Don't judge a book by its cover.[Percabeth]

Chapter 27

"Okay, fair enough. But still," She actually threw herself onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck and perching on my lap. My arms moved practically by themselves, curving around her waist. We stayed that way for a few minutes before she pulled he arms back. She was smiling innocently. She then had the guts to flick my nose. She actually flicked me. "You still have to pay."

"You are evil." I scowled a her. She smirked both irritatingly and adorably. I wanted to kiss her. As inappropriate as the setting was, I really really wanted to kiss her. But I guess Aphrodite hated me or whatever because she turned away, crossed her legs and leaned against me so her back was pushed up to my chest. As per usual, my arms were wound around her waist. She talked to me for about an hour, updating me on everything that I'd missed. Particularly about Nico and Will. I made a bet with myself that they'd be a thing within two months. I noticed there was no mention of her dad, I was surprised to find out that she was still at Piper's.

My eyes were staring to droop after a while, which I thought was the intended effect. Her head was leant back, resting on my shoulder and I'd unconsciously pulled her right up against me. Neither of us had spoken in a while. I didn't really mind but the hospital room was pretty creepy with no noise except from the steady beep from the heart monitor. I guessed she picked up on it too, as she spoke up.

"Percy?" She turned herself so her legs were over the arm of the chair and her side was leaning against my chest. She traced invisible patterns onto my arm as she spoke. "Can you help me with my dad? Because I love staying with Piper and everything but it's just not home, ya know? You can say no but they might be slightly nicer to me if you're there too. But I get it if its too weird, in fact it doesn't matter. Its super weird to ask so you, mmpphd."

She stopped talking because I put a finger over her lips. "Of course I'll come with you, Wise girl. Just tell me when and where. "

My finger was still over her lips but she was smiling now. There was silence for a few moments. I couldn't help but think how incredible she was. But that thought quickly stopped when she opened her mouth and bit me. She actually bit me. I probably looked like idiot, with my mouth hung open and my eyes wide. She grinned mischievously.

"I, you, did? Did you actually just bite me? Gods, that actually hurt woman! You're insane." I pulled my hand away and inspected it. There were little indents where she'd bitten down. Dam her teeth were sharp.

"Awh, poor baby. Please tell me that tiny little nip didn't hurt you." She raised her eyebrows in a serious expression but her eyes twinkled with humour. As she spoke, she took my hand and stroked thumb across the bite marks.

"Well, yeah. That 'tiny nip' hurt like a bitch. You have very sharp teeth." I put on a face, trying to pretend to be upset. I didn't think she bought it.

"Hey, no fair! Don't you dare use those baby seal eyes to make me feel guilty. It was playful, not painful. If you're that bothered, here, I'll kiss it better." She pressed her lips against my finger. "There. All better now, you big baby." Her hand let go of mine and patted me on the cheek. She left it resting there. Her thumb stroked against my cheekbone. Suddenly my hands got real sweaty and my heart got real fast. For the fifth time in two weeks, I psyched myself up to kiss her. I leant down a little, she bit her lip. Her hand moved to the back of my neck, mine curled into her hair. We were centimetres away. I was sure there was nothing to interrupt this time.

"Hey, Perce, I felt bad for just leaving so I decided to come back and, oh gods, Annabeth, hi. I didn't realise you'd be here." And my mom proved me almost instantly wrong. She had blushed all the way to the roots of her hair, not that I blamed her considering mine and Annabeth's lips were literally centimetres away from the others.

"Uh, hey Mom. So Nico brought Annabeth here so she's just chilling with me until you got back and you are back now so would it be okay if I went home for a bit to sleep? Because obviously I want to stay here but I haven't had like any sleep all week so would that be okay? " The words spilled out of my mouth due to the sheer awkwardness of the situation. Annabeth's hand was no longer curled into the back of my hair and both of us had straightened right up but she was still sat on my lap. My mom's eyebrows were raised as she glanced between both of our faces.

"Yes, that should be okay. You don't really have to ask permission to sleep you know Percy, you're practically a full grown man. I'll give you a call if anything changes with him, but I doubt it will. It was nice to see you again, Annabeth." She stifled a smile as Annabeth clambered off my lap, pretty ungracefully with a pink tinge to her cheeks. I pushed myself up, offering Mom the seat. I kissed her cheek before kissing Tyson's forehead and grabbing my backpack.

"I'll see you later, Mom. Call me if you need anything." I gave her one last wave before turning to leave.

"Bye, Sally. The same goes for me, you or Tyson need anything and I'm there." She gave my mum a quick hug before following me out the door. Her cheeks were still bright pink, she was pretty embarrassed. I burst out laughing, as bad as it was to laugh in a hospital.

"Oh gods that was awkward. Come on, lets go." I leant my arm across her shoulders without thinking.

"Woah, woah, woah. I am not going anywhere near your armpit until you have showered because quite frankly you stink. And don't even try it, no amount of cute puppy eyes will make me change my mind on that one I'm afraid." Her nose scrunched up as she side stepped away from me. Usually I would have been offended but my mind was still ticking over the fact that she basically just called me cute. She actually just called me cute. The word flashed in front of my eyes in everyone colour, font and size. I was on a high.

"Yeah, yeah. Fair enough then. Once I've showered though, you owe me." I knocked her shoulder and she rolled her eyes in return. I took her bag from her shoulder and slung it over the top of mine, winking at her as I did which again earned me a roll of her eyes. My phone buzzed as a message came through.

No funny business. - Mom

My face heated up, which if course Annabeth noticed.

"What? What did the message say? Tell me or so help me Perseus," This time it was my turn to roll my eyes. I quickly bent down and shut her up with a kiss on the cheek. It worked. She grabbed my hand silently as we walked. Only a few steps from the hospital and my mom's text was all but forgotten.

~So what up you guys? I know, I've been MIA for like a week which is not like me at all but I've been busy  Ik the ending is a little shitty for this chapter but it felt kinda long and I wanted to leave the hospital  in this chapter so I could move on in the next one. I have a plan to throw a spanner in the works in a few chapters time, featuring a known and loved character. But that's all the hints you're getting. I'll try to update quickly but we'll see how it goes.

see you laters alligators