We're here for an awkward chapter! Also a painful one.
On a completely random note, I bought a huge thing of Halloween candy today at Walgreens and I'm really excited to eat it. Candy and tacos are my favortite food. #basic
Okay moving on.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this chapters! It's one of my favorites.
Ok well thank you so much for clicking on this.
Can't thank you enough.
Let's get to it!
(Disclaimer: I don't own these characters)
PERCY POV
"Is anyone sitting here?"
I looked up from my lunch to find a girl with hazel eyes and caramel eyes staring at me intently, like she could see into my soul.
Her clothes were covered in dirt, and it seemed like she didn't mind that half the dining hall was staring at her. It seemed like she knew something I didn't.
I looked around to see if Jason was going to join me. It didn't seem like it. "No, go ahead."
She smiled and sat down across from me, reaching out her pale freckled hand. "I'm Calypso."
I took it. "Percy. So, you're a gardener or something?"
Calypso beamed. "Yeah. I love it. I love it so much. It gets kind of lonely sometimes, but it's so worth it."
"That's super cool."
She nodded. "So what about you? What's your major," she asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.
"Marine biology," I told her proudly. "I love it."
"I can tell," Calypso said, her eyes sparkling. "You're very lucky."
I smiled. "I am."
"So, I have a confession to make," Calypso said, a deep blush turning her face completely pink.
I perked up. "I already knew who you were when I sat down. I've been wanting to talk to you for a while, but you were hanging out with that super smart girl."
I looked down. I didn't really want to talk about Annabeth. The cut was too fresh.
"Well, there's been some rumors that you guys are over? I know this is super fast and out of the blue, but would you want to have dinner sometime?"
"Uhh…"
Calypso shook her head, her caramel colored braid swinging as she did. "I don't need an answer right now. I gotta go to class. It was nice to talk to you."
I smiled a little. "You too, Calypso."
Her eyes lit up like she was remembering something important, and she dug through her pockets until she found a black pen.
She took my hand and turned it over so that she could write on my palm.
"Here's my number," she said shyly. "See you later."
I grinned. "See you."
Once she left the Dining Hall, I glanced at my hand, with scrawled digits on them. I wasn't sure what I was going to do.
And then I glanced up. I could feel what was about to happen, and I wasn't sure I was ready.
Thalia and Annabeth walked in. I knew I would have to face her at some point, but this felt too soon. Had they seen me talking to Rachel?
Thalia marched up to me, lifted her combat boot and slammed it down on my foot. Shit, that hurt.
So she had seen.
I winced, hard. Annabeth glanced at Thalia accusingly but Thalia just shrugged angrily and kept her eyes on me.
"Moving on fast, huh Jackson?"
"What?"
"Seriously, Percy? You have a number on your hand. Am I supposed to think that girl you were talking to didn't give it to you?"
"Well, yeah, but-"
"Percy freaking Jackson. I hope you're ashamed."
"Thalia!" Annabeth stared wide eyed at her friend.
Thalia just shook her head.
"You are such an asshole. I can't believe I'm related to you."
"You have the wrong idea-"
"I don't think I do-"
"Thalia." Annabeth's voice was quiet but firm. "Enough."
She glanced up at me, her gray eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn't place. "You can do whatever. I don't care. I have a date tonight, too."
Thalia opened her mouth and Annabeth elbowed her. Thalia shut up.
Even though there was a super high chance that Annabeth was lying, it was still a major blow to my chest. I felt like I couldn't breathe.
Annabeth with someone else?
Although, I couldn't deny that it was me who had ruined everything with us.
After one person couple's counseling all week from Grover and Juniper, I understood that.
But it was scary thinking about losing the person you love.
Of course, now I actually was losing Annabeth.
I cleared my throat. "A date?"
Annabeth stared at me, a storm brewing in her eyes. "Yes. A date."
"Really." I knew I was goading her, but she always seemed to tell the truth more when she was angry.
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"
"Can't say I do." Or I can't bring myself to think anything else. It would be too painful.
"Why don't you join us then? You can bring your new thing, and I can bring my date. Luke."
It took all I had to not stumble back when she said his name.
So I guess I did have something to worry about when we were… whatever we were.
I closed my eyes for a couple seconds.
I was angry that she lied to me during our fight, but mostly I was just disappointed that she was with someone else.
Disappointed mostly in myself.
I really messed up.
It felt like someone was trying to squeeze my heart out of my chest. Like someone was reaching through my skin and crushing my organs.
I was dying, inside out.
"Fine," I said, forcing nonchalance.
"Fine," she replied, and then she walked away as Thalia took her hand comfortingly.
But I was alone.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I guess I would be texting Calypso after all.
I met Calypso at the restaurant, and found her in a white summer dress and a light brown cardigan.
She had on some brown eye shadow on and her warm eyes beamed when she saw me.
"Percy! You look great."
"Thanks. You too." I cringed. "There is something I have to tell you, though. You know this date is with my sort of ex? We're not really on the best of terms right now. I'm not sure what's going to happen."
Calypso nodded with understanding. "I'll try to diffuse the tension. Our table is this way."
"They're both genuinely good people. I just… "
Calypso smiled gently. "I totally get it. Don't worry. I'm sure this will go great."
I forced a smile. "Yeah. Me too."
She took my hand and led me to where Annabeth and Luke were discussing quietly. Annabeth gave him a genuine smile. It made my heart clench.
I wanted to leave. I wanted to cry. I wanted to kiss her.
"Hey," Calypso said tentatively.
When Annabeth looked up and saw me, her eyes went cold and hard. I nodded slowly.
"Hey."
"Hi." Her voice was tight and bitter.
Calypso's gaze switched between us, noticing the obvious tension that I could cut with a knife.
"So!" She clapped her hands together. "Let's eat."
So that was chapter 14!
I know it was hella awkward. But, you know. That's how it goes.
Next up is an even more awkward double date.
See you in the cosmos!
-wdw