Annabeth was lying next to him, across the bed. It was a little awkward at first, but since neither of them lived alone-and the door always had to be open-eventually it got better.

Today, neither of them were talking. Homework had long been finished. Now Annabeth was listening to her music through her headphones and reading what she called a by-the-way book-a trashy romance.

He watched her. Every time she lifted her hand and pushed back the curl of ashy gray hair that would fall in her eyes; every time she scratched the back of her neck; every time a little smile tugged at the corners of her lips; every time she rolled her eyes at something a character said; and the one time her mouth fell open in a perfect o, he watched. He saw.

He was astounded by how much she told him when she said nothing at all.

xoxox

To Anna145 and KarmaBear2050.