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Sunlight, Salt, and Stolen Glances

The Atlantic Ocean was a shimmering expanse of turquoise and sapphire, but Annabeth Chase barely noticed the scenery. Her focus was narrowed down to a single, 6’1 frame currently emerging from the surf like some kind of golden-haired sea god. Percy Jackson shook his head, sending a spray of saltwater flying from his blonde curls, his blue eyes squinting against the midday sun. He was wearing simple navy swim trunks that hung low on his hips, and the water tracked glistening paths down the defined muscles of his chest and stomach.

Annabeth felt her throat go dry. She reached for her water bottle, her fingers trembling slightly as she took a sip, her gaze never leaving him.

"You’re staring again, sweetie," Silena Beauregard murmured, shifting her weight on the oversized beach towel next to Annabeth. The 20-year-old Indian girl looked effortlessly chic in a deep emerald bikini that complemented her warm skin tone. She adjusted her sunglasses, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "If you look any harder, you’re going to burn a hole through his back."

Annabeth didn't even flinch or try to deny it. She just let out a long, shaky breath, her brown eyes tracing the line of Percy’s shoulders as he laughed at something Grover said. "Silena, look at him. Just look at him. It’s actually offensive how good he looks right now."

Silena chuckled, leaning back on her elbows. "He’s a very attractive boy, Annabeth. We’ve established this. But you’ve been pining for months. When are you actually going to do something about it?"

Annabeth adjusted one of her light brown boho braids, tucking it behind her ear. She was still sitting on her towel, her floral yellow bikini highlighting her soft curves. "I’ve been doing things all day! I wore the dress. I touched his arm like fifty times. I literally rubbed lotion onto his skin for ten minutes. I was giggling at everything he said, even the stuff that wasn't funny! And what did he do? He called me a well-dressed hobbit."

"He’s dense," Silena agreed, her voice sympathetic. "But he’s also clearly comfortable with you. Did you see the way he was looking at you when you were putting that sunscreen on him? He looked like a golden retriever getting a belly rub. He’s halfway there, he just doesn't have the map."

Annabeth groaned, dropping her head into her hands for a second before looking back out at the water. Percy was now wrestling with Charles Beckendorf, the two of them splashing around like kids. The contrast between Charles’s towering, dark-skinned 6’3 frame and Percy’s lean, athletic build was striking.

"I don't want a map," Annabeth whispered, her voice dropping into a lower, more serious tone. "I want him. Like, right now. Silena, I’m not even joking—I want to fuck him. I want to take him back to that car, lock the doors, and see if I can get him to stop talking for five minutes."

Silena’s eyes widened behind her sunglasses, and she let out a delighted, shocked laugh. "Annabeth! My god, the 'Wise Girl' has a dirty mind. I love this for you."

"I’m serious!" Annabeth hissed, her face flushing a deep bronze, but she didn't look away from Percy. He had just hoisted himself up onto a nearby jetty, the muscles in his arms bulging as he pulled his weight up. "Look at those arms. Do you see that? I just want to know what it feels like to have those wrapped around me when he’s not just giving me a 'friend' hug. I want to see if he tastes like salt and if his hair is as soft as it looks when it’s wet."

"You’ve got it bad," Silena said, shaking her head. "You’re usually so calculated, so in control. But Percy Jackson has turned you into a puddle."

"He’s just so... effortless," Annabeth complained, her eyes fixed on the way Percy’s wet trunks clung to his thighs as he jumped back into the water. "He doesn't even try. He just exists and he’s beautiful and kind and stupidly brave. And he’s so oblivious that it makes me want to scream and kiss him at the same time."

Across the sand, Thalia and Clarisse were engaged in a heated game of touch football with Luke. Thalia’s curly hair was pulled back in a messy puff, her biracial features sharp with concentration as she dodged a lunging Clarisse. Luke, the 6’2 wasian boy with a mischievous glint in his eyes, caught a pass and winked toward the girls on the towels.

Annabeth ignored them. Her world was currently a 20-foot radius around Percy.

"What if I just... told him?" Annabeth asked suddenly, her voice small. "What if I just walked up to him in the water and said, 'Percy, I’ve been in love with you since we were fifteen and I think about you every night'?"

Silena winced. "Maybe lead with the 'I like you' part before the 'I think about you every night' part. You don't want to scare the poor boy. He’s a simple creature, Annabeth. He needs clear, concise instructions. Like a Lego set."

Annabeth giggled, the sound a bit high-strung. "He is like a Lego set. A very hot, very confusing Lego set. I feel like I’m missing the instruction manual."

"You’re the architect, honey," Silena reminded her, reaching over to pat Annabeth’s hand. "Build the bridge. You’ve been laying the foundation all day. The dress was a great touch. You look amazing, by the way. Very soft, very feminine. It’s driving him crazy, even if he doesn't realize why he’s staring at you every five seconds."

"Is he?" Annabeth asked, her heart doing a little flip. "Is he actually staring?"

"Oh, absolutely," Silena confirmed. "Every time you move to adjust your braids or when you laughed at Luke’s joke earlier, Percy’s eyes were glued to you. He looks at you like you’re the most interesting thing on this entire beach. He just hasn't connected the dots between 'Annabeth is my best friend' and 'Annabeth is the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with.'"

Annabeth sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes, letting the sun beat down on her face. "I just want him to look at me and *see* me. Not just the girl who helps him with his homework or the girl he’s known forever. I want him to see the woman who wants to drive him crazy."

"He’ll get there," Silena said confidently. "He’s a slow burn, Annabeth. But once that boy catches fire, he’s going to be obsessed. You know how he is. When Percy cares about something, he goes all in."

"I know," Annabeth whispered. "That’s what I’m afraid of. Or what I’m hoping for. I can't tell anymore."

A few minutes later, the boys started making their way back to the towels. Grover was lagging behind, chatting with Charles about some new documentary, while Percy was practically sprinting, his energy seemingly bottomless.

"Hey!" Percy shouted, his voice bright and cheerful. He reached the towels and immediately did a massive shake, exactly like a dog, sending cold water droplets all over Annabeth and Silena.

"Percy! Stop it!" Annabeth shrieked, though she was giggling, shielding her face with her hands.

"Sorry, sorry!" Percy laughed, though he didn't look sorry at all. He dropped down onto the sand right next to Annabeth’s towel, so close that his wet leg brushed against her hip. "The water is incredible. You guys have to come in. The waves are starting to get bigger."

Annabeth looked at him, her brown eyes soft. "I was just about to come in. I was waiting for the 'well-dressed hobbit' to finish his swim."

Percy grinned, that lopsided, heart-melting smile. "Hey, I said you were a *cute* hobbit. Don't leave out the important adjectives." He reached out and playfully tugged on one of her braids. "Seriously, Annabeth. You look really nice today. I mean, you always look nice, but today you look... I don't know. Different? Shiny?"

Silena snorted loudly, burying her face in her book to hide her grin.

Annabeth felt her heart swell. "Shiny, Percy? That’s the best you can do?"

Percy rubbed the back of his neck, a faint pink tinge appearing on his cheeks that might have been sunburn, but Annabeth hoped it was a blush. "You know what I mean. You just look... happy. It suits you."

Annabeth leaned in closer, her shoulder pressing against his. "I am happy. I’m at the beach with my favorite people." She paused, her voice dropping a fraction. "Especially my favorite person."

Percy blinked, his blue eyes searching hers. For a second, the air between them felt heavy, charged with the kind of tension that Grover had mentioned earlier. Percy’s gaze dropped to her lips for a heartbeat, his expression flickering with something that wasn't just 'friendship.'

"Yeah," Percy said, his voice a little huskier than usual. "Me too."

"Anyway!" Clarisse shouted, stomping over and effectively shattering the moment. She dropped a football right onto Percy’s stomach. "Jackson, quit flirting and get up. We’re doing three-on-three. You, me, and Silena versus Luke, Thalia, and Grover."

Percy wheezed as the air was knocked out of him, but he quickly recovered, grabbing the ball. "You’re on, Clarisse! But I want Annabeth on my team. Silena’s too nice. I need someone who’s going to play dirty."

Annabeth stood up, brushing the sand off her legs. She gave Percy a playful poke in the ribs. "Oh, I can play dirty, Seaweed Brain. You have no idea."

Percy laughed, grabbing her hand to pull himself up. He didn't let go immediately once he was on his feet. He looked down at her, his hand enveloping hers, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over her knuckles.

"I’m counting on it," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

As they walked toward the makeshift field, Silena fell in step beside Annabeth.

"See?" Silena whispered, leaning in close. "He’s starting to notice the 'shiny' version of you. Just keep being 'dirty,' Annabeth. He won't know what hit him."

Annabeth glanced at Percy, who was already arguing with Thalia about the rules of the game. He looked back at her and winked, a bold, confident gesture that made her stomach do a somersault.

"I plan on it," Annabeth replied, a small, predatory smile touching her lips. "I plan on it."

The game was chaotic. Percy was a natural athlete, moving with a grace that seemed at odds with his usual clumsiness on land. Annabeth found herself distracted more than once by the way his muscles flexed when he threw the ball, or the way he’d let out a triumphant shout when they scored.

At one point, they were huddled up to discuss a play. Percy draped an arm around Annabeth’s shoulders, pulling her into the center of the circle. His skin was hot from the sun, and the scent of salt and sunscreen was intoxicating.

"Okay, Annabeth, I’m going to go long," Percy whispered, his breath tickling her ear. "You distract Luke. Use your... you know, your shiny-ness."

Annabeth looked up at him, her eyes dancing. "My shiny-ness? You want me to use my feminine wiles on Luke?"

Percy frowned, his grip on her shoulder tightening slightly. "No. Not wiles. Just... talk to him. He gets distracted easily. Don't make it weird."

"Oh, I won't make it weird for Luke," Annabeth teased, leaning her weight against Percy. "But I might make it weird for you."

Percy looked confused for a second, but before he could ask what she meant, the whistle blew.

By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet, the group was exhausted. They collapsed back onto their towels, passing around sandwiches and cold sodas.

Annabeth sat next to Percy, her legs stretched out. She felt a sense of calm settle over her. The frustration of his obliviousness was still there, but it was tempered by the sheer joy of his company.

Percy was leaning back on his elbows, looking out at the fading light. "This was a good day," he said quietly, almost to himself.

"The best," Annabeth agreed. She reached out and rested her hand on his forearm. "Thanks for coming, Percy."

He turned his head to look at her, his blue eyes reflecting the colors of the sunset. He looked at her hand on his arm, then back up at her face. Slowly, as if he were testing the waters, he turned his arm over and laced his fingers with hers.

He didn't say anything. He didn't call her a hobbit or crack a joke. He just held her hand, his thumb tracing the same slow circles she had used earlier.

Annabeth felt a lump in her throat. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and this time, he didn't shift or move away. He leaned his head against hers, his blonde curls mingling with her braids.

Across the fire pit they had started to build, Silena caught Annabeth’s eye and gave her a tiny, encouraging thumbs-up.

Annabeth smiled, closing her eyes. She still wanted to jump his bones, and she still wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled, but for now, this was enough. The "shiny" girl and the "oblivious" boy were sitting together under a darkening sky, and for the first time, the bridge between them felt like it was finally being built, one heartbeat at a time.

"Hey, Annabeth?" Percy whispered after a long silence.

"Yeah?"

"You really do look beautiful today. Not just shiny. Like... really, really beautiful."

Annabeth’s heart stopped. She pulled back just enough to look at him. His expression was earnest, devoid of his usual teasing.

"Thanks, Percy," she said, her voice trembling. "You don't look too bad yourself."

He grinned, the tension breaking just a little. "I know. It’s the hair, right? The curls are working for me."

Annabeth laughed, pushing him playfully. "Shut up, Seaweed Brain."

"Make me," he challenged, his eyes bright with a sudden, daring heat.

Annabeth froze, her breath hitching. She looked at his mouth, then back at his eyes. She leaned in, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

"Don't tempt me," she whispered.

Percy didn't pull away. He didn't blink. He just waited, his hand tightening around hers.

But then, of course, Grover tripped over a piece of driftwood and fell headfirst into the sand right next to them, letting out a yell that could be heard in the next county.

"I’m okay!" Grover shouted, muffled by the sand. "I’m fine! Nobody panic!"

The moment was gone, replaced by the collective laughter of their friends. Percy pulled back, chuckling as he helped Grover up, but he didn't let go of Annabeth’s hand.

As they started to pack up their gear in the twilight, Annabeth felt a new sense of determination. Percy might be a brick wall, but even brick walls eventually crumble if you apply enough pressure in the right places.

And Annabeth Chase always had a plan.