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Stuck In Between

Part 2 – Partly Awake

Chapter 10: Tricks Of The Eye

The sudden light blinds me for a fraction of a second.

I have to admit that the first person I look for is Percy. It is odd, not to mention moronic. It should have been my father who I should be looking for, maybe Thalia. Looking for family first is the most sensible act. But my eyes dart back and forth, my fingers twitching in unease, looking for any sign of Percy.

Love can really twist you in knots, can't it?

I manage to crack a smile but it vanishes almost as fast as it came. I try my best to settle the dryness in my throat but not a sound escapes.

I see Dad sleeping on a small couch. His head inclines at what I think is a not so comfortable angle. His deep breathing, the appearance that he is dreaming, signifies that everything is okay. That I'm alive and well. That my almost dropping dead was just a nightmare. And nothing more.

Everything I feel is new. The sheets feel soft like velvet. I start to stroke it lovingly with my fingers, happy with the sensation that I can feel again.

But something is wrong.

With this new sensation, I feel something isn't quite right. Whether if it's the air revolving around me or if it's the uncertainty of someone else's presence, I can feel it.

I stand up from my bed.

Somehow, I don't feel the tubes that should be attached to my skin. I slip the thought at the back of my head and head towards the sleeping man in front of me.

"Hey, Dad," I whisper to him. "It's me. I'm awake."

Dad continues his slumber in dreamland, perfectly unaware of his own daughter awakening from a coma. "Dad. It's Annabeth." For a second, I thought he would rouse but he just fidgets and snoozes again. His lips are pursed in a way that makes me smile to myself. Finally, our whole ordeal has passed.

I try waking him again, but he just mutters something unintelligible. I shrug and leave him be. I am not ready for a teary reunion, either.

Something tells me that I should get out. Instinctively, I walk towards the door. The door is made of oak, I mentally note. Getting my sight back means I should be more observant from now on.

Down the stairs I go. The smell of some unnamed substance makes me crinkle my nose. I have always resented hospitals. Ever since my mother died, I did not like the smell of… dying people. Such as myself, I admit. But I feel better now. Much lighter. Free.

After I've gone three flights of stairs, with a slap at my forehead, I remember my clothing. I am in a ridiculous hospital gown that I should be considered as naked. I am barefooted across the tiled floor, adding to the absurdity of the situation.

My eyes dart in confusion. Why am I not being called out by the skirting officials? I mean, they're practically everywhere. And yeah, some patient walking around the premises would surely attract attention, strange as it is. But no. No one pays any attention to a girl wearing a ridiculous robe wandering around the hallways and who, by the way, just woke from a coma. Some guy practically ran over me when I pranced at the second level.

Hmm. I must be stealthier than I thought.

I then try asking around, but no one seems to have heard me. "Hello?" I breathlessly say to a nurse pushing a cart towards a closet. But she disappears into the room before I can say anything more. Is everyone here deaf?

Think, Annabeth. Think.

I try the lobby. Again, no one takes notice of me, which I find weird. It's like no one can really see me. Or hear me. What the hell's going on?

"Yeah. It's been eight days. Not a change in her vital signs. They say she's going to be transferred… No. I don't know, Rach. She's – I don't know what's happening."

The sound of this voice makes me petrified. My jaws start to lock, my breathing speeds up. Memories of that fateful evening start to flow back and I deter from betraying any hint of emotion on my face.

A boy wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans is sitting near the edge of a couch divider. His phone is pressed against his ear, mumbling more words in a whisper. He turns.

And at that, I finally see his face.

I don't know if I really should delve into detail. Rachel described Percy fair enough. Black hair, green eyes, slightly above-average height and build. In other words, he is handsome.

I have seen a lot of people who are more handsome than Percy. But there's a certain kind of charm, something in his eyes, his face, the way he looks at me, the way he spoke my name that makes me uneasy and gulp, like he is way up there and I'm too low to deserve anything from him.

And it scares me, how I react to this boy who somehow saved my life. It isn't… natural. Though I should have expected this, I am frightened at the fact that Percy Jackson now owns me, whether he knows this or not.

He stops talking, his mouth slightly open. I may have laughed at that but I am too caught up with the prospect that I can finally see him. And he can see me.

I continue to stare at his face, motionless as I can be.

"Uh, Rachel?" Percy speaks to his phone. "I'll have to call you back." He hangs up and pockets his phone, his eyes not leaving mine.

"Annabeth?" he says, not more above than a whisper.

I visibly flinch. His voice is so familiar it makes my chest ache.

He sees my unease and an expression of hurt spreads across his face. He stands up and saunters his way towards me. My hands start to get clammy and I curse. No. Not now.

"You're awake," he says. No trace of happiness or relief resonates in his tone. But his expression is befuddled, like he couldn't believe I'm standing with two legs in front of him right now.

"It's me, Percy," he tells me. "You don't… remember?"

I say nothing. My throat still feels dry and I will hate myself if I started squeaking.

Percy's face contorts into pain. He then tries to introduce himself. "Uh, my name's Percy Jackson. I'm your doctor's son and I'm – "

"I know who you are." Tears start to roll down from my eyes. I'm pulling a pathetic show but I can't help myself. Everything. I remember everything that happened. Everything he said. Everything he's done for me. I am so relieved that I'm alive, that I've finally met Percy face-to-face… My shoulders shake from holding back a sob.

Around me, the nurses and the doctors just do what they do, paying no heed to us.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. Your dad's going to kill me. Please don't cry. What did I do?" He starts stuttering like an idiot again, rushing towards me with haste, and I laugh. I remember how he used to do that when my heart rate started spiking and he would ramble on an apology, thinking it was his fault.

And I'm frightened again. I shouldn't be acting like this. I've only met him today, but I'm acting like we've known each other for years. Like this is some big, unexpected reunion with a long-lost friend.

Percy furrows his eyebrows, my sudden change of mood confusing him. I notice how his eyebrows knit together and how cute he looks when he does that.

I take his hand. The feeling makes me happy. Happy, because I have gained the ability to hold someone's hand again. Happy, because I am holding Percy's hand.

I smile. "You know, you've always struck me as a surfer-looking kind of guy," I shrug. "I am not disappointed, though."

An odd expression crosses his face again. And then he chuckles. He wipes away the stray tear from my eyes and squeezes my hand. "It's a good thing you can remember me. I don't want to make a fool of myself and start from scratch again."

The relief in our eyes is prominent and I have to constantly remind myself from breaking down at the burst of emotions inside of me. His green eyes continue to bore in to mine and I do what I've always wanted to do.

I throw my arms around him.

He becomes stiff for a fraction of a second, surprised. Then he hugs me back. Relief starts to explode again. Everything is far behind now, completely beneath us. From Death's breath, I was taken back and granted a second chance. In Percy's arms, I am determined that I won't be wasting that chance.

"I thought I would never get to see you," Percy mutters.

Wet tears start to flow freely once again. "I can't believe it, too. I'm so… happy to see you. And I've missed you so much… Does it make any sense?"

"No," he breathes a light laugh. "But I'm not going to complain."

"Percy?" Another familiar voice calls from his back. I immediately let go of my grip on Percy, flushing. He whirls around, sheepish as I am.

"Oh. Hi, Mom."

I smile awkwardly. A brown-haired woman with a lab coat draped around her arm is wearing a v-neck sweater that fits her snugly. Her eyes seem to glitter in a thousand facets. She is beautiful. And she is Percy's mother.

"Hello. It's really nice to finally meet you, Dr. Jackson," I say, offering a hand, a little relieved that I managed to repress the shaking in my voice.

To my surprise, she doesn't even glance at me.

Ignoring my outstretched hand, Sally Jackson looks over at his son. "What are you doing? Who are you talking to?"

"What?" I slowly retract my hand, perplexed.

She doesn't know who I am?

Percy, however, doesn't notice my inner skirmish. "I was just – uh – Mom! Annabeth's here!"

"Yes, Mr. Chase put up quite a fight with the dean. Annabeth will still be under our care until more debates continue flying up to a month – "

"No, Mom," Percy says. "She's awake!"

I fall confused. Sally keeps on staring at where Percy is pointing at – to where I am standing – but she just looks at it as if she's looking through me. As if she's staring at the thin air. Staring at something invisible. What's going on?

"I would have known if she woke up," Sally remarks. "My beeper would have gone off. And I just went to her room two minutes ago. What's wrong, Per-"

"No! She's right here!" Percy's voice hitches an octave. He points hysterically to where I am standing, grabbing my hand and all Sally can do is give him a look of concern. Most of the bystanders look at our way now.

Great. Now they stare?

A passing thought dawns to me. Suddenly, I arrive with an explanation.

"She can't see me," I say, not believing it myself. These four words make terrible sense but at the same time, it doesn't. "She can't see me, Percy."

He looks at me, deranged and confused. I am confused myself. Am I going crazy? Is this some kind of dream? Or am I dead? Why can Percy see me? Why can't anybody see me?

This doesn't make any sense…

"Your mom can't see me, Percy," I repeat anyway, this time with urgency. I don't understand it. But by the way people are looking at me, or at least, not looking at me…

No. I'm not awake.

"Are you feeling alright?" Sally asks. She puts a hand on Percy's forehead but he shakes it off.

"Come on, Annabeth," Percy nudges me, still clinging to the belief that I am awake. That I am standing beside him, all flesh and smiles, meeting his mom, my doctor, for the first time. He wants me to shake hands with her but I don't even try holding my hand up, doubting that my body is even tangible.

Tears start flowing again. I'm… I'm still trapped. "No, Percy. She can't see me. I'm not – "

"Maybe you should rest, dear. You've been up late last night. Don't worry about Annabeth. She's going to be alright." Sally tells her son, leading him to the sofa. "I'll get you a glass of water."

Percy shakes his head like a mad person. "No! She's right here!"

"Percy – "

"Is this some kind of joke? She's your patient! You know what she looks like! She's right – Come on, Annabeth. Say something!"

I shake my head. I'm crying, still stuck at the aftershock. Saying anything doesn't change a thing. She can't hear me. Sally can't even hear me crying my eyes out right now.

Percy's face goes red, shaking his head again.

Sally hugs Percy tightly with one arm, kisses him lightly on the forehead and says, "Some pills might help." She stands up and leaves.

I sit with Percy, sobbing again. He just shakes his head over and over again, wondering why he's seeing a spirit of a girl while nobody else can.

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A/N: I'm kind of a bit surprised when I reread the whole story one more time. I can't believe how much my writing style has changed for more than a year, that I am somehow quite sure that I wasn't the one who typed this all down. Please review or comment! Your words are very much appreciated.