MIRELA ➪ PERCABETH

Magicians Never Reveal Their Secrets

And just like with magic, Percy was hypnotized.

He meant to talk to her. He really did. But it was difficult. Every time she looked at him, Percy's heart beat ten times faster and when he opened his mouth to speak, no words would come out. So he'd just blush and walk away in embarrassment as she stared after him in confusion.

His mother noticed his sullen mood when he was practicing his magic half-heartedly.

"What's wrong Percy?"

He contemplated on telling her about his crush. She was a girl after all. Maybe she knew what he could do.

So he told his mother about Annabeth. And how she's so pretty and smart and nice to everyone and how he just wishes he could do something to get her to like him too.

His mother smiled at him. "Why don't you do a trick for her?"

"A trick?"

"Yes. She'll be so impressed. At least that way, you can get her attention."

"Okay," Percy said eagerly. He racked his brain for the perfect trick to perform and quickly knew just the one.

Valentine's Day was just around the corner and Percy knew he was ready to sweep Annabeth off her feet with his amazing abilities. He had practiced his trick every day at least a hundred times. He could practically do it in his sleep. And as soon as Valentine's Day came, Percy was just bursting with nervous energy.

As per tradition, his classmates began handing out their Valentine's Day cards into each person's bag. Percy followed suit, but once he reached Annabeth's bag, he quickly put in his special hand made card along with a pack of Reese's chocolate attached to it. He knew those were her favourite because she'd eat them during lunch every other day.

Percy's card was in the shape if a purple heart (her favourite colour), neatly cut by himself (okay, his mom helped), with the following message written in dark blue crayon:

Happy Valentine's Day Annabeth! Meet me by the slide at recess.

From, Percy

He also added smiley faces, a sun, and a flower for good measure.

After they were finished, the teacher let the children read their cards during their lunch. Percy tried to see if Annabeth had read his card or not, but it was difficult since she sat all the way in the front and he sat in the back. He hoped she liked it.

As soon as the recess bell rang, Percy all but ran to the door so that he could make it to the slide before Annabeth did. Once he arrived at his destination, he rapidly got his props ready and waited.

A few minutes later, Annabeth walked toward him. She had her hair down and was wearing a simple, but pretty, red dress. Percy thought she looked like a princess.

"Hi Percy," Annabeth greeted happily, entrancing him with her wide smile and sparkling grey eyes.

"Hi A-Annabeth," he replied timidly, his confidence suddenly evaporating.

She twisted her waist back and forth, making the bottom of her dress swish over her legs. "Thank you for the card and the chocolate. I really liked it and Reese is my favourite."

He smiled shyly at her. "You're welcome."

"So, why did you want to meet me?"

"I, um, wanted to show you a magic trick."

"Oh!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I love magic tricks!"

Thank goodness, Percy thought.

He pulled out a small, plushy, red ball from his pocket and began his show. With his swift hands he made the one ball turn to two balls, then to three, and back to one. He even got Annabeth to participate by putting the one ball in her hand, closing it, and then instructing her to open it again, revealing two more balls than what she started with.