A/N: Hey guys! I'm back ages later with a new update!

Just wanted to once again thank everyone for their support! You all are too kind honestly :) also I'm working on prompts people have sent me but in the meantime in found this idea on tumblr and felt the need to write on it.

Without further ado, here ya go:

Percy tried very hard to appear completely normal as he slunk down the near empty street. He had been low-key following The Jason Grace, hoping to get at least a few pictures, and had successfully managed to somehow lose him completely. He groaned, his manager was going to kill him.

When Percy had decided to go into journalism the last thing he wanted was to end up being the annoying paparazzi vying for pictures of famous celebrities. But work was work and he had to eat somehow.

He sighed again as he gave up, dejectedly stopping at the corner of an intersection half-heartedly looking for a glimpse of blonde hair that he knew he wasn't going to see. Honestly, he didn't blame the guy for disappearing like that, he would hate to be followed around by cameras all the time too.

But now his manager was going to yell at him, and he really needed the money to pay his rent for this month. On cue, his phone started buzzing, a call he pointedly ignored. If asked later he could say he was following a lead. Speaking of, said lead was gone and Percy just realized he had no clue where he was.

The street wasn't too crowded, framed with some houses and he could see a sliver of the ocean from behind some buildings. It was far from familiar and with Percy's phone battery dangerously low he really wanted to avoid using it to get directions. Hopefully someone could point him in the right direction.

He veered right and entered a small shop filled with vintage items and antiques. It was quiet with dim lighting and he struggled to find another sign of life.

"Hello?" he called out quietly as he navigated through the rows of stuff.

Since he was Percy and it was inevitably going to happen he bumped into something, or someone rather.

"I'm sor-" his rushed apology died at his lips when he saw who exactly he had bumped into.

Annabeth Chase, The Annabeth Chase, looked back at him.

She was even more beautiful up close, which seemed counterintuitive, but even without movie magic her hair shone brightly and her eyes sparkled like diamonds. Okay, so he might be a complete fanboy.

"…I'm sorry about that, I wasn't looking where I was going," he finished, as calmly as he could.

"It's okay," she waved off, studying him with a guarded expression.

There was a moment of silence as they both regarded each other.

"Paparazzi," she said finally, a tiredness washing over her features as she noted the camera around his neck and pen behind his ear.

He winced at the tone and half-shrugged. "I wasn't actually following you, I came in here 'cause I got lost and needed directions."

"You got lost?" She rose her eyebrows and gave him a look that said she didn't quite believe his story.

He sighed and nodded, "Yeah actually, my assignment is Jason Grace but I managed to lose him, and then I realized that I had no clue where I am. My phone's dying and my manager won't stop calling me. I just really needed directions. I really didn't expect to see you here."

He ran a hand through his hair tiredly suddenly very aware of how tired he was and how hungry. When was the last time he had eaten? He let his shoulders droop, he was just so done.

Annabeth seemed to soften as she took in his composure and story. She offered a half smile, "Damn, that sucks."

He lifted his head to meet her eyes, they were kind of spectacular. He bit his lip to avoid fanboying on spot. He decided instead to do his job.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about this, but can I please take your picture?"

Her eyes and posture immediately became guarded again but he just continued, "Believe it or not, this is the last thing I want to do. Like I get it, wanting privacy, I'd hate it if I had someone on my ass all the time. But my manager is a dick and loves threatening to fire me and I really need this job to pay my rent. So please can I take a picture of you."

He all but pleaded the last part. Annabeth just seemed shocked at the honesty of it all and didn't respond.

He sighed for the twentieth time, "It's okay if you don't want me to. I'll respect your privacy. You're actually like my favorite actress and I really wish I could have met you without being paparazzi cause then I could have had a chance at an autograph or something without the negative connotations and now I'm rambling but I'm hella tired and hungry and I've decided to go on this brutally honest route, anyway I'm gonna stop talking now."

He blushed as he forced his mouth to stop working. He was not making this situation any better. He should just, leave. He gave a small half smile and tried to will the pink from his cheeks as he started to turn around to walk away.

"Yes."

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her confused. "What?"

"Yes, you can take a picture of me," she clarified.

"Really?" he was genuinely shocked, the image made Annabeth laugh slightly.

"I mean you're the first paparazzi to actually ask for permission, plus it must suck to have a boss like that so sure. I can help a guy out." She smiled warmly and Percy just stared at her dumbly.

"Oh, um, okay… uh… thanks," he managed to get out as he tentatively rose the camera to his face.

After snapping a few pictures of Annabeth looking through some antiques, he thanked her again.

"Thank you, really, this means a lot," he said sincerely.

"It's fine, think of it like a favor for a fan," she replied, winking.

He smiled back. "A pretty big favor if it means I won't get evicted."

He quickly looked through the photos and nodded with satisfaction. "I promise I'll make sure the piece is nothing bad, we'll just say something about how vintage stuff and antiques are the new thing. Old is the New New, or something," he assured.

She laughed at the title and he couldn't help but laugh along, it was kind of ridiculous, but people always ate that shit up.

"Well, it'll help with antique sales at least," Annabeth giggled.

"Yeah, that's true. The economy is going to go berserk over this. I hope you're ready for what this entails Annabeth, I don't know if the stock market could handle it," he joked.

Annabeth grinned back, and Percy might have been taken back by just how amazing it was. "You're right, maybe you should have taken a picture of me eating ice cream. You can't go wrong with an influx of ice cream!"

His stomach rumbled just thinking about it. "Oh don't talk about food. I'm starving, all I've had today was coffee."

She shot him a surprised look. "What, why?"

He shrugged. "Well I was investigating some of the recent protests, trying to draft a piece to send to some potential job openings, but then I was reminded by my boss that the protests are not more important than Jason Grace's new haircut so I should get a move on."

He rolled his eyes at the thought. Had he mentioned how much he hated his job?

"Wow, your boss is a dick," Annabeth sympathized.

"Yeah well, he's good at his job, it's just not the job I want."

Annabeth nodded sympathetically and it just hit him that he was in some stuffy antique store in some random location having a conversation and even joking with the Annabeth Chase.

Was this even real?

"It's okay, one day I will assume my true form and become the president of ice cream and demand that blue ice cream be sold everywhere," he joked, attempting to lighten up the conversation.

Annabeth laughed at that. "Blue ice cream?"

He widened his eyes comically. "Don't tell me you've never had blue ice cream."

She shrugged and he shook his head. "Disappointing, Ms. Chase, it's the best kind there is."

Annabeth smiled. "Well, I'll take your word for it. You know what, when you become ice cream president, I'll endorse you."

"Really? You'd do that for me! Aww, shucks, thanks Annabeth. I'll let you know when my empire is on the rise," he teased back.

They both laughed at the idea for a moment before it finally died out. He had not imagined it would be this easy to talk to Annabeth Chase, or that he would have this much fun with it. She was a really cool person if she was willing to let him take her picture and joke about an ice cream empire. Not to mention now that they were so close he could make out the small details about her: her lemon scent, how she was just a little shorter than him, the little tattoo that peaked from her collarbone.

She really was beautiful. And so close. It was kind of intoxicating. He took a step back to try to regain his senses.

There was a moment of silence before Percy spoke up, begrudgingly, as he figured he should really leave her alone now considering he had taken up so much of her time.

"Um, thanks again for all the help Annabeth, it was… uh… nice to meet you." He got out the words a bit awkwardly.

She seemed surprised at the statement but replied nonetheless.

"Of course, the pleasure was all mine…."

"Percy," Percy supplied.

"Percy, nice name."

He blushed at the compliment, "Thanks."

"Anyway, it was nice to meet you too. Good luck with the pictures and piece." She seemed quieter now, more resigned.

And even though the last thing he wanted to do was to walk away, because if he was honest he could spend the entire day talking to her, he did, sending a small wave with a word of thanks and a smile.

It was only after he had exited the store and walked away did he realize he had not gotten directions.

-.-.-.-.-.-

The next day Annabeth's Instagram featured a picture of her with blue ice cream and Percy almost had a heart attack.

It was unfair how quickly his stupid celebrity crush was increasing. It was unfair that she had put up that picture. It was unfair how much he wanted to see her again.

The Annabeth pictures lasted him another week at the company, rent for the month, and an assignment for the red carpet at the next movie premiere.

He did see her again, which was kind of inevitable give that she was a celebrity and he was paparazzi, at said premiere show about a month later.

He pretended his heart didn't leap as her eyes met his in the crowd of cameras and other paparazzi. He pretended he didn't forget how to breathe at the small smile she gave him before moving on. He pretended he didn't die on spot as she posed for his pictures.

"Would you like an interview?" the angelic voice spoke softly behind him.

He whipped around so fast he might have given himself whiplash. But there she was, as everyone else watched the movie, her movie, she was outside in the secluded corner with him.

Miraculously there was no one around near enough to them for her to get recognized (which was also good for Percy because he was gaping like a fish out of water).

"Annabeth?" he was beyond shocked.

"Percy," she replied. Holy shit, she remembered his name.

He was less tired, less hungry and therefore more acutely aware of everything around him, including her.

"Um… hi… " He offered a small wave. "long time no see."

She smiled, "It's been a month." There was a pause. "Still no ice cream empire?"

He laughed, the tension effectively diffused. "Nope, but I saw you tried blue ice cream."

She rose an eyebrow. "Did you now?"

Oh crap, did that seem weird? Then again she was a celebrity, a lot of people followed celebrities on social media.

"Yeah," he managed, "did you like it?"

She smirked and got closer to him, "I did, very much. It reminded me of you and it made it all the better."

He audibly gulped at the look on her face. She was very quickly reducing him into a stuttering mess.

"That's…that's good. I'm glad," he rambled.

Annabeth just giggled at his reaction and continued the conversation breezily, "So did the pictures work out for you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, they tided me over, got me this assignment and paid my rent." He laughed at the thought. "So really, thank you. I owe ya one."

Her eyes gleamed as soon as the words left his mouth. "I have a way you can repay me."

He froze and looked imploringly back, trying to keep his heart from bursting. "Yeah, what can I do for you?"

"Take me on a date."

"Done."

A week later found the Annabeth Chase in Percy's crappy apartment as he attempted to make dinner, much to Annabeth's amusement, and eventually settled on takeout and a movie.

It wasn't glorious, but it was hidden from the rest of the world, their own private moment away from all the cameras. It was perfect.

A few months later the headline "Annabeth Chase's Secret Man" got around with everyone desperately trying to hunt him down. When asked who her boyfriend was Annabeth just shrugged, it wasn't too difficult anyway. The editor could be found in his office at the New York Times.

A/N: So what did you think? I'd like to add I have nothing against people in this line of work, it was just not really Percy's thing so he moved to something that fit him better. So really, no negativity on the profession, just didn't work with the characters.

But anyway, thanks again to all of you amazing people for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it!

Check out the first version of this story if you'd like, it's called How We Could Have Met!

Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

See ya! :)