Annabeth Pov
A Little Like Love
Album: Feel It Now
I think my heart is racing, oh
My cheeks are reddening, oh
I can't control it, no
It's a kind of feeling, yeah
The best of all…
I think it feels a little like love….
"By the way, I've started working on the new album –Feel It Now –I'll give you the music after the show," I told Mike and Tony on the way to our hotel. We had just arrived in Los Angeles, where my show was going to be Saturday –tomorrow.
"Is it transposed to G Major?" Mike asked, as Tony drummed his fingers on the back of the passenger seat.
"Yes –and I made sure all the chords are…" I went over everything with them, as they nodded.
"Sarah –I –what are you doing?" I asked her, who was shoving a spoonful of curry into her mouth.
She swallowed. "Trying to get the babies out faster. Spicy food helps –I found that out on a website! They need to get out before we go to take a trip to San Francisco," she said, scooping up the last bits and reaching for another box.
The plan would be: Tomorrow –last show for tour. After that –on Monday, the next week, we'd be on our way to San Francisco to manage everything for the record company and move most of our furniture the house that we decided on (the one near Goode High!). After that, we'd have two weeks, and then we'd finally move there.
"I think you should just wait for them to come out when they want to," I eyed her huge bowl.
"Uh uh. They need to be out before Monday. I can't afford to be in labor on the tour bus," she said with, continuing to eat – she could practically feed an army with the food she had.
"That's two weeks before," I said doubtfully.
She shrugged as she opened another box, which I took away from her.
"Hey!" she complained, and tried to grab it from me.
Since we were in the car, I didn't have much space, so I passed it to Mike who passed it to Tony, who hid it under his seat.
Sarah glared at us, obviously too big to reach over and grab it. "Fine. I'll just order a few more," she said, and huffed.
Mike and I looked at each other, like Ugh. Cranky pregnant women.
"After, I'm going on a six hour walk when we get to the hotel," she announced. "I'll be back by dinner, don't worry."
I sighed. "Sarah, don't be pushing too hard on yourself. You have to rest at this time!"
She shook her head confidently. "I don't need rest, I need this baby –these babies out!" she said forcefully, as Tom found a parking spot and we got out of the car ("I don't need help getting out of the car!" Sarah assured us, then almost fell seconds later, if Mike hadn't been there to catch her).
a~a~a~a
Because I finished most of my songwriting for today, I had nothing else planned for the rest of the day.
I hadn't looked at all the text messages I'd gotten except from Tessa and my other appointments for interviews and photo shoots. I scrolled through my phone, looking at the mix of random phone numbers that had texted me.
Hi!
Sent from Unknown
I looked through all of them, and most of them read the same things. I figured they'd gotten the wrong phone number, and decided to read one more just to make sure. It said:
Hellooo Annabeth Chase! Remember the time when I almost spilled that fluid on you during science?
Sent from Unknown
What? So these were people at Goode High! Texting me…but who…of course. Rachel –my phone number had been written in a paper in that folder she found.
I looked through all the messages (there was definitely more than 200) and saw one from someone I actually knew.
Hey Annabeth! It's Silena, by the way! I still really cannot face the fact that you're Annabeth Chase –but I'm sure it's probably getting annoying to you since everyone at school has your number…
Everyone at school has my number? I thought, perplexed.
Anyways, I just wanted to show you this video that was recorded –please don't kill me! I just found it so cute!
I shrugged and tapped on the video, waiting it to load. Knowing Silena, she probably sent a video of puppies, or something.
I pressed play, expecting to see at least some type of furry animal come into view. Instead, what I saw was…me and Percy, having another one of our tutoring classes. I searched my brain, trying to remember which one. I only distantly recalled that day –there had been a practice fire drill during the last period, and it had rained. After it ended, we were soaking wet, so we decided to stay inside instead of tutoring outside.
We were sitting in the library, and at the moment, I was demonstrating something on a sheet of scrap paper. Percy was watching me closely, as I scribbled something down, explaining – maybe a formula?
Ew, my hair, I noticed, wishing I could've at least pulled my wet hair back into a ponytail. Wait…why did I care? I cared before, I told myself confidently. That was before.
Whoever was recording this (and somehow I had a feeling it was Silena, since when she moved her hand to switch the angle of the camera, I saw the hot pink nail polish she wore) zoomed in and moved a little bit forward to hear what we were saying.
"So…finally, you need to add them to both sides, and then subtract," I was saying.
"Oh…like this?" he took the pencil from me and wrote something down. I checked it.
"Very close." I smiled, probably glad that I was seeing progress. "Except you forgot this…" I quickly rewrote the equation and showed him, step by step.
"Oh yeah –I knew I forgot that!" he laughed, as I did too.
His phone beeped. He quickly checked it, and I noticed myself looking at him. "Rachel," he groaned, slipping it back into his pocket. I watched myself pretend to look at his textbook as he turned back to me. "She told me to wait outside for her after Period 8."
"Oh," I forced a smile. "Cool." Wait…why did I care? I cared before, I reminded myself again, maybe a little less confidently. That was before.
He looked down at his worksheet, looking at the next question. He quietly concentrated, his eyebrows scrunching in that cute little way.
"43," he finally decided, writing it down. He gave me a nervous smile. "Did I get it right?"
"Yes!" I'd said, exhilarated.
He looked relieved, and continued doing the next questions. I noticed myself in the video staring at him intently as he wrote the equations down. Even now, sitting on my hotel bed, I blushed. Wait…why do I care? That was before, I tried to convince myself. Before.
After a few minutes, (Silena's hand probably got tired of holding the camera, because after a while she moving it and it lost focus many times) he finished, and I checked all his answers.
"You got everything except this one wrong…" I started.
"Awww," Percy looked guilty, like a sad puppy dog.
"Just kidding! You got everything right! Good job!" I beamed.
"Yes!" he looked pleased and satisfied.
I paused it and looked how much longer the video was going to take. 2 more seconds? I found that I felt myself…disappointed. Crestfallen. Because I wanted this story to have a happy ending. I wanted this story to have the prince marry the princess. I wanted this story of me to live happily ever after.
a~a~a~a
"Annabeth!" Tony rushed into my room. I had been taking a nap, and a girl needs her sleep, especially if she's stays up until 12 after each show and has an hour of sleep each day.
I sat up sleepily. "What."
"Get up! Sarah's in labor!"
Immediately, all the tiredness slipped away from me. "WHAT?"
"Exactly! Now get up! We need to get her to the hospital!"
"How did you get my room key card?"
"Sarah had a copy and she gave it to me to get you! Okay now come on!"
"She's supposed to be due in two weeks, not anytime today!"
"Well, the spicy curry probably is the one to blame! Now hurry!"
I shoved on my jacket and raced out the door with him, taking the elevator down.
"Where's Sarah?" I asked, going through the revolving doors.
"She's in the car. Tom's driving," he panted, and slid the limo door open.
Inside, Sarah was breathing in and out, closing her eyes. Tony climbed in after me, Mike already in the back, supplying food and water for her in case she needed it.
"Sarah –are you okay?" I asked her, balling up a few plastic bags in my hand. Hey, you never know when she'll start puking in the car –now that would just be delightful.
"I'mfinecanwejustleaveandgotothehospital?" she said impatiently, no doubt in discomfort.
Tom started driving, and as we were on the road, all the cars were slowing down.
"What?" he squinted his eyes down the road. "Why is there –oh. Traffic. Ms. Chase –this looks bad," he winced. I looked through the windshield. Sure enough, there was a long line of cars lining up from at least eight miles away, maybe more –if there was, I couldn't see it.
"No –we have to get there as soon as possible!" I half yelled, as Sarah clutched the door handle and inhaled sharply.
"You might get there faster if you walk," Tom sighed. "It's the only way –all the buses and taxis end today at 6:00."
At this, Sarah spoke. "We –are –not –walking," she said between deep breaths.
I closed my eyes for a count of three. "Okay," I said finally. "How long does it take to walk to the hospital?"
He looked at his watch, then looked down the road. "45 minutes," he said. "If you stay in the car, it could take more than four hours because of the traffic." He drove the limo to the curb. "It's your choice, but I'm sure Sarah would be far more comfortab –"
"We're walking," I said firmly, opening the car door.
Sarah's eyes yelled out something that was probably not appropriate. Tony and Mike helped hoist her out of the car, which rewarded them with a lot of bruises as she tried to stay in the car.
"Okay," I said finally. "Time to walk to the hospital."
Hi guys! Well, here's your update! Annabeth finally learns that she likes Percy, and actually allows herself without second guessing and convincing herself now! Okay, so a few questions you guys had: When will you update? Well, usually, I update when I feel like it, so there's really no assigned due date. I promise I'll update at least once a week, don't worry! Another question you guys had: What would I name the next book of Heroes of Olympus after The House of Hades? That is a really hard question, actually! I'm not exactly sure, but probably like The Temple of Zeus or something because I just feel it makes sense –The Son of NEPTUNE, the Mark of ATHENA, the House of HADES. Really, it's not that Zeus is my favorite favorite, (sorry Zeus –you know you're awesome!) but I just think it fits. Now, my question for you guys –favorite scene(s) in either PJO or HOO? Mine is either all the cute little Percabeth moments when they are not dating yet (because it's just funnier) and the part when Luke dies. Sorry Luke. I hated you for too long. Well, I guess he's okay. But I cannot tolerate Lukabeth! Anyways, I mainly like the part when Luke dies because it's when Annabeth finally decides she loves Percy instead, and Luke as a big brother. Comment what you think! Till next time! -Sophia