Hey guys! Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it!

Percy didn't know what to feel. Yeah, he was confused, and yeah, he was half scared shit-less, because in front of him was Annabeth. And wasn't it just amazing, just freaking peachy, that she'd shown up just when he'd been thinking about her- just when she'd come up in conversation the previous day?

It made Percy want to barf. "Yeah," Annabeth said, shaking her head, not paying attention to Dakota, and that girl who had come with her, who was slowly backing away. "Just my luck. Shit."

God, she wasn't going to make this easy for him, was she? "Yeah. That's some pretty shitty luck we've had."

Annabeth looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "There is no 'we' Percy, you gave that up when you broke up with me. Shit, we- I mean, I should be over this."

"Yeah." Percy said, looking away. "Um, do you still want me to show you up?"

Annabeth shook her head. "No, I don't want you to, I don't want you to do anything. But apparently, you're the only person here to do it, so I guess I have to."

Percy knew Annabeth well. He knew her really well, exceptionally well, they'd known each other since forever. They'd always been devoted to each other, even before they had started to date. Percy knew they could never be friends again, but she didn't have to be so… so everything. "Please," Percy said, but it came out more like a plea. "Please, make this easy for me, okay?"

"Easy?" Annabeth scoffed. "You don't deserve it."

Percy sighed. "I'm not looking for anything else. Hell, you don't even have to talk to me, I'll just tell you about the place, and then I'll see my way out. Let's just… get this over with."

Annabeth didn't say anything, which meant there was no objection. "Right this way," Percy said, and then opened the door up for the stairs, holding it out for them to go through. The girl who was next to Annabeth hurried over to the door, looking somewhat eager, her bag in one hand, and her phone in the other. Percy, almost at once, noticed how pretty she was. Exceptionally pretty.

He turned to Annabeth, to see her grabbing her two bags, and grunting as she carried them. "Goddamnit Piper," she said.

Percy shook his head. "Come on, let me help you." Annabeth simply looked up at him, with the look of a person who had just blown up a building. "Please?" He said, realizing immediately how Piper- the girl, he assumed, who was with her, was pretty to him, but Annabeth was attractive.

"No." Annabeth muttered, shoving Percy away. He sighed, and held the door as she made her way up the stairs. After she had made it to the top, he closed the door, and walked up the stairs, alone.

Once he got to the top of the stairs, he saw Annabeth quietly whispering to Piper, both with grimace's on their faces. They fell silent as soon as they saw him, and Percy sighed again, knowing she probably hated him. And that was good, right? That was the point of this all, for her to move on.

He should feel happy for her.

So why did he feel like something was missing? Like the piece of him that had already been taken away pulled off another bit too? "Um," Percy cleared his throat. "It's that door right next to you. Here are the keys," he said, putting his hand in his pocket to get them out.

They touched nothing, and Percy realized he had left them downstairs. "Shit," he said, his mouth so dry it sounded more like a croak. "I, uh, forget them downstairs. One sec."

Annabeth looked at him skeptically, and Percy, tripped down the stairs as fast as he could, and fumbled with the door, opening it. "Shit, shit, shit," he repeated, his body feeling heavy, like he was going to collapse on the floor. He put his hand to his forehead, and felt it. It was wet with sweat. "Shit," He said again, opening the drawer they kept the key's in, and pulling two out.

His head was pounding, so much, god, why did this have to be happening? Why did Annabeth have to hate him? Why was he so screwed up by this, six years later?

Leo came through the back door, to see Percy, leaning against a counter, keys in hand, and legs pulled close to his chest. "What the hell happened?" Leo said, rushing over to him. "Dude, are you okay?"

"No." Percy said, gulping for air, trying to breath. "My ex is renting out the apartment above."

"Shit," Leo breathed. "Here," He said. "Give me those keys, I'll finish up upstairs. Dakota's up front again, so you can go on with your waiter duties."

Percy nodded. "Thanks so much." He said, pulling himself up.

"That's what friends are for man," Leo said. "And dude, if you ever want to talk about emotions and shit, I'm here."

He nodded again at Leo, and then left the area, heading to the front of the restaurant. Thank god for Leo, if it wasn't for him, he'd probably go up and make a fool of himself. God, what was wrong with him? He was hung up on a girl he'd dated years ago. A girl he hadn't talked to in forever. Maybe he should talk to Rachel- maybe that would help him. He could even try dating.

But look at him now, it would obviously be no use? Seeing Annabeth in person hurt him worse than he had imagined. It was sad how fast it took Annabeth to reject him. Not even give him a chance to explain himself- even though he made no obvious move too.

And the thing about dating, is that as he remembered from before, he had tried dating. He had tried, and he had failed, and every time he went on one, after it, he would down a drink and never talk to the girl he had gone out with again.

Rachel was the exception, he had dated her longer, mostly because she was so persistent. And when he had explicitly told her he just wanted to be friends, although it took a while, she backed off, and Percy was grateful for that.

But maybe this was all a sign- Annabeth coming and all. Maybe it was the universe giving him another chance, telling him, "hey, you screwed up once, don't do it again."

And Percy knows it's in his best interest to take that chance.

Okay, this was an angsty reunion, and I apologize for it. I do hope that you guys noticed I tried to end everything on a hopeful note. I don't know if I did that successfully. So guys, I didn't mean to make this depressing (well, maybe that's a lie), it just sort of came out.

I'd love to hear (or read) what you think in the reviews! They all just fuel my motivation, and make me want to write more.

Thanks for all the support!

TheLil'Lion

P.S: Stay healthy and safe! Next chapter will be out Wednesday!