If It Were To Be Fate

Chapter 1

"Look, Percy, if you want to pass school, you gotta do your homework."

Annabeth had spent the past 20 minutes trying to get me to finish up a stupid essay from English class. I was losing hope that she was gonna let me get off the hook without completing it.

"Yeah, see, that's where you're wrong. You do the work. I have learned to outsmart the system."

"Oh yeah?" She raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly are you gonna do that? Because with your recent grades, I'm pretty sure you aren't able to outsmart a goldfish."

"Well, I can't reveal my secrets, can I?" I smirked.

Annabeth jokingly rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I totally can't see through your obvious lies."

"Oh, come on. You know you love me for it!" I did an exaggerated model pose. Annabeth laughed so hard there were tear streaks down her face.

"Sure I do, seaweed brain." I grinned affectionately at the nickname. "Well, with that, I have to leave. My step mom made me promise I'd be home for dinner, and its almost 6."

She packed her things and I walked her to the door.

"See you tomorrow, seaweed brain!" She gave me a hug and walked out.

"You bet, wise girl!" I called out the door after her. She turned and waved.

My mom came up behind me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Well... You two seem to be getting closer recently," she said, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

I felt my face heat up. "Mom! It's not like that, I promise! Annabeth is my best friend, nothing more."

"Yeah, well, she better not be anything more, or else I'm not gonna keep letting you two keep 'studying' in your room with the door closed."

I said nothing, just shook my head in an attempt to clear my mind of whatever implications that had. It was probably better if I didn't give a response anyways.

I jogged back up the stairs, hearing a faint "Dinner in 30!" From my mom.

I knew that basically everyone thought Annabeth and I were dating, or at least thought that we liked each other. I couldn't blame them- from an outside perspective, I'm sure our relationship seemed that way. But really, we were just super, super close friends.

Plus, I was gay. Not that anyone (besides Annabeth) knew, of course, but I was fine with that.

The only reason I came out to Annabeth was because she'd come out to me. Annabeth was a lesbian, and currently crushing on another kid from school named Piper.

It had taken me a while to learn to accept myself. Now, I was perfectly fine with it, but it still wasn't exactly something I was comfortable flaunting.

Now that Annabeth was gone, I was kind of bored. There was no way I was actually gonna do the essay like I told her, so that left me with some freetime.

I mindlessly scrolled through the apps on my phone, before I found my thumb hovering over one I had downloaded a few days ago. The app was meant to connect you with random strangers from all over the country, and give you a place to talk and meet new people.

If I'm being totally honest, I thought it was kind of stupid (and definitely not safe) but I had nothing better to do. Reluctantly, I opened the app.

The first thing it had me do was create an account. Easy enough.

Then a loading icon came up, followed by the words "Congrats! Your account has been set up. Click 'continue' to be connected with another user!"

I clicked continue. Well, at least this app didn't seem like a total scam so far.

Before long, I got a notification in the top of my screen saying "You're connected with another user. Say Hi!"

I saw the stranger typing.

Blonde_Superman: Hi?

SeaweedBrainz: Heyy man

Blonde_Superman: Heyy lol

Blonde_Superman: So what brings you to this app?

SeaweedBrainz: IDK bro I was just bored

SeaweedBrainz: All my friends were busy :tear:

Blonde_Superman: L

SeaweedBrainz: WOWWW

SeaweedBrainz: YOU COULD AT LEAST TRY TO HAVE *SOME* SYMPATHY

Blonde_Superman: Sorry, sorry

Blonde_Superman: I know, I'm a terrible, cold-hearted monster.

SeaweedBrainz: You are

SeaweedBrainz: You really are

SeaweedBrainz: You hurt me :sob:

Blonde_Superman: Sorry lol what can I do to make it up to you?

Blonde_Superman: I'll do anything

SeaweedBrainz: Uhhh

SeaweedBrainz: How good are you at geometry?

Blonde_Superman: Okay, I'll do anything *except* your homework

SeaweedBrainz: Dammit

Blonde_Superman: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SeaweedBrainz: Okay ew who tf still uses that

Blonde_Superman: I do :tear:

SeaweedBrainz: Cringe :yawn:

Before I could type another message, I heard my mom call to me from downstairs.

"Percy! Diner's ready!"

I replied with a quick, "Coming!" Before turning back to my phone.

SeaweedBrainz: Shoot sorry dude I gtg

Blonde_Superman: Oh bye!

Blonde_Superman: Wait

Blonde_Superman: Okay sorry if this is like too forward but can I get ur number?

Blonde_Superman: You seem cool and I wanna keep talking

SeaweedBrainz: Oh yeah sure

SeaweedBrainz: Here it's xxx-xxx-xxxx

Blonde_Superman: Sweet mine is xxx-xxx-xxxx

SeaweedBrainz: Cool

SeaweedBrainz: Bye :wave:

Blonde_Superman: Byeee

I click 'End Conversation' button on the top.

Sure, the conversation seemed pretty dry, but we literally just met. Blonde Superman (I didn't want to ask his name- that would be super creepy) seemed like a cool guy, maybe like someone I would be friends with at school.

As I typed his number into my phone I realized something- We had the same area code. That probably meant this Blonde Superman guy lived somewhere nearby, or at least that he did at one point.

With a small smile, I closed the app on my phone and headed downstairs for dinner.