It was 100% a date, she just didn't realise until the end.

Artemis had shown up to the Burger King to find only one other customer there eating on the far side. Hands in her pockets, she walked over to the napkin table and took one, before pulling out a pen. The guy at the register stared at her in confusion as she kept glancing up at the menu and then writing stuff down in blue ink on the napkin. Artemis always carried a pen with her since obviously not many people knew sign language.

She wrote down what she wanted and then walked up to the counter and handed it to him. She had done the maths on the other side of the napkin in order to figure out how much money she needed so while he was reading and entering it into the register she pulled the cash out from her wallet and laid it down.

The guy, still giving a weird look, handed her the receipt with her order number on it and she went to sit down at the table by the door next to the window. As she sat waiting she stared out the window, glancing back every minute or so to check if her food was ready. It was raining way more heavily now, as she'd discovered when walking there and as was visible by the soaked nature of her clothes.

If he flaked on her she was gonna track his number and kill him. Stupid therapist and her stupid ideas. As she was thinking that a car pulled into the empty lot outside the Burger King and out stepped a man with a raincoat on. He jogged to the front door and opened it, immediately spotting her after scanning the restaurant. Percy smiled and she nodded back. He gestured with his thumb to the counter and she shrugged, gesturing for him to get his.

Percy quickly went up and ordered, paying with his card and getting the receipt before moving swiftly back to sit across from her at the table. He shook the water off his jacket before he got there and rolled up his sleeves, taking the seat and leaning his elbows on the table. "Hey, sorry. Got downstairs of my apartment building and realised it was bucketing down so I had to climb all the way back up to get my raincoat- oh shit, that's right. You're deaf, you can't hear me." He shook his head in frustration after starting off with a grin, but Artemis shook her head too.

She started doing some stuff with her hands that Percy was struggling to comprehend. Eyes narrowed, he shook his head again. "I'm not following. I can't do that stuff." He said, waving his hands slightly.

Artemis sighed and looked down at the table, then across to the drink stand. She saw one of those napkin dispenser things sitting with the straws, lids, cups and rubbish bin. Getting an idea, she got up and hurried over to it, opening the top and grabbing a quarter of them out. Percy raised an eyebrow as she brought hundreds of napkins over to their table.

She took one off the top and began to write on it with her blue pen. When she was done, she rotated it 180 degrees for him to see. I understood you. I can lip read if you move em clear enough and dont mumble.

Percy was surprised to say the least. He went to speak and then remembered to exaggerate his mouth movement slightly as the note told him to. "You can understand me by reading my lips?" He asked, and Artemis nodded. Percy leaned back in his seat. "Cool."

Their food was ready and the guy called out to Percy. It turns out Artemis' had been ready for like 3 minutes but she hadn't noticed because... well, she had been engrossed in talking to Percy. Yeah it was slightly inconvenient what with her having to write down what she said which took extra time, but it was still the most fun she'd had with a stranger in a long time.

Percy took a sip of his milkshake. "So how's the love life of a deaf person?" He asked, moving his lips noticeably so she could understand. Artemis wrote down her answer. Idk. Never had one. She answered truthfully.

Percy was taken aback. "What? You've never dated anyone? But... you don't... you're like... pretty." He asked in astonishment, bringing a small smile to Artemis' face. Not everyday someone calls you pretty. Most guys just described her as 'fiiine' or 'beautiful', none ever just told her she was pretty.

She wrote down her reply. All the guys in high school were jackasses. Never felt like hooking up with anyone. Dating game's hard when youre deaf. Not many people agree to date you. Not that ive tried but friends have tried to set me up. She wrote, not a look of sadness or regret on her face. She was fine.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Do you ever plan on dating?" He asked, and she shrugged before writing.

Eventually I guess but i aint gonna seek it out. Just figured id save myself for marriage and that one day id just find 'the one'. She was entirely honest in her answer. Her mom and sister and friends had all wanted her to get out into the dating scene but she couldn't be bothered. Let whatever happens happen.

Percy so desperately wanted to ask if he was 'the one', but he couldn't, cause that would be kinda weird and really lame.

The rest of their talk was fun. Artemis genuinely felt as though she had made a new friend for once, something she hadn't done since high school. When it was close to 11 at night and the rain had calmed down a bit, the two decided to call it a night and threw away their rubbish. Percy unrolled his sleeves and zipped up his raincoat, looking out at how it was still spitting quite a bit.

"Might rain a whole lot more. You want a ride home?" He asked, looking at her after remembering his was the only car in the lot. Artemis paused for a second, thinking it over seriously. She could get Zoe to pick her up, but she didn't want to ruin this new friendship by showing she didn't trust him at all. Then again, she kinda did trust him. She only knew Percy for less than 12 hours really but their talks and budding friendship gave her a whole new sense of faith in him. Plus, rain sucked ass without a jacket.

She relented and agreed, and the two rushed out through the rain into Percy's car, where he promptly turned up the heater. As they sat warming up for a second Percy's GPS turned on, and he leaned over and pointed at it, signalling for her to enter her address. Artemis nodded and typed it in, and once directions came up Percy began to drive.

They drove in silence for obvious reasons, and eventually they had arrived at their destination. Artemis saw the light of the building's lobby was still on and unclicked her seatbelt. She looked over and nodded in thanks before opening the door.

She got out and took one last look back at Percy in his car. He smiled and waved, and weirdly she couldn't help but do the same. She shut the door and rushed inside, seeing Percy drive off when she opened the building door.

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