Beyond All Expectation (Percabeth)

Chapter 31: To Be So Happy

Percy POV:

Leo managed to save the evening after the game's somewhat tragic ending. I made sure that no one was angry at Annabeth for Luke's wrongdoings, and after that we migrated to the kitchen, where Leo made us each three rounds of his "famous Flaming Hot Leo's" - which involved a shot of tequila, a bite of a hot pepper and licking sugar instead of salt. We all reached insane levels of drunk and forgot the awkward tension that had arisen during the game. With the music turned up high, we danced the night away until the sky became light outside.

Afterwards, people crashed on the living room sofas and in any bedroom they could find. Thalia and Reyna had disappeared into one of the spare-bedrooms earlier in the evening and hadn't reappeared since. I didn't know whether they were hooking up or arguing, it was hard to tell. I wanted to believe that Thalia didn't blame Annabeth for being an asshole - especially considering the fact that Luke had been so cruel to Annabeth - but I realized I knew less and less about what Thalia was thinking these days. 

Selena and Charles took a room to themselves, as did Leo and Calypso (who took Tristan's master bedroom). Katie looked angry because she had obviously wanted to get with Travis, but he had fallen asleep soon after the second round of Leo's drinks. Hazel and Frank disappeared for a few minutes at one point during the evening, and I smiled as they slept in each other's arms on the living room couch now. Will was sleeping on the couch opposite them, with his arm draped over the side, delicately brushing against Nico's sleeping body on the carpeted floor. Connor snored loudly in the corner of the room, and Jason slept stock-still beside him, as if he was about to jump up at any minute. 

I caught up with Annabeth just as she was about to enter Piper's room. 

"Hey, um, everyone's asleep," I whispered. "I was wondering if you'd like to spend a little time in the jacuzzi... o-only if you're not too tired, of course."

Annabeth smiled and opened the door wider, revealing a very passed-out Piper within, star-fished across her bed. "I'd love to."

Five minutes later she joined me in the jacuzzi, wearing the bikini that distracted me ever so slightly. I grinned as she lowered her body into the water, sitting about a meter away from me. 

"You... look so pretty," I sighed. The low lights danced across the water's surface and shone across her face, making her glow. I stared into her eyes - those amazing grey eyes that had caught me love-struck ever since the first time I had seen them.

She blushed. "And you look... very handsome."

I grinned. 

"I got you a present," she whispered. "For Christmas... but it's not really something you can give, so I just thought I'd tell you about it."

I smiled as I tried to close the gap between us, edging closer towards her slowly. Our knees brushed lightly under the water. 

"A present that you can't give? Interesting..."

"It's a day trip - an idea of one, really. I know it's winter so it will be pretty cold, but I'd like to take you to Long Island. I know a lot of walks we could take there, and we could go to a few of my favourite restaurants... we could even go to Coney Island after if you want. It's just, like, Long Island is quite a special place for me because my Mom used to take me there all the time when I first started high school and I'd like to share it with you."

"That sounds amazing," I smiled. Our arms touched as I sat down next to her. Being this close, I could see that her cheeks were flushed red. "I can't wait. You know, my Dad used to take me to Coney Island when he was around. I can't remember ever going with him, but I go there quite a bit nowadays to try and remember him."