Hey, look at this! 2 chapters that aren't months apart! I would have had it out within a week, but was away on holiday. Thanks to all of you guys for reviewing and favouriting and following. You guys are the best!

crazy b: Thank you for your feedback! Very informative, and I agree with what you say. Constructive criticism is really helpful! And no need to apologise for me not being your favourite - I don't expect to be. This is my first ever multichap, and I didn't think it would be that different from one shots, but it is, so I'm making many, many mistakes. It's a learning curve. Glad to hear that you enjoy it though!

ems101: You're right, he probably would be determined and get what he wanted... if he knew he wanted. Right now, she is really just someone he thought to have a little fun with. And yep, she shouldn't have forgiven him that quickly, but she's feeling vulnerable right now. She was just reduced to a toy by someone she really liked, so she's going to cling on to those she has, even if it means excusing behaviour she shouldn't. No-one's perfect, not even Annabeth! Thank you for your lovely review, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine. Except the stuff that is.

Read, enjoy, review!

Yes.

A week later, Annabeth had come to a decision. She would meet him - during the day and in a public place, she wasn't stupid. Maybe after school one evening in the park on the way to her Gran's. She would have to hash out the details later with him. First she had to tell him that she wanted to meet up.

AnnabethChase: Yes.

She stared at her phone in her lap for a good few minutes before sending the message off, one tap of that innocuous blue button putting things in motion.

OwenSawyer: To what?

She blushed. How anticlimactic! She had just randomly sent him a message saying yes without any explanation, expecting him to follow her thought process from however many hundreds of miles away he was.

AnnabethChase: Yes, I'll meet up with you.

OwenSawyer: Really? You will?

AnnabethChase: You don't have to sound so shocked.

OwenSawyer: Pleasantly surprised, believe me. Very pleasant. Xx

AnnabethChase: Yeah?

OwenSawyer: Yeah. I can't wait.

AnnabethChase: How do we do this?

OwenSawyer: Well, I'm the one out of the two of us that can drive, so I should probably come to you. The only question is, where are you?

Annabeth considered the question a little. This was something they hadn't discussed, not disclosing their private information online like the good children they were. She trusted him now, though, so she didn't hesitate long before giving him the name of her town, saying to meet at the front gates to the park.

OwenSawyer: Sounds good to me. How about at the end of your school day?

AnnabethChase: College day.

OwenSawyer: College, school, what's the difference in your case? Your college is attached to your old school, you arrive with the school kids, you leave with the school kids, you learn from the same teachers.

AnnabethChase: It's different. We don't have to wear a uniform. Plus, we're mature.

OwenSawyer: Yeah, real mature :P

AnnabethChase: Should I bring a baby sitter with me on our meet up if you're so worried about my maturity?

OwenSawyer: Nope, not necessary. You are mature.

OwenSawyer: Honestly though, you are the most mature lady I have spent my time with. It's nice, you're so classy. Xx

AnnabethChase: Well, someone's got to raise the bar around here!

OwenSawyer: Rude! Just as I was being nice! See what you get next time if you behave like that.

AnnabethChase: I'm sorry! It was just asking to be said.

OwenSawyer: Yada, yada. Back to you meeting up with me and making my day...

AnnabethChase: Oh! Of course. So, you'll drive down to me and meet me at the main park gates at the end of the school day. Anything else we need to sort out?

OwenSawyer: How about the date?

AnnabethChase: Oops. Yup. How about this Thursday, as I'll be walking that way anyway to go to my Gran's?

OwenSawyer: But then you'll have the boys with you.

AnnabethChase: You don't want to meet them?

OwenSawyer: No offence, but not on the first date.

AnnabethChase: I don't blame you, they're little terrors. And you're calling this a date?

OwenSawyer: You're not?

AnnabethChase: I didn't want to be presumptuous.

OwenSawyer: Oh... sorry.

AnnabethChase: No! Don't be! I... hoped it would be, but I didn't want to assume.

OwenSawyer: You hoped? Me too. In fact, I really hope that one day you might want to be my girlfriend. Xx

AnnabethChase: Really?

OwenSawyer: Yeah, I want to show you off to everyone and say you're mine and I'm yours. Xx

AnnabethChase: Aww. Well, today is your lucky day, because I'd like to be your girlfriend too. Xx

OwenSawyer: Wow! I can't believe that both of these happened in one day. Xx

AnnabethChase: Both of these what?

OwenSawyer: You agreeing to meet me and be my girlfriend (and I'm your boyfriend fyi).

AnnabethChase: Of course. Speaking of, we never decided what we were going to do to get around the problem of my brothers being there.

OwenSawyer: You can't get rid of them?

AnnabethChase: I can't leave them to walk home alone, Caroline would kill me.

She sat and thought a moment.

AnnabethChase: Maybe if I take them home and tell Gran I'm meeting a friend for coffee, so would she mind delaying tea a little (as we often have it quite early). And then I could come back and meet you. We could actually have coffee and then it wouldn't even be a lie.

OwenSawyer: Sounds... short. Like the max. amount of time we'd get together would be an hour and a half. It's a long drive to get to where you are just for that. Maybe I could stay overnight in a hotel and we could spend time together on the Friday too xx

AnnabethChase: Sounds great! Xx

OwenSawyer: Maybe I could persuade you to skip school on Friday for the first time! My own little bad school girl...

AnnabethChase: Nice try! Not happening.

OwenSawyer: This seems overly complicated. Why don't I just come down on the weekend and then we can spend more time together?

AnnabethChase: But then I'd be at home, and Dad and Caroline will ask me questions. Gran never asks questions.

OwenSawyer: Why are questions such a bad thing? Don't you want people to know about me?

AnnabethChase: I like having you to myself for the moment. I don't want to share you. Xx

OwenSawyer: Your friends know about me.

AnnabethChase: And look how that turned out! They prank texted you and always tease me. No chance.

OwenSawyer: Fine - back to Plan A then; I'll see you at your park this Thursday at around 5, yeah?

AnnabethChase: You're a man with a plan!

OwenSawyer: xx

Annabeth flopped back onto her bed and blew out a lung full of air. Whoa. Who knew that such a big thing could be organised so easily, as if she was just going out to the park with her friends? Her heartbeat was accelerated, a combination of excitement and nerves getting her adrenaline up. How was she going to wait until Thursday? And how was she ever going to sleep?

"Dinner time!" a voice called, prompting Annabeth to send off a quick farewell message to OwenSawyer so he didn't worry before she wandered downstairs. Unasked, she set the table and made the drinks, just in time for Caroline to place their dinner on the table. "Thanks, Annabeth, I know I can always rely on you, even if those monkeys of mine never seem to be able to detach themselves from their game consoles first time around. Boys!" she raised her voice. "It's on the table now!"

Half a minute later, the twins tumbled through the door frame, arguing over who had won their last 'battle'. Annabeth and Caroline gave them matching frowns, hiding their affection for the young boys under furrowed brows. "Matthew, Bobby, what have I said before?" Caroline chided.

"That we need to be here within three minutes of you calling, otherwise we get a warning," they intoned simultaneously. Matthew continued, "But it was important, mum! It was the battle before the big boss!"

"Are you saying that what you're doing on a video game is more important than the time and effort I've put into making your dinner?"

"Well no, but..." Matthew didn't finish his sentence.

Annabeth saw they had understood the issue, so didn't add any further admonishments to Caroline's. Instead, she prompted, "It's not that we don't want you to enjoy your game, but there are more important things in life, especially as you're the men of the house when dad's not around. So, what do we say?"

"Sorry mum," they both mumbled.

"It's okay, as crimes go it's pretty minor, so we'll let you off this time," Caroline teased. "Now, come on, otherwise dinner really will be cold!"

The four of them settled down, the cheerful atmosphere returned to their bright kitchen on the windy and wet day, and they enjoyed the time together. Annabeth regarded her family warmly, as her brothers attempted their own made up jokes and Caroline attempted to laugh at the almost nonsensical punchlines. The blonde girl laughed more freely than she had in a while, content in the knowledge that she had at least one person that cared about her. After, she volunteered to help with the washing up, but Caroline declined, sending her back to her room with a piece of cake and an instruction to "try and fit in some relaxation time with all your studying".

Later, when the boys were all tucked up in bed, she crept down the stairs in her pyjamas to wash up her plate and overheard a conversation between Caroline and her recently returned father.

"She was really chirpy tonight," Caroline whispered.

"Really?" Frederick asked hopefully. Caroline, who was curled up next to him on the sofa, nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. I don't like to see her so down, she's had enough of that in her life. I wonder what caused her cheeriness."

Annabeth watched as her step-mother shrugged. "Something must have happened to make her mood turn around so quickly though. I guess it doesn't really matter what it was, we should just count our blessings that it happened. I just hope nothing goes wrong to ruin her mood again." Her father nodded, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Annabeth smiled and knocked quietly. Two heads turned towards her, and both started clamouring that she should be in bed. She raised her hands in surrender. "I'm about to turn off my light, it's okay. I just heard you come back and wanted to say good night."

With a murmur of my baby girl, Frederick pulled himself off the sofa and pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her, before releasing her with a wish of sweet dreams and a reminder that he loved her. Returning the sentiments, she sent a smile and a good night in Caroline's direction and headed back upstairs, where she promptly turned off her lights as promised.

Her mind whirred. The events of the day passed through her brain, as if on an old fashioned movie reel. After a few minutes she tossed. A little later, she turned. In the darkness, she noticed the light on her phone flashing, telling her she had a message. Giving into her insomnia, she leant over and unlocked her phone, discovering two messages from OwenSawyer.

OwenSawyer: I can't sleep xx

OwenSawyer: I'm too excited for Thrusday xx

She smiled.

AnnabethChase: So excited that you spelt Thursday wrong?

AnnabethChase: (Don't worry; so am I.) xx

OwenSawyer: Glad to hear it.

...

The next two days passed in a similar manner; the couple exchanged teasing and occasionally genuinely affectionate messages throughout the days and late into the nights. This of course led to dark circles under her eyes and copious yawns - an odd combination with her now ever-present smile.

This sudden chirpiness didn't go unnoticed. It raised a few eyebrows amongst her friends and when she brightly contributed to their group discussions, Percy certainly looked taken aback. A small part of her revelled in this - that she was stronger and better than he thought, that she wasn't moping around after him - but she convinced herself that those feelings were petty. He was no longer her concern, so she wouldn't dedicate any more thought to his opinion of her.

Instead, she spent her time dreaming (and worrying) about what would happen. Would they see each other across a crowded room and instantly know each other, or would they sit down to talk and find that they couldn't keep up an actual face-to-face conversation? She knew that the second was more likely, but she still hoped that they would at least get along.

Not that she had much time to dream and worry. Before she knew it, it was Thursday and she was sending a last minute confirmatory text to OwenSawyer to check everything was still on for that day.

OwenSawyer: Of course sweetheart. I can't wait to see you. I'll start driving down in a minute xx

AnnabethChase: Well, don't text and drive. I don't want you to get in an accident just when we're about to meet xx

OwenSawyer: Then I guess this'll be your last message for a while. I might send you one when I stop to have a break. I'll just have to tide you over with a few kisses: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

AnnabethChase: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By break time, she was a jittery mess. Both Thalia and Katie had had to tell her that she needed to stop jigging her leg and tapping the table with her pen in class. She couldn't do anything productive - instead, she doodled on a blank page and resigned herself to doing catch up work from other people's notes.

She didn't expect anything, but she checked her phone anyway to see whether she had received any messages, hoping he had had a chance to send something. She was ecstatic to find three waiting for her, but her heart dropped as she read them.

OwenSawyer: I am so sorry.

OwenSawyer: I can't come today.

OwenSawyer: Work have called me in and told me I have to work today and tomorrow. I swear, I tried to get out of it, but they said I have to come in or I lose the job. I am so, so sorry xx

Annabeth blinked at the bright screen in front of her until it faded to black, and then blinked a little more to try to reel her tears back in. She took in a shaky breath and clutched her phone, trying not to let on to those around her that something was wrong.

Why did it always happen to her? Did someone up there really not want her to get together with a guy? She was just beginning to think that things were starting to go her way after the Percy fiasco when- ugh! At least that time she had someone specific to be mad at, rather than a generic 'work'. It certainly wasn't OwenSawyer's fault.

Wait.

Work? Where did he work? He had never mentioned it before. Frowning, Annabeth unlocked her phone and sent him a message.

AnnabethChase: I don't remember hearing you mention work before.

She had to wait a few moments, but she didn't look away from her mobile - she didn't feel capable of joining in the conversation at that moment.

OwenSawyer: Really? That's what you're going to pick up on? I'm heartbroken because we can't meet up and you want to know why I've never mentioned work.

AnnabethChase: It's just... quite a big thing not to mention. And if you're supposed to be at work, how come you're texting?

After a few minutes, he sent her a picture, looking down at the body of a guy wearing a dark suit, sat at an office desk, taken at eye level of the one wearing the suit.

OwenSawyer: Believe me now?

OwenSawyer: Look, I didn't mention it because I actually work at my dad's company. Our family's actually very wealthy, so I didn't want to boast or for you to like me just because I'm rich. I want you to like me for me. Telling you about where I work would lead to questions about that, so I kind of just wanted to avoid it all. (And I left my phone out on the desk so when you replied I would see it straight away.)

OwenSawyer: Okay?

She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. She didn't know what was wrong with her! Who gets a long string of highly apologetic texts about an emotionally charged event and immediately interrogates the other person about something that's barely relevant and obviously an uncomfortable subject? She needed to apologise, straight away.

AnnabethChase: Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude. I'm really sad about not being able to meet up too. It was going to be the highlight of my week. I guess I didn't really want to think about it, so I focused on the job thing instead. Sorry.

OwenSawyer: It's okay. I understand, we all deal with it in different ways. Just know that if I haven't told you something then it's for a good reason. And I really am sorry we couldn't meet up.

AnnabethChase: Yeah, but it doesn't mean we can't try again.

OwenSawyer: When should we meet up then?

AnnabethChase: Maybe we should wait until you know when you're free, and we'll work it out from there.

OwenSawyer: Good plan. I'll try to weasel one out of my boss as soon as possible xx

AnnabethChase: In the meantime... work. What kind of people do they have to be to make you come in when you have a date?

OwenSawyer: Clearly evil ones.

AnnabethChase: With no lives.

OwenSawyer: And no wives, seeing as they never got time off to date anyone.

AnnabethChase: Ha! That rhymed.

OwenSawyer: I... know. That's why I did it, duh.

AnnabethChase: Rude.

She huffed playfully, despite the fact that there was no way he could hear her, before typing out another message. She was naturally curious, and now the subject had been broached, he should have no qualms about discussing his work.

AnnabethChase: But seriously, what's your job and why was it so essential that you go in?

OwenSawyer: It's low level stuff, filing, spreadsheets, making coffee and photocopies. Answering the phone. Really boring so I won't bother with the details, but basically it's me and one other guy who share this job; I work when he doesn't, and vice versa. It just so happened that he decided that it would be a great time to fall ill, so they needed me there to man the phone and make them coffee.

OwenSawyer: Because they couldn't do that themselves for a few days.

She could almost hear his eyes rolling from there.

AnnabethChase: Typical. Is it long term, or just a quick flu thing?

OwenSawyer: Just a quick flu thing, I think. I'll let you know when he's back, and we can meet up as soon as possible after that.

AnnabethChase: How do you know I wasn't just asking to check that he was okay?

OwenSawyer: Because you don't know him and even the nicest person in the world (aka you) doesn't care that much to think to ask that sort of question. I know you had ulterior motives, and I respect that.

AnnabethChase: I can't deny the truth.

AnnabethChase: So...

AnnabethChase: Why do you work in such a terrible job if you're rich?

OwenSawyer: It's dad's way of making sure I 'value the money I have', so I don't go crazy with it and crash my Porsche just because I can easily buy another, for example.

AnnabethChase: You have a Porsche?

He sent her a picture that looked like something out of a magazine, sat in front of some kind of mansion, the sun shining, unlike the pouring rain she could see out of the classroom window.

AnnabethChase: You get a Porsche and the good weather? Unfair!

OwenSawyer: Okay, so maybe I took this picture in the summer, but it's still the same car.

AnnabethChase: When do I get a ride in it?

OwenSawyer: I knew you were only after me for the money.

Her eyes widened, panicking as she remembered his insecurity about someone wanting him for his money. Damn! She wasn't going to let a misunderstanding get in between them now.

AnnabethChase: What? No! I liked you long before I knew any of this.

OwenSawyer: Only joking! You'll get a ride when I come down to see you, it just won't be a surprise like I meant it to be.

AnnabethChase: I ruined my own surprise?

OwenSawyer: Indeed you did.

AnnabethChase: Goshdarnit!

OwenSawyer: Oh! I've got to go - someone's calling on the phone. Have a lovely day sweetheart, even if it isn't as good as it was going to be. At least all hope is not lost - we will meet soon! xx

AnnabethChase: xx

It was a sudden end to the conversation, but if he had to go, then so be it. Instead she put her phone away, prepared to join in the conversation flowing around her, but the bell rang before she could, indicating the beginning of the next set of lessons.

The next two hours passed painfully slowly. Just like earlier that morning, she couldn't concentrate on her work and still planned on borrowing her friends' notes to copy up later - it would be a great way to occupy her evening and prevent her from grieving for the evening that almost was. For now, though, she was just too apathetic. She doodled aimlessly, her head resting heavily in her hand, while the rain pouring down the windows perfectly reflected her miserable attitude.

Her only reprieve was that she didn't have Physics with Percy today. He might have nothing to do with today's particular disappointment and wouldn't even know that she had something to be disappointed about, but sitting next to him, working with him while he exchanged quips with his friends behind him would have been unbearable, as though he would have been rubbing it in that she still didn't have a boy interested in her.

Not that she needed one - she was a strong, independent, young woman. He had just knocked her confidence a little. And anyway, OwenSawyer was interested in her, he was her boyfriend as of Monday. It was just her insecurities speaking that it wasn't really official until they met.

She was just being stupid.

But yeah, it was probably just as well that she didn't have Physics - she had a feeling she might have screamed if she had had any contact with Percy. Who she wasn't going to think about anymore. Really, this time.

By the time lunch came around, her friends had had enough; Thalia dragged her into a nearby classroom. "What is going on with you? Even hormones can't explain the massive mood swing you had today. This morning you just wouldn't stop moving - which I guess we could attribute to your ADHD - but you've been smiling all week and then suddenly you're Miss Mopey Mittens!"

"Miss Mopey Mittens?" Rachel asked with raised eyebrows as the other girls entered and caught the tail end of Thalia's rant.

"Yes!" she replied exasperatedly. "Did you not see Annabeth the last two hours?" She mocked Annabeth, intoning dopily, "I'm Annabeth and I'm going to confuse the hell out of everyone because after a week of smiling I've decided that life isn't worth living." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

Katie stepped forward, a pitying look on her face. "While Thalia may be being a little dramatic, she has got a point. What's wrong? We're just a little worried. Last time you acted like this was the Percy debacle."

Thalia muttered, "I thought we all agreed to call him the fucking kelp whelp," but everyone ignored her, waiting for Annabeth's explanation.

The blonde girl sighed peevishly. "Fine. Owen and I were supposed to meet up today, but he had to cancel because of work. That's all." She scrutinised her closest friends' reactions. Surprise, confusion, worry, amongst others. They looked away from Annabeth to share glances with one another, clearly communicating about something. For once she found them unreadable, something that unsettled her. She always knew what her friends were thinking, often before they knew themselves. It was why they usually came to her for advice, why she had the reputation of being wise.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Silena was the first to speak.

She shrugged. "I just wanted it to be me and him, our little secret. It made it feel more fun." There was an uncomfortable silence, the sound of the rain pattering against the window seemingly amplified by the tension in the room generated by unasked questions.

Silena tried again to lighten things up. "So you were finally going to meet and work called the whole thing off, huh? What a buzzkill!" They all laughed uncomfortably.

"Yeah, well, there are worse reasons for him cancelling. At least he didn't get in a car crash or something."

"Oh? Does he drive?" Silena politely inquired, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Yeah, he, uh, he has a Porsche."

Annabeth had just enough time to register all of the girls' jaws dropping before Thalia angrily burst, "Oh, yeah right Annabeth! As if a guy our age has a Porsche. Don't tell me you fell for this shit." Her stunned silence told her railing best friend everything you need to know. "I don't believe this! And if you didn't tell us what you were doing, who did you tell? Because I know damn well that my best friend wouldn't be so stupid as to meet a guy she didn't know on her own without telling anyone. Would she?" Thalia demanded.

"I'm not stupid, we were going to meet after school in the park with loads of other people around and-" Annabeth hotly retorted; Thalia never failed to get her back up when they were fighting, and insulting her intelligence was one sure fire way to do so.

Her dark haired friend cut her off. "You mean, after school when the sun's setting now? You mean, in the park with a load of woods to get lost in? Come on Annabeth!" She shook her head. "All I can say is that I'm glad it was cancelled - it meant that you told us what was happening." She shook her head again, almost pityingly, before stalking out of the room. Rachel followed suit, apparently similarly agitated.

Katie hesitated, before Silena nodded for her to go. "I'll be along in a minute, I just want to say something to our girl here, okay?" Katie nodded and scampered after the other two, closing the door behind her.

Silena turned to face Annabeth, a calculating look on her face. Her features softened slightly as she walked over to seat herself on a table next to Annabeth. "You really like this guy, don't you?" A little thrown off balance by Thalia's impassioned rant, Annabeth simply nodded. Silena's own reply was a similar, but more decisive nod. "Okay then." She smiled suddenly, "You want to talk about him, about how amazing he is, you come and talk to me, yeah?

Annabeth's head tilted to the side questioningly. "Why? Why aren't you angry like the others?"

"Thalia's worried, not angry, she'll get over herself. And I like a good underdog, odd couples coming together. Me and Charlie are an odd couple. I'm not going to count you out just because you are too."

Annabeth smiled faintly. "Charlie and I."

"What? Oh." She shoved her friend. "Good to see you never change. Seriously though, I want to hear every detail about your relationship, I love a good love story." She squeezed her arm gently before hopping off the table and offered Annabeth her hand. "Come on. You can tell me while we find the others."

So. That was tough to write. Motivation, where are you? Enough of my problems. I hope you enjoyed it, and are having a nice day! xx