Hello! I've always wanted to do some kind of AU so I guess I'm starting now. It's summer time so… why not!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything remotely awesome as PJO

Katie Gardner walked into The Flying Shoes Coffee Shop, blowing some snow inside the heated up room. It was a quaint place. The coffee shop logo, a pair of winged shoes, hung right next to the glass door and windows made up the front and right wall. The coffee shop stood at the corner of two streets, in a city on Long Island.

The heat of the indoors warmed her chilled body and Katie unwrapped the scarf around her neck and took off her hat. She inhaled the strong scent of coffee beans. As she was combing through her unruly hair, she scanned the shop for a place to sit. There were couches and armchairs scattered throughout, with small tables accompanying each one. Lamps hung from the ceiling, though not that well lit.

Katie walked up to an empty armchair and claimed it by dropping her scarf, hat, and gloves on it. She put her warm hands on her cheeks in an attempt to return the heat to then. Katie made her way to the counter, waiting for her turn to be served. She was the eighth person in line, which seemed like a bit much. The coffee shop was filled. She was lucky enough to find an empty armchair. Katie breathed on her hands as she waited in line.

"Cold out, isn't it?" A voice said to her. Katie looked up from her hands and turned to the person who had spoken. She had black hair and enticingly blue eyes. Her smile showed all of her perfectly white teeth. Her cheeks were the perfect shade of pink, unlike Katie's, whose cheeks and nose were pinched red from the frost. She wore a light pink coat that looked like it wouldn't shield her from any cold. The girl was also two inches taller than Katie because of her high heeled boots. Katie wasn't used to people talking to her in line at a coffee shop. In her old town, the people in line were as social as hermits at a meet and greet. Since this girl was being nice to her, Katie felt the need to give her a reply.

"Is it always like this?" Katie asked, giving a short and haste laugh. The girl smiled wider and moved up the line. Katie followed her.

"Kind of. It starts snowing in November, but usually not this early in the month," the girl said.

"That's really early," Katie said.

"November? What are you used to?" the girl asked.

"Late December, usually. Lately, in my old town, we haven't been having that many white Christmases," Katie said. She wrapped her coat tighter around her even though she wasn't that cold anymore.

"Are you new here?" the girl asked, turning her head to the side.

"Yeah. I just moved in yesterday from Indiana. I still have boxes scattered around my apartment," Katie said. She paused. "Oh! My name's Katie Gardner, by the way." The girl held her hand out.

"I'm Silena Beauregard," she said. Katie took her hand and shook it. The girl turned around to the counter and moved up three spaces.

Just then, the glass door flew open and a guy with shaggy black hair and wearing a ski jacket barreled in and hopped over the counter. He shrugged off his jacket and threw it in the back room. He wore a navy blue button up shirt like the rest of the bartenders, but his was wrinkled and wasn't buttoned correctly.

"Percy!" called another guy's voice. Katie thought that it was the guy at the cash register. She couldn't see his face through the people's heads in front of her, but she assumed he was the one that spoke. "You're late again! What have we been telling you about coming to work late- especially when your shift is at this hour! Do you know how hard it is to work with my brother?"

"Sorry!" Percy muttered, getting right to work. He jumped to one of the coffee grinders and started pouring some coffee beans inside. "I was busy."

"With Annabeth?" the voice said playfully.

"Actually, no. With Mrs. O'Leary," Percy said over the wrrring noise from the coffee grinder, "I just picked her up from Annabeth's house." The other voice chuckled and Percy smiled. Katie assumed that he was forgiven for coming to work late.

"-So," Silena said, pulling Katie out from the other conversation, "Why did you move to Campton?"

"Well," Katie said, "I love nature-"

"Wait, are you here for the job opening in Olympus Magazine?" Silena asked, interrupting her suddenly by holding up her hands as if she was guessing for charades. Silena was as perky and cheerful as a Chihuahua after it drank a double shot of espresso.

"Yes, I'm hoping to get the job in the nature section, but first I have to get a different job, just to get my hold on this place and earn some money," Katie said, "I just got a degree in journalism, so I hope they might find me suitable enough." The nature section had articles and pictures about agriculture, different plant species, scientific modifications of nature, and beautiful places in nature.

Silena opened her mouth to say something else, but then there was a short whistle behind her. The two turned to the source and found the very annoyed cashier staring pointedly at Silena. He had curly brown hair. His face seemed tired, but somehow managed to make a permanent smirk. His eyes were deep blue and had a glint of mischievous and playfulness in them. Silena gave a short giggle and apologized to the cashier who didn't say anything. He just tapped his pencil on the cash register, impatiently waiting for her to order.

"I would like a caffe latte and a skinny cappuccino," Silena told the guy, counting off her fingers. She turned to Katie and said, "I'm bringing one to my boyfriend." Katie nodded and the girl turned back to the cash register.

"Anything else?" the boy asked.

"What do you suggest, Travis?" Silena asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Travis was typing something into his computer even though Silena hadn't ordered anything yet. Travis looked up.

"Silena, I know what you're going to order next, so why would I even suggest anything else?" the boy said.

"Two lemon scones and one potato bagel," Silena said as if she was challenging him.

"Already done," Travis stated, a triumphant smile dashed his features. He was already looking past Silena and at Katie. Katie walked up to the counter and shuffled through her purse, looking for her wallet.

"I'll see you around, okay?" Silena said, giving Katie a quick tap. Katie waved goodbye to her and Silena walked further down the counter to pick up her drinks.

"Um, I would like an espresso macchiato," Katie said. Travis raised an eyebrow and typed something into his computer.

"Energetic," he remarked.

"Yeah, well. I need the energy. I just moved into town and spent the entire night unpacking boxes. The only thing that was keeping me awake was music that I was playing through my ipod."

"I think I might need one too. One of my neighbors was keeping me up all night," Travis said. Katie fished her wallet from her purse and placed it on the counter in front of her.

"Anything else?" Travis asked.

"Um…" Katie hesitated. Travis rolled his eyebrows and turned away from her.

"She had all this time to decide what she wanted, but she was too busy blabbering with Silena. Women," Travis whispered to Percy. Percy couldn't hear him over the grinding coffee beans, but Katie sure could. Katie's mouth opened in shock at the rudeness he was expressing, but she told herself to remain cool. She needed to be on his good side after what she was going to suggest.

"No, I would not like anything else. Thank you," Katie muttered hotly.

"You can go further down the counter to pick up your drink," Travis said.

"My name's Katie," she said. Travis looked up at her surprised.

"And I'm Travis Stoll," Travis said, tapping the badge pinned to his navy blue shirt. "It was nice meeting you, Katie, but if you would move along-" He started to brush her off.

"I was wondering if you had a job opening," Katie said. Behind her, there were a few grumbles of disdain.

"Look, sweetheart, I'm sure you're very nice, and you don't mean to clog up the line-"

"I was just wondering if there was a job opening," Katie said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Katie, you have a very pretty face. If you don't move along, those people behind you are going to rip that pretty face off. Perhaps you should come back when it isn't rush hour," Travis said, giving her a smirk.

Katie's cheeks flamed up. She wanted to slap that smirk off his face.

"Can I cut in?" Percy said, stepping in front of Travis. He smiled at Katie. "We're not sure if there are any job openings, but we can ask our manager for you if you want," he said. His sea green eyes were so comforting and kind. Katie slowly relaxed and her temper subsided.

"Thank you," Katie said, handing him a twenty.

"No problem," Percy said, fishing out her change and handing her the coffee he was working on. He then walked away from the register and Travis retook his post.

"Welcome to the city, Katie," Travis told her. Katie didn't acknowledge his welcome. She walked up to her armchair and picking up her gloves, hat, and scarf, not wanting to stick around anymore. She walked out the shop with the feeling of a pair of eyes on her as she left. Behind her, she could hear a low chuckle.

Katie ended up wandering around the city- thinking about the meaning of life, or why she specifically was put on this earth. How incredibly mortal and fragile humans are and how ridiculous that they care for such mundane things… Actually, no. She just got really lost.

Katie did manage to find the Olympus Magazine building. It had an uncanny similarity in architecture with the Empire State Building in New York. She stared up at the skyscraper in awe, yet content. "I'm going to work there someday," she said to no one in particular.

"Where do you wish to work?" A voice asked from nearby her. Katie didn't turn to see who had spoken. She thought she was just having a conversation inside her mind.

"I want to write articles for the nature section- that one's my favorite. I hope to be that person that goes to incredible places in nature and writes an article about it. I want to help people realize how incredible beautiful the earth is," Katie said. She shoved her hands in her coat pockets and fingered her apartment keys.

She always loved reading articles about incredible places in nature. She usually dog-tailed her issue of Olympus Magazine to that page or just cut and kept only the single. She was incredibly upset when the latest few issues of Olympus Magazine had no articles about that, but her sorrow was melted into hope when she found out that the journalist got fired. She had a chance to become part of the thing she so admired! Of course she moved to Campton in Long Island.

"That's so incredibly relieving. I thought you were going to say my job," the voice said. Katie then realized that she wasn't talking to a voice in her head. She turned to her left and found a man in a pinstriped suit, staring up at the building like she just was. His gaze wasn't filled with awe, like hers was. It was full of pride.

Katie's eyes widened as she realized who she was speaking to. "Mr. Zeus!" she cried, backing away from him for a few steps. She staggered. She couldn't believe that she was just casually talking with the founder and president of Olympus Magazine! "Mr. President!" she yelled before she could stop herself. Katie felt the sudden urge to bow to his feet. Mr. Zeus gave her a strange smile.

"What is your name?" he asked stoically. He had salt and pepper hair which made him seem so much older and wiser.

"Katie Gardner," she said, trying to act cool and collected. Mr. Zeus fished inside his wallet.

"Well, Katie. If you are interested in the job, give me a call. I think you're an interesting girl," Zeus said, handing her his card. Katie stared at the gold lettering in awe. She looked up to thank him, but Mr. Zeus got a call on his cell phone and started to walk in the building.

"Wait! Mr. Zeus!" Katie called. The man turned around to face her.

"I'm a bit lost. Would you mind directing me to the Cabin Line Apartments?" Katie asked. Zeus said something into his phone and walked up to the edge of the street and hailed a cab. He stuck his head inside the window and told the driver where to go. He waved a goodbye to Katie and disappeared into the Olympus Magazine Building.

Once Katie was inside the car, the driver grunted and sped off. Katie tucked Mr. Zeus' card inside her wallet, careful not to wrinkle or fold the edges.

"We're here," the driver's gruff voice said. Katie leaned over and paid the man her money. She walked out of the cab and turned back to the cabbie.

"I hope you have a nice day," she told him. The guy stared at her for a while before laughing.

"Thanks kid, I hope you have one too," the man said, still laughing. Even after he drove off, Katie didn't understand what the humor of it was.

Katie walked up to her apartment building complex and opened the door, being greeted with the warm air from the heater. Next to the door were the mailboxes for each apartment. Katie was alone except for another man with curly brown hair that was digging through his mail.

Katie walked up next to him and unlocked the mailbox he had opened. She was hit by a sudden scent of coffee beans. The man gave her a sideways glance before doing a double take. Katie slowly turned over to him and saw his scrutinizing expression.

"I know you from somewhere," he said. Katie frowned. Unlike him, she remembered who he was.

"Hello, Travis," she said. "I'm Katie. I just moved to town, remember?" Did he always smell of coffee beans? Katie hated to admit that she kind of like it.

"Oh! I remember you! Percy wanted me to tell you that there weren't any more job openings," Travis said bluntly. He started walking up the stairs to his apartment. Katie felt disappointment through her body. Travis turned around and put a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "He also said something about being nice and not being to blunt…" Travis said.

Katie's fists clenched and she grabbed her mail. After she locked her mailbox, she stomped up beside him on the steps. "It's fine. I don't need you to sugar coat anything," Katie said. Travis looked at her surprised.

"Why are you so upset?" he asked. Katie exhaled hotly. Was he that clueless?

"No reason," she muttered, trying to get away from him.

"Oh, okay," Travis shrugged, brushing off the subject of her rejection of the job.

It's fine, Katie told herself, Mr. Zeus gave me his card. That has to mean something. I might actually have a future at Olympus Magazine. Who cares about some stupid coffee shop job. I'll just go to another coffee shop until they hire me.

"…Why are you following me?" Travis' voice asked from behind her. Katie turned around and stared at him.

"What?"

"Are you following me?"

"You're actually behind me. I think that means that you are following me," Katie said. Travis paused.

"What floor are you on?" he asked.

"Four."

"Same."

"Well I guess we're stuck together for two more floors," Katie said. For the rest of the way up, she ignored him by thinking about how many more boxes she had to unpack. Against her will, she gave out a soft groan.

"What's wrong?" Travis asked.

"I'm probably going to have to stay up all night again unpacking," Katie said.

"I'll get the espresso ready for you in the morning," Travis told her with a wink. Katie walked up the rest of the way with the feeling of his eyes on her back. What was his deal?

When they got to their floor, Katie started walked to the right and Travis turned to the left.

"I guess this is it," Travis said.

"See you," Katie told him, walking farther down the hall.

She surveyed the room numbers, realizing that they were growing instead of diminishing. She had gone the wrong way. Katie sighed and turned around, walking to the left of the staircase. Looking at the apartment door numbers, she found her way to the door that was to the right of Travis'.

"Well isn't this funny," Travis said, putting a hand on his hip.

"Hilarious," Katie muttered, fishing out her key.

"Wait!" Travis yelled, "Were you the one that was blaring music all night long?"

"Yes…" Katie said.

"Ah ha! You were the annoying neighbor! Don't be so loud tonight. I need my beauty sleep," Travis said.

"And a lot of it," Katie whispered. Travis opened his apartment door. Before he walked inside, he pointed a singled finger at her and looked her straight in the eye.

"I mean it," he said. Then, he shut the door.

Katie put her ipod on her stereo and turned the volume up almost all of the way, to annoy Travis of course. She got a glass of ice water for her to drink- or for her to splash on her face if she ever felt tired. She got out her scissors and walked up to the first box. She stabbed the scissor at it as if it was some mythological monster and her scissors were her knife.

This went on for two hours when a banging came on her door. Katie paused her ipod and unlocked the door to find a very angry Travis Stoll. Katie held her scissors up in case she needed protecting. Travis lifted his hand up to reveal another pair of scissor. Katie was starting to think that they would have to fence each other with scissor, but instead, he shoved past her and entered her apartment. He went up to the first box he saw and started cutting it open.

"Are you going to help me?" Travis asked. Katie snapped out of her trance and unpaused her ipod. That was the night Travis helped Katie move into the city.

I must say that I am pretty proud of this piece of writing. I hope you guys like it too. Sorry for taking such a long break. No matter how long I leave, I will love you reviewers forever! Hugs

~ xhiddendreamx