Chapter 9

Ugh I feel like this story is just going downhill. I honestly don't know what's been with my writing lately, but I did find out that writing poems is actually easier, so i wrote a couple of those. Anywho, I hope u enjoy this chapter. Sorry it took so long.

.

"You can't keep releasing singles forever. You've got to make an album at some point."

I sighed, knowing Annabeth was right. But I felt like each song was so unique by itself; I didn't want to group it under one title.

"I know. But I wouldn't know what to call it, and I don't even have enough songs for that. Do artists release all the songs at once? Or do they release them one by one, and then put them into an album?"

"They release them one by one, but under the album name. So, for example, you'd release one song, then you'd announce the new album. Then you would release the rest of them soon afterwards. I think."

"Okay. I still don't have enough songs to do that."

"You have like, a hundred demos. And your notebook is full. Put them together."

I shook my head. "It's not as easy as putting them together. Making a song takes a lot of work."

"I know that. But you've already done over half of the work."

I shook my head again. "It'll still take a lot of time."

"I know! I just…" She sighed. "I'm sorry, Percy."

"It's not your fault," I murmured. "We're all new to this. We'll figure it out."

"Yeah." She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, then said, "I'm going to go find Piper. See you at supper."

"See you."

Sighing, I rested my forehead on the desk. This was the second disagreement we'd had this week, and it was stressing me out more than I wanted it to.

I went through a couple of demos, listening to the sounds I created late at night when I couldn't sleep. Making openings and background music was easy, but finding a melody was harder. Sometimes it just appeared in my head, but most of the time my mind's music was silent.

So I picked up the borrowed guitar and strummed a few chords, trying them in a new order. I played several conflicted ones that built on each other until I resolved it with a C major. Four chords in all, F major, A minor, G major, then C. After listening to a few acoustic covers, I realized that those four chords were the basis for many songs. Going through my own demos, I saw that in them too.

There had to be more I could do with that. Sure, I could switch around strumming patterns, but I needed to be able to pick out a melody from chords.

I needed to be a lot better at the piano. So instead of trying to write a new song, I could work on my music skills, and then maybe something would come to me. Which meant I needed a keyboard. The problem was that I didn't have enough money to buy one. I didn't have enough subscribers to earn money from YouTube, and I definitely didn't have a job, so the only other option was...to start selling music. Which meant I had to make an album.

I picked up my phone and called my mom, who didn't take long to pick up.

"What's up?"

"Olay, so...here's the thing. I need to make an album soon, but I need a few more songs first. I've been making music from my guitar and computer for now, but I need another way to make music. I don't have enough money, so… I was wondering if I could borrow yours until I can afford one?"

"Of course you can! You can honestly have it if you want. I never use it."

"Wow really? That's awesome! Thank you so much. I can pick it up tonight if that's okay."

"Absolutely! I'll look forward to seeing you." I could tell she was smiling. So was I.

"Thanks, mom. Love you."

"Love you too, sweetie."

Later that night, after supper, I asked Chiron if I could borrow the strawberry truck.

"You know, Percy, you go into town enough where having your own car would be worth it."

I laughed a little and said, "I'd buy one, but I can't afford it."

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to you getting a job."

"Wait, seriously? But I thought… Wouldn't that attract monsters?"

"That's what I thought at first too, but the more your popularity grows on the internet, the more I'm starting to think that they won't attack you."

I thought about that for a moment. Not having monsters attack me was honestly a foreign concept.

"I'll...think about it."

Chiron smiled. "Take your time."

()()()

Around 8, Annabeth and I headed into the city in the strawberry truck. I wonder if people in my mom's apartment wondered why there was a strawberry delivery truck there so often. Maybe they thought that someone just really liked strawberries.

Paul and my mom were cleaning up supper when we walked in. The keyboard was already on the kitchen table, along with a stand for it.

"Hey, you two," my mom said as she brought dishes to the sink.

"Hi, mom."

"Hi, Mrs. Jackson. Hi, Paul," Annabeth said.

Paul lifted his hand in a wave, lost in his book.

"Hey mom," I said I went over to the keyboard, "I think I'm going to get a job."

She set down the washcloth and came over to me. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Even if I do manage to sell music, I still need another way to make money, especially if I'm going to college."

"Okay. Monsters won't attack?"

I shook my head. "Chiron doesn't think so."

"Well, that's good. What kind of job?"

"I'm not sure yet. Maybe a restaurant or something."

"Okay, just not McDonalds."

I laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not that desperate. Maybe an ice cream shop. Or a donut shop."

"That'd be fun."

"Yeah." I fingered the edge of the keyboard.

"You know how to set it up?"

I nodded.

"You know, I'm really proud of you for doing this, Percy."

I looked at her with a smile on my face. "Thank you. I hope I'll be able to get it to work."

"I'm sure you will. Have you released Yesterday yet?"

"Yep. This morning. It didn't get as many views as Thunder, or Demons."

"That's weird. I'm sure you'll be able to get back up there, though."

"Thanks, mom."

She hesitated. "Percy, I listened to Demons again, and just wanted to say that if you ever want to talk about something, I'm always here."

Glancing away, I said with more sincerity, "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

She gave me a side hug, then helped me pack the keyboard into a black canvas bag for transportation. Then we said our goodbyes, and Annabeth and I drove back to camp.

()()()

Around midnight, I realized that if I was going to release an album, then I needed an album name. Song names were easy because they were usually just the word said most. But an album name needed to cover all of the songs- it needed to be perfect. It also needed to reflect my personal life as well as the songs, and by personal life, I meant my life that included Greek mythology.

Why didn't I just do a Greek word? That wouldn't be too obvious, and it's not like anyone was looking for hints of Greek mythology. I mean, who would guess that Greek gods are actually still real and constantly trying to horribly mess up your semi-normal life?

Right?

I tried an album name generator, but all I got were a bunch of weird and super dramatic ones that didn't even make sense, like Preaching Choir, and Crowd Control. Who would name their album "Crowd Control"? That was asking for an empty concert.

In the end I decided to do a single, simple word, one that I thought described the few songs pretty well, and would continue to describe future ones.

Truth.

And in Greek, that was Aletheia.

Perfect.

.

Wow. It's been a really long time. I'm really sorry this chapter is so short, but school kinda hit me like a train and I've been pretty stressed out lately. Anyway, I'm going to go back and seriously revise the previous chapter. Like, a lot. The first few are so cringy lol. I'll try to be more consistent with updates from now on. If you're still here, thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day.

One question tho, should I change the title? That would also be changing the name of their band. I'm not a huge fan of the name Elementai anymore, so lemme know what you think.