He hadn't seen her since the day they graduated high school.

Counting Stars

Annabeth

Chapter 2

I see this life, Like a swinging vine

Swing my heart across the line

The two stared at each other for a long time. He remembers me? Annabeth thought.

"Annabeth," Percy stated once again, "what a nice... surprise."

She internally cringed. Boy, this was awkward. "I could say the same for you. How's life been?" He shrugged.

"Same ol', same ol'. College is annoying as heck."

Annabeth smiled softly. "Dyslexia getting to you?" Percy looked up at her.

"You remember that?" He rubbed the area behind his shoulder awkwardly. "Yeah. That, and the naggy old teachers." Annabeth laughed. Rhea called Percy for his order. He stood up and walked to get it. Annabeth fumbled with the chain of her necklace. Percy sat back down. "What about you?"

"Life's okay. I'm an intern for an architecture company. College is fine. It's almost like nothing's changed." She stared out the window. Her fingers moved lazily across the page of the book she was reading earlier.

"That's cool."

"Yeah. It is."

Annabeth closed her eyes and rest her head on the frosty window. Her mind flew to her and Percy's breakup.

"You're never satisfied with what I do!" Percy yelled. "It's always: oh, Percy, how could you? You got a C on your math test? Ugh, how can I go out with you?"

Annabeth crossed her arms. "Oh yeah? What about me? You don't give me any space! You're way too clingy!"

"No I'm not! If anything, you are! You're so... you're so..."

"Just say it now! Maybe that'll lessen the consequences!" she screamed.

"You're so freaking selfish! You are so damn selfish!"

Annabeth ignored the tears threatening to fall. She sent him a snarky smile. "H'm. I guess the consequences are way more severe now that it's out. We are over! You're way too needy, whiny, clingy, stupid, and, over everything else, selfish! You're the selfish one!"

Percy punched the wall next to her, and her eyes widened. He shook his head and made his way to the door. "I'm going to leave now before anyone gets hurt. I guess we are done, Anniebell."

He slammed the door on his way out. A picture off of her shelf fell to the floor. Annabeth picked it up. The glass was shattered down the middle. Annabeth on one side, Percy on the other.

The day after that was their graduation. She didn't see him.

Annabeth stood up from the small cafe table. She dusted herself off. Collecting her things, she smiled at Percy. "I have to go."

She scurried out of the cafe, unaware of his bright green eyes watching her.

She stepped into her small apartment. The hole from where Percy punched was still there. She refused to patch it up.

After tossing her messenger bag onto the couch, Annabeth sunk to the ground. She tossed her head back onto the door. The tears came first. She put her head in her knees, arms covering her head. She gasped for breath. Her body shook with sobs.

Next came the soft cries. Her voice drifted into the chilly air of the apartment. The salty taste of tears entered her mouth. Her chest heaved. She kept her eyes closed as she rest on the ground.

"Annabeth!" It was Luke. His shirt was missing. Of course.

"What?" There was Thalia. Annabeth couldn't help but laugh. She came out into the living room. (She was shirtless too, in case you were wondering.) Annabeth snorted, and Thalia's eyes widened. She ran back into her bedroom. She rushed back out, tossing Luke a shirt in the process. "Think quick."

He slipped it on over his head. Thalia put her t-shirt on too. "Um. Sorry. Oh my gosh, Annabeth! Were you crying?" Annabeth nodded, hiding the blush that created on her face. Thalia and Luke were immediately at her side. Thalia stroked her hair. "What was it, babe?"

"Percy."

Thalia's breath hitched, and Luke wrapped his arms around Annabeth's frame. "I'm so sorry!" There was a pause. "Group hug!" Before she knew it, Annabeth was pressed in between Luke and Thalia.

A smile made its way onto her face.

"There we go!" Thalia chuckled. "The Trouble-making Trio is back in business! What-what?" Everyone laughed, and Luke pressed his lips against Annabeth's temple. "See, Annie," Thalia smiled, copying Luke's actions, "we're here for you." They stepped back from each other.

Thalia shoved Annabeth onto the couch. "Just keep breathing."

Annabeth laughed. "Oh my gosh. I can't believe you just quoted Spongebob!" Thalia shrugged.

"It was needed."

"Ri-i-ight."

"What's for dinner?" Thalia whined.

"Yeah, Anniebeth!" Luke agreed. "What's for dinner?"

"I don't know! Get your own dinner if you're that hungry!"

"But we're too tired!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Maybe you wouldn't be so tired if you both hadn't had that, what I presume it to be, heavy makeout session in Thals' bedroom!"

The couple stuttered for a response.

Either way, Annabeth complied to their wishes and began to chop carrots. She hummed the beginning of a song she wrote. Finally, her lips formed words.

"It's two AM, and I'm thinking about us. When we were, how we were, what's it like to be you? I know it's hard on me. Is it hard for you? Oh, baby, I miss the things we've been through.

"Sometimes I cry for you. Do you cry for me too? Just like how I wish you were here? Though I know you'll always be out there. Drag in the cold when I hear your name. I bet I do the same. I love you. And, oh, baby, I miss the things we've been through.

"The lights come on. I scream out to everyone. But my mind's on you. And you know it's too good to be true. So you come running back to me, like I did you. And we meet. Oh, oh, oh, oh.

"Now here we are again. Me pacing down the hall, you yelling like it's a battle call. It's all too easy. I feel it coming. Here's the fall out. Oh, here's the fall out.

"Oh, baby, I miss the things we've been through. I bet you know it too. And, yeah, oh, baby, I miss the things we've been though. And, it's true, I bet you know it too. Yeah, baby, oh, oh, I miss the things we've been through. I miss the things we've been through. Oh, I miss you. I miss you. I miss every bit about you."

Clapping came from the counter. Thalia sat on the counter, and Luke leaned on it. "Encore! Encore!" Annabeth blushed scarlet and looked away.

"How much of that did you guys hear?"

"Oh, you know," Luke said, "just about the fact that you totally miss Percy and was thinking about y'alls breakup at 2 AM."

Annabeth flicked him with a towel. "Shut up." She stirred the soup she was preparing. "Now, set the table, dinner's almost ready." Thalia sprang up and threw the placemats on the table. Luke placed the silverware out next.

After awhile, Annabeth had three bowls of soup and some buttered bread. She set them down on the table. "I wish this were French," she stated.

"No!" Thalia cried. "Not the French!" She screamed. Annabeth grinned.

"Bonjour."

Thalia ran out of the room.

Luke stole Annabeth's bread. "Sacre bleu."

Thalia came out with a map of Ohio on fire as Luke began to scream. (What?)

Annabeth winced as her glass cup broke. "Luke! Quit screaming! Even I can't get onto that note!" Her roommate stopped screaming. Annabeth sighed, shaking her head. "What am I going to do with y'all?"

Thalia tossed the map of Ohio onto the table. "House us until we find jobs that we don't feel like quitting?"

"Or get married," Luke suggested.

Thalia nodded. "Or that."

Disclaimer: All canon characters and possibly mentioned canon events belong to the owner who had ever so rightfully copyrighted their hard work, and I, the Artist, am in no way whatsoever, that person. In this case, the "owner" is Mr. Richard Russell "Rick" Riordan, Jr.

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