When Time Eludes You (Percabeth)

8 - Caught...

Annabeth's POV

The fluttering feeling surging through me was short lived, and rudely interrupted by ear-stinging accusations.
I slowly pealed my eyes open, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Percy? Is that yo-"
I felt a sharp slap across my face, and I blinked away the pain. If I cried in front of her, she'd know I was weak.

I had to be strong.

"Mom. What are you doing home early?"

She sneered at me, showing of her perfectly arranged teeth, huffing consecutively.
She seemed to have forgotten Percy was there.

"What's it to you, you ungrateful child. I come in here-"
"If you dare call her that again, mrs. Chase, Annabeth will be leaving this place. Oh, and in case I wasn't clear enough, I'll be filing a complaint about abuse if you touch Annabeth again. Understood?"

If it was even possible, my step-mother's face paled even more than her usual color. I got why though, of course. I wouldn't want to switch positions, with Percy towering over me with that look on his face...

   "I'm leaving."
I said looking down, channelling my voice so it was barely audible.
She cocked her head at me.
   "You have nowhere to go." She stated.
I looked into Percy's eyes, and we came to a silent understanding. I'd thank him later.
   "She can stay with me."
He grabbed my arm and dragged me upstairs.
I grabbed my school bag, throwing whatever clothes I could find into it.
I also stuffed a couple books in, too.
You never know when you need to drown out the world for a bit.
   "So can I really stay with you?"
I asked half-heartedly.
He smiled.
   "Yup."
I nodded carefully, thinking of how that might actually increase my feelings for him. Yes, in such a situation as this one, you have to worry about how boy problems, then you can think about physical abuse.

I closed my backpack and waited for Percy to say something.
Finally he looked up at me and realised I was still waiting.
   "Oh um... you want to head out?"
I nodded, then shook my head. I wanted to go, just not through the door.
   "I- I can't go through the door, Seaweed Brain. I can't look at her again. Can't we just-"
I pointed to the window.
   "You know...?"
He followed my gaze till he reached the glass window, revealing a beautiful skyline.
   "Are you crazy? How do we get down? How do we even do that with a backpack?!"
I smiled slightly, walking over to my wooden wardrobe.
   "Don't ever think Annabeth Chase doesn't have a backup plan."
Percy looked unconvinced, and about ready to protest, but I held up a finger to shut him up.
   I've had to run away tons of times."
I explained in a monotone way. When I opened the wardrobe and produced a rope, Percy looked more sceptic than ever. I rolled my eyes.
   "It's safe, Seaweed Brain. Just follow my lead."
He frowned, furrowing his eyebrows, but still grabbed the rope.
   "Tell me what to do."
I smiled and explained, instructing him on what to do.
It took a total ten minutes to get down, including of me getting down within two of those minutes, and Percy nearly hanging himself about six times.
   "Well that was... interesting."
I rolled my eyes at him and started walking towards his house.

He opened the door for me, letting me in, all gracefully.
   "So... where should I sleep?"
I asked as I looked around.
The apartment wasn't exactly 'amazing' but it wasn't 'bad' either.
It was cozy. It felt like home.
   "Uh- you could, um... if you want-"
He stuttered, making me smile.
   "You can sleep in my room, if you want?"
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
I smiled at his adorableness.
   "It's okay Seaweed Brain. I can sleep on the couch."
I gave him a winning smile, giving me an excuse to look into his eyes again.
   "No! I'll sleep on the couch. You sleep in my room."
I laughed lightly.
   "Or we could bring a mattress in to your room, and we can both sleep there."
I smiled sheepishly.
   "Oh- uh, yeah sure."
We finished getting the room ready.
   "How long do you think you'll have to stay? Not that I don't want you here or anything. Ugh, I meant-"
   "I don't know, Percy. Maybe a couple days? I can find a new place to stay when I have to go."
Percy groaned.
   "That's not what I meant!"
I nodded. My smile had faded.
Percy may have been my best friend, but how could he want to take care of me like this? It was... weird to have someone care for you enough to risk so much for you.
We sat down on his bed, in complete silence.
   "It's school today..."
I whispered at the sudden realization. Percy smiled.
   "Oops."
I feigned a shocked expression. Of course he knew.
   "You knew!"
He smiled goofily.
   "Maybe..."
He said cautiously.
I hit him on his arm, laughing.
   "Ow!"
I moved my eyebrows up and down, pretending to flirt with him.
   "Your welcome."
He rolled his eyes.
   "So what should we do for the rest of the day?"

We argued for over an hour.
I suggested going to the cinemas, but it was so far away from the bed.
In the end, we decided to have a movie marathon, in bed.
Suddenly, it was six.
What?
Time passes quickly when your having fun, I guess.
   "I'm tired..."
I complained.
Percy looked down at me, from our lazy half-lying positions on his bed.
   "Me too."
He whispered back.
And with that, he turned the TV off, and instead put on some music.

I didn't realize that I'd fallen asleep until I woke with start, screaming my head off.

Percy was shaking me, begging me to wake up.

Tears were in my eyes as I fell into him, sobbing.

   "Annie... oh my God. You scared me. I thought you were dying. Please don't ever do that to me again. Ever."
I whimpered, but nodded. I would never intentionally hurt him. Ever.

After a long moment of utter silence, I found myself leaning into him.
Was I really so shaken that I forgot how to think rationally?
I guess so.
   "Annie..."
He swallowed visibly, but his eyelids still dropped down as our lips met.
A party erupted inside of me.
My tear stained face broke into a grin.
Happiness seemed to pump through my heart, ultimately flowing through my veins, causing a warm, comforting feeling to settle over me.
I was kissing Percy.
Percy.
My best friend. Friend. Wait...
I pulled back, blush hitting my face as I stared into Percy's eyes.
He looked dumbstruck. I felt dumbstruck.
I'd always heard the saying that love makes you a fool. I didn't know it could have such a stupendous effect on you.

I wanted to lean in again.
I wanted to feel the comforting feeling in my veins again.
I wanted- no way.
He was my best friend and there was no way I actually liked him. Right?

We stared at each other intently, unwilling to move.
Finally I broke the silence.
   "Umm, I'm sort of... tired. I'm going to sleep, I think. I mean, it seems like the smartest thing to do because I'm... tired. Ok goodnight."

I fell back on the comfy mattress, enveloping myself in the covers.
I heard Percy stand up and trot outside.
My cheeks were burning like hot coals.

I came to the conclusion that I couldn't simply not kiss Percy for just one stupid reason.

But he didn't know I had two.

Hello!
So apparently the 2000 words I'd saved the other night magically disappeared and left me to re-write it. So I didn't quite follow the exact plot. It wasn't that good anyway.
Thank yous!
-TT