Hey guys, my exams are now over which means I can write more often. But, I had a severe case of writer's block so, I hope this is good enough. Fingers crossed! Enjoy!

Chapter 12- Patience

Annabeth's POV

March

Annabeth swirled her coffee impatiently. It was bright outside, for March. Unusually bright, like a summer's day. The sky was blue, and New York City was usually alive with the sound of footsteps and traffic. She smoothed her t-shirt anxiously. Annabeth sat on the window sill outside Olympus. It was almost a month since Percy and Calypso broke up, almost a month since she had held a normal conversation with Percy Jackson.

She hoped he would come. Maybe a bit too much. Today was the date they agreed on to start their trip together, but at the moment it looked bleak. A shadow came over her, and she was hopeful but it was only Jason, "Still no sign?"

"No." Annabeth shivered, even though she wasn't cold. Jason wrapped his long arms around her. She rested her head against his chest; it was hard for her to believe that he was a year younger than her. She'd always seen him as a big brother figure. Herself and Jason, and surprisingly Leo, had grown very close in late months. Maybe it was because they had all felt loss the way she had. Jason's mom gave him up before committing suicide when he was seven. He never knew his dad, just some jerk, he always said. Leo, as a five year old, got caught in a house fire with his mom. She never made it, while he did. His dad wasn't present either. But, sometimes, just sometimes, Jason reminded her a little too much of Luke. The leanness of his back, the way his blond hair wasn't dull or dark like hers, it was golden and caught in the sunlight. It was sometimes too much, but Jason wasn't Luke; Jason was sweet and brave and sensitive. Like Luke used to be.

Annabeth sat back down and waited. It was ridiculous; Percy wasn't coming, he had just spent the week with his mother, Sally and wasn't going to go rambling around with some girl he used to know. It was ridiculous. The sun beamed as Annabeth pulled her Ray Bans over her silvery grey eyes. She always hated her eyes, they were strange and usually put people off. She sighed, oh Percy. As Jason left her, she got up and with a heave of her large rucksack, she started across the business of the New York traffic. As she passed over the street she didn't notice the rackety Volkswagen scrambling towards her and for a long moment time was still as she stared deep into the driver, the begotten eyes of an unfortunate acquaintance, of mysterious green eyes. The driver slammed on the brakes as he was the cause of yet another New York traffic jam. "Jeez what's wrong with you?" Annabeth screamed at him through the honks of yellow miserable taxis. The window scrolled down. A cocky crooked smile. The swing open of the faded passenger door, "Get in."

"Percy can ask a question?" as he sped through the city at an alarming rate. "Sorry I was late Wise Girl,|" he flashed a grin, "Traffic." Annabeth shook her head, "How the hell did you nearly kill me again, I mean it's the second time in less then the half year I've known you, maybe it's just your horrific driving," she snapped as he lurched forward. "Maybe, and I believe I've known you longer than six months or so," he stared deep into her eyes which quickened her heart rate, "Percy watch the road!"

Annabeth screamed at him as Percy chuckled to himself, "Relax" he coaxed. Annabeth couldn't believe his complete pig ignorance. Of course, he was Percy. "You're such an asshole Percy," except Percy wasn't in an argumentative mood that day. He was smiling for some reason, the widest grin she had seen on him in ten years.

Percy's POV

Percy couldn't watch. She was too beautiful. As the city backdrop fled behind them, the day shone. Annabeth had released her recently lengthened golden locks flew in the wind. Over the months, he watched it slowly shimmer down to below her shoulders. She had her eyes closed and a slight smile stretched across her face. Breathtaking. They had been travelling wordless for most of the journey but soon the sky grew dark.

As the sky turned dark above them, Percy set out blankets in a remote clearing far enough apart to not look suspicious. He gathered sticks and started a fire while Annabeth slept in the car. He smiled, she was his for the summer. Suddenly she yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes like a young child. Her first expression amused him as it was complete perplexion. He laughed under his breath, "Where are we Seaweed Brain?"

"About an hour away from our destination."

"And where might that be?" she pressed, and he smiled.

"Wise Girl you don't always have to be so hmm...wise" Percy teased, Annabeth punched his arm and then he only realised their closeness. He felt the heat of her body radiating on his, her sweet jasmine scent filled his nose. He took a dry swallow and reached into his pack, "Beer?" he asked.

"I'm not much of a drinker," she hesitated, "but go on."

He opened a can for her and himself and they drank. Soon a slurred laughter and a crashing of cans filled the air as the moon rose. Hoots of owls and nighttime animals scurried along salvaging food in the spring night. "D'you knoow that I've neverr ever gott'n this dru'k bef're?"

Percy laughed at her and cheered, "Weell'm good 'or you." She smiled at him and reached for another can but some sober urge made Percy stop her, "I think you've 'ad 'nough then". She placed the can down obediently. Odd. He paused for a long moment, "Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"Why d'you come with me?"

"'Cause I really like you stup'd!" she giggled. He sobered up completely, she really liked him. His heart skipped a beat. "You still could 'ave turned me down?"

"Yeah but I guess what scares me the most is knowing that you could rip out my heart, tear it into pieces, throw it on the ground and stomp all over it, and I'd just pick it up and give it back to you."

Percy stared into her stormy eyes, which were unfathomable. He leaned in and found her lips, pulling them towards him, nibbling at her bottom lip to let his tongue in. Until she pulled away before he was ready to. "But I still don't trust you." She whispered in his ear, her lips trailing softly down his cheek and to her blanket the other side of the fire. The flames separated them like burning a hole in their hearts. And with that, all they remember was looking up at the sky and wishing for it to rain so they could learn something about falling, the way it was scrawled across the clouds.