Psychics and Mediums
xXxPercyxXx
I walked down the street towards my friend, Annabeth's house. She had scheduled a group reading with a local "psychic/medium". It's a scam, I tell you. They don't contact the dead. It's sort of like "You're wearing the color red!" "Whoa, I am wearing the color red!". So yeah, I don't believe in them.
I trudged through Annabeth's snow-covered lawn. "Dammit Annabeth. You can't clean your lawn, can you? Why don't you get Luke to do it?" Luke was Annabeth's boyfriend. I hated it. He knew I had had a raging crush on her in high school, and he stole her.
I didn't realize I was at her door until she opened it and the warm air hit me like a slap. I looked up in surprise, and she laughed and hugged me tightly. "Percy, it's good to see you! Where have you been?" I pulled away quickly. I didn't trust myself to act for longer than it was necessary. She looked hurt, so I broke the silence. "Oh, you know… In between jobs and girlfriends like a 'juvenile delinquent'. Oh, and to my parents' graves recently." She nodded understandingly. "How are the sessions going?" I had forgotten she knew. I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck. "Uh… they're good… But…" I couldn't meet her eyes. She lightly touched my shoulder. "But what, Percy?" I didn't want to admit it, especially to her, but I trusted her. "I've stopped going, and I haven't taken my meds in a couple days." She was a little disappointed, but figured I'd had enough crap over my shitty nineteen years.
In her living room, about ten people including my friends Grover, Jason, Leo, Frank, Hazel, and Piper were sitting in chairs or on couches. Grover had saved me a seat. I walked over to him and thanked him as I slid into my seat.
A couple minutes later, a woman with light blonde hair came in and introduced herself as Theresa. She didn't give her last name. Or maybe she did, but I wasn't engaged. "Now, whose mother is departed?" I froze. Maybe it's somebody else, but nobody else raised their hands. Finally I spoke up. "Me." She turned to me. "She's stepping forward and wants you to know that she's here with you." I snorted and waved my hands. "Oh, please tell me more!" I was smiling like a madman. Theresa looked slightly offended. "Um, how do you connect with the color blue?" I laughed. "Besides my clothes? My mom used to make blue food whenever she could." Theresa seemed a little more comfortable, but I was beginning to crumble. Blue was enough to make me think, Oh shit. She's hitting too close to home. She sensed my attitude was a cover; my security blanket. "Your mother wants you to know that she doesn't blame you for her death."
Boom.
My security blanket was gone. I was all vulnerable. I got up and backed away from the group. "Annabeth stood up and tried to get close to me. "Percy, are you okay?" Her big, gray eyes were filled with concern. I shook my head and turned so fast that I hit the door. I heard laughing from Luke and his buddies. There goes Jackson, still clumsy and stupid.
I ripped the door open and bolted into the dark, cold December night with Annabeth shouting my name behind me, but I had to get as far away as possible. Nobody would understand, and the only one who did understand was following me right now.