Chapter 5": The Blog
Annabeth's POV
Just make it to Thalia's. Just make it to Thalia's, I chant over and over to myself. My left eye is swollen shut, I am slightly limping on my left leg, and my body has bruises scattered everywhere. Just to Thalia's! I think as another sharp pain shoots through my body.
Tears try to escape my eyes, but damn it all to Hell, that bitch doesn't deserve my tears! I just have one more block to go, and I will reach Thalia's place. I am lucky that her room is on the first floor because it makes nights like these that much easier. I would always run to my best friend's house after Susan had been feeling extra cruel for some much needed away-time and medical help. Thalia has gotten to be quite a good nurse, as she would patch me up after violent episodes like these.
I reach her beige window sill and knock on the glass three times in a short pattern. It is kind of like our secret code for me needing help. Even though I can't see past the curtains that are located over the window, I hear quick rustling, and the glass is being thrown open.
Thalia doesn't say a word as she gingerly tries to help me through the open hole, but when I cry out silently as my right leg gets jostled by the window pane, she winces. I finally manage to get my whole body through, and move towards her bed. As I thump down and groan, she rapidly collects her ever-growing first aid kit that she keeps specially for me. How sweet.
My closest friend is still silent as she begins to dab a wet cloth onto my throbbing eye. I know that she is just waiting for me to gather by thoughts as I find the place to start my story. Well, the beginning is always a good place to start. Thalia moves on to gently applying some cream that she ordered to help the swelling and bruising go down. It has been my life saver for when these events happen.
When T goes down to my leg, she notices the long (but shallow) gash running from just below my knee to my ankle. She takes a shuddering breath, but continues to maintain quiet. This girl can really be a saint sometimes. Thalia carefully slathers disinfectant ointment onto the cut just as I open my mouth.
"So, you know that I got home one minute after ten…" I start lamely. "Um, well, you know Susan. She had specifically told me to get home by ten and no later than that, and she got a little more mad than usual." That is a gross understatement. This was the most violent she has been with me thus far. I continue.
"She dragged me into the kitchen and started throwing punches at me left and right. As you already noticed, she got me in the eye really well and got a few more hits on my torso and arms. Then, she grabs this knife," Thalia looks up form wrapping my leg in fright because we both know that Susan has never pulled out a knife before. "Yeah. She was slashing it randomly, but by a stroke of luck, she only managed to cut my leg as I was crawling away before she got tired and demanded that I clean the blood off the floor and the knife before going upstairs."
Thalia finally snaps and starts cursing out a storm and asking me a flurry of enraged questions. But it's no use because I don't have answers that satisfy her. Susan's little boys need a mother, and I'll be moving out to college in a few months so I'll get away from the abuse then. All I need to do is wait it out.
I finally cut Thalia off when I demand, "Are you going to look at my other injuries or are you going on strike because you're angry?" I try to smile.
She scoffs and mutters, "I'm doing it. I'm doing it."
I can tell that she is still mad, so I do the only thing that I can think of to calm her down.
At first I was afraid, I was petrified,
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong,
And I grew strong, and I learned how to get along.
And so you're back from outer space.
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
Go on now, go. Walk out the door
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I!
I will survive.
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
And I'll survive,
I will survive, hey, hey.
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart.
Kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart.
And I spent, oh, so many nights just feeling sorry for myself.
I used to cry but now I hold my head up high.
And you see me somebody new.
I'm not that chained-up little person still in love with you.
And so you felt like dropping in,
And just expect me to be free.
And now I'm saving all my loving for someone who's loving me.
[2x]
Go on now, go. Walk out the door.
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore.
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I!
I will survive.
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
And I'll survive,
I will survive.
As the last note slowly dwindles off, I can see that my badass best friend in the entire world is crying, and it breaks my heart.
"I just," Thalia sniffles, "hate to see you like this all of the time! I know why you feel like can't tell anyone, but it kills me every time you crawl through my window because you're injured!" She breaks off, and I hug her fiercely.
"I know, T. I will try even harder to not make Susan mad, but you know her. I can't promise you anything."
Thalia wipes her eyes quickly before sliding her arms around me to hug me back. "Ok," she says quietly. She pauses. "You know, your voice is the prettiest in the world."
I scoff and shrug off the complement. "Whatever."
T glares at me. "It really is!" she insists. "You know that I usually don't say stuff like this so shut up! When all of those people saw the video that I made about you, everyone was totally in awe of your voice!
"It always makes me feel better when you sing, and I bet that you could calm other people down with your voice as well… Wait! I have an idea!" I send a questioning gaze towards my crazy best friend, but she doesn't seem to notice. "You should make a blog!"
"…A blog?" I am not following her.
"Yeah! You can make a blog about what you go through and give people advice about it. Maybe post an audio clip of you singing like once a day. I bet lots of people would look at your blog and totally be inspired! There are lots of crazy and bad things happening in this world. You of all people should know. The blog could bring hope and happiness to lots of people."
By the end of Thalia's little speech, I was nodding my head a little. This could work, I think. I mean, what T is saying is true. This world is pretty shitty, and I have always wanted to help a lot of people so… "I'll do it."
Thalia gives an uncharacteristic squeal in excitement before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. We donn't want to be caught. "Fabulous! Let's start it right now!" Before I have a chance to respond, she quickly finishes taking inventory of the rest of my bruises and puts the cream on them before diving for her lap top.
We soon find a free website in which I can make a blog, and we set up an account. Thalia and I only set up the basics of the account, but by the time we finish, it's three in the morning.
Thalia signs out of the account and takes my hand to help me up. I use her as a crutch as we slowly and quietly make our way outside where her car is parked. As we get of her driveway, T asks, "Why didn't you use your car to drive here again?"
I sigh. "Because Susan wasn't asleep, and she would have most likely heard me leave. I'm not supposed to be seeing you for a month, remember?"
"Oh yeah…what a bitch."
"Can't argue with that," I reply.
"Thank the gods that it's Friday (well, technically Saturday). Work on your blog, ok? I'll try and advertise it on my Instagram and Facebook."
"Right. I always forget that you're little miss popular. Like all of the school follows you and hundreds of strangers do too." I roll my eyes. I never did enjoy social media.
"Yeah, yeah." Thalia smiles. By this time, we have arrived at my house. Fun!
Time skip…
The Fates seem to be in my favor because Susan is gone the entire weekend for some type of work thing. Malcom takes care of the twins, so I am able to relax, heal, work on my school work, run lines for the dreaded skit, and add things to my blog.
Thalia keeps her promise, and because of her advertisements and shout-outs, I have four hundred people following in just two days! How crazy is that?
Percy's POV
When Monday came around, I scurried into school since I was running late. Stupid Nico for talking so freaking long getting ready! I keep overhearing people talking about Keep Guessing. Right! That is that new blog that the Thalia girl was talking about on her social media. I had actually looked at it last night and was super blown away. Apparently, the mystery girl in Thalia's video is the creator. She has these posts that are super inspirational and even has audio clips of her singing.
The first time I heard it, I was dazzled by it. It's the same girl who sang with me that morning. I need to find out who she is, but I saw that other people were asking the same thing and all the reply they got was to keep guessing. I guess all I can do for now is listen to her alluring voice and wait for more clips to come out. Sadly, she only has two out so far.
Annabeth's POV
I quickly meet up with Thalia, and she mutters something about how she was right about how much of a hit the blog would be. I just smile and link arms with her. I'm not limping anymore, so that's good. As for my other injuries, I just covered them with clothing or makeup. It is kind of sad how easy it has gotten for me to hide my injuries.
We hurry to class and sit in our seats just as the bell rings to signal the official start of the school day. Just then, everyone turns towards the door when Percy and Nico noisily clamber through.
"Sorry, Miss Jenny. You won't count us as late, right? I'll get in serious trouble if you do, and we got here only a few seconds after the bell…" Percy begs.
Miss Jenny is chill and simply forgives the two boys with a smile. The two mentioned males scramble to their desks, and the teacher finally starts class. She gives us a brief overview of what will be happening during this week and lets us go to prepare for our upcoming skit. I nuzzle into my oversized hoody and shudder just thinking about it.
Percy saunters over to me. "Sup, Wise Girl."
I shoot him a questioning stare. "Wise Girl? What's that supposed to mean, Seaweed Brain?"
He chuckles and replies, "It's just my new nickname for you since you have so kindly deemed me Seaweed Brain. I just thought that I should return the favor."
I blush slightly and look up through my lashes at him with a grin. Wow! I never noticed how much taller he was from me. "I guess it's only fair."
Our short moment (could it even be called that?) is ruined when Rachel places her firetruck red painted claws onto Percy's arm. "I missed you this weekend!" she pouts coquettishly. "You didn't text me."
Percy looks slightly exasperated. "I was busy," he answers shortly. "And what you did was kind of rude. Annabeth and I were in the middle of a conversation."
Rachel turns to glare at me. "Whatever. It's not as if it could have been an interesting convo. It was probably just one sided. She's too much of a cowardly loser to talk much, right, Annabelle?"
I just stare at her, shocked. No words came to my mind, but suddenly, Selena (whom I didn't even notice had arrived) inserts, "Oh, leave her alone! As if she has ever done anything to you. You really are a bitch!"
Rachel's face turns as red as her hair as she seethes. "Shut up!"
Percy chimes in again. "Calm down, Rachel. Calling Annabeth those names was uncalled for. Now come on, we have some practicing to do." He smiles down gently towards me and gently guides me to the auditorium where we will be rehearsing for the next hour.
A/N: So it's been, what, 3 years? Guys I am so sorry! I actually don't have any excuse other than life and high school being a bitch, but after a while, I kind of forgot that I even began this story. I haven't written anything other than school essays in years. I saw that huntresszoe77 (guest) commented that she (and others) had been waiting for a long time for me to update, and I realized that I really should write. I am not making any promises to finish this story or even that I will write after this chapter, but I'm going to try! Again, it has been about 3 years so by now, I don't even know how I'm going to develop the story. I was so young and inexperienced before, and I established things that I shouldn't have so now I don't really know how I'm going to make it so that it makes sense. I really hope that I will get back into this story, but as a warning, I will most likely not post another chapter for like 1 or 2 months. School is busy as hell since it is getting out for the summer in May. I love you all so much!