Chapter 9: Help me

I didn't see Percy for a week after that. I had been keeping in touch with Derek though. He was a good friend. According to Derek, Percy was indeed ignoring me and he was still dating Rebecca. Ugh, coward. I had tried to get Percy to call me. In fact I had called him quite a few times.

Soon, exams approached, and I was going to go back to New York. Derek told me that Percy was planning on going there also, without Rebecca.

Perfect.

Without her around, I would be able to actually talk to Percy about the kiss.

"Annabeth," Lené called, breaking me from my thoughts. I looked to her. She handed me a long-sleeved shirt.

"What's this?" I questioned her, as she stared at me expectantly. I unfolded the shirt. It was grey and had a graphic owl on the front. Usually, I would hate getting something like this, but I actually loved this gift. I hugged her.

"Thank you," I said, letting go of her. "You didn't have to get this, you know." She shrugged.

"You know how I went shopping with Nick?" she asked. Nick was Lené's new boyfriend. I nodded.

"Well, I found this shirt and immediately thought of you. So I thought that I would buy it for you," she continued. I smiled and gave her another hug. When I pulled away, I opened my zipped suitcase that was on my bed, neatly folded the shirt, and put it in the suitcase. I re-zipped it up, lifted it off my bed, and set in on the floor.

"I have to go catch my plane," I told her sadly. She pouted. She was staying here for the break.

"I wish I could go to New York with you!" she complained. "But I hardly have enough money to buy enough instant noodles to last the week." I smiled at her. Now she was over-exaggerating. Lené had more than enough money to last a lifetime.

"Maybe next time," I shrugged. "In the summer." She smiled and nodded.

"Probably the best time to go to New York," she agreed. I laughed. I checked the time.

"I think the taxi driver is here," I told her. She looked sad once again.

"I'll miss you, Annabeth," she cried and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"Me too, Lené," I said. "I'll get you something for Christmas from New York." She pulled back and gave me a smile.

"Skype and email everyday?" she asked. I agreed. We shared one last smile, then I picked up my suitcase, gave her one last smile, and left the building.

I climbed into the taxi that was waiting for me and got ready to see everyone back in New York again.

It was a four and a half hour plane ride.

I was seriously tired by the time that I got off the plane, since it was ten at night, and all the sleep I lost from studying came back to me. I stumbled off the plane and went to the luggage pickup place. I got my suitcase and walked to the visitors area. I was rubbing my eyes when I heard two energetic voices yell.

"Annabeth!"

I looked up blearily. Bobby and Matthew were jumping up and down. Wow. They were happy to see me. I have never seen them this excited to see me, ever.

"Hey guys," I greeted walked towards my family. Susan pulled me into a hug. I dropped my suitcase and hugged her back. She pulled away and examined my face.

"Annabeth, you look so tan! Even tanner than usual. California must be doing you some good," she complimented. I smiled sleepily at her.

"Thank you," I muttered, fatigue coating my voice. My father hugged me next.

"We missed you," he whispered in my ear. "I missed you." I hugged him a bit tighter.

"I missed you too, Dad," I replied. He pulled away and studied me also.

"We should get you home, you look like you're going to collapse," he said, concerned. I yawned in response.

"Let's go," Susan agreed. I started to walk in one direction, but two hands grabbed both of my hands. I looked down. Matthew was grabbing my left hand and Bobby my right.

"Annabeth, you're going the wrong way," Bobby told me. I sighed.

"Thanks for telling me," I said. The two of them led me the right way to the car.

When we got to the garage, I stumbled into the car. I was sitting in the back with Bobby and Matthew. I yawned and leaned my head on Matthew's shoulder.

"Annabeth, get off," he complained. I ignored him and closed my eyes.

The sound of New York traffic lulled me to sleep.

I stood in front of Rachel's apartment in the Upper East Side. I knocked on the door and heard a baby cry inside. I flinched.

Oh crap. I guess I woke Jacob...

Rachel opened the door, wearing an apron that had paint all over it. Her hair, which was in a loose bun, was sticking up everywhere.

"Annabeth?" she gasped. I opened my arms for a hug. "Annabeth!" She gave me a loose hug, obviously not wanting to get paint all over me.

"Rachel!" I greeted as I pulled away. "Wow, for a mother, you look great!" She laughed.

"I would hope so," she teased. "I mean, I am only nineteen." I laughed along with her. She then seemed to realize that it was literally negative ten degrees outside.

"Oh my God, come inside," she ushered me in. I thanked her because I was literally turning into a human popsicle. I shivered as I warmed up.

"Now, have you finally figured out the two people you chose to be Jacob's godparents?" I asked her. Luke and Rachel just couldn't decide on the godparents. So they decided that they were going to wait until winter break to decide the godparents.

"We're actually planning on having a dinner with all of the...'contestants' and announcing the 'winners' then," she told me. Going to her easel in the middle of the living room. I followed her into the living room.

"Hm, what are you painting?" I asked her. There were six people on the painting. They were all together in the middle, three boys and girls.

"Just a painting of you, Percy, Thalia, Nico, Luke, and I," she told me. As I looked at the painting, I could tell who was who. It was Percy and I in the middle, with Luke and Rachel beside me, and Thalia and Nico next to Percy. We were looked so...happy. This would probably be us if all that drama last year didn't happen. But now that I think about it, if all that drama didn't happen Rachel and I wouldn't be friends, much less Thalia and Rachel being friends.

"I like it," I declared. She smiled at me.

"Thanks," she said. Then she sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to her. With a smile, I sat down next to her.

"So, what's happening with life?" she asked. I thought about all the drama that had happened. I took a deep breath.

"Do you really want to know more about my drama filled life?" I asked. She nodded eagerly.

I took a deep breath and started retelling my story.

"So, after he kissed you, he just ignored you?" she asked. I shrugged and nodded. She rolled eyes.

"Men. Typical," she complained. "Anyways, you should confront him."

"You think I haven't tried?" I sighed, leaning into the couch, running a hand through my hair. Rachel's green eyes studied me sympathetically.

"I need help," I admitted. "Do you think that you and Thalia could help me?" Her eyes grew bright.

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "I'm totally in. It'd be great if Thalia could help too. It'd be the Red Games planning crew getting together again!"

I laughed at her enthusiasm.

"I only had two words to tell you. Call. Thalia."

A/N

Return of the Red Games crew! LOL. Anyways, thanks for reading this chapter. A part of the next chapter will be in Percy's POV, so be tuned!

Thanks to: Guest(s), CHM13, luv2write12234,`AllyB3ar, I am Sven Son of Boreas, HungerJackson, ' , Sams101, cheeese, lovinbooks10, TheFong, kinaboolovesanime, asalt, lileverlark, goldenspring, xxPurpleDinosaursxx for reviewing/favouriting/following!

Review responses for the last last chapter:

PurpleQueen981: Oh, that's good. At least he likes you, right? :)

MeandMarisa: I don't think I can incorporate that. Mostly because Derek looks like a male version of Lené, so it would be really awkward for Annabeth to date a male version of one of her best friends. Sorruy :( I did try to make Derek and Annabeth get together in the earlier draft of this chapter, but it became really awkward.

Twiles: Here's the answer to your questions:

1) Um...depends on how busy I am and my mood. Sometimes daily, sometimes every two days. But unless I go on a trip, there would be frequent updates.

2) I don't know. I was born this way ;)

3) I don't know. I don't really look at the communities.

ThatGirlIntheBack: Yeah, I sort of hated everybody hating on Bec, since it's kind of like pointing to a random stranger across the street and calling her a bitch. So I wanted Annabeth to sort of be the "bad guy" in this chapter.

Responses to reviews from the last chapter:

KabraPotterJackson: Well, yes. But I was going to explain that, but I don't know how to insert that during the story. So, I was going to make them celebrate their birthdays on different days with their friends. One twin would celebrate with their friends a day before their actual birthday, and the other twin would celebrate the day after their actual birthday. Then they would celebrate their actual birthday together with family only.

MeandMarisa: Yeah. I am going to. I just need more ideas for Phase 1, that's all.

Please read the companion fic: Phase 1 (which will be updated soon...)

Please review/favourite/follow! It would really help me out a lot!