Okay guys! So this is a story based on the one shot I wrote, which has the same title. It doesn't matter if you haven't read it though, in fact, it's probably better if you haven't. I don't think that this is my best writing, but if you guys like it enough I'll continue with the story!
A FRIENDSHIP CAUGHT ON FIRE
One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Annabeth's POV
"Lady Annabeth, are you ready? We're leaving in a minute!" I heard my maid Rachel call from outside my bedroom door. I placed my architecture book on my nightstand, jumped off my four-poster bed - making sure I didn't crease my new dress - and made my way downstairs as quickly as I could.
I'd been waiting for today for a long time. My mother had a meeting with Lord Zeus from Province 1, and it would last the whole weekend, which meant that I could spend the whole time with my best friend Thalia.
I've known Thalia since I was seven, when I first went to Province 1 with my mother. We didn't get along at first; we argued a lot. I suppose that was mainly because we were both always too stubborn to admit that we were wrong about something, and I guess that still hasn't changed, even though it's five years later.
I'm twelve now, and Thalia's thirteen. I don't get to see her very often because she lives so far away from my province, and the days when I do see her are really great.
Our country is divided up into twelve provinces; seven of which are ruled by Lords, the other five by Ladies. My mother is Lady Athena of Province 6, which is where I've lived all my life.
So today, even though I had to get up early, I was really excited. I didn't go to other provinces very often, since most of the Lords and Ladies don't get along very well. But that didn't matter because I could spend the whole weekend with my best friend.
I think a few other Lords and Ladies are going to the meeting too, so I've figured it must be quite important. I never know what anything like that's about though; my mother says I won't understand because I'm only twelve.
It's so annoying though! She doesn't understand that I'm mature for my age! I don't act like other twelve year olds; I spend most of my time either in lessons with my governess or reading in our palace's library.
Reading is my favourite thing in the whole world. I can't read very well because the words all get jumbled up in my head, but I get past it. I read whatever I can get my hands on, which is easy if you see how big the library is. It has three stories and thousands of different books, which means I can read about anything and everything.
My favourite subject is architecture though. I love to look at buildings, especially the palace. There are so many rooms in there that I get lost every time I try to look around. The palace is nothing compared to the gardens though; the gardens seem endless.
"Come on Annabeth, your mother is waiting!" Rachel called again, though her voice sounded more impatient.
"Okay, I'm ready!" I called back, and hurried down to the front of the palace, where the carriage was waiting for me.
The journey to Province 1 was long and boring. I read a book about old buildings the whole way there, and my mother read through some of her papers in preparation for the big meeting. Neither of us said a word to each other the whole way there, except a few times when she told me to sit up straighter, or something like that.
You see, my mother's very much into propriety and acting ladylike. So much so that it's annoying. I don't want to be a proper Lady like I'm supposed to be, I want to do something worthwhile when I grow up. I can't imagine myself marrying a rich Lord like I'm expected to, and order servants about all day.
I gazed out of the window for a while as we travelled through the different provinces, making our way to Province 1. Everything was so different to where I lived. The trees seemed greener, the sky bluer, but the people in the villages we went through didn't seem as happy. I guess that's because Lord Zeus is pretty strict, but I didn't see why they couldn't be enjoying themselves.
My eyes widened in awe as we entered the front gates of the palace; it was huge. Much larger than our palace in Province 6. There were at least seven floors, and the main door was white with golden lightning bolts surrounding it. There was a magnificent fountain surrounded by a rainbow coloured flowerbed in the middle of the driveway, and there were more flowerbeds adjacent to the bottom walls of the palace.
Yes, I'd been here before, but that doesn't mean I can't still marvel at the palace's beauty every time I visit.
I could see Thalia's family on the steps in front of the main door; Lord Zeus, Lady _, Thalia, and her younger brother Jason. They were an odd looking family; Thalia with her jet black, spiky hair and electric blue eyes, Jason with his golden hair and Lord Zeus with his grey beard. For the most powerful family in the country, they looked pretty weird.
Thalia was waving like a maniac at me, and I resisted the urge to wave back like a madman, because I knew my mother would disapprove. She's like that. Always telling me to behave like a lady; sit up straighter, pronounce my words more, be more gracious with my actions. She was an extremely pushy parent, with her everything had to be perfect.
She hasn't quite understood that I'm never going to be perfect yet.
"Ah Lady Athena, we are honoured to have you here this weekend" Lord Zeus told my mother.
"Why thank you my Lord, I am most grateful that you invited us here" she replied.
"Oh yes, this must be your daughter, Lady Annabeth is it?" he said, as if he had never met me before, which was pretty ridiculous, seeing as his daughter is my best friend.
I hid my annoyance and curtseyed to Lord Zeus, whilst Thalia snickered behind him. I knew she could tell that I thought he was ridiculous, but it didn't really matter because Thalia did too.
She'd never got along very well with her father, similarly to how I've never gotten along with my mother I suppose. She claims that he favours Jason over her, and that he wishes that Thalia had been a boy.
I've never really had that problem. I've got three brothers; one older and two younger.
My elder brother is called Malcolm, and he's sixteen; four years older than me. I like Malcolm; he understands that I don't really want to be a lady when I grow up, that I want to be someone different. Secretly, I think he wants to be an architect like me, but he can't because he's first in line to inherit our father's title.
My two younger brothers are twins, and they're called Matthew and Robert, but we call Robert Bobby. They're annoying. They're nine, and they constantly steal my stuff. All my books, all my notepads, everything! They get away with everything though, it's not fair.
In spite of that, I love my brothers. But I am glad that they're not away with us this weekend, I didn't want them disrupting my time with Thalia.
We were guided through the main hall (which, I must say, was enormous) and into what looked like a meeting room. There were twelve seats arranged in a semicircle, one for each Lord or Lady, I presume.
Before I could have a proper look around, Thalia grabbed my arm and hoisted me upstairs towards her room.
"Annie! I haven't seen you in forever! How are you?" she asked.
I frowned, annoyed. "Thals, how many times have I told you? Do. Not. Call. Me. Annie!"
She laughed in response. "Not enough, obviously."
I rolled my eyes at her; that was such a typical Thalia thing to say.
"You look great though" she told me, but I could tell she wasn't being serious. Thalia knew how much I hated wearing dresses, and she wasn't a fan of them either.
"Hey, you do too" I replied, and she frowned in frustration. Thalia was wearing a floor length, light blue day dress, and I could tell that she hated it. As she turned to walk into her room, I caught a glimpse of her secret biker boots on her feet. She hated wearing anything but them, which is why; when she was forced to wear a dress (which was very often) she opted for one that was floor length, so she could wear her beloved boots.
"There are some other children of the Lords and Ladies here too you know, since Lord Hades, Lord Hermes and Lady Demeter are all here too" Thalia told me.
"Oh, really? I don't think I've ever met any of them before, my mom doesn't really like going to other provinces if she can help it, and the Lords and Ladies never tend to take their children on business trips."
"Yeah I know; I was surprised when my dad told me that you were coming this weekend. Oh well, lucky for you, right Annie?"
I swear she did that just to annoy me.
"How many times Thals? Stop calling me Annie!"
Percy's POV
It was weird being in a different province. Not good different though, bad different.
Province 1, as far as I'm aware, is nowhere near the sea. I love the sea; the beach is my favourite place on Earth. I usually go to the beach to get away from things, like the pressures of being the only child of one of the richest, most powerful men in the country.
I'm Lord Percy, age 12, from Province 3.
I don't like being a lord, it's stupid. Everyone's always saying 'do this' or 'don't do that' and expecting me to be perfect. I can't help it if I'm not the same as my father! The beach is the only place I can get away, even if it is only for a few hours every other week.
My father is Lord Poseidon, who rules Province 3. I get along with him pretty well, and we leave each other to their own business. I don't try to interfere with his life; he doesn't try (very often) to interfere with mine.
I guess that's because I'm twelve, and twelve year olds don't really have much to do.
In a way, I suppose that's why I was sort-of excited to be in Province 1 this weekend, even if there weren't any beaches. I knew Lord Zeus's daughter Thalia, and she was cool. My father also told me that there would be some children of the other Lords and Ladies here too, which means I wouldn't be alone.
I heard that Lord Hermes was here too, which meant that he'd bring my friends Connor and Travis. Connor and Travis are identical twins, and I can't really tell them apart. They've both got curly, light brown hair and mischievous hazel eyes. They're hilarious, but as much as I like those guys, I have to watch your back when they're around, in case they pull a prank on me.
I decided to go and find them, but must have taken a wrong turn or something because I didn't think I was in the guest wing of bedrooms anymore. Every corridor looked exactly the same; and every door alike as well.
I didn't want to call out, in case my father or Lord Zeus heard me and came up to tell me off. I hate being told off, and it's always over stupid stuff that always seem to be accidents. I guess you could say I'm quite an unlucky guy.
As there was no one around, I decided to start knocking on some of the doors to see if anyone could help me find my way back to my room. I tried about seven doors until I heard a voice shout "I'm coming!" and the one and only Lady Thalia open the door.
"Oh hey Percy, what are you doing here?"
"Hey Thalia, um, I was looking for Connor and Travis's room but I sort-of got lost. Do you know where they are?" I asked.
Thalia groaned. "You've got to be kidding; please tell me those two aren't here for the weekend!"
Did I mention Thalia hates the twins? Well she does, ever since they hung her toy rabbit from one of the palace flagpoles when she was five.
Yes, Thalia does hold grudges for that long. I always have to remind myself not to get onto her bad side.
"Sorry to break your heart Thals" I replied, and we both laughed.
Thalia was cool, and I'd known her for ages. Our fathers worked quite closely together, so I saw her quite often; she was like a sister to me.
"Hey Perce, why don't you come in? I want you to meet my best friend Annie!"
Another voiced called from inside the room, "Thals! How many times do I have to tell you?!"
"Did I mention she's feisty?" Thalia said to me with a wink, as she let me inside her room.
Her bedroom was huge, and a grand, wooden four-poster bed was situated against the centre of the back wall. There were two vast windows either side of a white wardrobe, which Thalia had drawn lightning bolts all over. I guess the lightning bolt is Province 1's symbol, like a wave is my province's.
I looked over to her bed, and saw a petite girl sat cross legged reading a huge book. She had amazing long, honey-blonde hair that hung in ringlets down her shoulders and back. She was slumped over, like she was purposely trying not to sit up straight, and her brow was furrowed in concentration.
"Annie! Stop being such a boring person and say hello to Percy!"
"Hello Percy" she said, without looking up. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit offended. I mean, who did this girl think she was, not even bothering to look at me!
"Um hey, I'm Percy, and you are?" I asked, trying to cover my annoyance.
She looked up for real that time, and my eyes locked with hers. She had the most amazing eyes I'd ever seen; stormy grey. They looked calculating, like she was trying to determine whether I was worth befriending or not, and extremely intimidating.
She got up from the bed slowly, and walked over to me. I thought she was going to hit me or something, but she just said:
"My name's Annabeth. It's nice to meet you Percy", and she held out her hand for me to shake.
I didn't really know what to say, the look she was giving me was just so scary!
"Uh, yeah, um you too" I managed to stutter.
"You haven't really got a way with words, do you?"
"I guess not" I replied, looking sheepishly down to the floor.
"Oh well, I guess I'll have to teach you! We're going to be great friends!" she said, and then skipped back to the bed and reopened her book.
What? One minute she's looking at me like she wants to kill me, the next she's saying that we'll be great friends? That girl was seriously confusing.
Ta da! That's the chapter. The next chapter will probably be when they're still twelve, but after that I'll skip a couple of years to show their friendship developing. Let me know if you think I should continue this/what you thought of the chapter/anything really! Thanks guys!
- anniebethchase
