A little hint. you should play vanilla twilight when Percy begins to play it through his headphones
"Shut up" Annabeth said "You're late!"
I could almost TASTE the anger and hostility aimed at me, I had to give her some reasons for me being last, and fast.
"I know Annabeth!" I started. "But my alarm clock was destroyed so Odis and his dirty foot had to wake me up, and I was so tired that I didn't notice when I grabbed the witch hazel instead of the toothpaste, and then it took the longest time to find both my shoes and when I looked at the clock it was past time to go and then (gasp) and then (gasp) and then (gasp)!
Just then, Odis decides to make his appearance. "hey everybody, whats happenin' ?" Odis said as he pointed his left index finger out into the hallway,one eyebrow raise.
Low moaning could be heard coming from outside. "umm. Can anybody tell me why Grover and Luke are knocked out in the hallway?"
They had a fight and they both got knocked out." says nobody (who is this kid anyway?)
"Ah. i see." Odis said as he pounded his closed right fist into his open left palm at mid chest level.
I took this time to assess my situation in the classroom. It looks like mr. Boyard stopped mid-letter, that's definitely a good sign, The kids in the classroom seem overjoyed at the continued chain of disruption, Annabeth doesn't seem to want to kill me, Some kid is shaking in the corner, my desk looks...wait? Then suddenly...
"YOU DOUCHE!" all eyes suddenly shifted from the exasperated Percy to the man everyone believed was Twitty.
"Aw shit" I heard Odis whisper under his breath, Obviously less than thrilled to see... Who WAS this kid? I don't think I've seen him before.
"Yo! Twits my man! Odis says, finally responding. "haven't seen you in forever..." Odis said nervously. "I Know! Because you dumped this entire project on me then left! I've slaved over this project DAY. ONE. NUMERO UNO, and YOU have been running around having fun and doing whatever you want with you're friends the " POPULAR CROWD + grover". At this point he starts making motions with his hands "And what do I get?! What does POOR, LITTLE, NOBODY TWITTY GET?!
"Be quiet." says annabeth, "Just because you're a short, nobody, nerd who got one F on one little assignment because of the dummy over there" She points her fingers at Odis. "Don't waste everyones time complaining. Nobody else could tell, But I knew better. The Ice queen had entered death glare mode, It looked like twitty knew better as well.
"ahem!" now if this is over. !" Annabeth snapped
Our teacher responder dryly "Yes ?"
"I believe We were up next"
"And I do believe that I've already marked an-" He paused and adjusted his bifocals. "Yes well, continue. Up next is Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase" Mr. Boyard announced
"were up" Annabeth said "Yeah" I agreed. Annabeth stuck out her arm and helped Me up.
"Ahem, our project is based on-
(Afterschool)
Me and Annabeth were taking the project materials to her home (I say we, but I was carrying the brunt of the load). The classmates were confused as to the logistics behind our project, the professor also seemed to be lost with the explanation, but ended up giving us an A, All thanks to the substantial amount of effort that was clearly put into the project. the sun was beginning to set, I was anxious to get home but Annabeth was taking her sweet time...Almost savoring the walk, it gave me a strange feeling.
"A+, Another project down" Annabeth sighed. She looked down at the sidewalk, started to slow down, then stopped walking.
I paused, cautiously awaiting some sort of explanation. After several silent seconds, finally I opened my mouth.
"Annabeth? whats wrong?" I asked
"Percy...I have to tell you something" she hesitated.
"Sure, what is it?" I could feel my knees starting to buckle under the weight of the material while Annabeth just looked at the ground, attempting to collect her words, creating a moment of silence. "Seriously, how much did she write?!" I thought to myself.
A soft breeze cracked the moment of silence
"I'm moving." Annabeth said as she looked straight up and continued to walk straight past me.
I stammered following quickly "wha-wait! moving? you mean closer to the school right?" I asked as I paced behind her by several steps, a feeling of worry beginning to swell in my chest.
"No Percy" Annabeth shot back. "I'm moving to San Francisco. My mother got a Job through one of her Associates... " Annabeth finally stopped walking and turned around.
"We're leaving tomorrow." Annabeth said
The words hit me like Zeus hit Chronos, Pummeled me like Chris Brown and Rihanna pummeled each other, stabbed me like O.J stabbed his wife(we know he did it).
I was so dazed time seemed to slow down. The rest of the walk back to the Inn was silent.
the air bgan to cool as we approached the front steps of the Inn. Annabeth pulled her house key out of her bandanna, which, now that I thought about it...she had been wearing everyday.
"Earth to seaweed brain!" She snapped. Annabeth had opened the door and now stood facing me with her arms out, demanding I deliver our project materials to her arms. The worried feeling in my chest began to turn to anger.
"So that's it? You're just going to leave? What about our friends? What about Juniper? What about Odis...What about"
"You?" Annabeth interrupted, no longer looking at me, she slowly began rubbing her arm, doing her best to avoid my pleading gaze.
"This isn't right Annabeth! This feels wrong, rushed, this can't be how the stor-"
Annabeth screamed, another sudden interruption. She looked at me for the first time during this conversation, her eyes wet with sadness.
"Night" She whispered and shut the door in my face.
I stood still for what felt like eternity when my phone went off, it was my mom telling me to be home in time for dinner.
My eyes watered as I stuffed the phone into my pocket.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow before she leaves" I said to myself, as I solemnly walked home.
(Home)
"Welcome home honey. Do you want any Blue lasagna?" Mom asked me.
"No thanks mom." I said bluntly. I was in no mood to eat.
I went straight to my room, shut the door behind me, and flung my body straight on my mattress. I let out a deep long sigh, remembering what Annabeth told me about her family leaving, I started reminiscing about all the times we had together.
"It tastes like crap." Annabeth flung the bowl of soup I'd worked so hard to make at my face. I yelped, and ducked, barely missing the flying missile. That was The first day I worked with Annabeth on the project. as I remembered, I felt a pang in my chest.
"Can- I- take- a- break?" I asked, and Annabeth hesitated, before nodding. I collapsed gratefully unto the ground, relaxing my poor, battered body. It had been a week since we'd first been partnered, I felt my breath catch.
"To patch up our friendship with my red bandanna." I said solemnly, and Annabeth gasped as I took out the bright red headband. I remembered the gift I made, just to get on her good side. I laughed inwardly.
"watch it!" Anna shouted, worming out from under me. I winced, waiting for a blow, but none came. Opening my eyes a crack, I blinked in surprise to find Annabeth still directly underneath me, mouth shaped in a perfect O of surprise. I wondered what would have happened had that man hadn't disturbed us?
"It's alright Annabeth," I heard myself mumble. "I want you to feel better. Hell, I want you to be happy. You're my friend, and I care about you." Annabeth's pale eyes widened, and a silent sob shook her body. I recalled those words. they were so very true. Vanilla twilight started playing in my headphones.
Then I remembered how Annabeth had helped me during the entire "Thalia escapade".."Percy," Annabeth said (she switched back to english so fast it made my head spin) once she noticed me, her eyes glittering with fire. "What the hell are you wearing? And why are you wearing those stupid headphones with it?" I blinked and glanced down at my finery, slightly abashed. she had me meet one of the most famous chefs JUST to help my girl problems..That means something. Right?..
Then there was that day Annabeth was sick..."You're burning up." I muttered, feeling like a dolt for not realizing it sooner. But how could I, when I'd barely been near her and been too stupid to make the connection between her flushed face and frequent trips to the bathroom. Annabeth wrenched herself away, looking furious. I ended up spending the night somehow. I loved the warmth of her skin against mine, I tightened the hold on my pillow.
Annabeth! good to see you again! You dont call you don't write, guy could think you're trying to give him the slip." The lead guitarist who's name was snake said. There was a moment of silence before She grinned."Nah, Just havn't been in the area. Oh, and this is my good friend Percy." And that day she made me sing.I just KNOW i made start to like me even a little that day.
"we've had so many fun memories together" I thought, as a silent tear trickled down my cheek.
At some point I must've fallen asleep because I woke up to the sound of the telephone ringing. I groggily walked over to it and answered-"Hello, You've reached the Jackson residence".
"Hey Percy" a female voice came through, light but filled with care. At first I couldn't rack my brain hard enough to remember who's voice this belonged to. Then it clicked.
"Hey...Maria, wassup?I guessed.
"Hey! I just called to talk, you know I haven't seen you since the grocery store run-in." Maria joked. I tried to play along for a while, but I was a little tired. After a bit more back and forth small talk I was about to hang up the phone when Maria said something that Jolted me awake.
"So... she probably told you right? The ice qu-Annabeth? about her leaving tonight?" Maria asked
"Yeah, but you've got it wrong, it's not tonight, it's tomorrow." I corrected
"No, it was tonight, my dad works for the moving company. The job was for tonight at the old Inn." She recall
The world stopped, Maria's voice drowned out by the beating of my chest, which felt like it could explode at any moment. I couldn't think, and my body reacted on instinct, compelling me to do one thing.
Go to her.
I threw the phone down and ran upstairs as fast as I could. I grabbed the nearest pair of jeans and jetted out the door, headed for hell Inn.
"Hello? Hello? Percy are you there? Percyyyyyyyyyyy..." Maria's voice became quieter as I got further and further away from the phone.
I hopped on the last train that was heading in that direction for tonight. The train seemed like it couldn't be moving any slower than it was at this moment. As soon as the doors opened I flew down the street, not feeling even a bit tired. Adrenaline mixed with fear were pulsing through my veins.
The streets were getting colder and colder, I suppose it was about time for the cold season, It was late November after all, I think it was the hot weather this morning that threw me off. As I heard engines roaring to life in the distance, I sped faster and faster, cutting corners at a speed I wouldn't run for any other reason. This was an emergency.
When I reached the Inn, I saw Annabeth's father and mother leaving in a truck, but didn't see annabeth. "Maybe she already left?!" I thought. I turned my head at the inn doors and the lights were still on. "Maybe, Just maybe!" I rushed toward the door thinking that my worst fear had come true, That Annabeth was gone.
But, To my reliefe, Sitting on the couch was Annabeth sipping what smelled like herbal tea. I walked towards her, "I knew she didn't know what she was talking about!" until... "Why are you here?!" she yelled
The sudden loudness caught me off guard, I stumbled with my words to find an answer. "I-I heard that y-you were leaving tonight so I-" I was cut off. "Theres a reason I gave you the wrong time Jackson!" I heard a soft ping, like a water droplet, I think it came from the small silver box in front of her, was it my imagination? Annabeth turned around, I saw tears running down her face. I stepped closer, to try and console her, to ask why she was crying, but it was no use. "Don't!" She screamed.
Now, she was sobbing.
"don't." it was softer this time. Annabeth backed away from me."Please go away" she whispered. "It hurts to say goodbye" she was looking at the ground, her tears fell to the ground like rain drops. I carefully stepped closer and embraced her. "I'm not going anywhere." Annabeth looked up at me with misty eyes. "it's now or never Percy".
I cupped annabeth's chin in my left hand, tilted my head sideways, and ever so gently I planted my lips on hers. I felt my entire body relax and hers stiffen, after a while she swung her arms over my neck and we broke apart. The first thing she said was
"What do you think you're doing Percy?" In a harsh but cool voice, She smiled a soft then a horn went off outside the house.
"That's me" She said. " Yeah" I muttered.
Annabeth left the Inn, Hopped in the truck, and disappeared into the night.
I looked at the package that she had left, and upon closer inspection I found that it wasn't silver at all...It was Blue, with my name scribbled on the side. There were wet drops on the top. I tore open the package and read the letter that was hidden inside.
"Hey Dummy, If this get's to the right person, then you know what I mean when I say Dummy. When you get this letter, you'll know that I lied to you, I'm so sorry. I just hurts to much to say goodbye, Especially to you. But I wanted you to know that if you ever forget about me I'll kill you. Which is whyI made this, I'm going to Lock our bond with this blue scarf...I know how much you love blue. P. said it would be colder than usual this time around.
love'
Annabeth
By the time I finished reading, I had started crying. Wet drops stained the ink, I crinkled the paper in my hands and held it close to my heart. I reached inside of the package and smiled. It was a Blue scarf with waves on it. I turned the lights off left the Inn. I was walking home when it started to snow. As the first flake fell, I wrapped my scarf around my neck and looked up at the sky, my the tears fell to the ground and resonated with the newfound snow, Leaving me with tear-stained cheeks.
I walked off into the distance as my headphones made the only low, soft sound in the neighborhood.
"Don't worry bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing is gonna be all right.