HELLO MY FANS OF FANFICTION, I AM BACK! I'M SORRY FOR MAKING YOU WAIT SO LONG, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSPIRATION OR DESIRE TO WRITE. I'VE BEEN SICK AND STILL AM SICK, BUT THIS CAME TO ME WHILE I WAS SLEEPING (DON'T ASK ME HOW THAT WORKS, EVEN I DON'T KNOW). I REALLY HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER. I'M STILL WORKING ON MORE, BUT I DECIDED TO POST THIS SO YOU'D HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD YOU OVER. WELL, HOPE YOU LIKE IT!
I was rendered speechless. What was I supposed to say? It didn't seem like I needed to say anything cause my mom chose that moment to walk in and find her children utterly confused. Well all her children except for one, the one who was in the middle of the room flushed and dark-eyed: me.
Athena took a deep, calming breath before pushing her way through her other children. She turned around and faced them. "Would you mind giving me a moment with Annabeth?"
The others just nodded and left the cabin, leaving me alone with a very stone-quiet Athena. She took one look over my appearance and seemed to come to a conclusion before I could even say anything.
"You were with him, weren't you?" Athena said, pronouncing him with disgust.
"I don't know what you're are talking about." I said, feigning ignorance.
"Annabeth, don't you dare lie to me!" Athena shouted, coming closer to me and grabbing my chin. "I can see it in your eyes, on your skin. Annabeth! I can smell the sea like an aura around you. I bet you didn't know that. He leaves a faint trace of the sea around you. That's what children of the Big Three seem to do. Children of the Sea God leave the faint smell of the ocean, children, even though there is none, of the Sky God would leave the smell of the ozone and children, even though there is none, of the God of the Dead would leave the smell of death." (A/N: the smell stuff is completely made-up, so don't take it as truth)
"I never knew that." I muttered, sniffing arm.
Athena's features softened the tiniest bit. "You can't smell it dear, only other Gods can. His smell is all over you, so don't you dare lie again when I ask: you were with him, weren't you?"
I knew lying would get me nowhere, so I ducked my head and stared at the ground. "Yes." I whispered.
"What am I going to do with you?! I try and try to keep you away from him, but you never listen. Why are you so intent on being with him?" Athena yelled.
"I like him mother! Why can't you understand that?" I asked in a louder voice.
"Because he is the son of that despicable Sea God! He has the ocean running in his veins! Why do want him so badly Annabeth!?" Athena yelled again.
"I already told you mother: I. Like. Him." I said, putting emphasis on the last three words.
"No. No Annabeth. I am not obtuse or I wouldn't be the Wisdom Goddess." She said, shaking her head.
I have had enough of Athena. She might be my mother, but insinuating something I had no idea about was just crossing the line. "Then what mother! What is it?"
"You are rebelling. It is only a teenage-thing. It will pass." Athena concluded, a smile on her face.
That was when I snapped. "No mother! You might be the Wisdom Goddess, but you are obtuse when it comes to the matters of the heart."
"Annabeth Chase! How dare you talk to me in that manner!" Athena said in an angry tone.
"You know what mother? I. Don't. Care. You will not seem to listen to what I've been telling you since this all started." I yelled, not caring if the whole camp heard.
"And what is that Annabeth? What have I not seen that you have seemed to discover?" Athena asked in an equally loud voice.
"That I love him mother!" That phrase came out of my mouth before I could stop it. It was like someone reached into my heart and pushed it to my mouth, forcing me to say the words I've been thinking over since my relationship with Percy begun.
Athena looked like she was slapped. "I cannot believe what I'm hearing. No, you possibly cannot be in love with that sea spawn!"
It was like something clicked in my head, well, more like my heart and I smiled. "Yes, yes I can. It all fell into place just now mother. I love him. I love him more than anything." (A/N: yeah, this might be a bit OOC, but I don't care. She's in an argument with her mother and we do all know she loves Percy 'cuz they are meant to be. Discussion closed.)
Athena was rendered speechless, I think. It didn't look like she had anything else to say, so I turned around and left the cabin. After a minute of walking, the realization of what I just professed hit me full force. I love Percy Jackson. I love him. Before I realized it, I was in-front of the Aphrodite cabin. I walked up the steps and tentatively knocked on the door.
The door opened to reveal Silena in her pajamas. "Annabeth?"
The awareness that it was bedtime hit me and I smacked my face. "I'm so sorry. Were you sleeping?"
"No. We all were just preparing for bed. Something I can do for ya?" Silena asked, leaning against the doorframe.
I swallowed nervously and looked to the ground, but before I could ask anything, Aphrodite appeared at the door.
"Annabeth! What is my favorite daughter of Athena doing at my cabin at such an hour?" Aphrodite said, smiling like she already knows.
Then a memory hit me. "Oh, silly Annabeth. As the Goddess of all things Love, I know the instant people fall in love." I looked down at the ground and blushed.
"Annabeth, what's wrong?" Silena asked, clearly not as in-tune as her mother.
"Silena, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Tell me what you sense about our dear friend." Aphrodite said, placing a hand on Silena's shoulder.
Silena did what her mother told her and a second later her eyes flew open. "Oh my Gods, Annabeth! You love Percy!"
I think my blushing increased. "So, since you know now, I have a question."
"Ask away, my young friend." Aphrodite said.
"Can I stay here tonight? I know it breaks about a dozen rules, but there is no way in Hades I can be around my mother tonight." I said, looking at the ground.
"Oh, pish-posh to the rule, Annabeth. This is my cabin and I will allow whoever I want to stay in here." Aphrodite said. "Especially if that person is you." She ushered me in.
Silena threw her arm around my shoulders and led me to an empty bed. "You can sleep here. Let me get you some clean pajamas."
Silena went into the cabin's mile-long closet and came out with some pajamas for me. She threw them to me and I took a look at them. The top was a white with pink lining around the top and the word "Love" printed in the middle in pink cursive. The bottoms were pink Juicy Couture boxer-shorts. I rolled my eyes and changed into them. They were comfy, regardless of how girly they were. I snuggled into the bed, which was a lot more comfortable than mine, and was quickly out like a light.