Percy's POV

One of the worst things about being a demigod isn't battling monsters in life or death situations (although that does suck) or even being used by the gods. It's trying to "act normal" around mortals after you just battled a titan lord and saved all of New York City.

Nobody in the country knows just how close they came to total destruction. They are calling it a shift in tectonic plates, or a solar flare, some people are even throwing alien intervention onto the huge pile of mortal explanations. If I tried to tell them the truth, I'd probably get thrown into one of those rooms with foam on the walls wearing a straightjacket.

I was on my way to my mom and Paul's apartment riding in a taxi driven by a dude who smelled like my sixth grade locker. Not a good smell. Annabeth and I had parted ways about 15 minutes ago, she was on her way to some apartment where she would be living while she was in New York. She would also be going to school in NYC, where she didn't say. Or she did and I just wasn't paying attention. She had to stay near the empire state building to oversee all work on Mount Olympus.

Did I mention my girlfriend is the official architect of the gods?

Annabeth and I have been dating since my birthday, which is August 18th, so a little over a month but it felt like a lot longer. Today was the last day of camp so anyone not staying through the school year had to leave or the cleaning harpies would have them for lunch. The harpies take their job very seriously.

Camp had been extended two week because of the titan war, which was awesome except it meant less adjustment time to get back into the swing of the mortal world. School started back up on Monday, and today was already Saturday. I was definitely not looking foreword to that.

The taxi stopped in front of an apartment complex and I handed Sir StinksALot a wad of cash as I hopped out of the vehicle. I grabbed my bags out of the trunk and entered into the lobby of the apartment building. I went up the elevator because I didn't feel like carrying all my stuff up six floors. There was a ding and the doors slid open. As I walked down the hall I got more and more exited to be seeing my mom. I finally got to the door and opened it. "Mom I'm home!" I yelled. She came running from the kitchen, her apron covered in flour, and tackled me with a bear hug.

"Oh Percy! I've missed you so much!" She squeezed me tighter.

"Can't… Breathe… Killing… Me..." I said and she finally released me from her death grip. But honestly, I couldn't have been happier to see her again.

"I think you've grown at least an inch since August. Percy, tell me everything about camp." She looked at me expectantly. She always wanted to know every detail about camp, how I was, and how Annabeth was.

"It was awesome." I responded grinning. Except for the war, but I didn't want to think about it then.

Just then Paul walked out of his office. "Percy! Long time no see!" He smiled and clapped me on the back. "You ready for school to start back up?" he asked.

I groaned. "Don't remind me." Talk about ruining the moment.

Paul just laughed. "As your english teacher it is task to remind you about any and every school related topic." My mom laughed too. "Besides, it may not be as bad as you think." he smiled like he knew something I didn't.

"What?" I asked. Nobody answered and I started to feel like I was talking to Chiron and Annabeth. "Fine. Don't tell me." My mom laughed as she brought over a plate of warm blue chocolate chip cookies. They smelled amazing and I had eaten three before I remembered to breathe.

Paul helped me bring my bags upstairs with my mom following close behind asking me a billion different questions. She helped me start unpacking and we talked about everything that had happened over that past month. It felt good to be home again.

There was a distant beeping from the oven and my mom got up. "I'll leave you to finish unpacking. Dinner in 30 minutes. Kay?" she announced.

"Yup." I answered. She hugged me again before leaving the room. Once my mom was gone I looked out my window and took a deep breath, trying to take everything in. I took out Riptide and uncapped it. The pen grew into a shimmering bronze sword. Mom declared weapon use inside the house off limits after I accidentally took out a china cabinet, but I just wanted to remind myself this was all real. I already missed Annabeth. I glanced at the alarm clock on my side table. 4:36. Annabeth would most likely be in her apartment by now. I went over to the little fountain on my desk and placed a call.

I took a drachma out of my pocket and tossed into the water. "Oh goddess accept my offering. Please show me Annabeth Chase." I waited for a second before the water started shimmering and a came into view. Annabeth was standing with her back to me, unpacking a box that was sitting on a bed. I stayed silent for a moment just watching. Annabeth's blonde, curly hair was up in a pony tail. She was beautiful.

"Hey." I finally said. Annabeth spun around. I had caught her off guard, which doesn't happen very often.

"Hey seaweed brain!" She was smiling now. "What are you up to?"

"Same as you I guess. Unpacking. Except I have cookies." I teased as I held one up for her to see.

She laughed. "Well I have mexican."

"Is it blue?"

"No."

"Exactly."

"Whatever kelp head." She was trying to suppress a smile. "How's your mom?"

"She's good. Paul too. What about you wise girl?" I had stolen that nickname from Clarisse 5 years ago and it just kind of stuck.

Annabeth rolled her eyes at the nick name but I knew it really didn't bother her. "Good I guess. I have only been here for 30 minutes. The apartments pretty awesome too. Mom is supplying everything I need so I can be near Mount Olympus. I've already got Ares on my case about more statues of himself."

"How humble." I said sarcastically. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Unpacking and working on blueprints for Ares' statues so no."

"Cool. Do you want to meet up for lunch?"

"It has only been an hour and a half since we left camp seaweed brain." Annabeth pointed out. "A little anxious are we?" she asked, now laughing.

"So that's a yes?"

"Of course. I'll be at your place by 11:30. Does that work?"

"Sounds good." I smiled. Typically Annabeth covered all of the plans and now was no exception.

"Alright well I better get back to unpacking." she said. "It's weird not having 10 other siblings hanging around. It's so… Quiet."

"Nobody to mess with your stuff." I said. Annabeth hated people touching her stuff.

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Είστε ένας ηλίθιος." I immediately understood what she had said. Being a half-blood, greek comes easier than english.

"Well your and idiot too, owl face." I countered.

Annabeth laughed. She knew I wasn't any good at comebacks. "See you tomorrow, Percy."

"See ya." I ran my hand through the water to cut the connection. I felt better having talked to Annabeth and continued to unpack my stuff until my mom called for dinner.

That night I fell asleep to the sounds of the city.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and PLEASE COMMENT! :D