A/N: Longer chapter... amd Tratoe scenes too. This chapter is a link chapger which revolves around Annabeth's past. The next chapter is bound to be more FUN and totally FUNNY because it skips to their landing in London and their meet with all Percy's relatives from London and USA. There's going to be plenty of subplots and jolly time!

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Katie pulled her long hair into a messy ponytail and pulled on her faded denim shorts and a crimson tee before slipping into her bunny fur slippers and skipping down to the kitchen where her sister Miranda was on the phone with her boyfriend. Katie smiled a little as Miranda laughed over the phone.

Katie loved Miranda so damn much. Her sister had been everything to her even when they were kids. Miranda sort of sacrificed so much for Katie just so she could be happy. Damn, Miranda even took her under the wings when she was broke and gave her a roof to stay under. Of course, Katie knew that she couldn't go on staying with Miranda because Miranda was ready to move in with her boyfriend Connor. But really, Miranda was holding back for Katie and Katie knew it and she was deeply touched that Miranda would do that for her. She was also really grateful to Connor for being a wonderful person. Katie didn't want to take too much advantage though, she was only waiting for a reply from the botanical gardens and herbariums she had applied to for a job. She didn't want to spend her life was a waitress but she wanted to do what she loved. Working with plants. Unfortunately she hadn't gotten a reply from the places she had applied to and Katie was planning to move out in a month whether she got the job or not.

Miranda flashed Katie a grin when she spotted her. Katie waved, pulled open the fridge and rummaged around for a few minutes. She finally pulled out a tub of lychee ice cream and two spoons before walking into the living room and flopping down on the couch. A few seconds later Miranda walked in and grabbed Katie's other spoon and dug into the tub of ice cream too.

"You're blushing," Katie teased Miranda.

Miranda rolled her eyes and punched Katie softly. "Shut up, Katie-Kat!"

Katie sat up straight when she heard the nickname. "Wait, what? How did you know that name?" she asked.

Miranda laughed and crossed her legs and helped herself to more ice cream. "Some boy called the land line number. Left a message for 'Katie-Kat' and you were my best guess," she said.

Katie almost choked on a piece of lychee. "WHAT?! Travis called the land line?"

Miranda leaned back on the couch and gave Katie a sly smile. "Travis? Oh, so that's his name! He sounded interesting," she said.

Katie gave Miranda an incredulous look as she reached over and pressed the button on the phone to listen to the message Travis jad dropped in.

"Whoo! Katie-Kat!" Travis' voice hollered. "Geez, why won't you reply to any of my messages? You know, I could be trying to tell you something really important. Look Katie-Kat, call me back before 9 pm today or I'm coming home. That's not a threat, I'm serious!"

Beep.

Katie looked up at Miranda who was snickering into her hands. "Not funny, Miranda," Katie said.

Miranda laughed. "Really? I find it pretty funny. Are you gonna call him or let him come over?"

Katie looked up at the clock and groaned. Five minutes to nine. She had a good mind to just ignore Travis, but she had this feeling that he'd come over if she did. "I don't think I have a choice," She muttered picking up her phone.

Miranda grinned at her. "True. Now go speak to him," she said pushing Katie away from the living room. Katie sighed and carried her phone up to the balcony outside her room. Travis picked up on the third ring.

"Katie-Kat! I knew you'd call," he said.

Katie leaned back against the railing. "What do you want Travis?"

"I'm fine, thank you. You're a cherry, you know!"

Katie rolled her hazel eyes. "Seriously. You've been calling me for what?" she said.

Travis grunted. "Fine. Be a grumpy potato. Here's the thing, you need come to London!"

Katie laughed. "Yeah. Totally," she said.

"I'm serious," Travis said.

Katie began to fire questions at him but Travis intervened and quickly told her all about Annabeth. Katie let out a low whistle when she heard the story.

"Wow! So Annabeth's big mouth has got her into travelling to London for a month? That's AWESOME!" she exclaimed.

Travis laughed and Katie smiled. He had a nice laugh. "Well, yes. It is awesome. But you have to come if Annabeth is going," he said.

"Uh huh," Katie said examining her nails in the dim light.

"So you have got to come," he continued.

"uh huh," Katie repeated.

"And it will be really fun. London is awesome and you get a whole month away from having to work at the Coffee Shack and the most important thing, you get to spend time with the great Travis Stoll," Travis said.

Katie couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. "Travis, I'd rather travel with pigs than with you," she said.

"Hey," Travis complained angrily. "I'm not that bad."

"Whatever. Listen, I'm actually okay with it. Count me in. I'm coming to London," Katie said. Katie thought it was a pretty neat idea. She could take off for a month and vacation in London. And if she got a job in a herbarium she'd move out from Miranda's house. And if she didn't... She'd have to use her savings to rent a tiny house and start earning all over again by whatever means.

"Well, that was easy. I thought you would need a little more persuasion," Travis said.

Katie smiled. "Nope, this better be a good trip though. I've always wanted to go to London," she said.

"You'll never regret it, Katie-Kat," Travis said.

Katie frowned. "Are you ever going to stop calling me that?" she said.

"Nah, I don't think so. Anyway, goodnight! Travis dreams," Travis said.

Katie rolled her eyes. "Travis dreams? Yeah, that should give me nightmares," she said.

Travis chuckled. "Sleep, Katie. I have to go now," Travis said and the line went dead. Katie smiled and stuffed her cell into her pocket and went back down to Miranda to tell her about the news.

...

"Awww! That's so cute," Katie cooed fingering the chiffon and silk material of the cream coloured dress on Annabeth's bed.

"That's what I thought too when I bought it," Annabeth said.

Katie crossed her legs and surveyed the clothes scattered on Annabeth's bed. "Where did you have all these clothes Annabeth? You hardly wear them," she said.

Annabeth folded a red dress and stuffed it carefully into her suitcase that she'd be taking to London in two days. "Um, Dad got them for me. And then my stepmother hoped she could win me over with clothes too. I never really cared," Annabeth replied.

Katie shrugged and helped Annabeth fold a few more clothes. "Well, lucky for you though. And ready, Annie? Books? You packed books?"

"First, don't call me Annie. Second, of course I'm taking my books. You think I'd go anywhere without it?"

Katie rolled her eyes and zipped up Annabeth's duffel bag and placed it next to her backpack which was already stuffed with books. "I swear I'm going to throw your books down the drain if you don't loosen up and have fun when in London," she warned.

Annabeth laughed. "Jeez, Katie. I'm not a total nerd. Besides I'm going to have my hands full while I pose as Percy's girlfriend. I'm pretty sure all his relatives are going to be fawning over me."

"That or they'll hate you," Katie said knowingly.

"Oh and that is so helpful. Thanks, Katie," Annabeth said sarcastically.

Katie laughed and pulled Annabeth to sit next to her on the bed. Just then Annabeth's phone let out a small ping and Annabeth immediately reached for it. "It's Percy," she said smiling.

Ever since the lunch with his family, Annabeth and Percy had spent every single day texting each other or talking over the phone for hours at an end and Annabeth was starting to like his company quite a lot.

"Hey Seaweed Brain," She said into her phone and leaning back on her bed.

"Hey Wise girl! Are you done packing?" Percy said.

Annabeth looked at her bags packed and stowed away and grinned. "Yes, I just finished them. I don't know how people dress in London, but I'm guessing ripped jeans won't cut it?"

"Hell no. Grandma will have a fit," Percy laughed.

"And you? You're done packing?" Annabeth asked him, ignoring Katie and her smirk.

"Um no. I'm really lazy and I don't feel like it," Percy said. "Besides, I'm bored."

Annabeth scoffed. "Bored? Percy, go pack. You've got no time," she said.

"I will... Later. Listen, do you want to grab some ice cream? Katie can come along too."

Annabeth looked up at Katie. "Wanna go out for an ice cream?"

Katie shrugged. "Sure. Never say no to food," she said.

Annabeth grinned and turned back to her phone. "Okay. Meet you at Coldstone in ten?"

"Great. We'll be there."

Annabeth jumped up and quickly slipped into a faded blue jean and threw on a grey tee before pulling her curls into a side ponytail. "I think Travis will ne there too," she said.

Katie groaned but got up and stretched. "Oh joy!" she said sarcastically before following Annabeth to her old Volkswagen. Annabeth's car was practically ancient and was in a very unstable state. Katie swore that one day it would just break down and Annabeth would end up stranded. But Annabeth got easily offended whenever anyone said anything about her 'baby' as she called it.

"Can I drive?" Katie asked.

Annabeth scoffed. "Never," she said. She didn't like people driving her baby.

When Annabeth parked her car in the parking lot of Coldstone, she and Katie piled out. Annabeth walked ahead amd swung the door open and stepped into the cool interior of the ice cream parlour with Katie towing along.

"Annabeth, over here," Percy called from a table pushed up against the window. Beside him Travis was slouched on the plastic chair as he texted on his phone.

"Hey Percy. Travis," Annabeth said smiling brightly as she took the blue plastic chair opposite Percy. Travis put his phone away and grinned cockily.

"Hey Annabeth. Katie-Kat," he said.

Katie scowled at him before sticking her tongue out at Travis.

Annabeth rolled her eyes and turned to Percy. "Wanna order with me? These two are busy playing three year olds," she said shaking her head.

Percy shrugged as he stood up with Annabeth. "Sure, come on."

"Tropical fruit basket for me," Katie reminded Annabeth. Annabeth nodded in response. Tropical fruit basket was Katie's regular sundae flavour just like Annabeth's was mint and chocolate. They'd been eating the same flavours since they were in elementary school together.

"Banana and fudge," Travis said.

Annabeth nodded again and walked to the counter with Percy. She placed the three orders and let Percy order his sundae. He wanted Chocolate Temptation.

"Chocolate temptation? But that's just full chocolate. It tastes fine the first few spoonfuls but then it gets over sweet," Annabeth quipped.

Percy laughed and shrugged. "Maybe, but I think I like it that way," he said.

Annabeth scrunched her nose but kept quiet.

"Here are the ice creams. Have a nice time," a guy whose tag read Ken said pushing two trays in front of them. Percy picked up a tray and walked to the table. Annabeth too picked up her tray but before she could head in the same direction someone stopped her.

"Annabeth?"

Annabeth looked up and almost dropped her tray in shock. "Lu- Luke?"

Luke smiled his handsome face stretching far too much. "Hell, Annabeth you look gorgeous as always," he said stuffing his hands into his jean pockets.

Annabeth rolled her eyes in disgust. "Your opening lines are getting cheesier as the days pass." Her contempt was evident in her steely voice but Luke just grinned.

"That's because you left me baby. You impaired my romantic nature," he said.

Annabeth closed her eyes drew in short quick breaths to avoid screaming or doing something drastic like emptying her tray of ice cream on his blonde head. "Do you want me to remind you why I left you Luke? I think I should just leave," she said shaking her head amd trying to walk away.

Luke sidestepped her and barred her way. "I want another chance Annabeth. One chance," he said.

Annabeth laughed mirthlessly. It sounded cold even to her own ears. "Get away Luke. Or..."

"Or what? Tell me," Luke teased moving closer to her.

Annabeth stepped back from him and glared at him, her grey eyes turning as stormy as a typhoon.

"Annabeth? Everything okay?"

Annabeth looked up and saw Percy watching her and Luke warily. "Yes, good," she lied.

Luke surveyed Percy censuring him and Percy did the same with dislike written all over his face. "Who's he? Your new boyfriend?" Luke sneered.

"None of your business," Annabeth replied coldly as she turned around and marched away from Luke with Percy to their table. She felt Percy looking at her questioningly but she pretended to not notice.

"Finally, I was beginning to think that you stole my icecream," Travis said reaching for his cup from Annabeth's tray. Katie rolled her eyes and began to say something but Annabeth tuned them out as she turned to Percy. "Fancy a walk?" she said.

Percy shrugged and picked up the plastic cup of his icecream. "Let's go," he said.

Travis and Katie barely looked up as they continued bantering like three year olds. Annabeth couldn't help smiling at those two as she followed Percy out through the double glass doors. Percy and Annabeth walked in silence until they reached a small park to the side of the parlour. It was a hot day and the park was deserted save a few teenagers laughing over something and drinking coke off metal cans.

Annabeth immediately took the swing and playfully pushed her feet against the ground enjoying the raise.

"The swings? What are you, a child?" Percy teased with a smile.

Annabeth shrugged and smiled up at him. "Weren't we all one? There's nothing wrong in reliving the past," she said motioning for Percy to take the other swing. Percy gave up and sat next to her as he spooned chocolate icecream into his mouth.

"Who was he?" Percy asked finally unable to hold it in.

Annabeth licked her mint and chocolate icecream before turning to Percy. "Luke Castellan, my worst nightmare. I don't wanna talk about him... It's too painful," she said. Thinking about Luke made her want to wring chicken necks and weep like a toddler. She was furious and yet hurt and thinking about the source only made her feelings aggravated.

"I got that. I don't like the look of him, he looks like a bastard. Tell me when you feel like it," Percy said trying to swing himself.

Annabeth's lips quirked up in a smile. "Oh, so he looks like a bastard? Tell me how does a bastard look?"

Percy smiled back as he shrugged his shoulders. Before he could reply though a girl with beautiful auburn hair came flying from nowhere and hurled herself at Percy.

"Percy doll! Ohmigawd!" she squealed.

She finally let go of Percy after what seemed like an eternity and beamed at him completely ignoring Annabeth.

"Percy! You said you'd call me but you never did," the girl whined and pouted.

Percy looked increasingly uncomfortable and Annabeth had to try and smother the laugh that was threatening to bubble out. "Um, I guess I lost your number," Percy managed awkwardly.

The girl dimpled at him. "Baby, I was really hoping you'd call me. No probs, this is my number," she said and pressed a wad of paper into Percy's hand and winked. "Call me," she said putting her hand to her ear and smiling kinky.

Annabeth turned away blushing. The girl was so hopeful it was funny and also a little sad because Annabeth knew Percy wouldn't call. He was a player for crying out loud, he didn't do girls a second time.

"Sure," Percy said. He let out a relieved sigh when the girl sauntered away and turned to Annabeth.

Annabeth raised her blond brow in amusement. "I bet you didn't even know her name, did you?" she said.

Percy held up his hands in surrender. "Guilty," he said.

Annabeth kicked the ground and swung higher. "And you won't call her." It wasn't a question so much as a fact but Percy shook his head anyway.

"I couldn't if I wanted to," he said, "because Travis blocked every girls' number so I won't call them and vice versa. You know, precautions while we stay together in London."

"Travis did that? Wow, my respect for him just tripled," Annabeth said.

Percy laughed and got off the swing and pulled Annabeth to her feet. "He'd love to hear that. Now come on, we should go back," he said.

They strode across the park quickly to get away from the burning summer heat. "London has a good climate this time," Percy said. "Windy mostly."

Annabeth tucked her stray curls back behind her ear. She didn't know how she was supposed to feel about the trip to London with Percy because she hardly knew him and the fact that he toyed around with girls didn't help. But London seemed exciting and Katie was coming along too. And to be honest, she liked Percy if she ignored his weakness for girls which was wasn't that difficult because to her, he behaved well.

"Annabeth," Percy hissed under his breath suddenly. Annabeth looked up at the change in his voice and the strained position of his taut muscles. In front of them stood Luke, his blond hair spilling over his eyes and a challenging smile pasted on his handsome face.

"Annie dear, nothing is over yet. I'm always going to be around. Keep thatin your pretty brain."

With those merry words Luke smirked and stormed away leaving a cold wet and dreary feeling in Annabeth's stomach. Of course it wasn't over, Luke always won...and he wanted to win this time too. Only Annabeth had to lose if he had to win and she wasn't going to let it happen any time soon.

At least that's what she told herself.

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Like I said, next chapter will be awesome. All the following chapters will be fun... if you wanna read them then REVIEW PLEASE!

Thank you!

Love,

theGirlster!