grey area:
1.a topic that is clearly not one thing or the other.
2: an area or part of something existing between two extremes
3. a subject or problem that people do not know how to deal with because there are no clear rules.
4. A bleak expanse Annabeth Chase is lost in
My life is dull. It wasn't a secret or a life changing discovery or anything, but I just never realized how boring my life was until now.
I get good grades, have a somewhat functional family, and have fake friends who don't care if I die or not. My life should be great. But its not, and I'm bored.
Its the same routine everyday; get up, listen to an earful from my mom, get to school early, sit in the back of the class and correct the teacher in my mind, sit in the library during lunch, go home and lock myself in my room. Repeat.
I was lost in the haze of my insipidness. Don't get me wrong, I love school, but its all just the same thing everyday. Maybe I'm depressed... Nah, I still have a few things worth holding onto before jumping in that boat. I'm just bored of being bored because being bored is boring.
I stared up at the clouds, feeling the cool settle autumn air over me. The leaves were falling all around me, making me feel at peace. My few moments of clarity from the haze were bliss. I stayed out until I could count stars, and then my perfect moment was ruined by the sound of yelling.
"Annabeth, you have to stop staying out here, its getting cold."
I sat up, hearing the leaves crunch beneath me and looked towards the direction of my house. Sighing, I hauled myself up off the ground and dusted my jeans off, walking towards the small house.
My mother, Minerva Maden, hated it when I spent my time outside instead of studying. She always thought it was every second of wasted potential, and that I should spend every hour of every day studying, or living up to my greatness by doing something academic. If I even brought home anything less than a 90, she would consider disowning me. But I get it. She wanted me to be successful.
When I reached the door, she quickly ushered me inside. "Go get your brother, sweetie, it's time for dinner." I nodded and made my way up the stairs.
At the first closed door I paused, my hand above the wood. I could hear the noises, and I knew Daedalus hated being interrupted while he was at work. No, unlike most teenage boys, Daedalus didn't have girls over. He was always studying or working on some new invention. He was like some type of mini Einstein.
I'm not saying he can't get girls- they throw themselves at him all day in school- but he never brings one home in fear of Minerva's wrath. He was a nerdy jock- and for some reason, girls think its hot (I swear, his IQ is higher than the whole football team combined). He's kind of nice to me (when he's not ignoring me) but in school he practically repudiates me unless I'm in desperate need of help.
That's because I'm a nobody. And nobodies tend to get overlooked around here. But it doesn't matter- I'd rather be stepped on than be popular. Who wants that kind of attention? And I'm technically not at the bottom of the social chain yet. There were the extreme nerds (Thank gods I haven't been forced to be one yet) and then there where the holier-than-thou girls who sneered down at anything that wasn't within their set of rules, and the pregnant girls.
As soon as I knocked, the door opened. Daedalus looked down at me with his messy wavy dark hair falling into his eyes (he was about a foot and a half taller than me) and smiled. "You finally decided to come inside like a normal human being?"
"Mom made me," I sighed. He ruffled my hair and I made a face. He knew I hated when he did that. "Um, it's dinner..." I pointed behind me towards the staircase. "Do you want me to...?"
"The usual please," He said, smiling and adjusting his glasses. I nodded, making my way back downstairs. The 'usual' was telling Mom he was busy studying and that he'd rather not be perturbed, and then she'd give me a stern face and then crack, allowing him to eat his dinner locked up in his room. But that normally meant I had to have awkward dinners alone with her.
My other brother was rarely at home, always at a friends house, or partying. He tried too hard to be someone he wasn't to fit in, but I could see right past it. He tended to avoid me in school too. I don't know why he won't tell Mom why he's acting out instead of practically being disavowed. Whenever he is home they argue, and I tend to shove my face in a book and ignore it and Daedalus continues working on his creations. No one said anything about it.
In this household, we didn't get in each other's way. We've figured out a long time ago that it was best to let each other be and mind your own business to keep the peace.
Mom hasn't seen Malcolm in days and she's keeping me and Daedalus prisoner because we 'need to be well rested' for the first day of school tomorrow. But I always hear Malcolm entering in the room next to mine and listen to Daedalus chastising Malcolm about stressing Mom out too much. While everyone's out of each other's way, we're all nosy bastards at the same time. Sadly, Malcolm and Daedalus are partners, so that means I'm paired up with Mom. She's always questioning everything I do, yet when its time to actually talk like a normal person, she has nothing to say.
So basically, as I said before, my life is boring and uneventful.
I raised my eyebrows. "Morning."
Malcolm stopped halfway into the kitchen window and looked up at me, startled. I leaned on the marble island counter and grabbed an apple. Once he realized it was me and not Mom, he completely got his body through the window. He walked over to me and snatched the apple and practically moaned as he took a bite. "Gods, I'm so hungry."
I waited patiently. "Almost spent a night in jail. It felt like I've been running for forever." He sat across from me. I looked behind him at the trail of mud leading from the window, and knew I'd be the one to clean it up.
"Do I even want to ask?"
"No, you don't." He answered, already finished with his apple and reaching for another out of the bowl. "What's so bad about the holding center? You've been there enough times to make great friends with the deputy that guards the cells."
He shrugged, running a hand through his dirt-stained blond hair. Several dried mud spot on his face and clothes, his jeans in tatters and his hoodie ripped at the shoulder revealing a huge gash. But he didn't seem to be in any pain at all. Looks like someone had a fun night.
"Yeah, but that woman you call mother said if I get arrested again, she would send me to a correctional facility for teenage delinquents. The worst part is; it's only boys!"
"That monster," I said in feign antipathy. He stuck his tongue out and I mocked him, laughing. "Why are you up so early anyways? It's like, five thirty. School doesn't start until nine."
I shrugged. "I like getting there on time. Especially on the first day of school. It gives me some time to sort things out." He shook his head. "You're such a little nerd, Annie, you know that, right?"
"Yes, I am perfectly aware as to why I'm not out getting knocked up like most girls my age. Excuse me for actually wanting to do something auspicious with my life other than being a teen mom."
"Isn't the school an hour away?" He asked, ignoring my previous comment. I stared at him, not seeing his point. "You realize me, Daedalus, and Mom have a car, right?"
I shrugged. "I like walking. It gives me time to think. And besides, you know you wouldn't want to be your younger sister's chauffeur. It would just affect your chances of getting laid or lower your social status. I don't blame you. And, if I do accept a ride from either of you, there is a high possibility of me being late, especially because of the fact that you lazy bums like to sleep in and traffic is unreliable. So, to conclude my argument, I'd rather walk."
Malcolm, who was pretending he was sleeping, looked up and rolled his eyes. "You could've just said no. Do you always have to act so diplomatic? You should be a philosopher."
I snorted. "That's practically getting a degree to be jobless and homeless. No thank you."
We both looked up at the sound of shuffling upstairs. Malcolm cursed. "I gotta get upstairs to prove her wrong and show her I am capable of being home before curfew."
"Why? You're not capable of listening to rules."
He rolled his eyes. "Do you have a life at all? What she doesn't know won't hurt her. Watching her sputter and get all flustered is just a bonus." He grinned, and like that, he was gone. I shook my head.
Malcolm was right. I had no life. Maybe it was time to get one, but I don't know how. I don't have friends, and I'm just...ignored. It was time to change.
I mean, who wakes up at five a.m. in the morning just to be early to school? I kind of liked it, being the only one for a while, and plus, I got to switch lunches with Bob Iapteus, the janitor.
See, this is what I'm talking about. I'm a total loser.
But is being a loser so bad?
A/N
New story and I'm really excited! This was kind of a prologue, in case you were wondering. And, I am very aware that Minerva isn't Annabeth's mother, but it's all a part of the plot. :)
I'd really appreciate it if you reviewed!
~Greekfreak302
