Disclaimer: I don't own PJO
Chapter 12
Annabeth
The past few days have been bizarre. Wanna know why? Well, first of all, Luke Castellan (who happened to be one of the hottest guys I have ever seen and also my fiancé) had just arrived in Goode, and he's going to stay here for two weeks. Yay.
And then the stress with volleyball, studies, and then this stupid Homecoming added up to the way a friend of mine was acting. That friend of mine happened to be Percy.
I didn't know what was wrong with him, exactly. All I knew was that he was acting all cranky and weird whenever Luke was around, or whenever I was around Luke. I don't get him.
I remembered the day I caught on Percy and –guess what? –Jason talking about me and all the mess.
I was walking to the cafeteria with Luke after I toured him around the place. He departed, saying he's gonna look for a table for the both of us.
So I roamed around, looking for my friends so Luke can join us, when I heard hushed voices talking in the corner. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but curiosity got the best of me, and I hid behind the curtains and listened.
The voices made me freeze because I knew who they belong to.
"You know who the guy is," Percy's voice said. "You know who he is and how he's related to Annabeth." Whoa, wait, back up. They were talking about me? Now I really need to finish this conversation.
"Look, Perce," Jason's voice replied, "I'm not supposed to tell you-"
"I know all about Annabeth," Percy interrupted. "You're a royal, Jason. You knew her when she came here. I knew she's a ro-"
"Ssshhh!" Jason shushed Percy. Silence for a few moments. Then, "Do you really know about it?"
"Yes."
"How? Did you spy on her or something?"
"No. She told me herself."
"Oh." Jason sighed. "Good. Because if you really do, you know you'll have to keep this in secret, right?"
"Yeah," Percy said. "Now, tell me the truth, Jason: do you know who the guy is? How's he related to Annabeth?"
"I honestly do not know him," Jason said. "But I know his name. It's Luke Castellan."
"Wait. Isn't that the famous prince of that particular kingdom?"
"Yes," Jason replied. "Well, it's Luke. And I kind of know how he's related to Annabeth."
"Not in a family way. I have a theory." Wow, Percy has a theory?
"Tell me." I instinctively leaned in, smitten by their conversation.
"Well…" Percy hesitated. "Well, we were at the party last night, right? Annabeth was there too. She was dancing and drunk, and she was dancing with Alexander Evans. So I went to her to take her home, because I just couldn't stand seeing her that way, and then Alexander resisted, so I kind of punched him." Wait, what? Percy was in that party too?
"Wait, you got into a fight with Alexander Evans?" Jason sounded shocked.
"Well –no. I mean, yes. Well, not really. It was just – I just punched him, twice, and then he fell, so I took the opportunity and took Annabeth with me. I carried her to the dorms and put her to bed."
"Wait, you and Annabeth, alone, in her room?" Crap. I could feel my cheeks burning. And oh, wait a second. Percy carried me to the dorms and put me to bed?
"Jason!" I could hear the exasperation in Percy's voice. "I just tucked her to bed. That's it."
"Oh," Jason said. "Okay, continue."
"Well, as I pulled a blanket over her, she mentioned something about a fiancé that was the reason why she's here, and he was coming tomorrow, which was now." I was talking in my sleep?
"And your theory is?"
"Luke's her fiancé." You got that right.
"Yes," Jason said. "You're right."
"So Annabeth's engaged," Percy resolved. "To a prince. And she's getting married next year. Wow."
"What wow?" Jason asked. "That sucks. Poor Annabeth. I'm even lucky not to end like her."
"You don't follow traditions? Like her?"
"My dad's great," Jason said. I couldn't let their conversation go any further now. Gathering all the courage I could to interrupt them, I parted the curtains and said, "Oh, you guys are so going to explain a lot of things to me."
They both did a lot of explaining after that. I knew I was supposed to be the one explaining, but they did what they were told to. First about the party, about the reason why they were talking about me and Luke.
"Okay," I had said after a while. "Okay. Got it."
Now I'm walking down the halls to the cafeteria. I have free period, and I kind of felt hungry, so I decided to check out the new vending machines. I arrived at the cafeteria and saw that there were a few people there, studying and eating. I went to the vending machine and saw that the food inside were not really healthy, but then again, I never cared. I didn't eat junk, but I never cared about the sugar content and the carbs that might affect my body's hour-glass shape. Duh. I'm not that narcissistic.
I got two packs of sour gummy worms and a few packs of gum. Then I went to the counter and ordered a bag of Kettle Corn and a can of Coke. Then I settled on a nearby table and took out the latest book I was reading. It was called I Was Here by Gayle Forman. I have met her before, on a book-signing event in New York when my uncle took me there last, last summer.
I settled myself comfortable, with my headphones on. I was listening to 5 Seconds of Summer when I heard the chair in front of me move and a person sat in front. I didn't try to hide my annoyance as I looked up to whoever they were.
Sitting in front of me was a scrawny guy with blonde hair and cunning blue eyes in a purple shirt and jeans. He smiled crookedly at me, but I didn't return it. This guy was familiar…
"Uh, do I know you?" I asked, setting my book down.
"Octavian," he said, holding his hand out. "Pleasure to meet you again, Your Majesty." He said Your Majesty softly, I guess so that the others won't hear it, and I felt a little grateful. But my blood kind of heated up as well. No wonder he looked so familiar. It was Octavian, Luke's scrawny, scheming, and deceitful advisor.
I just stared at him with my eyebrows raised, my arms crossed over my chest, not shaking his outstretched hand. Call me rude, but for some reason I hated the guy. Besides, he can't blame me. I was a princess. He was only an advisor, and as one, he should know that.
Octavian lowered his hand, smiling sheepishly, but there was a glint in his eyes that told me he didn't like being sheepish. He cleared his throat.
"So, Princess," he said casually, "I heard your mother postponed your wedding?"
"Yes," I replied indifferently. "She moved it next September."
"I see," Octavian said. He smirked. "But as Luke's advisor, I really hope it would have been at your birthday." Of course you would.
"I can't say the same," I said coolly. "But don't worry, Octavian. Postponed or not, I'm still gonna get married."
"Of course," Octavian said, smiling. Then, he leaned forward. "Just between the both of us, Princess, are feelings involved in this whole… event?" I frowned.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, you see, young girls like you, especially princesses, would love to have a happy ending. They marry for love, not for the sake of keeping their families on the top level of the social continuum. I'm sure you feel that way, too, Your Majesty. But I'm just wondering: do you love Luke, enough for you to marry him?" I was taken aback. Who was Octavian to question me? But I shook my head.
"No," I said. "I don't love Luke. Sure, I like him. As a friend. But love? No."
"That's what I thought," Octavian said, as though he was satisfied by the answer. Actually, he looked like he really was.
"What?"
"You see, in my short time in here," Octavian said, "I have learned to know your friends." I raised an eyebrow.
"And what does that mean?"
"In a group of friends, it is inevitable for two members to fall for each other. It is also foreseeable for one person to be attracted to the other. And you are the in the latter, Princess." He stood up and leaned towards me so that he can whisper in my ear, "and I know you are attracted to someone in here, Annabeth. I see the way you look at him. Your green-eyed friend? Who was he? Ah, Percy Jackson." I recoiled from Octavian.
"What are you talking about?" I demanded.
"You don't love Luke because you're attracted to someone else," Octavian replied, smiling cunningly.
"I don't understand."
"Oh, you do, Your Highness. And if I were you, I would stay away from him or else he will be involved in the trouble you will get into when your mother finds out." With that, Octavian grinned at me and then walked away, leaving me staring at the book in my hands and wondering what had happened.
Did Octavian actually thought I liked Percy?
How stupid of him. But then again… didn't I? Wait, no, I think the question's supposed to be did I? I don't know. If I said, didn't I? it meant I did like him. If I said, did I? it meant I may or may not like him, and am still coming to the terms of finding out which was true.
Let's say I did like Percy. He was a nice guy, and a good friend. He's caring, sweet, and thoughtful. Plus, he was also Goode's hottest guy. And hey, you don't get to be friends with a guy with those traits and those looks all the time.
But I think Octavia meant that I liked Percy more than a friend. And I guess this is the time to say, did I? Did I actually like Percy more than as a friend? I don't know. I've never actually liked someone before, like the like like, probably except for Alex Pettyfer, who was the only celebrity who caught my eye ever since he played in Beastly, since it was one of my favorite books. I liked him even more when I found out that he played in I Am Number Four, which also happened to be one of my favorite books. I was lucky enough to meet and actually hold Alex's hand one time when I went with Mom to Hollywood.
Okay, enough of Alex Pettyfer. Did I like Percy Jackson? Was Percy Jackson better than Alex Pettyfer?
I was snapped out of my reverie when I heard the chair in front of me got pulled again, but this time, it was a different occupant.
It was Percy.
Percy, with all his glory and good looks. Percy, the best friend I had in a span of weeks. Percy, the guy who I was currently wondering of. Percy, Percy, Percy. The guy I would probably choose over Alex Pettyfer. Wait, no –I would never choose anyone over Alex Pettyfer.
What was happening to me?
"Annabeth?" Percy was waving his hand in front of my face.
"Yeah?" I said quickly. Percy shrugged and sat down the chair opposite me.
"You zoned out," he explained. He frowned as he stared at me. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing," I said. "Why'd you ask?"
"For no reason at all," Percy replied, smirking. "Hey, do you have some of those gummy thingy left?"
"Help yourself." I pushed him the pack of sour gummy worms. "Percy, are you cutting classes?" Percy stopped eating for a while to look at me with wide eyes and an innocent expression.
"How'd you know?"
"You idiot," I said, slapping his arm. "You shouldn't be doing that!"
"I know!" Percy protested. "But Math is just so boring!" I rolled my eyes.
"You find everything boring," I said.
"Except for a few things," Percy said. "I guess you're one of them." I nearly choked on my own spit.
"What?"
"I meant you and our friends!" Percy said hastily. "You know, you guys are so much fun, so you're not boring."
"I see," I said. "Okay." Awkward silence followed after that. Here I was, pondering Octavian's stupid words that surprisingly left an effect on me, and then here Percy was, being stupid and sweet and inadvertently adorable as he tries to cover up the little slip-up back there. I wonder if he meant something else…
"You should probably go to class," I told him.
"But you're staying up here!" Percy whined. "Why can't I?"
"Because, Seaweed Brain," I said exasperatedly, "I've got free period and you've got Math class, and Mrs. Dodds doesn't forgive that easily. I'd suggest you go to class before she holds you on detention for two months or more."
"There you said it, she isn't forgiving," Percy replied. "I'm late for about five minutes already, and she's never gonna forgive me. I'm gonna be in detention for a whole year if I enter class, so I might as well stay here and enjoy free period and risk a month of detention than suffer an hour of boring numbers and still take on detention. For a year," he added with a tone that made it sound like he was talking to a toddler who was ignorant to the whole world.
"Shut up," I said. "And go to class." Percy pouted.
"Why can't I stay?"
"Because you can't," I said. "Okay? Now, shoo." Then Percy started making these cute faces, and I started to get angry because I knew what he was doing, and I was falling for it.
"Won't work, Perseus," I said. "Go to class." Percy sighed and stood up.
"Fine," he said resignedly. "Bye, Wise Girl." I just waved at him, and then I watched as he disappeared from the cafeteria. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Somehow, Octavian's words were still stuck in my mind. And if I were you, I would stay away from him or else he will be involved in the trouble you will get into when your mother finds out.
I'll try to rephrase that one, Octavian. That is, if my mother finds out.
So, hey guys. So you might be thinking, why the heck is she updating today? She should be updating during Fridays.
Just kidding. I know you're not thinking like that. Or maybe you are. I dunno. Tell me what you think! xD
Anyway, I know updating today is unusual, since it's Sunday (or Monday. Or Saturday. Stupid time zones), but I decided to update today because I'm going somewhere Friday and if I updated on the other days besides Friday, maybe the wifi decides to be a jerk and doesn't let me update.
Better early than never, right? xD
Anyway, not really my best chapter, but hope it fills you up. I'll see you guys next week!
Review, Follow, Favorite, and have a nice day!
-Bluecookies19
