Chapter 2: First Encounters
Annabeth
I was going to be late
I was running down the hall and past the kitchen when I bumped into a kitchen servant. We both fell down. He helped me up and said sorry but I was already running. I called back to him but I wasn't sure if he heard. I ran down another hall and into Piper's room.
"Help. I need help." I closed the door behind me and leaned against it panting.
"I was wondering when you would get here. I have the perfect outfit." Piper pulled out a simple, long, and light purple dress. It looked like a lot of other dresses I had to wear except for the color. Piper was the best when it came to dying a dress.
I slipped the dress on and Piper started on my hair.
"So what are you guys doing?" Piper questioned.
"Just getting lunch," I answered.
Piper looked unimpressed but didn't say anything. She finished my hair and I took a look. She did one small braid starting from the front of my head and ending in the back. I smiled and thanked her before running out of the door.
I made it to the front of the palace just in time. Luke came the same time I did, riding on his horse.
"Have you ever ridden a horse Princess Annabeth?" Luke asked as he helped me up.
"Not really." I technically had but I don't know if you would call it riding when I fell off the horse within seconds.
"Don't worry, she will make sure you do just fine." Luke ran his fingers through his horse's hair. She neighed in response and started trotting down the road.
We walked through the city of Athens. Luke listened as I pointed out things that only a local would know. Eventually, we ended up at the beach. Luke and I sat down on the warm sand and talked about each other.
"Many people do not know this but I was not actually born in the palace of Sparta," Luke said as he looked towards the setting sun.
"Oh really. Do tell."
He sighed as if trying to recall it all. "Well, I always thought that my mother had died and I knew that my father was a god but I wasn't sure who. I lived with a blacksmith by the name of Hephaestus, after the god himself. He was an amazing blacksmith and an even better father. He fell sick and never recovered, leaving me on my own. I knew a lot of people but none would take me in. I lived the next two years without a home and always stealing. That's when I figured that Hermes was my dad because I was never caught. One day, I bumped into a lady. She recognized me and brought me to the palace. She turned out to be a close friend of my mom. My mom told me everything, including why she left me."
"So why?" I asked softly, not wanting to annoy him.
"She was ashamed of me. She was betrothed and didn't want me to interfere so she gave me away. She tried to make up for it but she couldn't. I spent the next year trying to prove myself to the people of Sparta." Luke said without hesitation.
Wow, that wasn't what I expected. "I'm sorry."
"No need," Luke said with a smile as he helped me up.
"Dinner should be starting soon. We should get back." I said.
"Or we could skip dinner and stay here a little longer," Luke said with a grin.
Soon, a smile appeared on my face. "I don't see why not."
Luke grabbed my hand and we spent the rest of the night laughing and enjoying each other's company.
(Line Break)
"When none of the servants could find you yesterday, I knew you were with Luke," Piper said proudly.
"It was so much fun. He's honestly a good guy. Not as bad as I thought he was going to be." I admitted.
Piper and I were outside at the training grounds, watching Thalia practice her sword fighting.
Soon, Thalia came over to where we were sitting with two swords. "I need a sparring partner." Thalia only asks for a partner when she needs to blow off some steam. In other words, she's mad. Usually at Helen. It also means that she's looking for something, correction, someone to beat up.
I immediately got up and said, "I have to go apologize to someone for running into them." Thalia gave me a confused looked and Piper was enraged. I left Piper to handle an angry Thalia.
I ran off back into the palace. I wasn't lying. I had to tell that servant boy that I nearly ran over sorry. I walked over to the servants quarters and realized something. There are way too many servants in here. I know he works in the kitchen. Maybe I should start there. I turned back around and walked towards the kitchen.
There was some food out on the counters so someone had to be here. I walked inside and took a look around.
"Do you need anything, Princess?" I spun around and found the same raven-haired boy from yesterday.
Percy
I was going to meet Rachel soon but I had to finish up in the kitchens first. I walked inside and found some girl inside with curly blonde hair. She didn't look like any other servants I knew but her back was facing me so I wasn't sure. Wait a minute. That's... How could I not see it...
"Do you need anything, Princess?"
She turned around and looked shocked to see me. "I, um, I came to say sorry. For nearly running you over yesterday. And knocking down your cookies."
I laughed. "That's it?"
She frowned. "Yeah. Why, is that wrong?"
"No, I just didn't think that you would come all this way to say sorry." I shrugged.
"It's not that far from the training grounds to the kitchen."
"What were you doing at the training grounds?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Why are you doing the same?"
"I asked first."
"And I answered with a question." She grinned in victory.
I moved past her and began to grab things to cook. I was alone like most of the time I'm here.
"Do you need help?" She grabbed a bowl.
I snorted. "Princess, you wouldn't know the first thing about cooking and I don't have time to tell you." I stopped to look at her. "Why would you ask? Isn't the entire reason that you have servants like me is so you don't have to cook?"
"I'd normally wouldn't but I need something to do before Piper forces me to trade spots with her." She answered. "And it could be a good distraction once I'm married to Luke."
I laughed. "Before you tell me the entire story, that isn't the right bowl."
She looked up. "What should I do then?"
"Maybe start with grabbing a bowl that isn't used for serving." She groaned in defeat and stood up.
"Okay, I'll admit that I don't know how to cook." My turn to grin in a victory. "But as your master, I'm ordering you to teach me." My grin turned into a face of surprise.
"You want me..." I pointed to myself. "To teach you..." I pointed to her. "The princess..." I paused. "How to cook?" She grinned once again.
I shook my head. "I have places to be and people to see."
"How about later tonight?" I looked up one last time.
"Sure but it would have to be after the servants are supposed to be asleep."
"Why?"
"Do you want me to teach you or not?" She let out a breath.
"Okay, I'll be here."
"Cool." I smiled.
"Cool." She smiled back.
With that said and done, she left.
Annabeth
I woke up just in time for dinner. I stepped outside of my room and spotted Luke walking down the hall.
He smiled as he spotted me. "Princess Annabeth, just the person I was looking for."
I smiled back. "I think we've known each other long enough. Just call me Annabeth."
"Alright, then Annabeth. How's your day been?" He asked as he took my arm in his.
"Well, I got myself into a cooking lesson." He stopped.
"Cooking?"
"It's a long story," I reply as I continued walking.
Luke didn't question any further.
We arrived at the dining area. It appeared like Luke and I were the last ones there. Luke took his spot and I took mine.
Dinner was like any other day. We eat and talk. We finish eating and talk some more. I was suddenly starting to look forward to tonight.
(Line Break)
The halls were extremely dark after curfew. The only light was the moonlight shining through small windows. I saw the kitchen coming into sight but didn't see anyone there. Maybe the raven-haired boy was late, I thought. Wait. I stopped suddenly and looked around. What was I doing in the middle of the night about to take a cleaning lesson from some servant, no offense, who's name I don't even know.
"You actually came?" I looked over to the kitchen and saw the raven-haired boy standing by the door, rubbing his eyes and leaning against the wall.
"Why do you sound so surprised if you came all the way down here?" He shrugged and then walked onto the kitchen, motioning me to follow him.
"Before we start any of this, I never got your name," I said as I walked into the kitchen.
He grabbed a big bowl and a bag of flour. "Percy Jackson."
"Well Percy, what are we doing today?"
"We are remaking those cookies you made me drop." A small mischievous grin broke through his tired face.
Hello Friends. I am back with another chapter of my new story, Star-Crossed Lovers. To those three people who left a review:
Violet Amber Jackson-Chase: Thank you for being the first one to review even though it only had one chapter. Don't worry, I am planning on introducing Leo sometime soon but I'm still figuring out how to make him a constant part of the story. I would never leave Leo out, he is a favorite character of mine as well. Last but not least, the spark between Percy and Annabeth will come soon. Promise. Thanks again and hope you have a wonderful week. Lifeofroos: Didi: Thanks for reviewing, and although I didn't quite understand what you were saying, I will make a promise to finish this story no matter what. Thanks again and hope you have a wonderful week.
-Ramirez