CHAPTER 10

"When do you leave?"

"In a week." Her gray beautiful eyes looked up at him. He saw the sadness in them.

They were going to be apart for a while.

God help him again.

"Don't go falling for some hot Brit guy on me?" He said, with a teasing grin.

She broke into that smile he loved, then hugged him closer, "I love you, Percy." She said looking up at him with eyes sincere.

He let out a breath, "I love you too." He kissed her one last time, trying to make it last. His lips pressed softly against hers, memorizing every single effing detail about her.

Then finally he pulled away, "I'll see you soon, babe."

She gave him a sad, forced smile, "Yeah." She took a deep breath, "I'll see you soon, babe."

He laughed softly at that, then raised his brow, "What? No more Seaweed balls?" He leaned closer to her, "If you call me 'babe' from now on, it might be easier for me."

She laughed a true, good laugh, "Sure thing—babe."

Percy smiled, then pulled away, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. He then started away from her, but he felt her catch his arm again. She pulled him to her and kissed him again, bringing her arms around his neck. He immediately kissed her back.

Annabeth pulled away finally, "Bye." she said, biting her lower lip.

"Bye" he gave her one last smile before leaving through the gate.

She stood there, watching him go. Something felt too final about this.

She hated it.

~o00o~

New York City

Percy sat at the bar. He swirled his drink around. Nico was sitting beside him, venting on and on about the fight he and Thalia just had.

"Anyway, what's up with you? How're you doing—I mean, it's been two weeks since Annabeth ditched you for the English."

Percy looked weirdly at his friend. He had a strange way of wording things.

"I'm doing good. I've been working a lot. It keeps my mind off her, you know."

"Mmm. Yeah, I wish Thalia would get a job across country. Maybe then, when she comes back, she would miss me so much, she doesn't want to argue with me anymore or worry about how I dress all the freaking time."

"Trust me. You don't want that." Percy said, sipping his drink.

Nico looked at him, concerned, "Look man, you're dating Annabeth Chase. You're going to be fine."

Percy smiled at that, "I know. It's just, really hard."

"Hey, back in college, you would have run the other way if a long distance relationship was involved. The fact that you're putting up with it now just shows how much she's meant to be with you, Percy. I'm proud of you man, from one ex-player to another."

Percy laughed, "Thanks"

Nico then looked at his phone, "Oh, God. Thalia's calling me. I'm going to, you know."

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

Nico clasped Percy on the back then left.

Percy stayed there a bit longer to finish his drink.

He was just about to leave when he heard a voice call his name behind him.

"Percy?"

He turned.

It was Katie. Since his promotion, he had been transferred to another building, so he never really got to see his old employees.

"Katie, It's good to see you again."

She smiled, "May I?"

"Yeah, please. I'll buy you a drink."

Katie smiled again, "Thank you."

Percy smiled, "You don't have to be so formal with me, Katie. I'm not your boss anymore."

"Well, you're technically my boss' boss now."

"Right." He smiled then drank another sip of his glass, "How's work? Bearable?"

"Yeah, it's been pretty good. Though everyone misses having someone to gossip about these days."

He laughed softly at that, "Well, sorry I've made things dull there."

Katie pursed her lips, then grinned, "It's completely okay. I like the quiet. Though Will is missing you like crazy."

Percy laughed again, "Tell him I'll call—or not."

She laughed at that. Katie then pursed her lips, "So, since I don't have to be so formal with you anymore. How's Annabeth? You know. I can't leave the office completely silent."

He gave her a small smile, "Uh, she's all the way in England, saving lives. I miss her like crazy."

"Wow, I never thought of you as the long distance type."

"I don't think I am either. I actually pretty much hate it. But— I'm doing it for her."

"That's pretty amazing of you. She's lucky to have you."

"Thanks." He said with a smile, "Hey, look. You've proved to be a great drinking partner, Katie. Let's do this again sometime." Percy then looked at his watch, "I should go though. I have a meeting at seven tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'd love that. See you later, Percy."

"Bye." he said with one last smile.

Then he left the bar.

~o00o~

Katie was overjoyed to put it simply. How great was it that she got to drink and talk with Percy Jackson?

He had said they should do this again sometime.

She was definitely going to take him up on that suggestion.

Katie didn't get the blonde who was Percy's girlfriend at all. How could Annabeth bear to put Percy in so much misery while she did what she wanted? That just wasn't what made a good relationship.

Of course she didn't know how deep their story went but still. If it had been her, she would have stayed right by Percy to the end.

No matter what.

Because that was what a good girlfriend should do.

She would have been a better girlfriend. She would never imagine ever leaving Percy for another country. How selfish was this girl, anyway.

Katie drank more of her drink.

One day. One day maybe, there would be a chance that Percy might break up with Annabeth in the near future. And when that happened, she would be right there to be the shoulder he cried on.

Because she knew now, she was definitely the better choice for him.

~o00o~

Thalia watched as Piper ordered pizza on the couch.

They were having a movie night, just the two of them without any boys.

Piper hung up the phone then turned to the sappy romance movie they had put in.

"How's sex been with my brother?"

Piper choked on the beer she was drinking, "Thalia! That's the first thing you ask me, seriously?"

Thalia shrugged with a smile, "Yeah, basically."

The copper skinned beauty looked at her friend, "It's great, alright?"

Thalia scooted closer, "Tell me details. Has he taken you from behind yet?"

Piper blushed making Thalia laugh. She just loved when sex made her friends uncomfortable.

The stuttered silence from Piper proved her right.

"Alright, Jason! My bro's finally a man." Thalia said with a wide grin.

Piper groaned, then set her beer down on the table next to her.

"You are so weird."

They watched the movie for while until they got to the point where things got boring for a bit.

"I wish Annabeth were here." Thalia said with a sigh, setting her feet on the coffee table in front of her, "I miss her so much."

"Yeah, me too. I wonder how Percy's doing. Probably terrible, huh."

"Definitely. Whenever I ask him about it, he's too much of a pussy to say much about it. Goodness, what they have is just crazy. I mean imagine Jason being all the way in Africa or something."

Piper shuddered, "How do they do it?"

"I don't know. I hope they're okay though. I would hate that they would break up over something like long distance. They're so perfect for each other."

"So true. I've even named them Percabeth and everything."

"Percabeth. Hmm. Has a nice ring to it. I like it, Pipes."

"Yeah, I know."

Thalia chugged down the rest of her beer, then crushed it and threw it in the trash can, "Hey, Pipes. Ever since Reyna told us she and Annabeth hooked up, I've been thinking we should do it too—you know, to balance out the secrets."

Piper's face looked terrified by her blunt suggestion"… Okaaay, you're definitely drunk. Thalia, we both have boyfriends."

"So, you're saying you would be fine with it if we weren't in relationships?" Thalia said with a smirk, "You naughty little girl."

Piper looked at her weirdly, "Seriously? You suggested it in the first place."

"Goodness, I was joking. Though, you have to admit, it would be pretty fun."

Piper scooted to the edge of the couch, veering further away from her horny best friend.

Thalia snickered, then turned back to the TV, "Come on, don't tell me you haven't fantasized about hooking up with me before, Pipes."

Piper buried her head in her arms, "Oh, God. I'm guessing you've imagined doing it with everyone you meet?"

Thalia grinned proudly, "Yup."

Piper shook her head at her best friend. Geez, Thalia could be so wild sometimes.

Note to self: Don't be alone with drunk best friend, especially if that friend is Thalia past midnight.

~o00o~

Jason pulled off Piper's shirt as they stood in the bathroom of his apartment.

She was talking. Why was she talking so much when they were about to do it.

He usually loved having her talk so much to him, but right now it was getting on his nerves. He wanted to do it with her right this second.

"Seriously, Jason, we have to do something for Percy. He's been Mr. Depressing ever since the day Annabeth left for England."

He pulled away from her neck, "Piper, I've talked with him plenty of times, it's best to just leave him be. He'll figure his way around it—he always has. Plus, it's Percy and Annabeth we're talking about here?"

"Yeah, but still. Shouldn't we do something to cheer him up? He's our friend and he's always working."

Jason stopped necking her completely, and let out a breath, "Why did you have to be born with such a big heart?"

Piper gave her an apologetic smile—she was giving him puppy eyes.

He groaned, "Fine, we'll plan something for him. He deserves it."

Piper hugged him, "Thank you! I'll go tell Thalia."

Jason caught her by the waist, "Oh no, you don't. Part of why I agreed was to get you to stop talking and have hot shower sex with me, so get in."

Piper smirked then kissed him before slipping off all her clothes and pushing him behind the shower curtains.