REDO
Chapter 4
I jogged around camp, burning off energy. I didn't want to be a nervous wreak when I stopped at her doorstep. Pausing at my cabin only to change shirts, I slowly but surely made my way over to Cabin 6. I stopped at the doorstep, took a breath, and knocked. A few seconds passed. I was all set to go look elsewhere when Annabeth's voice came,
"Come in."
She was sprawled on her bed, engrossed in Daedalus's laptop. When she saw it was me, she sat up and smiled, although the smile was vacant.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," I responded, and plopped down next to her. "What are you working on?"
Apparently, she had taken on of Daedalus's designs, and was now remodeling it. She'd already won awards for Best Amateur Architect at various levels, the highest being state. We chatted about school and life and such for a few minutes. My heart sank. How was I going to ask? Finally, inspiration came.
"Annabeth?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "Would you help me with an experiment? I want to see if I can project my voice through bowls of water."
Just for an instant, her eyes sparked, and my heart soared. But it didn't last.
"Sure, whatever." Gaurded again.
We filled two bowls with water, and went to either end of the cabin. Just barely putting my lips in, I whispered
"Hello?"
Annabeth shook her head, ear dripping. No luck. I motioned back down.
I was sure I could do it. I imagined a small stream connecting the bowls, how Annabeth's face would light up when she heard why I had to say. Or, at least, I hoped. Either that, or she'd punch my lights out. Putting my mouth back in, I whispered,
"Hello? Testing, testing…" and a surge of power flowed out from me. I had to grab on to the table to keep from falling over, the exertion was so much. But I had done it.
"It worked, it worked!" she sang out. I managed a smile and called,
"One more time."
She made the okay sign, and went back under. I steeled myself. No turning back now. Putting my mouth in once more, I whispered,
"I talked to Silena this afternoon."
Ouch. Big mistake. A burst of pain exploded in my gut, and I fell to the floor.
"Percy? Percy! Are you okay?"
I couldn't answer. She helped my on to one of her siblings beds, and sat down next to me. Talking though disconnected water was hard. I'd need a lot of (potentially painful) practice. When the throbbing had settled to a distant ache, I sat up.
"What do you mean, you talked to Silena?"
I told her the story of how Silena had bested me, and she smiled at that.
"I asked her about what she was building."
Immediately, Annabeth was on guard. Again. Crap.
"She told me about the dance." It was hard to sound casual.
"Who have you asked?" Annabeth queried carefully.
"Um, no one yet. Has anyone asked you?"
She looked away, fists clenched. "Maybe." I felt like swearing, or punching someone.
"Who?"
"Why haven't you asked anyone yet?" I thought I could detect anger behind her voice.
"Well…I was hoping…Annabeth, would you go with me?"
Silence. She wouldn't look up.
"Hey, Hey. What's wrong?"
No responce.
"Annabeth. Annabeth, really."
She looked up, glaring a little. "What?"
"What's going on?"
Silence.
"Is this about last year?"
More silence.
"Listen, I--"
That got her.
"No, you listen. You don't need to make this harder. You and that..." She trailed off and started to sob.
I put my arm around her, and she buried her head in my shoulder, not making a sound. We must have stayed like that for ten minutes before she pulled away. I handed her a tissue.
"That what?"
"Oh...never mind."
"I..." I cut off, feeling frustated. Why was it so hard to speak sometimes? "Annabeth. Please, listen to me. I'm sorry. Really. I am so, so sorry about last year. I know it sucked; it was really hard on me too."
She looked up. "Hard? More than hard."
"Just...Annabeth, I'm so sorry. Please come to the dance with me. We don't have to stay, if you'd rather not. Just...please." There it was. My mini-speech hung in the air, threatening to crumble.
She looked at me for a quick second, then turned away again. Another tear slid down her cheek.
"Come on, Silena's never going to stop bugging me about it."
She stared at me for a second, then laughed. I smiled back hopefully. The humor faded, ans she was abruptly crying again, although not as heavily now.
"I...I'm sorry too, Percy."
"What for?"
"For being such a jerk about all this. It's just," she gulped "now with Luke, and Lee died, and everything hurt. I shouldn't have avoided you like that.
"I miss Lee too." He and Annabeth had been very close. I wished I'd got to know him better.
"What if I want to stay?" she asked, and I felt like cheering. Grinning back I responded,
"Then we'll stay. Friends again?" I held out my hand.
"Friends," she agreed, and shook my hand.
"You never answered my question."
Her eyes met mine. "Ask again."
"Fine. Annabeth, would you go to the dance with me?"
She snuggled up to me, and gave me a kiss on my cheek. "Of course. Did you really need to ask?" I smiled, my first genuine smile in a long time.