Hey everyone, thanks for all the amazing and awesome reviews you guys sent me. I am so grateful for them. Your support keeps me writing and I am excited about the next chapter. Hope you are excited because I am. Enjoy. Inspired by Hey, Soul Sister by Train.

It Had Begun Again With A Simple Hello

When Annabeth clocked out of work this afternoon she didn't know if she should be nervous or not... oh who was she kidding. Of course she should be nervous because it had been confirmed. They were having a movie night and it was with Thalia Grace, the fire filled, hot headed Punk that Annabeth had grown up with, Nico Di Angelo, Thalia's boyfriend and of course one of Percy's closest friends who was dark, dangerous and you did not want to mess with him or anyone he was friends with.

Percy had texted her, saying that Grover wouldn't be making it. Now it was Grover that first introduced Annabeth and Percy to each other. He was kind of assigned to be Percy's 'guardian' when he arrived at their school and he was tasked with showing Percy the ropes and helping him out around the school grounds. He sadly was out of town, taking his conservation group to the Amazon jungle for a month.

But that didn't scare Annabeth any less. Thalia Grace could be flat out mean and was brutally honest. She didn't pull wool over people's eyes or bullshit with trying to dilute the truth of her statement. She told people her opinions flat out to their face and didn't give a damn about how harsh she was or if it was rude, hurtful or just rubbing people the wrong way.

Annabeth knew a lot about Thalia's temper, she never reigned it in, of course meeting Nico, her boyfriend had mellowed and tamed her down a little bit since his family he came from was well polished and pristine but Nico didn't let that hold his true nature down. He was well mannered but he didn't dress the part of a stuck up, professional business man he had grown into by his parents.

He had an obsession with skulls, motorcycles and heavy metal music, which is what made him a hundred percent perfect for Thalia Grace. In all honesty, Annabeth never had an idea of what Nico profession wise did but she knew from the last time she spoke with Thalia (five years ago) that she worked as a mechanic. It's actually how she and Nico met. His bike needed a tune-up and Thalia owns the auto-repair shop he brought it too. They've hit it off ever since.

Sitting on the bench outside the building, reading through the file that she had been given by Minerva, she thought she'd get a head start, using her Ipad, she started doing research. She knew a lot about Mr. Dare but she decided to re-educate herself since she hadn't once looked at anything she ever did in the past for him in over five years since construction was finished on the last building she did for him.

Through that research she discovered more about his prized princess of a daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Dare who was currently engaged to be married to the son of a very wealthy businessmen who owned a large range of publishing companies. In doing so, she finally looked upon the face of Octavian Michelangelo Castellan and that's when she realised something with seeing the surname.

Luke Castellan was of course Octavian's half brother, or illegitimate half sibling since Luke only recently was placed in the profile as one of Octavian's siblings. That honestl terrified her a little, he had already agreed with herself to tell Percy that she would be working with Rachel but to discover that her fiancé happens to be the brother of guy who she cheated on would really make things awkward because it was obvious that Percy didn't know.

Annabeth was so deep into her reading, she didn't notice the car that had pulled up in front of her, or notice the man who stepped out the vehicle. She practically jumped out of her skin when a familiar voice spoke right in her ear, "What ya readin' Wise Girl?"

She let out a squeak in surprise, nearly dropping her tablet onto the concrete in front of her but somehow managed to keep a hold of the very expensive device as she turned round and scowled at the familiar face. Percy was chuckling, still hunched over and obviously trying to catch his breath, a big stupid grin on his face which only made Annabeth scowl harder at him. "That was not cool Percy."

"Sorry but I couldn't resist." He apologized it but he didn't mean it cause he kept chuckling but it was dying down. "You were so absorbed in whatever you were doing, I couldn't help myself."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, remembered to close the protective cover of the device so it wouldn't get scratched in her purse along with the files she had been given before standing up, muttering, "Seaweed Brain," under her breath. When she turned round, Percy seemed to have calmed down but he had a strange confused expression on his face. "Something wrong Percy?" she asked.

He kept a confused look on his face, eyebrows scrunched as he asked, "When did you get glasses?" He pointed out, Annabeth realising that that her thin black framed, rectangular glasses still rested on the bridge of her nose. It damned on her in that very moment that she never told Percy that she needed to get reading glasses because she was struggling with her vision.

"I had to get these last year." She answered as she removed her glasses and put them neatly in their protective case as she continued to speak, "I spent so much time staring at computer screens and my tablet's screen it screwed my vision so I have reading glasses now."

Percy pouted but nodded in understanding as a grin appeared on his face, "They suit you." That left Annabeth feeling a little flushed, the fact that he acknowledged that she looked good was progress in her books. "Are you alright with Chinese tonight or do you want pizza. Thalia and Nico are bringing beer and their movie choice." Percy said as he opened the passenger side of the car for Annabeth.

She smiled as she climbed in, Percy closing the door for her as he climbed straight in as she answered, "I'm cool with Chinese as long as I get my springroll." Annabeth said with a cheeky grin as she put her seat belt on.

Percy mimicked her actions as he spoke, "As long as you don't steal any of my sweet and sour chicken." Percy retorted to which Annabeth just laughed.

"You know I can't promise you that. You're just gonna have to share with me." She teased, knowing how much Percy detested the thought of sharing food with anyone. Percy didn't share with anyone, even when she and him were dating, he never shared so she had to steal from him and that ended with a very wonderful make out session.

Annabeth flushed at the mere thought of Percy's lips crashing against hers, their tongues in a hot tango, their bodies pressed together, hands threaded in her hair, his hands caressing every piece of her visible skin...

Bad Annabeth, stop thinking like that, Annabeth thought, mentally berating herself. She had only just started working through things with him. She knew that it was going to take a long time before they ever tried the whole dating thing again. she didn't even know if they were even friends or at the moment just acquaintances. It was going to take a long time before they ever got back to how things were before she screed everything up.

Percy frowned at Annabeth with a giant pout on his face, "There is no way I am sharing with you so we are going to get pizza instead since that's what Thalia will probably want with her beer." Annabeth smiled, knowing that that was exactly what her best friend would prefer more than anything else.

It was an hour later that they were finally settled down back into the apartment and it was nearly time for Thalia and Nico to arrive so Annabeth took time to go and get dressed into something a little more comfortable. As much as she loved work, she loved home too and she was honestly grateful to be back in her apartment.

She hated being alone, feeling alone, the loneliness was her own fault in every way. She ran away like a coward instead of waiting. Instead of staying to try and fight for her relationship, to fight for him, for their love and happiness, she ran away and never looked back.

Fate had brought her back to New York.

The three fates had orchestrated her return to the place that in her heart had always been home. The three fates had given her another chance to fight after she failed in the first test that had been set in her path. She wasn't going to throw away this third chance she had gotten. She was going to make things right and her first test had just arrived because she heard the loud knocking on the door.

Annabeth sighed and pulled her hair back into a loose messy ponytail and made sure that her black tank top looked alright along with her loose baggy pajama bottoms and took in a deep breath. The sound of her door opening and closing behind her caused her to freeze when she saw the person who had entered in the reflection of her bedroom mirror.

She stared back into the familiar angry electric blue eyes that looked charged with literal bolts of electricity. There was a deep angry scowl on the familiar face that was had a messy head of black hair cut in a pixie cut. Thalia Grace was standing behind Annabeth right now and she was absolutely terrified in this very moment because Thalia Grace was unpredictable when she was angry.

Annabeth slowly turned round, unable to meet the eyes of the woman her had been like a sister to her for so many years. "At least have the decency to look at my face and not your feet when you answer me, Chase." Thalia seethed, her arms crossed over her chest as she stood there dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black death to Barbie t-shirt. Annabeth cringed but looked up and met Thalia's gaze, guilt flowing through her body like it was her own blood. "Why did you do it, Annabeth? Why'd you leave?"

"I made a mistake Thalia. a big one that I know I will never be able to take back and you will never know how sorry I am for doing what I did." Annabeth confesed, in all honesty, even she didn't know why she cheated on Percy. It could have been a number of things but she never came to a definite answer herself. "I was a coward. I ran instead of trying to fight for him but I was far more than a coward and just ran."

Thalia scoffed, "We all have to have a reason for our actions Annabeth. Whatever your reason is will never justify why you broke that man's heart!" Thalia yelled as she stomped closer to Annabeth. "He fucking waited for months for you to come back. He fucking called every single one of us to try and find out where you were to try and figure out if you were still wanted him or not!"

"I know that!" Annabeth shouted back, guilt completely overwhelming her, her mouth moving before her brain had time to think, "I screwed everything by leaving and I have felt guilty ever since and I know that I don't deserve the second chance that the incredible man behind that door has given me but one thing I do know is that I am not going to screw it up this time." Annabeth assured Thalia with her eyes glassing over, emotions overwhelming her.

Thalia had a stern expression on her face. She said nothing, all she did was remain silent to see what Annabeth was going to say because Annabeth had more to say.

"I know I have done a lot of things that I regret but I have never regretted anything more than doing the despicable thing I did to Percy. I never deserved him. I never deserved his love. I don't deserve his forgiveness. I don't deserve this second chance he has given me." Annabeth swallowed the lump in her throat as she sat down on her bed, taking in a shaky breath, "I am baffled that he even gave me another chance to be his friend again, let alone be anything more than that."

"What's to say he wants to be in a relationship again with you?" Thalia questioned, her eyes stilled filled with anger but her jaw wasn't as tight now.

"at this stage, there is no telling if we will ever be that way again but I just know that I cant not have him in my life. Not again. those five years of loneliness which were my own doing; they were hell without him." Annabeth reached up and wiped her eyes dry, swallowing her tears. "I don't care if he doesn't take me back, I don't care if he never wants a relationship with me ever again Thals, I would much rather be his friend than not have him at all. I need him in my life and if it means just being friends, then I will take it."

There was a long silence between the two, Annabeth remained unmoving as she stared down at her feet, and shoulder's sagged as she wrung her hands around themselves.

"It pissed me off big time that you never called or texted." Thalia said, finally speaking up as she moved forward and sat down next to Annabeth, seated with her elbows on her knees, back arched like the Hunchback of Notre Dame as she looked at Annabeth. "You went off the grid completely, I didn't know if you were okay until your dad called me and told me where you were."

"Thals, I-"

"hush up will you. Let me finish and then you can grovel and beg for forgiveness but let me speak first." Thalia said, a weak smile on Annabeth's face as she listened. "For weeks I considered coming to drag your ass down here, for weeks I considered hightailing it up there and beating the shit and an explanation out of you for hurting Percy because it hurt to see him so hurt." Annabeth winced but Thalia didn't notice. "I just felt so hurt that you didn't come to me. sure I would have been pissed but I would have listened to you."

"Thalia, I was a coward. I thought that once you found out what I did, you'd hate me and I didn't want to see the look of hatred you get when you look at your father directed at me." Annabeth spoke up, much to Thalia's annoyance but Annabeth didn't care. She needed to know that her friend didn't need to feel hurt because of her stupid mistake. "I wanted to come to you so badly but I was scared of losing someone else I cared about to."

"I know. Over time, I kind of came to that realisation but it still hurt." Thalia reached out and wrapped an arm loosely around her friends shoulder's, "I've forgiven you for not coming to me but its going to take me sometime to forgive you for what you did to Percy."

"I know." Annabeth said softly as Thalia pulled her into her side.

There was a pregnant pause before Thalia spoke up again, "I heard you met Red upon your arrival" She said with a smirk as Annabeth chuckled.

"Yes, I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting that red headed nightmare. Did Percy tell you what she said to me?" Annabeth asked curiously as she turned and looked at Thalia who chuckled.

"Yep. I hope you put her in her place. That bitch is a slut in my opinion." Thalia said with an eye which earned a slap on the shoulder from Annabeth.

"Dont say that, even if she is one." The two smiled at each other, things seeming more comfortable instead of tense like it was in the beginning. "She tried to tell me Percy was hers even though she's engaged you know."

Thalia's eyes widened comically, "You seriously aren't shitting me right now are you?" Annabeth shook her head.

"Nope, it gets even better. I got back to work today and was put on this big project and guess who is the requested designer by the customer." Annabeth laughed at the expression on Thalia's face.

"You have got to work with that red curly haired bitch?!" Thalia gasp, shouted much to Annabeth's amusement.

"Yep," she said making a pop with the 'p', amusement on her face as she looked at Thalia's shocked expression.

"Gods I feel sorry for you but please tell me you got to see the look on her face when she was told you would be working with her." Thalia begged, a smile on her face when she saw the look in Annabeth's eye that told her the answer to her question.

"Minerva introduced me as the best designer in all of the firms. Rachel looked like she had just seen the birthing video from health class." Annabeth chuckled to herself, they sounded like two teenage girls gossiping right now. Thalia had just burst out laughing after . "You know that most people in the building referred to her as the Red-Headed Nightmare?" Annabeth added and Thalia looked like she was about to cry as she laughed.

"My god that expression on her face must have been priceless." Thalia laughed as she pulled Annabeth into a right hug, smiling as her best friend laughed with her. "I really missed listening to your work gossip."

"I missed you, Thals." Annabeth confessed with a soft smile on her face as she hugged her friend a little tighter.

"I missed you too, Annie." Thalia said with a smirk, knowing how much that nickname pissed the blonde off greatly. Annabeth frowned but decided to let it slide since she had only just gotten back part of the way into her friend's good graces and she didn't want to do or say anything that might jeopardize it. "I swear that if you ever run away again I will hunt you down, and when I catch you I will beat the living shit out of you before I bring you back and chain you up in my basement."

Annabeth knew that by Thalia's tone that she spoke in that she one hundred percent meant what she said. "I swear on the Styx." Annabeth promised, using their most powerful version of a pinkie swear she had in her arsenal. Saying that phrase basically said that she meant business and that is was a promise that she wasn't going to break.

"Hey, soul sister, pulling out the big guns aren't we?" Thalia chuckled as Annabeth smiled as she pulled away and ruffled Annabeth's hair in a friendly manor.

"Hey, I don't want to miss a single thing you do, let alone to night." Annabeth said as she stood up and offered her hand out to Thalia. "I don't know about you but I have a hankering for beer and pizza."

"Now you're talking." Thalia said with a grin as she and Annabeth headed out the room with smiles on their faces. The minute they entered the kitchen there was an immediate silence considering both Percy and Nico looked at them the minute they entered the room.

"Everything alright?" Percy asked in a concerned manor, looking at Annabeth more so than Thalia. Annabeth could tell that by Percy's expression that he had tried to keep Thalia out but had been unsuccessful but Annabeth gave him a reassuring smile as she made her way to the fridge and pulled out two beers and proceeded to removed the lids.

"We're good, right Thals?" Annabeth asked as she looked at the woman who had a complete obsession with black who had a cheeky grin on her face.

"Dont worry, Perce. I didn't do anything to her. We have sorted through things and we're good." Thalia said as she grabbed her beer that Annabeth had offered out for her and took a swig. "Now please can we watch the Shinning and eat Pizza cause if I don't eat now, I'm gonna eat the couch." Thalia threatened as Annabeth groaned.

"Seriously, the Shining?" Annabeth groaned in annoyance. "You know how much I hate that movie."

Thalia had an evil look in her eye as she smiled evilly, "I know. That's why I chose it." Thalia said before she cackled maniacally before she plopped down on the couch, and started feasting on pizza and beer.

Annabeth sighed as she looked at Nico who was watching her closely, as if looking into her soul. He was surveying her, taking in her body language, her expression, her appearance, every single detail. "Annabeth." He said coolly as he tucked his hands in the pockets of his denim jeans with his black shirt. He and Thalia had similar tastes which is why they were perfect for each other.

"Hello Nico." Annabeth answered shyly as she sipped her beer, Nico's eyes still on her.

"You don't have anything to worry about Annabeth. If Thalia has forgiven you, then you have mine." He said with a firm look on his face. The man never really smiled, it was a rarity to see him crack a smile. He grabbed his beer and started his way to his girlfriend before he stopped and spoke up, "Just know, if you ever do what you did to Thalia ever again, Thalia wont be the one you have to worry about coming to find you." He warned.

Annabeth visibly paled as Nico cracked a smirk, knowing how to get under her skin before he walked over and sat next to Thalia with an arm around her shoulders. Percy came up next to Annabeth and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, which caused her to look up at him and meet his gaze.

His green eyes were deep in color, assurance flooding them as his voice spoke up, "Are you alright, Annabeth?"

"Yeah-" Annabeth answered with a heavy sigh, "I just never expected some of the things Thalia admitted to me." Percy frowned which caused Annabeth to smile slightly. Percy was always o caring and overly protective so this just assured her that he still cared about her. "Don't worry about it, Percy. I know I have a lot of work to do to earn people's trust and friendship back, and I just want you to know that I am grateful to you for giving me another chance." She said as she pressed a feather kiss against his cheek.

Percy smiled bashfully as he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, a clear blush forming on his cheeks. "Well all that time you were gone I realized just how much I wanted you hear. It killed me not having my best friend around."

"Killed me to." Annabeth admitted softly as she reached over and took Percy's hand in hers and rubbed the back of it with her thumb, "I respect your wish to start slow Percy and I believe its what we need. I missed being with my best friend and I am glad we get to be friends again."

"Me too." Percy smiled as their gazes locked. There was a thick silence between them as they stared into each other's eyes, green onto grey, every emotion they were experiencing was visible in each other's eyes. There was hope for them. This was the best thing for them. Being friends allowed Annabeth to regain Percy's trust again, it gave them a chance to rediscover the love that had grown between them and Annabeth was actually grateful for that.

It was a start and Annabeth was ready to start from the beginning again.

"Are you two love birds or are ya gonna come and watch the movie with us now?!" Thalia called out, causing the two to break their intense gaze with clear blushes on their cheeks.

"You go and sit Percy and I'll grab the popcorn from the microwave." Annabeth offered as she looked on the microwave clock and saw that the timer had a minute left.

"Alright." Percy said as he grabbed his beer and headed to the lounge and claimed the middle spot of the triple seating couch which was what he usually preferred since he liked to stretch out on the couch a lot of the time. Annabeth pulled out two popcorn bowls and carefully picked up the piping hot bag of popcorn out from the microwave when the timer finished and poured them into the two bowls.

Carefully balancing the bowls she carried them to the lounge along with her beer in the other hand and plopped down on the left hand side of the couch as Percy grabbed one of the bowls and passed it to Nico. Everything seemed so natural as Annabeth by old habit picked up a pillow and placed it in her lap and Percy as if moving without processing anything lay down with his head on the pillow and feet on the couch and waited for Thalia to start the movie.

Nico and Thalia shared a look, Thalia had a smile on her face when she saw the interaction, she had her doubts but she could see that Percy had truly missed Annabeth and that Annabeth had missed Percy too. She smiled as she pressed play and started the movie.

Annabeth shrunk back down into the seat as the opening credits began and upon reaction Percy reached up and took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. It was going to be a long night and a very long time before the two realized that they had been acting like they were when they were together.

Well that was fun to write. Now I know a lot of you might think that Thalia was too forgiving but I have done it this way for a reason. I'm not going to reveal anything as of yet but you are just going to have to wait and see. I hope you all liked this chapter, it was fun to write for me. See you all next time.