As a librarian you see lots of things most people don't. You see toddlers drooling over picture books with their parents, then you them as children picking up a new book and excitedly talking to their friends about the latest chapter, teenagers leaving behind their childhood as they grow out of the childrens section, that moment when that teenager turns into a young adult and suddenly the whole library is open to them, eyes full of wonder and opportunity.

Those small moments is why I've been a librarian in the New York public library for over 40 years.

I never forget a face and it brightens my day to see a familiar one bring their own young children to the library when it seemed like yesterday they were the one running around excitedly, or drop by after years in a hope of finding time for reading again.

I always have small stories like this that I replay in my mind from time to time and there is one I always come back to. The story of Percy Jackson.

You see, Percy Jackson was a troubled kid, he was kicked out of more schools then I could count he had dyslexia and ADHD, Not the perfect combo for a reader.

But I was good friends with his mother Sally so when she worked long shifts Percy would often find himself in the library. All in all we got on pretty well.

When he was younger I would find him in a corner flipping through picture books or getting frustrated while trying to get his head around hard words.

The last time I saw him was when he was 13 and he came up to me sheepishly, clutching a memory stick. He asked me to help him print of a picture. I help the boy and saw a photo of a young blond girl standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial in DC smiling back out at me.

"Who's this? A friend of yours?" I asked.

"Yeah, her name's Annabeth" Percy replied twirling a ballpoint pen between this fingers.

I handed the photo to him "Does she go to your school?"

"No we met at camp, she's on holiday in Washington DC right now so I haven't been seen her for a while but she emailed this to me" he held up the photo smiling. 

You see I'm pretty well known for meddling in people love life, I've helped countless relationships so bloom and I had found my next target.

"Well I hope you get to see her soon, she is a very pretty young girl"

"Yeah I guess so- wait no that's gross it's Annabeth." He changed paths We're just friends"

I smiled to myself. "If you say so dear"

Percy nodded but his eyebrows were furrowed as if he was thinking. He turned to leave, then remembering I was there said "Thanks for helping me Ms Burn, Have a good afternoon"

"You're welcome Percy. Have a good day"

I was planning on sewing more seeds of doubt in Percy's mind next time I saw him. But there was no mention of Percy untill he was 16 and I was asked to put up missing posters on the library notice board and still nothing for almost another year.

I talked to Sally every now and then so I knew Percy had been found and was safe but nothing much else.

On this particular day I happened to be thinking about Percy Jackson. I had just finished helping a child check out a book I remembered being one of Percy's favourites.

Looking up, I saw a young couple walking towards me holding hands. "Excuse me?" Do you know wher-" the girl started but the boy interrupted her.

"Ms Burn?"

I looked closely at his face, as I mentioned earlier I pride myself on remembering faces even after years of not seeing them.

The young man standing before me had the same black hair and lopsided grin despite being 4 years older.

"Percy Jackson." I said smiling at him "it's good to see you"

"I can believe you still work here"

I chuckled "I'm not that old dear," I turned to the young blond girl. "And this must be Annabeth, I'm glad to see you two worked out"

When Annabeth looked confused Percy quickly explained "This is Ms Burn, I'd come in the library a lot when my mum was working and she would usually be keeping an eye on me"

"But I haven't seen you since you were 13 and printing out a photo of the lovely Annabeth here"

Anabeth laughted  "why were you printing out photos of me?"

Percy glared at me playfuly "it was when you we're in holiday in DC and you emailed me a photo" a sudden thought struck him, he pulled out his wallet and showed the same picture I helped him print out.

Annabeth punched him lightly "aww that's so cute seaweed brain"

"Y'know" I said "I was hoping you two would get together, from the way Percy was talking about you, it was obvious he liked you a lot"

Percy looked offended "Ms Burn stop exposing me, you're supposed to be on my side."

"Not after you disappeared without saying goodbye" I said only half joking.

Percy rubbed the back of his head "Yeah I've been... Busy. Let me explain."

Sorry I haven't updated in like a month oof

I have at least one more chapter planned then I'll be ending this book. (To tbf I have been saying that for about 3 months at this point so who knows when I'll actually end it)

Thanks for all the votes and reads it's really amazing and it means to mcch!! <33

Word count ~ 959