ARTEMIS POV
I unlock the door to my apartment and lead Percy in, shutting it gently behind him. "Okay, prepare to have your mind blown."
He laughs and follows me into the kitchen, sitting down at the island. "Okay, I think I'm ready."
I pull out a glass from the cabinet and push the ice dispenser button on my fridge, filling it with ice. "You don't mind ice, right?"
He shakes his head. "No, I like cold drinks."
I pull out the Red Diamond sweet tea and fill up the glass, sliding it across the counter and into his hands. I bit my lip and watched him impatiently.
He slowly lifted it to his mouth, taking longer just to get on my nerves. He took a small sip and looked at me. "Not bad, not bad."
"Not bad? Not bad?! Sweet tea is amazing and awesome and great and the epitome of perfection." I rant before glancing up at him. "Sorry, it's just so great." I laugh nervously, putting the tea back in the refrigerator.
He laughs, taking another drink. "It's gre-"
The sound of his phone's ringtone cuts him off and he pulls it out, glancing at the name. He rolls his eyes and puts it on vibrate and sets it on the counter, looking back over at me. "Now, where wer-" His phone vibrates yet again, even louder as it hits the granite counters.
I quickly glance at the name – Annabeth – and sigh biting my lip and looking back at him. "You can, um, answer that if you want, I can go in my room or something." I slowly walk away from my place as the island and only run into the doorpost before sending him an awkward glance.
He answers the call after releasing a quick sigh and I walk over to my bookshelf, looking at all of my books. From Pride and Prejudice to Artemis Fowl to The Selection, I've got it all. I pull out Champion by Marie Lu, a sad smile on my face. This book crushed my heart, then stomped on it a few times, then ate it, then spit it back up, and then stomped on it a couple times. I'd totally recommend it.
I walk over to my bed and start re-reading it (only for the thousandth time), not even noticing Percy leaning against the doorpost as I take a strand of my silver hair, twirling it slightly around my finger.
He clears his throat, a small smile on his face. "I could always come back later."
I feel the blood rush to my cheeks quickly, and shut the book. "Sorry, um, you okay?"
He nods, walking into my room and pointing to the edge of my bed. "May I?" I nod and he sits down looking over at me. "Yeah, it was just, a friend. An ex friend, to be more accurate."
I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Oh, I'm, um, sorry to hear that."
He shakes his head, laughing softly. "Yeah, you totally shouldn't be."
"Oh."
"Yup." He looks in front of him, his eyes widening at my bookshelf. "You like to read?"
I roll my eyes playfully. "Gee, what gave you that impression?"
He laughs. "I like girls who read."
I blush and look back at my books. "Do you read?"
He shrugs. "Only medical stuff, mostly."
"Are you a doctor?"
"Yeah, just about to start my residency."
My eyes widen. "How old are you?"
He laughs. "Twenty-four, about to turn twenty-five. I graduated high school when I was sixteen, so I got a head start."
"Oh. Again."
Before I can say anything else, I hear my front door open, Leto start barking like crazy, and a feminine sounding voice. "Artemis Brennan, get in here!"
I roll my eyes and sigh loudly, walking into my kitchen, sending Percy an apologetic glance. "Yes, Raelynn?"
Meet Raelynn Bennett. Drop dead gorgeous, dark haired, perfect everything, and my best friend since fourth grade.
"You met a guy and didn't immediately tell me?"
"How-?"
"It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is why you didn't tell me so I could meet him." She raises an eyebrow and smirks. "I hear he's beautiful. Dark hair, sea green eyes, perfect… everything."
I blush like crazy as I hear Percy's steps behind me and see Raelynn's jaw drop. "Surprise?"
She gives me a pointed look. "We will talk about this later."
I sigh and turn to face both of them. "Percy, this is Raelynn, my best friend. Raelynn, this is Percy, the guy you were just talking about."
He nods. "Yeah, the one with dark hair, sea green eyes, and, what else? Perfect… everything?" He raises an eyebrow, a beautiful crooked smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, Raelynn."
Raelynn, absolutely dumbstruck, just nods. Two seconds later, she comes back to the real world. "You too. I was actually, um, just leaving, you know." She walks to the door, almost falling in her gorgeous Christian Louboutin pumps.
"I'm so sorry." I say to Percy, covering my face with my hands.
He laughs. "Do I really have 'perfect everything'?"
I blush harder and walk towards my room, a small smile on my face. "I never said that."
He grabs one of my hands and pulls me into him and leans down to whisper in my ear. "I think you have perfect everything, too." He pulls away, smirking. "I have to start rounds so goodbye, Artemis." He winks and walks out the door, leaving me dumbfounded.
I glance at the clock – 5:42. Time for dinner, then shower, then bed, all the while, thinking of Percy and the way I felt pulled against him.
