Impossible To Like You: Chapter 10

His large smile immediately turned into a frown of surprise, slight agape. Then, a vast grin stretched on his lips, once my words has registered in his puny mind.

I gave him my don't-expect-me-to-say-that-again face, then, I hugged him one last hug – surely the last one he'll ever get from me – jumped off him, and ran inside my house, but, serenely. I don't want to appear too merry.

Since I haven't really told my parents about the tryouts and the being partner of Perseus ("That Jackson kid who waits for you every morning when you go to school?" Bobby had teased, which I replied with my shut-the-fuck-up look) for the prom, plus the promenade itself, I eventually did, including me joining the Goode Swim Team.

Though, at first, they were a bit offended that I didn't tell them (like what my friends felt hours ago) and they were thinking about our San Francisco trip, how it's going to work out, in which I suggested that they should go and I could stay; I honestly' don't want to ruin the trip, I know how much they miss San Francisco, and I do too, but I don't matter; I insisted it after a few rejections, and they finally gave in, they congratulated me and my mother had to bake her delicious chocolate muffins to celebrate. I told her she didn't need to, but, she persisted, so, I sighed in agreement to it.

I was so giddy that I actually listened to whatever happened on my brothers' day in school, which is something I usually wouldn't do, while we ate the hot, good, chocolate muffins mother made.

When Bobby and Matthew saw their favourite television show tuned in, instantly, their asses were off the couch and on the floor, in front of the television as they watched eagerly.

I smiled, amused, at them as my parents sat at either side of me, where Bobby and Matthew had sat before.

"Annabeth," the gentle, yet, happy tone of my mother called as I looked up to her.

"Yeah, mom?"

She asked, curiously and with no suspicion I could sense, "If I may ask; why did you join the team?" Wow, you already asked it yet, you had to request permission, but, that was barely what I cared about.

I bit my lip as I felt my father shift beside me – he must be listening to the conversation; I had to tell them. I don't want to lie to them, even if I did before, the after-sensation was horrible, I don't want to feel it again. "It gives free scholarships to those who passed the tryouts."

My mother gawked at me, puzzled, as I looked over my father, who was also gazing at me, perplexed, the same.

"I – we thought – you told us, you had enough money to do pay the college tuition fee," my father said, "Why would you need a free scholarship?"

"Well, free stuff is better, right?" I smiled sheepishly at my parents, as they looked at me sternly; I frowned, I have to reveal this one too, "I lied about having enough money for the tuition fee. I don't have any; although I'm trying to earn, I think it wouldn't make it by this coming school year, so, I had to find a free scholarship." I admitted, looking down, ashamedly – this reminds me of what I did to Rachel; I sighed through my nostrils.

"Annabeth–" my mother began, but, I cut her off, "No, mom. I can do it on my own. I know you want to help–" I looked back at my father, "–and I appreciate it a lot, I really do," I said sincerely, "but, I would not like to touch your money; I can do this. Besides, I'm already in the team, right?" I gave them a genuine smile.

Both looked worried at first, as they considered this, then, sighed, knowing me, I'm quite persistent, and they just simply said: "If you need help," my mother began, "we're here," my father finished as he gave me a peck on my forehead and my mother hugged me tightly.

I guess; family understands too.

When I finished eating my muffin, I said my thanks to my parents, and ruffled both of the twins' hair before I, with my backpack behind me – and my bag of swimming clothing, now, with my mother, went upstairs to my bedroom.

Like usual, once I closed the door behind me, I hung my bag behind it and threw myself on my bed with a loud thump.

I took out my cellular phone from my pants' pocket, opened it and immediately sent text messages to my friends, excluding Rachel – I still don't know what to do about her, ever since my giddiness has consumed me over my grief.

So, right now, I'm ignoring that hidden guilty sensation tucked in my heart – or, rather, brain?

Instantly, I began receiving replies. I read the first one I received, which was from Thalia.

Celebration – tomorrow; two in the afternoon in your favourite pizza place, all is invited.

I couldn't help, but smile at her immediate planning – best friends, what can you ever do about them?

The rest were just Congratulations, Annabeth! only typed and expressed in different ways; some even said they're going to bring me gifts tomorrow–as they already received the message from Thalia. I didn't protest though; I know they want to give me something to show their pride in me, that's how friends are, and I love them sometimes for it.

Eventually, Saturday came; I told my parents about my friends' celebration party for me, and, of course, they agreed for me to go, but to be back before dinner.

Once I already took a bath, changed into an elbow-length, white and slightly transparent blouse, dark azure pants, and silver flats, pocketed my cellular phone and wallet, and the clock ticked two o'clock in the afternoon, I said farewell to my parents, and my brothers, and walked out of the house to my favourite diner.

After a few minutes, I finally arrived at my destination.

I stepped inside the diner to be greeted by girly congratulations! all over the place, which caused a few strange stares in my direction from other customers.

The next thing I know, I was being hugged by Silena, her perfume rubbing on me, as she nearly broke my ribs and got a few pats on my back that made it hurt slightly.

But, during all that, I smiled. I grinned. I chuckled. I laughed. I'm happy.

Once my friends and I were all seated on a table they chose, which was the same one Perseus and I sat a week ago, but two tiny tables and one seat were added due to such a large amount we are.

I sat at the same spot I sat when I was with Perseus here, except without a bag, as Juniper sat across me, and Thalia sat beside me; Silena beside Juniper, as Clarisse beside her; Piper sat across Clarisse, as Hazel sat beside her and Katie across Hazel.

And no sign of Rachel.

All the joy was blown away from me as though it was simply dust, while pain and guilt replaced it.

But, I continued on smiling for my friends.

Instantly, we ordered food, and while we waited, we talked, smiled, laughed, and enjoyed our time with each other.

The chatter immediately stopped when the food came. Candice, the waitress who served Perseus and I a week ago, held two trays, including all we requested.

She placed the second tray in another table for a moment as she handed over the food in the other tray she held.

"Here 'yall go, ladies," she said in her country accent, which made us all feel welcome and pleasant, as she gave Silena's, Piper's, Juniper's and Clarisse's order. They thanked her with a nod, and a smile.

With a swift movement, she took the second tray from the other table, as she replaced it by the empty one.

She gave Hazel's, Thalia's, Katie's and my food as we said our gratitude.

She grinned and nodded, taking the other empty tray and placing it on top of the second tray, "It was my pleasure, gals," she said, "An' congratulations, Annabeth; does Percy know?"

The question made me shiver as I remember my conversation with Perseus in this diner; I thinking it was all a sick joke, he explaining that it wasn't.

Nevertheless, I replied, "Yeah, he's the Captain." I took my glass of Diet Coke as I took a sip.

Her thin, red lips formed an 'o' before continuing to speak, "Yall have a dinner wid him to'ight, 'eh?"

I nearly spit my drink; meanwhile my friends were biting their lips to avoid bursting into laughter.

Perseus' explanation was utterly false.

"No, Candice," I answered, nonetheless, taking a napkin and wiping the small steam of Diet Coke dripping from the edge of my mouth.

She looked at me confusedly, as she tucked both of her trays under her arm, "I thought, 'yall were dating?"

They did think we had a rendezvous.

"No, we weren't and aren't dating, Candice." I stated, calmly, placing the, now, dirty napkin below my plate of pasta, "I will never date him," I added.

"Then, why were 'yall ahere last Friday?" she asked.

"He was treating me my lunch, 'cause he stole my things, including my wallet, in school." I replied.

Her lips form, once again, a tiny 'o' in comprehension, "Well, that's too bad, both of yall would've looked adorable together," she added, then, "Anyway, enjoy yall meal, gals." She smiled and left.

Then, my friends burst into laughter, as they clutch the sides of their stomach in pain.

I sighed, "Oh, shut up," I said angrily as I took my fork and began twisting my spaghetti, with a pang as it hit the plate.

"OH – MY – GODS!" Silena breathed in fits of her laughter.

"Holy shit, Annabeth; that was hilarious!" Clarisse said; when she managed to breath from all her laughing.

Piper hit the table with a slightly echoing bang, "Awesome, Annabeth, awesome."

"Gee, thanks, Piper, it was my pleasure," I said, sarcastically.

Thalia breathed in and out to stop her from further laughing, and once she cooled down, she patted me on the back with a large smile, "And it was ours the same,"

I rolled my eyes, as my lips tried to tug a smile on it; my anger and misery faded away, as fun and enjoyment replaced their places.

Finally, all stopped laughing, a few chuckles left, but, nonetheless, no more. We began eating, as our chatting returns.

In the midst of eating, Katie asked innocently and curiously to Thalia, the one who planned this celebration, "Where's Rachel?" which made me freeze at what I was doing, which was drinking my glass of Diet Coke, momentarily, but, instantly, I returned to it, before anyone could notice.

"Oh, right; sorry, she said she can't come," Thalia replied, looking up to Katie – did I just see her cast a sideway glance at me?

"Why?" Silena frowned, after taking a sip at her strawberry milkshake.

Thalia shrugged, "She didn't say."

"I know why."

Suddenly, all the attention went to me from Thalia, as they stared at me, questioningly and curiously.

For a moment, I wondered why they were gawking at me like this, then, I realized I was the one who said that.

I wanted to slap myself, and I did . . . mentally.

I sighed, I have to tell them.

"She hates me." I said, as I let my fork stab a piece of sliced hotdog.

Juniper's expression seemed to have changed, by the sound of her tone when she said, "Don't be ridiculous, Annabeth, she doesn't hate you."

I scoffed, "I wish so."

"Why would she?" Thalia asked, nearly protectively.

"Because I have the date she wanted for the prom,"

I heard Silena gasp, "Percy?" she squeaked.

I nodded grimly as the misery returns; damn, my emotions really keep on changing.

"She likes Percy?" Piper said.

I chuckled, almost coldly, "Who would, right?"

"No, no, I expected that."

I looked up to her, in surprise and enquiry, as the attention goes to her, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I guessed she likes Percy." She replied, shrugging slightly.

"How did you guess?" I asked.

"O.M.G.! Annabeth Chase doesn't know!" Thalia mocked, speaking in a girly manner.

I rolled my eyes as a few of my pals laughed, "Shut up," I told her.

She merely winked, "Keep wishing,"

I cracked a smile, she could do this to me; in whatever state I am, she can make me smile, laugh anytime, I love her like that.

I ignored her reply and continued with Piper, "So, how'd you guess?"

"Easy, of course, the way she looks at him when he passes by our table at lunch, or in the hallway or during classes – I have a class with her at second period, including Percy; remember when you got detention because of him? I saw her actually scowl at you because he was in detention. And when she found out about you eating with Percy, I was texting her about our group project for English, and she said that she was can't do it, because she was, I quote 'not in the mood'; why else would she act like that?"

If I was a teacher, I would be giving Piper an A plus, plus for being this observant, when I was so oblivious.

"Yeah, one time, I was sneaking an attack at her after lunch last Wednesday, and she was in her locker, when she opened it, I saw a picture of Percy taped on the locker door. She stared at it for a minute before doing what she needed to do. And when she finally closed her locker, I did my attack," Clarisse shared.

I blinked.

Wow.

"Why were you going to 'attack'," Hazel added quotation marks on the word, "her?"

Clarisse shrugged, "I was going to ask her a question."

"And there had to be an attack?" Katie cocked an eyebrow.

"That doesn't matter," Clarisse replied, slightly frustrated now.

"So, what am I going to do?" I asked, changing the subject, "I still want to be friends with her."

We were silent for a few moments, thinking what we could possible do to make Rachel not hate me.

Then, Thalia's unpredicted question broke it, "Rachel really wants Percy to be her date, right?"

I nodded.

"Do you want him to be your date?"

I stared at her, perplexed, "Do you think I do?" I replied sarcastically.

Her expression, which is interest and seriousness (who knew?), doesn't change, and she stayed silent, waiting for my real answer.

I sighed through my nostrils, "No," I said, I would most likely go to the promenade alone.

"Then, why don't you tell Percy you don't want to be his partner-slash-date, and suggest Rachel to be his?"

I looked at her as what she's trying to say dawns on me. Why haven't I think of that?

I nodded in comprehension, "Yeah, maybe, I could do that."

Clarisse gawked at me, slightly confused, "Maybe?"

Damn my tongue.

Why the hell did I add maybe?

"I mean, I will do that." I corrected.

She nodded, "I wish you luck, Wise one,"

I smiled at her new, little nickname of me, "I don't need luck,"

"Oh, you do," Thalia chimed in.

My attention goes to her, "Why would I?"

She shrugged slightly, "You just do," she said, leaving me pondering what she meant.

After that, it was silence, before our typical laughter and enjoyment returns, until the celebration ended, and we went our separate ways.

I waved good-bye to them as I went to the path of my home, carrying a small bouquet of flowers, from Katie, a medium-sized, silver teddy bear (because she knows the large-sized will bother me), from Silena, and a simple necklace, now wrapped around my neck, with a white-silver owl, and a letter A beside it, representing my name, as its main design, from Juniper and Hazel.

I appreciate the gifts, and I thanked them for all of it, of course, but what remained in my mind was Thalia's suggestion: why don't you tell Percy you don't want to be his partner-slash-date, and suggest Rachel to be his?

No maybes. I will do it.

A/N: Sorry if I took long for this chapter. But, anyway, I hope you're happy and satisfied. (:

Scratch that, you probably hate me now.

Yeah, Annabeth will do it – or will she? If she does, what would Percy feel? What would Rachel feel? What will happen next? You haven't read her thoughts just yet!

LMAO. I don't like the way I wrote this; it sounds all stupid, especially my attempt to type Candice's line in her southern accent. xD

Read, Enjoy & Review!

All characters belong to Rick Riordan's, except Candice; she's not real.