Hoops: Prologue Part 2

Three months after the encounter, the green-eyed boy appeared at the Game Center again. He approached her. She scowled. But nonetheless, he kept on coming.

He was persistent.

One time she left for the bathroom and when she came back, he was at the Mario-Karts playing with her brothers. Each time he had a window, he took advantage of it without a thought.

It didn't matter she made it clear she disliked him. It didn't matter she made it clear her judgement was final. She was a judgemental person she knew. But her judgements were always right; this one would be mo different.

So she acted, she was the equivalent of a cold wall.

It didn't matter.

He was at the Game Center at least once a month. Sometimes more. His visits continued for 8 months.

She debated leaving the Game Center for good more than once even though such a decision would cause the twins to riot. That wasn't why she chose to endure those 8 long months however.

It was because she refused to give into whatever game the guy was playing. She made up her mind that she wouldn't back down and she didn't.

He never learned her name and neither did she his.

The guy simply became someone she would encounter every now and then, a familiar face, a familiar urge to punch or kick, a familiar annoyance.

But then it all changed.

Matthew was placed on the game board. And tables were overturned.

Almost a year into knowing the guy, her 7 year-old brother went missing at the arcade.

She had no idea how it happened.

All she knew was that for a desperate, maddeningly frustrating half hour, all Annabeth did was search. Was hold on tightly to her remaining brother and look and look.

Millions of thoughts raced to her mind-thoughts she despised and loathed should they ever come true.

Each passing second dorve her further pass the edge she'd already crossed.

Because one of her little brothers was lost.

Then, then she found Matthew. She felt no relief at first though.

Few things in life could make her lose the ability to think properly and logically. Her brothers were one of them.

All she saw were the tear stains. All she saw was the scratch. She didn't see the smile or the band-aid. All she saw was what she chose to see.

"What the crap!" She yelled.

The guy-the conceited unbelievable jerk-face-jumped to his feet at her voice.

Words were on his tongue but Annabeth didn't let a single one out.

"You insolent jerk! Who the heck do you think you are?"

His eyes were wide and surprised.

"What right do you have to take my frickin' brother? Do you have any idea how worried I was? No, of course you don't because you don't care about anyone but yourself! What type of mad idiot are you?! You loathsome, egotistical cretin!"

"Annie?"

The frightened voice tore through her tunnel vision and the whole world came into focus.

She dropped down to one knee and pushed Matthew against her chest. As she drew him back, he noticed he was scared and her rage began to boil over until she realized the fear was directed at her.

Fear at how she'd lost her temper.

Silence coated the empty space before a rough voice abruptly broke it.

"I'm sorry," her expression became even more incredulous but he wasn't done yet.

"I didn't realize helping a lost boy find his way back to his sister was a crime punishable by being called an idiot." His tone wasn't accusatory so it took a matter of seconds for the meaning of his words to sink through.

When the metal pieces finally sank to the bottom of the lake however, they only left confusion and doubt.

Slowly she stood and met the guy's determined green eyes.

"I didn't realize you thought of me so low as to stoop down to kidnapping a defenseless kid. I guess I really left a horrible impression on you. I do apologize for not being able to locate you sooner."

He bent down in front of Matthew as she had done just moments before and gave him a two finger salute, "Bye Matthew,"

Standing, he stuck his hands in his pockets and bowed his head. "Sorry for stepping into your life, I can assure you it won't happen again."

With that, he walked away.

It wasn't until afterwards that she learned he truly hadn't been lying.

A sound met his ears—it sounded like… Crying! With searching eyes, he moved towards it. When he finally found the source, he blinked in shock.

One of crazy-smart's—how he had to refer to the girl that wouldn't leave his mind for some unexplainable reason. The girl he was curious about and followed even after she basically spit in his face. Percy seriously needed to get himself a life and a whole lot of common sense

Anyway, one her brothers was the source of the crying. And boy, were those sure not crocodile tears.

Not knowing what to do but wanting to do something, Percy cautiously approached the kid.

"Um… You okay?"

Nice move, Jackson. This kid is sobbing and terrified and is clearly not okay.

The kid in question looked up at Percy, startled. His eyes grew round in fear until he abruptly recognized him.

"Help!" He cried

"Um… Um…" what did he do… What was he supposed to do!? He wasn't made for this! "Where's your sister?" Yeah, the sister who hates my guts.

The kid blubbered "I don't know!"

Oh. So that was the problem. Percy crouched down to be at the boy's level. "Well… How about I help you find her?"

The kid (he seriously needed to get his name) looked at him with big, hopeful eyes. "Really?"

Percy nodded, "Sure!" Anything to stop the waterworks.

"Thank you!" The kid's eyes were shining and his tears started drying up.

Percy smiled and was about to get up when he noticed the scrape on the kid's knees. Suddenly thankful for his weird habit of keeping band-aids in his pockets, he stood up, gave the kid his hand and started heading for the bathroom.

Might as well wash the cut and then bandage it.

"So… What your name kiddo?"

Matthew told her about how the guy whom she'd self-proclaimed a "jerk".

How he offered to help him look, how he bandaged his cut, how he kept Matthew laughing with jokes…

He helped me Annie when no one else did. I don't know why you were so mean to him when all he wanted to do was help

And Annabeth realized, she didn't know either.

When had she become so close-minded that she refused to believe anyone could be any difference than their initial impression?

When had she decided that if a guy looked like a stuck-up jerk, he was one?

When had simply messing around and trying to say funny cracks become insults in her mind?

Because that was what the guy had been doing in that first meeting… He hadn't been trying to be rude or obnoxious… He was just making jokes and keeping the mood light because that was his personality.

When had she become so judgemental?

Or an even better question… Had she ever not been judgemental?

AN: Prologue Part 2 done! Btw, Annabeth are Percy are 16 here. They will meet again 3 years later! And it will be epic.

See you guys there! Please review :D

~LB