Before you chase me down (no pun intended (ha ha ha (sarcastic laugh)) Sorry, can you tell I'm a bit out of it?) I have an excuse for not updating. I was sick yesterday, Monday, and through the whole weekend (which, yes, did suck). Anyways, I'll update again on Saturday.
Disclaimer:
Me: *Coughs *Sneezes *Coughs *has fever of 102 degrees F. *Sneezes again
Disclaimer: *Turns up nose and points to the left
Me: *Wheezes over to Rick "Ca-"
Rick: *Hides in coat and makes giant glass wall apear between us "I refuse to get sick!"
Me: "But I onl-"
Rick: "I refuse!"
Me: "It's just-"
Rick: "No!"
Me: "Fine! I want to sleep anyways." *Stumbles back to Disclaimer "Belongs to Rick."
Disclaimer: *Walks away
Me: *Falls asleep on spot
Chapter 2 - Caught
~oOo~
February 11th - Later that night
My keys rattled as I unlocked the door to my condo. All of my best friends and I decided to buy a condo together because a) It would be so much fun, b) it's cheaper living together, and c) a condo is bigger than an apartment. I opened the door slowly, hoping the others wouldn't hear. I quietly walked into my home and managed to close the door silently. I hear the TV playing in the living room. I managed to get up the stairs before I was noticed. Just as I reached my door I hear my name being called. I turned around to see a confused Piper and an angry Thalia. I looked down shamefully and went into my and Piper's room. I hear their footsteps follow me. I sat down on my bed, staring at my hands. Piper followed suit and sat on her bed while Thalia stood standing my the door.
We stayed quiet for a while before Thalia broke the silence, "What happened?" She demanded. "You sneaking home into your room after being gone for almost 5 hours! It's 8:30 right now. And not even a word! Annie, you can't do that to us. We were worried about you. And what were you doing sneaking home? What do you have to hide? Why wer-'
"I think that's enough Thalia," Piper interrupted her rant. I grabbed my pillow from my bed and hugged it to my chest. Childish, I know, but a habit that has grown to comfort me.
But Thalia wasn't done, "Yeah? Well I don't! She was gone for 5 freaking hours, Piper?" Learning I'm dying. "And not a word. I was worried something had happened. Slinking around the house then after coming home?" Because I don't want to talk about it. "How can I not have my suspicions? Does she have a secret?" Yes. "Why didn't she want me to come with her to the clinic? How was the doctor by the way?" Horrible. "Did you two go out for lunch and chat the whole day? Did you even find w-"
"I have cancer!" That shut her up. "Okay? I was gone the whole day doing test finding out that I'm diagnosed with brain cancer. I had to do a CIR scan. Then I had to wait for the results. I have glioblastoma. I was gone because I was finding out I have 12-15 months left, most likely. I found out I'm unlikely to get it and to survive. I was gone because I found out I was dying!" I yelled. By the end tears were streaming down my face. I looked away shamefully. I could hear Piper sobbing across the room. I noticed that the others – Will, Luke, Reyna, and Leo – had all gathered by the door.
I slowly looked up at Thalia. She has been my best friend since I was 7, even though she's 2 years older than me. By now we were practically sisters. Yes, we fought and she was over protective of me, but tonight I had snapped. Her face was shocked. I could see the rare tears collecting in her eyes, threatening to spill over. In one bound I was in her arms. We were both crying. She kept whispering "I'm sorry". I'm not sure when, but it soon became a group hug. Everyone was crying and whispering "I'm sorry"s and "Oh Annebeth"s.
After who knows how long, we finally broke apart. A few of us dried our eyes. I sent a weak smile to my friends.
"Thanks guys," I told them.
"No problem, Annabeth. I think we're gonna head downstairs to get a snack. You wanna join us?" Will asked, his eyebrows scrunched in concern.
"Maybe in a bit. I'm going to shower first," I replied, already walking over to grab my pajamas. I dug around in my drawer I turned around and saw they were all still looking at me. "Go on! I'll be down in a half an hour."
Reluctantly, I could tell, they left my room. Before Thalia left, we shared a look. I gave a nod and she left my room as well.
I walked over to the bathroom connecting my and Piper's room to Thalia and Reyna's. I set the clothes on the counter and turned on the shower. I then stripped down my clothes and went into the shower. The water felt nice. The power of the drops had my hair soaked in a matter of minutes. The water ran smooth over my skin. I don't know why, but it helped clear my had and make me relaxed. It was a good refresher. After 10 minutes of clearing my head, I turned the water off. I reached out and grabbed the towel closest to me. I dried myself, then wrapped it around my body. I stepped out of the shower. Then I took a hair towel and put my hair up in it. After completing my nighttime routine – lotion, face washing, brushing teeth, that stuff – put on my pajamas. I had grabbed a grey track shirt from high school and light blue sleeping shorts. I then let my hair out to have it air dry. Pleased, walked out of the bathroom and made my way downstairs.
I heard voices coming from the kitchen, so that's where I went. Everyone had circled the island and were talking in hushed voices. When the stairs creaked under my weight, they all stopped and looked at me. I gave them a confused look before continuing down. I went to the cupboard to grab a glass for water.
"Well, are you all ready to watch a movie?" Piper asked which broke the tense silence.
"Hell yeah! I can't wait to have a movie night with my besties." Leo exclaimed putting his arms around Thalia and Reyna. Thalia shoved him off while Reyna turned her intense glare on him. The poor guy just backed away and stood next to Piper.
I rolled my eyes and went to the living room. "I say we have the boys prepare snacks tonight while us girls pick the movie." I suggest which got answered by groans of protest and another "Hell yeah!" I just continued over to the movie shelf to look for a movie, specifically a Disney movie. Finally the rest of the girls came out.
"...horror movies, no doubt. I love it when they go into a closet and the door shuts then a mys-"
"Okay, okay, okay! I get it Thalia. You like your horror movies." Piper said while covering her ears and sinking into herself. She shuddered one last time before starting to talk, "I'll have you know I like most moves except cough cough horror movies. Anyways I'm always in the mood for a good chick flick like the notebook."
"Yeah, no thanks." Thalia retorted.
"They're better than horror movies," Piper insisted.
"I agree!" Came Leo's opinion from the kitchen.
"They aren't!" Thalia stated.
"Are too!" The other exclaimed in unison.
"Are not!"
"Are t-"
"Okay ladies. Please calm down." Reyna butted in finally.
"Hey!"
"Save it Leo!" The four of us girls replied together. We turned and looked at each other. Then burst out laughing.
"Okay, now that that's over, I actually had a movie in mind." I say holding something behind my back, "Moana." It was accepted with nods and a shrug.
While the movie was loading, the boys brought out pizza. We all settled down in the living room. Piper, Reyna, Will, and myself all squished on one couch. Luke and Thalia sat on the love seat next to us. And Leo was on the floor in front of the couch on a beanbag. No one talked about what I said, although we were all thinking about it. We all ate and watched the movie once in a while laughing at Leo's bad jokes. Yet, there was this... this tension in the air. I guess it was nice, having a midnight movie with my best friends, but we couldn't pretend like nothing happened, is happening.
Of course though, we did act like the mature adults we were when the best part came on.
"SEE THE LIGHT WHERE THE LINE MEETS THE SEA? IT CALLS MEEEE!"
An hour and a half later, the movie finished. We ended up watching a Friends episode. Slowly, everyone went up to bed. First it was Reyna. Next, Will and Leo went. Finally, Thalia and Luke went up to their room. Then it was two.
Piper and I continued to sit and watch Friends until the end of the episode. Then I felt weight on the couch shift as a body moved. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Piper turn and look at me. I didn't want to talk, so I continued to look forward and pretend to be paying attention to the boring floor commercial. Piper just continued to stare at me expectantly. I had started to shift uncomfortably. Piper just smirked knowing what was getting to me.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Ohmygosh! You are so annoying." I said, turning toward the brown haired girl.
Once I spoke, her smirk only grew. "I know," Piper replied casually.
I rolled my eyes before speaking again. "What do you want?" I asked cautiously, eyeing the girl before me.
Piper's multi-colored eyes just sparkled before grabbing my wrist and pulling me out the door. I was so tired that I just went with it. After letting go of my wrist, Piper closed the front door quietly. She then led us to her SUV that was parked on the street. Piper started the car and pulled out onto the street. I don't know where we were going, but the streets were quiet. It was 2 in the morning, but usually streets weren't this quiet. This was, after all, the city that never slept. Piper had the sun roof and windows open. The warmer February weather was welcomed by me. It felt nice against my face. I wasn't too cold because of the sweater I had on. Out of the side of my eye, I saw Piper turn the radio on. A song by the Fray started to play. Piper hummed along as she drove us to the unknown destination.
Finally I could see Central Park ahead. I turned to Piper who was only smiling straight ahead. She parked the car and I got out. Piper looked at me once before she led me onto a lamp lit path.
~oOo~
A/N
Sorry again about to updating. I promise I will post on Saturday. Also sorry about how short it is. Once again I promise Saturday's will be longer and better quality. What did you think? Please review!
Thanks for reading!
~Anne