I sighed as I walked inside the near empty Starbucks, Rachel smiling at me from behind the counter.

After my album release party, things with us had been rocky. We hadn't spoken for a week after the party until she called me and apologized.

After assuring her we were still together, even though part of me missed Annabeth, we spent a few more weeks together.

It's been nearly a month since I last spoke to Annabeth at the party. Every once in a while I would find myself dialing her number only to quickly stop myself.

It was the end of Rachel's shift and when she saw me she wordlessly took off her apron and headed over to me.

"Percy, what are you doing here?" she asked breathlessly as she pulled her jacket on. "I thought we had plans for tonight?"

I shrugged as I led her out of the store and shoved my hands into my pockets. "Rachel, we need to talk."

Rachel smiled wistfully as she pulled me aside away from all the foot traffic. "I knew this was coming, so let me talk, okay? I know I messed up that night and I know I'm a bit abrasive and weird, but that's my personality. If you can't deal with that, then we aren't a right fit."

"Rachel, I love your weirdness, and I love your personality, but I can't be with you," I admitted. "It's nothing you did, not even the party thing. You said it yourself, we're just not a good fit."

Rachel took a deep breathe of air, her face a light pink from the cold. "Well, if we're breaking up at least promise not to cut me out of your life, okay? We're friends, you know that, right?"

I nodded. "Of course. So, see you around?"

"See you around," she responded with a laugh. We awkwardly shook hands before she turned and started walking an opposite direction.

"Percy, wait."

I turned to see Rachel standing a few feet away from me, her hand raised in a halt sort of way, her palm facing outwards.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Go get blondie, okay? It's obvious you miss her," Rachel practically shouted. "And don't worry, I can tell she wants you back, too."

I chuckled. "Thanks, Rach. You're the best. And I'll try, but it won't be that easy."

Rachel shrugged before winking and finally walking away, leaving me on my own.

After deciding I was done staring wistfully at the Starbucks, I started walking back to my apartment, feeling as if a walk could clear my thoughts.

About half of the way there, I halted in my walking and turned around to see a familiar face.

Before I could stop myself, I tapped on the man's shoulder.

He turned and there stood my former band mate Nico Di'Angelo. He was about a foot shorter than me with deep black hair, pale, even ghost-like, skin, and sunken dark eyes.

The last time I'd seen him was five years ago, and he was screaming at me. That was the day I'd announced that I was leaving the band, that I had gotten my own record deal without them.

At the time I thought Nico was being selfish, but now I realized I was just a monster. He had every right to be angry at me for leaving the band and becoming a sellout.

I was surprised that he didn't run away from me or even hit me when he saw me. Instead he just stared.

"Hey, Nico," I said, my voice strained with nerves.

"Hello," he said briefly. "Congrats on your new album."

By the way his eyes avoided mine and the hint of sarcasm in his voice, he wasn't too thrilled to see me.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I've been meaning to call you, or text you, but I haven't. I was a jerk. I should've fought my record company for the whole band to be included. And even if they would've said no, I should've decline their offer."

Nico did something that surprised me. He laughed. "It's okay, dude, that's in the past. Besides, we weren't that good."

I shook my head. "Nah, let's not lie, we were great. So, where are you playing now? Still in a band or flying solo?"

"Uh, actually I haven't been in a band for years," he admitted with furrowed eyebrows. "I tried a band after we broke up, I even tried one with Piper and Jason, but then they moved to California and I stayed here."

"You mean you haven't been in a band since?" I asked. "You just wasted your talent?"

He laughed again. "I wasn't that good. And without you, Piper, and Jason our band wasn't the same band."

I shook my head. "But Grover stayed in New York. And you could've joined another band?"

"Grover's great and all, but I was furious that he refused to cut you out of his life like we had," Nico admitted. "And I know that sounds stupid now. Anyways, no. I tried to be solo for a bit but it never worked, so now I'm an accountant."

"An accountant?!" I stammered. "But you hate math! And that's so boring!"

He shrugged. "It pays the bills. Anyways, I've gotta go."

"No, wait!" I cried out. "Would you...would you be okay getting the band back together?"

"Like your record label would allow that," Nico said with a snort.

"I don't care. I just wanna know if I got Jason, Piper, and Grover here would you consider joining us?"

A small grin appeared on Nico's face. "Sure."