Hi! Welcome to the first chapter of How We Almost Never Met. This will a fairly long story. I'm not sure how many chapter long it is going to be though. I hope you enjoy it! This is also my first fanfic btw, so sorry for any future mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not own the PJO series, all rights go to Rick Riordan.

Annabeth POV

"Can I get a latte please?" I asked reaching into my jacket pocket to retrieve my wallet. The cashier with auburn hair tied up in a messy bun nodded curtly before turning to fill out my order. My thoughts wondered and my eyes scanned the café, watching other customers until a frustrated groan came from the man behind me. As I turned around, I was met face to face with a man that was about 6'1 and his onyx hair was disheveled as if it was never brushed. As my gaze met his, my heart surprisingly skipped a beat as his sea green eyes clashed against my stormy gray ones. I silently admonished myself for even thinking about him that way, I haven't spoken a word to him, and my mind has already imagined several scenarios and the outcomes.

He raised his eyebrows at me, scanning me as I scanned him. "Excuse me?" he asked, his voice laced with annoyance. I raised my eyebrow at him, ready to reply but before I could answer, the barista had already gotten my order. So I turned away from the green-eyed stranger, and picked up my suitcase with my newly purchased food and headed towards the airport.

~oOo~

"Please fasten your seat belts, we are ready to land. Welcome to Los Angeles, California," the pilot announced as the red seatbelt sign flashed on. My eyes flickered opened, and as I rubbed the sleep away, I put my seat in the up-right position, and waited for the flight descent.

After the smooth landing, I exited the plane and after a short taxi drive, checked into my hotel room. Everything was going smoothly until I decided to unpack my suitcase. When I turned to open my luggage, the combination did not open the lock. Confused, I searched the baggage and found an owner's tag which read If Found Please Return To: Percy Jackson in print that was barely legible with a sprawled number underneath the name. I pulled out my phone, typed in the digits, and called the "Percy".

"Hello?" answered a deep voice that sounded familiar, yet I couldn't place my finger where I had heard it before.

"Percy Jackson?" I inquired, cautiously staring at the suitcase, examining the outside of it.

"In the flesh, and I am willing to bet this is Annabeth Chase," he answered, sarcasm so obvious I could basically see the smirk on his face.

"Yeah, it looks like we have switched suitcases," I explained, a humorless laugh escaping my mouth.

"As so it seems," Percy agreed, a bit a humor lingering in his voice, "but how could that have happened?"

I began imaging the various situations that could have occurred in order for this to happen, the flight mixed up the suitcases, did I grab the wrong bag, did-wait the café!

As I opened my mouth to answer the question, Percy beat me to it,"The café!" he exclaimed, as if it were the answer to the most difficult question in the world.

"So you were that impatient guy behind me in line?" I asked, recalling the man anxiously waiting behind me in line.

"And you were that irritating girl that took forever?" he replied.

I sighed, we were getting nowhere. "Anyway," I said stopping the impending argument, "Is there a way we can check if I have your suitcase?"

"Yeah, check the back of the owner's tag, do you see a small white trident?" Percy asked. After checking hurriedly, I murmured a "yes", tracing my index finger over the tiny trident in the center of the tag.

"Okay, give me your combination," Percy asked me.

"No, I don't even know you, what if you're a stalker!" I demanded, even though it was highly improbably, I did not want to take my chances.

"Yeah because a stalker would soo find out your entire life with clothes," he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice," and if you give me your combination, I will give you mine," he reasoned, I groaned but then gave him the four digit code to my suitcase in exchange for his. I put in the code and opened to a turmoil of unfolded t-shirts and jeans.

"All I see are clothes and books," Percy grumbled.

"It looks like a typhoon came through here," I replied, smirking.

"Oh whatever," I could practically see him rolling his eyes.

"You probably have my suitcase, is a Yankee's baseball cap in there?"

"Yep, are you from New York?" he questioned.

"Yeah, but I'm in LA now for a job interview, I'm applying to be an architect's intern, but after the interview, I'm flying back to New York," I explained.

Percy groaned in frustration, "and when will that be?"

I laughed,"Five days, a week at most."

"Well, I guess this works out, I have to fly out to LA for a meeting in a few days, I'm a marine biologist, so what if we meet up there and switch suitcases?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, that works out, can we sort out the details later? I'm suppose to meet my friend, Thalia, for lunch."

"You know Thalia, Thalia Grace?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, we're good friends, how do you know her?" I asked, curious.

"We're cousins! Small world isn't it?"

"Very, I'll talk to you later Seaweed Brain,"

"Seaweed Brain?" he laughed.

"Yeah, you're a marine biologist although you dont seem like the smartest person alive," I explained as I laughed along with him.

"Well, I am offended! I will get you back for that," his voice serious, but then it turned into laughter.

"You really are a Seaweed Brain," I chuckled once more before ending the conversation to get ready to meet Thalia.

~oOo~

After taking a quick shower, and changing, I rushed over to the address Thalia gave me. When I entered the bar, I immediately spotted Thalia lazily stirring a drink, staring at the wall before she spotted me and her face brightened instantly.

"Annie! Long time no see!" she exclaimed, smirking as she used the nickname I hated so much. Thalia is the type of girl people don't mess with, complete with short spiky black hair, piercing blue eyes, band shirts, and black skinny jeans.

"Don't call me that," I groaned, but smiled because it was been quite a while since we last spoke. We talked over drinks and snacks, reliving some college memories, and cracking jokes.

"So have you talked to Luke lately?" Thalia asked munching on some nachos.

I got quiet and sighed as I stirred my drink, "No, I haven't spoken to him since our breakup. But while I'm here, I might as well set things straight and clear the air. I even wrote him a letter."

"Annie, I know your smart, so I trust you. I just dont want you to get hurt again," she said, looking at me straight in the eyes.

"I know, thanks." I smiled.

"I also heard you have talked to my idiot cousin," Thalia laughed, changing the subject.

"Percy? Oh yeah, we switched suitcases by accident" I laughed, relieved of the shift in topic.

"Yeah, he is such a kelp head," she laughed and began telling stories about their childhood and the many many many incidents regarding Seaweed Brain and his moments. The hours passed by quickly, and soon enough we had to part ways, with a promise to meet again before I left again for New York. Until then, I had a day before my interview with the head architect of Olympia Industries, and I was determined to get that internship.

I hope you enjoyed! I'll try to update as soon as possible.

Please review!

~overlyobbsesedbookworm :3