A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter!

"Percy?" Grover asked, patting my shoulder, "You there?" It's been a month since the girl gave me a 'lecture' about my failure in life, and I sill haven't been able to get it off my mind. I think it's because she was right.

"Yeah," I replied, "I never left."

He looked at me intensely, like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking. I hadn't quite told him about my encounter with the girl back when he was sick, there just really wasn't a need to.

"Your body might not have left," He said. We pushed open the doors of my apartment building, "but your brain sure did."

We were going back to my apartment after work to go order pizza and watch Casino Royal like we often did on Thursday nights.

"Why do you spend so many nights here if you have a girlfriend?" I asked. Grover has a girlfriend named Juniper, and they began going out about two months ago. Somehow, Grover still managed to come over Thursday nights for movies and pizza, and on other random days.

"I've told you," Grover said, sighing, "She's busy on Thursdays. She has her 'Trees in NYC' organization meeting."

"She's really involved in the environment like you," I said, stopping Grover from pressing the elevator button. I need to get my mail, "isn't she?"

"Yeah," Grover said, "I've told you this before Percy! We met at a 'Plants in Central Park" event. She and I went to plant the same bulb and-" I stopped Grover with my hand, "What?"

All I could do was gesture. Gesture at the girl who was like me, getting her mail. I remember vividly where I saw this girl. She was the girl I met at the bar when Grover was sick!

"That's-That's-" I said, desperately searching for words, "I've met her before!"

"Where?" Grover asked, eyes wide, "Wait, why are we talking in a loud whisper?"

"I don't know!" I said, still as quietly as possible, "that's how people talk when they realize they know someone and it's important but you aren't quite sure if you want them to notice you!"

"Thanks for the explanation," Grover said sarcastically, rolling his eyes, "but where did you meet her?"

"At the bar." I stated, simply.

"Riptide?" Grover asked, surprised, "When, I never met her."

"She came in when you were sick with Swine." I replied, peering past the wall once again.

"Oh," Grover said, a little bit too loudly, causing her to whirl around. Sadly, I wasn't fast enough and she saw my head before I could escape.

"Do I," She said, squinting, "know you?"

"Uh…" I said, smartly. I didn't want to admit that I had met her before, but I didn't really want to lie either, "You do look familiar."

"You do too," She said, deep in thought, "Oh, I met you at that bar!" Her eyes opened wide when she realized it.

"Oh, right!" I said, pretending like I just realized this, "And you psychoanalyzed my entire life!" I walked over to my mailbox and slid in the key.

"Right," she said, looking down, "Sorry 'bout that." She didn't seem too sorry, but it looked like she still felt bad.

"Nah. Don't worry about it, I probably could use some critique on my life once and a while. Plus, it's nice to hear it from someone other than my mom." I said, taking the mail out from the tiny box. Sadly, most of it looks like bills.

"Do you live here, or something?" I asked, pretending to flip through my mail.

"Yeah, yesterday." She said, looking back towards the hallway.

"What's your name?" I asked, "I didn't quite find out when we met…"

"Annabeth." She said, "Annabeth Chase. Your first name is Percy, right?"

"Yup," I said, "Percy Jackson. If you want, you could come over for pizza and a movie at my place. My friend Grover is here and I'm sure he wouldn't mind…"

"Sounds nice," she said, gathering her mail, "but I'm going to have to take a rain check. I still have a ton to unpack."

"Maybe some other time then." I suggested. I didn't actually know that many people in my building.

"Sure. Bye Percy Jackson." She said, before hurrying off into the stairwell carrying her mail,

"Well, that was…" Grover said, patting me on the back.

"Ineffective?" I suggested, sadly. It wasn't like I was trying to make a move on her or anything like that, something about her just drew me. I felt compelled to her, like she was the beacon of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

"I was going for interesting," Grover said, walking into the elevator, "but yours works too."

"Thanks." I muttered as the doors met and closed.

***

I know it's 2 AM and I probably should be sleeping and not staring at my laptop, but for the first time since college I've been inspired. Sadly enough, I don't quite have a plot yet… but I do have a character:

Annabel Chance: Smart, determined, distant, blonde, has grey eyes.

A/N: I know that this chapter is a bit short. I just currently have finals and therefore have less time to write. Please review!