The List | PERCABETH AU [REVISED VERSION]

Chapter 5

ANNABETH

Did I know what the hell was going on with Percy? No. But did I like it? Sure. We were both still apprehensive because we hadn't acted like friends for a while. It was like trying to pick up a language you hadn't spoken for years that you weren't all that good at to begin with. You basically had to start from scratch. To be sarcastic like Thalia? To be confident like Jason? To be introspective like Frank? I wasn't sure what personality I wanted to display.

I came to the party for Piper, expecting a boring night full of strangers and alcohol. While the alcohol part rang true, it wasn't overwhelming like I expected it to be. I assumed Jason had forced people to stick to only a few drinks.

Or, I thought as I checked my watch, the real party hasn't even started.

Which wouldn't surprise me. It was only 11:45, and I assumed people got progressively drunk the later it was. It wasn't bad now, but I mentally prepared myself for it to get a lot worse.

"Annabeth," Percy asked as I flinched back into reality.

And then there was Percy. I wondered what would happen as soon as we were in front of other people. Would he become the snarky and withdrawn Percy I so often encountered? Or would he act like I was part of the group? I still wasn't sure.

"Yeah," I replied, "Sorry."

He grinned. "Don't worry. I get distracted easily too."

"I'm starting to like this version of Percy," I blurted out before I could think of any consequences.

As quick as Percy's smile appeared, it vanished, making me feel strangely guilty for saying it. I had never seen a hurt expression on Percy's face. I wondered how much pain he harbored secretly because of me and silently vowed to never cause that again.

But the helpless expression quickly transitioned again. "I am too."

There was a moment of silence between us, where all that was heard was the distant honking of horns below and the occasional crackle of the fire in the firepit. It wasn't awkward like the other few we'd shared before. This wasn't because of a lack of topics to talk about. It was that we had so much to say, but we couldn't possibly decide on what or how to say it.

"So," I said, "How's that list coming?"

Percy shrugged. "It depends on what you want. Do you want to be absolutely insane, moderately insane, or dipping your toes into insanity-insane?"

I laughed and punched him in the arm. "Moderately insane for me."

He raised an eyebrow, replying in a thickly sarcastic tone, "Yes M'lady. It shall be done for you."

I rolled my eyes in mock annoyance. "What do you recommend we do?"

I wasn't sure how Percy and I were going to pull this off. I wasn't sure about his parents, but my mother was definitely not going to approve of me hanging out with him. She'd spent the last three years of my life subtly villainizing Percy and his family. A twenty-minute heart to heart conversation wasn't going to be enough to convince her to change her mind.

"Let's start off easy," he said, typing a number one on the top of a blank note. "Ditch school for a day."

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

Percy groaned as he shot me an annoyed look. "C'mon, Chase. If you can't do something as simple as ditching school on ditch day, then I don't think we can be friends."

"Fine."

"Besides, if you don't ditch school on the day that is designated as Ditch Day, then that's just plain sad," he added.

"I said fine," I snapped.

Percy made a fake surprised face and returned to his phone. "Let's see," he said, deep in thought. "Go to prom?"

I nodded. Going to prom was non-negotiable. I probably would've gone regardless.

"Alright. Two down, eight to go," he replied pleasantly.

"Eight!"

"Eight."

I scoffed. 10 tasks were a lot, and I wasn't sure I was even up for doing five.

When I didn't protest, he added three more, which were way worse than the original two.

"Perform a senior prank? Fall in love? Skinny dipping? Percy, if this is just a ploy to get me to-" I ranted before he cut me off.

"I swear it's not. It's just something to get you out of your comfort zone, which you reek of," Percy replied calmly.

"Says the guy who reeks of chlorine and the school locker rooms," I retorted.

Percy shrugged. "Well, then I guess we both reek together. Annabeth, just go over there," he said, pointing to a small lounge chair on the opposite side of the fire. "I'll call you back when I'm done.

I submitted because we had spent way too long on the first five tasks. At the rate we were going, we wouldn't be done writing until after New Years'.

✰✰✰✰✰✰

After a few minutes of anxiously waiting as I eyed Percy suspiciously, he announced, "Done!"

I shot out of my seat, returning to where Percy was. "Finally. It took you a while."

Percy handed me the phone as he said, "As your mentor, none of these are negotiable."

FIXING THE TRAGEDY OF ANNABETH CHASE

1. Ditch school for a day

2. Go to prom

3. Perform a senior prank.

4. Throw a party

5. Go skinny dipping

6. Pull an all-nighter

7. Have a mukbang

8. Learn to cook a cool meal

9. Say yes to everything for ONE WHOLE DAY

10. Wear something borderline dress code for a day to school

BONUS POINT: Fall in love

✰✰✰

I laughed. "Seriously, Percy? Order 66?"

He shrugged. "I'm tired of pretending that movie isn't a masterpiece."

"Yeah, I guess it was pretty good," I said, before rereading the list to make sure I didn't miss anything.

"Is the list up to par, princess?" he asked sarcastically.

"So, there's no way to get out of it?"

"Nope. See you tomorrow. 5 o'clock. I'll pick you up."

✰✰✰✰✰✰

Again, sorry for such a short chapter, but I just wasn't feeling creative in the least bit today : (

I hope you guys understand.

Vote, comment, and follow!