Author's note-
Thank you all so, so much for all the support. I have made a decision: I will be writing as much as I possibly can, and hopefully posting chapters when I can too. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It is dedicated to the Oracle of Akemi and ZeynepD because I feel like it :)
Once again, please review if you like it or even if you hate it. I'm always happy to read your criticism and comments!
-SOS
Chapter 9: Bathroom Encounters and Bad Excuses (and a Boy)
"Annabeth?"
She was hiding in the bathroom, behind the door. Percy and Rachel were near, she could hear them talking, so she held her breath as they passed. Through the crack made between the door and the frame, she watched them.
"Do you think she's okay?" asked Rachel. She was tugging at her hair anxiously. Percy shrugged.
"I hope so," he replied. "Was it my fault? Does she… does she not like me or something?"
Annabeth tensed as Rachel chewed on her lip. "I don't think she hates you," the red-headed girl said finally. "Maybe she just felt awkward."
"Whatever happened, I'm sorry, Annabeth," Percy said as if he knew Annabeth could hear him. She closed her eyes as the two walked right past her. "Hey, isn't that the bathroom?" she heard Percy say.
"Yeah, why?" said Rachel. "You think she might've gone in there? But there're so many better places she could hide. My house is full of them!"
"She's never been here before," Percy pointed out. "Anyway, I only asked because I need to use it." Trembling, Annabeth almost gasped as she saw the doorknob turn. She leapt over the toilet, and jumped into the shower just as Percy entered.
He glanced around before walking to the toilet. Annabeth flinched at the thought of him naked. But it was either that or reveal herself. There was no way to get to the door without him noticing. Percy was going to pull down his pants in three, two―
"Wait!" Annabeth pushed oven the shower door. "Stop!"
"Annabeth?" Percy quickly zipped up his pants. "What are you doing in here?"
"I… Um, Uh. Hiding?" she offered lamely. When he shook his head, she tried to smile. "I'm not stalking you, I promise. I don't want to see you naked."
"After what happened before, I doubt you want to see me at all," Percy said, trying to make a joke. It was obvious that he felt bad for scaring Annabeth like that.
"No, I—it's fine," she muttered. "It was just something stupid."
"Well, I hate to kick you out, but I really need to pee," Percy said. "Can you maybe just step out?"
"Yeah," Annabeth said. She walked out and shut the door, almost running right into Rachel, who grabbed the blonde girl by the shoulders to steady her before she tripped and fell flat on her face.
"You okay?" said the redhead. "We've been looking all over for you." Then she looked around. "Hey, where's Percy?"
"Uh, bathroom," Annabeth said. Before Rachel could ask any more questions, Annabeth started to walk down the hallway.
"Where are you going?" Rachel's concerned tone stopped her in her tracks.
"Home," Annabeth said. "I… uh, just realized I have a lot of homework to do."
"We didn't get any homework," Rachel said, confused.
"I know, but I'm new so I have to fill out all of those forms, you know?" Annabeth played with her rope bracelet, a sign even Rachel would soon come to know as her lying. "See you tomorrow."
"Wait!" Rachel said. Annabeth froze and turned around slowly. What if Rachel knew that new kids had to have their forms filled out before they joined? But all Rachel said was, "You're going the wrong way. That's the hallway to the guest suite. If you want to go home, the stairs are that way." She pointed the other way.
"Oh." Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry. Thanks for having me."
"No problem." Rachel grinned. "I'll tell Percy you left."
"Bye," Annabeth waved as she walked down the stairs and out of the door. She was so grateful that she hadn't had to confess her secrets that when she walked down the street, she ran into a tan-shirted boy who was walking the opposite way.
"Hey," he said. "I was just coming to see you. Do you want to be my date to the dance?"