Another day. Another party. I thought, leaning up against a pillar. Yeah- a pillar. In fact, there are six leading into my 'house'.
"You will not call it that. It has a proper name. A manor. Chase Manor." I heard my step-mother's voice berating me and groaned. The fact was that I, Annabeth Chase, was one rich kid. Sorry- a prosperous young women. Rubbing my temple, I let out another groan and slid down the pillar a ways. My ice clinked in my class as I took another sip. At least there was alcohol; everyone drank because you didn't care when you had plenty of money to throw around. I wasn't particularly fond of the stuff, but it made these events a little easier to manage. I heard a round of laughter from inside and scooted further away. The night had grown dark while I'd been inside and the lights on our hedges had come on. And while I hated these parties, and the people invited to them, I loved where I lived. We were atop a small hill that didn't quite overlook anything, but if you stood just right you could see city lights flickering in the distance. Trees surrounded and shaded, while flowers bloomed where sun hit during the day. But at night- all lit up- the place looked magical. And although I hated our big house, it was a gorgeous work of architecture. You see- that's what I wanted to be, and living in a place like ours inspired me. Another burst of laughter came from the house, but I kept watching the city beyond.
At eleven, my parents started leading guests out. I scooted around the corner of my pillar in an attempt to hide, but my step-mom saw me and called out.
"Annabeth, come say goodbye to our guests." I swore under my breath, but smoothed out my dress and tucked blonde hairs back into its fancy up-do before making my way- slowly- over to the door. Some people passing me stumbled or hiccuped- my parents must've not kept track on their drink count; they never appreciated drunks. My step-mother gave me a once-over and turned me towards the guests.
"Be polite." she hissed in my ear. I rolled my eyes. Don't even get me started on the formalities- it's like we're the royal family or something. But I thanked them for coming anyway and added a couple of nice to see you's.
Once the door closed and everyone was gone, it was my father, my step-mother, and me looking at each other blankly. My two brothers were asleep- they weren't quite old enough to come to these things (but I couldn't wait until they were, so I didn't have to suffer alone). I turned and headed to my room, not wanting any criticism about how I had been scarce at the party again. I didn't even make it half-way up the grand staircase before ripping off my shoes. This pair had rubbed something awful on my ankles. Once in my room, I shed my dress- leaving it to wrinkle, and hopefully die, on the floor- and dug through my drawer for a giant t-shirt. I snagged some socks, put them both on and jumped into bed. I pulled my covers close and lay there, pretending I was a normal kid in a normal house with a normal family. And then I clapped my hands to turn my lights off.
The castle loomed before us. My date, no less than a gentleman, stepped out of the limousine first and offered me his hand.
"I can help myself, thanks Luke."
"A point you've made very clear Annie."
"Annabeth-" I grumbled, folding my arms.
"Right, whatever- we should make a right proper entrance then you and I can go different directions. Deal."
I looped my arm in his as my response. As we approached the entrance, two butlers opened the doors revealing a huge flood of light. Chatter reached our ears as we stepped inside. The place was colossal- and any up and coming children of prosperous businessmen were there.
"Care to join me for one dance?" Luke questioned but I just scoffed, folding my arms.
"Suit yourself, but make sure your mummy and daddy know I offered." he left with a wink and I had no doubt I wouldn't see him again that night. Not that I cared- I hadn't picked Luke. No, he was a proper boy, someone my family would find perfectly suitable to marry someday. Besides, without Luke I could explore the place. When I was younger, I'd visited. I glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention to me (they weren't) and I slipped up the stairs. It was an open balcony over the ballroom, so I still heard the music and talk. There were old family pictures and portraits hanging on the walls. Old trophies and awards, family emblems: the stuff prestigious families kept. Most of the pictures had frames labeled with an event, a date, and the name Andrew Poseidon. Hearing a shuffling noise, I glanced around, but, not seeing anything, kept going.
I turned a corner where a single statue stood of an old guy. Probably Andrew Poseidon.
The further I went down the balcony, the newer the pictures became. Wedding pictures and certificates, birth and death certificates. Some family portraits, but those were scare. Then there was a picture of a guy and a girl with a child. I'd seen the guy in previous pictures, but never the girl. I went back to find one with his name. He was simply referred to as Poseidon and I couldn't locate a marriage certificate for him. Maybe it's his friend... no, it must be important if it's hanging here. I kept walking and I found pictures of the three of them. The baby was maybe one or two with dark hair and brilliant green eyes. The pictures then became more recent, and it was just the mother and the boy. The boy was older, seven or eight, in these. Then it jumped again- to one with all three, the boy had his eyes closed and was blowing out birthday candles. The numbers 1 and 2 were stuck in the cake. I narrowed my eyes. He looked familiar... he had been here when I had visited before. What was his name?
"And what are you doing up here?" A voice called behind me. I froze, thinking quickly of some excuse to brush off a butler or server.
"I was looking-"
"-for the bathroom. Yeah haven't heard that one before." the voice sounded bemused and I turned to apologize.
"I'm sorry. I- what?" Behind me stood not a maid, but a guy my age. Tousled black hair with his tie hung loose around his neck, and jacket was tossed haphazardly across his shoulder, made it look like he had just woken up. I glanced down and saw he had no shoes- but two mismatched socks on. "Uh, what's with the?" I gestured to him "mess?"
Chuckling, he straightened his tie and began to put on his coat. "I overslept and haven't exactly made my debut to this stupid thing. As it's at my house-" he paused, muttering, "well it's technically not mine yet," then he straightened up, "I have to welcome everyone." His green eyes twinkled and I finally put it all together- he was the boy in the pictures.
"You live here...alright, well- good luck with that." I said, backing away. "I'm just going to-"
"Wait! Hang on, what's your name?" Figuring I'd get into some sort of trouble or gossip, I found it best to not give this kid my name.
"Juliet." I told him, thinking of the first name that popped into my head. "Juliet Chase." Great plan Annabeth. Now he can just look you up and know you're lying.
"Hmm. I didn't really picture you as a Juliet." he snapped his fingers. "I know, I'll call you Jules!"
"Kind of informal, don't you think?" I added.
He gave a small shrug. "Who cares. I'm Percy, by the way. Wait no." Percy buttoned his suit coat and spun around, lowering his voice he said.
"Jackson. Percy Jackson."
I let out a laugh. "That's your James Bond impression?" Then I snapped my fingers, imitating him. "I know, I'll call you Bond."
He grinned. "Sounds good, Jules. Now I've really got to open this party. See you around?" he walked around me, stooping over to pick up something.
"Can't forget these." He wiggled his shoes and ran down the rest of the hall. He still had bedhead hair, though I didn't think to mention it.
Once the party was in full swing, someone broke out the alcohol. I decided to walk away from the mass of teenagers and went outside to the backyard. Plopping down in a chair near a glass table, I pulled my shoes off. These were somehow worse than the last. My dress, a deep purple with all the style of any fashion magazine, was skin tight and itched like crazy. I couldn't wait to get it off, but I had to stay for the whole thing and since I'd been dropped off, I had no ride. People had followed me out and were drinking from fancy glassware, giggling, just on the brim of drunk. It had to at least be midnight, and I felt myself growing tired. I rested my head on my arms and leaned over the table as I tried to drown out the noise.
A large crash made me jump out of sleep. I sat up quickly, glancing around. Some guy had fallen into beach chairs and lay with his limbs awkwardly tangled, yet seemed to have passed out. Shaking my head, I looked around. Music still played inside and the talk was louder and brasher. People stumbled about- drunk. A screeching noise made me wince in irritation. I looked over across the table and there was Percy. His tie was loose again and hair wilder than ever.
"Hi." he said, drawing it out, then hiccuped. Great. He was drunk too.
"Hello Percy."
"No." he wined, "You're Jules and I'm Bond. Remember?" Then he scrunched his eyebrows. "Or was that some other girl..." He faded off, then put on a brilliant smile.
"So how are ya sweetheart? Fine party."
I grimaced, not in the mood to have an idiotic conversation with a drunk."
"Yeah sure- I'm going to go to the bathroom. Nice seeing you Percy." I stood up.
"You can't do that. You used that excuse last time." he hiccuped again, standing up with me.
"Then by all means, follow me to the bathroom." I told him, annoyed.
Percy seemed to think this was hilarious and giggled. "Oh. I see. What you mean." He snorted.
A group of girls, all with drinks in hands chose to waltz over at that moment and swoon over Percy.
"Ladies, ladies." he spoke lazily.
"Here, try this one." a girl said, handing him an auburn liquid. He swallowed it down quickly. I turned to get away from the scene when I heard a splash behind me. I spun around again and only saw bubbles. Hands broke the surface and a little face poked out of the water, gasping for air. It was a child.
"Help! Someone help me." I called, running to the edge.
Percy chuckled. One of the girls looked over at me, then at the water.
"I can't hun. It'll ruin my dress." Unbelievable.
I jumped in. The water was warm and my dress only weighed me down. I panicked for a second, then located the child. I wrapped one arm around his waist and lifted him above the water, using my other to swim to the side.
"It's okay." I told him, slightly shaking from the adrenaline. When we reached the side, I lifted him up, before getting out myself. He must have been only four or five.
He was starting to cry. I lifted him up, holding him at my waist, walking over to Percy.
"Do any of you know who this is?"
Percy looked up from his drink he was holding.
"Hey! That's my bro. That's Tyson." He raised his glass. "To Tyson."
The girls cheered and drank too.
I snapped.
"Wow! I never knew this many people could be that self-centered. This little boy almost drowned. He's your brother Percy! If nothing else." I marched away from the table, where, Percy sat stunned, hopefully understanding any part of what I'd said.
I looked for the nearest butler and explained what happened.
"Thank you. I know no one cares right now, but they will later." he said. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"No- actually, could you call a car? I'd really like to just go home."
"Of course."
I walked out to the front of the house and sat on the stone steps, still dripping wet and feeling more hateful than ever towards the people who lived like me.