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Where the Fun Happens

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Annabeth stood at the east wing of the stage as the red, velvet curtains parted, revealing the perfect scenery and background, all made under the supervision of hers truly, to the audience seated in the packed auditorium. Annabeth watched intently as the first scene began and went off without so much as a bump, save for Mercutio itching in his tights between his lines. So far, so good. She thought. If they could just make it through the first act, she knew her, ahem, the play would be perfect.

Annabeth glanced across the stage into the west wing giving Silena, her wonderful, wonderful Juliet, a reassuring smile. So far, there was only a minor snag in the nothing less than perfect production. When the Silena had auditioned, Annabeth knew she was perfect for the part; strikingly beautiful to catch the attention of the tragic hero, Romeo, with the grace and innocence Shakespeare intended the daughter of the Capulet family to have. However, the only problem was that the black-haired beauty froze up every time she messed up her lines. So much as a misplaced stress in the iambic pentameter of Juliet's many sonnet lines caused her to become a deer in headlights onstage as she lacked the ability to recover and improvise. Annabeth jsut crossed her fingers, hoping that Silena didn't puke on Romeo, lest this production end as the winter musical had.

Annabeth clenched her teeth as Silena walked onto the stage and spoke her first line. Once she began, Annabeth let out a sigh of relief. Silena spoke clearly and confidently, every word straight out of the script. She blew the audience away with her stellar delivery.

Annabeth held her breath as Silena walked onto the stage. Once she spoke her first line she

"Queue the lights." Annabeth murmured into her headset. "Soundtrack a little softer, it's drowning out Romeo. Turn up mic number one, please."

Annabeth peeked through a curtain on the wings and peered at the expressions of the audience. It was quite a turn-out for opening night of a non-musical show. She was determined to make Goode High School's performance of Romeo and Juliet the best production of the year. After all, her deBut as director for her school's drama club had to start with a bang. Save for the occasional orders for the tech crew to adjust the volume of the mics, Annabeth's job was rather easy as she watched her flawless production unfold without any help from her..

By Act 4, scene 3, Annabeth was so involved in simply watching the play, she almost yelped into her headset when she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist. "Percy!" She hissed, moving the mic away from mouth as her boyfriend stood in front of her.

"Hey, babe," he replied, his infamous smirk slapped across his face.

"What are you doing back here? Cast and crew only allowed backstage," she whisper-hissed to him, pulling him away from the curtains, deeper into the wings.

He shrugged as if trespassing during a show was no big deal, "Visiting my girlfriend on opening night."

"You're suppose to be out there in the house with the audience.," Annabeth continued, although she was smiling now, "How did you even get back here? Production staff access only, as in, cast and crew. Which you are neither."

Percy's light smirk slid in to a mischievous grin, "Let's just say I'm very persuasive."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, feeling sorry for the poor freshmen girls who were ushering the theater. She wondered what an encounter with the Percy Jackson, captain of the swim team, had done to their poor, naive little hearts.

Annabeth glanced back on stage as she heard a slight murmuring from the ensemble onstage. Romeo's spotlight was slowly panning to the side and Beckendorf struggled to move with it whilst keeping his movements natural with his lines. She readjusted her headset, "What's happening with spotlight three? Keep it on Romeo...What do you mean Will passed out?..." Annabeth cocked her eyebrow, "Get a replacement stat to cover his light...Well, someone needs to focus that spotlight…" Percy watched, amused as he fiddled with a strand of her hair.

Annabeth's voice rose in urgency, "I want someone to fix that light this second or I swear, Grover, I will-Just roll Will over and fix the spotlight!" At that moment the light returned to its proper place on stage.

"Wow." Percy muttered.

"What?"

"You're a bit tense, that's all."

"Of course I'm tense, this is my first show as director. I fought hard for this job and I didn't get it for nothing. Do you know how much of a disaster this show would be if Calypso had gotten this job?

Percy just chuckled.

"Hold on a second. Scenery change in a few seconds. Just stay out of the way." The theater went black and Annabeth hurried away to help the prop crew push the bedroom set onstage.

Annabeth returned to her post to find Percy sitting smugly on her director's chair. Annabeth simply crossed her arms and arched her perfect eyebrow, glaring. Percy continued to stare up at her with a grin until his boyish smirk wavered under her intense gaze. He groaned and sheepishly slid out of the chair, "Sorry." He muttered.

"That's what I thought," Annabeth said, now the one smirking as she took his place in her chair.

"You're scary sometimes, babe," Percy mumbled, leaning on the arm rest.

"Don't call me babe."

"You know you love it."

"Bite me," she stated, dryly.

Percy went behind her and brushed her hair aside. His feather light touches left goose bumps wherever his hands brushed her neck. Annabeth felt his breath near her ear as he nipped her throat.

Annabeth let out a yelp, "What the hell, Perce?" She looked at him, incredulous

Percy shrugged. "You said to bite you."

"Not literally, Seaweed Brain.''

He smiled smugly, "Should've made that clear."

"You really need to get the hell out of here. Is that clear enough for you, babe?"

"You want me here, don't you?" Percy said, clearly aiming to annoy her now.

"Not particularly," Annabeth deadpanned, "But fine, stay. Just quit bothering me."

Percy pouted, visibly at the lack of his girlfriend's enthusiasm. He spent the next few scenes just staring at his girlfriend as she supervised the happenings onstage. He occasionally played with her hair, tucking stray strands behind her ear. He stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. He chuckled lightly when she scrunched up her nose every time someone would screw up their lines. Annabeth scowling, but he knew as long as he stayed quiet, she wouldn't mind and he could do what he pleased.

"Annabeth?" Percy asked, his arm loosely draped over her shoulder.

"Hmm?" She said, her eyes still trained on the performance.

"Nothing."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips.

Percy silently went up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested in chin on her shoulder and buried his face in her hair. She always smelled like sunshine and lemon and cotton.

Percy placed light, butterfly kisses on her neck wrapped his arms tighter. He moved his head down to her collarbone and murmured something incoherent. Then he trailed up her neck, his nose brushing against her soft skin. He placed his lips at the based of her jaw and kissed it. Annabeth's breath hitched.

"Percy." Annabeth warned, breathless.

"Yes?" He answered. Annabeth could feel a smile on his lips against her neck.

"That's a little distracting," she muttered, gently trying to push him away, but he just gripped her waist tighter.

"How?"

"Percy," Annabeth warned more sternly, "Seriously, stop. What are you doin-" Percy crashed his lips against hers. Annabeth's eyes widened in surprise, but she soon melted into his arms.

Unfortunately, oxygen was necessary. Annabeth heavy breathing was only just barely quiet enough not to be heard by the actors on stage.

"What do you think I'm doin-"

But it was Annabeth's turn to cut him off as she smashed her lips into his.

Percy pulled away, smirking, "Oh, well someone's-"

"Shut up." Annabeth said encasing his lips in her again. She moved her hands down and placed them on his chest. He deepened the kiss. .

The other stage crew member's were giving them 'the eye'. Silena giggled as she passed them to change into her other costume. Percy broke away with much protest from Annabeth as Mr. Brunner happened to walk by, "Should we stop stop? This might affect your, dunno, directorship or something."

"Don't care," Annabeth muttered, attacking his lips again. She whimpered in protest as Percy pulled away, once more.

"Maybe we should, move to somewhere more private," he murmured in her ear.

"What?" Annabeth said, slightly disoriented. Percy found it amusing he could do that to his girlfriend.

"Should we move somewhere else?" He repeated.

"Are you kidding me? I can't just leave."

"Yes, you can."

"Of course I can't. I'm the director. I have to stay right here," Annabeth leaned in again to continue their 'activity'.

"Well, we can't do this with everyone around here." Percy replied.

Annabeth pouted, "We just were!"

"Yeah, and Mrs. Dodds was giving us the evil eye. You know how she feels about 'public displays of affection.'"

Annabeth sighed, "Fine. I still can't leave, but as soon as this is over-"

"Come on, Annabeth. There are like two scenes left, no set changes. Everything's under control and they won't even notice you're gone."

Annabeth her lip, mentally weighing the pros and cons in her head, "Okay. Fine, but where will we go?"

"I have an idea. I'm going to leave." Annabeth started to protest, but Percy held up his hand, "Wait five for minutes then follow me behind the scene three scenery."

"Why can't we just go together?" Annabeth asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be the smart one, Wise Girl?" Percy said, grinning. Annabeth glared. "Let's put it this way. What would you think if you were a teacher and you saw two teenagers sneaking away to the dark recesses of a theater?"

Understanding flooded Annabeth's face, "Right."

Percy winked and quietly walked away towards the back, not receiving a second look from the busy stage crew.

Annabeth turned back to the performance and waited, impatiently, tapping her foot and biting her lip raw. Man, she really hated how Percy had the ability to make her this way; antsy and breathless. She checked her cell phone. 5 minutes. Annabeth slipped off her headset, and, as nonchalantly as she could, looked around. Mrs. Dodds was currently scolding Conner and Travis as she caught them red handed about to set off a stink bomb. Everyone else was occupied with theirs tasks.

"Bathroom." She murmured as she passed some of the stage crew. Annabeth made her way behind the curtain and saw a giant papier mache moon. "Percy?" She said.

Suddenly someone grabbed her and pulled her behind a crate and covered her mouth before she could scream.

"Percy! Was that necessary? Scaring the hell out of me?" Annabeth hissed at him. He placed a finger to her lips.

Annabeth continued to talk, "This is your big hiding place? If that curtain moves, we're totally exposed to the audience."

"And that is exactly why we're not staying here."

"Where are we going?"

"Surprise." Percy grabbed a scarf from a costume bin and tied it around Annabeth's head.

"Okay, now I know this isn't necessary, Percy," Annabeth protested.

"Well, you know I have a dramatic flair."

Annabeth allowed Percy to guide her through the back of the theater. He gripped her waist and steered her around turns and winding spiral staircase.

"Can I take this off now?" Annabeth whined..

Percy wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist and placed his chin on her shoulder once again. "Now," He whispered in her ear. His warm breath tickling her neck. "Open your eyes."

Annabeth gasped.

"This is where the fun happens."