Another week, another chapter. And I'm delighted to say my laptop has made a full recovery. As for the question, I had a professor last year tell me I wasn't too late for my dreams to come true. And that gave me the strength I needed and still occasionally look for.

As always, Percy Jackson is the property of Rick Riordan and Disney+

Chapter 5

Introduction To Architecture 101 Is For Chumps

Annabeth's POV

It is so moronic that it would almost qualify as being funny. Me, the smartest kid in her class or any other, forced alongside all these people who couldn't tell the difference between ionic and gothic architecture.

See, when you join an architecture club, you kind of expect that there will be actual architecture involved. But apparently they won't let you do anything other than theory until you have been in the club for a full semester.

We're already in November and the only thing I have learned is that I am way too good to be in this group of amateurs.

Now that is not to say that the people in this room are useless. Some of them will undoubtedly become great architects if they decide to put the work in. This is certainly true of my friends, Dave and Hana, who incidentally were looking at me with a concerned look on their face.

"You doing alright, Annabeth," asked Dave.

"I wasn't going to say anything," added Hana, who glared at Dave like he'd said something awful. "But since he brought it up, you do look like you're ready to blow a fuse. Talk to us, girl."

I shook my head. I didn't want them thinking I thought they were worthless or something.

"We can help, Annabeth. But only if you tell us what's wrong," Dave offered, a look on his face that told me he would get the truth, no matter what.

"Alright, but I'll understand if you don't want to be friends after this…"

I told them how I was feeling and that I was going to say something to Dr. Quintus today. MY friends sat there and, instead of looking offended or hurt, actually looked like their concern for me grew stronger.

As I finished, they both looked at one another and must have had some mind meld because they nodded and stated the same idea at the same time.

"Talk to him," they offered simultaneously.

"Dr. Quintus?" I asked.

"No, the President," Hana replied sarcastically.

"And we're the stupid ones," Dave said to Hana.

"HEY!" I replied indignantly.

The two of them spent the next couple minutes mocking my tact and intelligence until Dr. Quintus walked in.

"Alright, settle down, everyone. Let's get started," he said, dropping his briefcase on the front desk.

I raised my hand and he spotted it. Looking truly confused, he pointed at me.

"Yes, Annabeth?"

"Dr. Quintus, am I able to talk to you for a minute? Privately?" I asked.

"We're about to get started with the lecture, Ms. Chase. When it is over, we can speak in my office."

I nodded, but I wasn't sure my annoyance was kept in check because I received an unusual look from Dr. Quintus.

"So, let's continue on Peter Stuyvesant. In 1654…"

ΑΟΣ

"Absolutely not."

"But sir, I already know everything you're going to teach me in this class. The only thing I lack is practical experience." I said in earnest.

"Well, if you know everything in lecture, it should be easy for you to make it through the next two months," he replied with a small smirk.

"But…"

"That will be all, Ms. Chase," Dr. Quintus cut in quickly, pointing at the door.

ΑΟΣ

"I hate him, I hate him, I HATE HIM!"

"Woah there, Annabeth," Percy said with a nervous chuckle as we walked home. "What's going on?"

"The stupid architecture director is holding me back from actually doing something that might teach me about my career."

"Wow, you're really upset, aren't you. This might be the first time I've ever heard you use the word 'stupid' with 'architecture."

If looks could kill, I'd imagine the glare I was giving Percy would cause him to drop right then and there. I can picture the headline now: Percy "Seaweed Brain" Jackson died tragically as a result of asking a stupid question. When he didn't keel over, I gave him a smack in the back of the head for good measure.

"Look, is there a reason you can't just tough it out for two more months?"

I sighed. I knew it would be difficult to get someone as laissez-faire as Percy to get it, but I owed it to him to try.

"Okay, so, you know how we live for a bit and then we die, right?"

"Yeah, I'm vaguely familiar with the concept," he replied with a sarcastic grin. Great, now even Seaweed Brain was mocking my intelligence. For my part, I gave him an eyeroll.

"We have a limited amount of time on this earth to do something that matters. And I'm going to be a world-class architect. The more time I waste on this nonsense, the less time I have to make that happen."

He stared at me before grabbing my hand, running along the sidewalk and dragging me behind him.

"What on earth are you doing, Seaweed Brain?!"

"Just follow me," was all he said in response.

ΑΟΣ

We walked for a few minutes until we reached my favourite building in New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

We just stood there in silence for a minute before Percy spoke up.

"You remember what you told me the first time we came here together?"

"Yeah," I replied. "I said I wanted to build something beautiful like the things inside. Something that can last forever."

"Exactly."

He turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Annabeth, you are more determined than anyone I know. So if I'm certain of anything, it's that you will be an incredible architect, whether or not you're in Dr. Quintus' practical class early or not."

Well, I was stumped. For having a head full of kelp, Percy did know what I needed to hear every once and a while.

"Now, we can go home and study if you want. Unless…" he said, gesturing to the building.

As if I even needed to think about it.

"Maybe just for a little bit," I replied, trying to remain passive, but sure the expression on my face gave me away.

"Excellent milady. Shall we go inside then," he said, offering me his arm like some old-fashioned gentleman.

"Ooh, yes, let's," I replied, eagerly grabbing hold of his arm.

If I turn off the logical part of my brain, I can pretend that we're on a date. Man, I wish this was a date.

Percy's POV

As we walked around the exhibits and Annabeth explained her plans for improving the design of the building (something about glass and… marshmallows, for some reason), I looked at Annabeth on my arm surrounded by her greatest passion that lit her eyes, I thought to myself, "I wish this was a date."

Just a fun chapter for a fun week for us PJO fans. We got our Thalia for our show, a new book (which I finished last night and was delighted by), and a sequel announcement for The Sun and the Stars. It is quite the wonderful time to be a PJO fan!

As for next week's question, I was wondering if there is a place which feels like your home-away-from-home the way MOMA is for my version of Annabeth.

As always, please let me know whether you like this or not via review.