ugh people

“ it is you. ” he wanted to rub his eyes, ensure he wasn’t dreaming but he couldn’t be, everything was the same; her voice, those eyes. instead he tried to keep his composure, act as nonchalant as was acceptable. “ hi, ” a chuckle leaving his lips before his teeth pinned down against his bottom one, taking it all in. “ what’s it been ? two, three years ? you look the same. ” sam nods, glad she did. 

“you do too,” she said, shifting awkwardly for a moment before finally thinking screw it and wrapping her arms around him in a hug.  it only lasted a minute before she moved to pull away.  “it’s been too long no matter how long.  life’s been... well, you know.”

closed samabeth w/ @carrieslays​

it took him a second, just a moment of realisation as he spotted the blonde, turning around fully. of course he’d recognise her anywhere as he felt the thump faster and faster against his chest. “ annabeth ? “ he almost wanted to confirm, just in case his mind was playing tricks on him. 

she missed the old flip phone from her childhood days.  smart phones just didn’t give her the satisfying click of hanging up on an annoying client the way they used to.  mumbling under her breath about how stupid certain red headed individuals were, she slipped her phone back into her bag.  the sound of her name caused her to snap out of her mood, her frustration at her client melting away.  it’d been years, but he looked the same.  older, for sure, like her.  but still the same boy she’d known.  “oh my gods, sam. i... hi.”

“I think I’m the evidence that it’s possible to be both.  But on all days, rather than just varying days of one or the other.” Aaron shrugged, though in reality he didn’t really see himself as either, but he was enjoying the tone of the conversation so he wasn’t going to let it falter. 

“I still think you’d be more important than sleeping, but we’ll have to wait and see–maybe when the time comes I’ll find it irritating, but I don’t think so.” He thought, imagining nothing better than hearing her voice just before he slept, rather than the opposite. “If you say so, though I guess I have something to look forward to at 5:30 one morning.” Aaron wasn’t going to let her think she was winning, not at all, but he wasn’t exactly lying either. Watching her hand wave him off, he couldn’t help but feel the need to stay. Frowning, he looked at his watch to see if he could justify asking for his break so soon. The thought of having to say goodbye to Angela, even if only for a few hours, was bleak. “Shall I make them the drinks to speed up the process? It might work in our favour. Now, now, when have I ever given you grief?” He scoffed, acting shocked by her words. His head turned to find his boss, though failed to spot him. “I’ll try and get off as quick as I can.” Aaron promised softly, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of the night with her. 

“It must be hard, being all things on all days,” she pointed out, smirking.  Though, his next words had her staring down at her drink in a poor attempt to try and hide the smile and blush that was on her face.  It wasn’t right, and it definitely wasn’t fair.  Angela had sworn that she was going to just spend time working on herself.  And she was definitely going to keep herself off limits from the boy who had broken her heart before.  Yet, comments like that had her nearly forgetting all the promises she’d made to herself.

“They just got the ones they have,” Angela pointed out.  “Trying to get them drunk now might seem a little suspicious.”  She tapped her chin as she pretended that she was having to think hard about such a thing.  “Gee, I might have to think about it.  There’s only so many options to choose from.”  Waving him off once more, Angela smiled at him as she spoke.  It felt a little forced, knowing that he was about to have to go off and deal with some flirty blonde, but there wasn’t anything she could really say or do to keep that from happening.  “Go,” she insisted.  “I’ll come back when I need some more drinks for my friends,” she said.  “Go... charm your customers and I’ll see you later.”

“You’re right, I am dashingly handsome.” Aaron played on her words, enjoying her company, though he presumed it’d end soon, he couldn’t exactly steal her away–especially not on a Galentine’s night. “Is cute really a downgrade, though? I think I’d still be pretty happy with that.” 

“You know, you say that as a threat, but I honestly wouldn’t mind at all.” He laughed, a shrug falling from his shoulders. “Besides, I just wouldn’t tell you when I was working.” Aaron added, and he could just lie, but she wasn’t stupid and would probably figure it out. “I have a break soon, but you’re right, I guess I shouldn’t be playing favourites. My fans can get very impatient, so it’s best they’re not waiting too long…and I think she’s ignoring the other bartenders, to be honest.” He shot the other girl a quick glance, she’d been waiting much longer than anyone else so he could only assume she was waiting for him. Which was awkward, and he didn’t enjoy those kinds of customers, they were a bit much. “Well, while we come up with another option, your drinks are obviously on the house. Any ideas at all?”

Angela found herself scoffing at Aaron’s words, trying to twist what she said.  “Well, you’re the one rating yourself here.  If you don’t think it’s a downgrade to be cute versus dashingly handsome, then I don’t see why not.  In fact, maybe it’s possible to be both.  Maybe some days, you think you’re cute.  And then others, you find yourself dashingly handsome.”  Even as she said it, it sounded someone complicated and convoluted, so she really hoped that he was able to follow it.

 “Even when you’ve just gotten in in the morning and want nothing more than to sleep?  And then suddenly... there comes the call.”  Angela shrugged at his threat that he just wouldn’t tell her when he was working.  “Not a problem.  I will just call you at the absolute worst times every morning.  You’re bound to be working some of them.  And no one really likes being woken up at 5:30 by a phone call any day.”  She bit her lip as her eyes flicked over to the blonde girl before returning to Aaron.  “Go on,” she said, waving him away.  “Your public awaits and all that.  Just...”  Angela shrugged.  “Come find me when you’re on your break.  You know, if you want to.  I give my friends two drinks before they’re trying to dance with some random group of guys and I’m not so sure that’s up my alley just yet.  I’ll keep thinking, because I think the idea of free drinks frees us both up for it.  It gives me a reason to stay here, and you to keep coming back around to give me grief.”

He grinned as he listened to Angela, wondering how she viewed their relationship if she was so obviously jealous–and since things with John had gone…well, quiet, he couldn’t help but assume she was hope she’d be interested in him again. “You’re right, I do think I’m cute. Although I’m torn, I’m not sure if I’m more dashingly handsome than I am cute, what do you think?” Aaron raised his brow at her, tilting his head slightly as he asked, masking his voice with a false sincerity, as obviously he was just teasing her for a reaction.

“Your friends can have all the fun they want, though, I’m not going to lecture them about it–whereas with you I can just call you at seven in the morning while you’re trying to sleep off a deadly hangover and make it so much worse.” Aaron joked, though he’d give any excuse to call her–make sure she was okay, just check in on her and hear her voice first thing as he got up. “Ah, I see, shall I leave, then, or am I just your little secret for the night?”

She had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at his question.  Instead, Angela found herself focusing on the drink in front of her for a second to keep from following through on that.  Still, it was so reminiscent of when they first began hanging out, that it was hard to keep the small smile off her face as she looked back up at him.  “I think that you probably find yourself dashingly handsome.  Why you’re even in a debate with yourself over it, I don’t know.  False modesty never really was your strong point, after all, so it’s not like you would downgrade yourself to cute.”

Her eyebrows shot up at his mention of calling her that early in the morning.  “Don’t you dare,” she said.  “I would never forgive you.  And then call you super early every time I knew you’d worked late just for payback.”  Angela took a sip of her drink as she pondered the best way to answer his question.  When she seemed at a loss for one, she just started talking, weighing all the options out in front of them.  “Well, you’ll get in trouble if you don’t stop talking to me soon.  But, I think your little fangirl is waiting to pounce on you the minute you walk away.  Still, I have my friends here and they’ll start to wonder where I am.  And that’s not to mention that I’ve never been very good at keeping secrets.  We might need to come up with a third option.”

Aaron raised his brow as she surprised him by her topic of choice, glancing back at the blonde in assurance they were discussing the same person. “I’m not here to judge outfits,” he shrugged, not particularly seeing anything wrong with the other’s outfit, but knew it wasn’t exactly something Angela would leave the house in. “Oh, is that what that look is? I’ve been trying to figure it out all night.” Aaron chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as the thought of a jealous Angela was incredibly amusing. “At least someone thinks I’m cute, though.” He shrugged, only just realising she could have left by now and hadn’t, the thought making him smile. 

“I didn’t think I would be either, but I would\ve been looking forward to it if I knew you’d be here.” Aaron admitted, not the most eager for a late night tonight, but the moment he saw her his mood had perked up. “I’m here till closing, so don’t cause too much of a mess.” He joked, trying to make light of the daunting fact he was going to be there all night. And, although it was a long shot, she’d at least know where to find him if she needed him. “Who are you here with?” He wondered, trying to spot the table which her friend had left to. Wanting to figure out why she’d acted like she didn’t know him. 

Angela shifted slightly, her fingers playing around the bottom of her glass as he spoke, glancing back toward the girl.  Her gaze was fixed on her drink, eyebrows raised as she shrugged.  “Well, glad I could help you figure it out,” she said, once again wondering if it was rude to leave him to his job.  But, Angela had a sinking suspicion that the minute she did, the other girl would show up and start chatting Aaron up.  And something about that thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.  “And you think you’re cute, too.  So, you have more than just her.”

The comment was almost enough to get her to calm down a little, to lose a bit of the jealousy that had been plaguing her since she’d walked up here.  Almost.  “I’ll try to keep it to a minimum,” she promised.  Waving a hand over her shoulder, Angela took a sip from her drink before speaking.  “Just a group of girls from school,” she said.  “It’s our Galentine’s day a little early.  So, you know, no boys allowed.”

In what was supposed to be a relaxed, early night in for Aaron turned out to be a lot louder and crowded as his boss asked him to come in for a last-minute shift. It wasn’t like he was desperate for money, but he wasn’t exactly living in luxury so he could never turn down extra hours. An hour into his shift, the bar quietened down, giving him some time to chill out and collect glasses that had been stranded at the bar as he watched the groups of people simply be. 

Tapping his fingers against the counter top, Aaron’s attention was quickly caught by a woman staring up at him as she walked towards the bar. “What can I get for you?” He served her, a smile on his face. ‘I want, a, um, a…’ the girl slurred, laughing as she did, trying to signal her friend to come help out, ‘Lisa–bitch, get here!’ she almost screamed, to which Aaron was glad for such loud music to drown it out.  Within minutes, the blonde had disappeared, a sigh disappearing from his lips as he shook his head with a small smile. Turning, he went to serve two people he could see in the corner of his eye.

Aaron’s heart sunk to his stomach, but not because he was nervous or anxious, but because he was pleasantly surprised to see her. Watching her, only flickering his sight to her friend briefly as though to seem polite. She seemed awkward, sort of distant and he didn’t know whether she wanted him to pretend to not know her, since that was what it seemed like. He grinned at her order, her harsh tone, he couldn’t help but be amused by this–and she was cute to act shy. “I can make that happen,” Aaron smiled, readying the ingredients and handing the friend all the drinks one by one once they were done–leaving Angela’s until last in attempt to tease her. Sliding her drink in front of her, he folded his arms into his chest. “Anything else you’d like tonight?” He raised his brow at her, a completely innocent question.

Oh, he had to be doing this on purpose, she decided.  Every drink but hers was made, set up for her friend to take back to the table as Angela waited on hers.  She was there at the bar, her friends all laughing in the back, watching as he finally started working on hers.  Eyes drifted back around their surroundings, looking for the girl who’d been there earlier.  Maybe it was stupid.  Her and Aaron weren’t even really anything major.  She shouldn’t be threatened by some other girl.  There wasn’t even really anything to be threatened about.

“Thank you,” she said as he handed her her drink.  Without missing a beat, she spoke up at his next question.  “I’d like for Blondie to put on a sweater,” Angela muttered, her eyes going back down to her phone and praying for it to light up for her friends to beckon her back so she could show it to Aaron and use it as an excuse to leave.  “And for her to stop looking over here like she’s on a mission to sleep with the bartender because she thinks he’s cute.”  It sounded petty, and Angela was fully aware of it, but something about the fact that she just kept catching the other girl’s eye wasn’t sitting well with her.  She wanted to leave.  Let Aaron get back to flirting with his customers and go back to her friends.  But, as it stood, with just her there and no text messages coming her way, she felt obligated somehow to keep their conversation going.  “I didn’t think you’d be working this late,” she finally managed.  It sounded lame, and far more pathetic than she wanted it to.

While the majority her friends grabbed a table near the back, Angela grabbed one of her friends, volunteering them to go and get drinks.  The bartender stood at the other end, pouring something for a blonde in an outfit that Angela’s mother no doubt would’ve approved of, chatting a little too loud and laughing a little too long at whatever it was the man was saying to her.  But something about him definitely seemed... familiar.  No, it couldn’t be.  Then, a slight turn confirmed... Aaron.

Scoffing, Angela hastily dug for her phone as Aaron moved over to the two girls to get their drink orders.  Pretending to check a text on her phone, she let her friend place their orders, finally looking up to throw in her own.  “And a Sex on the Beach for me.”  Her voice came out probably colder and more business like than usual, barely making eye contact with Aaron before her eyes glanced back to where the other girl was moving in their direction.  No doubt eager to continue her prior conversation.

“If you can fully state that you had no intentions to ever be flirty with me, then sure, I guess I’m just too good at twisting what people say.” Sam shrugged, hoping she’d take the bait and admit to it, but automatically assumed the opposite. “I’ve always known you were into the bad boys in need of a little redemption, ‘cause I always wished he got better treatment in the films.” Sam laughed at her comment, a small shrug on his shoulders. “Chances are, I’ll be really really comfortable, too, and as a feminist, I have the choice of being a stay-in-bed man just like you. But if I have incentive then maybe.” 

“I have had no intentions to ever start flirting with you,” she said, eyebrows raised in an attempt to challenge her again.  “Sure, sometimes it’s fun to keep it going once you twist it, but that’s only because it almost turns into a game of chicken.”  Annabeth nodded, fully prepared to go into her whole Draco-Malfoy-was-a-good-person-but-lived-in-bad-circumstances speech.  “He could’ve been such a great ally to Harry, but because JK Rowling’s got such a thing against Slytherins, she insists he’s just evil through and through.  Not all of us Slytherins are automatically terrible people, but whatever.  Besides, Tom Felton was really attractive out of his wig when those films were being made, and I am still waiting on you to pull your British connections to let me meet him so he can fall in love with me and we can get married.”  Annabeth pouted, trying to go for an innocent look with her eyes wide as she looked up at him.  “I’ll tell you your my best friend if we get to that.”

“If you weren’t flirting with me, I don’t think it’d be as easy as it is to twist them. You make it too easy.” Sam was happy to admit that he twisted the majority of what she said, and although he knew she’d never admit to it, but he felt like she knew what she was doing, too. “I’m like Dumbledore, you know? Questionable decisions but ultimately a sick dude.” Sam smiled with pride, he didn’t think he had too many enemies at camp, not enough to be in the idiot part. “It still makes you a loser, so I’ll take it. Alright,” He nodded, returning to his bed to get comfortable. “But if you change your mind, you’re moving, not me.”

“Or maybe you’ve just gotten so good at twisting people’s words so that it sounds like they’re flirting with you, you actually can’t tell a difference anymore,” she challenged.  “There are definitely worse people that you could compare yourself to.  And that does seem like it’s a pretty accurate description, so I’ll give it to you.  You’re Dumbledore.  Granted, Draco Malfoy is ten times better, but no one will ever reach his level of epicness.”  Annabeth rolled her eyes at the implication she was still a loser.  She had half a mind to sprawl out on his bed for such a comment, keeping him from getting back on, but managed to refrain.  “Even if I’m really, really super comfortable and the need for snacks just suddenly overwhelms me?”

He tried his best to keep his smirk under wraps, but she could see straight through him. “Do I? Maybe you’re just overly flirty with me and don’t realise.” Sam shrugged, their banter was flirtatious whether she denied it or not. “I definitely don’t deserve to be in idiot camp, I may be slightly dumb in certain situations, but I’m not a dumbass, there’s a difference.” He shrugged, realising her point. “It’s because you’re a loser, but alright,” Sam laughed as he got up from his bed to put it on. “Do you want snacks or can you do without?”

“You do.  Or, maybe you’re just hoping that I’m flirting with you, so you twist my words so that you feel that I am.  That’s probably what happens.”  Was their banter overly flirty?  Truthfully, Annabeth hadn’t thought that much about it.  “You sure about that?”  She smirked, moving to change her position once more as he got up.  “Takes a loser to know a loser, loser.  But... I think I can survive without.”

“Depends, really. I’m sure I could find a way to make it fun, haven’t you ever seen High School Musical 2? I’ve not made anything you say sound kinky, maybe you’re the one who’s at fault.” He shrugged, as though he genuinely believed it was her doing instead of his when realistically he knew it was the latter. “I have, you just aren’t too fond of my methods. I was thinking of starting a petition, like all the idiots can live on one side of camp, while the rest of us chill idiot-free.” Sam wished that he could get away with something like that, he was just waiting for the Hermes cabin to be permanently closed, they were the most irritating campers he’d ever met. “You never take the opportunities I give you, I figured I should learn to do the same. What’re you feeling? Something good, or a bit of Elle Woods?”

Annabeth shot him her best ‘are you kidding me’ expression at the insistence he’d never taken something she’d said and twisted it.  “You do it pretty much every day,” she pointed out.  “But then, we would have to determine exactly who all was an idiot.  Like, some people might think you needed to live in that area of camp, while I’m sure you’d think otherwise.”  She flipped back over so that she was on her back instead of craning her neck to keep responding.  “I’m always up for Legally Blonde.”

“Any punishment from you I’ll enjoy, I’m sure of it.” He smirked, trying to poke fun at her when in reality he knew she could probably do some damage if she wanted to and it’d be wise of him to stop pushing her buttons, but he wasn’t wise in the slightest. “They’re not, and if they are as fast then they’re not as good. I turn into a big’ol lovable bear when I’m high, I’d like to think I’m always like that but some people here just test my patience. Nothing will go wrong from me just getting high, apart from losing these rock hard abs from all the oreos I eat of course. Mhm, you know best and all that–Chiron has got you whipped.“ Sam rolled his eyes, he’d hate to be so wrapped around someone’s finger, he assumed Annabeth didn’t mind it, though–she wasn’t exactly like most of the campers here. “You do. You’re always trying to prove me wrong, and sure, sometimes you do, but I’m right about this. And while I usually wouldn’t ever turn down a chance at corrupting you, I was looking forward to just chilling today. You want to watch a movie?” 

Annabeth rolled her eyes at his words.  “I’d hardly consider something like kitchen duty to be something you would enjoy.  And stop trying to make the stuff I say sound super kinky.  It’s weird.”  She shook her head.  “You just haven’t found the right thing that works for you yet.  It can be fast and good all at the same time.  That’s because some people here are idiots and they try everyone’s patience.”  He probably had a point in saying that she was too trained by Chiron, but Annabeth waved off the comment.  She couldn’t help it that she liked to please when someone asked something of her.  “You disappoint.  I gave you a wide open opportunity and you didn’t even take it.  But, fine.  We can watch a movie.”

Sam felt the snap in her voice and rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll get rid of this particular one and pray you never catch me again.” He disagreed, but Annabeth was smarter than he was so he wasn’t going to argue and then be bombarded with facts and statistics that he was sure she had hidden beneath her sleeve. “There are, sure, but getting stoned is just quick and easy. Plus, it makes me more tolerable, I think. See, that’s your problem, Chiron knows that you’ll always snitch to him if someone’s out of line. He trusts you, so tell him to respect you as well and make someone else do the inspections. Nothing is wrong with giving people free passes, it’d mean you’d get one too.” Sam shrugged, a smile playing on his lips once more. “I don’t think it’d take as many as ten if I’m honest, maybe three or four since you’re pretty corrupt already I bet.” Reacting to her movement, he started slowly massaging her scalp, figuring it was what she wanted. “It’s not, plus it’d make you forget about everyone in camp, you’d be in a great mood. And naps while baked are the literal definition of heaven.”

“Because if I do catch you...” Annabeth let her voice trail off before shrugging.  “Let’s just say you won’t like it.”  Granted, she had literally no real threat to deliver, so it was easier to just leave it to the imagination.  “Other ways could be just as fast.  And I don’t think it makes much of a difference to your tolerance level.  I’m sure you’re just as intolerable when you’re high as you are whenever you aren’t.  It’s not being a snitch.  These rules are in place for a reason, and if people are breaking them, then something could go wrong.  I’m just trying to protect people.  Besides, I know when it’s acceptable to break the rules.  But most of the time, what people are doing to break them is just stupid.”  Annabeth scoffed at the idea that she could be so easily corrupted.  “You said yourself that I project a good girl image.  I’m half tempted to tell you to try one of your things just so that I can prove you wrong and that you can’t corrupt me.”

“Uh,..sure?” Sam glanced over to her with a frown, before shaking his head. “It’s really not, I mean the tobacco is, sure, but not the weed itself. Plus it calms me the fuck down.” He smirked at her eye roll and knew exactly what she was trying to do by ignoring his comments. “This is like a pre-warning, you’re technically off duty now. This is like a warning for the warning.” He grinned, in all attempt to wind her up but he figured he was right as well. “I don’t know why you do it in the first place, surely Chiron realises you’re too good for something so dull and repetitive. Can’t someone else do it? Heck, even I’d do it–but obviously try to find someone else first and if not then I will.  So, what I’m hearing is you want to be irresponsible and set a bad example, ‘cause if so, I can help with that.” Sam had plenty of ideas how to help her lose her good-girl reputation, though he liked her the way she was, experimentation was always fun. He watched as she buried herself into the sheets and instinctively moved his hand to pet her head. “You sound like you need some weed, mate. But in all seriousness, feel free to have a nap, I wanted to read some Harry Potter anyway.”

“You’re getting rid of it,” she repeated, this time making it seem as though there wasn’t another option.  “It’s still bad for you,” she insisted.  “Besides, there’s about a million other ways that you can calm down instead of smoking.”  Annabeth shook her head, a smirk of her own showing up.  “I’m always on duty when it comes to making sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to.”  Annabeth shrugged at his question, knowing that other people could do her jobs.  And technically, other people probably should be doing them--or at least, sharing the responsibility of them.  “Other people don’t do it as well as I do.  They’d give everyone free passes, or be hard on people just because they didn’t like them.”  She rolled her eyes again.  “Oh, I believe you probably have a whole list labelled ‘How to Corrupt Annabeth in 10 Easy Steps’ hidden away somewhere.”  She moved her head closer in a silent way to ask him to keep messing with her head.  “It’s bad for you,” she muttered again.

He shuffled over so she’d have room to join him before putting out the roll-up that he’d simply have to enjoy later. “So I’m a favourite, then? It’s no surprise why, but I’m glad you’ve finally accepted the truth. Everyone knew it’d come out eventually. Stable duty is a bit rough, though…maybe a warning?” Sam raised a brow at her with a grin, hoping she’d never actually make him clean the stables. “Well, you seem bored now and look where you’ve decided to come? Do you have anything important to tell me or are you just wanting some attention?”

“You’re going to get rid of that, right?”  Annabeth asked, eyebrow raised as she glanced at him sideways.  “That’s so bad for your health.”  She rolled her eyes at his question, making a mental note to double and triple check everything that she said around him.  Still, she decided it was probably just best to not respond either way.  After all, no matter what she said, Annabeth had full confidence that Sam could probably twist it to whatever he wanted to hear.  “This is your warning,” she said.  “Next time, stable duty for sure.”  She took the opportunity to roll over on her side, groaning and shaking her head at his question.  “I just... ugh, I can’t stand some of the people here anymore.  Like, people were arguing with me over their scores.  And I don’t want to be doing this anymore than they want me to be doing it, but they’re just all ready to shoot the messenger.  I’d rather just be working on my stuff anyway, but no.  I have to be responsible and help set a good example, which is ridiculous.”  She let out another groan before finishing flipping over so she was on her stomach.  “And I just want to nap,” she said, her voice muffled by his sheets.