Lost and Found

Chapter 1

P E R S E P H O N E

T U E S D A Y

"I think that's the last of them," My mother says as she carries in yet another cardboard box from the car. Moving back to Greengate was... an interesting decision to say the least. We haven't been here since we moved to Denver four years ago. We only came back because of my acceptance to NYU, where I'd be starting in two years. My parents also want to retire in Greengate, and considering it's only a 45-minute drive from the city where I'll be at school, they found it a perfect place to return to.

I'm lying on the couch with my three sisters, Rayna, Azalea, and Maisie, whose head is in my lap. I look back at my mom. "More of my stuff?" I ask. I probably had the most boxes, which was surprising since Aza is a total hoarder. I pat Mai's head before getting up to take the box up to my room to unpack. I can't stand having boxes around, so as soon as I get one, I immediately unpack it.

My mother doesn't let me take the box though.

"You," She drags the word out. "Need to go outside. You've been inside unpacking for the past three days."

"That's not true, I went to Target with Ray yesterday," I reply. I just want to unpack my last box.

"I'll give you this box once you actually go out and do something," Mom places the box on the floor near the back door, and my eyes follow it longingly.

I groan. "Really Mom? I'm not five,"

In response, Mom hands me my car keys. I look down at the dark green lanyard covered in pins. I really don't feel like going out right now, but I don't think I have much of a choice.

Slipping on my Birkenstocks, I make my way out to my prized possession, my bright red Jeep Wrangler, aka Cherry. My parents got me Cherry secondhand when I got my license last year, and I take her everywhere. Since it's summer, her regular doors have been switched out for tube doors, and I took the roof off as well. Mom hates the no-door thing, but I paid for them and I'm the one who switches them on and off, so what is she gonna do?

I decide to drive over to a little shopping and food street and get coffee at a small coffee shop that Ray used to work at. As I walk in, the smell of coffee and cinnamon floods my senses. I go up to the cashier, order a matcha latte, my standard order, pay, and wait in a small corner for them to call my name. I intend to get my drink and then check out a bookstore I noticed while stopped at a traffic light.

"Persephone!"

I hear my name called and I walk over, take my drink and sip it slowly. The ice instantly cools me down, which is nice since it's a boiling hot day.

"Percy?" I hear from behind me. I don't recognize the voice, and I contemplate not responding in case it's a kidnapper or stalker or something. Nevertheless, I turn around, and it takes me a moment to process who I'm looking at.

Max?

I pretend I don't recognize his face. His face that I memorized for years. His face that I had marveled over since the third grade. The face of my first love. He's smiling at me. No. Not smiling. He's grinning at me like I'm a kitten or something.

I plaster on a polite smile. "Sorry, do I know you?"

His smile falters for the slightest second, and I know what he's thinking. He's worried it's not me, that he just said hi to a stranger, and that he reminded himself that I'm gone all over again. He steps back ever so slightly.

"I know you from elementary and middle school. Maximilian Eastwood?" He's hesitant. I feel bad, I shouldn't have pretended like I didn't remember him.

My heart catches in my throat. I mean- I knew it was him, but this is so real now.