Character A is stuck working in coffee shop on Christmas Day and Character B is the lonely soul spending their whole day there

Annabeth never thought she'd be the type of person to end up working on Christmas, thousands of miles away from home. She imagined herself at this point in her live with her friends and family, huddled near a fire on Christmas Day.

Instead, this is what she gets.

She gets an uncomfortable table in the corner of a coffee shop, stuck in the middle of a New York winter.

It's the first time in her life that she didn't get a warm Christmas, and it's... different. Not bad, but she misses home. So she supposes this is her attempt to make herself feel better, sitting in a cafe by herself typing away at her computer.

Annabeth sighs, fingers pausing. She honestly doesn't even know what she's typing at this point. She's too distracted by the absence of people around her and wishing that she were anywhere but here.

She doesn't notice the person behind the counter staring at her until there's a drink sliding in front of her face. Annabeth looks up in confusion, unaware that they had been so close to her, and is met with a kind smile.

"A drink," he says, pushing it towards her a little bit more.

She still doesn't say anything, instead looking back to the drink. It's a pretty drink, almost too perfect to actually consume. It's peppermint, no doubt, with the flawless white and red swirls inside the clear cup and steaming out the top.

"You don't have to pay for it;" he assures her. She drags her eyes back to his, sees him leaning on the counter in patience, a subtle smile still on his face. His eyes surprise her, a vibrant green. "It's on me."

She lets herself break. "Thank you," she says, pulling it towards her. She brings the cup to her lips and takes the runway sip. The second the taste hits her tongue, she is in love. A small, disbelieving laugh bubbles out of her throat in astonishment.

"Secret recipe," he tells her, winking. She decides then that she really likes his smile that's warm and welcoming. His eyes light up brighter than the lights strewn around the cafe, and his body language screams that he's truly a beautiful soul. There's a Christmas apron tied around his waist, and his name tag that reads Percy has a reindeer haphazardly drawn on it. It's cute, and it doesn't look like he's the one that drew it.

"Thank you, Percy."

"Aw, that's a bit unfair, don't you think?"

She pauses. "What is?"

"You're calling me by my name, yet I don't even know yours."

She wouldn't normally tell a stranger her name. She's careful about those types of things as a girl living alone in a big city, so she doesn't know what prompts her to answer.

"I'm Annabeth."

"Annabeth. Huh. That's a cute name."

"So is Percy."

"Please. Percy is the weirdest name you've ever heard."

She laughs, lifting and pinching her fingers close together. "Only a little bit."

"I blame my mom." Percy moves to put a few of the things around him away. He's not looking at her as he asks, "What are you doing here on Christmas, if you don't mind me asking?"

"What are you doing working here on Christmas?" she counters, but not unkindly.

"You answer a question with a question?"

"You just did the same thing."

Percy's hand shoot playfully in surrender. "You got me there."

Annabeth glances down to get away from his eyes that feel as though they bore down into her soul. "I didn't have anywhere to go," she says truthfully.

"No family?"

"California. Couldn't afford to go this year."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Nothing I can do now."

He pauses in front of her again. "I'll be your Christmas buddy then, so you're not all alone."

Annabeth looks around. Not a single other person is in the shop. She looks back at him, doubtful. "You're obligated to do that. You work here."

"I am being one-hundred percent honest when I say I would not care if I got fired from this job," he says, making her choke slightly. "But you're wrong. I would have talked to you anyways, even if I was another customer. You looked like you could use someone to talk to."

"I look lonely," she summarizes.

"Lonely isn't a bad thing."

"It's getting me your pity points."

"It really isn't a bad thing," he insists. "I want to be talking to you. If I didn't want to talk, then I wouldn't have. Besides, I'm in the same boat as you. Family's a bit far, and I had to work."

"I'm sorry for making you work then."

"I'm talking to you at work, not for work. There's a difference," he says, eyes gleaming.

She leans forwards. She's caught onto his game, and she chooses to play along. "So tell me then, Percy, why are you talking to me at work?"

"No one should be alone on Christmas."

"You wanted to be my special person?"

"Something like that," he agrees.

"So you made me a drink to win me over, yeah?"

"You got it."

It's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for her. She wonders if she's imaging it all. There's no way someone like this exists. He's too pure for the world, and she can see it from a mile away with the way he smiles, laughs, and pushes festive drinks in front of strangers because he thinks they deserve so much more than sitting in a lonely coffee shop.

"Do you think you have to work right now?" Annabeth asks, hoping he'll sit beside her.

Percy looks around the shop. "I don't know. It's pretty busy in here."

She rolls her eyes fondly, patting the stool next to her. "Come. If you're going to be my Christmas buddy, you have to sit next to me while I work."

"Not working and sitting next to a pretty girl? Sounds like a win to me." He comes around the counter and sits next to her. He peers at her computer, and she can tell that he expects her to start typing away. Instead, she shuts the top and rests her hand on her curled-up fist, choosing to talk to him instead.

"Do you have a kid?" she asks, now focused on his nametag again, and the terribly drawn Rudolph.

Percy snorts. "I'm sorry?"

"Your nametag," she says. "It looks like a toddler did it."

"Oh. I don't like you anymore. You insulted my art skills."

"You actually drew that?"

"No, but what if I did? You could have just destroyed the aspiring artist in me."

"If you had drawn that, it would've stayed as an aspiring artist."

"That one was good," he praises, humored. "But in my defense, a toddler did draw it. It just wasn't my kid because I am twenty-one and have no interest in being a father."

"No kids?"

"I mean, not now. In the future maybe, with the right person. But not now."

Annabeth's heart stutters. She feels like there's static in the air, thrumming inside her body. "And you haven't met that right person?"

Percy locks eyes with her and tilts his head earnestly. "I'm still trying to find out."

And, oh, it makes her feel warm. This isn't her, but she's so far in that she doesn't care. She doesn't know him, but she is determined to change that because there is just something about him that she needs to figure out. She likes logic and clues, and he is littered with them. There is an equation, and she thinks that just maybe, together they are the solution.

"You're trying to figure it out about who?" she asks.

Percy must catch her lie because he smirks at her, and she is compelled to kiss the smirk away. "It's this girl. I haven't known her long, but she really likes coffee. She's also so determined, wanting to build a future. I mean, she works on Christmas alone in a café. A lot of people would find it weird, but she's lucky I find it cute."

"She sounds familiar. Do I know her?"

Percy hums. "No, I don't think so."

"Bummer." A silence settles between them, but it's not awkward. She uses the time to look over him shamelessly. He lets her, and returns the favor himself, making her feel beautiful with every agonizing trace of his eyes against her. "What would the girl need to do to get a chance with you?"

"Here's the thing. I like this girl very much. She'd probably think it was weird how much I liked her, but I've actually seen her in the shop a million times before, which is probably weirder now that I think about it. But I have her order memorized and have been trying to figure out how to ask her out for the past few weeks. I didn't get to ask her out until recently though."

"What did she say?"

Percy bites his bottom lip, a teasing smile, and hands the reigns to her. "You tell me."

"But her answer would depend on where you want to take her!"

"I thought a cute first date would be on Christmas, actually. I have a small group of friends coming over, maybe two or three, and we're going to watch movies all night and eat candy. Everyone will be in sweaters and sweatpants, and there will be lots of snuggles. There's just one thing."

Annabeth has to force her breathing to calm because this game is going to drive her insane. "And what is that?"

"Do you think she'll think that's coming on too strong?"

"Not at all," she whispers. "She'll probably say that sounds like the best date she could ever dream of."

"Then I guess I have to take this girl on a date," he says.

"I guess you do."

"Do you think it would be okay if I kissed this girl too? Even if I've only known her for around half an hour?"

"That depends on if she believes in love at first sight."

"Does she?"

"She didn't," she answers honestly, "until now."

"So she believes in love at first sight?"

"Let's call it a Christmas miracle."

"And she wants me to kiss her?"

"She'll be upset if you don't."

Percy's eyes are full of every emotion, gorgeous and loving. "Then I guess I have to fulfil."

And when he pulls her closer to him, settling his lips on hers, she feels content. He's warm and soft and beautiful and perfect, and she could linger in this moment forever. He pulls away but she follows, desperate to prolong the moment, and he complies.

By the time he pulls away, they're both breathless. Percy's breaths hit her lips with every inhale. His eyes are closed, his forehead against hers, and she can't help the smile that spreads across her face.

"When can they go on that date?" she whispers.

"Why not now?"

Her heart flutters. "Now's good."

It takes a few minutes for him to close before they're finally walking out of the store. She thinks he's going to take her to his apartment but surprises her instead when they end up inside of a cheesy Christmas store. The shelves are lined with Christmas pajamas and socks, and he makes her pick some out.

"It's not Christmas if you don't look like a candy cane!"

"I don't like candy canes."

Percy frowns before spotting a matching pair of socks and pulling them up. "These are perfect! You'd look so cute!"

And yeah, Annabeth thinks she's falling in love.

There's something in the air that tells her she's going to marry this man.

It's not until three Christmases later that Annabeth is back inside that shop, and Percy is behind the counter. He slides the peppermint mocha in front of her face, and she looks up from her computer long enough to give him a quick kiss. When he comes around the counter, she expects him to sit on the stool next to her.

Instead, he gets down on one knee.

go easy on me i wrote this two minutes ago and ran out of ideas and have not read it