So hey. I can't believe the reaction I got to only 500 words or so. Wrote this relatively fast so that all you alerters, favers, and followers could have something to talk about while I'm writing the next chapter. Now this is takes place in August and is two years after the prologue. So Annabeth has been having the break downs for some time now.
I hope you enjoy!
Maisy
Chapter quote: We're actors in our lives, pretending to be who we want people to think we are. -Simone Elkeles
Disclaimer:
I do NOT own any Percy Jackson person what so ever
Chapter 1
Percy
I was taking my daily morning jog in central park when I saw her. She was gorgeous even though she looked like she had been running for hours. Her face glistened with sweat and a few strands of her curly blonde hair had escaped their cage of a hair band. She looked fit too. She looked like she could out run me in any time. My favorite part about her was her eyes. The grey orbs of her eyes looked liked they calculated my every move while also understanding everything else about the world. However the was also a sort of suppressed sadness about her. Like she would start crying at any moment. It made me want to grab her and hug her with all my might and make her sadness melt away.
By the time I stopped daydreaming about this unknown girl I was halfway through the path again. So I just decided to finish it again. By the time I was about to finish I heard the sobs and the screaming.
" NOOOOO! KYLE! NO NO NO NO! KYLE DON'T GO!" These screams sounded so desperate. I didn't know what to do. I had to find the source of these screams and help this person or persons.
I searched for a moment or two before I found it. Right on the side of the path was the beautiful blonde girl curled in a ball screaming. She's having a break down. This woman, who held herself with dignity and grace, was having a mental break down. I saw her only a few minutes ago perfectly fine and now she is a wreck. I still have to help her.
I walked up to her slowly and gently put my hand on her shoulder. I gently began to rub her shoulder and then her back. Her screaming stopped but she was still sobbing. Soon she uncurled out her ball and just hugged me. I didn't know what to do. My mind started to turn to mush because of the gorgeous woman I didn't even know hugging me. Eventually I hugged her back.
After what seemed like forever she brought her head out of my neck. She had stopped crying and finally spoke
" Thanks. That was exactly what I needed someone to do." Her voice was still shaky from crying but it was getting steadier.
"Well it doesn't matter I would've done that for anyone. I have a daughter at home and if someone saw that happening to her all I would want is for someone to help calm her down."
" It so does matter. If I come out of my fits alone it only makes the next one worse." She made sound as if she had them a lot and that made me worry even more for this unknown person.
" Fine it matters but would you care for a coffee since you well really look like you need one." I was inviting a person I didn't even know the name of to coffee. I really am messed up aren't I.
"Yeah that would be good but only if I get to know the name of the person who is paying."
"Percy and you are?"
" Annabeth. Annabeth Chase."
"Pretty name." And it really was. I loved the sound of it and the uniqueness of it.
" Yeah my mom picked it." She said bitterly as I helped her up so we could walk to the coffee shop a block away.
" And why do you sound so bitter about that?"
" She flew the coop after I was born leaving me with my Dad who didn't really care about me. He remarried when I was five and totally forgot about me." A single tear trickled down her face but she hastily wiped it away before anyone but me could notice it. " Eventually it got worse and worse so that I had move in with my Aunt. But when she died I was forced to move back in with my dad. It was better than before but what was said could never be undone."
" My mom remarried too and it was pretty bad but eventually she filed against him in court because he abused her. He's sitting in jail now. My mom remarried again to my English teacher."
"That must've been awkward." She cut in
" Yeah really awkward but my mom loves him and I couldn't be happier." And I really couldn't. My mom was never happy. She sent me away to boarding schools whenever she could just so I wouldn't have to endure Gabe like she did.
" Well love is very important but anyway here we are" And with that we had arrived at the coffee shop and walked in.
"Hello, my name is Sonny and how may I help you?" said Sonny
"Ummm I think I'll have a Cappuccino and a blueberry muffin. Annabeth what will you have?" As I looked at her I got lost in her eyes again. I began to see images of her being a mom to my little Evie. I know that even though I barely know her I want to live my life with her.
"Black coffee."
"Are you insane!?"
"No. I just like black coffee? Is there a problem with that?" I could sound her getting defensive and I had no idea why but I decided to just back off because I didn't want her to break down again.
" Absolutely not its just you don't look like a person who drinks black coffee."
" Oh so now you're stereo typing. I knew this was a bad idea. Going out for coffee with a complete stranger only because he helped you. Oh what could possibly go wrong there!" She started to leave but I grabbed her wrist. When I turned her around I could see a tear sliding down her cheek. If she was going out for coffee with a complete stranger why was she crying over me?
" Why are you crying if you don't care?" I asked genulily
" Because I thought you cared." She whispered. " Every time someone sees me breakdown or have a nightmare they run away. They NEVER stay. I just thought you were different." And with that she twisted her wrist out of my hand and ran out of the shop. I didn't know what to do. Run after these strong willed, broken beauty or just stand here like an idiot.
I ran after her.
After a few minutes I saw hidden under a large willow by the lake. I slowly approached her.
" Annabeth." Her head turned and the expression she gave me proved that she never expected me to come after her.
" What are you doing here? No one ever comes after me." She whispered
" I needed to tell you something."
" What is it that is so important that made you come all the way to tell me?"
" In high school I was popular. I was only popular because according to all the girls I was hot. However I wasn't your typical hot and popular guy. I was nice to everybody. I never hooked up with anyone wasn't dating with for more than eight months and I even had a crush on a non popular girl that was envied by all the popular girls because of her natural looks. What's even worse is I didn't even know her name. Anyway what I'm trying to say is I'm not like other guys I'm different." I didn't know what else to say after that mouthful I just hoped she forgave me.
" No one has ever done this much for me or spilled as much of their personal history to me before. Thank you." She said as she flung her arms around my neck. I felt like I was in heaven but I had one more thing to say before I melted away entirely.
" So how about I be a gentleman and take you out for dinner tonight." I knew this was a gutsy move but I really wanted to get to know her better.
" No."
"Okay so I'll pick you up at- wait! What?" I was really getting concerned now because even though had only asked out a handful of girls out they had all said yes. Yet this one, Annabeth said no.
"You don't need to get concerned, Percy. I just feel that I owe you dinner since I over reacted. So I'll order a pizza at my house and you can bring a movie and we can play a game or something. Sound okay?" I couldn't believe it. Our first date would be at her house.
She got up and picked up a pen off of a nearby bench and came back. She began to write on my hand "So this is my number and address an you can come over around 6, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Okay so see you at 6, Percy" with that the woman whose life I might've changed for the better walked away.
I walked up the stairs to my mom's apartment staring at the address and number on my hand. I know it is really sad but I have already memorized them:
16748 E 27th street apt #18E
243-7470
As I pulled out the key to her apartment I could hear her and Evie laughing. The story of how Evie ended up with me was extremely sad but we never talked about it. We also never mentioned her mom. When she asked about her we always managed to divert it to another topic.
"Hey, Mom!" I called as I entered the apartment.
"Daddy! Me and Grandma made cookies!" Evie said as she ran into my arms and I lifted her up.
" Oh did you now. Are they blue? Because you know I only eat blue cookies." I asked because it is almost always true but I always eat Evie's cookies.
"Of course they are daddy. They always look better when they're blue anyway." She replied as we entered the kitchen. The second I entered I was immediately hit with the smell of freshly baked blue chocolate chip cookies. I put her down so I could grab a cookie.
My mom entered the kitchen while I was stuffing my hand with a cookie and I attempted to say hello but it came out sounding more like: "mhp ppmh."
"Perseus Jackson what have I told you about talking with your mouth full of blue chocolate chip cookies" She scolded as I swallowed the cookie.
"Well hello to you too, mom."
"So what took you so long today? Not that I mind the extra time with my adorable granddaughter but I think you're an extra half an hour today." She said as she tickle Evie's tummy.
"Oh, there were just a few problems down at the track today." I said as casually as I could muster.
"So you mean you met a girl." She said with a smirk on her face knowing how hard it has for me to get a date with a kid in the picture now.
" Fine. I met a girl." Caving to her, Knowing that she would ask relentlessly until I told her the truth. "So speaking of which could you watch Evie tonight?"
"So you even managed to get a date. Wow you really are on a roll this morning, aren't you buddy. Of course I can watch her."
Then Evie interrupted: "Can I sleepover? I like it when I sleepover at grandma's" Sweet I was free and clear for the entire night.
"Sure, Ev's whatever you want."
"Yeah!" She screamed yelling off into the living room.
"I'm telling you, you spoil her way too much."
"Well isn't that my job as a grandma. To spoil my grandchildren."
"Okay maybe you're right but I have to get going and do some errands. You don't mind if Evie stays here do you?"
"Of course not. I love that little munchkin."
"So I'll see you later when I drop her bag off." I said as I began to walk out the door. "Bye Evie, You're going to stay with grandma while I go grocery shopping."
"Okay, Dad" she said giving me a hug good bye.
With that I walked out the door heading to the grocery store for juice boxes and crackers. But I also couldn't seem to get the girl who seemed so strong but was really broken inside off my mind.
How was it? I am a person that dishes out critism left and right and as they say: If you can't take it then you can't give it out or is it the other way? Well anyway I want to Know what you think. Your opinion matters here in Maisy land so send it out. Also I am accepting questions about myself that I'll answer at the beginning of the next chapter. One more thing, Percy's daughter. You'll get the whole story behind that eventually but she isn't dead. Anyway Her name is Evie. It's short for Evelynn, so it is pronounced as if you're saying what evs. Get it, got it, good?
With love,
Maisy
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