Chapter 9: Still in Denial?

Thalia almost cried out in shock at the sight of the boy that was now standing in the headlights.
From what Percy had told her she had expected Jacob to look like Luke but Whoa the likeness was horrifying. The only difference was the fact that this boy was younger than Luke had been; had no scar and his eyes were dark brown instead of pale blue. Despite all her instincts and her vows of maidenhood Thalia found herself being immediately drawn to him. She pinched herself and averted her gaze focusing on Annabeth instead. Thalia knew full well how powerful some children of Aphrodite could be; Piper's charm speak could make an immortal attempt to commit suicide if she told them to. This boy though, he emitted some kind of power like a charm aura that made feelings stir inside her. Feelings that she had had for very few people and knew that she certainly shouldn't be having now. She also found though that if she didn't look directly at him for too long then she didn't feel as giddy.

Jacob spoke to Annabeth "Ah Annabeth you're here already? Good our table is in a hour"
Table?
"I know, sorry about yesterday evening but someone was tailing me and I had to hide until I was sure we wouldn't be discovered." Annabeth replied, apparently not in danger at all.
"Yeah well that makes sense. Couldn't you have made a bit of an effort tonight? It's a joint after all."
Annabeth looked piqued "I'd hardly call port Jefferson five star, and do you have to sneak out past curfew patrols, nosy cabin mates and an overly attached idiot to come her every night?"
"No"
"Right well I do. So if you prefer I could just go back to bed and we'll cancel."
Yes do that! Thalia thought This is wrong in so many ways just get out of here and I'll drop the asshole with a silver bolt before he can even blink!
But Annabeth gave no indication that she intended to do anything of the sort.
Instead she just stood there glaring until Jacob said "I'm sorry I just wish we didn't have to do this."
Then Annabeth looked completely at ease again as if the comment had not been made. The look in her eyes made Thalia sick in the pit of her stomach.
"Don't worry about it. Give me a little more time and this whole nightmare will be behind us".
"Right" Roman Luke paused "Shall we go? Otherwise we'll be late and they won't be happy about that".
Annabeth nodded and moved to the passenger seat of the car whilst Jacob moved out of the illumination and sat back behind the wheel.

Thalia had seconds to react. As the doors on the Lambo slid closed she drew a special bolt from her quiver and fired it at the vehicle. The gel tipped dart, which had been designed specifically to help Hunters catch monsters with access to mortal motor vehicles, flew straight through a gap in the grille at the rear of the car and stuck inside the engine housing. This might have seemed like a stupid thing to do but the gel tip deadened the sound of impact and adhered to whatever surface it hit. Then it would emit a magic based tracker for a few hours that could be seen and followed by the Hunter's wolves. She looked at Midnight who was still crouching next to her and the look her companion gave her said that she knew exactly what Thalia intended.
You know I hate that.
"I'm sorry" she said hauling herself across the she wolf's back "but if we don't we're going to lose them or end up arriving too late."
Then the vehicle accelerated away down the street with Midnight in Pursuit, instead of racing to catch up they tailed the vehicle at a measured distance so that they wouldn't lose sight of their quarry but so that a casual glance in the wing mirror wouldn't give them away.

As they ran further and further from camp Thalia's trepidation grew, especially when she considered the conversation that Annabeth had had with the Roman earlier. It was clear that the problem involved both of them, she was ninety per cent sure that she knew what the problem was and she was a hundred and ten per cent sure that she didn't want to believe it.

Seaport Diner Port Jefferson; long island

No. no,no,no!
The cheating bitch how could she? After everything she and Percy have been through!
Thalia crouched on the in the shadow of the Purple Lambo in Seaport's car park, watching in horror as Jacob and Annabeth ate dinner in the diner together, laughing and chatting as if they'd known each other for years, gazing into each other's eyes. It was thoroughly sickening.
Percy is going to be crushed she thought dejectedly Annabeth's his whole world. If he finds out he'll be on the suicidal tendencies list until the Styx freezes over. She slid down the side of the car onto her rear staring across the car park in the opposite direction, unable to bring herself to look at the scene unfolding inside the diner.
Maybe I shouldn't tell him?
I'll say that she just disappears when she leaves camp and it's impossible to follow.
No that's a crap excuse.
Well what then?
I could just take out Jacob. He's male so with a bit of justification I could free Annabeth and confront her myself. Percy doesn't need to know this happened.
The moment the thought crossed her mind she was disgusted with herself. She was a hunter yes but she wasn't a murderer!

She jumped and nearly spilled her quiver all over the tarmac as the door of the diner banged open and Jacob and Annabeth came out still laughing and talking. Thalia didn't wait to get caught instead she jammed down any loose bolts in her quiver and shot across the car park into the cover of an 18 wheeler a few feet away. Sure she wouldn't be seen she looked back to see that Annabeth had apparently dropped something and was crouching to pick it up. The blonde examined the item then glanced around the car park before getting in the Aventador which roared out of the car park and disappeared into the darkness, heading back in the direction of Camp Half-Blood.

Cabin 3

Despite the fact that the sun still hadn't risen by the time she made it back to Poseidon's cabin Percy wasn't asleep.
"Hey Thalia" he said sitting up on his bunk as she opened the door "you were quick. Did you find out what kind of trouble Annabeth's in?"
She didn't answer right away, she didn't trust herself yet. Instead she just nodded sitting wearily on the bunk nearest the door. Percy must have been able to see that she was still stunned because he stood up then and walked over dragging a stool up and sitting in front of her.
"What is it?" he asked nervous tension growing in his voice "Whatever it is it can't be much worse than Tartaurus right? Hehe" he laughed nervously.
When she didn't respond he took hold of her shoulders "Thalia are you ok? Did whatever it was attack you?"
Typical Percy Thalia thought a sadly always so worried about his friends before his personal problems.
What a fantastic and loyal guy how could Annabeth betray him so easily?
Percy shook her shoulders bringing her back to the cabin "Thalia! Seriously what happened?"
"It's ok…I'm…I'm ok" she said gently pushing him away "You may want to brace yourself for a shock" too late she realised her poor choice of words.
Percy flinched "Is now really the time for shock jokes Thalia?"
"No that's not what I…" she stopped and took a long calming breath "Percy you need to hear this. I just wish it weren't true."

When she finished relaying everything she had seen and heard during the course of the night Percy gave the reaction she'd least expected. He laughed. A proper genuine laugh but also Thalia could hear that it was slightly hysterical. He didn't believe her, or at least he wouldn't accept what she had just said.
"Wow Thalia" he teased after he stopped laughing long enough to take a breath and speak "Your maidenhood must be impacting even what you remember about relationships, especially the type of people who work together. There's no way Annabeth would date that moron!"
"Percy…" she tried to speak but Percy overrode her.
"From what you said it sounded more like a business discussion over a social dinner than a date. They didn't even hold hands?"
Thalia had to admit that it did seem odd but the evidence was undeniable. She might be out of practice when it came to boys but even she could see what was going on.
"Percy I know this is hard for you to believe but I know what I saw and what I saw was Annabeth cheating on you with Jacob!"
"Yeah right Thalia. Next you're going to tell me about the tender moment when they swapped notes and did each other's homework. . . Why are you torturing me?"
That last part came out differently more like a genuine distraught question rather than a rhetorical one. Thalia's heart clenched at the despair that had crept into Percy's voice. She needed to prove she wasn't hurting him on purpose but her words weren't going to be enough.

"Look" she said carefully "come with me tomorrow you need to see for yourself."
"Fine" blurted Percy "I'll come with you but only so Annabeth and I can laugh at you when you see how wrong you are."
Thalia had to resist the urge to punch him right in the middle of his face. Even in the middle of a mental breakdown he could be irritating.
"Good" she said with feigned calmness "Make an excuse to skip dinner tomorrow then come straight to the Demeter cabin. I'll meet you there.
"Whatever. Should I bring flowers or a scientific calculator?"
WHACK.
"OWWW!"

Well now we're getting to the good stuff! I shall endeavour to publish the following chapters as quickly as possible.

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