The next day I made sure that my apartment was really clean and that everything wasn't just shoved somewhere randomly.

After showering and trying to pat my hair down with no successful, I put on one of my more fancy outfits and headed out into the kitchen.

A knock at the door made me jolt. I peered around a bit before heading to the door and opening it.

There stood Annabeth. Her curly waves rolled over her shoulders and she had part of it pinned back. She was dressed in a long, deep green sleeveless gown.

Her makeup was gorgeous and she grasped a small clutch. She smiled at me as she walked inside.

"Your apartment looks nice," she commented as she walked into my living room. "And your view—it's simply gorgeous!"

I walked over to her after closing the door and placed a hand on her back. She shivered briefly but then relaxed. "I know, right?"

She nodded as she nearly pressed her face against the glass. "Wow, I wish my apartment had these! You know...when I was little, before I became an actress, I always did want to be an architect..."

"Is that why you moved here?" I asked.

"How do you know I moved here? Are you a hardcore fangirl of mine?" Annabeth teased as she faced me.

I rolled my eyes. "Ha, you wish. No, I just like researching the people I go out with. And you...there's a lot on you. Apparently you moved here when you graduated from college, but it didn't say why."

She shrugged as she turned back to the window and peered outside at the buildings. The city light reflected off of her wide eyes and she looked like a child seeing New York for the first time. "I didn't move here to become an architect. I wish."

"Why then?" I questioned as I tucked both of my hands in my pants pockets. "You were doing great in California. That's where all the stars are."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" she asked with a small laugh as she peered at me, her eyes narrowed.

I shook my head and frowned. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're here. I'm just...curious. This is first date stuff, right? You get to know the person. Where they're from...stuff like that."

The corner of her lips tugged upwards slightly as she took a deep breathe. "Well, I suppose you're right. I followed some guy here."

"You followed a guy here?" I repeated, my voice being shaky. All of a sudden my throat felt like it were closing in.

Annabeth's nostrils flared as she placed a hand to her face, supporting her elbow with her other hand. "I knew I shouldn't have said that. God, I'm stupid..."

I shook my head and grabbed Annabeth by the shoulder. She slowly dropped her hand to look me in the eyes. "You're not stupid, I'm the stupid one. It doesn't matter how you got here. All that matters is that you're here."

She bit her lip as she threw her hands up in the air. "Why does this keep happening to us? I become uncomfortable and almost cry, and then you know exactly what to say..."

Then, suddenly, she sprung herself onto me and wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me tight.

"Percy?"