Hey everyone!

I'm baaackkk.

Here is chapter 13! I hope you like it. Also, I'm at 434 views right now!

I'm so excitedddddd.

Lol ok I'll let you get to reading now. Enjoy!

(Disclaimer: I don't own these characters)

ANNABETH POV:

I decided to go to class the next day.

I couldn't afford to get behind just because of a broken heart. And we weren't even dating, anyway. It was just a meaningless crush.

Meaningless.

So then why was I so sad?

I rolled my eyes, continuing on my way across campus to my architecture class.

I turned up the music in my earbuds. Thalia had recommended a bunch of rock bands for break ups. But after trying out the songs, that were mostly just screaming, I decided to stick to my regular stuff.

So I turned up the volume to 'I Found' by Amber Run, and embraced the cold wind that surrounded me. I had always liked the fall.

I heard someone vaguely yelling something that kind of sounded like my name, but I ignored it.

"Leave me alone," I muttered to myself.

"Annabeth!" I heard again.

I took out one of my earbuds and turned to find Luke, smiling wide.

"Hey." I gave him my best smile, even though I could feel it's strain on my cheeks. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. I'm excited about our lecture today."

"Hmm," I said absently.

What's up with you? You seem a little… down."

I laughed for some reason. "I guess you could say that. I just had a really rough day yesterday."

"Well, do you want to talk about it?" He looked hopeful. "Maybe over lunch?"

"Luke, I don't know if I'm ready to date right now."

"Oh, that's totally fine. I just think you're really cool. Whatever you're good with is good with me."

I smiled at him, grateful for his carefree attitude. "Then, sure. Lunch sounds good."

We walked the rest of the way together, exchanging ideas on architecture and our professors.

He was easy to talk to.

But I didn't know if I was really attracted to him. He seemed way more like an older brother to me. I was worried his feelings would end up unrequited.

But I didn't have to think about the future right now. I could just enjoy the moment.

Or enjoy it as much as I could, without Percy around.

I wasn't sure what to do, though. I was upset when I was with Percy and upset when I was when I was without him.

I hadn't gotten any closure, or any reason for his sudden cold attitude towards me.

I had asked Thalia if she had talked to him, and she said she didn't talk to scumbags. It was impressive, her loyalty towards me. I didn't want Percy to be all alone, though.

But I did want to know if he regretted what he said, or if he was remotely sad without me.

Probably not. He was probably prancing around with some girl who wasn't me, resorting back to his playboy ways I had heard so much about.

Luke came up to me after class, while I was still finishing my notes.

"Whoa," he remarked when he noticed the amount I had written. "I only wrote a page of notes."

I gave him a small smile, still kind of in my zone. "Yeah, well I wanted to be thorough. And I write fast."

"Clearly."

I nodded slowly, finishing my final point and making a point to slap my pen down onto my desk. "Okay, I'm done."

"Awesome. So, lunch?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

We ended up at this small Indian place off campus. Luke pulled out my chair, draped his napkin over his lap, and was a perfect gentleman. But I still couldn't get my mind off Percy.

Being with Luke was like being with my brother. I couldn't get past the feeling that this was purely platonic, at least on my end.

"How's your saag paneer?"

I took another bite, savoring the taste. "Really good. I've seen this place a couple of times and I can't believe I never came in."

"Well, you can certainly handle your spice better than I can."

Luke had been forced to order another dish when the main one he had requested had been way too spicy for him. In my opinion, there was only a little bit of hotness.

"So, what do you want to do after college?" It was kind of boring small talk I was sure he had heard thousands of times, but I didn't want to have any awkward silence.

"I think I want to open a business. Something to do with marketing and messaging. I have a couple ideas in the works, but nothing is set in stone. What about you?"

"I've wanted to be an architect my entire life," I said, smiling. "I couldn't imagine being anything else."

"That's really great. There's so many people who have no idea what they want."

I nodded. "Totally. I'm lucky."

Just not lucky in love.

"Thanks for lunch," I told Luke while I slipped on my coat. "I had a really great time."

He smiled. "Of course. Do you want to do it again sometime?"

"Uh," I tried to think of a good way to let him down easy. "I don't know-"

"I know you're going through your own thing. I just think you're a really great girl and I want to get to know you better."

I nodded slowly. That was okay with me. "Yeah, okay. I'll see you around, I guess."

He smiled. "See you."

I headed back to my dorm to find Thalia eagerly waiting in my desk chair.

"Why are you sitting in my chair?"

"Mine has all this stuff on it." She pointed to her jet black chair covered in laundry.

"Move it," I laughed. "It doesn't take a bodybuilder to clear off a chair."

"The chair thing is irrelevant," Thalia said. "How was your date with Luke?"

I sighed, plopping onto my bed and hugging one of my throw pillows. "It was okay. He's nice, good looking, all that jazz. But I don't think of him romantically."

Thalia shook her head. "That's a damn shame. What did you tell him?"

"I was about to break it off but then he just said he wants to get to know me better. I figured that was fine."

Thalia shrugged. "Yeah. That seems innocent enough."

"Have you heard from…" It was hard to say his name. "Have you?"

"He called me. While you were at lunch. He wanted to know how you were doing."

A flicker of hope burst up inside me. "He cared enough to do that?"

"Annabeth… I don't think you should be in your hopeful stage. You should be in your angry stage."

"Is it possible to do both?"

"You'd be the first."

"I guess so."

Being angry at Percy Jackson and still hoping he would come back to me was exhausting. But I was Annabeth Chase.

I could handle anything.

Well that was chapter 13!

I hope you liked it.

I've been watching the movie Creep 2 while editing this, and it's so good. Sara is such a girlboss.

The queen we needed.

Okay well I will see you in the next chapter!

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All my love,

-wdw