Not Enough

a/n: okay so look y'all, this story is turning out a lot less smutty and a lot more lovey than I had initially planned. The smut is coming soon, I promise. And after it begins it will only continue at great lengths but until then there will be one or two more chapters of build up. What can I say? I like to think I'm a realistic person but who knows, maybe I am more of a romantic slow burn gal at heart.

a/n 2.o: okay so I was typing this second note where I profusely apologized for becoming so lazy with my editing and only reading through the first half of this when I accidentally clicked on one of my bookmarks and all my edits disappeared into the unknown depths of the internet. So, again, sorry. I didn't edit this one bit after that happened.

Annabeth slammed the door of the cab and checked the time on her phone as she strode towards the coffee shop, 5:12 pm. She was a few minutes early. Maybe I can get something before Leo quits, Annabeth thought. She heard another car door shut behind and glanced back to see Percy exiting a taxi behind her.

"Did you follow me?" Annabeth demanded storming in his direction while he sauntered towards her.

"No," he shook his head, dropping his device into his coat pocket.

"What the hell are you doing here then?" Annabeth interrogated, her curls flowing wildly in the breeze.

"I'm here to get some..." he raised his eyes to the sign above the store, "coffee." He finished with an innocent smile.

"Hades, Jackson!" Annabeth laughed without humor, a sound of pure exasperation, "my servitude ended at five. This is against our agreement!"

"I've never been good at following the rules," Percy shrugged, "besides, our deal said nothing about coincidentally arriving together at a coffee shop." He attempted to push past her and into the coffee shop but she held her ground, blocking his passage.

"You're not going in there," Annabeth crossed her arms across her chest in defiance.

"Yes," Percy grinned as her face grew red. He didn't know if it was a result of the cold wind whipping through the city or her elevated demeanor, "I am."

"No," Annabeth insisted, moving with him as he tried to circumvent her.

"Really, Chase?" Percy narrow his eyes at her in a lazy expression, "Who's acting childish now? I just want a cup of coffee."

"Just want a cup of coffee," Annabeth repeated back to him in disbelief. She parted her lip to further deter him when she was suddenly struck with a marvelous idea, a way to make up for the demeaning tasks he'd had her perform all day. Well, they really hadn't been all that bad but Annabeth would avenge her pride nonetheless. "Fine," Annabeth allowed him to pass, pursing her lips into a tight line in order to hide her mischievous grin.

Percy walked towards the glass door with a triumphant grin and held it open for Annabeth, "Ladies first."

"Thought you said I wasn't a 'lady,'" Annabeth sneered but accepted the gesture.

"Change of heart, I suppose." Percy muttered even though he wasn't sure Annabeth was listening to him. He entered the small coffee shop was immediately absorbed by the un-Annabeth like atmosphere. "Doesn't seem like your kind of place," he remarked loud enough that she couldn't not hear him.

"Why not?" Annabeth inquired as she searched her bag for her wallet.

"You're all… worky," he scanned the room with it's faint yellow lighting and laid back feel, "this place is a little to relaxed for you."

"I can relax," Annabeth stepped forward in line, "it just doesn't happen while you're around."

"I seriously doubt it," Percy responded vehemently and Annabeth felt a sudden urge to smack him across the face. Instead of indulging the impulse she bit the side of her cheek, reminding herself revenge would be hers soon enough.

Percy watched as Annabeth ordered a drink from the Hispanic cashier. He noted a strange familiarity between them but assumed it was only because she probably came here everyday, Annabeth, after all, was a woman to routines. He was surprised by both the action and his response when she leaned in close and whispered something into his ear that apparently pleasantly surprised the barista.

"Are you girls going to sit down a for a chat?" Percy quipped, a tendril of heat entering his chest, "or can I finally order?"

"Simmer down, Jackson," Annabeth snapped unable to hide a small smile.

Percy tapped his foot impatiently as she finished her order and payed with cash. When she was done he approached the register and watched out of the corner of his eyes as she stepped back and settled into one of the comfy looking couches.

"Can I get a small coffee," Percy ordered. He wasn't actually thirsty but he figured he couldn't go back on his earlier statement. The cashier nodded, wearing a smug smile and rang him up.

"That's all?" he asked, lifting his eyes to brown eyes.

"Yes," Percy said quickly, marginally shifting his eyes to glance at Annabeth. He was eager to tease her relentlessly and perhaps find a reason to press his lips to hers once again. It had certainly been pleasurable, not any different than an ordinary girl, of course, Percy fixed.

"That'll be 2.95," Leo announced as the numbers light up across the minuscule screen of the register. Percy impatiently handed him his debit card. He finished his transaction and rushed to the seat next to Annabeth, keeping a cool demeanor the entire way.

"So," he wondered, taking a seat, "why were you so desperate to arrive to this coffee shop on time?"

"You'll see," Annabeth said mysteriously, letting a sly smile slid onto her lips.

"Annabeth!" her name sounded through the shop and she stood up to receive her drink. As she approached the counter let the name roll off his lips.

Annabeth

The name itself was really quite attractive, too bad the woman to whom it belonged was an insufferable know-it-all.

"Small coffee," his order rang amongst the chatter and he momentarily pondered why they had called his name rather than his order. He rose and took the coffee from the barista's hands only to realize he'd never given them his name… and he didn't remember Annabeth doing so either. He turned to ask something along the lines of 'do you come here often' when his thoughts were interrupted by a loud voice.

"Hello!" A male voice boomed, easily seizing the room's attentions, "I have a grand announcement." Percy tilted his head up and saw the Hispanic barista from earlier standing up on the counter, waving around the cream spritzer in one hand as he gestured avidly. Percy arched an eyebrow and regarded the young boy with an amused expression, sipping at his coffee and preparing himself for a show.

"I need everyone's attention," he demanded, not satisfied by the one or two people who hadn't turned to give him their full consideration. He grinned, white teeth peeking out from behind full lips, once he was sure everyone was watching him. "I want everyone to know that I, Leo Valdez, also known as bad boy supreme, am quitting!"

"Leo!" the female barista who had handed Percy his order earlier tugged on the boy's pants, looking incredibly shocked, "get down before Deborah comes back!" she hissed.

Her statement seemed to remind him something as his eyes grew brighter and he yelled, "where is that Deborah?" His eyes scanned the room, "I have a few choice words for her."

"Leo-" his fellow employee attempted to plead with him again.

"What the hell is going on in here?" A middle aged woman burst out of the kitchen looking irritated. Percy could only assume from the satisfied smirk that fell across the young Latino's lips that this was Deborah.

"Deborah, baby," Leo grinned a cheek splitting grin, "I was just looking for you."

"Leo," the woman snarled, her eyes flitting across the dozen or so surprised faces around the room, "get down from there this instant or you're fired."

"Sweet cheeks," Leo said smoothly and Percy thought he heard Annabeth stifle a snicker behind him, "haven't you heard? I quit."

"I-" Deborah tried to argue, moving towards him, but Leo cut her off and pointed the creamer at her to halt her movements.

"All those weeks of fixing shit coffee and lying to the customers about just how sanitary our kitchen really is have finally come to an end." Percy stole a glance at Deborah, who looked positively livid. "I'm sick and tired of being treated like shit and getting payed barely minimum wage because the shop 'can't afford any extra expenditures' while you're off in Europe with your white trash boyfriend. I'm proud to say that today I hand in my ratty apron and tell our customers the truth."

"Leo I swear to god-" the angry woman threatened, shaking where she stood.

"Listen up people," Leo grew louder, as if he didn't already have everyone's ears and eyes on him, "we only clean our equipment once a month and sometimes we serve rotten milk and call it cream, matter of fact, the only reason we received a passing grade from the health inspector last year is because she," he used his free hand to point at Deborah, whose face was a bright crimson, "payed him off."

"You son of a bitch," Deborah sneered, resuming her aggressive pace towards him in disregard to the foam gun pointed at her figure.

"And," Leo yelled, "yesterday I saw a rat in the kitchen!"

"Ahh!" Deborah yelled, clawing towards him. He quickly defended himself by turning the nozzle on the device in his hands and spraying her in cream. Well, Percy hoped it was cream. After Leo's admission he couldn't be sure. And with thought in mind he quickly lowered his cup of coffee from his lips.

"Fuck you, Deborah!" Leo cackled as he blocked her vision with an abundance of foam, "you suck! I can't believe I put up with you for so long."

"You little shit!" Deborah growled, scraping the white scuds off her face. "I'm gonna fucking kill you!"

"Ha ha!" he goaded her on, hopping over a coffee machine to distance himself from his furious boss, "no one can catch Super-sized Mcshizzle." His boss subsequently slipped on the massive amounts of liquid on the floor and Leo used the opportunity to face the crowd of customers, some looking stunned, others amused and a small portion utterly confused.

"Percy Jackson?" his eyes zeroed in on Percy who raised his brows, falling for the first time into the latter category of onlookers. "You suck too!" he proclaimed then pointed his foam gun and without giving Percy a second to protest he was spraying the businessman from head to toe while Annabeth laughed madly behind him.

"Leo!" Percy heard Annabeth squeak behind him and wiped away some of the cream to see Deborah lunging for the barista from behind. He turned, finger still on the nozzle of the creamer and began to fend her off with the coffee admission.

The nonsense continued for several minutes before Leo ran out the front doors of the coffee shop, yelling something along the lines of 'suck my dick, Deborah!' Annabeth followed quickly behind him, innocently sipping at her coffee. Percy gaped at her, how could she still drink hat knowing what she knew about the preparation.

"Was it great?" Leo asked, laughing before, after, and during the question.

"Absolutely," Annabeth grinned, "you managed to make both Percy and Deborah look ridiculous."

"You planned that?" Percy demanded, appearing behind her.

"No," Annabeth turned swiftly and replied primly but the glint in her eyes told him otherwise.

"Don't lie to me," Percy spit, raking the white substance from his clothes, "I hope you plan to reimburse me for my suit."

"Hmm, no," Annabeth shrugged after a moment of feigned thought, "consider this revenge for how you treated me today."

"Treated you?" Percy repeated back to her, "are you kidding? What we did barely scratched the surface of what I want." Annabeth blushed slightly, avoiding his eyes and Percy realized his own involuntary innuendo.

"That's what you get for trapping me in an elevator all morning-"

"That wasn't me, that was Hugo's fault," Percy muttered.

"-and for repeatedly propositioning me-"

"I simply offered you a fair trade," he continued to interrupt and Annabeth continued to ignore him.

"-and for filming me while I made preposterous and unbelievable claims and for-"

"For what?" Percy questioned, taking a bold step towards her, successfully silencing her, "kissing you because from what I remember, you kissed me, Ms. Chase."

"That," Annabeth tilted her head upwards, meeting his gaze bravely, "was nothing more than a mere distraction, manipulation really?"

"Honest businesswoman my ass," Percy barked, "you're just like your mother."

"I guess so," Annabeth replied and Percy thought he saw her frown but before he could further examine her expression she was gone. He watched her as she strut angrily to the corner of the block and held her hand out.

"She kissed you?" Percy heard Leo's voice interrupt the deafening silence of her departure, "holy shit man."

"Why?" Percy asked, observing as she got into a cab, "do you like her or something?" Hades, how he'd pity a man who liked Annabeth Chase.

"Oh no," Leo laughed loudly, "she's much too intense for my tastes, scary even." Percy nodded silently, it was not new information. "So I take it you and Annabeth don't like each other, huh?"

"No," Percy turned towards him, "we don't like each other, you might even say we hate each other."

"Sorry about the whole cream incident in there," Leo held out a hand, still grinning like crazy, "I don't know if you heard but I'm Leo and I'm newly unemployed and it appears you may be searching for a reliable mechanic."

"Percy," he answered, taking the hand and shaking it.

-00000000000000000000-

Annabeth swung open the door to her apartment and threw her bag onto the kitchen counter. She slipped off her shoes and took her hair out of it's tight ponytail, allowing herself a brief moment of relaxing.

"Yo!" Annabeth heard Piper called her from the living room, "is that you, Annabeth?"

"No," Annabeth rolled her eyes and strolled through the doorway, into the room where the sound originated, "I am our third nonexistent roommate." Annabeth quipped, "what do you think?"

"I don't know," Piper shrugged, turning her attentions back to the television.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth inquired, her eyes raking the scene. Piper was seated on their white couch, eating from an enormous tub of ice cream with a spoon. Her hair was tied back in a messy braid that she had somehow managed to make look glamorous and she wore her checkered blue pajamas.

"Um," Piper paused her movements, a spoonful of chocolate ice cream an inch away from her mouth. She glanced at Annabeth, "I think it's pretty self explanatory."

"Okay," Annabeth sighed, "why are you sitting on the couch eating ice cream on a Friday night?"

"I recorded the bachelor and still haven't watched it," Piper replied with a shrug, avoiding Annabeth's eyes.

"Piper," Annabeth pushed, leaning against the wall, "c'mon."

"I could ask you the same question," Piper said defensively, "why are you here? It is a Friday night after all."

"Because I know nothing but work," Annabeth answered honestly as Piper shoveled another mound of ice cream into her mouth, "what's wrong Piper?"
"Ugh," Piper rolled her eyes and shifted on the couch at Annabeth insistence, "me and Eric broke up."

"I thought his name was Ethan," Annabeth frowned, walking forward and tugging the ice cream out of her friend's hands only to take a bite herself.

"No," Piper pouted, "his name was Ethan." She was quiet, watching annabeth with wide expectant eyes.

"Fine," Annabeth laughed at her obvious mechanisms and took a seat next to her, "I'll bite. Why did you two break up?" then she added, "And when did you start dating?" as an afterthought.

"We became official like two days ago," Piper reached for the remote and paused the show which had just returned after a succession of commercials. "I really liked him but I we just didn't connect on that deeper level. It simply wasn't enough, you know?"

"Sorry," Annabeth shook her head, reaching for another mouthful of ice cream, "but you and I both know I'm completely hopeless at dating."

"But you had boyfriends in high school, didn't you?" Piper searched her eyes, looking for something Annabeth couldn't quite pinpoint.

"I suppose," Annabeth nodded.

"Don't you long for a connection with someone?" Annabeth was about to say, 'I have that with you' but Piper continued. "Don't you miss the rush when they complicate you? Don't you miss really meaningful sex? When you know you're connecting on something deeper, reaching a realm that's no longer superficial?-"

"Piper," Annabeth interjected, "that stuff doesn't exist and, even if it does, I sure as hell have never felt that way before."

"I want that," Piper threw herself back against the couch, gazing yearningly up at the ceiling, "I want to feel that connection again. I want to feel real love again."

"So," Annabeth chuckled at the irony, "because you're looking for real love you've decided to watch a public display of fabricated affection?"

"I like to think it's not fake," Piper sat back up and faced the tv, staring at the still frame of the one on one date, "Rachel and him really have a connection."

"It's all behind the scenes work, Pipes," Annabeth handed her back the ice cream with a pitying look, "the twinkle in his eye, her beautiful skin, his charming smile, the knowing looks they keep sharing, it's the power of classic editing techniques, trying to fool our hearts in believing it might be true."

"They might really love each other, Annabeth," Piper huffed, "there's no need to be so cynical."

"Also," Annabeth added as she stood up, "I heard he eliminates her at the end of the episode."

"What?!" Piper screamed, whipping her head around to address her traitorous roommate, "why would you tell me that- wait," her eyes grew wide as she processed the statement, "what?! HE ELIMINATES HER?! Why? They are really connecting and her home visit went by far the best!"

"I guess it's not true love after all" Annabeth shrugged as she exited the room.

"Annabeth!" Piper called her again and she begrudgingly returned, peeking her head into the doorway.

"Can I help you?" Annabeth questioned.

"Come watch with me," Piper patted the empty space on the couch next to her, "just for a little bit."

"I don't even know the girls," Annabeth objected as Piper jumped up and dragged her back to the couch, "besides, I haven't eaten yet."

"There are only three left," Piper quickly filled her in, "that's Rachel." she pointed to the screen, "she's a lawyer and she and Nick have a great connection. Then there's Raven. She's a super sweet simple southern small (a/n: wow alliteration) town girl who runs a boutique or something. Lastly there's Vanessa. She's a special needs teacher, lives in Canada, has a huge family and, I suspect, she has a lot more baggage than she's letting on."

"But…" Annabeth protested, only slightly mollified by her explanation, "food."

"You can eat ice cream for dinner!" Piper announced with hopeful eyes, "it's every kid's dream."

"I'm not five, Piper." Annabeth reasoned.

"Please," Piper pleaded with a look that made Annabeth roll her eyes because she knew she couldn't resist.

"Fine," she agreed and Piper burst out into loud cheers, "pass me the spoon."

"Yes, ma'am," Piper grinned as she resumed the tv show with one hand and handed over the utensil with the other.

-00000000000000000000-

Annabeth woke up the next morning with a mascara coated under her eyes and her hair in a wild tangle. She had slept surprisingly well considering she'd fallen asleep on the couch. She glanced over at Piper who was still sleeping soundly. She envied her friend for her ignorance more than anything.

Ignorance is bliss, she thought. It was ignorance that allowed Piper to sleep soundly when there were millions of billions matters Annabeth knew she should be attended to. It was ignorance that allowed her to hope for a true love in a world of leis and manipulation. It was her ignorance at allowed her to believe.

Annabeth groaned as she stretched out, careful not to wake Piper. She spotted her phone on the floor and reached for it to check the time. 8:30 am. Well, at least she'd slept more than usual.

Annabeth scrolled through the notifications she'd received through the night. They were mostly business emails, none of which were from important clients. Then she noticed a text from her mother. Annabeth sighed, letting her head rest against the armrest of the couch, and opening the message.

10 am brunch at Cheryl's

Annabeth closed her phone and got up from the couch, making her way towards her bedroom. Once inside she continued her morning stroll into the bathroom, discarding her stiff business clothes as she walked.

Her eyes still fuzzy from sleep, Annabeth turned to hot water on in her shower and stole a glance at her appearance in the mirror as waited for it to heat up. Just as she had suspected there were black rings under her eyes and she honestly didn't know if they were from sleep with makeup last night or her lack of sleep the previous nights. Her hair was a knot of curls atop her head and her eyes swollen from having just woken up.

Annabeth dipped her foot into the shower cautiously, checking the temperature. She decided it was satisfactory and stepped into the water. She could only imagine what Athena would say if she saw her right now.

Not appropriate… No daughter of mine… Embarrassing… A disgrace…

Annabeth harshly scrubbed her skin with a loofah. In the mildly scalding water she managed to clean the sweat and dirt of her body, hoping to wash away the criticism away.

Then again, she thought, maybe hoping that much makes me just as ignorant as Piper.

-0000000000000000000-

Knock... knock... knock KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"What?!" Percy demanded as he swung the door open to greet the source of the increasingly aggressive knocking.

"Hey babe," Rachel answered, not deterred by his irritated demeanor, "I brought you coffee."

"I didn't ask for coff-" Percy started to say but she had already pushed past him and entered his apartment. He sighed and shut the door behind her, wondering if it was pure fantasy to hope she might leave him alone to finish the slumber he never seemed to get enough of.

"What are your plans for the day?" she asked brightly, shoving a cup of steaming hot coffee into his hands.

"Jason and I were-"

"Cancel them," Rachel cut him off by jumping into his arms, spilling the coffee he hadn't really wanted onto the floor of his entry way, "because you have the opportunity to spend it with me!"

"I already cancelled on Jason for you once," Percy reasoned, his eyes darting to the new mess, "I can't again."

"Why not?" she pouted, pulling back to examine him.

"Because," he shrugged, pushing her away and retrieving a rag to clean the spilled coffee.

"Fine," Rachel complied, "you need boy time, I understand." Percy rolled his eyes. He sincerely doubted she truly understood, otherwise she would not have come to his apartment sorely uninvited. "What time are you meeting him?"

"Six," Percy replied then scowled at his own mistake. There were still several hours until then during which she could torment him.

"Great," Rachel grinned and he dropped the rag onto the floor, rubbing away the mess with his non dominant foot as slowly as possible. He wondered how much time he'd be able to waste on mundane tasks such as this one. Not enough, he sighed and stared down at the almost spotless floor, not nearly enough.

a/n: anyone actually watch the finale of the bachelor tonight? If so, whatcha thinkin about Nick's choice?