Look sexy

The New Rome University athletic complex was a cavernous space that smelled perpetually of two things: industrial-strength chlorine and floor wax. For Percy Jackson, it was the best smell in the world. He stepped out of the locker room, his damp, curly blonde hair clinging to his forehead and his skin still tingling from a grueling two-hour swim set. He had his mesh bag slung over one shoulder, his goggles dangling from his fingers, and a towel draped around his neck.

Beside him, Jason Grace was stretching his arms behind his head, his blonde locs tied back in a neat bun. Jason was a powerhouse on the swim team, but today he looked just as drained as Percy felt. Behind them, Charles Beckendorf and Grover Underwood were debating the merits of the new training regimen. Beckendorf, towering over them all with his sharp afro taper fade, was nodding slowly, while Grover, his black curls still messy from the pool, gestured wildly with his hands.

"I’m telling you, if Coach makes us do another five-hundred butterfly, I’m actually going to sink to the bottom and stay there," Grover complained, adjusting his glasses.

Percy laughed, but his eyes were already scanning the far side of the gym. "You say that every Tuesday, G. You’re still kicking."

"Barely," Grover muttered.

As they rounded the corner toward the main exit, the sound of rhythmic squeaking sneakers and the sharp *thwack* of a ball hitting a hardwood floor filled the air. The women’s volleyball team was finishing up their scrimmage on the court adjacent to the weight room.

Percy’s pace slowed. It wasn't just a casual lag; it was a deliberate, magnetic pull. He leaned against the doorway of the gym, his blue eyes locking onto a specific figure on the court.

Annabeth Chase was mid-air. Her light brown knotless boho braids, adorned with tiny gold rings that caught the overhead lights, flared out behind her like a halo. She was only five feet tall, but when she jumped, she looked like she could touch the ceiling. She spiked the ball with a fierce intensity, sending it screaming over the net.

"Nice hit, Beth!" Silena Beauregard shouted from the sidelines. Silena, looking effortlessly pretty even in a sweat-wicking jersey, clapped her hands. Her dark curls were pulled into a high puff, and her light skin glowed with a fine sheen of perspiration.

Annabeth landed lightly on her feet, a bright, bubbly grin breaking across her face. She wiped a stray braid away from her brown eyes and high-fived Thalia Grace. Thalia, standing a good eight inches taller than Annabeth, looked intimidating with her thick black locs and a "don't mess with me" expression, though she was clearly enjoying the game.

"Game point, ladies!" Hazel Levesque called out. Hazel was the smallest on the court next to Annabeth, her goddess braids swaying as she shifted into a defensive stance.

Percy didn't move. He watched as Annabeth turned her back to the doorway to prepare for the serve. She was wearing the team's tight spandex shorts, and the way they hugged her curves was doing something dangerous to Percy’s heart rate. He let out a low, shaky breath. He had been dating Annabeth for six months, and yet, every time he saw her in her element, it felt like the first time he’d ever laid eyes on her.

"Percy, you’re drooling," Jason said, bumping his shoulder against Percy’s.

Percy didn't even look at him. "I am not. I’m admiring the athleticism."

"Right. Athleticism," Beckendorf chuckled, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Is that what we're calling it now? Because you’ve been staring at her backside for three minutes straight."

"Can you blame me?" Percy whispered, his voice thick with unashamed adoration. "Look at her. She’s perfect."

"We get it, you’re obsessed," Grover said, though he was smiling. "Can we go get food now? I’m starving."

"Five more minutes," Percy pleaded.

On the court, the whistle blew. The scrimmage was over. The girls began to huddle up, laughing and talking loudly. Annabeth was the center of the energy, her soft, girly laugh carrying across the gym. She was the shortest person there, but she commanded the most attention.

As the huddle broke, Annabeth grabbed her water bottle and turned toward the exit. She spotted the group of boys standing in the doorway and her face lit up. She jogged over, the curly ends of her braids bouncing against her shoulders.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain," she said, stopping right in front of Percy. She smelled like coconut hair oil and sweat, a combination Percy found intoxicating.

"Hey, Wise Girl," Percy replied, his voice dropping an octave. He reached out and tucked a loose braid behind her ear. "You were incredible out there. That last spike? Lethal."

Annabeth beamed, her brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thanks. I felt good today. You guys just finish?"

"Yeah," Jason answered for them, since Percy seemed to have lost the ability to speak while looking at Annabeth. "Coach worked us to death. We’re heading to that taco place down the street. You girls coming?"

Silena, Thalia, and Hazel joined them. Silena immediately gravitated toward Beckendorf, who wrapped a massive arm around her waist. Thalia rolled her eyes at the public display of affection but didn't move away from her brother, Jason.

"Tacos sounds like a dream," Silena said, leaning her head on Beckendorf’s shoulder. "I burned about five thousand calories just watching Thalia dive for balls."

"Hey, someone had to play defense," Thalia joked, nudging Hazel.

"I’m in," Hazel said, adjusting her gym bag. "But I need to shower first. I feel gross."

"We all do," Annabeth said. She looked up at Percy, noticing the way his eyes were lingering a little lower than her face. She smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "You okay there, Percy? You look a little... distracted."

Percy cleared his throat, his face flushing a light pink. "I’m fine. Just... thinking about the game."

"Uh-huh," Annabeth said, her voice dripping with amusement. She leaned in closer, whispering so only he could hear. "I saw you watching from the door. You’re not as subtle as you think you are."

Percy grinned, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. "I wasn't trying to be subtle."

"Clearly," Thalia interjected, having overheard. "Percy, if you stare any harder, you’re going to burn a hole in her shorts. Let’s move it."

The group began to walk toward the locker rooms to drop off their gear and freshen up. Percy and Annabeth walked at the back of the pack. Percy tried to be a gentleman, but every time Annabeth walked a few paces ahead of him, his eyes inevitably drifted.

She had a certain way of walking—a bounce in her step that was purely her. Being only five feet tall, she had to take more steps to keep up with his long strides, which only emphasized the movement of her hips.

"Percy," she warned, not even turning around.

"What? I’m just walking!"

"I can feel your eyes on me," she laughed, glancing back over her shoulder. Her light brown braids framed her face perfectly. "Save it for later."

"I can't help it," Percy admitted, catching up to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He pulled her into his side, enjoying the contrast of his height against her petite frame. "You’re a distraction, Annabeth Chase. A very beautiful, very talented distraction."

Annabeth softened, her bubbly nature taking over. She wrapped her arm around his waist, squeezing him tight. "You’re not so bad yourself, Jackson. Even if you do smell like a swimming pool."

"It’s the scent of champions," he teased.

They reached the intersection where the men’s and women’s locker rooms diverged. The rest of the group had already disappeared inside. Annabeth stopped and turned to face him, standing on her tiptoes to hook her arms around his neck.

"Give me ten minutes to shower and change?" she asked.

"I’ll be waiting right here," Percy promised.

She leaned in, brushing her lips against his in a soft, lingering kiss. When she pulled away, she gave him a playful wink and turned to head into the locker room.

Percy stood there for a moment, his heart doing a frantic little dance in his chest. As she walked away, his gaze dropped one last time. He couldn't help it; the sight of her was his favorite view in the world.

"Percy! Move it!" Jason’s voice echoed from inside the men’s locker room.

"Coming!" Percy yelled back, though he didn't move until the door had fully swung shut behind Annabeth.

Inside the locker room, the atmosphere was loud and chaotic. Jason and Beckendorf were already in the showers, their voices echoing over the sound of running water. Grover was sitting on a bench, scrolling through his phone.

"He’s still out there, isn't he?" Grover asked without looking up.

Percy walked to his locker and started pulling off his damp shirt. "I’m right here, Grover."

"Took you long enough," Jason shouted from the shower stall. "We thought we were going to have to come out there and drag you away from the girl's locker room door."

"I have self-control," Percy insisted, though he knew it was a lie.

"You have zero self-control when it comes to Annabeth," Beckendorf added, stepping out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. He started drying his hair, his dark skin glistening. "But hey, I get it. Silena does the same thing to me."

Percy grabbed his soap and headed for the showers. As the hot water hit his back, he leaned his head against the tile wall. He thought about the way Annabeth looked on the court—strong, confident, and utterly gorgeous. He thought about the way her braids felt against his skin and the way she always smelled like summer.

He hurried through his shower, not wanting to keep her waiting. He threw on a clean pair of jeans and a blue hoodie, tossing his wet swim gear into his bag. When he stepped back out into the hallway, the girls were already there.

Annabeth had changed into a pair of high-waisted denim shorts and a soft yellow crop top that complimented her skin beautifully. Her braids were gathered into a loose ponytail, and she looked fresh and glowing.

"Ready?" she asked, seeing him.

"Ready," Percy said, taking her hand. Her small hand fit perfectly inside his larger one.

The group made their way out of the athletic center and into the cool evening air of the campus. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the brick buildings and the manicured lawns.

As they walked toward the taco shop, the conversation was loud and easy. Jason and Thalia were bickering about a play from the scrimmage, while Silena and Hazel were discussing a project for their art history class. Grover was walking ahead with Beckendorf, talking about a new documentary he’d seen.

Percy, however, was content to just be near Annabeth. He felt a deep sense of pride walking beside her. He knew people looked at them—the tall, blonde swimmer and the stunning, petite girl with the golden braids. They were a striking pair, but to Percy, it was just... Percy and Annabeth.

When they reached the restaurant, they pushed a few tables together to accommodate the eight of them. The atmosphere was festive, filled with the smell of sizzling meat and fresh salsa.

Percy sat next to Annabeth, his arm draped over the back of her chair. Throughout the meal, he found his hand resting on her waist or his fingers playing with the ends of her braids. He was constantly leaning in to whisper something in her ear, making her giggle and blush.

"You’re being very clingy today," Annabeth whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder as they waited for the check.

"I’m just appreciating what’s mine," Percy replied, his voice low and sincere.

Annabeth looked up at him, her brown eyes soft. She reached up and ran a hand through his curly blonde hair, which was finally starting to dry. "I’m not going anywhere, Percy."

"I know," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. "But that doesn't mean I’m going to stop looking."

"I noticed," she teased, a smirk playing on her lips. "Especially during practice."

Percy laughed, a deep, warm sound. "Guilty as charged. But can you blame me? You're the best thing on that court."

"And you're the best thing in that pool," she countered, her hand sliding down to rest on his chest.

As the group finally paid and started to head back toward the dorms, the night was quiet and peaceful. One by one, the friends split off toward their respective buildings. Grover headed toward the biology wing, while Hazel and Thalia walked toward the honors dorms. Jason and Beckendorf walked Silena to her door before heading back to the athletic housing.

Finally, it was just Percy and Annabeth. They walked slowly, enjoying the silence of the campus at night. When they reached the entrance to Annabeth’s dorm, she turned to face him.

"I had a good time tonight," she said, her voice soft in the moonlight.

"Me too," Percy said. He reached out and pulled her closer, his hands resting on her hips. "Even if I spent most of it being distracted by my girlfriend."

Annabeth laughed, her arms winding around his neck. "You're hopeless, Percy Jackson."

"Only for you," he whispered.

He leaned down, and this time the kiss wasn't quick or playful. It was deep and lingering, a promise of all the days they had ahead of them. When they finally pulled apart, they were both a little breathless.

Annabeth touched his cheek, her thumb grazing his jawline. "Go to bed, Seaweed Brain. You have morning practice."

"I’ll see you at lunch?" Percy asked, reluctant to let go.

"Every day," she promised.

He watched her walk into the building, her boho braids swaying with every step. He waited until the door clicked shut and he saw her wave through the glass before he finally turned to walk back to his own dorm.

He had a long walk ahead of him, and he was exhausted from the day’s training, but as he walked, he had a massive, goofy grin on his face. He was the luckiest guy on campus, and he knew it. Tomorrow, he’d be back in the pool, and she’d be back on the court, and he’d find a way to sneak over and watch her again. Because for Percy, there was no better view in the world than Annabeth Chase in her element.