Chapter One - Coffee Spill

Disclaimer - I don't own PJO or HoO, Rick Riordan does.

Summary - There were many ways Annabeth Chase imagined that she'd meet her soulmate. Spilling her coffee on him certainly wasn't the way. She also didn't expect her soulmate to be such an idiot - a Seaweed Brain, in fact. Neither did she expect her soulmate to have a daughter.

Sighing, I rifled through my work papers. I work as an architect, you see, its been my dream job since I'd first heard of it, which was a very, very long time ago.

I loved my job, yet sometimes, my fellow workers seemed like idiots. I groaned as I spotted another mistake. Silly people, I seethed silently.

Grumbling, I reached for my coffee without taking my eyes off my papers. I touched it, but then, it seemed to go out of my reach.

"Ouch! Hot, hot, hot, hot!" Someone screamed. I started in surprise, my eyes widening in alarm. I shot up from my seat and looked in shock as a man hopped around the small, pleasant cafe, like a madman. It seemed as if the poor man had coffee spilt on him, judging by the brown stain on his shirt. I blinked. I looked at my own coffee cup. It wasn't there.

Realization hit me. "Oh, my gods, I am so sorry!" I jumped to the man's side, grabbing my handkerchief from my purse. I handed it to him, yet I was pretty sure it wouldn't do much to the massive stain on his shirt.

The guy sighed and looked down at it, his cheeks red. "Its alright." He mumbled, touching the stain lightly.

"I'm sorry." I repeated again, feeling all my pride desert me. I felt ashamed. The guy looked up and the first thing I instantly noticed were his eyes. They were sea-green, a peculiar shade of green, but a nice, warm shade of green. The eyes blinked.

"Oh... Hey..."

I blushed, realizing I was staring. "Hi." I squeaked, feeling odd. What was this feeling in the pit of my stomach? I'd only ever felt it once before, but I haven't felt it in a long, long time.

"I'm Percy." The guy stuck out his hand, looking rather awkward. His eyes rested on mine and I felt my cheeks turn a faint shade of pink. I watched his messy, black hair move slightly as someone entered the cafe, causing the wind to enter and tousle the man's hair.

"Annabeth." I said, forcing myself to return to my normal tone of voice.

"Um, excuse me."

"What now?" I blurted out, feeling rather annoyed at this person who dared to intrude on our conversation.

It was a waitress. Her eyes bugged out at my tone. She gestured weakly to a small puddle of coffee lying on the ground, right beside my shoe. I groaned and slapped myself inwardly.

"Sorry." I mumbled. Yep, all my pride had definitely deserted me.

I looked back up at Percy and saw him looking down at me with an amused smile playing on his lips. My gods, they looked so soft. Wait, what?

"Um, sorry about your shirt." I apologized again.

Percy shrugged. "Its alright, I was only heading home."

I nodded, feeling a little disappointed that he hadn't just arrived. I was pretty sure we could have a nice chat. I sighed and mentally slapped myself, I was crazy.

"Okay, see you then, Percy." His name felt nice on my tongue. Percy grinned.

"See you, Annabeth, it was nice meeting you."

"Same here."

The two of us continued standing there, looking at each other. Percy rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly.

"Well, I should be going."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

He still continued to stand there, so did I.

"You know, I guess I don't have to go home right now." His cheeks turned crimson as he spoke.

"Oh. So, I suppose I shouldn't say 'bye' just yet then." I returned.

Percy smirked. "Yeah." Then, he plopped down on the seat opposite mine.

I sat back down on my seat the two of us just sat there, looking at the other.

"So, Annabeth..." Percy looked at me. "Whats your last name?"

I blinked. "Why should I tell you?" I blurted. "You might be a serial killer."

Percy gaped at me. "A cereal killer?"

"No, serial. With an 'S'." I clarified. Percy blushed.

"Ah, I see." He paused, thinking. "You think I might be a serial killer?"

I laughed at his reaction, I couldn't help it. I found it quite cute, the way he threw me a joking glare and crossed his arms.

"You could be." I managed to say, between my laughs. I was pretty sure I was attracting some stares from the other people in the cafe.

Percy placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Annabeth."

I snickered. "Its Chase."

He blinked at me, obviously confused. "Huh?"

I sighed. "Its my last name."

"Oh." He offered. I looked at him, waiting for him to continue. He shot me a weird look. "What?"

"What do you mean 'what?'?" I queried.

Percy facepalmed. "Why are you looking at me weird?"

Offended, I sat up straighter. "I don't look at you weird!" I protested. "I was waiting for you to continue!"

"What?"

I sighed, probably for the millionth time. "I was waiting for you to tell me your last name!" I huffed.

Percy raised an eyebrow cockily. "Why'd you want to know? For all I know, you could be a serial killer. Or even worse, a clown!"

I looked at him. "A clown." I repeated his words, exasperated yet amused. "You find a clown worse than a serial killer?"

Percy raised his hands up in the air. "Hey, clowns are scary, you know. You could be like, the person that leads the clowns and stuff! Like, the person that orders the clowns around or whatever! Or a clown!"

I raise an eyebrow. "I assure you, I am not a clown or a serial killer, Percy."

Percy smirked. "Prove it."

I glared at him. "How the hell am I supposed to prove that to you?"

"Think of something, Chase." He smirked, using my last name.

"Fine... Percy." I finished lamely. He snorted at my attempt. I grab my work papers and hold them up in front of him. "You see this? I work at an architectural firm." I state.

"You could've stolen them off of your last victim." He pointed out, grinning cockily. I feel annoyed, I know I started this, but now I feel very annoyed.

"I do not have victims!" I snap. Percy smirks at my reaction.

"And how do you prove that, Ms. Chase?"

I glare at him. "You're insufferable."

"I win." He drawls out. I roll my eyes.

"Who said you won?"

Percy laughs at me. "Can you prove that you aren't a serial killer or a clown?" He demands, leaning over the table. I feel my breath hitch slightly as I feel his warm breath drift onto my lips.

"I don't have to prove it. Any sane person would know that I am not a serial killer or a clown."

"How so?" Percy props an elbow up and leans his chin against it, looking up at me. I momentarily lose focus as my eyes meet his green ones. "I like your eyes, by the way. They're pretty."

I blink, surprised. I definitely wasn't expecting that.

"Um. Thanks." I say shortly. Percy snorts at me. I shoot him an annoyed look. "What now, genius?"

Percy grins at the title, but continues. "You don't do this a lot, huh?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Yeah, you're right. I don't spill my coffee on random guys and sit down with them and argue whether or not I'm a serial killer or a clown. You're right, I really don't this a lot."

Percy rolls his eyes. "Not that, Chase."

I look at him, confused. "What do you mean then?"

Percy cracks a small smile. "You don't flirt, huh?"

I instantly turn red. "I do flirt!" I state, slamming my hands down on the table. Percy raises an eyebrow.

"Okay, babe. Whatever you say." He winks at me and leans back in his chair, straightening up.

I gape at him. "'Babe'?" I make a disgusted sound in the back of my throat as I repeat it.

"Its a term of endearment, babe. You must be used to that, huh?"

I gag at the 'term of endearment'. "Fine, I don't flirt, alright?" I demand. "I find it stupid." I state honestly.

Percy looks at me. "You find it stupid?"

I nod. "Yes, I do."

Percy looks at me. "Why?"

I shrug. "I just do."

Percy considers my answer and lets a smile fall onto his lips. "Alright then, Chase."

I sigh, changing the subject once more. "Whats your last name, Percy?" I ask.

Percy grins. "You may not be a clown or a serial killer," He lets me off the hook and I let out a silent breath of relief, "But how do I know you won't flip out?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why would I flip out?"

Percy smirks. "You know, if we got married, you wouldn't have to change your initials." He winks, sending me into a state of speechlessness.

"I'm sorry." I glare at him. "I'm afraid I misheard you."

Percy laughs. "I'm just messing with you, Chase." He says fondly, beginning to stand up.

"Where are you going?" I ask, hiding my worry.

Percy grins at me cheekily. "You miss me already, huh?"

I flush hotly. "Shut up."

Percy smirks. "I got to go home, Annabeth."

I look at him. "Why?"

His smile brightens up a little. "I've got a little girl back home who I've got to take to a birthday party."

I, on the other hand, feel sick. "A little girl?" You're married?

He nods. "Name's Sophie." He grins. "She's the sweetest little thing on earth."

I force a smile onto my face. "She sounds lovely. How old?"

Percy smiles at my question. "She's five." Happily married for more than five years?

"Oh." I mumble. He looks a little concerned as I begin playing with my fingers. "Um, well have a good time at the party with your daughter." I say, feeling nervous.

Percy nods. "Are you alright, Annabeth? You're all pale and stuff." His concerned face hovers a little way above mine. I plaster a smile on my face, shooing his face away.

"I'm great, I think I just got a little stomach ache." I lied. He nods once more.

"Oh. Well, it was nice meeting you, Annabeth." He murmured. I nodded, continuing to smile.

"It was nice meeting you too, Percy." I say genuinely. He looks at me as if he wants to say something else, but turns on his heel and begins walking out of the cafe, not before waving a final farewell to me.

When I hear the door close, I feel my heart shatter. I slam my head on the table and release a gigantic groan, causing some of the other people to look over at me curiously.

Just then, my phone rings. Sighing, I reach into my purse and pull out my phone, I answer the call. "Hello."

"Hey, Annabeth, its me."

I roll my eyes. "Who is 'me', exactly?" I recognize the voice though.

"Connor." Ah, its Connor. Him and Travis sound too similar.

"What do you need, Connor?"

"Who said I needed anything?" He asks defensively, sounding quite offended. I can tell that he's joking though, I can hear the smile in his voice.

"Connor, the only times you ever called me so far was because you needed something from me that you couldn't get from other people or because you wanted me to do something that you couldn't get other people to do."

Connor snorts from the other end of the phone. "Who knows, Annabeth? I might be breaking that tradition now."

I sigh. "Just tell me what you need, Connor."

"Can you take my son to this birthday party?" He asks simply. I think about it. I didn't have any work today, I'd done it all yesterday. Tomorrow was my work day, so I was all set to go. Plus, Brody, Connor's son, was a sweetheart and it certainly was no biggie to take him to a party.

"Sure, Connor. But you owe me big time."

I can literally see Connor in my mind rolling his eyes. "Big time for what? Giving you something to do to prevent you from dying of boredom?"

I scowl. "Shut up, Stoll. I'll take your son to the party."

Connor laughs at my reaction. "Thanks, Annabeth."

"No need to thank me, you'll be owing me anyways."

"Who knows? You might enjoy it anyways."

"Whatever. See you later, Stoll."

I snap my phone shut, ending the call. Placing my phone back in my purse, I realize I've forgotten something. I peer into it. The only thing that seems to be missing is my handkerchief.

Percy.

I sigh. I was quite attached to that handkerchief, it was given to me by my grandmother and all that, and I sure loved my grandmother. Well, at least Percy had something to remember me by.

Time to go get Brody.

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