Thanks for the feedback on the first chapter and all of the favorites and follows. I hope you guys like this chapter just as much. Let me know. Thanks~Bolts and Trees :D
I met Annabeth at the cafe as promised. She changed the time from nine to eleven. I didn't understand why but I knew the latter part of our day involved going to the gym. Why we had to go to the gym, I wasn't completely sure.
"Come on we have some serious recon to do." Annabeth grinned.
I rolled my eyes, "Luke isn't working today, he gets Thursdays off."
"Not Luke, Kelli." she handed me my coffee and we started down the sidewalk towards the restaurant where Luke worked.
"How do you know she's working?" I asked. It was a high end place, and I honestly didn't want to walk in wearing the workout clothes I haven't worn in months.
"She's the hostess, I called earlier about making reservations, she said they were full, but I got her name." Annabeth grinned.
"You're taking this seriously." I muttered.
Annabeth laughed, "You think I'm going to let Luke get away with the douche bag move he pulled on you?"
"You're the best." I smiled. She didn't need to do this, she was just awesome like that. I guess I would do the same for her if she was in this situation.
"Percy was worried about you last night. He tried calling." Annabeth said. I could see the banner of our destination just about two blocks up.
"Was he? I didn't check my phone to see who called me. I fell asleep after you left." I sighed.
She nodded, "He hadn't heard from you for two days and he was actually going to call the cops to do a welfare check."
I laughed, "He's such a goofball."
"He is." Annabeth nodded. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. It was a nice May morning. I had decided on taking photography classes over at a local art school. I had always loved photography, so why not make it a career.
"I have class around six tonight." I said.
"Good, I'm glad you're starting something." Annabeth smiled.
"I was thinking about starting a photography business." I replied.
Annabeth grinned, "That's perfect for you. Plus you'd be your own boss, and people are always in need of photographers."
"I'm going to have to start somewhere before I can actually open my own place though." I sighed.
Annabeth shrugged, "I'm doing the same when I get my degree. Architecture is a tough business."
I laughed, "Well, I don't know where my life is headed right now, but I'm glad I have a best friend like you."
Annabeth smiled, "You'd do the same for me."
The restaurant neared and I could see a short dark skinned brunette standing outside at the hostess stand. Her curly black hair had been tamed into a bun and she wore a red dress. Most likely to draw attention towards the overprice, average place. I had eaten there before and the food wasn't as amazing as everyone made it sound. Plus the cheapest thing on the menu was a salad for twenty three dollars.
"Is that her?" Annabeth muttered.
I shrugged, "I've never heard of her before Luke told me about her last night."
"Well let's go find out." Annabeth grinned and pulled me behind her.
We walked up to the hostess stand and she disregarded us with dark, judging eyes, "Can I help you?"
"Are there any lunch reservations open?" Annabeth asked. My eyes swept over the hostess stand and sure enough she was Kelli. She was taller than me by a few inches, she was incredibly toned. Her face was delicately featured, her black hair was curly and impossibly gorgeous, her dark eyes were framed with dark lashes. She also had a cool almost arrogant aura to her. No wonder Luke wanted her over me, the girl was a knockout.
"There's one o'clock reservations open. Would you ladies like those? How many in your party?" she asked.
"Just the two of us." Annabeth replied.
"Ok, one o'clock." Kelli smiled. She glanced over us once more and Annabeth pulled me away. She pulled me into an alley half a block up and grinned like a madman.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked her. There was no way I could compete with Kelli. I was average looking at best. My blue eyes looked like someone left the last little bit of Windex in the bottle, the top of my cheeks and the bridge of my nose was covered with freckles that made me look childish, and my body definitely wasn't toned like that. I was short, my facial features weren't at all as delicate as hers. I didn't know where Annabeth was going with this.
"We're going out for lunch, it'll be my father's treat. Let's get you back to my place and we'll make you look like a knockout." Annabeth grinned.
"I can't complete with someone who looks like a supermodel." I sighed.
"Yes you can. Now come on, I have a few tricks up my sleeve." Annabeth grinned.
Once back at Annabeth's apartment we were greeted by a confused Percy. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed, "You're alive?"
I punched his shoulder, "Of course I am Seaweed Brain."
"What's going on with you two?" Percy asked Annabeth.
"We're going out to lunch, it's on my dad." she shrugged before pulling me towards the bathroom.
After about an hour and a half of Annabeth applying makeup to my face and giving clothes to try on we were ready for lunch. She managed to get herself ready in a matter of ten minutes and she looked flawless in a simple green sundress and a pair of heeled sandals. I ended up wearing a black skirt that came just under my thighs above my knees, a bright aqua top, and a pair of gladiator sandals.
By the time we got to the place our table was ready and then it all went downhill from there. Annabeth and I were looking at the menu, apparently they had lowered their prices because everything was now under twenty dollars.
"What are you thinking about getting?" she asked me.
"I think I'm just going to go with the chicken panini." I shrugged.
"Good afternoon...Thalia? Annabeth?"
I knew that voice. I didn't even have to look up from my menu to realize who the voice belonged to. Annabeth was smirking behind her menu, "We didn't know you were working today."
"Um, I was supposed to have the day off but I took the extra shift." Luke replied. I could feel his eyes on me.
"I'll have the Sicilian Chicken panini and Thalia's going to do the Southwest Chicken panini. Two sparkling waters, and an order of your Spinach and Artichoke dip." Annabeth ordered.
"I'll be back with your drinks." Luke replied. His voice sounded distant. Once he disappeared Annabeth grinned.
"He couldn't stop staring at you." she smirked.
"Shut up. He's probably shocked that I'm actually out." I rolled my eyes.
"Just wait, this is all going to get even better." Annabeth grinned.
I stood from the table and Annabeth pulled me back down, "Don't show weakness. That's the key. Keep your head up."
I took a deep breath and Luke returned with our drinks and surprisingly our appetizer, "Your food should be out shortly."
"Thank you." Annabeth smiled. There was something about the smile that seemed victorious to me. I don't know why, we hadn't won anything yet. Luke disappeared to some other table.
"You did this on purpose." I groaned.
Annabeth laughed, "I honestly didn't know he'd be working today. This is just a bonus."
After our lunch Annabeth and I decided to part ways. I had to go grocery shopping anyway and I promised to meet up with her at the mall. She decided that we'd skip the gym because I already, this is quoting her, have a great body. I apparently just need some clothes that emphasize that fact.
The grocery store was packed, I mean it was New York City. I sighed and started in the produce aisle grabbing whatever I decided I needed. Annabeth had been right, I didn't have much food at the house. What was the need when I was always with Luke anyway?
The grocery store was a short drive from my house and I tended to buy all the junk I could think of and then go back later in the week once I realized that I had gotten nothing but chips, cookies, and ice cream. I made a quick shopping list and grabbed a cart. I couldn't believe that I had run into Luke and he didn't once address me.
"Do you know where I can find the peanut butter?"
I turned to find the most gorgeous man I had ever seen in my entire life standing behind me. I had thought Luke was gorgeous, but this guy had him beat. His hair was thick and cut in a hipster style, the color reminded me of the caramels my father used to buy me when I was a child. His eyes were a warm honey/amber color and he was tall and muscular like he worked out.
"Um it's in aisle four." I smiled.
"Thanks I'm new to the city, I don't know where a single thing is." he smiled.
"Welcome to New York, where did you move from?" I asked curiously.
"I just moved here from London, I'm originally from Wales." he replied. I was completely lost in his accent.
"Well I hope you like the states. What brought you here, if you don't mind me asking of course?" I asked as we continued through the produce aisle.
"I wanted to get away from my family, start a new life." he replied, "Are you a native to New York?"
I shook my head, "Los Angeles, I moved here when I was ten."
"So you're a city girl then?" he smiled.
I nodded, "I am a city girl who knows how to be a country girl when needed."
"Have you ever been to England?" he asked.
I shook my head, "I've always wanted to though."
"If you ever do go, visit London first." he replied.
"I'll keep that in mind." I laughed.
"It was nice to meet you..." he trailed off.
"Thalia." I smiled.
"Thalia, that's from mythology isn't it?" he asked.
I nodded, "The Muse of Comedy."
"It's very different. I'm Collin." he smiled.
"It was nice to meet you Collin." I smiled.
"Same to you Thalia, may our paths cross again." he called as I headed towards the world food aisle.
The moment I walked into my apartment the phone rang, of course it was Annabeth, "Hello?"
"Thalia, did you stop by the store?"
I laughed, "Yeah, why?"
"Shit, I was going to ask you if you could pick me up some mayo, Percy used the last of it and forgot to put it on the shopping list." she cursed.
I laughed, "I just got back, I met this guy at the store."
"Was he cute?" Annabeth asked.
"I just got out of a relationship two days ago. I'm not going to find anyone cute right at the moment." I sighed as I started putting things away. I looked at the clock and noted that I had two hours to kill before I had to go to class. Plus after class I had to work until midnight.
"Doesn't mean you can't find him cute. What did he look like?" she asked.
"He was tall with brown hair and amber eyes. He was British." I replied.
"British Thalia?! You're telling me you didn't at all find him slightly attractive?!" she asked me.
"He was attractive, I just don't want to think about relationships right now." I sighed.
"You have to move on. The only way you're going to show Luke that him breaking up with you didn't kill you is to get back out there and go find that hot British guy you met at the grocery store!" Annabeth sighed exasperatedly.
I laughed, "I don't think I'm going to see him again. There's millions of people in New York City."
"Whatever you say Thalia, whatever you say." Annabeth replied. There was something stealthy about her voice. This would turn into another issue completely.