately as she hums contently. Percy lifts her up and she wraps her legs around his waist. He kisses her deeper and then she pulls away to lean her forehead against his.
“I love you too, Percy” He smiles back at her and kisses her again, the rain splashing on the pavement around them.
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The next day, Piper, Jason and Leo go over to Annabeth’s apartment to see Percy. Annabeth left the door open so she wouldn’t have to get up and let them in. However, that didn’t go as planned. The three of them walked into the apartment to Annabeth and Percy making out on the sofa. They quickly break apart and say hi to everyone. Piper screams and runs over to Annabeth to hug her.
“I’m so happy for you!” Piper says after she lets go of Annabeth. Annabeth smiles and laughs slightly as she tries to fix her hair.
Percy is talking with the guys, they pat him on the back and congratulate him. He turns around to Annabeth and smiles at her. She smiles back and thinks to herself that it all worked out in the end. Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl.
