Rick Riordan owns everything.
Chapter 9: New Arrivals
Snagging her purse from the couch, Annabeth mentally prepared herself for their lunch. It was stupid to joke around with Percy like that, she knew, but she stopped overthinking things around him. She stopped thinking about consequences at all.
"Ready to go?" he asked pulling her back to the present. She nodded and stepped through the office door that he was holding open.
As they walked past Katie's desk, she pointedly looked at anything but them, increasing the awkward tension between the couple. As they made their way to the elevator, whispers were starting. All of the employees were pretending not to watch them and Annabeth realized that this was the first time that they had ever been seen, by the office, together.
Percy must have surmised this too because he warned her almost imperceptibly, "I am going to grab your hand, don't freak out."
Desperately trying to keep herself from tensing and shying away from his touch, she nodded back. As soon as their skin made contact, all the air zoomed out of Annabeth's lungs. The last time that something so dramatic had happened by another's touch, it had been with her last boyfriend, Luke. Unfortunately, Annabeth had been more committed to that relationship and had been left with a broken heart when he ran off to Florida leaving nothing but a note.
Even though Annabeth didn't want to get close to anyone again because she felt like they would just leave her. But, the way she felt around Percy, the way he made her feel like she was important, was so different than the way she had ever felt with anyone ever before. Percy never made her fight for his attention; he just gave it to her.
In a split second decision she decided to stop fighting her feelings and just let things happen the way they were going to.
They continued to trek towards the elevator, the subjects of heavy scrutiny. There were rumors being started and spread but Percy found that he didn't care. He was more concerned by the fact that Annabeth was allowing him to hold her hand. And even though he didn't want her to emotionally pull away from him again, unless she said something he wasn't going to let go of her hand.
As they reached the café, Percy was surprised and relieved that Annabeth hadn't made any moves to drop his hand, sure she had been cold at first, but the more time together the more Percy really liked her. They had fun when they forgot that they were being forced together. "No!" Percy scolded himself silently, "You can't think about it like that. If you met under any other circumstances it could actually have a been strong relationship, think about that instead."
They sat down at a corner table Percy had chosen to be away from everyone that could potentially recognize him. He knew that Annabeth would not react kindly to someone asking for a photo with him because he was featured in several magazines with the nickname, "Sexiest Boss Alive".
It was pleasant to hang out, just the two of them, in a non-work setting. Percy decided that Annabeth had the best laugh, so he told her his most embarrassing stories just to hear it. They had been getting along perfectly until the worst possible thing that could happen, did.
A well-manicured hand slapped down on the table and a high voice called, "If it isn't Percy Jackson!"
All of the blood drained from Percy's face, Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
As soon as the red headed girl showed up, Annabeth's temper rose to incredible rates. Everything this girl did ticked her off and she knew why, it was because she was flirting shamelessly with Percy. And although she didn't like to admit to it, Annabeth was most definitely the jealous type. Knowing that if she said anything, it would be sarcastic and rude, she struggled to remain quiet.
But soon her silence ended because Annabeth didn't know how someone could flip their hair so many times. "Is there something wrong with your neck?" she spit out before she could stop herself. She was smug hearing Percy choke down a laugh.
For the first time, the girl looked at her curiously, like she had just dropped in from the sky. "No, why would you think that?"
How could she be so dumb? "No reason."
Percy decided that this was the perfect opening to make formal introductions, "Annabeth this is Rachel, Rachel this is my… friend Annabeth."
When he hesitated at their relationship status, Rachel's face beamed and Annabeth's stomach dropped to her knees. Suddenly she was angry that she allowed herself to think that this could work.
"Percy and I used to go out until I had to move to Texas to help my dad with his oil company."
"We didn't break up only because you were moving," Percy mumbled bitterly. Even though Annabeth knew that there was a heavy backstory, she didn't feel up to digging for it because her heart was aching. As much as she wanted to stay and make sure that nothing happened between the two of them, she had to get out of there.
"I will let you two catch up, I need to get back to my office anyway," she stood quickly and grabbed her bag from the back of her chair. "I will contact you with any changes on the designs, Percy."
She gave a polite head nod to Rachel and made a move towards the door before remembering to pay for her meal. Snatching her wallet from her purse she slapped a twenty on the table when Percy growled, "Absolutely not."
"What?" she questioned, startled that he would even recognize her presence now that Rachel was here.
"No, you are not going to pay. Nor are you going to walk to your office alone."
Annabeth rolled her eyes at him, "I'm a big girl, I will be okay."
Percy shook his head, "At least let me get you a cab." He stood up grabbing his own wallet out of his pocket and switching his money for hers, sliding it back in her bag. "Until next time, Rachel," he shook her hand his tone final, almost sounding like he never expected to see her again. But that couldn't be how he meant it, could it?
Annabeth's question was answered when he firmly grabbed her hand in his own and led her from the café.
"I'm sorry about that, I had no idea she would be there," he sighed as soon as they were out the door. He was so worried that his ex-girlfriend had driven a wedge between them when things had finally started to go his way. But, he was reassured by the fact that she hadn't made moved her hand from his yet.
Percy dared a glance at Annabeth's face seeing a thoughtful look that sat there, "It was…. Alright I'll just say it; that was awkward."
He grimaced and she laughed, which allowed more tension to seep away, she wasn't super upset. "Well, we were an item for a while but then she cheated on me with some singer. It wasn't bad because we had been distant for a long time but, it gave me the final push to end things. Unfortunately she didn't agree with me and threw a hissy fit demanding that I change my mind."
"And you didn't, so she moved to Texas?" Annabeth guessed. Percy grinned at her, knowing that he would have had to spell it out for Rachel. He nodded and hailed a taxi. He noticed her take a deep breath, "Well, Seaweed Brain, next time, don't just introduce me as your friend and she might get the hint."
She winked and slid into the cab before Percy could respond. He watched the cab drive away, already making plans for tomorrow.
