Artemis: Welcome Chase

I stepped into the aquarium and smiled as I watched my group of girls rush to different directions. This had become weekly where on each Sunday, we would come here and look at the water animals.

I laughed as a seal did backflips in the water. A cough from my right made its way in my head as I turned to the person and grinned.

"Perseus."

Percy returned my smile and said, "Let's walk, should we?" Each time I came here, he would be here to accompany me to the coffee shop while the girls would watch the sea animals.

I nodded and followed as he walked swiftly from the crowd. Looking at his back, I thought about my feelings. It was quite obvious that I liked him, but he was as dumb as they get. I even tried to tell him but of course we had to get interrupted and since then, I haven't been able to gather my courage to tell him how I feel.

I crashed into his back and stumbled back as he stared at me, "You seem to be getting lost into your thoughts quite frequently nowadays. You ok?"

I simply waved him off and walked inside taking my normal seat by the window as Percy ordered our drinks like always. It had become a routine.

Percy sat opposite to me and handed me my drink and said, "So tell me about your week."

I shrugged, "Not much happened. It was pretty much regular stuff. What about your week? Anything interesting happen?"

He took a sip and put the cup down and said, "Actually yeah. We got a new employee, actually a secretary. Dad wanted to make sure I actually paid attention to the paperwork."

"Oh yeah? Is he great?" I asked, taking a sip. His eyebrows rose as he replied, "He? I never said 'he'. Her name is Annabeth Chase."

Just as he said it, his phone rang and he looked down and exclaimed, "Oh look its her. Sorry gotta take it." Without waiting for a reply, he got up and walked to the side, leaving me sitting and staring at him.

He talked for a few minutes before coming in with a grim face. "Annabeth just said that there were some problems in the latest transactions from the previous group, so I need to… you know."

He rubbed the back of his head and I nodded and said, "Yeah yeah I totally get it. I'll get the coffee in a go-to cup." He shook his head and pushed his chair in and said, "No need. I'll just drink it like this." With that he gulped the whole thing and rushed out.

I ran after him to the aquarium to gather up my girls. When we reached the aquarium, a group was standing out bickering with each other. Percy straightened up and said, in a deep voice, "Everyone please calm down."

The crowd silenced as they stared at Percy. Percy called someone on the phone and said, "Yeah, they have calmed. Hmmm, yeah you can come now."

He cut the call right as the door opened and out of it walked a girl with glasses, her blonde princess curls bouncing as she hopped down the steps. Her grey eyes glowing softly as she stood next to Percy. She took out her notepad and showed something to Percy.

He nodded and turned to the crowd, "Can Mr. Castellan please step to the side?"

A boy who looked in his late teens, about 19 years old, looked up and walked to the side followed by Percy. They began talking as the boy started arguing and showing something to Percy on his phone. Percy on the other hand looked unimpressed and continued arguing with the boy.

The boy huffed and handed some money to Percy and walked off in a random direction. Percy walked back, an irritated expression on his face, "You all can go." The crowd shuffled off leaving Percy, the girl and me.

Percy smiled at me and said, "Artemis, I would like to introduce you to my secretary Annabeth Chase."

I held out my hand to Annabeth who shook it, a smile on her face but her eyes showed her wariness. Annabeth turned to Percy and whispered something in his ear and walked off, her hips swaying slightly.

I couldn't help but be jealous. She gets to spend every single day with Percy whereas I only get to see him on Sunday. She will win him over easily and with her looks, oh her looks.

Percy snapped his fingers in my face, and I shook my head. He chuckled and said, "There you go again. Daydreaming."

I shoved him away playfully and walked inside the aquarium, looking from the edge of my eyes at Percy. After gathering my girls, I gave Percy a blinding smile and left, completely aware of Percy staring at us.

*Time Skip*

I stepped into the aquarium again, a week after meeting Annabeth Chase. Fortunately, today there were no girls, so I got a day free and decided to spend some time with Percy.

Percy walked to me; a smile plastered on his face. As he got closer, I noticed something off about him. His tie was a bit crooked, something completely unusual about him. He kept licking his lips, which seemed a bit red and his hair seemed more ruffled than before. His shirt had a few wrinkles and his smile seemed quite… fake.

Behind him, Annabeth walked up, and realisation hit me hard in the face. Percy kissed Annabeth.

Tears brewed in my eyes, but I pushed them back and plastered a smile. Percy stepped up and looked behind me.

He said, "No girls today?"

I shook my head, knowing that if I spoke, my voice would crack, and he would know that I am silently crying on the inside. We walked to the coffee shop, silence enveloping us as we were both lost in our thoughts.

Taking our seats, I refused to meet his eyes. I looked everywhere, trying to keep my tears at bay. Why? Why did it have to happen?

Percy kept staring at the table before he finally looked up and began, "Artemis…" I didn't look at him, instead humming as a way to let him know I was listening.

"Artemis… I… uh… I have something to tell you," he said, his voice filled with doubt. Unable to deal with him confessing about how he loved her, I got up and took my coffee and handed it to the counter, not saying a word and left.

Percy hurried after me, handing the cup to the counter, and ran to my side. He grasped my hands and said, "Artemis please. Just listen to me."

I ignored him and pulled my hands out and walked to my house. This time Percy didn't follow me. And for some reason, I didn't want him to.

A/N: Yeah so this story is off the hiatus but its not getting updated that frequently. Also, this story will have a few more chapters (3 more) and then this will be complete. Review if you have any suggestions and if you do not have any suggestions… well then, just review how you like the story this far