Once Upon A Time

Chapter 3 - I missed you Seaweed Brain

********4 years later*******

Annabeth POV

I went to look myself at the mirror. I looked normal for the most part, hair in a high up-do, loose small curls around my face. Cheeks slightly flushed because of nervousness and my flowy  summer dress. Should I let down my hair? Should I have chosen a different dress? No, he loves blue so this will do. Plus he never cared about appearances anyway.

Why am I acting like a demented 13 year old I don't know. Possibly because Percy is returning after 4 years and I am nervous out of my mind. We haven't talked ever since we were 12 because apparently he had to be isolated from the outside world in order to focus on his work. So basically we have been strangers for four years and now he will be here at any second and I'm hyperventilating. Focus Annabeth.

I hope he hasn't changed much.

Well that was fairly hypocritical of me. Here I am hoping he hasn't changed and I am the one who has.

My hair and eyes have stayed the same and I have grown but that isn't the point here. On my sixteenth birthday mother shared some withheld information from me that I feared could and would complicate my life further. Oh, joy!

And now I was restless because of how this would be perceived by him. Would he think I was a freak or would he bear this with me and give me the support and friendship I so longed from him. Honestly, Percy wasn't my only friend, but he was the one I trusted most.

"Princess?" One of the maids was knocking on my bedroom door.

"Come in! " She opened the door and stepped inside.

"Her majesty send me to inform you that the Prince has arrived. He is in the main room right now. "

Percy? Percy was here. Without giving myself a once-over like I usually do, I darted out of my bedroom, ran down the stairs- something that an heir to the throne should never ever do- leaving behind a few shocked maids and butlers and headed where the maid had told me to.

Before I entered I stopped trying to calm and collect myself and even my breaths, straightening my dress. I could hear voices but I was too far to actually understand what they were talking about.
Step by step I approached the little group of people in front of me, trying my best not to break into running mode again. My parents were seated facing me and three other people who were also seated, had their back to me.

This was the exact same room where they had told us that we were engaged to be married. Not a good memory. I shuddered but kept on moving in even paces.

I immediately recognized Sally in the middle looking amazing as ever and cute little Tyson sitting on her right. On Sally's other side was....

"Percy? "I called.
He turned around and I was speechless. He had changed so much, all grown up. He was so tall now, so much taller than me (I felt a bit jealous there), with broad shoulders and tanned skin. Nothing of him resembled my best friend besides his eyes. They were still like sea green pools and he had the same disheveled black hair.

But it wasn't his appearance that shocked me. It was his aura. It was no longer playful and sweet with a hint of mischief . On the contrary, it held grandeur and coldness, a look worthy of a prince but not of him. My heart broke a little realizing I might have lost my best friend after all...

"Annabeth dear, finally. Come say hello to our guests." Mother ushered.

"Of course. It is so nice to have you here. Queen Sally you look absolutely lovely. " I gushed.