If Percy had said Yes

Noah Larson

Chapter 1

My Worst Enemy makes me a God

"Perseus Jackson—if you wish it—you shall be made a god. Immortal. Undying. You shall serve as you're father's lieutenant for all time."

The gods were discussing about how to reward me because, well, I saved the world.

I stared at him, stunned. "Um… a god?"

If they were actually going to give me this gift, then I knew what my answer was going to be. There was no competition. You can live for a couple decades and then die before you really get a chance to do anything you want, or you can be a god. You decide.

"What do you think I said?" asked Zeus, god of the sky.

"Um… well, I'd love to be one!" My eyes lit up with happiness. I couldn't believe I was actually going to be a god!

But then I thought about something. I looked at Annabeth and her eyes told me just what she thought about my decision. Happy now, Seaweed brain? You broke my heart. She looked like she was just about to break out crying. And then I remembered how I had felt when I thought that Annabeth was going to join the Hunters, and then I changed my mind about becoming a god.

"It is too late to change your mind, son," said Poseidon, god of the sea, somehow reading my mind, "You are now a god."

Wait, if I was a god, I would probably feel different, wouldn't I? But all I felt now was sadness and misery from the life I was leaving, and all the friends that I was leaving. I would watch them all die, and I would still look like a sixteen year old.

I watched Annabeth leave Mt. Olympus, starting to tear. In a matter of minutes, I had changed from the cool guy that saved the world, to the guy that broke his friend's hearts. How could I live like this, knowing that I would never be a real boy and have any real friends ever again. I couldn't, I thought, but I had to. I was immortal.

"Annabeth, don't leave!" I shouted. I didn't want her to die thinking that I didn't love her, didn't care for her.

"Don't bother, Seaweed Brain. It's over. I hope you're happy to be a god." She didn't sound sad anymore, she sounded angry.

"But… you can't just leave me! Okay, I'm sorry!"

"Save your breath."

I gawked at her as she went into the elevator and down to the mortal world, where we could never be together again.

Athena looked pleased.

"Shut up," I said, "I'm feeling bad enough already.

I should not have said that. It is not a good thing to annoy the gods, even if you are one.

I went down to the first floor of the Empire State building. Even though Annabeth told me that I could stop trying, I tried once again to apologize for what I had done.

When she saw me, she ran away. I tried to chase after her, but then I heard my mom's voice.

"Percy! There you are! We've been waiting for you for hours!"

"Mom, I have no time to speak. By the way, I'm a god now."

I left my mom and Paul standing there, looking stunned. I would have to deal with them later.

By the time I got out of the building, Annabeth had disappeared. I walked back to my apartment, and began to say goodbye to it, for now I would be living on Mt. Olympus. But first, I turned on the TV. I don't know why I did it, it was just an instinct. When I turned it on, there was news of destruction everywhere. I changed the channel. Discovery Channel. I sighed. Annabeth had loved this channel. I changed the channel again. It was a live news reporter, looking over New York. On the ground way down below her, I saw a sixteen year old girl with blond hair running away from the Empire State building. I quickly turned off the TV. I knew where I had to go now.