It had been 10 years since the last time I saw her. I thought I'd forget about her sooner or later, but every day something brought her back to my mind. Then I'd play back those memories, whether I wanted to or not, and they'd always come back. Since I moved to LA last summer, I'd always go to the beach now and then to clear my mind after and take in the sea breeze. Willing the currents back and forth, it soothed me.
^ This is just a heads up from Percy's point of view of some info you need to know. It takes place 10 years after TLO.
I went to the shore one dawn, to jog around the sea and watch the morning sunrise. Usually, I'd see a couple others jogging along and I'd keep up with them, to maybe start up a little chat and get some breakfast together afterwards. I guess you could say I make friends easily.
I saw one jogger that morning with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, listening to her ipod, and decided to catch up to her. She seemed into her running and she was pretty fit, too…and attractive. I mean, really attractive.
I had trouble catching up to her since she was so fast, but managed at the end to get her attention.
"Hey!" I said. She turned her head quickly and slowed down, taking out one of her earphones.
I was panting from trying to keep up. How embarrassing…
"Um, hey?" she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. We were still running.
"I just decided that jogging alone was no fun." I flashed my signature smile and her eyes sort of widened. I continued anyway. "So, how come you jog on the beach?"
She paused. "Well, being near the ocean brings me back memories". Her expression turned into something nostalgic.
It was also sort of funny because I came here to do the opposite thing, so I could clear my memories.
"Oh yeah?" I said, "Memories of what?"
"Just…a friend I used to know." Her gray eyes sparkled in the light when she started describing him, and I thought for one second she started to smi- ….wait. Gray eyes? What? Gray eyes and blonde hair.
"Well, that seems…nice. What…what was his name?" I asked carefully. My heart almost burst out of my chest. This … couldn't be it.
She picked up her pace. "It's a unique name, Percy."
I stopped running right there. I felt like someone slapped me right there on that spot, with my legs glued to the sand.
"Hey, are you okay?" She stopped running, too. Her face looked concerned.
I should've ran away at that point; make it back home so I'd never see her again. But at the same time, I couldn't. I needed to know. For a few seconds, I couldn't force anything to come out my mouth, until I choked out my words.
"…Annabeth?"
