In Summer

Chapter Ten

She pulled out of the hug, remembering what she needed to say.

"I'm sorry," she started. "About... the last time we saw each other."

"Nah, it's okay. You were right, you know. About Calypso. We tried long distance for about a month and then I found out she cheated," he told her.

"With who?" Annabeth asked. She walked to the empty seat at his table and sat down, Percy following suit.

"Some guy named Leo."

"Leo? Leo Valdez?"

"Sounds right, why? You know him?" Percy asked.

"Leo lived on Dodona, but he works with me now!" Annabeth said.

"Small world, right?" Percy laughed.

"Yeah... I need to have a chat with him. Anyway, how have you been? I haven't seen you in like forever! I tried calling you a few months after I got to California, but it said the number was deactivated."

"I got a new phone right after I moved here. I wanted to call you, too, but I thought you wouldn't want to talk after..."

"Hey, Hakuna Matata, right?" Annabeth tried for a smile. "I was a stupid, confused teenager and I shouldn't have gotten mad. How about we just forget the whole thing and be friends again? I miss that."

"Yeah, me too. Hey, you aren't still in contact with Grover or Thalia, are you? I haven't talked to either of them for years."

Annabeth shook her head. "We lost touch pretty soon after I moved to the US."

"Oh..." Percy said dejectedly. "Listen, I gotta run, I have a conference call in a few minutes. What do you say we grab breakfast tomorrow and catch up?"

Annabeth scrunched her nose. "Breakfast? I barely eat breakfast, how about lunch."

"No, I love breakfast. Tompkins at 9:30?" Percy replied.

"Fine, Seaweed Brain. See you at 9:30," Annabeth said.

"See you, Wise Girl."

And with that, he picked up his bag and coffee and headed out the door.

:::::::::::

"Sooo is it a date?" Hazel asked.

"No! How many times do I have to tell you guys this, we're just friends," Annabeth said.

"Friends with benefits," Reyna winked at her.

Annabeth had moved in with Hazel and Reyna a little less than a month ago. They had been looking for a new roommate to share the rent with ever since their previous one, Rachel had left to go live with her boyfriend.

"Is it totally impossible for a girl to be friends with a guy and not date him?" Annabeth huffed, taking out her ponytail and brushing her hair.

"Uh, if he's as hot as that picture you showed us, then yes," Hazel said. Annabeth had shown her friends one picture from Percy's Instagram, just so they knew what he looked like, and they had immediately assumed she was 'in love' with him. Which, of course, she wasn't.

"You only take down your hair when you want to impress someone," Reyna pointed out.

Annabeth huffed and immediately put her hair back in a ponytail. She checked the clock. 9:20.

"Whatever. I'm leaving. To meet up with my friend," Annabeth said and started towards the door.

"Have fun on your date!" Hazel called after her just before the door closed.

::::::::::

Annabeth arrived at Tompkins Square Bagels at 9:30 on the dot.

"Perfectly on time, as always, Chase," a familiar voice said. She turned to see Percy wearing an NYU sweatshirt and jeans.

"Hey," she said, pulling him into a quick hug. "Did you order yet?"

"Nah, but I probably should have. Knowing you, you probably want the most basic and flavorless thing on the menu," he grinned at her.

"Shut up, Jackson," she replied.

They walked towards the counter, and Percy ordered a 'deluxe' lox bagel with some sort of weird-looking cream cheese. Annabeth ordered a regular bagel with plain cream cheese, which earned a smug look from Percy.

As they sat down to wait for their food, Percy asked: "What brought you to New York, anyway?"

"Work," Annabeth said. "I was promoted to head designer at Daedalus Architecture a few years ago, so they wanted me to work in their main building."

"Wow, congrats," Percy marveled.

"What about you? What's your job, I mean," Annabeth asked.

"Marine biologist at Triton Marine Life," he responded proudly.

"You really never got over your obsession with the ocean, huh?" she teased.

"Oh, come on, it's cool!" he protested.

"Whatever, Seaweed Brain."

"Wait a sec, you're married?" Percy stared in shock at her hand.

Annabeth glanced at her finger. "This is my right hand, dingus," she said, holding up her hand and rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah. You dated anyone since...?"

"Nope. Although he did try and get back with me when he got out of college, and that did not go well."

"I still stand by the belief that he is a complete douche," Percy said.

"Preach," she said. "Have you dated since Calypso?"

"Uh, yeah," Percy cleared his throat. "I'm actually in a relationship right now. Six month anniversary is next week."

Annabeth was not expecting that. And she definitely was not expecting the familiar pang of jealousy she had last felt seven years ago.

"Who... who's the lucky girl?" she asked, forcing a smile on her face.

"Rachel," he said. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

i'm sure you guys hate me by now BUT things will get better.
wellll they might get worse before they get better
but they will get better
so i'm almost completely sure that this story will have three more chapters which will hopefully come out daily but i'm not totally sure
i hope you're all doing well and don't forget to vote!!

love,
an<3