Guess who's back from the dead? Thisss guyy ayyee!!
ahem. cough.
Anyways, I have no idea how long it'll be before the next chapter (I'm always so busy this time of year) but my plans are taking form thanks to a recent NYC visit. muhaha.
Also, thanks a bagillion for all the love, reviews and favs, it's the coolest to know people enjoy my writing!
OOO
Despite the past week, Percy Jackson woke to his mother's voice. His eyes fluttered and focused on his pale blue walls and window with the sky outside, bright with patches of white and filled with New York buildings. His bed was warm and had the smile still on from the day before. Everything was perfect.
"Percy, honey, it's almost eleven, you're going to be lightheaded if you don't eat something."
Yeah, so, his mother always fussed over him but Percy would sock anyone in the face if they made fun of him. Not because he was embarrassed of her, but because she was the nicest person on planet earth and people should kiss the ground she walked on. And he wasn't just saying that because she had brought him into the world. She lit like a sun in Percy's life, and now that he was old and sappy for his childhood, he wasn't ashamed to admit it.
Percy rolled over and rubbed his eyes, looking up at the dark waves of his mother's hair, and the delicate curve of her smile, "Hey." He grunted cheerfully.
She brushed the overgrown black hair from his eyes, "Hey sweetheart. You might want to get up before Paul and Grover eat all the pancakes."
That kicked him into gear, throwing off his blankets and jumping up to dash into the kitchen. Because seriously, Grover and Paul could eat all day long and still be hungry.
"Leave some for me guys!" Percy exclaimed, seizing the last blue-food-dyed pancake before Grover could get to it. He kicked the kitchen chair out and dropped down, reaching for the maple syrup.
His mom stood by the skillet, smiling kindly but obviously amused, "Should I make another batch?"
They all answered at the same time.
"Yes, please!"
"That sounds like heaven, Sally."
"Well yeah, if I'm gonna have any breakfast."
She laughed at the boys' replies and then started to work. Looking around the table on a lazy Sunday morning, with his favorite people in the universe, it felt just like old times and all Percy could feel was absolute contentment.
Four syrupy blue pancakes later, Percy grinned, "I wish you guys could come every single weekend." He voiced honestly.
Because he wanted his mom losing it at the junk food in the fridge and claiming that Percy hadn't done laundry since she left. And gushing over how tall he was and how astounding his guitar playing was getting.
And Paul cracking up at Percy's fish and talking excitedly about his job, how it was the single greatest thing in his life(Besides Sally and Percy, he had clarified, even though all three of them already knew).
And Grover giving him the dumb handshake they made up in sixth grade when he came in the door, and full on challenging him to a game of Apples to Apples.
God. He had missed his family, so badly.
His mother lightly pinched his ear affectionately from behind him, then attempted to comb down his unruly hair with her fingers, "We missed you too, Percy."
"As soon as my work allows it, we'll be back." Paul gave him that proud smile that was starting to look more and more like his mom's. But then again, maybe that was just Percy imagining things.
"Same here, and it'll be Thanksgiving before you know it, and then Christmas!" Grover promised excitedly, his grin was huge and open and unmistakably happy.
Percy laughed a little but something was hurting his chest, "Thanks guys." He took a deep breath, "When do you have to go?"
Grover glanced at his watch, "My train is leaves in a little more than an hour." He said softly, "I should go in a couple of minutes." Grover knew Percy too well not to know that he was dreading the moment he would be alone again.
Paul thought a moment then took the deck of cards from the kitchen counter, forgotten from yesterday's shenanigans, "How about a game of Speed?"
Percy grinned as his friend dealt the cards for the two player game, giving Paul a thankful look. Percy would much rather be doing something with his hands than sitting there and letting the precious seconds tick by in silence.
Grover came out the winner but didn't rub it in Percy's face too much, "Thanks for the food Aunt Sally, it was great to see you guys."
"Same to you, dear." His mom said, patting his cheek once and smiling, "Have a nice train ride, okay? And don't work yourself too hard out there."
Grover laughed a little, giving Percy a glance of embarrassment that he shared, even after all the years of both boys being fussed over, "Sure thing." He answered.
Percy pulled his best friend into a tight hug and then stood back, holding Grover's shoulders, "Save some trees for me, okay G-Man?"
Grover offered the biggest smile he could manage, still a sad one, "No problem Perce." He stepped back out the doorway and shot them all one last happy look and a wave before letting Percy close it behind them.
There was a mourning silence for a moment, the three of them remembering the good old days when they were always together, playing games and watching Family Ties while Percy excessively mocked the theme song.
With a start, Percy realized that he might not every live that way again. College meant growing up and having a job and getting married and having kids. College was the first step in being an adult. After that, everything seemed to be set out for him like a checklist, like a specific order of how his life was supposed go.
"It's good to know that he's happy." Percy's mom murmured lightly and Paul nodded in agreement.
Percy took a breath and pulled himself together, trying to smile, "Yeah. . . So, is your novel coming along Mom?"
The woman practically spontaneously combusted, "My editor is almost finished with the final draft!" She continued about how her story would be published soon and she could go on a marketing tour.
Percy was happy for, really, he was. His mom had overcome all kinds of trials in her life to stand where she was today. Her parents had passed when she was young and the rest of her family disowned her after they found out she was pregnant with Percy and unmarried. His mom spoke fondly of Percy's dad, but rarely, saying that they separated on good terms. Percy didn't know if he really believed it, but if his mom was lying to him, it was for a good reason, for his protection.
When he was six, his mom started going out with a disgusting man named Gabe. She broke off the relationship quickly but Gabe was adamant to see her, despite the soon following restraining order. Gabe would threaten to off Percy and take his mom, and no matter how much they tried to say away from him, he always showed up again.
Until Percy was twelve, then Gabe was charged with rape of another woman and put in jail. Although it was a terrible way to get rid of him, Percy was glad he was rotting in a cell. But since he was older, Percy began to wonder if Gabe ever did anything to his mom in that way. He tried to bring it up once but didn't really get a straight answer.
She looked at him with dark emerald eyes and spoke with a reassuring voice, "That's nothing we need to worry about." She touched his cheek, begging him to drop it, "Not ever again."
So Percy dropped it. Her well being was more important than his curiosity, her well being was more important than anything.
When Percy was fourteen, his mom announced she was going on a date. And he'll admit, he panicked. The last date she went on was with Gabe, and Percy couldn't help but fear the same thing happening over again. That was, until he met Paul Blofis. Paul was a high school English teacher and shared the love for books with Percy's mom, and for seventies music with both Jacksons. He was respectful and nice to his mom, so when they got married a year later, Percy didn't mind at all. In fact, he was really happy for them.
Everything was good now, his mom was two months from her publishing date, Paul was enjoying his job as a principal and Grover was saving the trees like nobody's business. Then why did he still feel so . . . Sad?
Sadness wasn't a emotion Percy often felt. Anger, regret, those things he knew, but now he just felt flat out helpless. Percy was never good at hiding his feelings but the tiredness let itself be pushed down, let itself be hidden. Percy didn't know if that was good or bad.
But all the same, he was proud of his mom and of Paul. They deserved the good stuff they were getting.
"Are your music classes going good?" Paul asked after the family had sat in the living room and Percy's mom had finished her cheerful rambling.
Percy nodded, subconsciously messing with his left index finger, used for playing guitar, "Yeah. Did I tell you I have to write an album by Christmas break?"
"What?" Mom demanded in disbelief, "A whole album?"
Percy found himself blushing, "Well not just me. My group, you know. I told you about my group."
Mom nodded, a frown coming to her face, "But an album? With strangers?"
"It's actually pretty fun. Piper's into indie, Frank likes Motown and funk and Nico is really hardcore about everything."
"That seems like it would be really interesting," Paul noted, "All different styles."
He smiled, "It is. The problem is none of us are really songwriters. Piper kinda but mostly just jumpy, catchy stuff."
Paul hummed in response and his mom smiled brightly, "Well, I think that's an astounding project and I'm sure you'll do amazing, sweetheart."
Even when he felt so dejected, it was impossible not to smile back at his mom, "Thanks Mom. Oh, I think Mork Mindy is on now . . ."
The trio watch the old show with Robin Williams playing an alien and then had grilled cheese for lunch and strawberry ice cream. His mom and Paul had to leave at two and there were some teary goodbyes on all of their parts and Percy's mom making him swear to eat and shower and take care of himself and Paul offered any assistance with school that Percy needed.
Percy was in no hurry to see them go but he knew they had to catch the train out so he backed off, smiled and closed the door, even if his body felt numb.
OOO
Percy did homework for an hour before he decided that he was too distracted to think straight. After trying to practice for a while and not really enjoying Sanford Sons like he usually did, Percy realized that drastic times called for drastic measures.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare answered her phone almost instantly, "Whadup bitch!"
"Hey." Percy mumbled. Well this was a mistake.
There was some sort of music playing in the background, some kind of flute, "If you're asking me to cover for you tomorrow, I can't, I was gonna ask if you could cover for me because my friend--"
"That's not why I called." Percy interrupted.
"Oh." He could picture her frowning in confusion, "Is it an emergency? I'm all the way in Chinatown with some friends, what's up?"
He took a deep breath, "I don't know."
Rachel was getting too good at reading him, "Your parents gone?"
"Yeah." He admitted.
She hummed in thought and with little hesitation asked, "You're on the Upper East Side, right?"
"Rachel. You don't have to co--"
"Percy. Dude. Shut up."
"But I don't want to bother you and your friends."
"Pssh, those ole guys? They're my roommates, I see them all the time. Plus, they don't mind, right guys?"
There was some sures from different voices and one is this the guy with the weird fetish for goldfish?
Percy laughed and so did Rachel, "Yeah, that's him. Seriously, it'll be fun Percy. I can teach you how to paint and you can teach me how to rock and roll."
Percy smiled.
"And by rock and roll, I mean play guitar. Not spend quality time in your bed."
He snorted a laugh even though his face turned red, "Okay."
"Which subway do I take?"
"The six, I think."
And for all of the weird stuff Rachel did, she actually sounded genuinely cheerful, "Great, I'll see you in thirty."
OOO
The ginger knocked on his door covered in paint and smelling like Chinese food and carrying a big, weird wooden contraption.
"Whadup bitch." Percy offered, repeating her greeting from earlier.
Rachel burst out laughing as she stepped in the door Percy held open, glancing around, "Nice view." She mused waving her hand at the window on the far wall, over looking Central park and the Hudson River.
"Thanks."
"You don't get this kind of view from Midtown, there's too many buildings in the way." It was nice of her to say something like that, even when Percy had seen her massive apartment once to give Rachel her phone that she left at PetWorld. Twelve foot floor to ceiling windows and a kitchen that would have made his mother fangirl.
Rachel said that she wasn't paying for it and that she didn't like it all that much and Percy didn't know why. But then again, he had learned Rachel was kind of impulsive and random.
"You wanna paint that?" She asked, leaning her wood things against the back of the couch and glancing at him, before looking back to the window.
"Huh?"
Rachel pointed at his window, giving him half a smile, "The skyline, duh."
"Oh. Yeah. I mean, why not? Cause it's gonna suck anyway. Mine, not yours."
She put her hands on her hips, obviously taking joy in his lack of eloquence, "You got some old towels? My drop cloths are at home, I forgot to grab them."
"Yeah, sure." Percy stepped to the linen closet and took out some old, large beach towels before shaking them out and dropping them on the floor where Rachel suggested, in the middle of the living room about eight or nine feet from the window.
Rachel picked up her wood thing and in a few short kicks and pulls, created two easels seemingly from thin air. She sat them on the towels then picked up her large backpack, dumping it on the floor. Pencils, brushes, tubes of paint and small sketchbooks went everywhere.
Rachel pulled out two large canvases, setting them both on the easel. She plopped down on the floor and rummaged through her big pile of stuff, throwing a big white bottle at Percy without looking up, "Base coat." She mumbled, tossing a big brush as well.
She jumped up, and held out her palette, "Here."
Percy didn't move, "Wait, what?"
"Dude. Gimme the paint." He hastily obliged and she squeezed a ton of white onto her tray and spread it, careful but thick, onto the canvas, up and down, "See? Wax on, wax off. Like Karate Kid."
"But it's just white. Why do you like it so much? Are you racist?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny. This is so the colors will blend easier. You'll thank me later, you uncultured swine."
Three hours later, Rachel was putting the finishing touches on her sunset impressionist masterpiece and Percy was eating Cheetos on the couch, long given up on his painting. No amount of Rachel's encouragement or tips were going to fix the mess he had created.
"It doesn't look that bad!" Rachel fibbed, "Just . . . Your skyline isn't quite straight . . . And your buildings aren't in one big stroke and kinda all over the place . . . But besides that. It's nice."
Percy groaned, "God, I know I'm pathetic and alone during my glory years but do you have to make it worse by pitying me?"
The girl tossed him a smile over her shoulder as he channel surfed, then a few moments later asked, "Hey Percy?"
"Muhf." He grunted through some Cheetos.
Her voice was quiet and soft, "I think you might be depressed."
He snorted but when she didn't give any sign of teasing, Percy turned around to look at her, "What?"
Rachel took a sudden interest in her dark gray clouds, "I said I think you're depressed."
He waved his hand but continued facing her, "Rachel, that's ridiculous. Really, have you met me? Would I ever kill myself?"
"That's not the point. I had a friend who was on antidepressants for years but he never considered suicide. Still, that didn't mean it wasn't real or any less painful." Her lime green eyes flickered up then back down, "You just . . . Ever since your parents moved away . . . I don't know, you keep reminding me of my friend."
Percy was at a loss for words. Of course, he was kind of upset lately and generally sad, but he had never considered the seriousness of his mental sanity.
"Rachel." She didn't look up, "Hey, come on now."
The redhead chewed her lip and met his gaze, "Shit. There I go again, running my mouth off."
"It's okay, you're just looking out for me."
Rachel nodded, letting her hair fall into her face, "I don't mean to speak things over you or whatever. I just thought you should know since that's why I came in the first place . . . Things are gonna get better, I promise."
Percy knew she was right, he could feel it somehow, as stupid as that sounded. Rachel was kind of weird and nosy but her intentions were always in the right and he respected her for that.
"Looking forward to it." He replied, offering a smile which she returned, then turned to focus on the TV again, "Hey look, speaking of the Karate Kid."
Rachel let her paint dry while they watched the second half of the movie, munching on some Cheetos with him, then packed up her stuff and headed for the door.
"Oh I completely forgot!" Percy smacked his own forehead, "I didn't teach you how to play guitar."
Rachel grinned with sky blue paint smeared lightly to her cheek, "Save that for next time?"
There would be a next time, they both knew it. It was only the opening episode of a sitcom of dumb things they would do together now.
So Percy smiled back and confirmed, "Save that for next time."
