My One &Only (Percabeth AU) √

/~38~/ Fight Scene

DATE: January 24th 2019

Annabeth POV

Its been two nights since the concert and my shift starts in exactly thirty seconds. I've already walked inside and put my purse behind the desk, said hello to Malcom who hugged me tightly because there was another round of press conferences on ME.

Truth be told I never liked them but accepted them because I was in love with Percy and one of the little attachments he hates is the press. 

The day is normal, low cloudy gray skys that hang over New York, mist curling into fog that dances in the streets. Its cold and gusty outside making children bundle twice before checking the snow, for its height matters to sled down and play in. Citizens hurry into the little book store to grab a cup of coffee from the little vendor inside and sit down to read a good book. The colorful children section has been redone over break. There are pictures on the wall depicting heroic scenes of old, a little mellowed down but still slightly gruesome if you got the picture. 

The first Perseus rescuing Adromeda, Atalanta winning the footrace, the Hunters of Artemis in the wilderness and finally the gods of Olympus. 

The adult section held the gruesome pictures. Zeus tearing apart towns, Poseidon and his many lovers. Hades and his guard dog of hell. 

"Ma'am, aren't you Miss Annabeth Chase?" A perky young woman with a short silky bob of glossy curls looks at me. She's a little younger than me, maybe about a year. She has a winter jacket zipped up and her gloves are sticking out of her pocket. 

"Yes." I answered and the woman smiled looking pleased. 

"I know it must be hard for you with the press on your back but I support you." She says clearly and a annoyed teenaged boy looks over, clearly pissed. 

"Halie, we've talked. We don't do celebrity's." He says coming over with a smooth stride, his flaming red hair and abundance of freckles hiding his adolescence. 

"Mick I don't care, I adore strong women and you just don't get it." Halie growls towards Mick who looks angry. He takes a glance up at me and his expression dwindles. 

"You know that this won't end well." Mick says with a tone of threat and grabs Hailie's hand, dragging her out of the store who looks pissed but she winks at me. 

I have't said a single word and this happened in a span of forty seconds. 

I sigh and return to my work, shelving books, Malcom who is working the desk looking tired. The coffee on his desk has been almost fully drunk but Mal who hates coffee looks at it distastefully, knowing his idiotic mistake. 

The door rings as a new customer comes in, I'm near the back of the store where dusty history books lay untouched.  I shelve each one carefully and try to read the author to see where to put it. 

"You know you could have told me yourself." The cold jaunting voice says from behind me. I freeze and place the book on the counter. 

"Luke, get out before I call the cops." My voice is tight and squeezed, like I want to throw out any remnants of him. 

"Annie. Look at me." His voice becomes considerably lighter but still dark. I turn to face Luke and I restrain any facial expression. 

His face is dark and circles ring around his eyes in purple and blue. His clothes are ragged and torn. His hair is dishievled, greasy and twigs layered in them. 

"Help me. My superitennant kicked me out and the streets here aren't good." He pleads looking weak and stupid. For a moment I torn. Help my ex-best friend or kick him while he's down.