So, this is what happened:
~ The boys team played with the Youth National Team
~ All soccer players in senior year are drafted into two teams
~ Remember the bet that Percy and Annabeth are on, things are going to get interesting in the next chapter
And this, is where left we off...
_Fonts' variation will appear before every chapter on this same spot_
Bold - A/N
Underline - setting/time
Underline Bold - sub setting
Italic - flashbacks, letters, notes, song lyrics
Italic Bold - texting
Italic Underline - texting
Bold Underline Italic - third person in text, extras
"Hat trick!" Annabeth yelled as she ran along the sideline of the field, high five her teammates, hugging Jason, who was also her teammate.
"The teams were so unfair." Annabeth heard some people in the audience said. She agreed with that statement, but it was a fair play, because the team were drafted and no one cheated. Scoring a hat trick was purely because she had Jason in her team, she wouldn't have scored it when playing against the boys.
On the far side of the pitch, standing in front of the gym was a guy with his hair still dripping water. He just stood out a minute ago, but he had witnessed the goal and the thrilled shout from the scorer. Smiling to himself, he shook his head slightly, not sure if it was out of delight or defeat.
"I love you Jason." Annabeth hugged him tightly after he scored his second goal in the game.
"Just some days ago, you were offended about me coming back to play."
"No, I didn't say that." She feigned innocent, but it certainly didn't fit the situation, the expression only made everything humorous.
"Yeah sure."
For the first time since Sophia's birth, Annabeth walked past the elevator that indicated the middle of the two apartment rooms. She walked across to Percy's apartment, finally found a day that she was free to do whatever she felt like. She thought maybe it was time for her to visit Percy's little sister, as she promised long time ago.
Knocking on the door out of polite, although she knew where the key was hidden, and gained permission from the Jacksons to enter using the keys whenever she needed, she still considered herself as an outsider, so she never touched the keys stuck behind the draining pipe. She could hear Sally and Paul's voice, and indistinctly hear the voice of a small girl, she could only assume that it was the two year old, Sophia, or Joan, she would call.
"Hello." Sally greeted formally before the door was fully opened. "Oh Annabeth!" She let the door swung open itself and surged forward at Annabeth for a hug. Annabeth smiled warmly and returned the hug. "Come on in." She welcomed her in. "You just missed Percy though, he went out with Rachel."
When she stepped in, something attacked her waist. Looking down, she saw a golden retriever jumping up and down, laying its front paws on her stomach, craving for her attention. She rubbed the back of its ears like she had done to all other dogs, and patted its head. Holding onto its paws, she gently placed it down. From the look of it, the dog was still at a young age. Probably just over six months old. She wonder why hadn't Percy mention it to her.
"Oh it's fine, I don't mind, I'm not here to see him anyway." Annabeth said referred to the information earlier from Sally before the dog came bounding up to her. "I'm here to see Joan."
"That's cool. She's with Paul in her room, which used to be the guest room." Annabeth nodded and stood up heading for the room. Sally, on the other hand, slumped down on the sofa and stared out blankly. Annabeth could tell that raising a child was tiring, it was already wearing her out. Paul didn't look much better. Although she only see him a limited times per week, each time she talked to him, he was more weary than the last time. It got better as Sophia grew, but she was still young and little, she still needed caring from adults.
Peeking through the crack of the door that was left ajar, she could see a small bed in the middle of a dimly lighted room. Paul sat beside it, reading a book using a small reading light. Quickly judging from the look, Joan was asleep, so she decided to come back later. She had all day, which was rare. Quietly, she made her way back downstairs to see Sally still in the position when she left to check on Joan.
The golden retriever looking dog quickly jumped up to its feet and sprinted towards Annabeth from beside Sally's feet.
"She was forbidden from going up the stairs." Sally explained lazily from the couch she was on, not bothered to change a position. "Her name's Benzo. She's so young that she's never afraid of strangers that enters our house and talks to us. She's only shy when she goes out."
"How come Percy never mentioned her to me?"
"He haven't?" Sally appeared to be rather surprised. "I don't know, he didn't really look that excited when Paul and I brought her home. Benzo was adopted though." The dog moved her ears at the mentioning of her name. Her tail wagged slightly.
"He likes children better than animals I guess." Annabeth sighed, kneeling down, effectively calmed Benzo down. "Do you mind if I take Benzo out?"
"Not at all." Sally said whilst pointing to the cupboard where the dog supplies were stored.
Annabeth stood up and went to get the leash. Benzo seemed to know that she was going out, her tail was wagging even more violently, hitting the wall beside her with thumps. Jumping up to reach for the leash excitedly as Annabeth held out the leash from the box. She tried to find the collar that was hidden under the long thick fur of Benzo's, but Benzo's excitement made it harder. She was bouncing up and down, trying to touch the leash that was high up in Annabeth's hand. After minutes of fighting between Annabeth and Benzo, Benzo finally yield under Annabeth's physical force. Annabeth raised her hand acting like she was going to hit Benzo, making her cringe and sat down obediently. Finally able to leash her, Benzo ran towards the door at full speed, making Annabeth stumble and trip over her shoes. Sally was laughing quietly from her viewing place, but also admiring how Annabeth could handle Benzo better than anyone in their house. She had a talent with dogs perhaps.
"Benzo no!" Sally could her Annabeth's call from outside as the door closed shut behind her. She shook her head in adoration, smiling to herself.
Walking on the street in the afternoon summer breeze, Annabeth really didn't know where she was going, or where she would go. She just didn't feel like bothering Sally or Paul, but she also didn't want to stay indoor, because she really had nothing in her mind but to walk around to random places. She wanted to saunter around the park like old people, walk into cafes just to get a cup of ice water. Malcolm had canceled on her for Bianca. Annabeth wouldn't deny the fact that she was slightly disappointed, but she had spent the majority of her weekends in Malcolm's university campus and with him and Bianca, it was probably time for the couple to have their own time together without a third wheel.
Being pulled into random bushes really wasn't a fun thing to experience, but she knew that Benzo hadn't really had a decent walk since she got into Percy's home. Staring at the road in front, making sure that she wouldn't bump into a street lamp due to Benzo's jostle in between bushes and trees on the side walk. When she thought Benzo was finally walking in a straight line and with her heads up, she started to accelerate suddenly, then came to a halt sending Annabeth flying over the corner.
She looked up, just few meters away from her, a redhead and a black head were walking shoulder to shoulder, bumping each other playfully. In their hands were drinks from a small local coffee shop. Suddenly, a brilliant idea formed in Annabeth's head. She would have to gamble, and she would have to put all her trust in Benzo. Pulling Benzo back near her, she knelt down next to her, told her to sit down, in which she did. Annabeth led her around the corner, prevented her from going forward by taking her collar in her hand; she unleashed her and pointed in front at the walking two, whispered something in her ears. Observing the reaction coming from the dog, Annabeth repeated the instruction in Benzo's ear over and over again, making sure that Benzo looked in the direction Annabeth's hand was pointing. She released her hand on its collar and whispered 'go!' in its ear. Benzo went dashing towards the couple, at least Annabeth hoped it was where she was going.
Much to Annabeth's relief, Benzo did what Annabeth think it would do. Charging at the two people that was only meters away, she circled around Percy, and when she was right in front of him, she jumped onto him, just like how she greeted Annabeth. From afar, she heard a yelp from Percy, then from Rachel, and several heads turned around to see what was happening. Annabeth was lucky that not much people were on the street, or else this wouldn't only scare two people, but perhaps twenty. She sniggered behind her hand as she leaned against the corner of the building — few steps in front of the spot where she let go of Benzo.
Percy was preoccupied by Benzo, that he was unable to check out the source of where Benzo came from. Rachel stood by his side, slowly recovering from her shock, turned around to see who let go of Benzo. Percy assumed Paul brought Benzo out for a walk, but he highly doubt that Paul would have the energy to walk around with a vigorous, energetic six month-old golden retriever on the leash. Just as he ran out of idea of who might that be, he heard a loud gasp beside him, that came from Rachel.
"What?" He asked, turning to Rachel instead of following after Benzo to see where she was running toward. Rachel pointed behind them, in the direction where Benzo was heading. A faint whistle sound could be heard over the loud noisy street constituent of cars and honks. He squinted his eyes, but still couldn't make out the silhouette of the figure stood around the corner.
"It's Annabeth." Rachel, who finally regained her composure, said as the figure sprinted around the corner and disappeared in thin air, Benzo hot on her tail, leash-less.
"Annabeth's not even in her apartment." Percy tried to convince himself that this wouldn't happen, since he didn't see Annabeth since the game on Thursday night. He subconsciously lifted his palm and touched the part where he got slapped.
"Don't. Don't talk to me." Annabeth sniffed into her palms, trying to control her emotions. "Don't talk to me, at least not now." She said once they high-fived the other team. Their forward was crying on the shoulder of a cheerleading friend of hers. Percy could tell that Annabeth was pissed off.
It was their last friendly game. The team they played was the one of the few teams that lost to them in tournaments and every league games, but this time they were defeated by them. If it was for the coach to say, he would say that the lost was nothing within their controlling range, because they had half of the team injured.
Annabeth walked to collect her water bottle from the side gloomily. Ignoring all the congrats from her acquaintances and cheers from her friends. Percy knew better than to try to soothe her, so he just told her that he would be waiting for her on the stand, in which she nodded to tell him the she heard it.
Percy saw their coach walking out of the room where the players all piled in earlier, he sighed. Percy didn't know what happened on the field, or why was everyone crying or at least on the verge of tears. He only knew that Annabeth needed time alone to calm herself. He waited for her as he promised, although it took him ages to finally see Annabeth walking out of the room the soccer team was in earlier.
When she got to him, the only thing she said was. "Let's go." It was in the smallest voice Percy had ever heard from Annabeth. He put an arm around her shoulder and tried to hug her, but got rejected. "Don't, don't even try to soothe me." Her tone was dangerous, it sent out a clear message that she didn't want any condolence. Percy just followed Annabeth after noticing that she didn't head towards the dormitories.
Five minutes of quietness was enough for Annabeth to calm herself down, enough for her to communicate normally. Percy realized that they were in the dark, somewhere remote in the school.
"I found this place accidentally. I liked it because it's quiet and dark." Annabeth answered Percy's silent question. He nodded, although he was pretty sure that Annabeth couldn't see him, but he did nevertheless. The silence passed on between the two for the next few moments when Percy finally spoke.
"Do you want me to start?" Percy asked. Annabeth shook her head, but made no sound. It was pitch black, they could not see one another apart from hearing and feeling each other. He took that silent as an agreement, so he opened his mouth. "You-"
He started, but was interrupted by Annabeth. "I know it was stupid of me to cry like a baby over a friendly game. I know that as a captain, I am the center of the team, I should be the supporter of the team, I should be stable, yet here I am, being the first one to let teardrops roll down my cheeks." She took a shaky breath and continued, looking up at the sky. "I admit I didn't trust our defensive line, and I didn't trust our goalkeeper the most. Before, the I wasn't the only one that supports the whole team, Samantha was the other one that would stand by me as we carry the team, but today, she's injured. I don't know what the fuck was wrong with the coach, that made him put Samantha in goal. I was already panicking when I noticed that we only have one substitute, including the slightly injured players. Samantha offered to play as a defender, but the coach rejected it." Percy listened to her rant patiently, trying to feel empathetic.
"You put too much pressure on yourself." He said softly, placing a hand on what he assume would be her knee.
"That's what all of you said."
"And that's what actually happened."
"I was panicking when I know that Samantha might not be on the field with me the whole time, but what scared me even more was the fact that she would be in goal."
"You don't have to put that much weight on your shoulder you know?"
"But I can't help it. I felt like every goal we concede was because of me, because I didn't get back fast enough."
"Your face had already told us everything: when the first goal was shot, you were pissed; and when the second ball bounced off your leg and went in the corner, you were pissed off. Furthermore, your shot from the midfield line proved how pissed you are."
"I know I didn't carry out my job as a captain well, my emotions influenced the whole team. My frustration about my own performance, my anger, and my hurrying made everyone panicked. I didn't stabilize the team, I've done the opposite."
"I don't know what to say, Annabeth, because I don't have this kind of experience, but I am here for you if you want to talk. You can talk to Jason to see if you two can have something in common."
They stood up, and slowly sauntered off to their dorms.
"You know what took me so long to come out?" Annabeth asked out of the blue.
"No."
"They crying after hearing my speech. Samantha was trying to say positive things to them as they cry." Annabeth stopped, turning around to face Percy, who followed her. "It was the most brainless thing I've ever done. Crying over a football game is stupid. Pure stupidity. I don't know why I cried like a baby, all I know is that my facial expression triggered them into thinking of negative stuff. As a player from the national team, I should have a positive mindset, but here I am, getting half of the team tearing up."
"But you were really good on the field. It was true. What they complimented about you were all true. Everything Samantha said was real. The team performed well, really well. You were just unlucky, the time wasn't right."
Annabeth shook her head. She held up one hand. "Stop, just stop. For the first time, Percy, shut the fuck up." Rage arose in her, she didn't know where the fury all came from, but she knew she couldn't hold it back anymore.
"No Annabeth, really, you need to think positively-" Percy's encouragement was cut off by a loud slap.
"I warned you to shut your mouth." Annabeth huffed furiously. Apologizing to Percy in her mind as she saw the red mark forming slowly. She lowered her head, conscious to every move of Percy's. She wanted to apologize, she knew what Percy and Samantha had said was right, but she didn't want to admit defeat, she didn't want to admit that she was wrong. Her ego and pride stood in the way once again. Oddly, Annabeth wanted to keep the negative thoughts in her mind, she wanted to strangle herself to death, she wanted to imagine her self dying painfully. She knew in order for her to survive in the national team and thrive, she would have to manage her emotions and hide them well.
"Percy?" Rachel's voice rang him out of his flashback.
"Huh?"
"Why are you holding your cheek?"
Two things he didn't notice as he had his flashback. One, he was walking; two, he was holding his cheek.
God that was embarrassing. He though to himself, grimaced internally.
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know, I was following you." Rachel said, sounding slightly worried.
"Where did Annabeth go?"
"I thought it wasn't Annabeth."
"You said it was."
"I guessed, I wasn't sure." Rachel eyed him weirdly, he was acting up just after he got scared by Benzo.
"Let's just forget about her and go home." He suggested at last, after trying to remember what was happening before the flashback. Rachel obeyed without another comment.
Percy turned the door knob of his apartment, it was strangely unlocked.
"Annabeth's in the garage if you are Percy." Sally's groggy voice came from the sofa once she heard the clicking noise of the door. "Benzo's there too if you are Rachel."
"Are you okay mom? You sound like a recorded tape."
"I'm fine, just tired."
"I need to go. Can't stay for dinner Mrs Jackson." Rachel excused herself politely. "Sorry. Bye." She exited after getting a wave from Percy.
"Go take a nap. Annabeth isn't guest." Percy suggested, urging his mom to sleep.
"Okay, okay, take care of her though." She stood up and stumbled up stairs.
"She's a month older than me for god's sake." He muttered and headed to the garage. Groaning internally at the thought of going downstairs again just to visit the garage.
"You changed your hairstyle." He said once he entered the garage.
"Shit!" Came Annabeth's cussing as she sent the ball flying towards the wall behind Percy. "You scared me."
"You did too earlier." Percy smirked calmly.
"That wasn't me." Annabeth replied in the same poker face that she held before Percy entered and interrupted her freestyle dribbling practice.
"Benzo. Same difference." Percy was nearly tricked by her again. "Are you staying for dinner?"
"Sure." She shrugged, juggling the ball, not paying any attention to Percy.
"Why'd you choose a sidecut? And why on the right side?"
"I don't know, looks cool I guess. Piper's hairstylist did that." She said nonchalantly. "Oh, and I also dyed a few strips of my hair." She dropped the ball and picked out the strips to show to Percy. "Teal gray. Piper's hairstylist can actually mix that color."
"Impressive." Percy commented, reaching for the ball, but was a step slower than Annabeth.
"Not gonna happen." She said as she kicked the ball in between his legs. "Nutmeg!" She yelled in triumph.
"Idiot."
"You no football player, you no fun." She said in simple English.
"Why are you here today anyway?"
"Initially," she started to play with the ball again. "I finally have a free day, so I decided to come visit Joan, but it turns out that she's asleep, so I took Benzo out, then I spot you and Rachel, so I unleashed Benzo to prank you. Then I went back home to play this. Simple right?"
"Sounds like a day." He said ironically.
"I'm not the only one who doesn't have a life okay?"
"Says the one who slapped me few days ago because I am trying to calm her down."
"I would've kicked you in the face with this ball right now if you said that on Friday." Annabeth said, half jokingly. Percy gave her a pointed look. "Fine, I apologize for slapping you." She said, that made Percy smile a little. "But you deserved it." This made the smile vanish instantly.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"It means, I warned you, but your behavior after the warning triggered me into slapping you. So after all, it wasn't my fault."
"You smooth lier." Percy threw the ball in his hand at her in full speed, but it was dodged by her. "Come on, now that I am back, come up stairs and entertain me."
"Fuck you."
"This works too."
"No. You entertain me and I will follow you up there." She put her hands on her hips, held up her chin and looked at Percy challengingly.
"Fine, anything you want boss."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him, but made no more comments and followed him out of the garage, not before kicking the ball one last time and let it bounce off the wall.
"I remember that I owe you something don't I?" Percy stopped Annabeth at her locker.
"Owe me what?" She stared at him, puzzled.
"I heard that I lost the bet."
"What bet? Oh!" She jumped up excitedly. "Yes you did! Loser!" She pointed at his face.
"So wait for me on the pitch tonight after your training."
"Okay."
On the pitch after the training, a couple of boys from the boys' team went on the field to play. Annabeth joined them. Showing off her freestyle skills like the other boys were doing. A competition of who had the most fancy skill started unconsciously. Everyone was impressed by Annabeth's fancy movements. When the footballers were still engrossed in showing off their personal skills, a crowd slowly formed around the pitch. The one of the boys suggested that they play 'dizzy goals'. Not sensing any weirdness, Annabeth agreed. She took out her phone, ready to film the boys in their awkward moves after turning in circles and going to shoot the ball.
When it was her turn, as she started to spin, five people stood in front of her. Annabeth was too dizzy to even kick the ball with power, she just struck her foot, and was satisfied that she had hit the ball before she fell to the ground. The ball hit the human wall, but it was unnoticed by Annabeth, until she opened her eyes to see what was written on their backs.
PROM?
Annabeth finally understood what was happening. Her mind went back to when Percy told her to wait on the pitch. She thought he wasn't going for the typical promposal, but with this start, it may as well be traditional. Rolling her eyes subtly, she stood up, a little stumbling towards the back, but stabilized herself quick enough.
"You made me hit people with no reason?" Annabeth demanded as Percy stepped out of the crowd.
"No, I just thought maybe I should add some obstacles in your path. Challenges suit you well." He replied like it was rehearsed.
"I clearly didn't see my 'obstacles' until the second before my foot touched the ball, which was already too late."
"That don't really matter." He waved his hand in a dismissible manner. "What matters to me, is you. I love you Annabeth." He walked up close to her slowly. The last part was said in a way, that only made Annabeth want to laugh, which was completely different from the tone you would hear from a proposal. In the end, she settled for a quizzical look with a raised eyebrow. She knew roughly what was going to happen; she knew generally which direction he was going, still, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous about what was coming next.
"Excited?" Percy mouthed as he kept closing the space in between them. Annabeth froze, didn't know what to do. She broke her eye contact with Percy and looked down as her forehead touched his. She exhaled, not sure if she was nervous or excited.
A/N: I just got a review on the story 'How I Greet My Boyfriend' from a guest recently, I feel bad for you people, because I haven't been updating that story for a long time. I just want to say that, the story is still ongoing, and I am still writing, I just don't exactly have that much time to finish it. I have a chapter, but it's not enhanced, so I didn't really want to post it just yet, but it will be up someday, hopefully soon. I promise, it's not dead.
A completely random question. Do you prefer a story narrated in the first person or third person?
I'm sorry for not updating unannounced. I was way too busy last weekend so I wasn't able to post this chapter, I will see if I have time to give you guys another one in addition to make it up to you for the long delayed update. If I get two updates up, will I be promised to get more than five reviews for each chapter? If I got 5 or more reviews for this chapter before Sunday midnight, you'll get another chapter on Monday.
It's not that I don't want to write or I don't enjoy writing, I do have chapters finished and prewritten and I did start writing what I planned to write, but the thing is: I am a lazy full-time procrastinator. I think of the story all the time, I think about plots and story lines, but I am just too lazy to write/type all of them down. I like all of my ideas, it's just that, I sometimes to have enough time, and due to my laziness, they didn't end up tangible.
I am getting busier and busier, I tried to find time and Internet to update, but when I can't, I can't, and there won't be an alternative to it. So if
Enough of me explain myself, trying to find excuses for not updating for another story and posting new ones that I've finished, the only obstacle in my path that is preventing me from posting is my laziness/procrastination skill.
Dedications
PoppyOhare: Thank you.
Slype99 Son of Poseidon: Lol, unique reviewer.
Fratzy: I am so grateful to know that my story is still one of your favorites, thank you! I will keep writing.
DemigodSassReaders: Thank you for your review! It's a surprise to see a review so long after an update. Looking forward to see you after this chapter.
For those who didn't get a dedication/reply but reviewed, that does not mean I don't want to reply or I dislike your review, its simply because I didn't see it. Either because of the system's email push service or because it did not show on the reviews area. I thank all of you who reviewed, and I apologize if you didn't get recognized. Blame the system not me, I would reply to every single one if I saw them. I swear I would.