"Friendship and love are like two daughter cells of the same parent cell. Only, in different universes, with different stereochemistry and optical activity, but still, are complex complimentary roots to the same polynomial equation."
Rachel Elizabeth Dare was a fighter. Just.. not literally.
She and her gang (she has no idea why they're a gang if they just want to keep discouraging each other) assemble in the ground in sports uniforms just like the Prince said. Thank Gods they had uniforms because otherwise she doesn't know what some girls would have done.
She wasn't like that.
Mr. Chiron was waiting for them on one side of the ground but no one approached him. That's when Annabeth and her gang walked towards them. There were two different uniforms given to the girls: one was the classic cheerleader uniform (but all in black) with a short skirt and a sleeveless top, the other was a crop tank top (which definitely showed some skin) with shorts. Annabeth was wearing the second version.
It's not like Annabeth needed to be self conscious though. She had actual abs. It wasn't too thick or defined but it was still there which was more than Rachel could say.
Clarrise asked, "Why are we waiting?"
Drew said, "Not sure what the silly old man is doing there when we're all here."
Annabeth frowned, "He's our teacher. Show some respect. CHIRON!"
A voice shouted back, "YES, MISS. WHO?"
"IT'S ANNABETH!"
This is the part where Rachel (and pretty much everyone else, she guessed) felt left out. Annabeth knew everybody like she always belonged here.
For the first time, he turned around. "SO?"
She looked like someone ate her favourite chocolate.
Lol, I bet she doesn't get that often.
Clarrise shouted, "WE HAVE A CLASS!"
Mr. Chiron replied, "YOU'RE LATE! ALL OF YOU."
The girls fell quiet.
Annabeth replied, "SA- THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE LATE FOR BREAKFAST. WE CAN'T START WITHOUT THEM."
"EXCUSES. EVERYONE DROP AND GIVE ME 10. NOW!"
She grumbled something inaudible as she got to her knees. All the girls started to followed her and started the push-ups.
Here's a thing about push ups many books ignore - it is hard. Especially if you're a beginner. Rachel never in her life did sports related things. She was more of an art person. While few girls did finish it, Rachel could not get up beyond 4.
A new voice was heard, "WEAK! If you can't gimme 10 then LICK THE GROUND!"
Mr. Chiron spoke, "Okay, get up everyone. Today we'll be introducing the Privileged to BCSEs - Basic Combat Skills and Exercises. Then we will go on with archery, your first skill."
The other man, who was shorter, bellowed, "BOOORING! Come on! Let's have a fight!"
Maybe it was because this man actually had a say or maybe Mr. Chiron was deprived of entertainment but for whatever reason he called for volunteers for a sword fight.
Ridiculous, right?
Rachel was surprised when three hands went up. Lady Thalia, Lady Reyna and Lady Clarrise. In no time, they were each having a sword. (Plastic but hard. Won't kill, will injure.)
Clarrise spoke, "Princess, we can't play with three. Join us."
Someone in the crowd nudged Annabeth out. If Rachel was in her place, she would be bothered but Annabeth just took the sword like she finally felt at home.
Of course, this is Annabeth right? What am I thinking?
It probably was home.
In a flash, they dueled. Annabeth and Reyna on one side and Clarrise and Thalia on another. Rachel only watched Annabeth. She fought with Reyna with a stern look in her eyes, totally professional. When she won and went on to Clarrise, they shared a look which gave Rachel cold feet.
Sword blades flew around them like wind.
If Rachel had to describe it she would say that they fought like monsters. No mercy, no pity, just pure vengeance. At one point, Clarrise snarled and Annabeth groaned and Rachel wondered why someone wasn't stopping them yet.
The short dude said, "Finally! KILL!"
Rachel had time enough to think: This place is crazy. By then, Clarrise had knocked Annabeth down, pushed away her sword and pointed her own sword to Annabeth's neck. She smirked.
The look of vengeance melted. She gave Annabeth a hand and she took it, smiling. "Good game." She said.
How can someone go from 'you're my worst enemy' to 'sister, next time' in two seconds?
The audience was in a daze.
hiron blew a whistle. "That is how you fight AND don't fight. All of you started without stretching which can be really dangerous. Meet Coach Hedge." He pointed to the shorter dude. "Coach will oversee your training and will be responsible for behaviour and discipline."
Coach started walking around. "In this class you will be given proper training step by step. We will go on for a month with a schedule AND I'M TELLING YOU NOW YOU CAN'T COPE UP WITH IT IF YOU CAN'T EVEN DROP AND GIVE ME 10. I don't know WHAT idiotic test you've undergone through till now but REMEMBER! THIS is training! REAL training!"
He pointed at a few girls, "No makeup. No extra clothes. No less cloths. AND I DON'T CARE WHO MADE YOU STAY BACK, BUT YOU'RE EITHER ASSEMBLING HERE BY 9 OR GIVING ME 30 EVERYDAY! Understood?"
A few people grumbled something.
"I ASKED... IS. IT. UNDERSTOOD?"
"Yes." Said the Privileged, all together.
"Yes, what?"
"YES COACH!"
Mr. Chiron spoke, "There is no leave to this training unless you're eliminated. We will have a final exam but your improvement will matter more here. So fight. And concentrate!"
Coach bellowed, "And kill!"
Mr. Chiron shrugged, "Now that that's established, let's start with those stretches and... ladies?" He bowed and the Selected returned it, "Welcome to Camp Half Blood."
...
To say Annabeth was tired was an understatement. She was completely exhausted. She barely made it back up to her room after a very sweaty lunch. Coach made them run around the dam palace! He then asked them to repeat jogging and running before he called it off. They were asked to assemble at 4 in the archery arena next.
On top of that, they had to put on purple robes because it wasn't appropriate to wear sports dresses to royal meals.
As soon as she opened the room, she hit the bed, not even caring to wash herself - which was a mistake because when Annabeth woke up at 3 pm after a post lunch nap, she was cuddling a warm teddy bear.
Wait a minute.
She didn't cuddle a teddy bear to sleep.
More importantly, she thought, teddy bears aren't warm.
Not stuffed ones!
She opened her eyes in horror only to find a drooling Percy in her bed. He had one hand and one leg over her to secure her in place.
She went back to cuddling him.
She sighed, this is nice.
The thought hit her like a brick.
Why is Percy drooling in MY bed?
Didn't we fight?
She woke up completely and struggled to get out of his hold.
Dam Percy and his strength.
She slapped Percy a few times to wake him but he just mumbled meaningless words. She then shook him awake. "Get off of me!"
Percy took his sweet time to come back to consciousness. He brought Annabeth closer and mumbled something like "Hey, beautiful."
Heartbeat.
"What?"
"Why? You do look beautiful." He touched her blond curls, " You look so much like..." He suddenly moved away, "A-Annabeth? What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you that. What the hell was that?" She sat up.
"That... Um... was... Ah... Ne-Nevermind."
Her cheeks burned in realization.
Oh Gods, Don't tell me it is what I think it is.
"Gods Percy", she sat up on the bed, "I did not just hear that. Dam it."
Percy scrunched up his nose, "Sorry."
She didn't look at him, "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you wanted to talk. You were sleeping when I came in so..."
"So you decided to hop in my bed? Unbelievable!"
"I just lied down. I wasn't planning to sleep."
I'm mad at this idiot and what just happened?
He sat up too.
She sighed, "What did you wanna say?"
"You're the one who said let's talk."
She looked away.
"So you don't wanna talk?"
"If we promise no lies."
He frowned. "I'm not lying about EVERYTHING, you know?"
She folded her hands, "Okay then."
"Is this still about the kiss?", he looked away, "Look, I didn't wanna kiss Rachel, okay?"
How dare he... Seriously?
"Oh yeah?", she spat. "Really, Percy? You think I'm a fool?"
He snorted, "Annabeth you don't even believe what I'm -"
"Of course I don't believe what you're saying! If you really didn't wanna kiss her then WHY did I see YOU leaning against HER door and doing just that?"
His eyes widened and he went silent.
That's what I thought.
"Then no, Percy. I DON'T wanna talk."
"And I don't wanna fight!", his voice came out pleading and made her look at him.
"I said things I didn't mean", he rubbed his eyes and stretched himself back on the bed. "Will you please hear me out fully? I promise, no lies."
She nodded. Okay.
"WHEN she kissed me, I wasn't ready for it. That happened like two weeks ago."
Which makes Rachel one of the first people to get a date. Maybe it was true- that rumor that he visited her first that day when he planned to talk to everyone.
"What you saw..."
Right, it was recent.
He continued, "I wanted kiss you. Alright?" He blushed, "I wanted to kiss you first but well... that didn't happen so..."
She sighed, "I got irrational too and you're right. I'm sorry, okay? But..." She gestured aimlessly, "You don't have to tell me anything Percy. It's true."
"No.. Annabeth... I want to, believe me, I just don't know if it is the right thing for you. You saw how you reacted."
Percy thought: I mean it. I want to say something to somebody, preferably my best friend. What if I hurt her though?
She turned to look at him, "Then tell me! Seriously. I wasn't thinking straight. I shouldn't have shouted at you. But just... I'd rather hear it as best friend Annabeth than Selected Annabeth."
Really?
She read his mind, "Really. I mean it. What happened to friends before the world huh? Selection doesn't change that I'm your best friend", she squeezed his shoulder, "Friendship is our strong foundation. No matter what."
Wow.
Even after all this?
He moved his hands so one balanced him on the bed and another tucked her locks behind her ear. "Annabeth, I didn't mean that. You're NOT just another Selected to me. You're my best friend so yeah, you can be angry when I lie."
Percy thought Annabeth was gonna punch him but what she did surprised him even more. She kissed him.
"Thank you for saying that. It has been bothering me."
Percy felt guilty so he teased, "Whoa! Sorry and thank you from Annabeth on the same day? I should mark the date."
Idiot. She pushed him away, "Seaweed Brain!"
"How are your dates?", she asked casually.
Oh really?
Percy smirked, "Very forward huh? It was... nice actually"
"Mmm hmm"
"But... to your actual question... No, I didn't kiss anyone else."
"You said it. I didn't ask." She adjusted herself on the bed and laid down next to him, using his right hand as pillow. If he was uncomfortable with it, he didn't tell.
"Sure you didn't."
Can I ask too?
"What about you?"
"What?"
"You know... Walking in the gardens... Showing friends around."
"It's great because not everyone knows this place. I wish I could see the palace from an outsider's view sometimes. This is not the first time I showed someone around by the way."
"Oh", he frowned, "who else did you show around?"
"Piper, when I sort of introduced her to the gang. Thalia too, that wasn't me though, Piper insisted she needs to spend time out of her room. Clarisse and Tracy too."
Percy chuckled, "If it is just girls you're showing around, I don't see any problem"
"What do you mean just girls? They're sort of friends. Selected too! Wait a minute...", she looked surprised, "You're jealous, aren't you?"
"What? Pfft, no"
"You really are", she smiled teasingly, "Now I get why you were so rude to Luke. Oh boy, this is funny."
"Whatever, so how was it?"
Oh my gods Percy.
Well, looks like we're sailing in the same boat after all.
"Me and Luke? We were just catching up. Seriously Percy, there's nothing like that. I don't see why you should be jealous when you're the person dating 24 others!"
He pouted, "I'm not jealous."
Annabeth laughed.
"Yeah yeah, laugh at me. Just remember that I'm basically the Prince and this Prince happens to be free on Friday evenings and so he is taking you to a private rooftop dinner this Friday.", he said it a little too fast.
Smooth.
"Huh?"
"Date? Friday at 7?"
I should have followed the initial plan and just carried her over. This is hard-
Annabeth stared at him, "Do I have to dress up?"
"Preferably."
"Okay...", she bit her lip making Percy want to kiss it again.
To distract himself, he asked, "How was your speech?"
She narrowed her eyes at him and pushed his shoulders away, "Oh you should know, shouldn't you?"
Wow, did Annabeth really catch up?
"Mmm hmm", he teased.
"I'm hiding that stupid crown. Good luck finding it."
He clicked his tongue, "Then you just fined yourself according to your speech."
She looked confused. "How did you... How do you know what I said?"
He frowned teasingly, "Annabeth..." He smiled. "I was there, right? Didn't you figure it out?"
"Figure what out?"
"The mirror. It was a see through. Mom and I watched the entire thing."
Oh-
Wait-
Her mouth formed an 'O'. She suddenly pushed back, keeping one hand on his shoulder blades. "Wait... So you didn't trust me?"
"Huh? Of course I trust you... What's that to -"
She felt that warm feeling from yesterday wither away.
"So you didn't blindly vouching for me like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you believed everything I said! I told you we'll talk because I thought you believed me and I don't know -"
Annabeth started to sound irritated and moved up but Percy put his arm around her waist and dragged her back down. "Wise Girl, what are-"
"No, Percy, you don't get it. If I didn't think that then we'd have never talked now-"
"Backup... you're mad because we made up?" He was irritated now.
"No I just.."
He sighed, "Wise Girl, look at me. Does it matter how things happened?"
But-
She didn't answer. She just went back to cuddling him with a frown and Percy decided to let it go.
It matters how they happened, of course, but not more than the fact that they did. He was glad that they're talking now. Is she not?
They stayed liked that, silent, half cuddling, but Percy thought it would be better if she just laid on top of him because she was pushing his stomach abnormally.
After a while, it got too hard to ignore the pressure on his right side. "Hey.. one second.." He adjusted her so that one of her legs was thrown around him. This way, the weight was more uniform.
She made a move to get up but he just held on tighter. "It's okay just... don't put your weight on my stomach."
She sighed, "You shouldn't give me dress ideas, you know? That was cheating."
"Really? Okay then tell me what were you gonna wear?"
I bet it was the exact same thing.
"I'm not boring okay?!"
"No it's not that. I just didn't want anyone to change your idea last minute. Just... to be on the safer side. Miss. Willow takes the report to the council."
Annabeth paled at that, "What?"
"Yeah, I know, but don't worry too much. A lot of people are on our side. For some reason, Athena doesn't approve us though."
"You missed the part where council suddenly pokes its nose inside the Selection."
"They're here to find out the real ones I guess. It's just... rules. We need to go through them for eliminations and things that are publicized."
She sighed.
"Imagine how I'm feeling. This is supposed to be my life."
"Percy, listen. I want to do this the right way. I know I'm not the best princess material but I'm trying okay? I want the council and Willow and whoever else to approve because I genuinely deserve it. I'm supposed to train myself to take half of your responsibility, not give half of mine. So, at least as a test, to see if I am fit to be queen... I want to do it on my own feet, so, trust me."
She held his head in her hands, "Please, let me do this for you."
Wow okay. I seriously wonder how I didn't fuck this up between us yet. Wise Girl...
"Okay." Percy really kissed her his time.
She followed the kiss without stopping in-between. After two or three long pecks, he smiled the first real smile since their fight and she found herself agreeing with him -doesn't matter how.
Little more?
She pressed her lips to his till he stopped smiling and he responded by throwing his hands around her neck. It was slow and sweet like they were both communicating unsaid apologies.
Cautiously, he moved one of his hands to her back as he softly put the other hand on her jaw and used his thumb to open her lips a little more. He tilted his head for a better angle and-
Suddenly, the door flew open and Crystal came in with her eyes closed, humming a beat from the headphone she was wearing. "Hey sleepy, what do you say tonight we surprise Perseus with -"
Annabeth reacted fast and got up. Percy realized that she just made things worse and that position would look even more embarrassing so he sat up too, holding her. Unfortunately, their legs got tangled in the movement and she winced.
Julia froze next to the door. She did a deep bow, "Your highness."
Crystal opened her eyes just then and they widened. "Oh Gods, I'm s-so sorry, your h-highness!" She did a deep bow too, which was funny because her headphone almost dropped.
Annabeth frantically tried to untangle their legs.
Percy winced. "No, you're making it worse." He expertly put one hand around her waist and flipped them over so she bottomed. He then easily pulled away his legs, caressing hers in the process.
Annabeth blushed, completely frozen.
Percy criss-crossed his legs and sat on the bed. "Perseus? Who let you call me Perseus?" He accused.
Crystal looked horrified. "N-No No your h-highness. It will n-never happen a-again. I-I swear." She bowed again.
Percy frowned. "Annabeth!" He accused again.
She grinned and got up too. "Did I forget to mention he hates that name?"
Crystal and Julia glared at her.
He got up from bed and did a formal half bow before offering a hand to Crystal and smiling.
Oh you tease.
She timidly shakes his hand. "I prefer Prince but if you like, you can call me Percy. No Perseus though. You are?"
"Cr-Crystal", she said simply.
He then moved to Julia and did the same. Annabeth had never seen Julia this shy before. "And you?"
"Julia Wade", she said.
He beckoned her inside and she squirmed her way in, never looking at him.
Leave it to Percy Jackson to woo the girls.
"Well Miss. Crystal and Miss. Julia. It is time for me to leave. Next time, okay?" He looked at Annabeth, smirked and raised an eyebrow as if to say: See the effect.
She rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him but it hit the door. "Get out you idiot."
As he went back to his room he thought: She is right.
Friendship is our strong foundation.
No matter what I start feeling towards you, we were friends first and that doesn't change.
I just wish we could be friends and the nation would love you.
I wish we were friends and you would be the best queen among them all.
I wish we were friends and we fall for each other.
And I think that all of it together is way too much to wish for...