Annabeth's POV
I can clearly remember the summer I had back when I was seven. Dad took me to my mom's house in New York City. They separated when I was born and dad remarried to a woman named, Christine. She was an interior designer and they met at a restaurant somewhere back in San Francisco.
It was early June and the sun was intently burning my skin. My mom, Athena, was at work but she promised me that we would go out to dinner and buy me some books. She was a lawyer and she was currently with a client who wants full custody to his daughter. When I was staying, she hired someone to accompany me.
I had nothing to do and I have no friends at the current moment. I told my nanny, Elizabeth, a middle-aged woman, that I wanted to go to the park. She took me reluctantly and we both sat down on the bench, eating a packed tuna sandwich. My eyes wandered around the area, only to find a young boy, about my age throwing a pebble to the lake.
He glanced at me and my eyes averted to something else, almost immediately. But somehow, a part of me wanted to say hi to him and introduced myself. His sea green eyes flickered happiness as he turned towards a man with the same look, eyes and presence. My curiosity got the best of me so I told my nanny that I'll just be right back.
She was talking to an elder and she didn't seem to bother. I walked towards him and he met my gaze. I was thinking of running away and act like nothing happened, that we weren't looking at each other, wanting to say hi. But that would make me a coward and I Annabeth Chase, even at seven-years-old, am not some coward.
I outstretched my hand and bravely told him, "Hi, I'm Annabeth Chase. Who are you?"
His reaction surprised me; I expected him to ignore me and continue to throw pebbled to the lake but instead he grinned goofily as if he had just won a million dollars. His sea green eyes flickered, once again, with happiness and he shook my outstretched hand with glee.
"Hi Annabeth, I'm Percy Jackson; you can call me Percy."
And that was his name; Percy Jackson. The guy with the luminous sea green eyes, shaggy jet black hair; the guy who still remained in my heart, became my first love and the child of the man my mother hates the most. I hadn't found out sooner but if I had, my summer would be ruined.
We spent the day throwing pebbles at the lake while the man who he was with (who turned out to be his dad) smiled with a satisfied sigh. Percy told me how he wanted to be a professional swimmer and I told him my dream of becoming an architect. He told me some jokes (which I can say that some of them sounds a tad corny) and we had a good laugh at some embarrassing moments.
We did that for the last two weeks of my vacation and my mother was concerned at me wanting to go to the park so bad even on a rainy day. I call Percy every night before I go to sleep and when I couldn't meet him. On some occasions, it was he who calls me at the same hour even just to tell me that he misses me so badly; he was tempted to go to my mother's house to come see me.
He was my only friend in New York and we spent every moment with each other as much as we could. What concerned me, though, was not my mother's hatred towards his family but my sudden desire for him. I will always miss his lopsided grin, sea green eyes, boyish charm, soothing voice and just the presence of him.
I was seven-years-old and it was hilarious to even think of that feeling of longing and...Love. I was too young and I know that he would never feel the same way. But the way we parted was not what I had expected. I cried into his shoulder and he was trying to back the sobs that would surely be what he will be doing after our farewells.
I looked at him, having one final capture of his face; the soft features that had made me curious the first I saw him. I was afraid that this would be the last time we would meet. He breathed slowly and tucked a strand of my curly blonde hair behind my ear. His face lowered unto mine and captured my lips into a kiss.
I was too stunned and after his lips left mine, I still couldn't muster the words I so badly wanted to say. He pressed his lips on my forehead and whispered softly, "I'll miss you, Wise Girl. We'll see each other again. I promise."
His voice rang into my ears as his nickname for me stayed in my heart. "I'll miss you, too, Seaweed Brain," I said gently, his nickname glued to my tongue. "I'll come back for you...Wait for me."
That was the best summer of my life and it was ten years ago. I am now seventeen-years-old and I just finished my junior year. Today is June five and the exact same day I met Percy. I could still feel his lips on mine and the goofball never left my heart.
"Annabeth," my dad called. "Come down here for a second! We have something to say."
I ran downstairs, only to find my mother standing in the doorway where I couldn't expect the most. My mother never went to San Francisco after the whole fiasco with my dad. She smiled at me longingly and I had the urge to hug her just like before. She embraced me lightly and I patted her gently on the back, feeling like I'm the mother for once.
My dad smiled sympathetically at me and beckoned to the couch where the three of us sat in uncomfortable silence. My dad began, "So, your mother, wants you to go to New York again."
My heart leapt and I my eyes started to shine. That means I can see Percy again and then we'll spend the summer together like we used to; that is, if he remembers me. "For the summer?" I asked hopefully.
"No sweetie," my mother replied with a smile. "You are going to live in New York now. I'm going to take you in for good. I mean, after college, you have intentions of becoming an architect, right? What better place to be an architect than in New York with me?"
For once, I was at loss for words. I didn't expect my mother to take me in even after all these years. We were close but she was never the one who intends to have kids. "Really? Like, for real? I'm going to New York with you for like...forever?"
My mother laughed at my choice of words. We always talked to each formally. "Yes, isn't that exciting? We could even go to the park every day after school if you want to."
I looked at my dad and he nodded at me, smiling approvingly. "That is just perfect."
