"Be back in five, Annabeth. Think you can hold the fort till then?"

Eighteen year old Annabeth Chase looked up from the computer screen to look at her best friend and coworker Piper McLean and sighed tiredly before tucking a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear. "We'll see about that. But I swear, if another one of those douche bag marathon runner comes in to hit on me, I'll kill him and bury him."

Piper rolled her eyes as she shut off her computer and stood up stretching. "Ouch! Someone is cranky."

Annabeth grimaced. Cranky was putting it mild. She was murderous.

It was unfortunate enough that the supermarket she worked part time was plonk in the middle of a marathon running course and runners often came in for a drink. Piper claimed that it was good for business. Annabeth couldn't have disagreed more.

Most of the boys came in just so they could flirt with Piper and her, and while Piper liked the attention, Annabeth pretty much wanted to stab every guy that even looked her way. She had already thrown her sneakers at a hothead.

"Just don't be away too long, Pipes," Annabeth said, as she finished segregating the bills into separate piles.

Piper grinned as she sashayed out. "of course! "

Annabeth didn't really believe her. As a rule, Piper always extended her break to fifteen minutes and spent her time texting Jason. What irked Annabeth was, Piper texted Jason all day regardless of her break time.

Piper grabbed her purse and walked out leaving Annabeth alone in the hot amd gloomy supermarket. Naturally bored and tired, she dropped her head into her hands and began to hum mindlessly when the store door opened with a tinkle of bell. A hot blast of air blew in as whoever opened the door came in.

Annabeth hardly looked up.

"Hey, can I have a tin of coke, please?"

Another boy. Annabeth rolled her eyes still not lifting her curly blonde hair up. "Third aisle, fourth refrigerator," she said.

"Thanks!"

And then he began to walk away. It was only then that Annabeth peaked up to look at the boy. And gods, she was glad she did, because the he had the nicest butt ever. The blue and white running shorts fit him snugly, the sleeveless shirt stretching impressively across his torso and giving Annabeth an appreciative view of his rippling biceps. She was pretty sure she was drooling at him.

Aw, get a grip Annabeth!

The boy disappeared down the aisle, disappointing Annabeth, but seconds later he emerged with a tin of chilled coke and rested by the billing counter.

And holy shit!

He was damn hot!

He had lush black hair that was plastered to his forehead. If he hadn't been too sweaty, his hair would've been soft and jumpy. His eyes were a beautiful shade of green - like a lagoon, and his features were clean cut and chiselled to perfection. Every dark lash that framed his eyes seemed to scream HOTTIE!

I have got to tell Piper... Where is she anyway? !

And damn! Annabeth loved his jawline. She was a sucker for amazing jawlines.

It was a good thing that he was too busy popping the can open or he would've definitely seen the blonde girl with stormy grey eyes gawking at him.

And to make Annabeth's hormones rush even more, the boy tilted up his head and began guzzling down the coke in mighty gulps. The fan girl in Annabeth was jumping up and down loving the front row view of his abs that were rising and falling with each gulp.

Oh damn!

Unfortunately, he finished the tin and quickly tossed it into the trash with a flick of his wrist. "How much was that?"

Annabeth closed her mouth and shook her head to clear the fuzziness. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't disappointed.

All morning, guys had been hitting on her. And now, a total hottie walks in and he does nothing but drink coke.

Definitely a bad day.

But at least, she was wearing decent clothes today, and her curly hair was actually combed. All thanks to Piper!

Realising that she still hadn't answered Annabeth almost opened her mouth to tell him the price, but then changed her mind. "You know what, the money is on us."

"Really?!" the boy seemed a little surprised.

Annabeth nodded. "Totally. In fact, you're the lucky customer. You get another free coke tin." She grabbed a tin and tossed it to him.

The boy caught it expertly, his muscles rippling with the simple move. "Uh, thanks. I guess."

"Sure. You're running for a good cause, Save the Seals," Annabeth said. Her voice seemed to be on a higher pitch than usual.

The boy smiled. "Ah, yeah! That's the only reason I'm doing this."

Annabeth just about melted. Not only was he cute, but his smile was killer and it was absolutely adorable that he cared for baby seals. She had a brilliant flash of idea, suddenly. "You see, the free coke offer stands only if you drink it inside our shop."

"I have to drink it here?" He shot her an incredulous look.

Annabeth shrugged and bit her lip. "Conditions apply, sorry. Also, I need to take your name?"

When did I start flirting with random boys who walk into the store? Piper is definitely too much influence on me.

"It's Percy Jackson."

Annabeth scribbled his name down on a sheet of paper, trying to keep herself from grinning. "So, you taking the offer?"

So gullible!

Percy simply tilted his head and guzzled the cold drink with a flourish. Annabeth drank in his perfection until he finished the drink. Percy tossed the can and flashed Annabeth a brilliant smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I take up an offer of a beautiful girl flirting with me?"

Annabeth spluttered and flushed red. "What? What are you talking about?"

Percy grinned wider. "Oh you know what I'm talking about. Do you usually offer guys coke, or is it just me?"

Annabeth was officially mortified and wanted to sink into the floor. She hoped that Piper would come in a lready. No such luck. "Urgh! You knew all along?"

"Pretty much."

Annabeth sighed and dropped into her chair with a groan. "I'm so embarrassed."

"I think it's cute, though."

Annabeth blushed widly. "Okay, that's enough making fun of me. Get out!"

Percy laughed a little but began walking away. "Thanks again for the offer, Annabeth."

"How did you know my name?"

"Your name tag."

Annabeth looked down sheepishly at her name tag, feeling pretty stupid. "Oh, right! I'm not usually this dumb."

Percy smirked. "So it's just me, huh? I'm flattered."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Don't be too flattered. It's just that, usually hot guys don't walk into this store."

"Ah, you think I'm hot?"

By this time, Annabeth was seriously considering duct taping her mouth shut. Also, she wanted to wipe the grin of Percy's face,though he definitely had an amazing smirk. "Don't you have a marathon to run, Percy?"

"That can wait. Beautiful girls don't."

Annabeth blushed as she leaned forward and folded her hands on the counter. "You think I'm beautiful?"

"Yes, Annabeth."

Annabeth raised her brows with an amused smile. "Got to admit, you're lucky I haven't already thrown my shoes at your face."

"Aw, you're feisty too. This offer is getting better," Percy gave her a goofy grin.

Annabeth rolled her eyes trying to hide her smile. "Alright. Get out. Seriously."

Percy laughed and walked out closing the door behind him. Just a second later, he opened the door again and poked his head in.

"And Annabeth? Will I get the same offer if I stop by tomorrow, same time?"

Annabeth's jaw dropped open in surprise. Where was he going with this?

"No!" Annabeth had to resist the urge to raise her hands to her face and fan her hot and pink skin. Percy was getting under her skin and flustering her to no end.

Percy grinned and walked over to her counter again. He grabbed her pen and swiftly wrote his number next to his name on a slip of paper. "Well, call me if you change your mind."

He cast her another smile and jogged out leaving Annabeth stunned.

Piper chose the moment to come back in.

"Why are you blushing, Annabeth?"

Annabeth looked at her flustered. "Nothing!" She had said it too fast.

Piper narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Who's number is that? Wait, who's Percy Jackson?"

Annabeth's cheeks heated up at once. "No one," she muttered

Piper would never let me hear the end if I told her about Percy and her flirting.

Piper could see Annabeth smiling slightly and slipping the note into her jean pocket silently.

And Piper knew for a fact, that her friend was going to be making a very important phone call that night. Whoever Percy Jackson was, he had to be someone special to get past to Annabeth.