Got another chapter for you guys! But I got a challenge for you. Do you think we could make this story get 20 reviews before the next chapter is posted? If we can do that you guys are amazing! Not that you aren't already but it would just double the amazing-ness! Plus I might just give you guys something for it *hint hint* Percabeth.

My godly parent is Athena because if you don't have smarts well what do you have?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot line.

Percy POV

My Saturday was well…interesting to say the least. Friday night was spent catching up with my mom and Paul obviously. Saturday morning I was woken up by the smell of bacon. I quickly put on a shirt (Percy sleeps in nothing but his boxers *squeal*) and rushed downstairs. My thoughts were confirmed when I found my mom cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

"Good morning Percy." She greets.

"Morning mom. Making breakfast I see." I greet back before kissing her on the cheek.

"Yeah. I know you want some judging by the way you're practically drooling but it's not ready yet so be patient." She says.

"Ugh you're killing me. Hey where's Paul?" I ask.

"He's sleeping in, something he desperately needed." She replies.

I nod in understanding. Paul does all he can to support my mom. Something I'm very thankful for but he could use a break.

"So what are your plans for today?" My mom asks.

I shrug in response. "I haven't really figured that out yet." I reply.

"Well you could always call up Grover and Leo. I know you want to spend as much time as you can with them." My mom suggests.

"Yeah that's a great idea! Thanks mom." I say.

Breakfast is ready minutes later and once my plate is in front of me I immediately start eating.

"Percy you're gonna choke if you keep inhaling your breakfast. It's like you haven't eaten in months."

I smile sheepishly and eat my blue pancakes slower. I know what you're thinking. Blue pancakes? What the hell? Well it's kind of a tradition in our family. Before my mom met Paul I had this horrible step-dad named Gabe. I don't want to get into the details but the point is he was a pain. One day he claimed that food couldn't be blue and it was stupid. My mom made it her goal to prove him wrong by always putting blue food dye in our meals and even after he was gone the blue food thing just stuck.

Sometime during breakfast Paul showed up and we all talked and ate at the kitchen table. After breakfast I got changed into some jeans, converse and a blue v neck t-shirt. Since it was a v neck I noticed you could see my dog tags. I smiled and looked at the engraving of my name on them. Not forgetting what my mom suggested, I picked up my phone and dialed Grover's number first. After two rings he picked up.

"Perce! Hey man how are you? I was hoping you would call soon." I heard him say.

"Hey G-man! I'm good. So I was thinking you, me and Leo could hang out today. That is if you don't already have plans." I say.

"Sounds great! Where do you wanna meet?" He asks.

"I was thinking central park in about an hour is that good for you?"

"Yup see you then Perce!" He says before hanging up.

After calling Leo who said he could also come I looked at the clock. 11:15am. I still had 45 minutes before I had to meet up with the guys so I decided to unpack my bags. I hadn't done so the night before because it had been really late by the time I went to sleep after talking with my mom and Paul.

I was staying in my old room of course. Nothing had been changed from the last time I was here. Everything from the blue walls and comforter to the small dent in the wall from when I got angry at Gabe and punched the wall was still there.

When I finished unpacking my stuff it was about time to go to central park. I made sure I had my wallet, phone and keys before going downstairs and shouting a quick goodbye to my mom and Paul.


When I got to Central Park I realized I hadn't exactly said where in Central Park we would meet. I shot a quick text to Grover and Leo saying I was on a bench right near the front.

I spent the next few minutes admiring Central Park. There were lots of people here like usual, people who all have different stories. To my far left was a family of three. A little girl with her two parents. I smiled as her dad picked her up and spun her around while her mom just laughed. Straight ahead was an elderly couple that was taking an afternoon walk along the pathway.

I look to my right and my breath is taken from me when I do. Walking at a distance ahead of me has got to be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She's got blond wavy hair kind of like a princess I think. She's dressed casual in converse, skinny jeans and a green short sleeve shirt. It looks like she went out to get coffee judging by the paper cup she's got in her hand.

She looks so at ease and I can't seem to tear my gaze from her. Suddenly she turns her head and her eyes meet mine.


Annabeth POV

"Bye guys have fun!" I tell Piper and Juniper as they're leaving to go to the mall.

"Last chance Anna you sure you don't wanna come?" Piper asks.

"No I really need to study but don't worry tomorrow we'll all hang out I promise." I say.

They both nod before closing the door to our condo.

"Thalia shouldn't you be going to meet your cousin?" I question looking at the girl who's currently laying on the couch with a bag of potato chips in front of her and the TV playing some creepy horror show.

"Yeah but I can visit at anytime so I was thinking of going later on probably around 3 or 4." She says.

I nod before heading upstairs to my room to start studying. After an hour and a half I decide I could use a break. I make my way down the stairs to find Thalia asleep on the couch with her face in the bag of chips. I roll my eyes. That girl sure does love sleep.

I make my way to the kitchen looking for coffee. It always helps me when I'm studying. Realizing that we don't have any I sigh. Well I could always go to the coffee place near Central Park. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea I should probably get out of the house at least once today anyway. I grab my wallet and my phone before writing a note to Thalia in case she wakes up.

I start my walk toward Hestia's Coffee House and admire the scenery as I walk. It's a beautiful day today, not to hot or cold. It's the middle of fall and the leaves are all kinds of different colors from brown to red to orange.

Once I get to Hestia's I order my usual, a caramel macchiato with an extra shot of expresso and pay the cashier. While I'm waiting for my order I take in the scene of the small coffee house I've come to love. It's such a warm and cozy environment as if you're sitting at a fireplace with your family on Christmas Eve. I'm snapped out of my thoughts as my order is called and I go up to get it. I take my coffee and leave Hestia's. I would normally drink my coffee in there but since it's such a nice day out and Central Park is literally right in front of me so I decide to take a walk through the park.

As I'm walking I look around at all the different people sitting and enjoying a picnic or walking their dog or just simply spending time laughing and having fun with their family and friends. I continue on my path through the park, glad that I decided to take a break from studying and come here.

I get the sudden feeling that someone is looking at me. Looking around, I try to see if I can spot anyone. I look a bit to my right and my breath hitches. Beautiful sea green eyes catch my own stormy grey ones and our eyes stay locked. The guy looks about my age with unruly black hair. He's dressed in converse, jeans and a dark blue fitted v neck which shows that he definitely works out. I have to admit he's really cute. I notice he has dog tags around his neck which just seems to complete his look.

Realizing our eyes are still locked on each others I blush before looking away. I hear a noise and look up again to see the guy being tackled to the ground by another guy who has curly brown hair and a lean frame. I let out a small laugh before making my way back to the condo with a smile on my face.


Percy POV

Grey. That's all I see when her eyes meet mine. Intimidating stormy grey eyes that look like clouds before a big downpour. But there's also something behind those eyes. A look that's reserved and closed off as if she's afraid of opening up to people.

I feel like I've been staring at her forever but I don't break contact. She must realize this at the same time I do because a faint pink covers her cheeks and she looks away. I smile. Did I make her blush? I don't have time to think about it because the next thing I know I'm being tackled to the hard asphalt by someone.

Looking up I see a skinny guy with curly brown hair and a mischievous smile on his face. Leo.

"Percy! Hey man how you been?" He says.

"Great I'd be better if I wasn't on the ground right now though." I comment.

"Oh sorry guess I just wanted to see if I could still take you down." He says with a smug look before giving me a hand up.

"Leo you only pinned me down that one time in high school because I was distracted." I say for the hundredth time.

"Well were you distracted just now?" He asks.

Grey eyes and blond hair enter my thoughts at that question. I look back to where the girl was but she's nowhere to be found. Before I have time to answer I hear someone call me.

"Perce!" Grover shouts.

"Hey Grover!" I greet before sharing a bro-hug with my eco-loving best friend.

Leo and Grover were my best friends back in school. Leo was always the one to get into trouble whether it be by making jokes during class or playing pranks on the younger classmen. You see, Leo has an extreme case of ADHD. I have it as well but it's not as extreme as Leo's. He always has to be doing something. From what I remember, he likes to invent and build things. Grover on the other hand, was always the responsible one. He tried to keep Leo and I out of trouble as much as he could and he always kept up with his grades. He's was a big lover of the environment and saving energy which I see hasn't changed judging by the fact that he's wearing a "save the earth" t-shirt. Now me, well I was somewhere kind of in the middle. I pranked others from time to time with Leo but I also made sure I didn't go too far. I was also an athlete. The thing I loved most back in high school was swimming. I was on the swim team all four years and I was captain two of those four years. I just felt so at home in the water. I can't explain it.

Leo, Grover and I were the best of friends. It was really hard to leave them but I still keep in touch with them as much as I can. Now they're standing in front of me and I'm really glad I'm getting to see them in person again.


Annabeth POV

Upon arriving back at the condo after walking through Central Park, I see Thalia STILL asleep on the couch. I go back to my room to resume my studying.

As much as I try to focus on memorizing parts of the animal body I just can't seem to get anything done. An image of a green eyed stranger keeps jumping into my mind. I don't understand why. I mean I didn't even talk to the guy so I don't even know his name. Not that I want to know his name or anything. I probably won't ever see him again. New York is a big place with lots of people. I don't care if I never see him again.

Sure you don't.

Oh shut up.

Gods. If my friends ever found out they'd have a field day. I can see it now. Annie looked at a guy! Was he cute? Was it love at first sight? I roll my eyes just thinking about it. My friends are the most overdramatic people who would make a big deal out of nothing.

I shake my head to snap myself out of my thoughts. I really need to get back to studying.

I'm able to study for a while before Thalia's voice from downstairs interrupts me.

"Annie I'm heading out to my cousin's! I'll see you later!" She yells.

"Bye Thals!" I shout back before I hear the door shut.

Juniper and Piper come home around 20 minutes later with their arms full of shopping bags. There's bags from Francesca's to Charming Charlie. They must've walked the whole mall. How they found the money to buy all that, I don't want to know.

"Hey Anna! We got you a couple things, the mall was full of sales today!" Piper tells me excitedly.

"Thanks guys but you didn't have to really." I say

"Well we wanted to." Juniper replies.

"Well thanks again. Anyway, Thalia went to visit her cousin and she'll probably eat there so it's just us for dinner." I say.

"She left just now? She could've gone to the mall with us." Piper comments.

"Thalia at the mall? She probably planned this all out so she wouldn't have to go but instead spend the whole day on the couch watching TV and eating." I say with a laugh.

"That's true I don't know why we didn't figure this out sooner I mean, it's Thalia." Juniper comments and we all laugh.

"So mac and cheese for dinner?" I ask grabbing the box from the pantry as I do.

"Sounds good." They say and leave to go to their room to put their clothes away.

When I finish making dinner we all sit down to eat at the table.

"So how was your studying day?" Piper asks me with distaste in her voice as if studying is a crime.

"It was…nice." I say as green eyes enter my thoughts again.

My friends look at me weirdly. I realize soon that it's because I'm smiling a little off into space.

"Annabeth? Something you wanna tell us?" Juniper asks.

"No today was fine just spent the day in my room getting ready for my test." I say quickly.

I figure the less they know the better so I don't bother telling them about how I left the house at all.

They stare at me in disbelief.

"So, who wants dessert?"


Percy POV

Grover, Leo and I spend hours just walking through the park and catching up. I learn a lot about them and their lives now.

Leo works at a mechanic shop near here. I guess his love for fixing things never ceased. He has his own apartment as well. He met a girl named Calypso and they've been dating for a while.

Grover goes to NYU and he's majoring in Natural Resources and Conservation. He also has his own place and a girlfriend named Juniper. From what he told me their relationship is fairly new.

I'm happy for them both.

"What about you Perce? Anyone special in your life?" Grover asks.

"No one other than my mom G-man." I reply.

"Really? So you haven't dated anyone since high school?" Leo asks disbelievingly as if not being in a relationship is a crime.

I nod. The last relationship I had was in my senior year of high school with a girl named Ally. We went out for a few months and it was nice but I just didn't feel like it was going anywhere. I was planning on going into the service anyway so I knew it would be really hard to continue our relationship after we graduated so we broke up.

"It's kinda hard to be in a relationship with a girl when you're in the marines guys." I tell them.

They nod understandingly and we continue to talk about anything and everything. I tell them more about my life as a marine and it's 3:30 in the afternoon when we finally decide that we should be heading home.

With a promise of getting together again soon, I start on my way home driving through the streets of New York.


When I get to my moms apartment I'm in for quite a surprise. Two people are standing in my living room. One is a girl with choppy black hair, electric blue eyes and wearing a leather jacket. Thalia. The other is a guy who looks around my age with blond hair and the same eyes as Thalia. That must be Jason.

"Hey Kelp Head good to see you." Thalia greets before giving me a hug.

"Hey Pinecone face good to see you too." I greet back.

You're probably confused by the nicknames. Well Thalia and I have been close since we were little. She always made fun of me because I wasn't exactly the…sharpest crayon in the box if you get my point. She started calling me Kelp head because of that and it just stuck. I came up with a name for her a little while after that when we went to the park one day. Thalia tried to climb the tallest tree which happened to be a pine tree. She lost her balance and fell down on her back. One of the pinecones fell down soon after and landed right on her face. After making sure she was ok from her fall I laughed so hard and that's where I got the idea to call her Pinecone face.

She punched me in the arm (which hurt a lot might I add) before we both look over to the blond haired guy.

"Hi Percy it's nice to meet you I'm Jason." He introduces.

"Nice to meet you too man." I say and shake his hand.

"You're mom let us in. She's in the kitchen making dinner and Paul went to go run an errand he should be back soon." Thalia says.

We all sit in the living room and I catch up with Thalia while learning about Jason as well.

Jason seems like a pretty cool guy. He plays soccer and attends the same college as Thalia. He's also apparently dating one of Thalia's closest friends.

Thalia tells me she's studying photography and living with her best friends in a condo they bought close to their campus. I remember when we were little and one of her favorite things to do was just take pictures. I'm glad she's doing something she's always had a passion for.

Paul gets home and soon after that dinner is ready. We all eat while sharing stories. I tell them more stories about my life back at the base while Thalia and Jason share stories of their friends and college lives.

It's really late by the time Thalia and Jason leave. Right after they leave I head to my room. It's been a long day and as soon as my head hits the pillow I fall asleep. I dream that night about a certain blond haired, grey eyed beauty.


I hope you all liked it! I passed 3000 words! I'm slowly easing into Percabeth. Please review and tell me how you liked it. Remember if I get to 20 I might just put some more Percabeth in it. ;)

REVIEW, REVIEW AND REVIEW!

-M

Question for readers

What is your favorite band or singer?