Chapter 2: Why Me?
"Annabeth, wake up!"
I awoke to ice water being splashed on my head. I sat bolt upright in bed, wringing my hair out, and glared at Malcolm, who was holding a bucket. "What was that for?"
"It's 12:34 in the afternoon," my brother explained, sticking the bucket under his bed. He looked at me with a solemn expression, and said two gut-wrenching words, "It's time."
Anger quickly turned to pain. I'd been hurting two, long weeks, but this was all but unbearable. He wasn't coming back.
I took a shaky breath. "Just give me a minute, Malcolm. I can handle it.
He nodded knowingly and left the cabin. I got out of bed and pulled on some clothes, letting the tears slide silently down my cheeks. Grabbing the shroud, I looked at the picture on my bedside table. Percy's smile was genuine, cocky, and silly at the same time. I turned away, and went outside. Malcolm was waiting for me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and helped my walk towards the amphitheater.
All the campers were there. Most of them had sad expressions. Even the Stoll twins looked so down you'd think they weren't Hermes kids. Only the Ares campers obviously felt otherwise: they all seemed to be bursting to say, "The punk FINALLY got creamed!" or "Good riddance!"
Chiron gestured for me to join him at the fire. Malcolm gave me one last reassuring hug and sat down with the rest of our siblings. I walked up to the centaur, who patted me gently on the back.
He cleared his throat and said, "I had hoped this day would never come. We have lost a camper." Chiron took a deep breath and continued, "Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, sacrificed himself fighting off telekhines during a quest. When the volcano he was fighting in exploded, we assume he is dead. After so long a silence, it is unlikely our prayers will be answered. I have asked his best surviving friend to do the final honors."
The word 'final' hit me with a pang. I carefully placed Percy's shroud onto the flames, then turned to face the audience. "He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. He…" I was about to say how he sacrificed himself to save my life, but that's when I saw him. I felt my face go red. "He's right there!"
Percy Jackson was standing in the back of the amphitheater.
People began swarming towards him, including me. Some curses were uttered from the Ares cabin, like they couldn't believe he'd survived, again.
Chiron cantered to him. "Well, I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me–"
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I cut him off, pushing the other campers out of my way. Percy looked like he was expecting me to punch him, but instead I hugged him so fiercely I think his ribs nearly cracked. Everyone else went quiet. I realized I was making a scene and shoved him away. "I –we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!"
"Sorry," he said, looking shaken and rubbing his ribs. "I got lost."
"LOST?" I yelled, incredulous. "Two weeks, Percy? Where in the world–"
"Annabeth," Chiron interrupted. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"
He plucked me and Percy off the ground and onto his back like we were kittens, and started galloping off toward the Big House.
Eventful, huh? My best friend almost died, disappeared for two weeks, leaving me heart-broken, and came back just when I gave up hope.
But on top of it all, Percy's absence got me wondering: was he just a friend, or was I falling for him?
Ugh, why me?