A big surprise is waiting for Annabeth Chase in high school! And while I think some, if not most of you have an idea what, just read on to find out.
Thanks to you guys who drop by and read. Please make your presence felt by putting in a review! Annabeth is getting crankier because less people have been reviewing lately, and more reviews will send her loving thoughts of Percy. So, yeah, review. But before that, enjoy.
Also, say hi to my OC, Denise from Venice! Actually, she's a New Yorker, but never mind that.
Also, please note that I do not know about what the dormitory situation or whatever is in America, but this is based on what I've heard here in the Philippines. I hope there's nothing grossly inaccurate with it.
So far, so good. That's what Annabeth likes telling herself.
It's been a week into junior year, she's thinking less and less about Percy, and monsters haven't attacked. She's sleeping better and her dreams don't have as much Percy in them as before.
She's not really making friends, only speaking to a few people here and there. She's heard, though, that someone else has ADHD and dyslexia, just like her. She hasn't met that someone, however. Who is probably a demigod like her, or otherwise a very unlucky mortal.
She wants to be normal. Forget the demigod stuff, even just while she's in school. So she promises herself she won't bother with that other demigod, unless it's an emergency. Yeah, she can start over here, like a regular mortal, to not be bothered by monsters and stuff.
Normal. Not a demigod who's trying to get over a god.
It's happened again. Her thoughts surprise her, turning in the direction of Percy, and then she remembers lots of things that happened with him, like their second beach picnic, or that time in front of the great hall...
She forces herself to focus. Focus on studying. But her dyslexia is acting up again, probably because of the Percy-thoughts, and the letters and numbers float off the page of her textbook.
It's getting late anyway, and she still hasn't eaten dinner. As if on cue, her roommate, Denise, arrives. The school's dorm rooms are crowded, and only two can sleep in each.
"Want to grab dinner, Annabeth? I'm hungry."
"Sure. What do you have in mind?"
"Well, c'mon. Cafeteria closes in an hour." She practically drags Annabeth all the way.
"A bit down, Annie?" she asks when they have their food.
"I told you already, don't call me that," she grumbles. "And what makes you say that?"
"See? You're grumbling. And, when I came in you were just staring at the book." Her roommate's a good person, but maybe the care is getting too much for her.
"Nothing!" she insists. Her roommate just stares until she gives in. "Oh, alright. So there is something."
"It's a boy, isn't it?"
Annabeth has to hold back from calling her a daughter of Aphrodite. She sighs. "Yes. Do you have ADHD and dyslexia?"
"I suppose I did ask you. Yes, I do. Just like you. So what? Anyway, tell me about this boy."
Aha. So Denise is the possible demigod. "Alright. So, at... my last school, there was this guy. We were bestfriends for a long time, practically since he had started coming there. And... Things were okay. I really liked him—"
"—and you still do," her roommate continues.
"Shut up. Let me continue." It actually feels good to let it out like this. She feels as if the weight of Percy on her shoulders is getting lighter. "So, we were okay, until... something happened. My... ex-best friend came back, and he... he was dying." There's a small gasp from her roommate. "I... his last wish was... I kissed him. In front of my bestfriend. And that ticked him off."
"Okay, Annie, I won't ask for the strange circumstances of how your dying ex-bestfriend came to your school, or how your bestfriend was there, or what else you're hiding from me because I know there's something. But continue."
"He... it just became obvious that we liked each other. Then I found out he was moving away, and suddenly I..."
"You know, you've had a whole summer to get over him. What's wrong? You're sounding like... you know, that girl in that vampire book? Full Moon or something?"
"I can't explain it to you. Maybe... Forget it. And for the record, I am not down over a psychologically unhealthy relationship with a sparkling disco ball or whatever, like 'that girl in that vampire book.'"
But she knows nothing will satisfy that curiosity.
It's the same curiosity that she has about Denise. She keeps reminding herself of the promise to be like a regular mortal.
Well, seeing a hellhound crash through the windows of her classroom certainly contradicts that promise.
She doesn't have her dagger, and she doesn't think there's anything here made of celestial bronze which could kill the dog. The teacher is screaming for the class to evacuate before the giant dog gets them. Mist.
Her eyes move to Denise, whom she has this period with, and she senses that she can see the hellhound. But that's the least of her problems right now, because she doesn't have anything to use to send the hellhound back to Hades.
She stumbles backward as the hellhound draws closer. It doesn't seem to be going in her direction, though. She looks back. Denise.
She runs to her roommate. "Were you using a cellphone or something?" she asks.
"Yes! What does it have to do with this... thing?"
"Describe what you see," Annabeth says. Denise is about to protest, but she says, "Just do it!"
"A large, black dog," she whispers frightfully. "G-glowing red eyes, and, oh my god, is it heading for us?"
"It's your phone's fault, but no time to explain. Come on! Let's run. We need weapons to kill that hellhound."
"You know what that is?" Denise says as Annabeth drags her through the hallways. "Who are you, really? And where are we going?"
"I have a weapon in the dorm," she says. "It'll be enough for that monster."
"Wait. You can kill that thing? Annabeth!" she yells, but the daughter of Athena isn't wasting any time while running. That is, until a hole appears in the wall.
And what happens next—it's a big surprise. Every thought is diverted from fleeing to a lot of surprise, some anger and what she won't admit—a bit of elation.
How could this happen? Of all the places, of all the times—really?
She doesn't even know if it's possible.
But it's happening.
"Why are we stopping?" Denise asks. "What's wrong?" Then she sees it, too.
Annabeth takes a deep breath. "Perseus Jackson, what are you doing here?
Ooh! What's happening, and what happens after? Big cliffhanger, right? Too bad I probably won't update until Tuesday or Wednesday evening, Manila time, because of school constraints. I assure you though that a review will make Annabeth less angry/scared/sad/terrified/whatever to see Percy and happier to see him.
Also, to leave you with a little sneak peak to keep you fed during the wait... Nah. To be honest with you I'm excited, too, but I can just read Chapter 10 to satisfy myself. I know! Review and you get a small something about next chapter!
