Chp 11

I parked my car in the car park at Montauk. I decided to go for an afternoon walk, just to clear my mind. I went towards the little town and saw the old shop I worked at. Mrs Margie, the shop owner, was inside sitting at the counter.

I decided to pop my head in and say hello. So I went over there and opened the front door, her little bell ringing as the door opened. "Annabeth dear, it's so great to see you!" She said, giving me a hug. "How have you been keeping?" I asked her, Smiling at her. "I'm fine, doing well." She said.

"Oh, and I wanted to say congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" She said winking at me. I furrowed my eyebrows. "About what?" I asked, curious. "I heard you were going out with that rich young man. He's so sweet and helpful. I needed help to paint the outside of the shop and he did it all for me." She said.

"And where did you hear we were dating?" I asked. "Please! Linda told me her son in laws cousin came round for dinner and told them they had seen you eating dinner at some fancy restaurant! It's the talk of Montauk!"mShe said, happily.

I forced a smile and said, "We're not dating, just friends." She smirked and said, "Okay, sure." I gave her a wave and left the store.

I walked down the street and past the little shops that were there. I went into the bakery that was run by this elderly man. He was very sweet. I went in to say heels to him, as I hadn't seen him since I stopped working at the decor shop. I went to the back kitchen and popped my head in. Sure enough, there he was taking a new loaf of bread out the oven. "Anabeth!" He said, noticing me.

He gave me a little hug and brought me through to the front. We talked a bit and he also brought up the subject of me 'dating' Percy. "He wa actually by here a couple minutes ago. He said he was going for a nice walk on the beach." I thanked him and left the shop, walking towards the beach.

I walked along the beach, one of the only people there, and spotted Percy standing on the shoreline and looking at the sea. "Percy!" I exclaimed as he became a couple meters away. "Annabeth! It's so lovely to see you again." He said, smiling non chalantly at me.

I stood it in front of him and said, "We aren't dating!" He shrugged. "I didn't say anything, but I didn't object to it." I groaned, rubbing my temple. "Annabeth, chill." He said, holding my wrists and making me look at him. "It doesn't matter, it's just a story."

I sighed and nodded. "Just relax, look at the beautiful sunset." He said. I looked out at the flaming ball of fire slowly creeping near to the water. He stood behind me, putting his arms over mine and lacing our fingers. "Almost feels like summer." He said, into my neck.

I felt my guard slipping, letting him hold me in his arms. He didn't say anything, but I felt like he said a thousand words. And my brain and body felt like answering in a million ways. I was torn now- keep him at a distance and keep business relationship or have him close and mess with my work plans for his project.

I looked up at him, making the mistake of looking into his eyes. He looked down at me, his eyes drifting from my eyes to my lips and back again. He slowly leaned down and I looked up.

As our lips touched, I felt like we were back on the ranch and enjoying the summer. Not worrying about any deadlines. I kissed him back, our lips moving slowly in sync. He pulled away and looked down at me. "Please Annabeth, I've fallen hard for you. And I don't think I'm gonna get back up. I love you." He said.

I looked down and tried thinking about this. I quickly brought my guard back up, not falling under him. I slid out his warm arms and stood in front of him. I looked at him, trying to think if something to say. My heart was screaming at me and telling me to give him a chance but the reality was telling me how this probably wouldn't last with him being wealthy and all.

"Percy, I am really busy right now and can't cope with a relationship. And we are involved in a project that I need to focus on. I'm sorry." I said. I sighed as he looked down at his hands. "Okay." Was all he said. It was one word, but it had so much emotion in the way he said it. He said it like he was being told he was diagnosed with some disease or whatever.

"I'll see you around." I said, then nodded and walked towards the car park. I felt my throat become sore and close up every step I walked away. When I drove home I didn't say anything, didn't turn on the radio or anything. And when I got home I just had dinner, had a shower and went to bed.

~ Line Break ~

I was relaxing on my couch, on a Saturday afternoon, and the rain was pouring outside. I was in my sweats, socks, a long sleeve t shirt and my hair in a plait down my back. I had a cup of coffee in my hands as I looked out my glass walls that showed the city that never slept.

I heard my doorbell ring, so put my mug down and got up. I went and unlocked the door and opened it. Standing there was Percy with a bouquet of flowers and a pizza. I laughed and leaned against the door frame.

"Rich boy desperate?" I asked, smiling at him. He smiled back and said, "Exactly." I let him in and closed the door behind him. He put the pizza down and gave me the flowers. "For you." He said, smiling at me. I chuckled and put them in a vase.

He walked around, studying the penthouse. "Pretty cool place you got." He said, looking at some of my pictures on the wall. I got out two plates and put them on the island counter next to the pizza. He joined me in the kitchen again. I opened one of the cupboards and reached up to get the glasses.

I closed the cupboard and put down the glasses. "What you wanna drink?" I asked him. He shrugged. "I don't mind, whatever." I got out some lemonade and pured us each a glass. I opened the box of pizza, seeing my favorite four seasons pizza, and put a slice on my plate. He did the same and closed the box.

He took his plate and glass and we went to my lounge. We sat down and started eating. "How was our week?" He asked, taking a bite of his pizza. I shrugged. "Not too bad, was actually not stressful." He nodded. It had been a well since I had let him on the beach. Neither of us brought it up.

When we finished eating, we put the plates in the dishwasher and then sat back down in the lounge. We were sitting on the same couch, facing each other. I had my legs crossed on the couch and he had turned his body to look at me.

"So how's the building?" I asked. He nodded. "Doing well. And I've moved into my new apartment. So everything is ready. Just about three months to waste now." He said. I smiled and watched as his fingers tapped against his leg. "Annabeth?" He asked, bringing my attention back to him.

"I know what you said, and I respect that. But I'm not giving up on you." He said. I chuckled and said, "I think I figured that out." We both laughed. He smiled at me, and we kept our eye contact.

"Annabeth, I would give you anything to be with me. So I could relive summer everyday." He said, his voice as honest as ever. I gave him a little smile. "Percy, I don't want your money. I just want your understanding. To understand I'm not ready to commit just yet."

He sighed, yet again, and rubbed his brow. "I'm sorry, I just-" he thought for his words, then said, "It's hard to explain, yet it is so simple." I gave him a little smile. "Wanting someone to love you back but they aren't able to love back." I said.

He nodded. "Percy, I really do want to be with you. Just not right now." I explained, taking his hands. He looked down, so I cupped his cheek and lifted his head to look at me. "I will tell you as soon as I'm ready." He gave me a smile and I felt a little happier, seeing his hope back.

It was hard to discuss, how far I could only take us at this stage due to work. He checked his watch and sighed. "Well it's three, so I'll leave you to your peace and quiet." He said, smiling at me.

We both stood and went to the front door. I leaned against the doorframe as he stood just outside my door. Although we both wanted to be with each other, I knew and he knew that I wanted to keep this just as close friends for now.

"Well I guess I'll be going." He said, smiling. I gave him a hug and he returned it. He was going to pull away but I said, "Wait." I gave him one last squeeze then pulled away. "Thank you for having put up with my busy schedule and rejection." I said, smiling at him. He chuckled, his deep voice making me feel all tingly. "Bye." He said, kissed my cheek, then walked down the corridor. I closed the door and leaned against it. I bit my lip, telling myself that what I was doing was right.