February 14th, 2024

Annabeth's POV

Prologue

"Have you heard from Prometheus University yet?" my best friend, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, asked.

She and I had been friends for as long as I can remember, and whenever anything big happened in my life, she was always the first to know.

We stood by my locker, as I shuffled through my books, searching for my math textbook. It took me a moment, but once I found it, I turned to her and said, "No, not yet. But acceptance letters should be coming around soon."

"Well, I'm sure you'll get in."

I smiled. "I hope so. They have the best Architecture program in the country. I don't even know what I'd do if I didn't get in."

The hallway buzzed with students rushing to their next classes, trying to beat the final bell. I was normally do the same, but with my locker was right next to math classroom, I didn't have to rush. Many of the people who walked past me looked stressed, their faces tight with worry, because the teachers at Goode were notoriously strict about tardiness.

"You should get going before you're late for art," I told Rachel.

"Yeah, yeah. Meet me outside after class? I can drive you home."

"That sounds great."

As she turned to walk away, I spotted someone near the entrance of the school right past the entrance of the school—the last person that I wanted to see.

Percy Jackson.

The bane of my existence.

He had been annoying me since elementary school, constantly teasing and calling me names. Sure, some people had playful nicknames for their friends, but when I told him—repeatedly—to stop, he just ignored me and kept going.

We locked eyes. He flashed a dazzling smile, the kind that made most girls weak in the knees. But not me. I rolled my eyes, and I turned toward my classroom. It wasn't my favourite course, but I needed it for my studies.

Unfortunately, before I could count to three, I felt a presence beside me.

"Hey, Wise Girl.:

I groaned. "What do you want?"

"Is that really how you're going to treat your bestest friend in the world?"

I quickened my pace. He matched it effortlessly.

"We're not friends," I said. "Leave me alone, Percy."

"Why would I do that? We're going to the same class, anyway."

"Don't remind me."

The moment we stepped into the classroom, all eyes turned toward us. I could practically feel the curiosity radiating off my classmates—why had we walked in together? But I wasn't about to stick around for questions. I made a beeline for a seat at the back of the room, as far away from Percy as possible.

Seventy minutes later, the bell rang, and I was out of my seat in an instant, heading straight for my locker.

Every day, I hoped that it would be that day. The day that my acceptance letter arrived. And every day, I was left disappointed.

When I finally reached my locker, Rachel was already there, waiting. She grinned. "Hey, beautiful. Ready to get out of here?"

"More than ready. I can't deal with him today. He never knows when to quit."

"Girl, he's been teasing you since forever. He's not stopping anytime soon."

"Don't remind me."

I grabbed my things from my locker, then Rachel and I headed outside. With winter nearing its end, the day was crisp, but bright. The clouds looked like scoops of vanilla ice cream, and the sun warmed my skin. The scent of tulips filled the air; they were planted all across Goode's campus. Birds chirpped, announcing that spring was right around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited.

Rachel grabbed my arm and dragged me down the front steps.

"Woah," I laughed. "What's the rush?"

"My mom texted me—I got mail. I've been dying to get home since the middle of art."

"Really? That's amazing. I hope that it's what you're expecting."

"Me too."

We weaved through the New York streets, dodging slow drivers who were taking their sweet time getting home. I watched as we passed by glass buildings, noticed mothers pushing their babies in strollers, and laughed when I saw someone bail on a skateboard. Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther" was blasting from the radio. We sang along, off-key and not caring who heard.

When Rachel pulled up to my house, I unbuckled my seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride."

"Of course. Call me if you get your letter, okay?"

"Will do."

Neither my dad nor Helen's cars were in the driveway, so I knew that I'd have the house to myself. My brothers had tutoring after school, so they wouldn't be home for a while either.

Inside, everything was spotless—Helen was a clean freak. The moment an atom of dust entered the house, she had it gone before anyone even noticed. Not that I was complaining. A clean home made for a peaceful life.

Helen and I hadn't always gotten along. For years, she treated me like a burden, expecting me to be some sort of servant. When I finally had enough, I packed my bags and live with my mom for a while. But as I got older, she realized that she had no reason to have treated me that way. She apologized. Asked me to come home—not for her, but for my brothers and Dad.

At first, I was reluctant. But I agreed as long as I was able to be my own person.

Two years later, and I'm glad about the decision I made. I was able to watch my brothers grow up, and my relationship with Helen improved.

I kicked off my low-top white Converse and hung my backpack up on my hook.

"Anyone home?" I called, but no one answered.

I shrugged my shoulders, then made my way into the kitchen where the mail would be. My dad usually put it on the kitchen island before he went into work, so if a letter had arrived, that's where it would have been.

Then I saw it.

A large envelope. With my name. From Prometheus University.

My heart nearly stopped.

Hands shaking, I grabbed a butter knife from the drawer and carefully opened the envelope.

All I had to do was read the first sentence.

Congratulations!

I got in.

I let out a sob, pressing a hand over my mouth.

I grabbed my phone I dialed Rachel's number. I knew she was still driving, but she had Bluetooth. This was the biggest moment in my life, and I needed to share it with her.

She answered on the second ring. "What's wrong, Love?"

"I got in," I whispers, voice thick with emotion,

Silence.

Then, a scream.

"NO WAY! ANNABETH CHASE, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!"

I laughed through my tears.

"You and I are celebrating Friday. Sound good?" She asked, but it sounded more like a demand.

I smiled, gripping the letter tighter. "Sounds perfect. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Annabeth."

Percy's POV

"Yo, Perce," someone called from behind me. I turned and saw Grover making his way toward me. He's been my best bud for as long as I can remember. People used to tease and bully him in elementary school because he had a limp. It took him until ninth grade to shake it, but he's been doing great since. All he needed was a growth spurt and puberty.

I flashed him a smile. "Hey, Grover. How were your classes?"

"Shit, but you know how it is." He smirked, "Heard that you and Annabeth walked into math together today. Finally win her over?"

I sighed. "No. She doesn't even look my way, no matter how hard I try. I'm starting to think that maybe I should give up."

"Don't lose hope, man. Only time will tell."

"We're closing in on graduation, Grover. I'll probably never see her again once we leave that stage."

"That's still months away. Don't stress about it."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm just overthinking this."

He chuckled. "You think?"

I smiled at his response. "Anyways, what are your plans now?"

"Home. Gonna eat a vegetarian pizza and rewatch The Last of Us." Grover's been obsessed with the franchise for as long as I can remember. When it first came out on the PlayStation Three, he spent four days playing nonstop and was one of the first players to get the platinum trophy.

"That sounds like a blast."

"Hey, don't mock me and my love for Joel. He's a badass."

"You know he dies, right?"

"Shush, you don't know who might be listening in."

I rolled my eyes. "You're crazy."

"You love it."

"Stop flirting with me, or else I'll have to do something about it."

"Is that a threat?"

"Depends on what I do."

We stood there for a moment before we both burst out laughing. What can I say? It wouldn't be natural it I didn't flirt with my friends—they always flirt back.

"Anyways, I should probably get home. Hang out tomorrow after school?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Alright, peace, man."

When I walked through the front door of the school, I glanced down at the parking lot and spotted Annabeth getting into Rachel's car. Her hair down instead of her usual ponytail. She wore a blue skirt that hit mid-thigh, a white lace shirt, and a pair of low-top white Converse. She looked beautiful, but I didn't have the courage to tell her.

They sped out of the parking lot in a rush—probably heading somewhere important. Knowing Rachel, she was likely expecting a letter from some big-name art school.

She and I used to go out, but that ended because she could tell that she wasn't the one that was constantly on my mind. We would fight all the time—why I smiled at so-and-so, why I was ignoring her, why we never spent time together. I never knew how to respond, so we called it quits. We aren't friends, but we had a mutual understanding that if either one of us were in trouble, the other would be there.

I reached the parking lot and got into my black Subaru R34 Skyline. After connecting my phone to the updated radio system and played "Roxanne" by The Police and pulled out of my space.

As I drove off campus, different girls waved at me. I smiled at most of them—just to be nice. I never understood why people were obsessed with me. I understood that I was charming and attractive, and I treat people how they should be treated, but I could also be an asshole if I wanted to, but that only if someone messed with one of my friends.

After about ten minutes, I decided to stop at a coffee shop for a drink. It was a small, quiet place—note the kind of spot where people went after school, so I wasn't expecting to run into anyone I knew

That's when I saw her.

Drew Tanaka.

I mentally groaned but proceeded to order my usual—a medium vanilla latte. Caffeine helped me focus, especially with how bad my ADHD was. Whenever I needed to concentrate on homework, my mom would make me a cup or two, and it usually worked. Though something, it just made me more hyper.

"Percy?" I finally heard her say.

I raked my hand through my hair and forced a smile. "Drew?"

I knew better than to act surprised. I hadn't seen her in years, and I preferred it that way. She was a total nightmare back in elementary school, always tormenting Grover and Annabeth. She used to go to Goode, but her parents moved her to an elite private school an hour outside of New York.

"How are you?" she asked.

She looked the same—black hair that reached mid-back, warm brown eyes, and perfectly laid makeup. Bu she was wearing sweats and a hoodie, which I never thought I'd see her wear. She actually looked like a normal teenager for once.

"Same old, same old."

"Same here." She tilted her head, studying me. "You sure did grow up. You're way more attractive now."

Here we go.

I frowned. I should have expected that. Drew was always boy-crazy, and after I hit my growth spurt and my voice deepened, she wouldn't leave me alone. Always asking me to hang out. Always pushing for a date.

"Thank, I guess," I said, flatly.

"Oh, don't be so modest, Percy. You know that you can get with any girl you want, so why not get with me?"

"Because I don't want you, Drew. I never have."

I saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes. Maybe I could've been nicer, but when it came to her, all I could think about was the way she used to hurt the people I cared about.

"Medium vanilla latte?" the barista called.

"And that's my sign to leave. Have a good life, Drew."

She stared at me, eyes wide in shock as I left, but I didn't care. I grabbed my drink and left as quickly as possible to make sure she didn't follow me.

Once I was back in my car, I finally headed home.

The drive was about fifteen minutes, but I didn't mind. Driving allowed me to think—about Annabeth and my feelings for her, about my future, about how my dad abandoned me. That last one? That's something I don't talk about. The only person who really knows how I feel about it is Grover.

I pulled into the lot in front of the apartment complex my mom and I rent from. It wasn't in the best neighbourhood, but we were comfortable. Mom worked hard to make sure that I had everything I needed—new clothes, the latest PlayStation, gas in my car. She'd sacrifice anything for me, and I'd do anything for her.

I opened the door to our apartment. "Mom?"

I kicked off my shoes and dropped my backpack down by the door. Just as I was heading into the kitchen, my mom popped out from nowhere. It scared the shit out of me.

I nearly had a heart attack. "Mom! Don't do that."

She just grinned, holding something in her hands.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but I'm just excited." Her eyes had that look, like she knew something that I didn't.

"What's going on?"

"Oh nothing… other than you getting a letter back from Prometheus University."

"What? No way! Where is it?"

She handed it to me, and I tore open the envelope.

"No matter what happens, I'll be proud of you," she said softly

I glanced over at her, my hands shaking. This was it. I worked my ass off in school for this chance. I wanted to study marine biology, to explore parts of the ocean no one else had, to maybe discover a new species. If I didn't get in…

I scanned the letter. I grabbed some hair in my hand. "I didn't get in."

Mom's face fell. "Oh, honey—"

I grinned. "Just kidding. I got in."

She smacked my shoulder. "Perseus Jackson! Don't you scare your mother like that!"

Her smile was the proudest I had ever seen.

"Let's celebrate. Pizza and a movie night?"

I pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for believing in me, Mom."

She squeezed me tight. "I always have."