title: it’s a beautiful day summary: piper and annabeth spend the day in new york city together. though they see each other often, annabeth loves the way the day reminds her of hanging out with piper back in high school. (title from “it’s a beautiful day” by u2, for @feastoffortuna2017) a/n: @mystified30 i’m your feast of fortuna gifter! i really hope you enjoy this oneshot. it’s been a while since I’ve written something for pjo...
Annabeth sipped her coffee as her gaze lingered across the café table. When she looked up out the window, she could see people walking down the sidewalk, phones or bags in hand. Some grasped the leashes of excited dogs, tails wagging and tongues out. New York City bustled, the sounds of cars drifting through the door, while the slight chatter of people and thoughts made the streets feel alive themselves. Annabeth appreciated the city in the spring even more once the semester was over, actually being able to enjoy the movement and noise. She checked her watch. Typical, she smirked.
She was waiting for her friend to meet her, though Piper did not have the best track record. She might as well have been the embodiment of “shows up fifteen minutes late with coffee.”
As if on cue, Piper McLean walks into the Starbucks, her braided hair resting against her graphic crop top. Piper grinned at her. “Look at you, drinking Starbucks coffee like a stereotypical white girl.” Annabeth scoffed. “Oh look at me, I’m Piper McLean and I only drink coffee from obscure hipster cafés for the hashtag aesthetic-” Piper laughed. “Oh, shut up.” She sat across from Annabeth, putting her phone down on the table. “Did you bring the passes?” Annabeth’s smile widened, eyes twinkling. “Of course I did! I wouldn’t forget them. Not today. I’ve been waiting way too long for the perfect time to go to the Met, and I finally convinced you to come with.” She ruffled through her bag, searching for envelope she had tucked in. “Hey, I love the Met. We’ve just gone enough times together.” She pulled out the envelope and set the passes on the table. “Fine…that’s true, but it’s not like the exhibits are identical all the time.” Piper sighed. “I’m surprised you’re not jumping for the MOMA. Don’t they have that Japanese architecture exhibit that you wanted to see?” “Already went with Percy. Besides, the Met was always more of our thing.” “In like…high school.” “Whatever,” Annabeth scoffed, sticking her tongue out at Piper. Piper just laughed, shaking her head. “We should go, unless you want to sacrifice your dignity and actually buy Starbucks coffee.” “Oh, leave me alone,” Piper shot back. “Let’s go, then.” They stood up simultaneously and headed out into the bustle of city sounds. They walked the mere blocks to the Met together, laughing and chatting. Piper would point out adorable dogs stealthily while Annabeth talked about books she wanted to read. They walked close together, arms bumping every so often, reaching the Metropolitan Museum of Art quickly. After going inside, they picked up maps and made a game plan. Well, Piper rattled off the exhibits she wanted to see, while Annabeth organized the most efficient way to see all the exhibits in a good amount of time. “Fine, we can see the Greek and Roman wing, but after the Modern and Contemporary art.” Piper told her. “Deal. But we’re also going to see the empire exhibit because it’s ending soon.” “Yeah, sure. Those sculptures looked pretty cool actually.” Piper looked through the brochure, lips pursed as she read through the descriptions. Annabeth giggled, nostalgia slipping into her thoughts, in which high school Piper tore through Met brochures as Annabeth laughed. Annabeth loved to explore museums. Their exhibits carried worlds of ideas and information, and transformed your environment until you weren’t in the city you started in. She watched Piper get lost in the art, gazing at each modern painting of indeterminate periods of time. Being an art major, Piper was fascinated with the different works they had up. (Though sometimes she would complain about how impossible it was to get her work seen.) Piper still got really excited about art museums, though she did like a change in pace. For her last birthday, Annabeth had surprised her with tickets to a smaller museum in the city, where Piper drooled over the modern art they had on display. “You good?” Piper asked, snapping Annabeth out of her daze. Annabeth nodded. “Thinking.” she replied. “Alright, well just a little longer in here. Then you can go obsess over your Greek artwork,” Piper teased. Annabeth snorted. “Whatever, you know you love them too.” “Not as much as you.” Annabeth grinned, unable to deny it. She did really love Greek architecture and art. They wandered into the Greek and Roman section, getting stuck between crowds of visitors. Annabeth recounted every story she knew to Piper, describing each piece, while Piper mentally traced the curves of each figure. Her gaze always lingered on the little Aphrodite statuette, even as Annabeth rambled on. After observing the rest of the exhibit and scanning through others, the two of them sat in the front with soft pretzels in their hands. Annabeth listened as Piper talked about her boyfriend and her artwork, rambling along with the noise of car horns and bus wheels. Annabeth watched Piper talk. Piper was always so animated, face contorting into every expression possible, with light hand gestures and inflections that followed her stories. Piper didn't always ramble, but when she started, she was always excited about what she talked about. It really had been a while since they had come to the Met together, just the two of them. She couldn’t even count the number of times they had in high school, between trips and indulging each other when one wanted to see some new exhibit. Annabeth missed some of the times they spent together in high school, even if college was a relief in comparison. “Annabeth?” She jolted out of her nostalgia when she noticed Piper’s glance. Piper started laughing lightly, shaking her head. “When did you stop listening?” she teased. “Do I have to retell everything?” Annabeth flushed slightly. “I was listening,” she pouted. “I was just thinking about stuff.”
Though they had finished at the Met, Annabeth didn’t really want the time together to end. They didn’t see each other all the time, after all. She tried to find an excuse in order to prolong the day.
She checked her phone quickly. “Hey do you have something now?” she questioned. “Not particularly. Why?” “Want to grab lunch? It’s almost noon.” “Sounds good! I’m sure there’s a café we can go to.” “Yeah okay, let’s look around.” They walked away from the Met, searching the city blocks for a good café to eat lunch. They chatted at the same time, discussing possible places to eat along with future plans to spend time together. Annabeth was so distracted, talking and gazing at awnings, she wasn’t paying attention to where she was walking. She bumped into someone with her shoulder, then stepped back.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, before looking up at who she bumped into. She narrowed her eyes. “Percy?”
“Annabeth?”
“Piper!” Piper called out.
“Seriously?” Jason, the boy beside Percy, said, raising an eyebrow.
“What are you guys up to?” Piper asked them, ignoring Jason’s comment. She gravitated towards Jason, though she looked at Percy.
“Chilling,” Percy replied, shrugging.
“We went to the Met,” Jason added.
“So did we! How did we not notice?” Annabeth exclaimed, making a confused gesture with her hands.
“Maybe we want to keep our platonic date away from yours,” Percy teased, sticking his tongue out at her.
Annabeth scoffed. “Well I got lucky, since Piper is a better girlfriend than you are a boyfriend.”
“Rude and uncalled for.”
Piper and Jason laughed at them, causing Annabeth to smirk. “Well, if you need us, you can find us later.” Annabeth stated, pulling Piper away by her arm.
“Love you too!” Percy called, Jason still laughing beside him.
Piper stumbled because of Annabeth’s hurried movement. She regained her balance in order to catch up with Annabeth’s pace, then chuckled. “I will never understand how you guys are dating,” Piper noted, shaking her head.
Annabeth blushed. “He’s a dork, but he’s a funny dork.” she muttered. Piper snickered at her, but Annabeth chose not to say anything, electing to continue looking for a café.
When they finally found somewhere to sit and eat, Annabeth pulled out her wallet and fixed her bag. Piper looked through the menu with furrowed brows, pursing her lips as she examined the options.
“Have you been here before?” Piper asked. Annabeth nodded.
“Once, after meeting a friend. The food is all good.”
“Not helpful,” Piper pouted. Annabeth giggled, opening her own menu to find something.
Even as the waitress came and took their orders, Annabeth and Piper still talked. Annabeth’s favorite feeling was being able to talk about everything and anything, and seemingly never run out of topics, while listening to her friend ramble.
With Piper, she felt comfortable and content, as if everything was right with the world. She doesn’t understand how she could be so lucky, to still have Piper in her life after all this time.
Noticing her quieting down, Piper tilted her head. “You okay?” she asked.
Annabeth smiled, nodding. “Never better,” she responded honestly, and she felt wonderful.
I really hope you liked this? I’m sorry if it’s weird or if everyone’s ooc, it’s been a while.
~Phantom
