… Did I say I was updating Wednesday? Yes. Was saying I was updating Wednesday a typo? Also yes. Do I own Percy Jackson? No.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Once Annabeth and Piper were safely in their room, Annabeth fell onto a couch which was already in the room, her hands on her face, in exasperation.

"Okay," Piper started. "Can you tell me what the hell just happened out there?"

Annabeth mumbled into her hands. "I don't want to talk about it."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Well I do. What the hell Annabeth? You totally just obliterated that guy."

Annabeth simply groaned in response.

Piper's eyes softened. "Was that your ex?" She said, and Annabeth nodded. "Shit, well that makes things bad." Annabeth nodded again. "Annabeth," Piper said. "I think he still loves you."

Annabeth shook her head. "He was the one who broke up with me, you remember, right? We talked about it, Percy Jackson, the dumb guy who broke my heart?"

"I hadn't seen him. All I had seen was your perspective. And to be honest, in that state you were in, and still are in, it was pretty subjective. I've seen Percy now, I've seen how he looked at you, even though you were mad at him, even though you took it upon yourself to 'sic' yourself on him, he loves you."

"How do you know?"

"It's so damn obvious Annabeth." Piper rolled her eyes again, and Annabeth wondered if they would get stuck up there. "Are you sure you're over him?"

"Completely and utterly." Annabeth replied, not seeing any truth in her own words, but still saying them anyway. It wasn't Piper's business to know what she was feeling. Because none of it mattered, and Annabeth was at peace, and most of all complacent, with her life now. Hell, she probably wouldn't see Percy anywhere but here. She could probably go about her day with having to see him.

And with her new job, she would be busy as ever, meaning maybe, she wouldn't even have to see him here. Annabeth was excited about her new job; it was doing something she loved, and it would help her get some closure.

Closure, that was what she needed. Not just from Percy- but from this town. She needed to get used to everything, slip into a daily routine, and resolve… everything.

Being hung up on Percy would make this entire trip unbearable, which meant distraction was what she needed. Reconnecting with people she had lost touch with when she left was important, talking to Thalia, and others would help. Maybe she could even meet someone new.

"Okay," Annabeth said, picking herself off the couch. "So I want you to meet Thalia."

Piper looked at her quizzically. "Your other best friend?"

"Yes, my other best friend. I think you guys will get along." Annabeth winced. "Well, I hope." She said. "And when I start working tomorrow, we can figure out other social arrangements. It'll be fun."

"Social arrangements?" Piper said. "You sound like a European grandma trying to set up her son with my daughter."

Annabeth clicked her tongue. "Maybe I am." She said, and just as Piper started to roll her eyes (again) Annabeth cut her off. "If you do that, your eyes are going to get stuck up there."

"See," Piper said, completely disregarding her statement. "European grandma."

Annabeth couldn't help but laugh. It was nice talking to Piper. Made her feel a bit more adjusted, and made her forget. In fact, days later after Percy had broken up with her, Piper had distracted her enough to go bowling. Which was impressive, since the previous day she had stayed on her dorm bed, groaning. Her roommate thought she was insane. And maybe she had been. Maybe she still was.

"Whatever," Annabeth responded, "European Grandma or not, I think that as a distraction, we need to talk, maybe I can try to introduce you to Thalia today."

"Distraction?" Piper smirked, "Pfft, that's you. It'll be fun for me."

Annabeth ignored her, and went on to text Thalia. "Hey," she typed. "Do you want to meet up somewhere today?" She sent the text, clicked her phone off, and looked up at Piper, who was glancing at her quizzically.

"What?" She asked Piper.

Piper smiled quickly. "Nothing. I'm just nervous about meeting your friend. She seems like she means a lot to you. I don't want to screw anything up. I can stay back if you want me too."

Annabeth nudged Piper. "I want you to meet her. Plus, you may get to meet her brother. He's definitely your type."

"Blonde?" Piper questioned, and Annabeth laughed, thinking about the plane ride yesterday.

"Blonde." Annabeth affirmed, forcing herself to smile. "So you'll come."

"Yeah." Piper said, and smiled herself, but as opposed to Annabeth's smile it wasn't forced. Annabeth wished she could be happy, and she was happy to see Thalia, but it felt like a distraction. From Percy.

She wasn't supposed to feel this way. She was supposed to be over him, because all they were, were high school sweethearts. It wasn't fair that her feelings for him still existed- though they were complicated by heartbreak and loneliness.

It wasn't fair that her heart had tightened, ever so slightly when she saw him. It wasn't fair that whenever she closed her eyes, she could imagine Percy's sea green eyes that had always made her internally swoon. His dark, raven colored hair which was hopelessly unruly, somehow making him even more attractive. It was like every part of him was perfect to her, even though Percy himself wasn't.

Because as he had said years ago, it wasn't ever going to work out, and Annabeth should have been accustomed to that. She has had years to become accustomed to that. It's horrible she hasn't. People are supposed to get over their past relationships, not be trapped under them.

But dating hasn't worked, distancing herself hasn't worked. And closure, right now, sure isn't working. Seeing him made the feelings she had been trying to ignore for years become greater, which was not acceptable.

So the last thing she could do was avoid him at all cost. And Thalia despised Percy, so hanging out with her would not only let them reconnect in person, but also give her a way to stay far, far away from Percy Jackson.

Even if her heart was telling her "no," her brain, the only sense of logic she had, was telling her "yes."

So with this chapter, I wanted to show that Annabeth doesn't HATE Percy, she's just having a difficult time battling her emotions. It's one of those complicated emotional bundles that leads you to questioning what someone actually thinks.

Also, I don't know if anyone noticed, but I made a cover for this story (and for some of my others)! With this website's format, it's hard to see, but tell me what you think of it and the chapter!

TheLil'Lion

P.S: One, stay safe and healthy! Two, the next chapter is out Wednesday (for real this time)! Three, happy tenth chapter!