Hello, lovely people!
In the chapter titled "Nightmare," Percy tells Maya he isn't above reminding her how lucky she is one day, when she's older and thinks she knows better than her parents. I got a request to write just that. Maya, I think, might be a bit OOC here, but we all had our moments as teenagers, right? Regardless, I hope you enjoy it.
Percy is 30.
Maya is 13.
"I could have sworn I signed this same form last year," my mom said, studying the page before her on the table, pen in hand.
"You probably did," I replied, "They send the same ones every year." She shook her head but signed her name on the designated line. She was Noah's emergency contact person for school, as well as someone authorized to pick him up in place of his parents, and as such, for whatever reason, the elementary school required her signature as well as our own. The new school year resulted in a whole new set of paperwork and I'd stopped by on my way home from work today to let her sign everything. For the moment, it was just the two of us in the apartment, but Paul would be arriving home with Maya any minute.
"Is that everything?" my mom asked now, straightening.
"Should be," I answered.
"Great." She stacked the forms neatly in a pile and pushed them toward the table's center. "How was work today?"
"Good," I said, and then continued emphatically, "The tropical fish are very unhappy with the new Angelfish we added yesterday. Apparently, she's a huge gossip." I'd spent my day listening to them complain about her.
My mom laughed. "Is she now?"
I nodded, laughing with her. "They desperately want her taken away."
"Well, I guess you'll just have to tell them they have to learn to get along."
I snorted. "I'll do that. I'll tell them you said so too."
She laughed again and then sobered. "How's Annabeth? Is she still not feeling well?"
I shrugged. "Her back hurts, her feet are swollen, and she says she's big as a house. And I don't think she's been sleeping well either. I told her to take the day off yesterday and just rest, but she didn't, of course. She insists on working right up until the baby's born." I shook my head—it had been a source of disagreement for us over the past week.
"I believe it," my mom said, her blue eyes sparkling with mild amusement. "She's nothing if not dedicated."
I snorted. "You can say that again."
The opening of the front door sounded from outside the room then, followed a second later by the sound of Maya's voice, currently pleading and slightly whiny. "But Dad, why can't I go? It's not like it's on a school night."
"I don't care, Maya," responded Paul's voice, sounding more than a bit aggravated. I guessed they'd probably been at it for a while. Across from me, my mom sighed in a way that made me think she had had this conversation with her daughter as well. And admittedly, Maya did occasionally have her moments of 'obnoxious teenager.' Paul continued, "You're not going out alone to some expensive, late-night concert with a bunch of people we don't know."
"They're not bad kids—"
"How would I know that? I don't know them; I've never met their parents. It sounds to me like you don't even know all of them very well yourself."
"They're friends of friends. Aubrey knows them all."
"Well that's nice, Maya, but I don't. I don't even know Aubrey, and I'm supposed to just let you gallivant around an hour outside the city with a bunch of random kids? What kind of parent would that make me?"
"I don't know, a cool one?"
"Well, that's wonderful, pumpkin, but I'd rather be a good dad over a cool one any day."
Maya let out a noise of exasperation. With a sigh, my mom stood now and left the kitchen, mabe to back Paul up. A second later, I heard my sister ask again, "Why can't I go?"
"Because you're thirteen, Maya," came Mom's cool reply, "And like your father just got through saying, you have no reason to go. I went through this with you yesterday. My answer's not changing, so please drop it." Footsteps sounded again then and I guessed she'd continued down the hallway. Apparently the living room hadn't been her destination after all.
"Daddy, please—" my sister tried again.
"Enough, Maya."
"But I never get to do anything!"
"You know as well as I do that isn't true. You do plenty of fun things that are both local and age appropriate, but if you hate them so much, do let me know and I'll stop wasting my money on them."
"But—"
"When you're an adult and have your own money, feel free to do whatever, with whomever you want. But in the meantime, while you're under my roof, you'll do what I say. And I say you're not going. Understood?"
Maya had gradually retreated further out of the living room as she argued and now cast a shadow into the hallway directly outside the kitchen entrance. It stomped its foot in time with her now. "I hate you!" she yelled, her voice breaking on the last word. I blinked at her words, taken slightly aback. Maya just stormed up the hallway now, passing the kitchen without so much as a sideways glance, and closed herself in her bedroom with a thud.
Still standing beside the table, I remained there awkwardly for a few more seconds until Paul walked into the kitchen a moment later. "Oh," he said, faltering half a step upon seeing me, "Hi."
"Hey, Paul.
"I, uh, guess you heard all that, huh?"
I shrugged. "It happens."
He gave a conceding gesture and then crossed the room and planted himself down in a chair beside the one my mom had just vacated. He ran a weary hand through his hair and regarded me. "Something to look forward to," he added wryly.
I snorted. "Yeah…"
Paul gave a laugh at the expression that apparently settled on my face at the thought. Then he sighed and leaned forward, resting his chin in a hand atop the tabletop. "They told me those words were coming," he said, "But nothing can really prepare you for the day your kid tells you she hates you." He shook his head.
"She doesn't mean it," I offered awkwardly. In truth, I hadn't exactly borne witness to many of my sister's arguments with our parents. She'd barely been talking when I moved out.
"I know she doesn't," he answered. My mom walked back in then, setting a basket of bed sheets near the doorway, and stepped behind Paul to rub his shoulders. It seemed a very natural action for the two of them.
With a sigh, I glanced across the room at the stove clock. "I guess I should get going," I said, "I told Annabeth I wouldn't stay long." My mom nodded. I met her eyes and then glanced in the direction of Maya's room. "Should I… say bye?" I asked awkwardly.
"Go ahead," Paul said with a slight edge, "While you're at it, feel free to remind her how lucky she is to have parents who care about her." I blinked, but he was already apologizing. "Sorry," he said with a sigh, "That was uncalled for."
"It's alright," I replied, "I understand." Paul, the apology still in his eyes, nodded and put his face in his hands then. I decided it was a good time to leave the room.
I knocked lightly on Maya's door and then tried the knob. I was honestly surprised to find it unlocked. I peeked my head inside. My sister was sprawled across the covers of her bed, staring sulkily at the ceiling. She turned halfheartedly to look at me. Mild surprise flashed cross her face, interrupting the annoyance. "Hey," I said.
"Hi," she replied dully, looking the least bit embarrassed now as well, "Didn't know you were here."
I shrugged. "You were a bit preoccupied." She gave a tiny, stubborn shrug in response. "Anyway, I came to say bye. I'm heading out."
She sat up now and brought her knees to her chest, folding her arms atop them. "You're not going to lecture me?" she asked dully.
"No," I said simply, "It's not my place."
"That's never stopped you before," she muttered, a hint of attitude seeping back into her voice.
"Trust me, Maya," I told her, my own tone hardening now, "I really don't think you want to hear my thoughts at the moment."
"Why?" she demanded, ""Because you were perfect growing up and never argued about anything?"
"Not like that," I said quietly, "I wish my problems at your age had been as simple as not being allowed to go to a concert. And that they'd been minor enough in comparison to make that concert important enough for me to tell Mom I hated her for it." At this, my sister appeared to shrink a little and, I had to admit, I found this mildly satisfying. Maybe it was low of me to pull the card I had, but I didn't really regret it just now.
"Is Dad really mad?" she asked, studying the swirled pattern of the comforter below her.
"I think he's more hurt than mad, actually," I said, leaning against her doorframe now and crossing my arms. "What you said was pretty horrible."
She didn't say anything immediately, but eyed me. "You're mad," she pointed out then.
I made an effort to school my features, but I guess the damage was already done. I sighed and admitted, "Yeah, I guess I am."
"…Why?"
I sighed again and then, after a pause, admitted, "Because I don't think you realize how lucky you are, Maya."
"Because I don't have to fight monsters and wars?" she retorted with an infuriating eye-roll.
"Because you have a dad," I informed her briskly, "And a mom. And they both love and care about you more than you even know. And you just take it for granted, because you can. And I'm happy you can, Maya, you really have no idea, but it would be really great if you could stop and think for a minute how it feels for me to hear you talk that way about the man who became a dad to me when I didn't have one, even though it would have been way easier for him if he didn't. Or more importantly, how it feels for him, the man who loves you and only wants the very best for you, to hear you tell him you hate him because he won't let you do whatever the heck you want. Because you think you know better than he does."
My sister wasn't a bad kid by any means. She was kind and gentle and had a heart of gold. No one was perfect and she, like everyone, was entitled to her moments every now and then. So I wasn't surprised to see her grow quiet now and refuse to meet my eyes. "Sorry," she murmured.
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to," I said calmly. She gave a meek nod. I took a deep breath that came out more like a sigh. "Alright," I said, "I'll see you later, okay? Love you."
"Love you too," she mumbled, staring guiltily down at the blanket beneath her.
I eyed her for another second and then stepped back into the hallway, closing the door behind me. My mom and Paul were still in the kitchen, though the former had migrated over to the stove now and was taking ingredients from the cabinets to start dinner. It was obvious they'd heard every word I'd said.
I stepped inside and crossed to the table to grab the paperwork for Noah's school. "Sorry," I said, looking between them, "That probably was out of line."
"Not at all," Paul said with conviction, "It's important for her to be reminded of things sometimes. From you especially." He met my eyes. "Thank you." I nodded.
"I don't think you realize how much she looks up to you, honey," my mom added now.
Paul stood up now and clapped a hand to my shoulder. "I want you to know it never even crossed my mind to leave you. You and your mom, you were always a two-for-one deal, and I was just as thrilled to have you as I was her. You're just as much my son as Maya is my daughter, got that?"
I blinked and then smiled. "Thanks, Dad."
He smiled too. "You're welcome." Only now did he lower his hand again. "Have a safe trip home. Say hi to Annabeth for us."
"Thanks," I said, "I will." I turned to kiss my mom goodbye.
"We'll see you this weekend?" she confirmed, "For dinner?"
"Can't wait," I grinned.
Their called goodbyes followed after me to the front door. I stepped out into the hallway and was about to close the door behind me again when I heard my sister's voice say tearfully from behind me, though not to me, "I'm sorry, Daddy."
Smiling to myself, I pulled the front door shut.
Thank you for reading!
