The One From Before

Part Fourteen- Aftermath

Annabeth

It's been four days since Annabeth last saw Percy. She couldn't exactly focus on her classes. No one had heard from him for two days and then yesterday Piper told her that he had contacted Jason. Annabeth asked what he said but Piper just shrugged.

Annabeth stared at the lack of notes on her paper resting on the wooden desk.

She would spend way too long thinking of reasons for his absence.
Was part of the reason for the kiss?
Was she out of place?

Maybe he was teleported to an island in the middle of nowhere...
Shut up Annabeth.

Maybe he was swept up by another woman and he was going to leave his life behind and never talk to her again... again...
Shut. Up. Annabeth.

Everyone had a life, Percy was just busy. Stop overthinking worst case scenarios. She scolded herself.

It's six o'clock now and Annabeth had just got out of the shower when she heard a knock on the door. She threw on some clothes and scrambled down the stairs. Looking through the peekhole she expected to see a delivery, maybe her father had ordered food for dinner, but no, it was... Percy Jackson?

No, no, no, a million thoughts raced through her head. Why was he here... How did he get her new address.... He absolutely could not see her like this. The old clothes, the messy tangle of wet hair- Percy knocked again. Oh boy- Annabeth opened the door and plastered on a smile that would be approved by any 50s American TV show.

"Hi there Percy, how- what are you doing here?" her eyes drifted to his arm. Oh. It was wrapped in light blue plaster- a cast.

"Hi," he replied quietly. Annabeth fixed herself up and invited him in. He told her what happened. As ridiculous as it sounded, it sounded like Percy. He went on a hike with a buddy and had decided to climb some steep rocks. Obviously she was able to assume what happened next. He slipped, took quite a fall and broke the bone, sprained his ankle too. On top of all that, his phone fell out of his pocket and the glass shattered against one of the boulders. It was being repaired and only got back to him yesterday. And that was Percy Jackson luck.

The two couldn't help but chuckle at how much the story reminded them of their adventures in the past.

They had formed a new understanding. Nothing could go back to the way it was, they wouldn't be able to be friends like that. Their bond before, that friendship was one of a kind. Even though that couldn't be repaired they both had been willing to try something different.

Annabeth realized she missed Percy and that she was willing to try with him. At least be his friend if anything. What happened the other day, she couldn't understand her motivation for it. Did she want to do it again? Annabeth looked at him. Yes, she did.

"I'm sorry we weren't able to talk after... you know... I-I wanted to. Unless of course you regret it... we don't have to."

She shook her head. "I don't regret it-" at least she doesn't think she does.

Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "oh- good," was he blushing? He hesitated before pulling a black marker from his bag. "I- uh wanted you to be one of the first people to sign. Jason already stole the marker but um, will you do the honors next?"

"I would love to."

Annabeth's father saw the two of them in the living room. He exchanged a silent conversation with her that ended in him inviting Percy for dinner. They decided to order delivery dinner and while they waited Annabeth's father decided it was a fine time to chat with Percy.