Chapter 4: Change
Annabeth made her way down the white corridors. She only heard a few noises. The soda machines, computer keyboard typing and her own heart beat. She needed to find Josh. She assumed that he would have come. The look on Donna's face when she saw Leo could tighten your heart. She passed a few people and found a soda machine. Sprite, Diet Pepsi, Orange soda or Root beer. Annabeth didn't think that her body really wanted caffeine now. She walked up to the reception desk, and her head barely made it over the counter.
"Do you have any water? I'll pay, I just don't think.."
"Here you go sweetheart." An older woman handed Annabeth a water bottle over the counter. "Don't worry, hun, it's on the house." The woman gave Annabeth a comforting look.
"It will be alright." It seemed like the woman knew what had just happened, and just how Annabeth felt.
"Thank you...Did you hear on the news about the election?"
"You into politics baby?" She tisked. "That's not a place for a pretty little girl like you."
"I don't think I'll ever get back to normal. If there is really such thing as normal." Annabeth turned away. The woman at the desk lightly touched Annabeth's arm, like Leo had done the first day they met. This comforted Annabeth.
"And promise me hun" The woman said as Annabeth started to leave. "Next time an election comes around, you better be home sittin' with you husband." She pointed to Leo's room. "Watching the whole thing." Annabeth was about to say something, but she just let it go.
"Thanks for the advice." She took a sip of the water. "And for the water."
"Anytime." The woman went back to her work behind the desk, and Annabeth continued walking. Where would I be in four years? She thought to herself. Would I still be involved in this mess, or would I be free? She rounded a corner and ran into Josh.
"Josh!" She flung her arms around him. Just at that moment she burst into tears. Donna joined in on the hug. He died didn't he. Donna thought. They released the hug and Annabeth had started checking herself in her compact.
"Where is he." Josh asked.
"Room 215"
"And?" Donna asked
"He's fine" Donna and Josh both gave a sigh of relief. "He wants to see you Josh." Josh raised an eyebrow at her. "Now." Josh walked quickly down the hallway towards the room.
"Is he.."
"He's fine. He told me that he needed to ask Josh something. I figured it meant alone." Donna put her arm around Annabeth and led them to a row of empty chairs. She wiped off a few crumbs and tossed the two day old New York Times onto the coffee table. They put their feet up for the first time in a while. Donna and Annabeth never really talked much. They didn't see each other a lot. It was quiet for a few moments. Donna thought she might want to start the conversation.
"Annabeth, I have something to ask you." She had been dying to ask this for a while now. Ever since that thing on the airplane. "A-are you and Leo...uh...seeing each other?" Annabeth itched her temple. It was her way of stalling for a second.
"If you mean on a regular basis because of work...yes. If you mean as in a relationship." Annabeth turned her head a bit. "Yes" Donna sat back in her chair. I k new it! All those late night phone calls...why didn't I figure it out sooner.
"Yeah Donna, what's with you and Josh?" Annabeth knew that something was going on between them. Actually, the whole campaign staff knew that something was going on between them. "Just you know, wondering."
"Well. It's nothing."
"Sure." Annabeth sat back in her chair. That was one of the biggest lies I've ver heard. She thought to herself.
" Donna? What are you going to do if we..you know..loose?"
"I don't know. I've been looking at my options, but nothing has really struck me yet."
"Do you think I should get out of politics? You know lead a normal life?"
"Can you do that? It would be such a change."
"I don't know."
There you go! Chapter 5 coming soon!