"Stay safe, Annabeth," Piper told me as she hugged me tightly. "Don't let this all get to you-we'll figure something out, don't worry."
I squeezed her back. "Okay. I wish you could've stayed longer."
She sighed, leaning back. "Yeah, me too. But it's up to your mom, and after what happened yesterday . . ."
Piper's sentence faded, but I got her meaning. Nothing, thankfully, had shown up in any magazines yet, and I knew it was taking all of my mother's power and Malcolm's and quite a few more other people who were helpful to keep it all at bay.
But my mother had sent me a phone call last night. I had sat there in misery as she yelled at me, telling me I was reckless and that I'd probably just ended my stay here in Colorado.
That was what hurt the most.
"Send me news about what's going on as soon as possible," I told my best friend, managing a smile.
She smiled as well. "I will. Don't get too bored here without me!" she added jokingly, backing up to Poseidon's truck. He was waiting patiently inside, ready to take her to the airport. Jason was in the backseat. His excuse to go was that he "wanted to keep Mr. Jackson company."
Bogus.
But it still made me smile genuinely. Jason and Piper had hit off extraordinarily well, and I was happy for her. Hopefully they'd be able to keep it up.
I waved one last time to the trio before Poseidon sped out of the driveway, disappearing into the trees. A sigh escaped my lips. I already felt rather lonely with her gone.
But it wasn't going to be as bad here. I had Hazel now, and maybe even Rachel. However, the latter probably wouldn't work. I doubt she'd feel comfortable at the ranch right now, and I don't think Percy would appreciate it either.
Speaking of Percy . . .
My eyes flew to the stable where said person was currently residing. I'd barely seen him for the past day.
He'd gone to his room last night like he told us, but I didn't think he went to bed then.
Everybody else had left almost right away. It had been a taxing day, and most of us just wanted to relax. However, relaxation wouldn't come to me. Not after what had just happened. So I ended up tossing and turning in my bed for at least four hours, finally falling asleep around two in the morning. It didn't help that I could hear Percy moving around in the other room as well. He was pacing back and forth.
This morning, he had gone out to supposedly start on some chores before I even woke up. Though when I looked around for him, I couldn't find him anywhere.
He had shown up at lunch to say goodbye to Piper, then disappeared, this time saying he was going to the stables.
I wanted to go to him, see if he was okay-if he needed anything. I wanted to comfort him like he comforted me that one time I desperately needed a shoulder to cry on.
But I was the reason he was feeling all this anyways. I doubt he'd want to see me.
Just another thing that was hurting me at the moment.
So I decided to go back into the kitchen.
Apparently, my feet thought otherwise, because I ended up going to the stables.
"Stupid," I muttered to myself as I walked. "He doesn't want to see me."
But I still kept walking. I guess I was more determined and brave than I first believed so, for I carried myself into the stables and looked around for that black-haired boy who was making my feelings go crazy.
Horses nickered greetings to me as I passed their stables. I paused for a moment to pet Porkpie.
"Hey, boy," I crooned. "I haven't been able to spend too much time with you recently, have I?"
He tossed his head in agreement, tugging a slight chuckle out of me. I jogged over to the feeding room real quick, grabbing a handful of oats. Then I walked back out carefully, holding my hand out to the yellow horse.
Porkpie snorted in approval, plunging his muzzle into my hand. I laughed as he ate with fervor, almost biting my pinkie, spilling some of the food onto the ground.
"You're gonna make him fat."
I almost dropped the oats when I heard Percy's voice. It was close to me, and I turned to see he was standing in the next stall-which was empty-watching me with those sea-green eyes.
"I didn't even see you there, Seaweed Brain," I said, brushing the last crumbs off my palms.
He didn't answer, just looked at me curiously.
"What?" I asked, bringing a hand up to my hair self-consciously. I thought I had remembered to brush it earlier today, but maybe that was just wishful thinking.
A ghost of a smile touched his face. "You look fine, Annabeth. Beautiful, really."
I turned red, stammering out something incoherent.
Then he gestured to me, and I followed his beckoning by exiting Porkpie's stall to enter the neighboring one.
"What?" I repeated, but this time with a different question in mind.
Percy didn't say anything. Rachel's words suddenly rushed back to me. For the billionth time, I wondered if what she had said was true, or if she was just mistaken. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter, but I found myself wishing so hard that it all was true.
"How're you doing?" I blurted out.
He looked at me, then looked away, out the window of the stall. It faced the paddock, so we had a nice view of the other horses grazing together in the afternoon sun. A hazy atmosphere was present, almost like time had stilled. I could see dust particles in the air, floating lazily around. The neighing of the horses and the smell of the equestrians all filled my senses.
Percy was lit up by the sun streaming in, his black t-shirt contrasting with the brightness. He had his hands placed causally in his pockets as he leaned against the wall of the stall. I stood in front of him uncertainly, thinking I maybe shouldn't have been too forward like that.
"Fine," Percy replied vaguely. It didn't sound like he was doing too fine.
I took a deep breath, brushing some loose hair out of my face. "Look, Percy, I'm sorry."
He frowned and opened his mouth to ask a question but I kept talking. "I'm sorry for-for coming between you and Rachel. I was the one that drove a nail into your relationship, and I know I had something to do with breaking you two up. So I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"Annabeth, our relationship was already unsteady. It wasn't going to last-I don't even know how it lasted as long as it did," he said. He sighed shakily. "It just was long enough to leave only a few things unscathed."
I inwardly flinched. "I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing," he said. "It wasn't your fault."
"But it was!" I persisted, biting my lip for a pause before continuing in the same desperate manner. "It was. Maybe if I hadn't come you both would've been fine. And West Burge. Now it's going to have quite a bit of rumors circling around it, and I bet you'll have some too, about yourself. Gods, I just messed everything up. I shouldn't have come here in the first place."
"No," he said firmly. It wasn't loud, but it left a ringing echo around my brain. "No, don't say that, Annabeth. Don't ever say that. Whatever you think-whatever presumptions about anybody who lives around West Burge not wanting you here, get rid of them."
I raised my eyes to peer into his steady ones.
"I don't care what happens because of those stupid reporters," he said shortly. "I'm so glad you got to come, that I got to meet you."
"Percy-"
"No. You're one of my best friends, Annabeth. I don't want to hear you say that you wish things could be different."
I hurried to protest. "No! I'm not saying that! Gods, I'm beyond grateful that I got to be here, to meet you and all of your friends. I care about you all so much, and that's why I wish I hadn't been here. I've brought nothing but trouble."
"Even if that was true, I wouldn't care. I'd take you with trouble over a perfect day without you any time. Besides, it's not possible. No day could ever be perfect without you, Wise Girl."
Aw. My heart almost melted at that. "Percy . . ." I trailed off, not really knowing what I was going to say.
However, I did know one thing.
I knew that now, staring at Percy with that determination in his eyes as he told me that I was worth that much to him, my feelings for him intensified greatly. I felt a sort of ache in my chest, like I needed to just touch him right now.
"Percy, thank you," I said quietly. "Thank you for being . . . just, you. That's enough. You're able to make me feel special, and that right now is probably a major feat, what with the way I'm feeling with everything going on."
He shrugged slightly, taking a step closer to me. I could reach out and touch his chest if I wanted to-I wouldn't have to move that far.
But I held myself back.
"You deserve to feel special, Annabeth," he whispered. "Because you are special." Butterflies raged around inside me when he lifted a hand to cup my cheek, his thumb caressing the spot right under my eye. "Special to me, at least. And I'll remind you of that everyday."
Screw not touching him. I couldn't resist this impulsion anymore.
So what did I do next? I kissed him.
Yeah, you read that right. I kissed Percy Jackson.
I didn't exactly know what overcame me, but I just did. I practically threw myself at him, grabbing the front of his shirt to pull him to me before smashing my lips on his.
For a moment, he was utterly still, and his eyes were wide open. I could tell because mine were too.
But then he started to relax. His hand came around my waist, and his other, still cupping my face, slid itself into my hair. His fingers entangled themselves in my blonde curls as he pulled me closer to him. He was warm, his body now flush against mine. I slid my hands over his shoulders, letting my fingers find his hair.
For so long I had daydreamed over running my hands through his hair, and it was just as amazing as I imagined. His silky strands that went everywhere in that untamed manner felt like water under my hands.
His lips . . . oh, gods. Don't get me started.
They were perfect. Soft and hesitant, yet it seemed as though they were fiery spikes sending flames through my body and ending in tingles, and he kissed with an urgency that made me breathless. They fit with mine almost too perfectly, our lips moving in sync like a melody and its harmony.
My eyes had long fluttered shut, and now I was just soaking in Percy, being this close to him. I'd kissed boys for a movie before, but those always meant nothing. I had no feelings for the boys I pecked quickly. But this kiss . . . this kiss was affecting me so much. I felt like I had gotten run over by a car and ended up in heaven.
Poor Porkpie, watching all of this. Scarred for life.
But did I care? Hell no.
"Annabeth," he said softly against my mouth, my name sounding like a song when it came from his mouth.
But as soon as the make out session had started, it seemed to end just as quickly.
A second later, Percy abruptly jerked back, staggering a few steps away from me. We both were panting hard, staring at each other in shock.
Did that really just happen?
"Percy-"
"No," he breathed out. "I can't-"
His voice cut off, and he looked away from me. He ran a hand through his black locks. His hair was already messy from my hands, and he just made it worse. I just stood motionlessly against the stable wall, trying to get enough oxygen into my body so my brain could start working again.
"Annabeth, I-," he started once more. He looked at me, and his eyes looked frustrated. "I can't. Not-not right after Rachel and I . . . I can't. Not so soon."
The air in me-or whatever little air I had-flew out of me like I had just gotten punched in the stomach.
Oh gods. What did I just do?
"I understand," I managed to croak out.
He didn't meet my eyes again, just looked at the ground, his lips slightly parted. He looked so anguished that I wanted to give him a hug, but I'd messed things up enough already.
Rachel had told me that he might not be ready. What was I doing? And seriously, people usually just started out by talking hesitantly about their feelings, not launching into a freaking full-blown make out session!
While I was continually cursing myself in my head, the air around us was tense and silent.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-," I said, right as Percy started talking, too.
"It's not you," he spoke up softly.
We stared a little more at each other before Percy kept talking. "It's not you, I just-I'm not ready for anything like this. Not right away. Not after I just finished a relationship."
"I understand, Percy," I insisted once more. "Really. I'm fine."
Acting was handy when I needed to spout lies like the last sentence I just said.
Percy bit his lip, looking uncomfortable. Memories of what just happened threatened to rush into my brain and overtake my sanity, but I held them back for the time being. It was silent, awkward tension rising between us, and I hated it's appearance.
"I'm gonna go finish some chores," he muttered, scuffing at the ground with his boot.
I nodded, and he gave me one last look before he left the stall, heading down in brisk steps to the exit. I watched him go helplessly, wanting to say something but not wanting to mess up even more. As he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder at me. It was weird how much one second of eye contact could affect me like it just did.
Then Percy stepped outside and I lost him from sight.
For about five seconds, it was totally silent.
Then I groaned loudly. Probably loud enough for Percy to hear.
"Gods, I'm so stupid!" I whispered furiously.
Porkpie was watching calmly, his eyes never straying from me.
"You got a show, huh?" I snapped at him. He whinnied, and call me crazy, but it sounded like he was laughing.
"It's not funny," I said, fighting back tears. "Gods, what did I just do?"
Well, I can tell you what I just did. I just kissed Percy freaking Jackson and now probably messed up our whole friendship and made everything awkward between us. He probably didn't even like me, and now I just seemed really straightforward and it looked like I was taking him right when he dumped his girlfriend.
I most likely don't have to remind you again, but I'm so, incredibly stupid.
Sorry for the long wait guys. Thing is, "Little Lady" and this book have kept me busy, plus all the things going on right now. I thought summers were supposed to be relaxed, lazy times. Not for my family, I guess. :)
THANK YOU so much to all the people from here who have been reading my story on Wattpad. For those of you who haven't, please do so. I really appreciate it, and it makes me come back to write for CGCB more often. My username on wattpad is "Sophia-Dee" and the story is "Little Lady." It's an action/romance book, and it focuses on nuclear weapons. So yeah, more intense than my other wattpad book. XD
Q&A and chitchat.
RiptideFTW: I loved your long review! It was great, and thanks so much! And yes, good ol' Seaweed Brain is oblivious to the extreme. That's what makes him so adorable, though. :)
PunksNotDeadYouAre: To be totally honest, I get all my inspiration from you readers. Without you guys, I would've given up on my story long ago. You're encouraging reviews and excitement for the story gets me hyped up. So thank you sooooo much for being one of the reviewers, and giving me more inspiration to write CGCB! :)
Nameywamey: YEEES. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR READING MY WATTPAD STORY. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, BUT I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT PEOPLE READ "LITTLE LADY." Okay, sorry. Virtual cookies for you, my friend. (::) (::) (::)
Guest: This is for the guest that caught the "I'm not an oracle or anything" part. Ha, thanks for liking it. :)
Love you all! Please review, the next chapter depends on them. Reviews are like little fast-forward buttons that speed up my writing. XD