Chapter 19

Annabeth's POV:

I make my way downstairs as it's almost lunch time, and almost collide with Phoebe. "Woah there! where's the fire?" I ask her.

"So, remember last night I told you about Ted's best friend ? How I've had a huge crush on him since forever? Well he's coming over for lunch. Oh my god! Do I look alright? Is my hair ok?

"You look perfect.", I reassure her. In her printed yellow sundress, and brown sandals, she did look kind of perfect. She smiles at me and we make our way downstairs. I feel like I'm making major progress with her. Hopefully, she will accept me as her sister soon enough.

Both of us reach downstairs and help dad set the table. "So how was last night, Phoebe?", dad asks her. "It was fun.", is all she says. Well at least, she had fun too.

The doorbell rings. And soon, Taylor enters with Ted and his friend. He is a really attractive guy, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is good looking, in a typical sort of way. Tall, athletic looking, muscular-ish. I can see why Phoebe has been crushing so hard on him.

"Hello Mr Grey.", he says in a deep voice.

"Hello Ian. How have you been?"

"I've been alright, sir.", he says as he makes his way towards mom, who has just gotten back from the kitchen, and gives her a kiss on her cheek.

"Mrs Grey, you look as beautiful as ever", he says.

"Ian, lovely to see you after such a long time,".

Phoebe is blushing deeply as she comes forward to meet him. "Hi," she says shyly.

"Hi Phoebe," he smiles back at her.

I'm watching everyone from the corner of the room, when Ted says, "Ian, this is my sister, Annabeth. The one I told you about.".

Ian turns towards me with a wide smile on his face. "Hello Annabeth ," he says as he extends a hand towards me.

"Hi," I extend my hand for a handshake and smile at him. He stares at me, for a minute too long, before flushing and dropping his gaze. Uh, awkward. What was that about?

We settle down in our seats at the breakfast bar. Mom serves us excellent pasta alfredo. She really is an amazing cook.

"How's Amanda, by the way? You should've brought her with you," dad asks Ian. Ian and Ted exchange a look and burst out laughing. "Dad, she wasn't anything serious," says Ted, which earns him a disapproving look from mom.

"No, seriously she wasn't. Things didn't work out with her, Mrs Grey. But we're still friends now.". Ted is still chuckling. Oh. So he had a girlfriend. Had. I look across the table to see Phoebe's expression. She looks like she has won the lottery. We exchange a wide grin. But sadly, I think Ian genuinely thinks of her as a little sister, and nothing more than that.

The four of them continue to chat about college and Ian and Ted's life over there. Phoebe talks rarely. I'm completely silent as I enjoy my lunch. I catch Ian staring at me through out the lunch and smile politely once or twice but then ignore him completely. After everyone is finished, me and Ted offer to do the dishes. I brush him off as his friend is here and I want him to enjoy his free time and entertain him. Dad offers to help me instead.

I start with the dishes as he grabs a dish towel. "So, what did you think about Ian? " he asks me a little too casually.

"Me? Nothing. I mean, I don't know him enough to form an opinion of him I guess." I tell him, a little surprised.

He smirks at me. "Good. I don't want you to think about him at all. It was worrying enough that he couldn't keep his eyes off you through out the lunch. He's a good kid but a real player. And his looks help him with a lot of girls,". He shakes his head with a frown.

I wonder if he knows about Phoebe's crush on him.

"Don't worry dad. It takes a lot more than looks to attract me.". I look at him and see relief on his face. It makes me laugh and he starts laughing with me.