Okay hi! I'm so sorry for not updating in a while!
The restaurant Percy's mother recommended was very small. It was crammed between a convenience store and an even smaller bistro. The sign was severely faded and the neon "OPEN" sign was only partially lit in neon red, making it read "PEN".
The inside was even more dated than the outside. The floor was covered in yellowed white, marbled tiles and the ancient flowered wallpaper was peeling in some spots. The seats of the booths were ripped in places and a ceiling fan droned on mercilessly.
Still, Olympus was a cute and quaint restaurant. The pair was greeted by a lovely lady with flowing orange curls that promptly seated them at the nicest table. No one else was in the restaurant, but it didn't feel vacant.
"So... um, how's school going?" Percy asked unsure, his voice rising high. He took another bite of his food, nervously chewing the piece in his mouth. He only hoped eating would delay him from saying anything else idiotic.
He hadn't even known what he ordered. Percy wasn't familiar with any of the dishes on the menu and his dyslexia did nothing to aid in reading the menu. So, he just randomly selected an option and pointed to it when the blonde hair, teenage waiter came to take their order. Whatever he was eating, it was good. The perfect blend of meat, garlic, and lemon.
Annabeth giggled tentatively from across the booth. She hadn't tried any of her meal yet. It was still steaming hot and unless she wanted a burnt tongue for the rest of the week she'd have to wait a while to try it.
"It's going good. My classes are pretty challenging, but I manage. What did you say you were majoring in?" She asked, her sweet voice filling Percy's ears with warmth. She poked her food around idly with the shiny, metal fork. He didn't regret that night she stumbled into his apartment. Not at all.
"Uh, I'm studying to be a teacher so Early Childhood Education and Teaching." In truth, Percy wasn't sure if it was exactly the right thing for him. He wanted to help kids and teaching seemed the best way to do that, but now... Now he was just confused on what he really wanted to do. Twenty was too young to decide such things.
"Really? I didn't peg you as the teacher type, Mr. Jackson." Annabeth gave a flirtatious wink, but immediately blushed in embarrassment. Gods, she thought, I'm such a dweeb. Percy and her both chuckled. Sure, the first date was going a little awkward, but it was by no means bad. Good, in fact, if you asked either of them.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yea, I just kind of want to help kids, you know?"
Annabeth nodded.
"Yea, I'm not a huge fan of kids, but I can see where you're coming from." She looked longingly at her still too hot food.
Just as Percy opened his mouth to ask what Annabeth was majoring, a crashing noise came from the kitchen just a few feet away.
Out of the swinging doors came an arguing couple of about 50. The woman was stunningly beautiful with long limbs and deep brown hair done up in a complex braid. Her large chocolate eyes were alight with deep anger. The other half of the couple was a fit and tall man. His graying hair reached near his chin and his beard was bushier than the actual bushes that laid in front of Annabeth's father's yard.
"Get out of my restaurant right now!" The lady screamed to the man in a screeching, irritating voice.
"Me?! I'm the one that owns this gods forsaken place! You should be the one to get out of here if anything." The man's deep voice boomed through the small area. His face raged red in the artificial light.
"Yes you!" The woman cackled in her awful voice. "You are the one that cheated on me. For the seventh time!" She crossed her arms like a child and faced away from the man. Their feuding was causing quite a raucous.
"Oh don't be so dramatic, Hera! She was simply a fling, besides all I did was give her a small kiss. You know how much I love you." His reasoning was pathetic and only infuriated his wife further.
Just as Hera was about to throw a furious retort her husband's way accompanied with a pointed finger, another woman in her early thirties came forward to intervene.
This woman wore blooming bell bottom jeans and her scraggly hair fell limply all the way to her lower back. Her eyes were rimmed with red and Annabeth wouldn't have been the least surprised if this woman had been smoking marijuana.
"Guys, just chill out please. We have customers." The woman only sounded slightly stoned when she walked away.
As if it just occurred to them, the spouses turned their heads toward Percy and Annabeth. Percy gave them a small wave and sheepish smile that pretty much screamed "Please get me out of here!"
The couple fell silent, glared at each other for a good measure of time, and walked their opposites way.
Percy and Annabeth shared a glance once the commotion was over and burst out into fits of laughter.
They were holding their stomachs, faces red in a good way unlike the man just a few moments before. Annabeth swiped at her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. It took several minutes for the two to catch their breaths and settle down.
By now both their meals had grown cold and unappetizing.
"Man, that wasn't even that funny." Annabeth said shaking her head, taking a disappointed bite from her food.
"I'm sorry our first date didn't go so well." Percy said after a moment of silence looking slightly downcast.
Annabeth looked at him.
"Don't worry, we'll have more." She said, smiling shyly.
Percy's face broke into a wide grin.
"I hope so."