The notes play in the tone of a darkening hymn, chords disfigured, broken, uneven. The indiscernible rhythm beats on slowly, the drumsticks change hands. Each hand, creased or coloured in some way different to the rest. The key's veer off pitch, into the murky darkness. The cadence comes now, crescendoing into the heavens, yet tumbling into the abyss. It flickers on the tightrope, leaning on one side, yet at the same time, the other. By the rope comes to an end now, the destination rears its head.
Recognizable yet unknowing. Harmony yet broken. Uneven yet smooth. Broken yet whole. The melody flickers, resisting against the inevitable.
Stepping forward, plunging into the pool of inky. The song ends.
"MR. WCAR!" bellowed the professor, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY DESK!?" The white hair plastered to his forehead, slick with sweat. His ruddy face glistening in the bright lights, his eyes indulging in ire.
Annabeth perceived him, as Jake withheld his ground, unshaken at the force of the sound. His face struggled to withdraw the amusement he felt. His bright vivid jersey popped up from his wrinkled white shirt.
"What do you mean Professor. Poerl, I haven't done anything at all." His voice calm, yet all too obtrusive.
"I'm not going to stand for this anymore." Mr. Poerl replied, "You've gone and dismissed every warning without a care in the world. This is the final occurrence of foolish behaviour."
Jake's face fell. A sun collapsing inwards, particles crunching against each other, boundaries crossed, bounds torn, closer and closer. Denser and denser. The fabric teared, shuddering with erroneous screech's of angst. Shockwaves of colossal size swept past petty obstacles, rumbling like giants marching. But the sun! The last ebb of light disappeared into pitch-black space.
"I haven't done anything at all." Jake replied meekly, abashed. In a softer voice he uttered, "At least not this time."
"Leave the classroom ," Pr. Poerl stated. It was a dull dead combination of vowels. "I'll talk to you later."
Jake left the classroom, tangent with the silent hush. The rustle of notes and paper, soft but obnoxious in the serene scene. The door closed, and the lecture continued forward. A perpetual train, leaving many behind in the numbing-cold world.
The bell interrupted the flow of her thoughts, like a heavy stone dam. She packed up her notes and left with the crowd. The tumult loud and obstructive in her mind, thus she decided to stop her uneven thinking.
Piper stood next to her right, glancing at her phone. A smile crept into her countenance, working together with a tint of red.
"Never seen you like this before," Annabeth inquired, "What happened?"
Piper's head twisted around, a sly expression settled on her face. "Nothing at all, Annabeth." She brushed her heavy hair behind her, and crossed her arms. Her figure combined with the uneasy aura of a temperamental 13 year old, dug deep under Annabeth's skin. Burrowing for a precious inexplicable metal, which resting upon a higher plane of existence. Unrestrained by monetary considerations, unnerved by cyclical human nature, but pure and transparent jewel, in the depths of uptoia.
"Okay..?" Annabeth replied, retreating from the inquisitive course. "S-
"You ditched me at the party didn't you?" Piper pursed onwards, raising her eyebrows. "What did you do?"
Annabeth's face contorted in unpleasant memories, but caught the tumbling explosive before it reached the chambers in her head. "What do you mean?" She haughty shot back, hardening her face.
"All I want to know if where you went, did you actually met a guy?" Piper pressed further, sardonic amusement hungry in her eyes.
Annabeth flushed, and stammered for words, "Uh... No, no yeah." Her hands fidgeted, in response she discreetly tucked them in the pockets.
"Yeah, no" She repeated.
Piper's smug grin only widened in size, "Okay Annabeth, I totally believe you."
"Haha." Annabeth retorted, "Don't try to use sarcasm, I don't think your brain is capable of utilizing it."
"Hey look, the pain in the ass Annabeth is back, I missed you."
"I honestly can't tell if you mean that or not,"
"Haha, so humorous."
"Wow, you used a word with more than three syllable's! I think you can graduate to SK."
Piper slugged her on the shoulder, furtively beyond the sight of occasional by-passers.
Annabeth chuckled, " Now who's acting like a kid?" She rubbed her shoulder unconsciously, and made a fist. The moment passed though,
Perhaps I'm a prig after all..
"Shut up." Piper scolded, "Come on, let's get out of here."
She brushed backwards to the elevator, and Annabeth followed momentarily.
She looked to her left. A blurry figure wiping and cleaning a desk came into view. She perceived an ostentatious jersey and hat, but the image dispersed from her mind quickly enough.
The routine journey to the cafeteria passed like a breeze. Time ticked, sewed together with conversation. Her foot thumped on the marble ground, and she rested on the bench. The obscure idle chatter across her table peaked her interest. The grey pupils of her eyes turned. Rosaline, Blake, and Georgia hustled together, the eccentric movements rustling loudly with words. Annabeth perceived a tense atmosphere, forced onwards by those participating. Resentment manifested in their appearances, breaking past the fragile ice. Rosaline's brow furrowed downwards, and gestured heavily. Her lips curved down, spiralling into a grimace. The harsh tones made it through the murky billow of noise, filled with irritation and annoyance.
"nnabeth!" Piper repeated. She taped Annabeth's shoulder rather forcefully. Annabeth whirled around, vexed at the disturbance. The feverish passion faded deep inside her, as the confused, but worried tint of Piper's face appeared.
"Sorry, I was just looking at something," She in a rather constricted manner.
"What? Like I was saying,. .. . "
Annabeth's focus narrowed back onto the other table, and the bright key emitting from Piper faded into white-noise.
Rosaline's gestures grew increasingly pique. The deeply-rooted displeasure dug itself into her heart, and out pumped the molten blood. Blake brooded in silence, his forehead creased with lines beyond his age. His eyes darted around, as if searching or perhaps it was seeking something to withstand the stormy anger. Georgia's phone lay unused on the table, along with small mass of uneaten food. Her dispassionate lineaments, following Rosaline's.
Annabeth's feet rooted themselves on the ground. She looked at Piper, who was-
"And then I met this guy you know? He was decent looking, with blonde hair and brown eyes. So I was bored so I talked to him. But, this complete asshole, who was my ex came over and whisper something into his ear. Next thing I know, he just made a clumsy excuse and left. I hate how people say ostensible things, like mind your own business you know?"
Annabeth's attention diverted itself back onto Piper, like a capricious, pompous child, begging for vile amusement. The dubious nature of her subconsciousness whispered, spun webs, and created a thought.
You like gossip, no matter what you tell yourself Annabeth. Oh wait, that's not true at all, you're not as swallow as you appear. No, you like having information over other people, don't you? You act like your mother after all.
The sonorous statement implanted in her consciousness, a petty bug that torn apart flesh.
And that's bad how? She thought. Alas, the question scoured from her mind.
"Wait a second Piper, how on earth do you know what 'ostensible' means?" she inquired.
Piper look at her if she were a foreign incorporeal drifting in the sky. She exasperatedly replied, "English class. How else?"
"Oh."
"Anyways, I left those jerks and sat at the bar. Then, this dude in an obnoxious blue jersey, or something comes along and starts talking to me. And he was so kind too, but really entertaining. Like really entertaining." A far-away look settled in the corner of her eye, a prickle of longing in unfamiliar territory.
"You mean he was hot, or should I not be so vulgar, his cordial visage was amicable." Annabeth blurted out bluntly, perceiving past her shenanigans.
"I have no idea what you say half the time. But, looking at it now, that's probably a good thing." Piper declared. "But yeah, he was 'attractive', so I don't scare you away."
"I'm not scared, it's just- just crude." Annabeth stingily responded.
"Sure, sure" Piper vocalized, disbelief clear in her voice." So we chatted for a while, and I've got a date. At least I think I did. Maybe I did invent him up..."
"Yeah right" Annabeth scoffed, "I'm pretty sure he thinks he invented you up instead."
"Well that does seem more likely." She stated without a hint of indiscreetness. "Oh well, I'll see. I don't have much to do anyways."
"Piper, this isn't high school!" Annabeth exclaimed, chagrin charging through her core. " You k-"
"Yes, I know." Piper cut her off, "I can recall every single word you're going to say next. Besides, my 'academic life' is fine."
Annabeth put her hands back down on the table, defeated. Disdain rang off inside her head, but she accepted it. "If you say so." She meekly uttered.
A feeling of forgetfulness entrapped Annabeth, and wiped the table of her other emotions. She strained to remember, thus searched the corners of her mind.
"Wait a second, you haven't even told me his name!" Annabeth stated after a period of silent brooding.
" His na-"
Jake's muscles grudgingly moved with an inscrutable amount of exertion. They ached with weariness, the dull pattern of cleaning sketching its mark on his mind. He stared at the yellow mess on the stained desk, its resistance to his cleaning efforts. A harden stone precipice, with its jagged edges jutting out of the indecipherable chain with no flaw. His scarlet blood prickled the sharp blades protruding from the ashen material. It stood strong. Unmoved after centuries of withering storms and raging waves. Jake had no hope.
He tripped and stumbled into a place he could've called home. The welcoming grasps of anguish.
Sorrow haunted his vision. The indisputable unfairness deprived from resentment.
Oh! How easily it fits in the lock of human minds. How it drives away everything, every hint of regret extricated. How easily it is for me to be condemned in this spiral into destruction. It's so easy to hate. It's so easy to give up formalities and prudence. It's so easy to indulge into. It lays upon me now, tempting. Perhaps, I shall...
The song of vengeance picking up the pace, it played on. Into the very pinnacle of molten, flaming ire. How it burst from its steady containment, the pressure eclipsing rationality. It laughed as it became the melody of Jake's song. Treacherous, sinister thoughts conceived from insanity showered him in acidic crimson rain. A face appeared, made of the ashen clouds. A forehead, wrinkled and creased. A sculptor, residing in the caliber of Michael De Angelo moulded ceaseless disappointment the visage.
He looked at the sky, laughed in joy, and smiled.
"You won't believe what happened to me on Friday," Jason exclaimed, "You've should've been there."
He slumped down onto the seat in front of Percy, unbothered by the loud chatter of the lunchroom.
But, perhaps that's just me Percy mused.
His cordial complexion, shone with joy, festooned by excitement and hope. Percy couldn't help plucking an image from his brain. The minimalistic beauty etched onto a painting, the shifting greenery, alongside magnificent trees, under billows of velvet clouds.
"For what?" Percy questioned, bewildered at the sprightly manner of his friend.
"I met someone at the bar. She was the most stunning person I've ever met. Literal definition of charming. I probably dreaming right now. Like-" He rambled on, bewitched in the comforting memory he had.
"Okay, okay I get it Jason." Percy interrupted. He put a hand on Jason's shoulder, "Calm down dude."
"Did I mention she was gorgeous? Especially her smooth brown hair, it wa-" Jason continued, his hands animatedly lurching around. He had a spark of rapture in his eye, lighting up continents.
I can't stop him can I? Percy thought, I've rarely seen him like this.
A similar pang of admiration filled the vast canyons of his heart, in the sea called his memory. A sun glistened a blonde colour, like-
"I think this is catharsis." Jason theorized, "You should've seen her, you probably don't believe me anyways.
"I probably don't" Percy confirmed, "Did you invent a name for her?"
"Piper." He soft replied, savouring the syllables of her name.
"Well, I'm happy for you." Percy teased, "Can't wait to meet her."
"Same."
"Oh! You can't ditch me for your 'lovely ladyfriend', still got an entire season of Masterchef to watch with me."
"Of course , you poor lonely child." Jason confirmed. "Besides, you'll force me anyways.
"Not true." Percy answered, slightly abashed from his past behaviour.
"You know it is." Jason chided, but a soft smile lingered on his face.
"Hey, I've got to go, see you later." Jason stood up and patted his shoulder before exiting the cafeteria.
Percy followed his friend's path with his eyes. He looked down at his clumsy sandwich, which fell apart at the seams. An alarmed aura covered him, as his watch flashed dangerous colours. 12:59.
Percy scrambled out of his seat, hurriedly shoving possessions into his backpack; he barrelled past unknowing bystanders.
Percy sat down heavily in the dingy cafe. Shock registering like the blast of a siren. The feelings he had pushed down, rose, overflowing.
The simple frown he received from his teacher and red letter on the piece of paper; it shattered the illusion of the serene river in front of him. The clear bright light that he had always strived for, always thought it would be the end, dimmed into darkness. The waters descended from the barren canyon. The water flowed like molten lead, a substantial hunk of inelastic murky liquid. It grew closer and closer. Percy stood paralyzed in fear and watched. He watched.
The imagery afflicted him, and he jolted out of it. He looked outside, where the repeating growls of engines and plumes exited cars. The frenzy typical of hunger manifested. Feral , animalistic desire entrenched into Percy's genes overshadowed rationality. Before long, the half empty pack of cigarettes clattered onto the cold pavement.
It's cordial warmth pulsed in his veins, enticing more from its concrete reign. The smoke still fluttered around him, bitter and poignant. He reached down, his hands trembling with restlessness. He hastily lit another cigarette, the bright flame almost tinged his hand. His hands still shook.
He looked into the ashen polluted sky, and a single coherent danced on the edges of his wit.
I'm sorry Annabeth.
"Hey," Percy quipped; he recognizing the lift in his lips that happened too often in her presence. The guilt , from his actions a few weeks ago, suppressed , and dunk to the depths of the sea.
Annabeth turned to look at him, a shrewd expression on her face. Her blonde hair glistening under the mellow sun. "That's the best you can do now? 'Hey?'"
"What should I even say? Fuck off?" Percy retorted. A slightly incredulous tone slipped into his words. "I think that may be a tad bit imprudent."
"Well it is the 21st century Percy, not the 18th century or whatever time period you steal your words from." She deadpanned.
"I don't- I don't steal my words with the 18th century!" He cried, " That's ludicrous!- Uh I mean dumb!"
"Oh really? So may I ask where you find words like countenance or disposition if not from certain British authors?" She inquired sweetly.
Percy stared at her, an empty, dull countenance, "May I ask how you know those words?"
Annabeth stared back in the same manner. "English class."
"Same here." He stated. The slight overtone cast of darkness in his eyes, unnoticed by Annabeth. His fingers fidgeted by themselves, consoled by his subconsciousness. They drew closer to his pockets.
"Damn. You sly bastard." Annabeth admitted, slight crestfallen; however the heavy burden upon her shoulders felt lighter.
"Did you just say what I think you said?" Percy exclaimed, shock wavered into his voice and complexion. "Did you just admit defeat?"
Annabeth felt an urge to glance in the other direction. She did. "Shut up." She murmured, an inkling appearing flustered in her cheeks.
"'Shut up?' Is that the best you can do?" He teased.
Whatever other sentiment reclined in her head dissolved. She socked him playfully on the shoulder and stressed her vexation.
He looked at her with a fond smile. But, curved into displeasure and shame, he uttered in a soft, soothing flow of words, "Hey you alright?"
Annabeth's eyes widen, meeting his constantly changing emerald jewels. "Uh, yeah."
Percy swiped his hands to the left and continued, "No, I'm not talking about you, I meant your ego."
She raised one eyebrow, appearing inquisitive, dubious, and disinterested at the same time. Percy snorted from laughter. Annabeth joined him soon enough.
A few light-hearted conversations passed, but an unsettling forgetfulness lingered like smoke in Percy's mind.
"Oh right!" He blurted, "Don't you have a new story yet? I mean you're usually the one to ask."
Annabeth frowned, and set her eyes on the swaying branches. "I have a lot of work. I didn't have enough time." Percy visage twitched with unstoppable dismay, and he hastily shoved his laptop back into his bag. "That's fine. We all have shit to do right?"
She nodded in confirmation. The harsh, gruelling reality of their lives settled around them. The burdens of work, society standards, money. They worsened, polluting the atmosphere. The fragile glass shattered into fragments. The mirror underneath revealed the true distorted, hideous reflections.
Percy lit a cigarette, musing internally. The fumes went unnoticed, or she remained purposefully oblivious.
He smothered the cigarette under his feet and muttered suddenly, "How do you feel about seeing a stupid rom-com?"
Annabeth turned to face him, an amused tint of her eyes. "Why not?"
He rose. His hand went out courteously, and he enforced elegance to his frame. "My lady?" Annabeth almost howled with laughter, his allusion to chivalry failing miserably. Though she did not appear 'elegant' either.
She walked alongside him to the nearby theatre, comforted by the dew and fog of a past rainy day. "You better not cry Percy, or you owe me 50$."
Percy responded indignantly, "Who do you think I am? Might as well give the money to me now."
"We'll see, Mr. Gets emotionally invested by everything." She shot back as they walked into the cinema.
2 hours passed and his wallet was lighter.