Chp 1
Annabeth's POV

When you graduate high school with a's for every subject and are the valedictorian AND you get accepted by some of the most prestigious universities in the country, you would expect your family to be all over you and be so proud and want to brag about you to their friends, right?

Which planet did my family come from, because they obviously have no intentions on saying much more than a well done with little enthusiasm. I mean, bad enough they couldn't come to my graduating ceremony.

I got to my apartment and sighed with a small smile as I thought about a chapter ending in my life and a new one starting. I thought about how happy my parents would be when they saw my graduation certificate.

I eagerly called my dad and he soon picked up. "Hey honey." He said, non chalantly. I frowned a little at his laid back mood but quickly said, "Hi dad. How are you?"

"I'm fine, just a little busy."

"Well I had my graduation today." I said, grinning as I waited for him to say so urging and about how proud he was of me. What he said broke my heart. "Oh yeah, well done."

He could've gushed over it, he could have told me was proud, which I had really been hoping for, he could have told me he was so happy for me and that he loved me. But no, he said 'well done' in the most 'it's not a big deal' voice ever.

"Annie, I have to go. Matt is trying to eat his cake." My dad said, saying a quick goodbye before hanging up. I wanted to scream, I wanted to kick, I wanted t throw a tantrum and cry for the way I felt about his reaction. Instead I took to the bottle of whiskey I had been saving for a special occasion.

Percy's POV

I smiled as I thought about seeing my best friends beautiful face again. I knocked on her apartment door and frowned when no one came. Adding to my surprise, the door was unlocked.

I went in, closing the door behind me and hanging up my jacket. I walked through the front part of her fancy penthouse to see her sitting on a bar stool at her kitchen counter, with a bottle of whiskey and a glass.

"Hey, everything alright?" I asked, going towards her. She looked up and grinned. "Yeah, I'm totally chilled. I mean, my dad and Helen are both ecstatic about the boys turning thirteen. Who gives a damn that I just graduated, so I'm having a party on my own." She said, raising her glass and taking another sip.

She spoke slightly slurred, making me wonder how full the bottle had been when she had first started drinking. "You know what, let's go!" She said, getting up and going towards her room. I frowned and followed her.

I stood in the doorway as she looked through her closet. "Where're we going?" I asked. She shrugged. "We are off for three weeks on university break, let's go to Cuba!" She said. She grabbed a bunch of shorts and shirts and put them on her bed.

She got out a big bag and managed to fold the clothes and put them in. "Annabeth, you can't be serious." I said, raising an eyebrow. She grinned up at me and said, "Oh, but I am!" She got a couple summer dresses and bikinis and shoved the, in as well.

She carried in packing as I started to question her. "When are we leaving?" I asked.

"Tomorrow."

"How long for?"

"For the two months of break before we start NYU together, when do you think?" She asked.

I sighed as I rubbed my forehead. "How are we even paying?" I asked. She gasped and ran to get something out from under her bed. She took something out and pulled me towards her. Sitting me down on the bed.

She placed e box in between us as if it were a fragile antique vase. She took my hands in hers and it immediately attracted my ape yes to hers. "You remember when we first met when we were eight, right?" She asked.

I nodded. Of course I knew that - she was my longest, best friend ever. "Well remember we used to get pocket money - I think we both used to get around ten bucks a month?" She stated, surprising me that she actually could remember anything even though she was slightly intoxicated.

"Well we used to donate two dollars into the box every month. We did that till we were old enough to get a job. And then we used to put a quarter if the money we earned from jobs and stuff to the box." She said.

I knew exactly what she was talking about now. She opened the box. "I was counting the money the other day. We have made over two thousand, including some extra birthday cash and stuff we've received." She said, grinning.

I didn't know how to take this. Was she just doing one of those 'in the moment' things because she was a little tipsy or was she actually wanting to do a normal spring break that we should have done a long time ago?

She put the box aside and laced our fingers. "Perce, we've always been supportive if each other, and when possible we do stuff together. This is going to add to those memories. And when last did we ever have a you and me vacation away from parents and people we know and the city?" She asked.

I pushed away my harbored secret crush - more like 'in love' secret - and smiled down at her. "Never." I said. "Exactly." She said, then stuck her tongue out. "So, while I pack, you go do your thing on my laptop. Get us those tickets!" So this is how I'm starting Spring break? This is going to be some holiday.