Hi Readers!
Okay so I'm trying to think of something to say…..
And I've got nothing….. I think I'm just delirious from being ill.
So today's chapter is going to be taking place during the winter holidays!
I'm way too early for this aren't I? Like 2-3 months.
Oh well.
Hope you enjoy today's hopefully longer chapter. Let's see what happens today – sponsored by my writer's block of course! (That wasn't funny at all was it?)
Annabeth was laying on her bed. She was bored out of her mind. The smell of food drifted up the stairs, wafting into her room. She made no sign of temptation though as she ignored it without a second thought.
Her notifications were buzzing at a tremendous speed. She didn't need to pick her phone up to know it was her friends probably wishing her a merry Christmas as the kind people they were.
She shut her eyes trying to shut out the guilt she felt bubbling and boiling inside her like the pit of Tartarus was where her stomach should be.
Buzz. Buzz.
She couldn't fight against herself any longer she had to look at her phone.
She smiled grimly to herself when she saw most of the texts were from Thalia and Percy out of mere kindness and worry.
She placed her phone back on to her dresser and looked into the mirror.
She was a mess.
Blonde curls astray. Eye bags beneath her stormy grey eyes. Pale cheeks.
"Well, I'm going to have to go down there eventually." She muttered to herself pulling a sweater on and plastering a fake smile over her face.
She walked down the stairs and could hear the laughter and clear joy that her so-called family were having enough fun without her ruining it.
She walked into the living room. No-one noticed her presence, so she cleared her throat.
"I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to stay in my room. But I did leave all you're gifts beneath the tree." She waited for someone to reply.
Frederick her father was the first to speak up. "Are you sure my darling?"
"Yeah." She said giving a final half-hearted smile before walking out the room and back upstairs looking back once in hesitation. She shook her head and finished walking back up.
When she got to her room she picked up her phone again. She saw a new message from a random number.
A random number she recognised.
Luke.
Shaking she opened the message and read it aloud in less than a whisper.
"Very nice act you put on for your family. Was it easy doing the same thing to your friends?" She read.
She started gasping deeply, practically hyperventilating. In her agitation she accidentally flung her phone halfway across the room. It fell to the floor with a clang though it wasn't loud enough for anyone downstairs to hear.
She swore under her breath and nimbly picked it up as if it contained a poison. She then dropped it onto her bed consciously reminding herself to do something about it later.
She decided she needed some air. She felt like she was suffocating by just staying in her room the whole holiday, so she grabbed a hoodie, pulled her hair up into a messy bun grabbed a pair of sneakers and tiptoes down the landing to the front door.
She smiled to herself when she saw her family were all happy before quietly slipping through the front door.
She began walking to Central Park. She took deep breaths of sweet, sweet air not caring that she may look odd to be a teenager out alone, especially on Christmas day, but she really didn't have the time or patience to care about that at the moment, so she continued walking.
The Jackson/Blofis household…
Percy was sat in his regular seat at the dining table. He was full on food and was leaning back in his seat.
His mom and step dad Paul were trying to entice his little sister Estelle into eating her Brussel sprouts without any luck. He looked up at the trio.
He could see that his parents were still yet to get impatient with their adorable child, but he still took the liberty to stand up and take care of his baby sister himself.
He picked her up out of her high chair and carried her around the living room making ship noises.
Or at least what he thought was a ship noise since he had never encountered one up close.
While he was doing this he looked out the window.
He saw a girl with blonde hair wearing a hoodie and walking in the direction of Central Park.
It was funny because she had a striking resemblance to Annabeth.
She was about to cross the road when he realised something.
She was Annabeth.
He suddenly felt the urge to go outside.
He placed Estelle back into her high chair and excused himself to his room saying he was sleepy from eating so much. While his parents attention was averted elsewhere he sneaked out of the front door.
Going back to narrating from where Annabeth is….
Annabeth was sitting on a bench admiring the beauty of the buildings that were surrounding her, covered in snow when she thought she heard someone call her name.
She shook her head thinking that the cold was just getting to her when a familiar green-eyed boy sat next to her.
"What are you doing here?" They both asked each other at the same time.
They drifted into an awkward silence.
"So what are you doing here then Annabeth?" Percy tried again.
"What is it a crime for me to be in Central Park?"
He recoiled in shock. "No it's just-"
She interrupted to apologise, "Sorry I'm just kind of stressed right now."
He inched a bit closer to her on the bench. "Is it family stuff? Or about what happened at the party."
She thought for a moment. "I'm not sure it's either." She lied. "I just feel…" She paused. "Sick of life, I guess!"
He cautiously put an arm around her shoulders and noticed her relaxing slightly which made him smile.
She turned to face him. "So what are you doing here then?"
He copied wat she said earlier, "What is it a crime for me to be in Central Park?"
"Hey, that's my line!" She joked but then turned serious again. "But really, what are you doing here in Central Park, where I just happen to be at the same time?"
He stayed silent with an overwhelming blush staining his cheeks. He self-consciously hoped she thought he was just cold.
"Did you follow me out here?" She demanded.
"Yes- Well no. I mean-" He stumbled over his words.
"Perseus Jackson. Did you or did you not follow me out here?" She repeated getting louder with each word.
"Well yes but only because I was worried about why you weren't answering my texts." He said rushing. "Wait a minute. How do you know my full name?"
"That doesn't matter right now." She replied ignoring his last words. "I still can't believe you followed me out here!"
Okay guys. I am really sorry to leave you hanging like this, but I was supposed to be asleep an hour ago because I'm ill and well… I'm not.
Feel free to review and make sure to expect an update tomorrow!
Byeeeeeee!