Percy's POV
I ran to Annabeth's room. I knocked but no one answered. With a weird sense of deja vu, I pushed the door open. She was on the bed, deep in thought.
I was about to tiptoe away and not disturb her when she seemed to realize I was there.
"Percy." She glared at me.
"Annabeth, I'm sorry for all that earlier." I apologized. Why is it that I'm the one always apologizing? I guess it's because I'm the one doing all those dumb mistakes.
I continued. "I didn't mean that you're not a great leader. You are. If there's anyone I want leading this investigation, it would be you. Rachel-"
She held up one hand to stop my babbling.
"I don't want to talk about it." She said coolly. "It's bad for the investigation. So let's not continue on the subject."
I wanted to say more but I decided to keep my mouth shut. That's Annabeth. Business first.
Her voice softened. "I need to talk to you about something." She motioned for me to sit on the bed.
I was close enough to see her stormy gray eyes, normally determined and intimidating, as if she was thinking of a million things a minute, are now tired and sad. I wanted so badly to comfort her, but I didn't know how.
"What is it?" I asked her, concerned.
She sighed. "A woman came last week. Said I was related to her somehow. She wanted to adopt me. She's a single mother with a three year old son, Bobby. I never had a mom. And I miss taking care of a younger brother."
She avoided my eyes.
"I'm sure you miss Matt. I miss him too. Remember he used to tug my hair every time I visited?"
She said nothing.
"It's too bad we didn't get to watch the fireworks." I said in a failed attempt to cheer her up.
"You don't get it, do you?" She said her voice cracking. "She asked me if she could adopt me. And I said..." She hardened her voice. "I said yes."
A/N: Please don't kill me! You didn't see that coming, did you? Anyway, review!