So, this is what happened:
~ Annabeth and Percy spent a morning with Joan in the park playing
~ Piper's pregnant, but at the same time, she got the opportunity to walk on her dream fashion show
~ Annabeth's former roommate, Kate, reemerged and got robbed by Mark and gang
~ Percy got an apartment and has asked Annabeth to move in
~ The seniors graduated!
~ Malcolm and others are back for a visit
is where left we off...
_Fonts' variation will appear before every chapter on this same spot_
Bold - A/N
Underline - setting/time
Underline Bold - subsetting
Italic - flashbacks, letters, notes, song lyrics
Italic Bold - texting
Italic Underline - texting
Bold Underline Italic - third person in text, extras
"What a cliché choice of place to come for this day." Annabeth greeted her boyfriend at the top of the building, feeling like she would meet a lot of her couple friends at the same place; and feeling lame, because they chose to do something romantic on the day when they were supposed to have fun, and enjoy a school day without school.
"Well, I was thinking of fulfilling your childhood dream. Then we can go somewhere else once you've got enough of the views." Percy shrugged and said as a matter-of-fact.
"How amiable of you." She teased, kissing him on the cheek in appreciation. They exited the elevator at the top floor where you could have the most extraordinary view of the City of New York.
Compared to the other couple, they were the only pair that was wearing what was the most comfortable for them and not what would make the look the most appealing. It was slowly getting hot, and it wasn't a school day, Annabeth didn't think much before throwing on a loose tank-top and a pair of beach shorts, slipping on her flip-flops, and that was what she was going to wear for the rest of the day. However, she had forgotten about the plans she had made with Percy completely, at least not until Percy showed up at her door. Seeing that he wasn't wearing anything proper, she didn't bother to change anymore.
The wind blew her hair in her face and her voice away from her mouth and from Percy's ears. Too annoyed by the wind and her few loose strands of hair, she pushed herself up from the railing that she was leaning on earlier and started to put her hair together either in a messy bun or a pony tail, she still had to decide.
"Can't you just leave your hair alone for a day for me please?" Percy swatted away her hands and pleaded.
"Why? You sound like I am always doing my hair 24/7."
"No, I just like it when your hair's down, and conjured to the side like a long mohawk due to your very gang-like sidecut."
"But the mohawk covers up my dyed strands."
"That's not what people stare at when they first look at you."
"So you want people to stare at me?" She raised a quizzical eyebrow at his statements.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Can we go." Annabeth's face looked even more confused, she thought they were up there to enjoy the view and fulfill her childhood dream. "The wind kept blowing your hair in your eyes and you will need to tie it up, but I like it better when you let your hair down, so the solution to this is to leave this place."
"You are ridiculous." She eyed him in feigned disgust, but didn't bother with her hair anymore, she just stood facing the direction of the wind so that her hair would been blew away from her eyes. "So what do you reckon we do now?" Stepping back to the part of the railing that she was leaning on before she started to tie her hair.
Hearing no response from him, she went silence, but felt like something should be said. "I know you're probably going to say no, but I'm still telling you that I have a game next week." Annabeth said once she was done tying her hair. She patted off and smoothed the bumps, looking at Percy with a sheepish expression.
"Playing for which team?" Although that wasn't the respond she expected to come out of him, but it was better than the one she was waiting for.
"A local club." Her guards lowered only the slightest. He nodded, taking in account of her answer, then turned his attention away from her.
"So you're fine with it?" Annabeth couldn't help it, she was too surprised to keep her surprise to herself. Stepping closer to him, making sure her voice wasn't carried away by the wind.
"Fine with what?"
"Cut the shit Percy." She nudged him, getting his attention. He turned and gave her a questioning look. Rolling her eyes, she said. "You usually lecture me and talk the crap out of me just to prevent me from playing with a bad ankle, but now you seemed indifferent about it."
"I'm not indifferent." He stuffed his hands back into his pocket and faced Annabeth. "Because you get annoyed when I stop you from playing, and when you can't play you get upset, and I don't want to see you being unhappy; but if you played and injured yourself further, it also hurts me to see you in pain. So I don't know how to react."
Annabeth couldn't bring her eyes to his level, she had never thought of it from this angle. She stared behind him into space, didn't really know how to respond.
"How about we talk about something else. Like what are we going to do for the rest of the day." He suggested. "I don't fancy standing here all day long, just to get blown by the wind and staring at the same view for hours."
"Good point." She leaned closer into him, playing with the hem of his shirt while letting the wind blow away the few loose strands of her blonde hair. "Hey, I have an idea."
"Go on." Percy encouraged, not knowing what was coming at him.
"Let's go on an adventure." Annabeth said vaguely. Pulling Percy to the exit of the balcony. "What's your least favorite restaurant?" She asked.
"Uh… I don't know actually, there's quite a lot." Percy frowned, still lost. "Wait. Have you told me what's your idea or not?"
"No I haven't."
"Oh, okay, thought so."
"Am I really that confusing?"
"No, no. I'm just not really looking forward to your adventures, they all seemed intimidating." He commented casually, but Annabeth heard the amusement tone behind all the seriousness displayed.
"Sí, sí." (Yes in Spanish, just in case you haven't noticed.) Annabeth nodded absentmindedly, she was looking down at the map on her phone, trying to find the nearest place that would have food. "Then what's your least favorite food?" She asked, still facing scrolling down her phone, relying on Percy's navigation completely, and hoping that he would bring them to an exit.
"My least favorite food? I like basically everything."
Annabeth looked up and gave him a glare. "Okay, okay, I'll think about it right now, boss." She looked back down when he started considering.
"Save it. We can just go to…" Her voice trailed off, as if she changed her mind. "No, forget that." She muttered to herself. "Oh!" She suddenly brightened up, getting off her phone. "Let's go buy a goat yogurt. We all hate goat milk product right?"
"Yup. I already feel sick just thinking about it." He burped, holding his stomach, acting ill. "I really shouldn't've asked you out. It was probably my worst decision." He winced, in all seriousness.
"That was real offensive bitch." Annabeth remarked. "Lucky that I'm your girlfriend and not someone you just met."
"I am grateful to have found you as my girl Annie." He smirked. "That I will never deny, but hanging out with you on daily bases can kill me."
"Nah, you chose me, so you'll have to stick with me."
"I can ditch you all I want."
"And what makes you think that I cannot do the same huh?"
"I bet we can start a real fight within few exchange of words."
"Wanna bet?"
"No. In all honesty, no I don't want to bet on that-"
"Because I don't think we can actually argue seriously, as in fighting fighting."
The confusing logic in her sentence cracked a grin on her face, she gave up the attempt in trying to finish the sentence in a way that it would make sense. Confusion was evident on Percy's face as well; apart from that, he also had a face of mockery once caught her eyes.
"Ah! Just forget that! Shall we?" She asked hopefully, and frustratedly, trying to shield her face with her hands, and away from the embarrassment that she had conjured herself. Percy was simply laughing and thinking about nothing else, her own reaction made everything worse. "Go look for the disgusting yogurt and stop laughing at me with your eyes." She forcefully turned his face to face another direction. He let his laugh become audible.
"So what do we do with it?" Percy took the yogurt from the woman's hand and turned to Annabeth asking what's next.
"Wanna go sit down in the park?" He nodded and made their way to the park next to the store. "So this is what I'm thinking. We play Never Have I Ever, and instead of drinking, we eat a spoonful of this shit." He gave her a disgusted look but agreed slowly by nodding his head in the slowest motion.
"I start?" He asked as she was peeling off the yogurt wrapping.
"I start. Lady's first."
"Oh so now you admit that you're a lady." He scoffed jokingly.
"Fine then, you start, lady's first."
She waited for him to start, but he didn't he just busied himself from trying not to choke from the laughter of Annabeth's lame joke that was somehow funny to an extent.
"See, I have to start in the end. Never have I ever been told that I am unromantic." She quickly thought of one and said.
"Have you?" Percy asked before taking the spoon in Annabeth's hand and dipped it into the yogurt.
"No, two reasons. One I don't have that many boyfriends. Two, of course I start with things that I haven't done before, this game, fundamentally, is to help people get to know each other better."
"Oh fuck this shit. God, gross." Percy gulped down a mouthful of water after intaking a spoonful of yogurt. "I'm so gonna get back at you."
"Think hard then Jackson." She chanted next to him, swinging her legs, kicking the dirt up as she did so.
"Um…" He placed the yogurt in between them on the bench and placed his chin on the root of his palm. "Never have I ever had a one-night stand."
"What do you want to know about me?" She protested, angrily stuffing the yogurt in her mouth. "The yogurt's actually not as bad, since it's still icy." Speaking against her grimacing facial expression, she stuck the spoon back into the yogurt. "So you've never had a one-night stand? I don't believe you." She shook her head; her eyes piercing through his skull through his temple.
"I never had one. I really haven't." He defended.
"You're making me sound like the bad person here."
"You might really are one. Just hidden to well." He nudged her suggestively.
"Then you're the slut's boy." She smirked. Self-sabotaging was some common occurrence to her; she enjoyed making fun of herself and viewing herself lowly on her own. Though, of course, all of that negativity was kept to herself, and always to herself, never revealed to anyone.
"No, I'm the player's boy."
"Gross." Fake gagging, she moved the yogurt cup more to the middle of the bench to prevent it from falling off accidentally in case one of them got too excited and pushed it off. "My turn to screw you." She said smugly. "Never have I ever… Had a one-night stand."
Percy bulked large his eyes. Without muttering a single sound, he slowly picked up the yogurt and ate a spoonful.
"I wonder who might that poor-soul be?"
"That's not part of the game." Percy dismissed her question roughly, causing suspicious to rise within her. She raised an eyebrow, but let it slip. "My turn." Eager to change the atmosphere, he put down the yogurt and said, still disgusted from the aftertaste of the food.
The game continued, until they finished the yogurt, the cup was clean and shiny, free of any trace of yogurt. Annabeth couldn't believe herself actually finishing a goat yogurt, even licking it clean. She felt grossed out, but the game was fun.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Graduation
Taking the day off yesterday could be a good chance for the seniors to get prepared for their graduation ceremony and prom (graduation afterparty, organized by students), of course, no one bothered to do anything about it.
As two of the chosen valedictorians, Percy and Annabeth spent their day torturing themselves with goat milk product. For the first time, they had not crammed in the last hour of the day before the actual show.
Not only they were qualified valedictorians, they were also talented enough to be asked to perform. In other words, more straightforwardly, entertain the audience, aka., the founders and the principal of the school. Annabeth didn't remember agreeing to do that on her own free will, but he did remember her teacher adding this task on her not allowing any discussion.
They were sitting in the alphabetical order of their last name. The seats were surrounding the center platform in an U-shape. Right across the platform, Annabeth could spot Tiffany, who had her thumbs tapping the bottom of the screen feverishly; she then scanned her eyes around the section that was directly in front of the stage, she caught Percy's eyes. He sent her a wink and a subtle smile, but before she was able to respond, their connection was cut off by someone walking in front of Percy to get to their assigned seat. She could only smile to herself in response to Percy's behavior, a smile that couldn't be submerged appeared on her face.
They sat through the opening speeches made by the founders, the principals and also the other important staff. All this time, Annabeth had been staring at Tiffany intently for no reason. She did that out of boredom, and find staring at her fun, since one, she was right across her, so she didn't have to turn her head in the opposite direction of the stage, which could prove her not paying respect to the speaker; second, whenever Tiffany sensed that someone was staring at her, and looked in Annabeth's way, she would turn to the stage and pretend nothing happened, and sometimes a confused expression would form on Tiff's face. That was the only amusement she had throughout the whole assembly. Performances and awards were after all the useless speeches and other 'important' craps.
When the stage was finally left for the students to make their speeches and entertain the VIPs, Annabeth was already half-asleep, and she could see that Percy's brain was probably already in hibernation mode. Upon hearing the word 'valedictory speech' she slapped herself on the cheek to wake herself up, the sound of her slap was covered up by the clapping sound from the crowd, however, the slap didn't avoid bringing attention from the people sitting around her. They all turned and gave her a incredulous look after clapping and welcoming the first student to make their valedictory speech.
Once all the speeches were made, it was time for performances, and she was due to be preparing for her two performances at the backstage. She was grateful that she didn't have to step over people's laps to reach her seat. She was the last one to make the valedictory speech, coming down from the stage, she saw Percy already at the backstage.
He was gaping at his phone, once hearing the student M.C.s announced it was time for awards, he looked up to find Annabeth staring at him. "Dude, is this your test paper? The final one you took?" Percy whispered, approaching her, his jaw not being able to close on its own.
Annabeth turned to him in respond to the light nudge he gave her to catch her attention, he pulled up and zoomed into the image that he was admiring at perviously. "Yeah." Acknowledging it after examining it closely. "I got all A stars in IGCSE." Annabeth said like it was no big deal. "But how'd you get it?"
"They are now using your piece as examples for the candidates for next year? Paul sent them to me, told me that they were yours." She nodded, as if she was used to having her work used as examples. "What was your score for practical in PE again?"
"A 50, full mark; a 48; a 46, and a 38. I sucked at basketball, and still do. But swimming's easy to get full score."
"You only got one mark off from your English paper right?"
"Goodness, don't remind me of that." She turned her attention back to the ceremony, but her last whisper didn't slip from Percy's ear. He was grinning from ear to ear.
As valedictorians, Percy and Annabeth's names were, of course, included in the list of awards handed by the founders. They not only fit to the GPA standard of receiving a founders' award, their achievements in extra-curricular activities outside and inside of school were also significant. As school team captains, they were called up to be thanked by the team and the vice captain for the achievements they had led the team to. When every formality was gone from the atmosphere in the room, the 'entertainers' changed to the clothes that they prepared for their performances.
Annabeth was going to perform the first one with Tiffany, and the graduation ceremony was going to end on her second one with Percy.
Tiffany had a white crop top and a pair of denim shorts, her pony tail pulled up high and tight, her straight, thick dark brown hair covering both of her shoulders like a blanket. Annabeth took off her formal shirt for the graduation photo and her skirt as part of the uniform, revealing a loose tank top with built in sports bra; stripping off her skirts, her yoga shorts with a turquoise waistband, the same combination as her top. Black and turquoise.
"Ooo~ Sexy." Percy whispered in her ear as he sneaked up behind her, slipping his hands under her loose top.
"And you just have to comment." Annabeth snorted, folding up her clothes and changed her shoes. "Can I trust you with putting my stuff together when I'm on stage?" She turned around in his arms, letting his hands resting on her bare skin. Fiddling with his tie and collar rather than fixing it like other girlfriends do, Annabeth was starting to feel giddy about the performance.
"No you cannot trust me with that." He joked, getting an annoyed look from her. "You'll be just fine." As if reading her mind, he cooed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. He moved her hair to the left side, showing off the sidecut. "Let that rebel look be put on display." Giving his masterpiece another kiss, he let herself enhance the work once more and watched her as she disappeared onto the stage.
"I have no idea what's this song has to do with this whole graduation thing. I don't even know why the teacher wanted me to sing." Annabeth was about to start a rant after she got off stage.
"Well, I can only guess that the teachers chose you because, you have a perfect GPA and high achievements in every other categories in life." Percy laughed at his vague description, and continued with his bullshit reasoning. "Then you are from California, so you are a California girl, technically. And since Tiffany is the other typical Californian looking girl in our grade, they stuffed you two together to perform. As to why this song out of all songs? I can't think of a reason."
"No kidding, even bullshitting can't explain the relationship between graduation and this song. Whoever planned the program of this ceremony had something for Katy Perry." Annabeth chuckled, not really paying attention to the conversation. "Oh well then, let's just focus on the only reasonable song shall we? Ready to show off your beautiful voice darling?" She flirted, bumping her shoulder into his playfully, while rehearsing her part of the song in her mind.
Mental rehearsal was important to any kind of performance.
It was what she learned and heard several times from her coaches. Lip syncing with the lyrics in her mind as she sat on her pile of clothes that she had just neatly folded, waiting for her time to shine.
Finally it was time, for Percy to go up. When the prelude of the music sounded from the piano played by none other than the musically talented Tiffany, the crowd cheered and clapped for the loudest, because they knew it was the last song to hear and it would be the best one so far.
It's been a long day without you my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
The cheering became louder as Percy appeared on stage, giving Tiffany a nod as he went passed her.
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
Then Tiffany stopped playing, the electronic music blent in perfectly well, too well that people didn't notice Tiffany had gotten off stage.
Damn who knew all the planes we flew
Good things we've been through
That I'll be standing right here
Talking to you about another path I
Know we loved to hit the road and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn't last
Had to switch up look at things different see the bigger picture
Those were the days hard work forever pays now I see you in a better place
It was Annabeth's turn to show up. She, from the other side of the stage, holding a mic, ascend the stairs while starting to rap.
How could we not talk about family when family's all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gonna be with me for the last ride
She finished her first part and allowed her voice to fade out at the last part, Percy started his singing right on beat, there seemed to be no gap in between apart from their voices difference.
"We would like to use this song to mark the end of the graduation ceremony of the seniors. Our future is long and full of surprises, we only hope to work hard everyday and see the hard work pay off. On behalf of all seniors, I wish to see you again." Tiffany walked up to the stage and stood next to Percy, she finished the short ending speech as the epilogue of the song and the ceremony. Her speech finished shortly before the tune of the song ended.
The perfect timing of the last performance drew a perfect full stop to their ceremony and to their high school life. It was now time for the seniors to relax and go crazy!
Afterparty
Graduation ceremony equals to kicking the seniors out of school, and from that day on, they were visitors to the school, and no longer part of the student body. Happily packing up her bags, and bidding her friends and other acquaintances goodbye, Annabeth loaded her stuff into her car and drove home; it was the happiest day of her life, she was never this ready to be out of school.
Throwing the door open and dragging her heavy suitcase inside with her beddings on top in another bag, she was surprised to see the sofa was occupied by someone. Upon hearing the clicking sound of the door, the person on the sofa looked up at the door.
"Malcolm!" Annabeth dropped all of her belongings on the floor by the door, kicking the door shut as she did so, then she took off towards the couch and flew into the open arms of her brother. "You didn't tell me you're coming back."
"Why would I do that?"
"So that I can prepare something or a gift for you."
"And why would I want that?" Malcolm smiled, ruffling her hair in a brotherly way. "The whole point is to surprise you."
"Touché."
"Ditto."
They laughed, both thought of the same movie that they had watched, the only romance fantasy thriller they had watched together.
"How's Bianca?" She asked in courtesy, after calming down from the laughters.
"Why don't you go next door and see yourself?"
"Why do you have to answer everyone of my questions with a question?" She gave him a pointed look and got off the sofa walking across the hall to Percy's apartment. She pushed open the door that was left ajar, the noise level was equivalent to a party, a mix of laughters and a high pitched voice from a little girl was clearly hearable.
"What do you think you're doing Chase?" Annabeth turned around to see Percy smirking with his luggages. She only realized that she looked sneaky from the back, but that was only because Percy caught her in action, and she was just debating whether to knock or just barge in.
"Do you know that you have a bunch of visitors?" She asked, deciding not to mention the fact that he had scared her.
"I- wait what? Who?" He looked confused. "Are you tricking me into something?"
"No, didn't you hear the noises coming from, I am pretty sure, your house." She pointed to the door behind her.
"I don't. I don't know that I'll be having visitors."
"Then why don't you go say hi to your intruders." She pushed open the door with her back and stepped into his house after he did.
"Percy! Percy!" Joan bounded to the door, jumping on her brother. Percy had just put down his stuff on the floor by the door, and hadn't have the time to stand up straight when Joan jumped on him. He caught her just in time.
Annabeth stood aside, creating space for Percy, just in case he fell. She turned to the door when she heard the presence of another person. It was Malcolm.
"What's happening?" He chuckled, Annabeth was about to reply, when she saw his eyes widen, not sure in fear or surprise, because she didn't have time to analyze it. The next thing she knew, there was a pair of fury calloused paws scratching down her arm painfully.
"Hey Benz bud." She let the dog down on her feet and ruffled her head, returning the warm welcome.
"Thalia, Benzo's gone. Make sure she doesn't go to Joan." Annabeth heard Sally's voice called, her ears perked up at the mention of her best friend. She let go of Benzo and rushed inside to where Sally was.
"Thals?" She called. Benzo followed right behind her very closely, she nearly tripped on it when she took an abrupt turn into the kitchen.
"Boo!" "Ahh!"
Annabeth stumbled forward as Thalia jumped on her back. Then before she could greet Thalia properly, another pair of hands was placed on her eyes, then a deep voice whispered in her ear. "Guess who."
"Luke Castellan at my service." She pried the hands off, turned around and hugged the attacker in one swift move.
"Welcome back bitches!" She shouted as she pulled the two in a group hug.
"Thalia?" Sally's voice separated the trio from their hug. "Oh sorry." She apologized, realizing that she might be interrupting a reunion. "Oh hey Annabeth. Malcolm's looking for you."
"Yes Sally?" Thalia released Annabeth from the hug, then turned to Percy's mother.
"No, it's fine, no wonder Benzo's jumping up and down in the room, her favorite companion's here." Sally smiled at Annabeth. "Benzo's favorite pal." She patted Annabeth on the back and went out of the kitchen, resuming whatever she was on.
"Is Benzo not allowed to be out when Joan is?" Annabeth wondered.
"I'm surprised that you don't know." A new voice entered the kitchenette.
"She was never grounded when I'm here." She answered her boyfriend, who just entered with Joan still in his arms.
"Benzo's too hyper and big for Joan, so we decided to limit Benzo's free space."
"Hey, that's so unfair for her." Annabeth coming into the dog's defense, rubbing the back of her ear. "Then what are you doing here? Benzo follows me everywhere, so if you want to find me, don't bring Joan with you."
"That's why I didn't let her on the ground. By the way, your brother's asking for you, and he's a little shocked by how hyper a dog Benzo is." Percy informed, dodging from the wavering arms of Joan.
"Wanna play with the dog Joan?" Annabeth asked, played with her small hand briefly as she stepped out of the kitchenette to find Malcolm. "So, how's life brother…" Her voice faltered when she turned the corner just to see her brother having a moment with his girlfriend, Bianca, cuddling on the couch.
A/N: People, check my profile to see most recent announcements. I am really sorry for not updating in a long time, but my exam season is really a season, it lasts for a whole month.
Dedications
Guest (Chapter 25): Ikr, it sucks, and I hate it, especially when I am still not done with it. But, thanks anyways.
Fratzy: Er... It was...? Okay, maybe for the readers, but if Piper's lack of appearances in the future chapters disappoints you, my apologies.
Guest (Chapter 9): Thank you :)
PoppyOhare: At first sight of your review, I thought you meant it like, you liked the ending of this story/chapter more, and I was like, 'what? the story's isn't finished', but then, when I rethink about it, I realized that there should be a full stop in between lmao.
Slype99 Son of Poseidon: Hey it's cool man, 'enjoy' your exams, don't stress yourself out (though I might not be a very great example). Hope you've done well in them, and I certainly hoped that I did well in mine, but that's kinda depending on fate, right?
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.