Hi! So if you read the AN on my other story (which is, sadly, on an indefinite hiatus), then you'll know that I had this story lined up. I'm trying to prewrite it so the thing that happened in my other story doesn't happen, and this is simply a pilot chapter. If I can pull myself together and prewrite this, and the pilot does well, then I'll most likely publish the whole story. Thanks for checking it out! Remember to review so I know how this is doing.

Thanks!

Disclaimer: All the characters are not owned by me. The only thing I own is the plot, sadly.

Annabeth groaned as her alarm rang out in her cramped room. Working the early shift at a coffee shop meant a few things: one, she had to deal with tired and grumpy people before they got their coffee before work, two, she got free coffee (her favorite part of the job), and three, she had to wake up early.

Which brought her here, up at 6 in the morning, and blindly flailing in her tiny, old bed for her phone.

When she finally found the device, she groaned. The sun wasn't even up yet, and in her opinion, waking up before the sun was undignified.

Or maybe that was just her tired brain. It was kind of hard to tell.

She stepped onto the creaky floorboards, reaching her arms above her head and listening to the joints pop. She grabbed some clothes and her towel, shuffling to the bathroom for a cold shower.

As she stepped into the small, cold stream of water, she wondered how she had gotten here. A straight-A student who had gotten into Columbia University, she had been on track to graduate and become a promising architect. But that was before her father died.

She hadn't had a mom growing up. It had always been her and her dad, figuring life out. And while he wasn't home a lot, they were still close. She smiled under the lukewarm water as she remembered the time she had gotten her first period. She had screamed for her dad, and when she got out of the shower after, he was there with boxes and boxes of pads and tampons.

"I didn't know what to get so I grabbed it all," he had said sheepishly.

And it was times like those that made Annabeth smile, even when she was down. Not too long after that incident, though, her dad had remarried.

Helen was nice enough at the beginning, but had soon shown her claws. She absolutely abhorred Annabeth and tried to keep her away from her own twin sons, Matthew and Bobby. The boys were adorable and had never truly understood why they couldn't play with their big sister Annie, but had listened to their mother nevertheless. It was several years of that, in which she and her father had drifted apart.

She had gotten into Columbia when she was 18 and her dad had been so proud. "Just like your father," he had said affectionately, ruffling her hair just like he had when she was a kid. He'd paid her tuition, because "I can't let my favorite daughter pay for her tuition when she's following her dad's path," he had said with a wink. And she had laughed. "But I'm your only daughter," she giggled. "Exactly," he said, "and therefore my favorite."

Life had been great before her father suddenly died of a heart attack in his sleep. Annabeth had grieved the loss of the only parent she had ever known, while Helen watched from the side. Helen refused to pay for her tuition, so Annabeth had to find jobs to make ends meet while she mourned, and all when Helen and the twins lived in San Francisco in luxury. They (the twins) would have been around 13 now, and Annabeth longed to see them again.

She dropped out of school in the midst of her second year, because she just had too much on her plate. She remembered going to the administrations' office and telling old Mrs. Walker her situation. Mrs. Walked had listened sympathetically while Annabeth said in tears that she could no longer stay at the school. She didn't have time to work her part-time jobs, study, all the while keep her grades up. The headmaster himself had sent her an email, sympathizing with her situation and informing her that, should she ever want to continue her education, she would be welcomed back with open arms. She had sent him an email back with tears in her eyes, thanking him.

She snapped out of her trance and quickly toweled off with a thin and scratchy towel. Even now, she didn't make nearly enough to live comfortably. She lived in a small, one-room apartment that had a broken water heater and air conditioner, barely had enough to pay her bills, and had to go hungry some nights. But, nevertheless, she still went into work with a small smile on her face and a patient attitude. And today was no exception.

Quickly putting on her uniform, she was out the door by 7. Taking the bus to her stop, and walking for 10 minutes to the coffee shop in the bitter cold. As soon as she entered, the smell of coffee greeted her as she prepared herself for the day.

And as she worked behind the counter, taking orders and making cappuccinos and dealing with grumpy people who complained about their orders, she realized that this was probably the loneliest she had ever felt in her life

Percy Jackson was used to being seen as the face of Jackson enterprises, as the handsome CEO, the patient and hardworking man. But sometimes, he didn't want to be known as just the millionaire running his dad's company. He wanted to be known as a normal human who lived a life outside of his company.

So that is why, when he woke up one morning, he dressed like every other new yorker, instead of wearing his usual tie and suit. In a pair of jeans and a black shirt, he looked like every other young adult male wandering the streets of New York. While he looked calm and collected, on the inside he was thinking up a storm.

Sometimes, he wondered what his life would have been like if he hadn't met his dad. He would probably be a marine biologist somewhere, not a businessman. He'd see his loving mom more often, and maybe spend more time with his step-sister Estelle and his stepdad Paul. He'd eat dinner with his family more often, instead of spending late sleepless nights inside his office. Maybe he'd even find a girlfriend.

He shook his head. He had never considered a girlfriend, and just the thought proved how lonely he was. Sometimes, he considered just asking someone if they would move in with him because he just wanted a connection. Not even romantically, just someone to talk to. Someone who knew what he was going through. Someone who would be there in times of loneliness.

Still deep in thought, he noticed a coffee shop in the back of his brain. It looked warm, and his cold brain reprimanded him for not bringing a coat. Stopping dead in his tracks, he made a 90-degree turn and headed for the coffee shop.

As soon as he stepped in, he was greeted with the smell of coffee and a homey feeling. He stood in the doorway for a second before going to stand in line. How had he never noticed this place before? It was on the way to work, but then again he rarely ever stepped into the streets and noticed things because he was too busy with his work. Quickly skimming the menu, he finally decided on simple hot chocolate. Yes, he was a child at heart, but he rarely expressed it because he was always so preoccupied. Working at a billion-dollar company tended to do that to you.

He was preoccupied, looking around the shop before he finally stepped up to the counter. He looked up from where he was examining the tip jar when the cashier cleared their throat (the jar was covered in waves and Percy suddenly had the urge to go surfing), and his throat caught when he saw her eyes.

They were a rare silver-gray color, but that wasn't what stopped him in his tracks (figuratively). He recognized something behind those eyes, something that he saw in himself every day.

Loneliness. Pain. And hope.

So what did you think? I apologize for the boringness and the shortness (I like making up words hehe), but please know that it will get more interesting when it picks up. Anyway, remember to review so that I know whether I should continue this story. Thanks for reading!

-Ember2507