Prologue
I am a girl with gray eyes and blonde hair. I am 17 years old now. I live in Nashville, Tennessee. My name is Annabeth Chase. Many say that I'm friendly, well, maybe. Despite the fact that I have many friends, I only have one best friend; however, we haven't seen each other for almost 9 years.
His name is Percy, Percy Jackson. His full name is Perseus Jackson. I'm used to call him Seaweed Brain because of his undying love for seafood. He is used to call me Wise Girl because he thinks I'm smart. We started hanging out when I was 3 and he was 4. We played in the lot in front of my house. My father bought that lot and he built a tree house there. I always go there after school and we always played. We both love music. At our early age, we've managed to write a song, a song I wouldn't forget. We also have a language that only I and he could understand. I owe him my life. He saved me from my two near-to-death experiences. Everything was beyond perfect, until that very one day came and brought news that ended my days with him…temporarily.
It was the sunny afternoon of our last day in school, not a typical day to bring bad news. I was 8 years old back then. I was an incoming third grader. Obviously, I was in the tree house with Percy.
"So, Wise Girl, how's your day?" Percy asked.
"It was good. How about yours?" I asked with a smile
"Well, if yours is good, mine is better."
"Oh, shut up, Seaweed Brain. Mine is the best"
"Oh, really why?"
"It is the best because I'm pretty sure this summer is going to be good. No more near-to-death experiences."
We both laughed. We spent the rest of the day talking about the stuffs we wanted to do for the summer break.
The moon was almost up when I got home. I opened the door of our house and saw the usual scene every time I go home at twilight. My mom was singing 'Top of the World' while preparing dinner. Her blonde hair is tied messily in a bun. My father was watching television. His blue eyes stared directly to the television and it seems that he doesn't notice me. It seems normal, but something's wrong. I saw 3 luggages at the side of the stairs. Those aren't there before. I go directly inside the dining room, and then I saw 3 passports on the table. My heart skips a beat. What was that for?
"Hi mom!" I said, trying to sound normal.
"Hello, dear." My mom said while cooking.
"Is dinner ready?"
"In a moment. Are you hungry?" she asked.
"Yes." I said with a smile
"How's the day?"
"It's awesome, as usual."
"Really? What did happen on school that makes your day awesome?"
"Er..Uhmm… Mom, it's not actually the school that makes my day awesome."
"Huh? Then what is it?" She asked with a disappointed look.
"Percy—" I said but my dad cut me off. "Percy again! How many times do I have to tell you not to be friends with that boy?" My dad said. He has that angry look in his eyes that always freak me out. I remember that my dad don't want me to be friends with Percy because he thinks that he is the reason why I almost die.
"But—" I said but my dad cuts me off again.
"NO MORE BUTs! He is the reason why you almost died!" he shouted.
"NO! HE'S THE REASON WHY I'M STILL HERE! WHY WON'T YOU ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HE SAVED ME? HE'S MY HERO!" I yelled back to my father and ran to my room.
I cried to my pillow. My father always gives Percy a hard time. He never accepted him as my best friend. He blamed Percy in everything bad that's happening to me even though he does nothing about it.
"Annabeth, my dear, please open the door. We'll talk to you," my mom said as she knocked on my door. I stood up with tears running down through my cheeks. I opened the door and I went back to my pillow, not letting them to see my face and meet my eyes.
"Annabeth," my father said. "I'm sorry." That thing made me cry a little more.
"Annabeth, we've got to tell you something important." My mom said with calm tone.
"Wha—What is it?" I managed.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow." My father said.
"When are we going to come back?" I asked even though I'm afraid they'll say that we will permanently leave.
"No, my dear, it's not for a vacation. We'll live in San Francisco because you're Dad will be working there. It'll be easier for him to work if we'll live there. "
"NO! We're not going to leave. You're just joking. I'll not leave Percy!" I screamed and struggled while my parents hugged me. When I got their hands of me, I ran and got out of the house.
"ANNABETH!" My father yelled. I didn't stop. I ran until I reach the tree house.
Percy's inside. I said to myself because the light is lit. I climbed the tree house and found Percy lying on the floor, staring blankly on the ceiling. He noticed me.
"Hey." He said with sad looks. "Did you cry?"
I nodded. I couldn't keep it anyway. He saw that my eyes were red and puffy and he also saw some tears. He stood up and wipes it using his handkerchief.
"Thanks" I uttered.
"May I ask what happen?" he said
I told him everything. I told him about the move. I could see that he's trying not to cry.
"Well, I think I should also tell you this. We are also moving. We'll be also leaving tomorrow. We'll live in New York. That's why I'm here. I don't want to leave you." He said.
"You're leaving?" I repeated.
He didn't answer instead, he hugged me. I also hugged him tightly. I don't want to let go. I'll miss him so much. We let go after a few minutes.
"I want you to make an oath." I said
"Oath?" he asked.
"Yes. I want you to promise that every end of the school year you'll go here and leave a message that contains the things that happened on that school year. Me, I promise that I'll go here to leave a message that contains my journey for every school year."
"I—I promise." He said and I hugged him again.
"You should go. Your parents might be looking for you." He said.
"Goodbye, Seaweed Brain. I'll see you again, right?"
"Yes, Wise Girl. I promise."
We hugged for the last time and I left. He closed the door immediately. I know that he doesn't want to look at me while I'm leaving. I don't want to look back either. It'll only make me harder to leave him. It's the first time that I left the tree house with tears.
I went back home. It was midnight. I was crying on my way home. My father is on the front door, waiting for me. I met his eyes and immediately looked away. He accompanies me to my room.
"Annabeth, I know it's hard. I'm sorry." My father said.
I just closed my eyes. I don't hate my dad. I know the reason. I understand it. It's just that I don't want to think about it more often because it just makes me cry. Anyway, Percy made a promise. He promised that he'll visit the tree house and leave messages. He promised that I'll see him again. So I hoped.
