The Legend and Steal
A/N Sorry I haven't updated just in the writing mood. :/
Disclaimer: Like always nothing belongs to me.
Chapter 4
The season was around the corner and Percy was bouncing on his skates. Coach Brunner had already told him that he wasn't going to be the designated starter yet, but that he would get some playing time. Everyone from the Valiant were eager to get into the games, the offseason was something boring. Most hockey players resorted to playing golf to pass their time leisurely, but the Valiant weren't good enough to think about resting, much less another sport.
The whole offseason they constantly practiced individually, trying to better themselves while keeping their bodies in shape. Percy was still light, compared to the rest of his teammates. He wasn't fully developed so he was getting pushed aside with ease. Which greatly frustrated him. Nonetheless, it was a learning curve he had to get used to.
Before the season was going to commence, the OHL arranged a dinner for the incoming rookies. Specifically, for the rookies that actually made the team. All around the league most of the rookies stuck to their teams. Like the analysts had stated, this was the draft class of a life time.
"Percy get yourself ready. We need to be there by 7 PM. It wouldn't look good for us to show up late. Much less have the other players eat all the food." Chris called from the small living room full of furniture. The both of them had resorted to rooming together since it would cure their loneliness while also making the cost of living cheaper.
"I know Chris I'm just struggling to put my tie on. You know back in the projects we didn't need to use ties. We barely could afford it. Why do you think I never attended prom?" Percy yelled from the bathroom down the hall.
Percy looked himself in the mirror. He absolutely loathed wearing suits. It was the least functional form of attire ever created. He had bought an expensive suit to make a good impression. He would use hand me downs from his father Poseidon, which fit him a bit larger. But he decided to not use any of them. He went to a personal tailor that Brunner had recommended him.
He set an appointment and his suit was fully fitted. The tailor came up with the style and colorway of his suit. He had given Percy a midnight purple suit jacket and pants. The color of his shirt was black with a purple tie. He had just realized the reason the tailor had chosen that colorway, it brought the rare color of his eyes out.
No matter how much he tried to put on the tie, it was utterly useless. "Chris get yourself down the hall. I need help tying this tie." Percy said as he was getting visually frustrated.
Heavy and quick footsteps could be heard from the hallway. Chris was going to ruin his suit that way.
Chris immediately opened the door and grabbed Percy's tie and quickly tied it in a half Windsor knot. Percy decided at this time to analyze Chris's attire. He was wearing a Crimson colored suit. His shirt was a lavish white and his tie was crimson colored with small white polka dots. He looked extravagant.
Chris even helped Percy tighten the tie around Percy's neck because he didn't know how to do that either. "You're hopeless you know that? Now hurry up they told us to be an hour early to make sure we are properly situated before they start interviewing all of us."
Chris got out of the bathroom and sat on the brown leather couch they had bought together. He made sure to sit up straight without slouching because he feared he would wrinkle his perfectly ironed suit.
Together they made their way to a tall and expensive hotel in the city. They were supposed to be accompanied with a date, so they wouldn't feel lonely, but Chris and Percy were like brothers, they didn't need dates.
Page Break
Annabeth was quietly laying on her bed busying herself with reading the mountainous number of pages her professor had assigned her whole class. She strategically made a schedule to read a few pages every hour of each day and then take a break. She only had a few more to go. She had heard the collective groans emitting from the lecture hall when the professor assigned one hundred pages of reading and vocabulary.
She was just finishing the last few pages before her smartphone began to ring. She frowned as she realized it was Thalia calling her. It was very strange considering they both lived on the opposite side of the country.
"Hello Thalia?" She asked questioningly. Ever since she had moved to attend New York University, they began distancing themselves. Which she herself understood and didn't blame Thalia.
"Hey Annabeth! I was just calling because I need you ready today by 6:30 PM. You're going to be Jason's date for the OHL rookie dinner." She looked at the clock which read exactly 4:32 PM.
She stared hard at the clock as if it was guilty of causing her pain. "I'm in New York remember? Plus, Jason and I are just friends. I don't want the whole world thinking we're a couple."
"I know you guys are just friends Annabeth. But Jason didn't bother finding a date. Plus, as a friend you should be doing this as a favor. And the dinner is in New York" Thalia practically nagged at her.
She contemplated of declining or making a valid excuse to get out of this compromise. "I don't have a dress or any shoes that would be suitable for the event. I'm sorry but I can't Thalia." Thalia immediately responded.
"I already knew that. So, I took it upon myself to buy you a dress and some fashionable shoes for you to wear at the banquet." Annabeth couldn't come up with any other excuse. She sighed.
"Fine pick me, up will you? I would hate to call a cab" Thalia screamed through the phone which deafened Annabeth momentarily. "You got it Annabeth" Thalia said before she hung up.
PAGE BREAK
Percy arrived at the luxurious hotel as he checked in at the front desk. Many individuals with lavish and expensive looking suits littered and walked through the shiny and glowing hotel. You could hear the footsteps resound from walls.
Percy thought he looked mediocre in his attire. He had tried to comb his hair to make it at least presentable, but the comb would entangle itself with his hair. Chris on the other hand looked excellent with his suit looking perfect on him. He even combed his hair to the side to make it look cleaner.
"Uh yes we are here for the OHL Rookie Dinner or banquet. Whatever it's called." The receptionist eyed Percy carefully. As if he was menacing and would jump over the counter to attack her.
"Names please. Then Argus over there will escort you to the hall." She pointed to an old man who was too busy eyeing everywhere except the front desk.
"Percy Jackson and Chris Rodriguez. Part of the New York Valiant" The receptionist began typing the names into the system and scrolled her mouse before clicking something on the computer monitor.
"You've been checked in. Argus! Please escort the guests to Jupiter's hall." She shooed us off to the man named Argus and we followed him through the long hallways of the hotel.
Percy looked around the hallway. The floor was a clear and glossy marble. The walls were painted a crème color blended in with gold. There were columns on both sides of the hallways made of white quart.
They made a few turns before heading to a set of two golden doors. Argus used his keycard to open it and when Percy looked inside he was speechless.
The room was circular, decorated with tables covered with clear white table cloths. He noticed more hallways further down, that seemed never ending. His eyes widened when he looked up. He was staring at the beautiful glass dome. It showcased the beautiful night sky that shined with many stars.
Chris elbowed him and shook his head as he began smirking. Which knocked him out of his admiration. They had to check in at a table to get their table number. Chris had table number 3 while Percy had table number 16. He cursed the individual who decided the seating. Now he was forced to socially interact with strangers.
"Don't worry man. Just smile and talk only if they ask you something. They'll get bored eventually." Percy believed that was a solid plan, so he nodded.
"Alright man. See you later. Remember, we came here together, we leave together." Chris nodded and put his hand on Percy's shoulder before he left.
Thankfully, Percy's table was vacant. They were half an hour early just to make sure they had a taste of the food. They overdid it quite a bit.
He sat at the table while he saw Chris begin talking to some of the waiters and waitresses that worked there. He was such a flirt. Percy decided to just stare at the pure table cloth without a speck of dirt that perfected the image. The glassware looked as if they were made out of crystal. The silverware at least looked normal but even then, it looked rather fragile. The chinaware, like he guessed was elegant, with a circular stripe of gold. This was becoming way too much for Percy.
He resorted to stare at the tablecloth until more guests flooded into the hall where the banquet was taking place. Chris's table was the first to fill. Some of the people Percy recognized but most of them were just faces.
Then his eyes caught onto someone of spectacular beauty. She was wearing a gray knee length dress with nice gray flats. Her curly blonde hair fell lavishly on her shoulders. She had a wonderful, yet rare set of gray eyes. She looked uncomfortable in the attire, but Percy believed it made her look stunning. Of course, she was accompanied by none other than Jason Grace. Gosh he always had the best things in life, Percy thought. He was a lucky guy, he had to have won the lottery at life from the day he was born. They were accompanied by a girl of short stature, she was rather petite. She had spiky black hair with shining blue eyes. She carried herself with utmost pride. She was wearing an all-black dress with black flats. He was accompanied by two beautiful women, that was unfair.
All Percy was hoping for was that they didn't sit at his table. He'd rather not embarrass himself, by stuttering if any of the girls asked him a question. But it was his destiny. Percy saw the lady who told the rookies what table they sat at, point in his direction. Three pairs of eyes looked in his direction as he quickly looked away and pretended to admire the gold wall directly behind him.
He felt them sit in the chairs directly in front of him. It felt like an eternity, but it was most likely just a minute. He felt theirs eyes bore into the back of his skull. But he didn't feel like turning to face them. Finally, the awkward tension bothered him just enough, to turn around and face them.
"Hi?" Jason Grace was the first one to greet him.
"Hey" Percy said as he awkwardly waved his hand
"Name is Jason Grace" Percy hated that Jason wanted to start a conversation.
"I know who you are." When Percy finished, his eyes widened in horror. Great now they probably thought he was another fanboy.
"Name is Percy Jackson. From the New York Valiant." Percy extended his hand midway across the table. Jason easily smiled and shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you Percy." Then Jason's expression changed. He looked pensive.
"Wait. I already knew you. You were like the only good player on Goode's hockey team."
Percy scoffed at first, Goode wasn't that bad. They almost made it to the playoffs during his senior year. But he decided he couldn't get into a fight with the golden boy of the OHL.
"That would be me. I guess." Percy was eagerly awaiting to learn the blonde's name. Jason seemed to read his mind. As he introduced his companions.
"Oh, right sorry. This Thalia Grace my sister." Jason pointed at the spiky haired girl. "And this here is Annabeth Chase, she's really close to my family." He casually said as he put his arm behind the blonde's back.
"Pleasure to meet you guys." Percy hadn't noticed but the whole conversation until now, the gray eyed blonde couldn't stop analyzing and staring at Percy.
A/N Sorry for not updating this story in so long but its updated now. I updated and even created new stories these past three days. I had finally had a little breathing room to write. And I felt in the mood so that's why I created the other stories. I think this story is going to be rather short because I hadn't really planned that far but we'll see how it goes.
P.S sorry for my crappy grammar and excuse my grammar mistakes.