"Stop!" I yelled, leaping up from the coach, "Don't touch that!" I snatched my signed baseball from my half-brother, Reilly. My mom and her husband, Paul, were going to some wine tasting event, and left their kids under my care. Don't worry, I love babysitting the little monsters, but they can be a bit much (especially since they're five year-old twins).
"Percy?" Reilly's twin, Halley, asked, "When are we going to dinner?"
I sat back down on the coach, and put my feet up on my brown coffee table, "As soon as this episode is over."
"Can I watch too?" Halley asked, scooting next to me on the couch.
"Sure, but I think you'll find it boring." I said. I was watching some replays of yesterday's baseball game. I missed it due to my shift at work.
"No, I won't." Halley said, resting her head on my lap.
"I want to watch too!" Reily exclaimed, joining his twin on my lap.
We watched in peace for about a grand total of five minutes, before the two of them began to moan, "I'm bored. Can we stop, Percy, please?" in chorus. Eventually, I gave in and turned of the TV halfway through the program.
"Let me go find my wallet," I said, searching the tabletops for any trace of my black wallet. After searching around for ten minutes, I realized that I might have left my wallet at Annabeth's. I went over there yesterday to watch a movie.
"Hold on," I told them, "I'll be back in two seconds." There wasn't any response. The two of them just continued to play leap--frog on my bed. I couldn't tell if they actually couldn't hear me or were just trying to act like they didn't, so I just walked over next door anyway.
"Hello," I said, knocking on Annabeth's door, "Annabeth? It's Percy,"
"Hold on a sec!" she called. Two seconds later, the door opened and revealed Annabeth holding my wallet, "Hi, were you looking for this?"
"Yeah," I said, taking my wallet back, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," she said, squinting her eyes at me, "You should keep better watch of that. One day someone will steal it."
"Yeah, I-"
Suddenly, there was a tug on my leg. I looked down, and found Halley hugging my leg, "Percy?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"Who's this?" she asked, pointing a small finger at Annabeth.
"Oh, this is my friend Annabeth," I explained, lifting her into my arms, "She found my wallet for me."
"Oh…" she said, seeming to think it over, "Is she coming to dinner with us?"
"Well, she wasn't supposed to," I said, looking over at Annabeth, "But we can invite her if you'd like. How about it?" Halley nodded in agreement, "So Annabeth, will you like to come to dinner with us?"
"Uh… sure," she agreed, smiling at Halley, "Let me just go grab my stuff."
"Yay!" Halley squealed, running back into my apartment.
"Thanks," I said, "For, uh, coming with us. You didn't have to agree."
"Oh, it was pleasure," she said, grabbing her bag off of her table, "But who is she?"
"They." I replied, "It's my twin half-sister and brother. I have to baby-sit them while my mom and her husband are at an event."
"Oh, I see," she said, walking with me into my apartment. The two of them had now begun a game of tag and were scurrying across the rooms. Annabeth chuckled, "They remind me of my twin half-brothers."
"Or they this… energetic?"
"Oh, yes."
"C'mon," I said, grabbing Reily by the hand, "Let's go to dinner."
"Who's that?" Reily asked, brushing the hair out of his eyes with his free hand.
"This is my friend, Annabeth. Say 'hi', guys." I told them.
"Hi Annabeth," they said simultaneously.
"Annabeth," I said, gesturing to the twins, "This is Reily and Halley."
"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Annabeth said, bending down to their height, "How old are you guys?" Annabeth seemed even to be good with kids. How is it possible that she is good at everything? New goal: find out Annabeth's weakness.
"Five," Halley said, proudly, "How old are you?"
"Oh… it doesn't really matter," Annabeth said, following everyone into the elevator.
"Percy's old," Reily announced, pressing the 'ground button', "He's twenty-three. Are you older then Percy?"
"No," Annabeth said, smirking at me, "I'm not." She's not older then me by what? Three months? C'mon, this is so not fair.
"Well," I said, herding everyone out of the elevator, "Mom and dad are even older. They're in they're forties and fifties."
The two of them gasped, shocked. They really have so much to learn…
"Where are we going?" Annabeth asked.
"Noodles!" Halley cheered.
"Yeah, noodles!" Reily agreed.
"Noodles it is!" I said, making sure that Reily and Halley were holding hands before taking Halley's right hand.
We walked two blocks before Halley spoke up, "If we have to hold hands, then why aren't you holding Annabeth's?"
"Sorry, I forgot." I said, taking Annabeth's hand. It was slightly sweaty, but warm. It almost felt nice. Almost.
After walking another few blocks, Annabeth leaned over and whispered in my ear, "What's Noodles?"
"You'll have to wait and see." I said, sticking out my tongue. Yes, I know it's immature. But I just had to.
***
'Noodles' is actually just a diner that happens to serve great noodle dishes. I once took the kids here for dinner, and ever since the time they had 'the best spaghetti ever' this place has been referred to as 'Noodles'.
That's what I had to explain to Annabeth when she looked absolutely confused at what place we were going to for dinner.
"I want spaghetti!" Reily said, pounding his fists on the table.
"Me too!" chimed Halley.
"Me three," I said, looking over at Annabeth.
"Me four?" she said, unsurely.
A few seconds later, a waiter came over with four glasses of water and asked to take our order.
"Four orders of spaghetti with tomato sauce," I told the waiter, "Please."
"That's easy," he said, and then hurried off to put our orders in.
"Do you like it here?" Halley asked Annabeth.
"Well, I don't know yet," Annabeth, said, looking around the restaurant with an inspecting look, "I've never eaten here before."
"I'm sure you'll love it here," Halley assured her.
"Yeah," Reily added, "It's our favorite restaurant. Ever."
***
"You're right," Annabeth said, pushing her dish forward, "That were some pretty great noodles."
"Uh huh," Halley said, "Percy, can we have dessert?"
"Next time," I said, rubbing her shoulders. Halley was the type to never finish her food, but always want more to eat.
"Fine," she said, looking away.
"Can we have the check?" I asked the waiter as he zoomed by. He nodded, and then continued on his way.
"I'll pay for my dish," Annabeth offered, pulling out her wallet.
"No, it's on me," I said, patting her arm, "It's nice of you to join us tonight."
"It was my pleasure," she said, smiling.
I felt in my pocket for my wallet. It wasn't there.
"Shi-" I began, then stopped myself. Remember, Percy, five year-olds, "Dang! I left my wallet on the coffee table. Annabeth?"
She rolled her eyes, and pulled out her credit card, "You're lucky," she warned.
"I'll pay you back as soon as we get back," I promised.
"You'd better," she warned, giving me a harsh look. Now I'll never forget my wallet again – Annabeth will give me that look again.
"Well, I think it's time to take you munchkins home," I said, getting up.
"Percy," Halley asked, giving me her sweetest look, "Can't we please sleep over?"
"Yeah!" Reily added
"Maybe next time," I said, grabbing their hands.
"That's what you always say," Halley said, giving me a stare. Why am I getting so many stares today?
***
When I got back to my apartment, I grabbed my wallet and went over to Annabeth's.
"Hey Annabeth," I said, knocking on her door, "I'm here to pay you back!"
The door opened two seconds later, "Oh right," she said, "I forgot."
"Well, here's your money," I said, handing over a few bills.
She waved it back, "Keep it."
"But you said, 'you'd better'. Plus, I feel bad," I said, shoving the money at her.
"Don't feel bad. How about a compromise," she said, "You take me out for a friendly brunch tomorrow at a place of my choice."
"Deal. 11 AM?"
"Good," she said. She began to close the door, and then stopped, "And you'd better be on time, Seaweed Brain!"
Oh right, I forgot about the nicknames. Dang.
I'm sorry to say, but this might be my last update before I begin school – which means that my updates will be even slower. I'm so sorry, and I promise to do the best I can.
Anyways, I hope that you liked this chapter! Thanks so much for reading, and please review! Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
