The Library Book

#21 - Dodgeball

Percy caught Jason's eye. The other boy's gaze flickered to Luke and Matt, eyeing them suspiciously. They were clearly talking about Annabeth.

"Did she at least give you a reason for breaking it off?" Matt demanded. "Couldn't you have rescheduled the date?"

"She gave some crappy excuse," Luke explained. "Said she had feelings for someone else. She didn't say who, but she mentioned Jackson."

Percy felt like time simply stopped moving. The pen he was fiddling with accidentally rolled out of his hand and clinked to the ground deafeningly.

He winced as he snatched it up discreetly, avoiding Luke's judgemental gaze.

"Bet you're glad about that, huh," Matt snarled, spinning to loom over Percy. "Stealing his girl."

Percy slid off the bench and backed away. "Woah, I didn't do anything—"

"My ass," Matt growled, ignoring Luke's half-hearted attempts to stop him.

"Hey, back off," Jason interjected, leaning against the lockers on the right as he glared at Matt. Percy had never been so grateful for Jason and Frank having his back. "It's not his fault."

Matt sneered. "Look at you," he mocked Percy. "Defending your boyfriend?"

Jason snorted, slinging an arm across Percy's shoulders. "What's your point? I'd be honoured to be Percy's boyfriend."

A grin broke across Percy's face as he turned around, walking out of the room and away from Sloan.

As they crossed the pitch, Percy tried his best to remain nonchalant. "What do you think Luke meant?" He blushed when Jason and Frank exchanged knowing looks.

"About Annabeth breaking up with him for you?" Jason raised an eyebrow.

Percy stared pointedly at the ground as he kicked around a fallen fruit. "Um, amongst other things."

"Any specific reason why you care?" Frank prodded, stifling a smile.

Percy shook his head, still refusing to meet their eyes.

Jason started slowly, "Well, I could ask her, tell her you want to know."

"No!" Percy yelped hastily. Annabeth was smart enough to realise his feelings in a split second, and that would just ruin everything. "Nevermind," he amended. "It doesn't matter."

Ignoring his friends' curious looks burning into the back of his neck, Percy sat down on the bench, his thoughts occupied by just about

+++++

It was a busy week. The next time Percy really got to talk to Annabeth alone was Thursday morning. Being the only two people amongst their friends who took AP Biology, Percy glanced at the clock every few seconds, then at the door, keeping an eye out for her.

At 23 seconds past 8 o'clock, Annabeth strode into class, flashing him a blinding smile as she slid into the seat next to him.

"'Morning," she sang, pulling out her stationery and setting it out on her table. Annabeth has always been more organised than anyone else in terms of her desk. But Percy had seen her bedroom, and it was safe to say that she wasn't neat in much else.

Annabeth always insisted it was because she was too busy, but Percy personally thought it was because her brain moved too quickly for her hands to actually execute the actions.

She might start cleaning, but move on to doing an English essay within moments. It was one of his favourite things about her.