Chapter 2: Past – Sixth Grade
Rated: K+
POV: Percy
Author's note: To TheHoff and Mighty Ruler Gummi Bears yes this is a story :) It's friday, so a new chapter you! Enjoy! Please come back next friday for the next chapter!
Annabeth smirked as she saw me slumped down on my chair. I twirled my pencil between my fingers slowly, careful not to let it fall. My jet black hair hung over my head, slightly hiding my eyes. I kept my eyes locked on the window as Annabeth spoke.
"What happened, Seaweed Brain? You look like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."
Seaweed Brain. I remember the first time she called me that.
Summer was just starting and my brain was already burnt out from going to school five days a week. I couldn't wait until I finally get a taste and smell of sea salt again. The whole crew of us were going to Montauk, on Mr. Castellan's fishing boat to catch some fish and hopefully take some timeout to just swim. We all wore our swim suits and orange safety vests before boarding. The captain/Luke's dad steered the boat while Luke was his navigator.
Thalia, Grover, Annabeth and I were roaming around the boat finding a good spot to look out at the water.
I stared in fascination at the fish that swam by as the boat passed. Since the sun was out and shining as bright as ever, the upper part of the water was clear for all to see. I had to blink repeatedly because of the water spraying into my eyes and the bright light that reflected the water.
"Enjoying yourself?" Annabeth snickered sitting on the boat railing.
"Annabeth, you're going to fall if you sit there," I muttered, my eyes locked at the crystal clear water.
"Mhm."
I looked up at her with an eyebrow raised. I must've looked pretty silly considering that she was laughing really hard.
"Whatever," I said, poking her stomach.
"Stop," she begged, still laughing. I kept tickling her until she squealed.
"Percy!"
I gasped as she fell overboard. I impulsively dove down after her. She sputtered some water as I wrapped my arms around her waist to keep her from floating away. Since we were wearing those orange vests, we were able to stay afloat.
"You-You Seaweed Brain!" she yelled, punching me in the gut. "You almost killed me!"
"Save it until we get back!"
Somehow, someway, Luke and his dad managed to stop the boat and pull us up. I leaned against the boat railing as Luke checked to see if Annabeth was okay.
"If you weren't such a Wise Girl and sat on the railing, you wouldn't have fell," I hissed.
"If you weren't such a Seaweed Brain and stopped tickling me, I wouldn't have fallen in, would I?" she retorted.
For some reason that humored me in an odd way.
"What's so funny?" she demanded, her cheeks turning red either from embarrassment or from the sun.
"Really? Seaweed Brain?"
As I laughed I felt the remaining water come up through my throat and nose. I went on my hands and knees as I tried to cough it out. I gripped my chest as I choked.
"Percy!"
Annabeth scurried over and patted my back to help me cough out the water. Water sputtered out of my mouth as her hand came in contact with my back.
"Told you your brain's full of seaweed," she muttered, rubbing my back as I sat back up.
I grinned helplessly at all of them.
I gave her a tired look and glanced away. Luke, Thalia and Grover soon stepped in.
"What up, Perce?" Luke nodded. "You look a little down, are you feeling alright?"
"Why don't you tell us what's going on?" asked Grover. "You know, just to let it out."
I opened my mouth to tell them but decided against it. I looked up and faked a smile.
"It's stupid, don't worry about it."
"Come on—" Thalia began until Mr. Brunner came in and told all of them to sit down. Annabeth shot me a look before taking her seat.
Homeroom started with announcements, but I barely paid any attention to the intercom. I was too caught up in my own thoughts than listening to the principal talking.
The rest of my classes that morning, Spanish, Social Studies, Art, Science and Math I've been so distant and isolated, my teachers asked me if I was okay. I would wave them away and lie that I was just feeling a little headache.
*** lunch ***
I froze as I saw my friends sitting together at our usual lunch table. Some of the pretty girls were trying to get themselves in Luke's way just to get his attention. I rolled my eyes and decided to sit at the empty table near the trash can. I picked my food silently. I felt the familiar twist in my stomach. I was going to be alone, again.
Annabeth caught my eye. I stared into her eyes for a moment. I ate one more string of pasta then slowly leaving my food on the table. I headed out the lunchroom double doors then to the school garden. I hurried down the sidewalk, turned right and hid behind the wall.
I heard her footsteps coming my way. I held my breath as she turned left and started strolling down the walk trying to find me. I sighed as I sank down to the ground. I'm really going to miss that Wise Girl.
"Boo."
I bit my lip and looked up in defeat. She sat down next to me, our shoulders pressed together.
"Percy, what's wrong?" she asked. "You've been ignoring me, Luke, Grover and Thalia for the whole day. Did something happen?"
I chewed my bottom lip.
After a while of silence, she poked my cheek. I stuck my tongue out at her and stood up. I shoved my hands in my pockets lazily. I roamed around the garden with Annabeth pleading me to tell her.
"Percy," she demanded, gripping my shoulders and glaring at my eyes seriously.
The bell rang for next period.
I glanced away from her demanding gray eyes.
"Let's go," I murmured quietly, going back to the building.
"Percy," she urged again. Her voice was tight. I was pushing her buttons, I can tell.
Without looking at her I replied,
"After school, I promise."
The next three periods flew. I couldn't stop thinking of what to say and how to put it.
As I was shoving my homework and books down my backpack, I was about to shut my locker when Annabeth came up behind me.
I slammed it shut. Without bothering to turn around I said,
"I'm moving to Florida."
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and started my dash to the double doors when Annabeth grabbed my hand and turned me around.
"When?" her voice cracked.
"Tomorrow, after school," I said, quietly.
She bit her lip. I could tell she was trying to stay strong. Annabeth never shows fear or tears. And I know she's not going to start now.
"Percy," she murmured slowly. "I know this is hard for you, knowing you've moved for at least 3 times including now. But have you ever thought how I would feel? How Luke, Thalia and Grover would feel? Percy, you should've told us earlier. It's much harder to know now than if you had told us sooner."
"I think you've got that mixed up. If I told you sooner, it would be harder for you to let me go."
I almost face-palmed when I realized I was only referring to Annabeth instead of everyone.
"I got to go," I excused myself. "Luke's dad said he could give me a ride while Luke's in baseball practice."
Annabeth gave me a helpless look as I stormed out of the hallway.
I jumped as I heard Annabeth's ringtone play on my phone. I faltered as I tried to reach for it. I scowled and left my room to watch TV.
Later that night my phone rang again. I declined her call and checked my phone. 23 miss calls from Annabeth and 1 new message from Luke. I bit my lip and dropped my phone on the ground. I pressed my face into the pillow, feeling that I have every right to scream into it.
The next was the worst day out of the whole year. Cliché I know. But it really was. I'll barely be able to talk to my friends and meet up with them. I'm going to have to get used to my school, new house and new state. That's the drill.
I scowled as I heard the dismissal bell ring. It had been a mediocre day. Annabeth told them everything. I can tell they were trying their best to not talk about it.
"Percy," I heard Thalia say softly. I closed my locker lightly as I turned towards her. I had cleaned my locker from everything: food & gum wrappers, dirty clothes, sticky notes, papers, boogers… (just kidding).
"Bye Thalia," I said, with a forced smile. I gave her a friendly hug. I was about to pull away when she kept me in her tight grip.
"Um, Thalia?"
"Oh sorry," she muttered. I flinched as she slapped me on the shoulder.
"Ow!"
"You're such a jerk! Leaving us here in our pain and suffering! You- you—"
Luke and Grover pulled her away before she can give me a barrage of girl slaps.
"See ya, bro. We're going to miss you," Luke said, flashing me his white smile. He gave a tight hug just like Thalia. Except he didn't slap me.
Then it was Grover.
He sniffled as he approached me. Some tears rolling down here and there.
"Aw, G-man no need to cry, it's only Florida," I said, slowly.
"Only Florida? That's all the way down the country, man," he cried, tackling me with a bear hug.
After they told granted me good luck and saying some, 'I'll miss you' and 'You better come over in the summer.' I interrupted the conversation to say,
"Where's Annabeth?"
"She told us to tell you to meet her in the kindergarten playground once we're done saying goodbye to you."
I arched an eyebrow.
"Playground, huh?"
They nodded.
"Okay, better not let her wait any longer," I said, swinging my mostly empty back pack over my shoulder.
I said goodbye once more and hurried off to Annabeth.
I dropped my backpack at the edge of the playground. I slowly stepped on the woodchips that filled the whole area. The familiar aroma of dirt, woodchips, skinned knees and elbows filled my nose. I traced the spot where the big bully David had kicked me to death. I waddled over to the swings where Annabeth and I had our first real talk.
I sat on the exact seat I sat on that event and closed my eyes to reminisce the past.
"Hey, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth whispered, softly behind me. I felt my heart race as her presence drew close.
"Here," she offered as she sat on the swing next to me. She gave me a lollipop. A strawberry flavored lollipop. The same one I gave to her to make her feel better.
I slowly opened the lollipop and stuck it in my mouth.
"Remember that tree?" Annabeth murmured.
` I squinted my eyes as it focused on the tree found on the middle of the playground.
"No…"
"You don't?" she asked, her voice obviously sounding hurt.
"What's so important about that again?"
She swallowed hard as she told me.
"We sat there together alone everytime after school. Just talking about random stuff. We would climb to the highest branch so the teachers wouldn't see us. Our parents would always be late so we would just be sitting on that tree. That was until, you fell."
"I broke my arm," I finished, finally remembering the significance of the tree. "Maybe the fall really affected my head."
She chuckled. "You're such a Seaweed Brain."
I ignored her playful insult. "You had to get my mom and she told us never to climb the tree again. After that, she started picking me up real early."
"I still go up there."
"Alone?"
"Yeah, to remember the good times," she said, giving me a bright smile.
Silence fell between us, until I stood up. I felt myself blushing as I held both of her hands to lift her up from her swing.
"What're we doing?" she asked, slowly detaching her fingers from mine.
"We're going to sit together on that tree for one last time."
I took my familiar route up the tree. I chose the same footholds as I did when I was little. My hands grabbed on the branches tightly as I made my way up one branch at a time. Annabeth followed me whole-heartedly.
I sighed as I sat on my usual spot. Annabeth took her seat right next to me. I checked my watch. Just 20 more minutes until both our parents will pick us up.
"I have something for you," she said, pulling out a friendship bracelet. "I made this last night. I made sure there were no flaws by using my…study time."
"You didn't study for the math semester exam?" I asked, astounded. "Was that why you looked like you were struggling in math?"
"It was worth it," she replied, waving me away. "And you were looking at me?"
I shook my head, denying the fact.
"Now, shut up and give me your hand."
She wrapped the blue, green, purple and black patterned friendship bracelet around my wrist gently.
"Make a wish," she said as she tied a double knot. I closed my eyes and wished.
Annabeth let go of my hand. I traced the bracelet slowly. It was so detailed and elegant.
"Thanks, Annabeth, I really like it," I smiled, giving her a hug. She grinned back.
"I'm going to miss you," she murmured in my shoulder. We pulled away from our hug but I kept her hand on her hip and she kept her hand on my hip. She rested her head on my shoulder. I felt some butterflies fluttering in my stomach, but they soon went away as we started talking. About random stuff. Like we used to.
"Aw, crap," I said, as I checked my watch. "My mom's going to be here in a few minutes."
Annabeth checked her phone.
"My dad said he's just right around the block."
We released from our position and scaled down the tree. I accidentally slipped from my foothold causing me to land on my ankle.
I bit back a swear.
"Bye, Percy," Annabeth murmured, as she hugged me once more. I felt some of her tears seeping into my shirt. It made me want to cry, but being the guy, I had to stay strong.
"Keep in touch okay?" We walked to the back of the school together. That was where we usually separate. Her dad picks her up on the front parking lot my mom picks me up on the other parking lot.
She went on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek lightly. I blushed.
"I'll miss you, Seaweed Brain."
She blushed bright red and hurried to the front parking lot.
I felt some tears rolling down my cheeks but I brushed them away. My ankle is really starting to hurt right now.
