The One From Before

Part three- This all feels absurd

Annabeth

What in the blazing hell was wrong with Percy? He had the audacity to say he's sorry and then ask if she was jealous. She wished he would just leave her be. It's what he did for the past 4 years, so why stop now? Maybe Annabeth was being harsh, maybe she wasn't being fair, at the moment she didn't care.

She went back to organizing some notes when a cheery figure sat on the white chair across from her.

"Hiya!" she smiled at Annabeth. Annabeth recognized her. Red curly hair, doodle covered jeans....
"Hey Rachel! I'm glad you showed up," She smiled back as if everything with Percy didn't just happen. "Yeah, I'm feeling better. Couldn't leave you hanging twice today."

From her time with Rachel Dare that afternoon she learned three things:
1)   She was crazy artistic. She was constantly doodling on a napkin or the knee of her jeans. She even did a well done caricature of Annabeth.
2)   Annabeth could tell that Rachel was a person with confidence. It was the way she presented herself and acted. Like she was living her best life.
3)   Her father is a land developer and owns the famous Dare Enterprises.

Annabeth had told Rachel stories of living in California and Rachel told Annabeth stories of herself living in California. Rachel had moved to New York a couple weeks after Annabeth moved to California.

Rachel laughed "I wondered if we would have ever seen each other..."
"Maybe it's fate we're meeting now" she laughed with her.

Annabeth checked the time in the top right corner of her laptop. "Bummer. I got curfew," she sighed.
"Meet in the Pavilion tomorrow morning?"
"Yup, see ya!"

Annabeth walked out of the cafe with a smile on her face, forgetting her previous troubles. Great night. She waited by the bus stop humming a tune in her head. She hadn't realized someone was sitting on the bench until they stood up.
"Annabeth," said a deep, quiet voice. She turned around, no, not now please.
"Don't-"

Percy shifted his weight nervously. The bus was approaching and he was running out of time to talk. "I swear I really am sorry Annabeth. I was stupid then and tonight. Obviously you weren't jealous. You're... you're my A-- you're Annabeth the great." he sighed.
The bus pulled up.
"Guts," she said plainly before getting on the bus.
Percy would take the next one.

//

Percy
Annabeth the great? He wished he would have shut up sooner. This was a mistake. He doesn't apologize for a reason. He doesn't doubt himself for a reason and he never ever freezes. Percy got on the next bus. Grover decided to stay a while longer with Juniper. He wished them luck.

On the bus was: him, the driver, some passed out drunk, a mother with a stroller, and across from him, a burly and bald tattooed man. He wasn't sure if the man was staring at him or asleep with his eyes open. 

Percy put his headphones in and scrolled through his playlist. He didn't bother doing his jacket up any higher, the cold night air suited his mood.

Guts. You have guts Percy, I'll give you that. The last thing she said to him from before.

When Percy got home, his mother was still at work. It was late and she should have been home by now. Percy tried calling his mother but no answer. Nothing to worry about....not until morning at least.

Percy checked his phone:
You've been tagged two new posts
Green_Grover 5 new messages
SavingGrace 2 new messages

He fell asleep with his phone on his face after scrolling through apps for two hours.

Morning

9:37 am
3 missed calls

He was late. He stumbled out of bed barely awake. He would have skipped except for the fact that if he missed another day he would most likely be kicked out. His mom was already handling enough.