Annabeth stared at her phone dejectedly. No calls, no texts for three days. And she didn't see her for the last three days either. Normally they met up for coffee at their usual coffee shop in the morning and then they'd walk to work together.

Well, she supposed it didn't matter. Piper does get like this sometimes. She'd disappear randomly with no contact. Annabeth was a very curious person, but even she knew it was better not to meddle in other people's private matters. After all Piper hadn't had the best relationship with her father growing up. And Annabeth's life was way more complicated than it should be.

Annabeth was so deep in thought that she didn't notice where she was going until she bumped into someone spilling her coffee all over them.

"Oh my gods! I'm so sorry!" She scrambled to find the tissue packet she knew he had in her purse.
She was about to hand it over -her hand outstretched- when she froze.

The first thing she noticed were his eyes. Glowing green eyes the colour of the sea. Different shades of green blending to make up the most beautiful eyes Annabeth has ever seen.
'Snap out of it!' She scolded herself. Now was not the time to act like a school girl.

She took a step back letting him wipe his jacket. She took the time to look at him. He was around 6 feet tall -a couple inches taller than her- and lean. If she had to guess she'd say he had a mediterranean complexion with a slight tan, and dishevelled jet black hair.
"Ugh! I'm sorry for bumping into you. I wasn't paying attention."

At that he laughed.
"No no. It's okay! To be honest, I wasn't looking where I was going either... So we're even." He handed back the tissue packet before taking off his jacket and folding it on his arm. (Wiping at the coffee stain wasn't doing anything to it.)
"I'm Percy." He extended a hand to her.

"Annabeth." She answered shaking his hand.

"So Annabeth, will you let me buy you a coffee? Since what happened was partly my fault, and I'd like to get to know you more... if you're comfortable that is..."

Annabeth resisted the urge to blush. She spilled her coffee on a handsome guy, and now that same guy offered to buy her coffee. And he didn't insist and let her a way out if she didn't want to which meant he had good manners and was probably not a perverted stalker.
"Sure... why not?"

She almost blushed (again) at the lopsided grin her gave her.
'Definitely a troublemaker...'

"Awesome! But you'd have to show me where to go..."

-^-***

Annabeth came home that night utterly exhausted. There were too many people at the museum that day so she couldn't have a single break except for lunch hour. She hung her bag and coat on the rack near the door and removed her shoes before plopping on the couch, sinking into the soft cushions with a sigh. She checked her phone for maybe the hundredth time that day and still no text from Piper. And she wasn't answering her phone either. All her messages went unread and all calls went to voicemail.

She peeled herself from the couch with much difficulty, making her way to the bathroom.  She showered and did her usual routine before stepping out in a pyjamas and flip flops with her hair wrapped up in a towel. She had just had dinner and was doing the dishes when her phone dinged where she had left it on the coffee table.

Percy
Hey! It's Percy.
So... coffee tmrw morning? Same place as today?

Annabeth
Yeah. Sure. See you at 8
Bye.
Good night!

Percy
Good night! :)

Annabeth couldn't help but laugh at the smiley face he sent. As she suspected he was just a huge dork. That was one good thing that came out of today. Percy was a sweet, funny, sarcastic guy who didn't fail to make her laugh during the half an hour they spent with each other. They didn't get much time to talk because Annabeth was running late and he had to meet up with a friend.

Annabeth didn't expect him to text her so soon. But she hoped that whatever she had with him wouldn't end in a disaster. After all it had been a long time since she had a boyfriend, and most guys she met weren't interested in a girl who worked at a museum and babbled on about Architecture.

Architecture.

It used to be her passion. And even now she found herself designing buildings on her laptop...
From when she was small she had wanted to become an architect. She had even applied to college hoping to fulfill that dream. But that had been before her world crashed down on her.

Annabeth had been excited to finally leave New Athens. But after the incident that happened 5 years ago she strived to find reasons to stay. She even altered what subjects she was going to study; went to college closest to New Athens. And instead of doing architecture like she had always wanted she instead chose to complete a master's degree in history and returned home and to work at the museum.

But she didn't have to do any of this. She could've left forever. She could've forgotten everything... But she deserved to know the true story. She deserved to know what actually happened to them that night. And she would not stop until she knew the whole truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Word count: 939
Date published: 02/01/2021

Happy New Year!!!

Anyways... what do you think happened that made Annabeth stay? And who's 'them'?

Obviously wasn't my best chapter... but now Percy is here!!

Anyway constructive criticism is always appreciated and I would love to hear your thoughts on this book!

Don't forget to comment and vote!

Love yourself and everyone close to your heart!

-CPR🎶-