Hi. In response to your reviews, I'm planning to surprise you guys with whom Percy decides to fall in love with.
Chapter 2
Percy's POV
Practice, school, Annabeth, Luke-I couldn't stop thinking. Stress sucks.
My main priority at the moment is getting home so that I can play League. It's not like I'm addicted, I just find it as a great stress reliever
After I close my locker, I head out to the parking lot.
My biological dad, as a "I'm sorry I wasn't there for your childhood" gift, gave me my car for my 17th birthday. That was the first time I've seen him in five years. He's the CEO of Poseidon Inc, an extremely prosperous company. I wasn't really bothered at the fact that he spent a good sum of money on me. This car probably costs him less than a quarter of his monthly paycheck anyways.
Focused on my thoughts, I walk across the parking lot unaware of my path, looking down at the ground, until a woman hits my chest. Her head was just below mine, a perfect fit. She was light, I could feel the delicate weight exerted from the slight bump. A small gust of wind pushes its way to me. Along with it came a familiar scent. A very, very familiar scen-oh dear, it's Annabeth's.
As I look up, I see her eyes widen at the sudden confrontation. She blushes a light pink color. From what I know, and little do I know, women only blush when they are embarrassed, or when they come in contact with their crush. She obviously felt embarrassed. There's no way she can have a crush on me. But, why would she feel embarrassed? It's just me.
I smirk at Annabeth, her clumsiness hasn't changed. "Still the same, huh Annabeth?"
Her blush turns a darker shade of pink. I love seeing her in a bunch. Another great quality she acquires, it was moment was better than when I received the Tesla, not that I'm not thankful. I really am, it's just, coming into contact with her these days is a rare occurrence.
"Ugh, it's you." She tries to sound menacing, but I know her too well. Annabeth isn't the type to be mean.
"And it's you, Wisegirl, or should I say nerd?"
We laughed then smiled, and looked into each others eyes once again, but what seemed like for forever lasted only a few seconds. Someone needed to break the silence, otherwise it would start to get awkward. And at the state our relationship is at, I wanted nothing more than awkward tension.
"*ahem*" Shaken from my trance, I look into the bright orange sky, then down to my feet, then I slightly roll my eyes to her. My head proceeds.
Annabeth quickly looks away, and clears her throat just as fast, as if it doing so would make things go back to normal. "Annabeth, it's been a while, hasn't it?" I asked her while grinning, hoping to receive a friendly response.
"Long time no see, Perce. How have you been?" Success! She flashes me a beautiful, sparkling smile. We spoke as if neither of us felt that strange attraction, and I enjoyed it very much. Talking to my best friend again put me at ease. I no longer felt like I had a weight on my shoulders. This is way better than playing league. Only if these moments could happen more often. Sadly, our rejoice lasted shorter than expected.
Before I could answer, an irritating noise erupted.
"RING RING, RING RING!"
"Hello? Hi, mom," she sounded annoyed, "on my way. See you soon, love you too. Okay, bye." She rushes the phone call. When Annabeth briskly takes her phone away from her ear, ready to hang up, her mom yells through the phone:
"Annabeth! Don't forget to drive home safeā¦"
"Yes, mom! I know"
"Okay, just making sure Honey."
"Beep"
I turn my curious gaze from my sneakers, to her gray eyes. An apologetic expression appeared before me."Percy, I'm sorry." I could sense the genuinity in her voice.
She voices in a fast, but delicate manner, "I need to get home right away. I'm babysitting Bobby and Matthew for the next seven days or so. My dad and mom are going away for vacation to Hawaii and they leave in a few hours," She pauses for a moment to look into my eyes. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, don't worry about me. Just be sure to get home safe. " I smile.
Annabeth continues, " I'll talk to you later, okay?"
I hope that we'd be able to talk again, but our circumstances may prevent us from doing so. I can't exactly talk to her whenever I want to. Her friends, and Luke are always surrounding her. If I were to come up to Annabeth during school, fierce, penetrating glances and judgement will be sent my way. Luke and his friends would kill me. My life is a pain in the ass.
"Sure. We'll talk soon." I say quite reassuringly, trying hard to conceal my disappointment.
Annabeth heightens her eyebrows, "Promise?"
I laugh, "Yes, wise girl, I promise." She laughs, we share one last, quiet laugh for the night.
Annabeth faces her back to me and walks towards her car. I wait to see her off. She opens the door, but before descending into her car she flashes me a smile, and so do I. Her smile falters, so does mine. We hold eye contact for once more. Instead of feeling that strange attraction, I could feel the longing, the yearning, the desire encrusted in our hearts.
She drives off towards the sunset with her hair in a ponytail and sunglasses on while listening to Katy Perry. Her blonde hair flows out from the window. A beautiful sight to see.
Just to let you guys know, I didn't really like the way I wrote this scene. I assume you feel the same, so I'm apologizing.
ANNABETH'S POV
The Gods must hate me. My mom had to call me at that specific moment, the moment Percy and I reconciled. Over the summer I worked at an architecture internship, and he went to a stay-in camp as a teacher to train children basic swimming techniques. Contact over the phone wasn't an option either. There was no connection in his area. After my internship ended, midway through the summer break, Percy still had camp for the rest of the summer. So I forgot about him, and hung out with my other friends. Meeting him today was a reminder of how much I've missed him.
It's currently 6 PM. The windows are open, and a cool breeze moves swiftly through my car. The sun is nearly setting, descending to the opposite part of the world. A great way to cool off from track practice. I am one of the few good runners at Goode, but I'm not the best.
Speaking of practice, three years of swimming made Percy go from flimsy to brawny . His muscles are firm, but not too big. They're just perfect. A mental image of Taylor Lautner pops into my head. Yes, just like Taylor, Percy had a great body. I mean, although I had a boyfriend, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Percy is blessed with good looks. He wasn't just that awkward 12 year boy old I once knew. He is now a mature, kind man. Any girl would be lucky to be his girlfriend.
I speed through the green lights, cursing at anyone who cuts me off. I promised my mom that I wouldn't be late. Considering that it's already 6:10, I think I might have already broken my promise. However, the reason for doing so was worth it.
Home sweet home, I was finally here.
"MOM! ANNABETH'S LATE!" Bobby yells out, just to sizzle my nerves.
My mom comes out from the front door carrying two suitcases. "Honey, where have you been?"
"Sorry, I was talking to Percy when you called." My mom is fond of Percy. She likes him more than she likes Luke. I knew that she would understand; I mean she even asks me about him from time to time. His daily visits were missed, even Bobby and Matthew miss him. But that was before high school.
While packing bags into the car, she speaks to me in a fluid motion, rushing to catch her flight. "Oh, okay. That's fine, just be sure to read the list of chores I have for you three. It's sitting on the kitchen counter. Money's in the jar on top of my dresser. On Saturday, for your birthday party, don't forget my three rules-"
"Yes, I know mom."
I list out the three rules in a precise manner, without missing one word, "Do not bother the neighbors. Do not break anything. And, do not leave a mess." Proud of my memorization skills, I mentally pat myself on the back. Brownie points.
"Good. Also, make sure you get Bobby and Matthew to Grandma's house for the weekend. If you run into trouble, visit her anytime. She'd love to see you anyways."
My dad comes out from from the front door with a black suitcase. He proceeds to give me a hug and kiss.
"Be safe, honey."
I twitch my lips into a faint smile, "Okay, dad. Have fun with mom."
He smiles nicely to thank me. Then Bobby and Matthew come running out. "Dad! Mom! Don't leave us with her! She'll make us do chores!" Matthew pleads. "Yeah! We're going to be miserable." Bobby frowns.
"Oh stop it, Annabeth knows what she's doing."
I take my two 11-year old brothers to the front porch. Our arms move to say good-bye to the smiling faces in the moving, blue prius. Meanwhile, the sun descends for a last few seconds, and the moon appears. Today is Wednesday, seven more days until they return home.
I finished all of my homework at school today, so I didn't have anything important to do besides study. Bobby, Matthew, and I ate leftovers from the other night. I cleaned the dishes, then took a warm shower. My damp hair is covered by my gray towel as I retire to my room. It was 9 PM. Bobby and Matthew are playing video games before bedtime. I log onto my pc and type in ' '.
After nearly half an hour of browsing through the statuses and replying to my messages, someone special came to mind, Percy. He has always been there for me, through thick and thin, never leaving my side. I feel bad, I really do. No one at school takes the chance to see's his true personality. My friends bully Percy, and I confront them about it. But they apologize to me afterwards. I accept their apology without a second thought, being the kind person that I am. Then my thoughts drift to Luke. He became more of a dick over the years. 'You can't do this, you can't do that.', it's irritating. It's not like I'm his pet. Percy is different, he's kind, considerate, and heartwarming. Those are only a few admirable qualities. My thoughts falter, if I think about him anymore, then I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to stop.
Sighing, I close my laptop and walk across the hallway into my brothers' room.
"Get to bed guys, it's almost 10." they sigh, but comply with my command.
I slowly walk back to my room and plop onto my bed. My body faces the window. I look out into the starry night sky, and think about Percy again. The image I imagine of him helps me drift into a deep sleep.
PERCY'S POV
After Annabeth left, I drove off to the home that my mom, Paul, and I reside in. I love my mom as much as I love Annabeth. She raised me, a dyslexic kid with ADHD, on her own while working on minimum wage for twelve years. At the age of thirteen, my mom was hired as an editor here in New York; It paid good money which eased her stresses. And that was also when she met my awesome step-father, Paul.
We ate dinner as a family. The three of us indulged in my mother's blue pancakes. As my parents discuss work issues, I doze off into my usual routine of daydreaming of Annabeth. Her hair, her face, her lips yelled perfection. And then I remembered: Annabeth's birthday is this upcoming Saturday.
I eat my pancakes faster than a cat can eat its' prey.
"My, Percy, what has gotten into to you?" My mom was astonished.
"I, um, have to go. May I?"
She nods yes. Percy dashes to his room.
Meanwhile...
"Honey, don't take it seriously. He's just feeling it right now." Paul infers reassuringly.
"Feeling what, Honey?" Curiousity strikes her. She stops eating and looks up to meet his eyes.
"You know, raging hormones."
A roar of laughter erupted between the happy couple.
In Percy's room
"Come on, come on, come on!" I unconsciously whisper my thoughts.
My computer took a long time to load. I waited for at least three minutes, three agonizing minutes. It's pretty old, I've had it since the seventh grade. I'm surprised to find that my rusted Dell can run League of Legends. Aside from my beaten computer, there is an even more important matter. Annabeth's birthday is in three days. I need to think fast. What can I get for my best friends birthday? What would she love the most? I thought, thought as hard as I could. Bingo! I type in the keywords 'owl bracelet' in the search bar. I click on the link that sends me to a site called 'Etsy'. In the midst of an array of beautiful bracelets, only one stands out to me. I order it with fast delivery, assuring that it is in my possession the day before her birthday.
The clock reads 9:42. Night creeps its way through, a sign that signifies another dreadful day of school is approaching. I take a shower under the fluorescent lights of my bathroom, washing away today's dose of chlorine that washed over my skin and hair. Water has always been an interest of mine. In fact, the beach is a destination I truly appreciate. The distinct smell and fresh winds captivate me. On the days I feel upset, or if I'm in need of comfort, I take a relaxing drive to my local beach. It relieves my reality.
Suddenly, a cringing memory comes to my mind. I turn off the shower. Cold lines of water drip down my body while I stand with my hands lingering on the knob, eyes facing the floor. I descend into deep thought to the day Luke asked Annabeth a question that changed my life for the worse.
Freshman year.
It was a sunny afternoon. School was out. I take a smooth paced walk to the boys' locker room to change into my speedos. It was about 2:40 PM, practice doesn't start until 3:00. Usually, I would see Annabeth near her locker with her friends. It was a path I deliberately took just to see her. But she wasn't there. I shrug off my curiousity; she probably visited a teacher's room for help. Good grades are a priority of hers anyway.
I arrive to the opening of the locker room. Guys from all kinds of sports pile in one by one. As I proceed to the doors, I hear a voice, identifying itself as Annabeth's. I stop dead in my track.
"Hey! Get out of my way stupid." yells a jock.
I stuttered. "Oh uh, uh, I'm sorry."
"Just get out of my way."
Getting yelled at was a normal occurrence for me. Nothing new. I hide in a corner where Annabeth and Luke couldn't see, and eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Hahaha, nice joke, Luke. You sure know how to pick'em." friendly sarcasm was apparent in her tone.
"What? Didn't you think it was funny?"
"No, not really."
"Are you sure? I mean, people always tell me that I'm funny." He asks, apparently completely bewildered.
"Positive." she nods as she speaks. A wide grin appears on her face, squinting her eyes as a result. Her smile reveals how much she enjoys Luke's company.
Luke bows his head in sadness. "Well, how about I-", his hands suddenly find its way onto Annabeth's neck attempting to tickle her. He was fast, she didn't have time to react. Their tickle war got a little too intimate. He leaned closer to her, she jerked up as a result of his tickling. Their foreheads touch, he holds her in that position. Then, Annabeth closes her eyes, Luke does so too. Finally, they kiss. Annabeth's first kiss.
End of flashback.
That memory torments me. I replay it all the time, unable to get rid of it. I remember feeling like crap for the rest of the day. Like my world had turned upside down. At the time, I wasn't old enough to drive. My only form of "escape" was thinking. Over thinking does harm to a human.
Annabeth and Luke's relationship is one of the primary issues I deal with. Each time I pass them, Luke deliberately touches his lips onto Annabeth's delicate peach lips to get on my nerves. She, however, is too infatuated to even notice me. Do you know what it feels like to watch the person you are deeply in love with kiss your enemy? It feels like a bullet penetrating your heart, but you can't die from it. The pain is always...there. I linger on the word 'always'. A realization struck me. The pain is always there. What if I change that to, 'The pain is never there.'. What if I "delete" all of the resentment I face, by changing into the ideal guy. No more bullies, feeling depressed, and most importantly, no heartbreak. All this time, I've also contributed to my pain because I didn't do anything to change it. I must be the first step to making my life better. I'm tired, so tired. Change sounds better than anything right now. Even better than loving Annabeth.
Overwhelmed with new found excitement, I climb out of the shower to dry myself, and look at my reflection in the mirror. In front of me is a handsome man. A handsome man who doesn't do anything with his gift of good looks. His sparkling sea green eyes have the ability to swoon the girls, and his tall, somewhat muscular body can intimidate the guys. I may sound conceited, but why not? After all these years of constant depression, I deserve to spawn the vanity inside of me. For once, I deserved to be happy. Better yet, I know the perfect person for transforming me into the guy that "has it all", into the guy Percy Jackson should be.
Second thoughts rush into my head. 'But, what if no one will like you? What if you turn out to be an even bigger joke? What will Annabeth think?'. Wait, what will Annabeh think? I shouldn't feel the need to please Annabeth anymore. She's obviously happy with Luke. I try to erase the negativity that infuses me by repeating to myself 'Change is good, change is good.'
Actions speak louder than words. Can I restrain myself from loving her?
Thanks for reading!
Let me know if I'm rushing it, or if I'm not making sense. I write down whatever I feel, therefore, the story may not make sense.
Also, let me know of any writing tips I should practice. I don't believe that this is superb work, so enlighten me :)
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