Incoming

"…What the heck is she doing?"

"Texting I'm guessing? But for so long…"

"I don't know… here, I'll che-"

"Oh know you won't," I said not looking up from my phone's screen. "Touch me or my phone and you die. Instantly." Click, clack. Click, clack. In the corner of my eye I saw a calloused, olive-toned hand creeping toward me. Really, Nico? I'm not that stupid, I thought. And I wasn't lying when I said that you'd die if you touched me.

The hand came closer and closer until it was hovering right above my cell. My thumbs stopped moving. I slowly lifted my head and glared at a pair of terrified dark-brown eyes.

"Nico," I started, "Do you really want to die? 'Cause I'd gladly kill you right here, right now." I ended my threat with a sickly sweet smile. His hand quickly retreated and went back to its rightful place, on top of Thalia's. Ha, it always works.

I grinned and I placed my phone into my pocket.

"So," I took a sip of some soda, "What were we talking about again?"


"We," Kayla said gesturing to herself and everybody else at our table. "Were talking about what we were going to do during the weekend while you," she pointed at me.

"Yes, the wonderful, amazing me!" I said mockingly.

Her hazel eyes rolled, "As I was saying, we were talking and you were texting your boyfriend." She finished, plucking off a fry from Gage's tray.

"Hey, that was mine!" Gage whined.

Kayla rolled her eyes once more; it's a habit of hers. "Whatever Gage, does it really matter?"

Gage thought about it for a moment, pouted, and replied, "No, but-"

Kayla cut him off. "See? It doesn't matter; they're just fries, gosh." She said eating more of Gage's fries. This time I rolled my gray eyes and continued to type.

"Kayla, stop taking his fries, Gage, try to stand up for yourself a bit more," I paused, "Oh, and Nico, I know you're behind me."

A few seconds later a heard a faint, "How the fuck does she do that?"

"Because, I'm Annabeth." I retorted putting my green phone away. His eyes widened and whispered, "How the fuck did she hear that?"

"Oh and Kayla," I said staring at her, "He's not my boyfriend. Just, you know, a friend."

"Yeah, sure, a 'friend'." Thalia said unconvinced. "A 'friend' who you text 24/7 and talk about all the time. He's totally a friend."

"Well, he is. And I do not talk about him all the time and you barely even know anything about him." He's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend, I'd even consider him a best friend, but definitely not a boyfriend.

"Yes, Annie, you do, and we know plenty." Ooh, let the debate begin.

"Really?" I questioned.

"Yes, really," Kayla, Gage, Thalia, and Nico said unanimously.

"So," I drawled on, "Let's say that I asked you a question, a very simple, easy, question. Would you be able to answer it?"

"Um, duh." Kayla.

"Yup!" Gage.

"Hell yeah." Thalia.

"Uh-huh." Nico. Did you notice how they talk? It's pretty different.

"Really? Would you like to answer said question?"

"Um, yeah."

"Yup!"

"Just ask us the freakin' question!"

"Mm-hm."

So they really think that they can answer it? Well we'll just see, won't we?

"Okay then. The question is," I paused for dramatic effect. They all leaned in closer towards me. I leaned closer to them and whispered, "What's. His. Name?" I leaned away, put my chin in my hands, and waited.

They all had really stupid looks on their faces: Kayla was talking to herself, discussing random names (Jason? Leo? Nuh-uh, not even close). Gage was thinking pretty hard and he had his tongue stuck out. Thalia had her eyebrows furrowed and Nico just had a blank look on his face.

Ah, victory. I smirked. "See, you guys don't even know his name." I inspected my nails. "Therefore," Pause. Look up. "I never talk about him." I set my hand down and continued to pick and eat my lunch.


"So, anyway, what are we-" Beep. Beep. BEEEEP. Kayla groaned and put her head on the table while I was trying to get my phone out. I guess I got a text…

"Oh. My. God. Annabeth, I love you and all, but please turn your phone off! I really want to go to the mall this weekend! Ooh! I heard Abercrombie & Fitch is having sale! Oh my god we totally have to go! I hope they still have that cute top I saw a couple of days ago-" I drowned her out as I was fiddling with my phone.

NEW TEXT

No duh, what else could the beeping be for? I thought to myself. I tapped the 'continue' button that was glowing on the screen.

FROM: PERCY JACKSON

I felt the corner of my mouth quirk up. I couldn't control myself. I was full out grinning. I can't believe he was able to text me back so quickly! It should be like… 9 P.M. in London!

"Oh, look, I bet it's him again." I ignored Thalia's comment and tapped 'accept'.

Hey, Wise Girl :)

Hey yourself, Seaweed Brain.

Confused? Don't be. "Seaweed Brain" has been his nickname and mine has been "Wise Girl" ever since we were 5 years old. Seaweed Brain for him since his head is, well to put it simply, full of kelp. And mine is Wise Girl because I'm pretty smart, if I do say so myself...

And I know what you're thinking:

Isn't Wise Girl technically a compliment?

...

Well, there's a reason why he's called Seaweed Brain.

Anyway, back to the conversation.

So… um. What's up?

I stifled a giggle. He's still the socially awkward Seaweed Brain I know and lo- like.

Nothing much. My friends are yelling at me for using my phone so much. You know same old same old. How about you? Shouldn't you be sleeping by now? I bet you're walking around like an old drunk man. You have school tomorrow.

His reply came back a few moments later.

Well so do you!

I rolled my eyes,

I'm IN school right now. It's lunch time.

Oh. Um yeah, I forgot about the whole time difference thingy.

Uh huh, yeah. You 'forgot'. Anyway go to sleep, Percy. I don't want you to stay up any longer!

Ahh! Stop being my mom :P

I rolled my eyes once more. Of course only he would say that.

Besides, that's kind of the thing I wanted to talk to you about…

Sigh.

Let me guess, you got expelled?

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

Percy, I've known you for what? 11 years? I know you better than yourself.

…That is creepy in so. Many. Different. Ways… yet awesome at the same time... anyway I have to tell you that

HOLY CRAP MY BATTERY'S GONE DIE HOLD ON A SEC.

Oh Percy. I sighed and looked up to see what my friends were doing. My eyes widened and I groaned. Kayla and Thalia were both arguing about which store they wanted to go to, Hot Topic, or Abercrombie & Fitch; poor Gage was in the middle of them with his hands covering his ears. Aww, sorry Gage.

I opened my mouth and started to say, "Hey guys, stop tha-" but I felt a sensation in my hands. I looked down confused. Oh, it's just my phone, how stupid of me.

Kay. My phone's still alive :)

Hooray.

Aww, don't be like that! I know you're happy! Anyway yes, I was kicked out of school.

Prank?

IT WASN'T MY FAULT!

Eyebrow raise.

Really Percy, are you sure?

Okay fine maybe it was.

I just had to smile at that.

Uh-huh. Don't forget Percy, I'm always right.

…Most of the time.

Another eyebrow raise.

Anyway, about the school thing. Ya know how right after I get kicked out, I get admitted into another one right away?

Yes, he's been kicked out of more than one school.

Uh-huh.

Well, this time, I'm going to school in America. In New York. With you. Isn't that great! :D

My jaw dropped and my phone fell onto the table with a large thud. Thalia, Kayla, Gage, and Nico looked at me strangely.

"Uh, are you okay Annabeth?" Thalia started talking a bit more but I couldn't hear her. My best friend, who I haven't seen in over 7 years, is coming here. And he's going to go to school. With me. I'm going to see him. Every day. He's going to be here. Every day. I'll be able to talk to him in person. Every day.

I'm 99.99% sure my heart stopped beating, and then started back up working twice as hard as soon as I read that text.


AN: AWW YEAH, FINALLY POSTED MY FIRST STORY :D

Well, I doubt anybody is reading this, since, well, most people don't even read author notes, but thanks for reading my first ever published story. Remember to review!

~Taffeh

12/1/13 EDIT: I just wanted to get rid of the godawful linebreaks, okay?