Annabeth's POV
After washing the dishes, I headed back to my room. Back home whenever I get bored I hang out with my friends or head out on my own just to go for a ride alone. But rules are different at the Grey's place. Um. My place. It's weird to think of this home as mine. Anyway, over here, I can't just walk out of the house without asking permission from my mom or dad. And I couldn't just go alone. I'd have to take at least two security guards with me for protection. So basically, there's nothing much to do other than reading or surfing the internet.
I open up my copy of Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse.
As I'm reading there's a knock on my door. "Come in !" I say as I put my book aside. Mom enters my room with a smile on her face. I gesture her to come sit on my bed. My relationship with my mom is good. We both try our best to connect with each other and we don't have to try very hard as we are surprisingly similar. I was a little awkward in the beginning. I still am a little consious in front of both of my parents but slowly I'm getting comfortable.
"Tonight is the annual charity event at your grandparents' place.". Mom says, as she sits on the bed.
"Oh. What charity do they fund?"
"It's mostly for abused children."
My eyes widen in shock. I don't want to think about abused children as I myself was a victim of that abuse very long ago. I try to hide my reaction but it's too late.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?", mom asks me as she reaches out to hold my hand.
"I'm fine.", I say a little stiffly as I pull my hand back before she's able to touch me. I look up at her and see that I've hurt her feelings. Damn.
"I'm sorry I just.." I just what? I'm definitely not going to tell her what had happened to me. She's staring at me with horrified expression on her face. Before she puts two and two together I reach out and pull her hand towards me.
"I'm sorry. I overreacted. So what goes on in a charity event?", I ask to distract her.
"Annabeth, I know that there are certain things that you aren't ready to talk about. And we will wait patient. But please, don't hide things from us alright? We won't rush you into anything but we do want to know everything.".
I sit there, dumbstruck. They know that I've been abused. Of course they know. They're hardly slow. Plus all those nightmares. I know that I have a habbit of waking up screaming at night. Obviously they must've heard me a few times at least. They have an idea about what had happened to me so long ago. I simply nod, indirectly agreeing to what she had said. But I will have to procrastinate that difficult conversation for as long as possible.
"So at a charity event, rich people from all over the city bid on some things presented to them at an auction. The highest bidder wins, and the money goes on to the charity," mom explains, as she tries to reluctantly move on from the earlier topic of my past.
"That sounds fun.".
"Yes it will be. Especially if it's hosted by your grand parents. Your grandma has a flair for such things. And so does your aunt Mia. You'll have a lot of fun tonight, playing dress up."
She tells me that dad has a property in Aspen and they will be including it in the charity for two night stay. She then urger me towards my closet to show me my dress for the evening.