A/N: Enjoy!


Of Cuts and Pills

Chapter 7: One Step Forward

"Aha! So you admit it then?" Thalia half-shrieked, half-gnarled at Annabeth who was quite red in the face.

"I did not say anything," Annabeth glared, trying to keep the redness of her face at bay. They were talking about their personal lives to pass the time until she brought up an embarrassing topic. "I just simply asked if you had -"

Thalia snorted. "For someone who has thousands of medals hanging on her bedroom wall, you're pretty stupid. How in the heck of the world would you ask if you have not experienced it for yourself? And well, yes, your tone says it all."

"Oh come on!" Annabeth threw her arms, exasperated. "So what if I've never tasted beer? Is it an initiation for a teenager to get themselves knocked up, high and drunk?"

"It's much more of an initiation, honey. It's what marks us. 'The X-Generation.' 'The Youth of Today' – "

"With bimbos like you, no wonder we teenagers always get bad rep."

Thalia smacked her hard in the head. "I'm no bimbo, you twit. I myself have not much anything to do with boys. But compared to you…"

"Hey!" Annabeth said. "I've got experience."

"Oh yeah? Have you ever slept with a guy?"

"What in the – ? Of course, no!"

"Have you ever dated a guy?"

"Well, no."

"Have you even kissed a guy?"

"Cheeks or Lips?"

"Cheeks are fine. And no, Annabeth. Your dad and stepbrothers don't count."

"Fine," Annabeth grumbled. She wasn't used to being dumped in a debate, no matter how ridiculous the subject was.

She smirked. "See, Annabeth? Who's the master now?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You're not the boss of me, Thalia Grace."

Thalia stiffened, her eyes twitching murderously. "Watch the surname, Chase."

"Sorry," she muttered. Annabeth had been told that she was not to use Thalia's surname. Whatever the cause was, she knew that Thalia hated her mother with fervor. Annabeth was worried that if she'd bring the topic up, Thalia would have one of her tantrums. And that was not a sight to see.

"You're too much of a prude, Chase. Try reliving yourself from your comfort zone. I mean, look at you! You've never even dated anyone – "

"But I still know a thing or two about boys." Annabeth reddened at her words.

"Yeah, right."

"What do you mean?"

"Really, Annabeth. You so suck in lying."

"What are you talking about? Of course I know how boys act."

"You read about them."

"Well, practically, yes."

"From Cosmopolitan magazines. Not much of a first-hand experience, eh? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Annabeth, I am expecting much from you."

Annabeth rolled her eyes again, a habit of hers. "You sound very much like the girls from my school in Frisco."

"Oh, those are the real bimbos," Thalia smirked. "Giddy little girly girls who like sucking out the lives and rubbish out of men. Flirting is so like old school."

Annabeth laughed. "I never thought there would be a day that you would actually say that."

Thalia chuckled. "That sounded stupid, didn't it? Oh well. Just don't let yourself get classified into those types of girls."

"Count on it."

"Ms. Thalia?" a woman asked behind a cream-colored door.

At the bench, Thalia sighed. She turned to Annabeth. "Here goes another round ofTwenty Questions from Fiske. I guess I'll see you later, Owl Head."

Annabeth playfully slapped Thalia's butt with a white cushion. "Don't rip her hair out please."

"Don't count on it!" Thalia shouted back as she shut the door behind her.

~0~

Annabeth stared at the white ceiling above her. Again, she sighed. She was beginning to hate white…

She thought about all those things Thalia said to her. Was she really that indifferent to boys? If she was, then how much?

Annabeth shook her head. She wasn't supposed to be entertaining concerns about that. She was Annabeth Chase for crying out loud. Not that she wanted anything to do with boys right now. Not that there would be anyone who would find her interesting…

How does she feel about anyone here? Happy? Irritated? Contented? Trusted? No, Annabeth thought. Not trusted. She wouldn't – she shouldn't trust.

Trust are for fools, a familiar voice rang in her head. It's not the perfect battle strategy, my sweet. Keep your guard. You'll need it.

Annabeth ascended. She couldn't trust, but what about her friends? Believe it or not, she actually made friends. She was beginning to like Thalia and Luke. Especially Luke…

And Percy?

Well, their 'friendship' consisted of constant bickering and debates ranging from political tribulations to which underwear was better (boxers or briefs?). They found out just a little later that the fighting turned natural and habitual and none of their hospital-mates ever questioned about it. Others thought it was endearing. Some thought they were a couple in the making.

Thalia Grace can be annoying, but Percy Jackson seemed to annoy her more without even trying or meaning to. But they've kept a two-sided relationship for the past weeks and she could not deny that the boy made her curious.

"Can I sit here?"

Annabeth's gray eyes looked up to meet a pair of sea green ones, the pair that had been obscuring her vision for the past weeks.

She did not answer and just settled with staring.

Percy snorted delicately and motioned for the empty space on the bench. "I'll take that as a yes."

Silence.

Besides the banter, silence usually accompanied their conversations, but the usual tension that the awkward silence used to have subsequently subsided for a while.

"Thalia's already in?"

She nodded. "I'm guessing you're next?"

"Yeah… You're always good at guessing."

"Reasoning's a better term, if I should say so."

"Smartass."

"Kelphead."

They both laughed.

"You know," Percy started after their fit. "I've been showing Rachel Elizabeth Dare around."

"The new girl?" Annabeth's nose instinctively wrinkled. Not that she disliked the girl. The redhead seemed okay…

Percy affirmed. "Well, yeah. She's a little talkative for a while. And then she completely shuts herself out from the conversation in a few minutes. She… It seems like she's always dreaming."

"Daydreaming?" Annabeth's eyebrow quirked. If this Rachel girl's head always float around in space, what kind of –Annabeth hated saying it – sickness does she has?

"Bill – he's the guy who thinks he can fly – told me that she was diagnosed with a type of schi… schi… schize-," Percy stated, clearing the lump from his throat, trying to remember.

"Schizophrenia," Annabeth mumbled.

"Oh yeah, that," Percy muttered, rubbing his hand to his head. "He also said she was treated from Stockholm syndrome a year ago. Whatever that meant…"

Annabeth stared at the ceiling again, racking her brain for any information about the Stockholm whatever. Apparently, her head did not specialize in wacko mental problems like that.

"She's nice," Annabeth said, not wanting to end the talk just yet. "Attractive too."

Percy suddenly stiffened in his seat. "I –uh… I haven't thought about that."

Annabeth shrugged, trying to look apathetic.

Percy mused. Rachel. Attractive. Well, he might…

"I guess so," Percy's cheeks began to color. "I mean, her pants look nice."

They glanced at each other for a second and then Annabeth burst out laughing.

"'Her pants look nice'? I mean seriously, Percy. That's the best you can do? Talk about making lousy excuses," Annabeth choked up, holding her sides.

"Then what do you want me to say?" Percy countered, defensive now. "Like if you're a guy, you surely would know what to say." His voice oozed sarcasm.

"I know a thing or two about guys," Annabeth uttered before she can stop herself.

How stupid! She knew where this conversation would be going…

"Uh-huh," Percy's response challenged her. "Seems like you're not the type to have the boys clinging though."

Annabeth glared at him darkly and Percy realized how his remark sounded to her.

"Not that you're not attractive," he added hastily, hoping Annabeth wouldn't gut him. Of course Annabeth was not not attractive. He knew that. Or at least the subconscious part of his head did not forswear that…

"Oh thanks, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth replied snidely. "You too do not know the first thing about girls, either."

Percy huffed. He had experience with girls. Too much experience for his own good. Annabeth did not know how wrong she was…

And then his eyes drifted to where her cuts were. Her tanned arms were filled with scars. Percy can hardly make out what her arm would actually look like without the cuts and scabs. He could see the new ones that she glazed…

Annabeth's eyes trailed to where his eyes were staring at. She sighed irritably and rubbed her right arm.

"Seriously, Percy. You guys don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."

"Worrying? Who's worrying?"

Annabeth raised her eyebrows and Percy sighed. The look on his face gave him away.

"Just try to stop doing it again Annabeth," Percy mumbled almost inaudibly.

"You tell me. Why don't you stop stoning and drugging yourself before asking me to stop my own deal."

"I am trying. And it's much, much harder than you think," Percy glared at the open windows.

Annabeth sighed again. "Just stop snooting on me, Jackson. And I'll see what I can do."

He gave her a genuine smile, and as she gaped, she couldn't help but smile back.

"Annabeth?" a male voice sounded. They whirled their heads and turned to a tall blonde boy looking down at them, smiling. Luke.

"Oh hey, Luke," Annabeth greeted. Percy couldn't help but point out in his head how Annabeth's tone changed to… happy? Endearing? Whatever it was, he banished the thought.

"I was wondering if you would come with me. I wanted to show you something," Luke smiled and the scar on his mouth rippled. He turned to Percy. "Can I borrow her for a minute?"

Percy nodded ineptly. "Sure."

Luke grinned triumphantly and offered his hand to Annabeth. The blushing Annabeth took it uneasily. Percy rolled his eyes. Girls. So weird. So predictable.

Castellan led her and his eyes strayed at them for a while until they sharply turned on the next hallway and disappeared out of sight.

~0~

"We have an improvement, I see?" Desiree smiled angelically. "No banging of doors or smashing some of my china now, have we?"

Percy gave her a small smile. Small, but true. He stayed for almost a month and he was a step closer to recovering. Well… almost.

"Hmmm…" Desiree mused as she flipped on her clipboard. "Calypso's an interesting name. You know, it means 'to conceal' in Greek? Funny how things in the world work, right?"

Percy's eyes flashed angrily. How dare she bring up that name upon them? She was supposed to be forgotten. Nothing but a terrible memory…

"How in the world did you know about her?" Percy growled, standing up from his chair now. He can almost tell that all the emotions that he had been bottling up inside would burst out in one fatal swoop.

She pursed her lips before answering, "You see, Mr. Jackson, I did my research."

Percy chuckled darkly. "Oh, wow. If snooping inside my life is the new research, then I'll give you an A."

"I figure today should be the day that we would talk about this infamous Calypso," she said.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to. Now leave me alone and go find someone else to infuriate."

"Now, Percy. Don't be like this. It would make you feel better if you would rant about all the things you want about her," she said soothingly.

"Why should I be telling you anything?" he said scathingly. "I don't trust you for this."

"Well don't think of me as a professional or a doctor or whichever. Think of me as a friend. Friends share secrets, right? I promise that none of these things that we would be talking about would go out of this room. Just take a deep breath. Calm down. And start from the beginning. I assure you that I'll be more than capable to listen to you. And I solemnly believe that you are more than capable in handling this. "

Percy's eyes were wild. Curse the woman. She certainly had ways of knocking the answers out.

What was he supposed to do now? She was right. He couldn't keep it in anymore. His secret was out.

He closed his eyes and sucked in breath. This was going to be a long day…


A/N: [Edited: 07/21/11]