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A loud cheer resonated from the living room, prompting Annabeth to roll her eyes as she set a bowl of chips next to where Piper sat at the kitchen counter. Piper shot her a knowing look, dipping a chip into the queso dip in front of her. "Pipes, why couldn't you have married a guy who was obsessed with, I don't know, golf?"
Piper laughed, her eyes trained on her husband as he threw up his arms in annoyance at the TV. "I don't think I'll ever understand your grudge against hockey, Anna." "I guess three years of my articles being passed over for a sports write-up has made me jaded towards the sport," Annabeth responded with a sigh.
Piper gave her a sympathetic smile, well aware of Annabeth's struggles to get published at the online news company she worked for. "That doesn't mean you have to hate the sport itself. It's harmless." Annabeth scoffed, turning toward her friend. "You only think that because Jason converted you into a fan." "I'm hardly a fan," Piper responded. "I just know more about it since I married Jason."
"Exactly my point," Annabeth replied. "You're a fan." Piper turned to respond when Jason's voice boomed across the house. "NOT AGAIN!" Annabeth sighed, pulling Piper up with her. "C'mon, let's go see what life-shattering thing just happened." Piper elbowed her as they made their way into the living room. "Be nice, Anna," she chided with a slight grin.
Piper laid her hand on Jason's shoulder, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "What's going on?" she asked. Jason threaded his fingers through hers before answering. "Jackson keeps fumbling the passes. He's the best on the team, yet he hasn't scored once this game." He gestured toward the screen, where the camera had zoomed in on a player with the number thirty-five displayed on his jersey.
"I'm sure he will, babe," Piper replied, rolling her eyes playfully in Annabeth's direction. Annabeth bit back a laugh, her gaze straying back to the screen where number thirty-five was sitting on the sidelines with his head in his hands.
***
Annabeth glared at her phone, tempted to throw it into the oncoming traffic next to her as she made her way to her favorite coffee shop, Cup of Joe. Her boss had assigned her yet another article on pointless celebrity gossip, ignoring her request to shift to the evironmental column.
Pulling open the door to the shop, Annabeth breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee and smiled at Hazel, who stood behind the counter, rearranging the floor-to-ceiling display of coffees from around the world. "Hey, Annabeth!" she called, already turning to enter Annabeth's usual into the register.
Annabeth slipped her laptop out of her bag, shooting Hazel a greatful smile when she set her coffee in front of her. "What's the topic this time?" "Some heiress just got engaged to her equally-rich boyfriend. Apparently that's news-worthy these days." Annabeth responded with a sarcastic laugh.
"Good luck," Hazel teased, making her way back to the register. Taking a deep breath, Annabeth began her research into the lives of the wealthy Dares.
***
Percy groaned in frustration, hitting the puck harder than he meant to and watching as it soared across the rink, smacking against the wall. Ignoring the looks from his teammates, he stomped into the locker room, sliding his phone out of his locker and hitting speed dial.
"Matt, I want you to figure out what the hell is wrong with me, and get it fixed immediately. I'm at my breaking point with this stupid rut I'm stuck in," he growled into the phone before jamming the end call button. Percy studied his hands, wondering what idiotic joke the universe decided to play on him.
He was a few more missed passes away from being kicked off the team and losing all he had worked for since he was young. Percy could see the disappointment on his father's face as he broke the news he no longer played for one of the biggest teams in the NHL because he couldn't hit a freaking plastic disk into a net.
Percy sunk to the floor in front of his locker, tossing his phone onto the bench in front of him as he glared at the ceiling. "I'm a damn joke," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
***
A few hours passed uneventfully as Annabeth made her way through two more coffees and three scrapped drafts of her article. She brushed her hair out of her eyes, trying to fix her messy braid but failing. The empty cafe was a blessing as Annabeth was sure her mascara was smudged from how often she had rubbed her eyes in the past three hours.
She had just reached for her cup when the cafe's door slammed open, revealing a man furiously arguing with a person on the other end of the phone pressed to his ear. Hazel glanced up from her perch at the register, a knowing look spreading across her face as she watched the man make his way to one of the tables at the back of the room.
Annabeth studied the man, suddenly self-conscious of her disheveled appearance. His messy black hair fell into his green eyes, paired with a smattering of freckles dotting his face which only served to make him more attractive. His muscular build suggested he was very active, his arms flexing as he gestured angrily before hanging up the call, dropping his head into his hands.
She had just began the first sentence on the new draft of her article when the man's voice echoed through the small shop again, erasing any sympathy Annabeth had for the man in an instant. She was beyond the point of forgiving, spinning in her chair to glare at the man as he yelled into his phone yet again.
"Did you not hear me the first time, Matt? Figure it out, I don't care how, or else you'll be looking for a new job!" Annabeth couldn't take his yelling anymore as she marched over to where he sat, crossing her arms across her chest. The man glanced up at her, the anger in his face fading into confusion at her sudden appearance as he lowered his phone.
"Do you mind?" she demanded, watching his eyes widen slightly at the venom in her voice. "Excuse me?" he replied, his voice laced with indignation. "Some of us are here for a reason, not just to berate people over the phone," Annabeth seethed, blowing a stray curl out of her eyes. His eyes tracked the movement before meeting hers again.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" he demanded, standing to face her. She tried to school her expression as she realized just how tall he was. Paired with his muscular physique, he was intimidating even to her. Annabeth scoffed, raising an eyebrow at his conceited tone. "No, I don't. Am I supposed to?"
The man narrowed his green eyes at Annabeth, opening his mouth to respond when a clap of thunder shook the store's foundation, the lights flickering in response. She glanced out the window, shocked to see the downfall of rain beating against the glass panes. Annabeth's phone began to rang, and she picked it up to reveal Hazel's picture displayed on the screen.
"Hey, Annabeth. I stopped at the store to grab some milk but I'm stuck here due to the storm. I can't make it back. Are you okay by yourself?" Annabeth glanced at the man in front of her, the reality that she was trapped with someone so infuriating and self-absorbed sinking in. "Yeah, Hazel, I can manage," she responded, hanging up reluctantly.
"Looks like we're trapped," Annabeth announced, watching the man's reaction carefully. "Great," he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Annabeth couldn't help but watch the way his muscles flexed as he did so. "Is that an inconvience for you?" she retorted. His gaze snapped up to meet hers, the anger in his expression prominent.
Before he could respond, the lights flickered once more before going out completely. Annabeth gasped softly, unsure of what to do. It wasn't something she liked to share, but she wasn't a fan of the dark - especially when trapped with an annoyingly handsome stranger. She could hear the man move around for a moment before he spoke, his voice suprisingly soft. "Hold out your hand."
Annabeth stood still for a moment, debating internally whether to trust him. After a few seconds, she reached out her hand. "Okay," she replied softly. She bit her lip when she felt his warm hand slide into hers, trying to ignore the way his touch made her feel. Annabeth was momentarily greatful for the darkness, as her blush wasn't visible. She just hoped she had made the right choice.
***
As Percy led the girl across the room to where he had been sitting moments prior, he couldn't fathom what had brought him into this situation - his hand holding a girl's who had just spent the past fifteen minutes yelling at him with a confidence he had never seen before. Her messy blonde hair and sparkling grey eyes had affected him more than he'd like to admit.
Percy helped her into his chair, missing the warmth of her touch as she slipped her hand out of his. He felt around on the table until he found his cell phone, swiping on the screen and finding the flashlight. Even in the harsh, bright light, the woman was still beautiful.
Clearing his throat, Percy held out his hand again. "I'm Percy Jackson," he introduced, watching as she pondered this new piece of information. "Annabeth Chase," she responded, a small smile gracing her features. As he studied the woman in front of him, he realized that his life was about to change in some way - he just wasn't sure if it was good or bad.
***
Annabeth laughed as Percy squinted in the dim light of his phone, carefully pouring cream into the cup in front of him. She slid a container of cinnamon towards him, watching as he sprinkled it on with serious concentration. "Voila," he exclaimed, holding it out towards her. She carefully took a sip, gasping at the mixture of flavors. "How did you do that?"
Percy grinned, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's a hidden talent of mine." She rolled her eyes at his cocky tone, leaning against the counter next to him. Glancing at the clock on Percy's phone, she was shocked to see it read three in the morning. "We should probably find some way to get some rest. My article is due at noon."
"Ah yes, the one about Rachel Dare and her engagement to Michael Johnson?" Percy asked as he ducked behind the counter, searching through the cabinets. Annabeth sighed in response. "Unfortunately. I'm sick of trivial gossip. We're a reputable news conglomerate, yet we stoop to the level of celebrity gossip."
Percy emerged from behind the counter, a stack of blankets in his arms. Annabeth felt a smile spread across her face as she rushed up to him. "How did you know those were back there?" "I saw them when we were looking for the cinnamon. Apparently Cup of Joe is prepared for anything." She spread out a blanket on the floor, dropping her jacket on top of it to act as a makeshift pillow.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I wish we had gotten stuck in a furniture store, or at least something bigger." Annabeth said, staring at the hard ground in front of her. Percy appeared next to her, nodding in agreement. "I guess this is the best we can do," he replied, lowering himself to the ground. His muscular frame barely fit on the small blanket - and Annabeth couldn't look away.
It hit her in that moment that she had to sleep next to this man she was very quickly becoming more and more attracted to, despite her efforts to supress her feelings. For the past two hours, he had listened intently to her struggles with her job, providing the kind of support only Piper had been able to do. The undeniable connection she felt with him was overwhelming, in the best way possible.
Annabeth laid down on the hard lineloumn flooring, curling up under the thin blanket. Percy laid close enough for to feel his warmth, and their proximity prompted her to admit something she was too scared to before. "I want to quit my job, Percy," she whispered, barely making out Percy's features in the dark. The rain falling outside provided a soft background noise in the otherwise silent store.
A few moments passed in silence before he spoke. "Are you happy with what you've been doing?" "No," she responded, fiddling with the frayed edge of the blanket. "I want to write about evironmental issues. Things that matter." She felt Percy shift under his blanket. "Don't settle for less. Work towards more."
"That's profound," Annabeth commented. "It's what my coach always tells us." "Your coach?" she asked, wondering what he meant by that. Percy cleared his throat, avoiding her question. "Promise me, Annabeth, that you will find a way to write what you want to write, not what you're asked to." "I will," she whispered, biting back a gasp when she felt his fingers thread through hers.
It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
***
Percy slowly opened his eyes, squinting at his unfamiliar surroundings. He took in the light shining through the large windows and registered the warmth at his side. Glancing down, his heart sped up at the sight of Annabeth curled up into his chest, her blonde curls spread across the blanket. His arm had ended up around her waist, his fingers brushing the strip of skin where her shirt had ridden up.
He watched her sleeping form for a moment, disbeliving of how lucky he was to have met someone as amazing as Annabeth. Careful not to wake her, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the time, his eyes widening as he realized it was almost eleven thirty in the morning. Dozens of missed calls littered the screen, solidifying his panic.
Percy gently shook Annabeth, taking a second to watch as her eyes fluttered open. She glanced around for a moment, the confusion on her face evident, before her gaze collided with his. A strong blush spread across Annabeth's cheeks, and she bit her lip as she sat up.
"What time is it?" she asked, and for a moment Percy didn't want to break the enchantment laced in the moment, but he couldn't let her miss her deadline. "It's almost eleven thirty." Her gaze snapped up to his, the color draining from her face. She shot up off the floor, grabbing her jacket and slipping her laptop back into her bag.
Annabeth stopped in front of the door, her gaze locking with Percy's. Time slowed down as they held eye contact, and in that moment Percy knew he couldn't live with himself if he didn't act. Standing up, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist, pulling her into his chest. She gasped softly as he leaned in until his lips were inches from her.
"Is this okay?" he whispered, a grin spreading across his face when she nodded softly. He pulled her mouth to his, kissing her the way he had wanted to since she had marched up to him the night prior, her grey eyes filled with a fire he couldn't resist. Percy tightened his grip on Annabeth, backing her into the door as they kissed. After a few moments, he pulled back, enjoying the dazed look in her eye.
"I have to go," she whispered, reaching up and kissing him once more before turning around and pushing open the door. He stepped out into the daylight, watching as her skirt swished around her legs as she ran in the direction of the parking lot.
In that moment, he knew he would do anything to find her again.
***
"Anna, are you okay?" Piper asked, reaching out and laying her hand on Annabeth's arm. Annabeth glanced up, noting the concern on her best friend's face. She smiled softly, standing up from her desk and pulling out a box. "Yeah, I am." Piper's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. "You're quitting?" Annabeth nodded, placing the last of her items into the box.
A smile spread across Piper's face as she reached out and pulled Annabeth into a hug. "I'm so happy for you." Annabeth laughed, surprised. "You're glad I'm quitting?" Piper glanced up at her friend. "Of course I am. Ever since that storm last week - which I wish you would tell me more about - you've been different. In a good way."
Annabeth bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check. It wasn't like her to fall so easily, yet Percy had taken her heart with him when she had left that fateful morning. She wasn't sure if she would ever see him again. Annabeth pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder, slipping the box under her arm. "I've got to drop this off, but I'll meet you for lunch after?"
Piper nodded. "I'll see you then." Annabeth turned to leave but her gaze caught on the TV, which was tuned to some news station that covered mainly sports. She rolled her eyes, about to turn away when a painfully familar face filled the screen. The box fell to Annabeth's feet with a clatter as she tried to reconcile the man on the TV with the one she had fallen for less than a week prior.
"NHL Giant's star Percy Jackson shocked the world when he threw down his stick in the middle of the third period, fleeing the court with no explanation. He was last seen sprinting down the streets of New York in full uniform. The game has since called a time out, with two goals and three assists on the scoreboard..."
"Annabeth?!" Piper's worried voice pulled Annabeth back to the present, where the whole office was staring at her in shock. She glanced down at the mess around her feet, the contents of the box spilled across the office floor. Annabeth looked back at the screen, where live footage of the rink showed confused fans and players standing around, unsure of what to do.
Piper had just reached Annabeth's side when the door to the office flew open, revealing a man decked in full hockey gear, his skates dangling from his hand and his black hair messier than usual. Annabeth looked into Percy's green eyes with shock, convinced she was imagining him and she would wake up any minute, back in her bed.
"Annabeth," Percy said, walking towards her. She could hear the confused murmurs of the office workers, the flashing of phone cameras filling her peripheral vision. Yet, the only thing she could see was the man in front of her. "Percy, what are you doing here?" "I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was," he replied, gesturing to his uniform. "I've been struggling with my performance for months. It was nice to escape the hockey world...to be normal for once."
Annabeth could feel tears forming as she took him in, her heart breaking and healing all at once. "I quit my job," she whispered, watching his eyes light up as he registered her words. "That's my girl," he replied, stepping up to her. "You changed me, Annabeth. You made me realize that I've been slacking. I became obsessed with the notoriety of hockey, and abandoned my practice. It's because of you I am still on the team."
She gasped softly, reaching out for him. He linked their hands together, looking her in the eye. "I realized in the middle of today's game that I need you, Annabeth. Not seeing you in the stands, not being able to run into your arms after a win, or a loss...it wasn't right. I may be too late, and maybe it's too soon, but I love you, Annabeth Chase, and I'm not afraid for the world to know."
Annabeth smiled, her tears sliding down her cheeks as she looked into the eyes of the man she loved and whispered back, "I love you too, Percy Jackson." Next thing she knew, she was in his arms, and his lips were on hers. Cheers resounded through the office as the feeling of Percy's lips on hers overtook her senses, and she fell deeper in love than she had ever thought possible.
***
"C'mon Jackson! You can do it!" Jason's voice rang throughout the rink, mixing with the other thousands of voices of Giants fans. Piper let out a whoop, linking her arm with Annabeth's as number thirty-five flew across the rink, his stick poised expertly in expectation of the shot he was about to make.
The timer beeped as the seconds dwindled, and Annabeth watched in breathless anticipation as Percy Jackson made the game-winning shot, the buzzer sounding right as the puck sailed into the net. The rink exploded with noise and excitement, and Annabeth grabbed Piper, pulling her into a tight hug.
Piper used one hand to pull her out of the her seat, dragging Jason with the other as the three of them sprinted to the entrance of the rink, the crowd thickening as people gathered in hopes of spotting a member of the team. Annabeth scanned the crowd, yelping in surprise when she was suddenly lifted in the air.
Annabeth looked down to see her husband's sparkling green eyes, his hair falling into them as he lowered her to the ground. "Hey," she whispered, enjoying the way he watched her lips with unabashed hunger. "Hello there, Mrs. Jackson," he replied, pulling her against his chest. She grinned, grabbing his face and kissing him right there, tuning out the cacaphony of sounds surrounding them.
In that moment, Annabeth knew that she had found everything she ever could have wanted - and it was all thanks to a gossip article, an angry hockey player, and a thunderstorm.