In Summer

Age 25

"See you tomorrow, Leo," Annabeth said to her coworker. She had been showing him her blueprints for the library he and his team were supposed to start building next week.

"Adios," he replied.

Annabeth stepped out of her office, taking the elevator to the main lobby of Daedalus Architecture. She walked through the revolving glass doors and was instantly overcome by the smell of New York City.

She had moved to the city two years ago after her job moved from San Francisco to here, but some things about New York she still wasn't used to. After living on a clean, warm island her whole life, the pollution in the city came as a shock to Annabeth. She hated the fact that there were so many people on the streets begging for food or spare change, and almost everyone walked past them like they weren't even there. Annabeth never walked past without at least giving them something.

The winters were the worst part. For twenty-six years of her life, she had never seen snow, unless you counted the mountains she sometimes drove past in California. The harsh winds, bitter cold, slippery ice, and snow that could get up to her knees was definitely new to her.

However, this was summer. Thankfully, she didn't have to worry about any of that. She took a right on 5th Street, walking towards her usual post-work destination, Coffee Project NY.

The bell on the door gave a small chime when she walked in, heading towards the counter.

"The usual?" the barista asked when he saw her.

"Yep," she grinned at him, placing a five-dollar bill on the counter. He gave her back the usual forty-three cents and began writing her name on a cup.

"Annabeth!" the barista called a few minutes later. She took the iced tea from him with a smile.

"Thanks, Frank, you're the best," she said.

"That's my job," he replied, returning the smile.

Annabeth took a seat at a table close to the counter and pulled out her iPhone 8. She was scrolling through Instagram with no real purpose until she noticed something about the person in front of her.

From the back, all she could see were his jeans and his blue t-shirt. But that wasn't what caught her eye.

His hair was the exact same color and style as someone she hadn't seen in so long, she had almost forgotten about him. She was about to tell herself she was just imagining it, but then he turned to the side to look out the window. His side profile was enough to make her gasp.

"Percy..." she whispered. "Percy!"

The second time, she spoke up loud enough for him to hear her. He turned completely, and she knew without a doubt that it was her childhood best friend. He had the same sparkling green eyes, tousled raven-black hair, and playful smile as she remembered. Some of his features had changed, though. He was older now, and Annabeth had to admit, hotter.

Stop it, Annabeth, she chided. He's your best friend, not your crush. Never has been, never will be.

"Holy shit, Annabeth?!" Percy stared at her in shock.

She nodded, and he stood up. She stood as well, and they rushed towards each other, embracing in a hug.

Throughout the past seven years, she had met people who told jokes similar to Percy, who looked a little bit like Percy, who laughed like Percy. Yet she had never met someone who gave a hug that even came close to comparing to Percy. At the end of a bad day, she would find herself missing him more than ever, wishing he was there to wrap his arms around her and make her forget everything that was going wrong.