A/N: Hey guys here is another story!

The prompt was bubblegum, a shout out and thanks to my best friend who gave it to me!

Here goes.

Bubble gum has to be one of the best things on earth. Or at least a life savor. That along with, magazines, candy and other stuff they have at the Walgreens checkout line. They all provide an excuse to come back and buy something while casually observing a blonde who might or might not be working at the counter. I grabbed some milk and ice cream from the small line of freezers and went up to the counter with my heart beating. God she was so gorgeous. Tall, tan and athletic with beautiful curly blond golden hair. She looked up as I approached her, and I got to see the sparkling grey eyes. She seemed to recognize me from the last few times I had been here (I might or might not have come in twice last week to purchase random stuff.)

"Hi, is this everything," her voice was angelic.

I nodded then got my voice together to say, "Yeah."

She started scanning the items and I suddenly wished that I had more stuff so this could last a bit longer.

"Wait," I told her as she scanned the last item. She looked up at me.

"I..uh.. want to get some gum," I scanned the row gum trying to choose one and not look at her. Seriously why are there so many darn flavors. She chuckled. Shoot did I say that out loud.

I blushed, "Sorry, it's just.."

She waved me of," Take your time there is like no one here anyway."

I nodded and looked again not getting any further.

"Want some help?" she asked with a smile.

I blushed again, "Oh.. well...sorry, I'm probably bothering you" I stuttered out then cursed myself for sounding like an idiot.

She laughed, "It's okay, I was bored out of my mind anyway." She came to the other side of the counter and stood next to me. Suddenly I couldn't think straight.

She analyzed the rack before her,

"Hmm, you are right there are ten million different flavors,"

"I know, how is a guy supposed to choose," I asked melodramatically. Woah where did that come from.

She giggled then cleared her throat, "Of course," she said sounding serious, "It is an important decision."

"It is," I said shaking my head solemnly.

"One of the utmost important and it shall affect my kingdom greatly" I said pulling on a regal tone of voice. We stared at each other then burst out laughing.

"Oh god," she said still chuckling a bit, "that was so funny, I needed that."

I smiled, glad that I had made her laugh. She picked out a pack of gum. Key Lime Pie.

"Try this, it reminds me of humor for some odd reason." I took it carefully resting it on the counter, "Thank you," I said earnestly. She flashed me another smile as she added that to my order. I payed then left with a smile, a word of thanks and a wave to the blond employee. I arrived home a little while later with half melted ice cream and a goofy smile on my face.

-LINEBREAK-

"Back so soon?"

This time she had out a textbook.

I ignored her question, "What are you doing."

"Homework," she responded tiredly.

"What is it for?" I was curious to find out more about this girl.

"Architecture, it's my major." she confided.

"Nice, I always thought architecture was interesting, except I don't think I could ever do all those calculations."I responded truthfully.

"What's your major?" she asked.

"Marine Biology." Her eyebrows raised in surprise at my response. She nodded approvingly.

"Wow, that's cool." she started to scan my things, again I wished I had a longer list.

"Is that all?"

"Of course not, I need gum."

She looked surprised, "Didn't you just get a pack a couple days ago."

I nodded then clarified, "Yes, but my friends found out and it ran out faster than expected." Honestly I had two pieces left that I wanted to save to keep as a reminder

"You want help." I nodded again. She crossed over and stood next to me again. This time we were close enough so I could smell her lemon-scented hair. I was tempted to pull her to me and burry my face in her hair.

"How about this one," she held it out to me. Sweet cinnamon. I smiled back,

"Perfect, I'm Percy by the way."

She smiled back, "Annabeth."

She handed me the receipt. I didn't see till after I got home that there was something scribbled on the back.

-LINEBREAK-

"What do you like to do?"

"Swim,"

I was back but this time I had nothing on me, instead I was browsing the gum rack again.

"When's-" But I was interrupted by another customer who had showed up.

"You can go in front of me, I'm just looking." I said stepping aside.

He sent an indifferent nod my way before putting his things on the counter.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she responded.

"So babe wanna catch a movie later," I tensed up and determinedly looked at the wide array of gum trying to keep my anger in check.

"No." Thank god. I relaxed a bit.

"Come on babe, you know you want to," I tensed up again . How dare he talk to her like that.

"Actually I don't, I have a boyfriend, here is your receipt." she pushed it toward him and he walked away with another wink. I was shocked, she had a BOYFRIEND! No, that means my crush is hopeless! I glanced at her carefully, she looked mad.

"Are you okay?" I asked a little hesitantly.

She sighed, "Yes, It's just that he is so annoying, I hate people like that."

"I don't blame you, I was so tempted to punch him,"

She smiled at that. Then asked me,

"So what flavor gum do you want today?"

I was heartbroken and didn't care, but I decided to go along with it anyway.

"why don't you choose," I said trying to sound carefree.

She came around, and after analyzing quickly she chose one and handed it to me. Evergreen mint. I agreed with her choice then made to leave after I paid.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked concerned. Was I that bad at masking my disappointment?

"Yeah I'm fine."

She bit her lip, "Hey listen, I'm off work in a couple minutes, do you want to go to Starbucks with me?"

I was surprised...was she?..

"Uh, sure," I said a bit hesitantly.

"Oh, I mean you don't have to if ..." she left it off.

"No, it's fine, I would love to." I said earnestly. She left to get her things and then we went to the nearby Starbucks.

"Percy are you sure you're okay?" she asked as we sat down at a corner table.

"Yeah...um won't your boyfriend mind that your-" I started hesitantly, she cut me off.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I was shocked

"Wait what?"

She rolled her eyes, "I just said that to get that guy off my back. "

"So you're not dating anyone," My mind was still wrapping around that idea. I felt as though a huge weight had lifted of my chest and I was suddenly able to breathe better.

She was suddenly shy. She looked down and shook her head.

"You know," I said with a lot more confidence than I felt, "we could change that."

She looked up quickly, surprised but with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah, how so?"

"Like this," I cupped her cheek with my hand and drew her in for a kiss.

-LINEBREAK-

"What flavor is that?"

"Why don't you find out"

"Shut up!" she hit my arm playfully. I grinned at her. Then walking over to the nearest trashcan I spit out the gum, it was getting old anyway. I went back to the counter.

"You know sir if you are not going to buy anything, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."she said seriously.

I smiled, "I'm going to buy gum, want to help me out?"

She rolled her eyes then leaned across the counter, "and why would I do that?"

I met her in the middle and gave her a quick kiss. "because you love me?"

"As if," she scoffed then asked, "was that.." she trailed off. I took a packet of gum out of my pocket and offered it to her, there was only one left.

"Want it?" She looked at the packet and took out the last piece. She turned to me disbelievingly,

"Key Lime Pie"

"The original" I smiled at her.

"You are unbelievable," I grinned at that, "I'll be right back." She left to gather her things. I looked down at the empty packet in my hands then to the blond who was making her way over to me. Yeah, I thought as I slipped an arm around her waist, pocketing the empty gum packet, bubble gum is definitely one of the best things in the world.

A/N: What did you think, how was it? Please review and tell me!

See ya soon!