(Saturday morning)

I woke up at 6:00 am, my eyes slowly adjusted to the grand room around me.
So it wasn't a dream.

I took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air that blew from the window, and stretched.

I haven't had this much space on a bed in a long time...I was used to being kicked off and sleep on the cold floor.
I got out of bed and got ready, choosing to wear a grey top and some jeans from my mom's closet.

I don't have to make breakfast for 5 people...I realized once I was in the shower. Hmmph. I would've gone back to sleep, but it's too late.

I left my room and texted piper that I would be at work.

I quickly made myself toast in the kitchen..actually, that's a lie. A cook who was sleeping in the kitchen, heard me come in and woke up. He then insisted on making me his "world-famous toast"
Which cook sleeps in the kitchen?

I slipped out of the main door, careful not to set off the alarms (which the cook helped me with) and headed towards my store.
It was about 10 minutes by car, but I walked since I had no car. It took about 25 minutes.

And....there it was....my bookstore

I opened up the shutters and stepped inside.

I checked the clock on the wall and I walked through the shop, making sure everything was in order before I opened in a few hours.

I took inventory of the little bakery. Yes, the bookstore had a small corner for baking baked goods. Dad used to bake for the customers while they read books.

Once I was done with my routine checkup, I sprinted to my room in the back and quickly signed into my laptop. No, It wasn't my mom's laptop, but Malcolm's hand me down from when he turned 15.

"Chiron" I greeted as my teacher's face popped onto the screen.

"Hello Annabeth" he smiled, "ready for class?"

Chiron had been my camp counselor in CHB a few years ago. After I left without any explanation, he contacted me. When I told him about dropping out of school, he offered to 'homeschool' me over the phone because he wanted me to be well educated.
It had been years and...here we were

I nodded, " yeah and I did all the reading work you gave me yesterday as well"

I should've been a senior at a high school at this point. Even though I couldn't do that, this was the best I could've hoped for. I found all the textbooks for free online, Chiron was the best tutor ever and I was a quite good in my studies.

Chiron nodded and proceeded with my Pre-Calculus lesson for the day. We studied for a couple of hours, until it was time for me to open the store.

"Thankyou Chiron! You have no idea how much this means to me" I told him as we approached the end of my study session.

He chuckled, "you say that everyday"

"Well it doesn't make it any less true"

Before we ended the call, he gave me my homework for the day.

Then I sprinted to the door and flipped the close sign.
10:30 on the dot.
I decided to busy myself till I had customers. Baking, re organizing the books, wiping down the tables etc.
A few customers did pop by, some for baked goods, some for books and some for both.

At around 1 I closed the shop for Lunch. I savored the leftover egg sandwiches from yesterday. I had about an hour until my friends came, their school would be ending soon.
I did my homework while I ate, trying to quickly solve the maths sums and finish my reading for the day.

Once I was done, I opened the store back up. It was 2.
Meaning it was time for my first customers (or friends)

"Hey Katie! Hey Connor" I greeted as the entered. They were regulars here, the first to always arive. Connor had a brother, Travis eh was a part of the schools improv team or something. He didn't come until later. Katie always tried to finish her work before he came, so she could rub it in his face.
We talked for a bit until they sat down, ready to begin their homework.

Goode high was quite close to my bookstore, just a 5 minutes walk. Since my store severed the purpose of food and a 'hangout' zone, many kids hung out here after school.

I was very close to one group in particular. And there they were.

"Hey guys" I greeted as they walked through the door. Hazel, Frank, Reyna , Calypso,Leo, Piper and.... I couldn't see Brick boy.

Before I could ask, Leo began telling me about what happened at school. Something about a decapitated teddy bear head rolling out of some kids school bag.
I laughed as we walked to their table. I brought them their usual , sandwiches, pastry's and some water.

Remmeber that free time I had after my classes? I don't just sit on my ass, I work it off making the food I serve.

More people started trinkiling in now and I served them their usuals.

Is this a bookstore of restaurant? I often asked myself while I gave them the food. I knew most of them from my time me at camp, so it was never awkward with them. All of us practically grew up together.

I received a delivery of books and groaned. Time for more work.
Before I could get to that, I got a call.

"Yeah Helen?" I asked, stepping behind the desk for some privacy.

"Just checking in to see how you're doing"

"I'm great"

She went silent for a few seconds before speaking again.

"I thought it was worth mentioning that your father and I sold some furniture from your room"

I was pissed, but I tried to sound nonchalant. "What furniture is that?"

"A lamp, some books and a pen stand"

"You sold my lamp?!" I whisper yelled. I wanted to throw something across the room. The lamp was the last gift Malcom gave me before he left. He knew I loved to read.

"Bye Helen" I said a little too harshly. I placed the phone on the counter and leaned against it, pressing my palm on my forehead.

Piper must've sensed something was wrong, because she was behind me.

"What's up?" She asked.

"I'm good pipes, I'd just like to be alone for a second" I said, giving her a small smile.
She nodded, patting me on the shoulder she left.Returning to her seat at the table.

I went to the back of the bookstore, to a small room my mother used to stay in, in case she ever needed a break from the world.

It was cozy, decorated with fairy lights, small knickknacks and a lot of blankets. I customized it myself after I started taking care of the place, I added pictures of mother and I on the walls, some drawings Bobby and Mathew made and pictures with my friends from CHB, my summer camp.

There was one specific picture that made me the happiest, I picked it up. It was me and a boy, sitting on a ledge as he clutched a fake sword.

I smiled, at the memory. I quickly counted to 10 in Greek before walking out, an old trick my father taught me to control my temper.

"Say Pipes, where's Jason? Haven't seen him" I asked as I returned to the counter.

I looked again, Leo, Piper, Hazel, Frank, Calypso and....no Jason.

"Oh! he's gone to pick up a cousin of his" she replied with a smile, "what are the chances that we both have cousins over at the same time?" she laughed.

I laughed too. It was true, it's like the universe wanted this to happen.

The group began working on their homework and chilling as I cleaned out my bookshelves. I had placed another order for books, and had to make way for that shipment.

I spent almost an eternity clearing out the bookshelf. Not only was I supposed to do that, I had to find places for all the other books I cleared out before I could stack these books.

I sighed. It had been an hour, but I did it! Cleared out an entire shelf for the Peter Johnson series !
I took out the books from the box and held them in my arms, slowly piling them up.

"Need some help with that Noodle arms ?" Leo called out. I sent a glare in his direction and he instantly shut up.

"He's right Annabeth, those are a lot of books" Reyna called out as well.

"I'm good" I yelled back. I'll show them, I can do this on my own. It's simple enough.
I piled the books and balanced them on top of each other and slowly began to walk to the counter. I couldn't see cause I stacked the books above my eyes as well, so I just prayed that I wouldn't fall and damage the books.

The store's the bell rang."hello everyone" I heard Jason's voice call out. I heard a chorus of Hi's and Hello's and chirped in myself.
I continued inching my way towards the counter, trying to balance my books when I heard a new voice ask, " Hey, do you need help with that?"

I politely declined, but he was insistent. I heard the person take a step towards me and I took a step back. "I can do it" I pouted.

I took another step backwards, but tripped on something. I staggered, by books flew all around me as I fell backwards.

I didn't hit the floor. Instead, I felt two strong arms wrapped around me. I looked up and my breath hitched.

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(I honestly have no clue how to explain the layout of the bookstore. So....here's how it's supposed to be)

Hope ya liked it!!

——- S