Annabeth's POV
Percy and I got home with our ice cream (I got mint chocolate chip, Percy got blueberry) and the entire Harry Potter series. It works well for both of us. I got to watch my favorite series, and he gets to watch one of the few movie series that he doesn't get bored watching.
"Paul?" Percy called, to see if he was home. He got no response.
"Huh. Maybe he got stuck in traffic. Let me call him." Paul answered, and confirmed it. He said he'd be home in an hour.
"Well we better get started. These movies aren't going to watch themselves!" I said.
"Well duh. How would that even work? How can a movie watch a movie? Especially themselves?" Percy retorted.
"I don't know, it's just a saying. You get the spoons; I'll get the movie started."
Percy left for the kitchen, while I walked toward the living room. I'm over at Percy's house so much, that the place is more of a home to me than my own room. Paul moved in with Sally a year before she had to be under constant care at the hospital. They got engaged only a month before got stuck in the bleach white walls of her room.
Percy brings her flowers once a week so there is some color to her room. She says it's how she gets inspiration for her novel. The one she's writing about her struggle. She says she plans to finish it when she no longer feels the pain. One time, a doctor tried to convince her to stop writing. It took some of her strength, and "You might not survive anyway," he said. She looked him straight in the eye and dared him to say it again. The next day she was given a notebook and pens, with an apology from the doctor.
I chuckled from the memory. It was the first week she was in her room. She thought she'd be out by now… We thought she be out by now.
I took a deep breath. Focus. Movies. DVD player. Go.
As I put the first movie in, Percy entered the room.
"Sorry it took so long, we had no clean spoons, so I to clean two by hand. Hey, why did it take you so long to get the movies in?"
"Sorry, I was lost in thought."
"Well, it means you couldn't start the movies without me, so thanks Annabeth's brain!"
He handed me a spoon, and I handed him his ice cream, since I still had the bag. He smiled at me.
"Thanks Wise Girl, you're the best!"
I smiled back, and he turned towards the TV, where Hedwig's Theme was playing. It was moments like these that made life bright. Percy had ice cream on his nose and was intently watching Harry struggle to flip some bacon. Ever since the news of his mom's brain tumor this morning, he looked detached. As if he wasn't really here.
But that smile. It was the first time he looked that happy since the call. I don't know what could have possibly made him forget what he heard this morning. Maybe it was his brain's way of coping. It will cling to the joy that is here right now. I don't know if I'm the one causing this joy, or the the movie, but something is keeping his head above the water for the time being. But I'm worried that when the movie is over and I leave, all the memories of his mother in pain from years of cancer – the fainting, the migraines, the confusion, etc. – will come flooding back. And he won't have anyone to help support him. I need to talk to him before he breaks or-
"Annabeth, stop thinking so loud. I can hear the gears of your brain working from here! Use this to muffle your thoughts or something." Percy said as he shoved a pillow in my face.
Maybe talking can wait. I grab the pillow and look at him, eyebrows raised.
"Uh oh"
He puts his ice cream the coffee table and runs toward his room I do the same and chase after him, pillow in hand. He tries to close the door in my face, but I'm too quick and slide in before he can.
"You're dead"
He dives for cover behind his bed, and I slowly go around it.
"Percy, you know it's just a matter of time before I get across the bed and beat you up. Why not make it easier on yourself and me?"
I get around the bed to see Percy, with a big smile on his face to match the huge stuffed bear he was clutching. His mom won it at a fair for him three years ago. And now, he was ready to use it to fight.
"En garde!" I yell, holding out my pillow as a sword.
He just laughs and hits me with his bear. I jump onto the bed so I can have a height advantage (for once), and grab another pillow so that I can dual wield. It quickly becomes apparent that dual wielding is not the best strategy for a pillow fight, so I resort to using the multiple pillows and stuffed animals on his bed as ammo. He continuously bocks my advances and backs me up, off the bed, and I fell off, laughing. He abandons the bear and runs over to check on me, sees that I'm ok, and starts to tickle me mercilessly. I try to refrain from laughing until I can't take it anymore. I burst out laughing.
"Okay fine! I surrender! Now get off of me Seaweed Brain!" I say, shoving him.
"Well, looks like Percy actually won. For once," Paul said with a wink.
Percy and I look over at Paul, who is standing by the front door.
"When did you get home? I didn't hear the front door open," said Percy.
"A few minutes ago. I saw Annabeth fall off the bed."
"And you didn't even help me? Paul, you have lost my trust," I say, mockingly clutching my heart.
"Can I buy it back? I brought pizza." Paul answered with a smirk.
At that Percy hopped up, and I followed.
After dinner, we got to the Goblet of Fire before Percy fell asleep with his head in my lap. I decided I was sleepy enough to just lay down on the arm of the couch beside me. The last thing I remember is Paul laying a blanket on Percy and me.
Yes it is Percy and me, not Percy and I. You don't say laying a blanket on I.
Sorry it's a little later in the day, but at least it's still Monday! For me...
I had to write this chapter in code for a bit because I was writing in public, and I have nosy family. So if you see the name Jackson and Skyler, know they're Percy and Annabeth respectively. (Also this is totally an English project... SHHHHH!)
Night lovelies!
