Annabeth walked as quickly as her legs would take her down the streets of New York. Far away as possible from the thoughts that haunted her mind back with Percy and what had happened. How had she got so angry? And would things ever be the same as they once were. No. Never.

She wiped a stray tear from her cheek and slowed down a few yards from a cafe to not bypass the stop. It was a small place with a few letters of the once forgotton name fallen below the umberellas and stolen away in the night. She took the nearest seat at the table and put her head in her cold air somehow soothed her mind like a breeze vacuuming out unwanted thoughts. The anger had vanished from her and it was replaced only by shame. How could she argue with a reason like that? How could anyone. But he'd made her so angry! But for now she would go to the park. Or to the sports centre. She couldn't sit here another minute. she had to move. Anywhere but back to him.

Annabeth stood up from her spot at the table and started walking again.

Meanwhile, Percy was sitting on the edge of his bed in his room, eating blue fudge and thinking of Annabeth. How could she say something like that? Any of that stuff? She'd been obnoxious and judgemental, but it didn't change the way he thought about her.

Percy swallowed the fudge and took a sip of water. He picked up the photo of Annabeth on his bedside table, her blond hair shining in the golden sunlight of the afternoon. What had he done wrong?

"Percy, are you okay?" called Sally, his Mom, from behind the bedroom door.

"Yeah, fine. Why?" he responded immediately, a little jumpy. Straight after he said the words, he regretted his tone. He was sure his Mom would notice something was up after that suspicious start to a conversation.

"Only, I heard Annabeth leave and she seemed pretty upset?" The concern in her voice was apparent.

"Don't worry about us Mom ," he sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it or make some blue cheese?" she asked.

"I think I'm just gonna go for a walk."

"Okay, don't go too far."

Percy listened for her fading footsteps before opening the door to the hall and walking down the stairs to outside. The cool wind whipped his face and blew leaves from the trees into his path as he sighed again and began to walk down the streets and alleys of New York. He felt sorry for his Mom. It hadn't been her fault. He was just annoyed at Annabeth. She'd said so many horrible things today including that last statement. Where's the strategy in her words now? Wasn't she supposed to be clever? So where's the thought of control? Nowhere. Percy resented her. He resented himself for ever thinking it could work with her. How could he have been so blind to think anything good would come of it. All they'd done today was argue. But that was after...Anyway, that didn't matter now. None of it did.

Percy turned a corner and reached a small cafe with a few of the letters torn down by the wind and harsh city conditions. Gone and lost. Like most things did these days. The little table nearest seemed like a good spot to turn back or sit down, but Percy couldn't will himself to do so. He had to burn the anger and if he turned back, that would only make him feel more hate for not finishing something at a chance. One of his apparent problems. Percy paused at a road and crossed when there were no cabs in sight. Opposite was the park. Maybe he would spend some time at the lake. That was his favourite spot to watch the world drift pushed against the wrought iron gate which lead into the park and started to walk onto the grass, disregarding the sign that told him to walk on the path. It didn't seem necessary.

The shade of the tall and lofty tree's guarded his face and he liked the cool air freshening his face. He walked down another path turning toward the lake and the bench that sat in front of the lake and stared over the clear blue and glistening water in the midday sun. Percy moved around the final tree and stopped immediately. Someone was sitting there. A blond girl. she turned and her hair shined in the sun like the photo of her kept in his room. When he stopped she looked for the place where Percy stood, without seeing him. Annabeth. He saw her stormy grey eyes and hated the fact that she was here. This was his sanctuary. Not hers. He wanted to yell at her. To ask her questions. To tell her he was sorry for anything he ever did wrong. But he couldn't. He turned away, anger finally gone and rushed home. Nowhere was safe.

Annabeth stared at the tree leaves, swearing to herself she'd seen someone staring at her. Someone with sea-green eyes and dark hair. Percy. But he wouldn't come here. This is her spot. This was her sanctuary. He hated coming here. So why would he follow her? Was it possible he wanted to end things? Annabeth decided she wouldn't let him. Not after everything they went through together. And who was he to come here and end it? Coward. Why couldn't he realise why'd she'd said those things and what he'd done to deserve that statement? Because he was Percy. Stubborn Percy.

Or maybe it was the leaves and they looked a strange sea-green in the light of the lake.

[A.N] 2nd chapter is here! Written by Abi, for all you who want to know