Ladies and (hopefully) gentlemen, I would like to present chapter 7 and thank you for the wonderful 26 reviews! We now conquered 130 reviews! LOVE and INTERNET COOKIES all around.
Now, IMPORTANT: you must read this to understand. You know in the second chapter how it says 6 bloody years since Annabeth and Thalia haven't seen each other? Make that 4 please.
Disclaimer: I shall not say it. I shall not say it! I SHALL NOT SAY – fine, I don't own PJO.
Chapter 7: The Good Old Days
"Hello?" I asked into the phone. It was about five thirty in the afternoon.
"Hi Percy."
"Annabeth? How'd you get my number?"
"Thalia gave it to me. And I was just wondering if were still on for the movies today?" I could imagine her blushing from here.
I thought about it for a minute. Did I still want to go?
"Annabeth, I kind've left my car at school so I can't get anywhere."
"Oh, and are you ok? I mean, you kind've fainted today." She said the last part humorously. I smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How bout we go to the movies tomorrow morning and then get lunch?" I offered, feeling way to tired and not wanting to go anywhere public.
"That's fine, and we could go pick up your car afterward."
"That works. What time should I be at your place?"
"I'll pick you up at ten and we can be at the IMAX Cinema at like, ten thirty. Is your house far away?"
"Annabeth, I'm fine with meeting at your place."
"Too bad, I'm picking you up. What's the address?" she said stubbornly. I sighed.
"Annabe-"
"Just give me the address Percy. I'm not letting you walk all the way to my place."
"Fine. I'm warning you, it's a pretty long drive. 101 Elysium Rd,(See what I did there? Elysium? Yeah, I know, genius. Bet none of you authors out there never thought of that!)" I gave a pause so she could write it down.
"…yeah?" She said in a concentrated voice.
"Zip code is 31303."
"…K. Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye."
I hung up and sat down on my couch. My little cottage had grey stone walls, dark wooden floors, leather couches, glass and wooden expensive furniture, a fully furnished kitchen, I suite to my liking, and a large living room. I spent most of my time in my living room since that's where my computer and TV were.
The only thing I don't like about this house is that Aphrodite bought it. It's too clean, too perfect. But it's private.
Ring, ring, ring! I put my phone to my ear once again.
"Hello?"
"Hello Percy." The stern voice of Thalia Grace said.
"Um, hey, I was about to go take a shower so could you-"
"Cut the crap Jackson. Spill, now. Who the frick is A?"
"Thalia-"
"I said spill."
"Fine! But if I tell you, I'm telling Nico too." What is it with woman being stubborn?!
"Ok, we'll be there tomorrow first thing."
"I can't tomorrow, how bout Sunday?"
"Why not tomorrow?" she inquired.
"I'm going out."
"With whom may ask?" Thalia's voice was back to a teasing protective sister.
"I'd rather not say."
"What, why?"
"Cause I don't want to?"
"…Jackson…" And back to stern best friend.
"Ok, ok, I'm going out with Annabeth! Jeez." I laughed a bit.
"Oh, you are?" she sounded amused.
"We confirmed it not five minutes ago."
"Ok, have fun on your date!"
"It's not a date!…Hello? Thalia? Pinecone Face? Great! She hung up on me! Next time I see her…" I paused for a second. "Crap, now I'm talking to myself!"
I collapsed onto the coach and let myself get lost in my own thoughts.
-line break-
As I woke up, I was surprised to find myself on the couch. Did I fall asleep here? I looked around. Yep, I did. I heard a beep and checked my phone. It took me about 3 minutes to get past the pass code.
From: 410-284-3620 (AN: 284362 spells something. Hint: cabin. If you get it right you get a sneak peak.)
Hi Percy, it's Annabeth, just wanted to let you know, I'll be there in 20-30 minutes. See you :)
I looked at the phone and read the message again.
My eyes widened. 20-30 minutes? I checked the time on my phone. 9:59.
10:00. Shoot.
I tried to get off the couch hurriedly and ended face first on the dark hardwood floor.
Double shoot.
I groaned and stood up, holding my nose and cursing myself.
"That's going to hurt later," I mumbled as I walked to the stairs and went downstairs hurriedly. I turned on the lights and groaned again. I walked over to my mirror and tried to look presentable.
My black jeans were fine and clean but my faded orange shirt had drool on it. I quickly slipped it off and took a moment to look at myself in the mirror.
I really couldn't understand what made me so…special. I mean, I guess I'm rather handsome but I'm sure I'm not the 'Sexiest man in the world'. I saw my face grimacing judgmentally in the mirror as I stared at my chest. Reminding myself of the task in mind, I spared myself one last glance as I grabbed a turquoise dress shirt and buttoned it up. I put my shoes on and checked the time. 10:13.
I quickly went to the bathroom, shaved, and did my business. Scurrying upstairs, I cursed myself for falling asleep on the couch. The pain in my back and neck were already bothering me.
I opened the fridge and groaned for the 3rd time that day. Empty. I looked through the cupboard. A box of Scooby doo fruit roll ups.
"That's…yummy." I stated plainly.
After eating about 5 roll ups, I made my way to the living room to look like I had been ready for hours.
And just on time too.
Wow…this place is so small, and homey… Does he even live with his parents? Is he rich? Wow, I'm going on a date with a guy I barely know. Wait, not a date. A…movie. That's better. Ok, where's the door bell?
I was already in front of the door when the door bell rang. I opened it to find Annabeth. She was wearing maroon pants with dark beige ankle boots and a creamy white long sleeve sweater that hung off her left shoulder fashionably.
"Hi Annabeth." I said.
I don't remember him being this handsome.
Annabeth blushed, "Hi Percy. You ready to go?"
"Yep," I rubbed the back of my neck, trying hard not to blush. "Do you want something to drink first? A coffee? Anything?"
If I drink another coffee I might just recreate the scene in Alvin and the Chipmunks.
"Um, no thanks. I'm good."
"Ok, let me get my jacket." She nodded and I quickly grabbed my jacket and stepped outside, key in hand as I closed the door. I turned around and motioned for Annabeth to start walking down the walk way and to the road.
"So…Percy?"
"Yeah?"
Should I ask? I mean, it's none of my business who that A person is! Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, don't a-
"What movie do you want to watch?"
"What?" I asked. She's not gonna ask?
Annabeth looked at me a bit strangely and replied, "I asked what movie you wanted to watch. I, um, heard Man of Steel is out. Or World War Z -"
"Is Despicable Me 2 out yet?" I asked.
I loved that movie! It was so adorable and funny.
"I think, yeah, why?" Annabeth replied.
"Do you want to watch it?" I asked.
"Sure, that movie was adorable," Annabeth replied, smiling as we reached her car.
"Ok, and nice car." I said teasingly at her car. Annabeth owned a white Old Beetle, more commonly known as a punch-buggy.
I know right? Notice the sarcasm.
"Yeah, since my dad is getting re-married he'd thought I'd like a 'Welcome my new wife home-nicely' present. I just hoped the present wasn't part of ancient history, since my dad's a professor obsessed with the stuff. But I'm not too sure if this counts as modern."
Oh, it does. Well, at least when I was your age. Gods, I never realized how much hanging out in the twenty-first century made me feel old. The sour taste in my mouth isn't helping.
"Think about it this way, when we're 30, this thing will make you a fortune. It'll be the antique of the 20-30s." I cracked a smile although a nagging voice in my brain kept repeating that I'd never be 30.
True… I wonder what will be going on in the 30s. Wow, it sounds weird to say that. It does, doesn't it?
"Yeah, I'll do that. But now, let's board the history train and make our way back to the 21st century, pronto." Annabeth leaned on the roof of her small car as I made my way around to the passenger seat, smiling.
Hopefully that sounded cool and not as cheesy as I thought it did. It was cool, don't worry.
When we were both in the car (Annabeth driving and me trying to not let my head hit the ceiling), a comfortable silence fell between us.
Um…what do I say..? Where did you watch Despicable Me? Nah. Where are you from? Maybe. Parents? To personal… Pets? Sure… A? No. it's none of my business.
Instead of allowing Annabeth to die of not knowing what to say, I said something.
"So, how'd you meet Thalia?"
Annabeth looked at me from the corner of her eye and then proceeded to get on the highway.
"Well, I honestly don't remember much. My mom had just left and my dad had started ignoring me. I was eleven at the time, but one day, when my dad never came home from work, I took out the money in my piggy bank and decided to go get something to eat. I hadn't had dinner since my dad usually made it," She paused to take a breath and continued, her voice sad, "On my way to the local McHale's, I bumped into a boy. He was blonde, tall, and his name was Luke. Apparently, he and Thalia, him 13 and she 12, had ran away and managed to make it to New York from Virginia. I talked to them for a while, bought them dinner with my 15 dollars, and told them about how my mom left and my dad was becoming distant. Eventually, they offered me coming to Manhattan with them. They said that there, Luke could get a job and Thalia and I could make some money, doing something. I agreed but apparently, luck wasn't on our side. About 3 months after we left, we desperately needed money. Luke got involved with the wrong type and he was only 13 turning 14. He didn't stand a chance. They…finished him off and Thalia called the cops. I remember being so scared. Luke had been like my brother, Thalia my sister." She paused again, "Then child services came and apparently my dad wanted me back. I told him that I'd only come back if he brought Thalia too. And he did but Thalia, well, Thalia is Thalia and even though she was happy with my family, after 1 year she left, promising to stay in contact."
After about a silent minute of processing her words and the memories that went through her mind, I thought of what to say.
"That sucks." I said in a sobered tone.
"Well, not all of it was bad. Watching as Thalia tried to make Luke notice her as a girl, Luke telling cheesy jokes as we sat on the train, planning schemes on how to make money, and the adrenaline rush of it all, you know? The feeling of adventure with barely any responsibilities. Sure, it was rough - we were 3 kids with barely any money or supplies – but it was worth it. I wouldn't change it for the world."
By now, Annabeth's word came out in a sad/happy memory reliving tone that warmed your heart. How I wished I could hug her and comfort her. But I couldn't do that.
Those were the good old days, now, everything's complicated. It feels like that, doesnt it?
I made a mental note to hug Thalia the next time I see her, not caring that she would probably punch me afterwards.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is chapter 7. Remember, I changed the years Thalia and Annabeth haven't seen each other. Now it's 4. I'll edit that later. Sorry for the late update, I blame my parents.
Anywho, the next few chapters will establish the friendship between Percy and Annabeth and I'm sorry, but any heavy romance (which means there shall be light) awaits the sequel. This book is – I'm not telling you.
That's it. I'll update in 25 reviews! Thank you soo much for them by the way.
284362 in Annabeth's number spells something. Hint: cabin. If you get it right you get a sneak peak (Any person who already did this! it was supposed to be 8 sorry, i did it from memory, not an actual phone! hehe)
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