Louisa returned home one day from a long, tiring day at work to find Annabeth packing up. Louisa slammed the door shut, making Annabeth jump.
"Lou!" She beamed. Louisa cast her eyes over the boxes and battered suitcases. Annabeth followed her gaze. "Oh… yeah… I'm moving in with Percy." Louisa glanced at Annabeth's stomach before looking at her quizzically. Annabeth's smile broadened. "I can't wait!" She squealed happily. "I found out this morning. Percy's thrilled." Annabeth gasped. "You're going to be an aunty!" Louisa forced a smile and gave a double thumbs-up. "Oh, don't be like that." Annabeth laughed. "Give me a hand packing, will you?" Louisa nodded. "And, um, maybe some help getting it all to Percy's place?" Louisa nodded again, giving a genuine smile. "How are things with Leo?" Louisa fixed her with a look- 'don't even go there'. "Lou, give him a chance. He's really sweet." Louisa shrugged, moving full boxes to by the door, ready to go. "It had to be you this year, didn't it? Little Miss Awkward." Louisa nodded, approving the title.
It took them a few hours to get everything of Annabeth's packed up and by the door. Louisa motioned at a few doors, silently asking if they should get some more help. There had to be at least fifty boxes and suitcases- Annabeth was a strange one- and two people could not move all of them with the trolleys designed to carry two or three large suitcases.
"Alright, but quickly ask them. Percy's expecting me to be there soon." They split up and went around, knocking on doors. It took Louisa a while to get the message across, but she recruited Hazel, Reyna, Piper and several others she couldn't remember the names of. Annabeth met up with them with nearly a dozen girls ready to help as well.
Annabeth knew where Percy lived, having been there before. It took the girls half an hour to push the trolleys to Percy's place and another twenty minutes as Percy lived on the top floor and the boxes didn't float up. Percy gathered a few friends and they helped shift the boxes.
Louisa noticed Leo was no-where to be seen. Percy must have noticed her quizzical look.
"Leo's around. He went for a walk and hasn't come back yet." Louisa held his gaze. Annabeth translated.
"Do you know where he is roughly?"
"Uh... no, I don't. Guys, do any of you know where Leo is?" Percy called.
"I saw him by the pool." Frank called back. Percy turned to Louisa, grinning.
"Why are you looking for him? Going to give him a chance?" Louisa shook her head, turned and walked off. "What's up with her?"
"It's a long story." Annabeth sighed.
"Right… why do you have so much stuff?" Annabeth smiled.
"That's also a long story."
"I can't wait to hear it." Percy muttered sarcastically. Annabeth elbowed him sharply.
Louisa saw Leo before he saw her. He was just staring up at the swimming pool logo, looking lost and lonely. He noticed her when she stopped about ten paces from him.
"Hey." He smiled. "Are you feeling better now?" She nodded, giving a small smile of thanks. Leo returned it. "That's good. What happened?" Louisa shook her head and looked at the swimming pool logo as well. "Lou, can I ask you something?" She looked at him again. Leo struggled with his words for a few seconds. "Why did you walk away? The first day, when we all met- you walked away. Why?" Louisa hesitated.
She had walked away because caring too much for someone often ended up with them hurt and her on the brinks of a mental abyss. She didn't want anyone else suffering because of her.