This chapter starts light and fun but turns heavy- but in a sense that's a good thing because the McLeans having the Kanes around changes certain things. Also- there's a small challenge amongst my replies to reviews if anyone's interested.
Replies:
Noir nyan: They'll realise, eventually lol. I love their friendship at this stage. And it'll only get better.
Undeath9087: Eh, I mean, the last few chapters will be rough but probably not for reasons you're all expecting.
trzyglow: Yeah, Drew will show up, just got for a little while yet. And don't worry, Piper won't be kept on the outside for long. The next chapter will be... enlightening for her.
Thickneck: It'll be soon.
JjlovesPJO: I mean, that would assume Annabeth has that behavior. But what if I tell you how they meetis completely and totally different from canon. And much more painful. It'll leave one of them very vulnerable actually.
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: Hah, it's definitely changing things a lot.
Guest: Tristan has no idea who Piper's mother really is. And Piper will be finding out very soon, There's so many changes and so many questions it's impossible to answer them all.
rage2091: Okay that just made me laugh.
Drizzle: Sally doesn't know yet. And he's playing Amos.
Guest: I love Percy and Piper's friendship at this stage- also because you just know they'd cause trouble. At one point in the future they're talking and Percy's just like 'I want to steal this thing that was stolen back from a museum' and Pipers like 'No, no we cannot do that' and Percy's just like 'But Pipes! Pipes we stole that other thing-' and Piper's just 'That other thing wasn't from the fucking BRITISH MUSEUM!' And Annabeth is just watching the back and forth like 'These are the people I choose to spend my time with' whilst also thinking secretly 'I kinda wanna steal them though'. and if anyone would like to guess what Percy wants to steal, if they succeed I may give hints as to something they want to know if they ask.
Zephyr0f8: Oh I'm aware that the trip to Greece makes things interesting. There is also another trip to Greece in the future which will add some more 'ooooh' moments if I do go to HoO because like, Percy's been to a lot of different places with significance. She'd just be there like 'Oh, we're visiting so and so- well we should go here then' because she is undoubtedly the most well travelled of the Seven.
oujiswan: I'm glad you're still enjoying!
JustAnotherSomething: I do love the hair- like, seriously. I just know a lot of people didn't so I was seeing what people thought. I also think it makes her stand out a lot and will at one point in the future make things a lil bit harder for her.
Days turned into weeks turned into months- Percy saw her new friend most days, even the days when they weren't filming- Sally had formed a friendship with Tristan, Piper's father- even going so far as to lend him the money for Thomas McLeans tests- he'd get a healthy amount of pay and any royalties from the movie when it was released, and his expenses while in Brooklyn would be paid for but that didn't mean that he'd get his full pay right away- and he'd been very grateful.
And Sally had agreed to watch Piper for him at the hotel whilst he took his father to the hospital to get the tests results- and Percy had, of course, taken the chance to spend time with her friend.
The two girls were in Piper's room- Sally was in the living area with the twins- Percy could hear the TV on out there but Percy and Piper had opted to stay in Piper's room.
Piper was led on her stomach on her bed while Percy was led half on, half off the bed, dangling upside down, her hair brushing the floor. "Ughhh." she let out a loud long suffering moan "Piper, Pipes, Pipey, I hate school."
And that made Piper giggle, and Percy felt her knocking her leg against Percy's. "C'mon. You're not stupid you can figure it out."
"Can I though?" Percy asked dramatically, "Can I really? Cause I hate math, it's like, super stupid. When am I ever gonna need it."
"When shopping?"
And that made Percy swing her body up with a grunt of effort, twisting and giving Piper an offended look. "How dare you use logic against me Piper McLean. I'm gonna tell Felix on you."
"Hah." Piper laughed, "Like your weird Penguin obsessed friend could do anything."
"He could set his army of penguins on you- he would. Felix would totally do that for me."
"I can picture him with an army of penguins." Piper giggled. "And yet somehow he's not as weird as you-" Piper was cut off- mostly by the fact that Percy had lunged, snatched up Pipers pillow and swung it at her head.
Piper spluttered at that, shoving the pillow away.
"Percy!"
"What?" Percy dropped the pillow, giving her best innocent look, "What did I do?"
"You're so annoying!" It was Piper's turn to lunge, and Percy yelped as she was knocked off the bed, hitting the floor hard- Piper landing on top of her.
And Percy laughed brightly, rolling them over as they play wrestled.
Percy wasn't really fighting off course- neither was Piper really. They were just playing- but still they'd hit the ground with quite a thud-and a few minutes later the door was opening and Sally raised and eyebrow as she took in the sight of the two girls- Piper had managed to get Percy face down and as she was sat on her back crowing her victory.
"Hi Mrs Kane." Piper chirped with an innocent look on her face "Is everything okay?"
"I'm the one who should be asking that question." Sally remarked- and Percy managed to squirm enough so that she could turn her head and see her mom's face- Sally looked amused, not annoyed. That was good in Percy's opinion.
"We're fine." Piper announced, "Percy was just being annoying-"
"Slander!" Percy almost squealed the words, "Slander and lies! Mother you believe me don't you?"
"Not really." Sally's lips twitched, "I know you too well for that darling."
"Hmph, betrayal from everyone." Percy huffed the words. "This is true cruelty."
"So dramatic." Sally rolled her eyes, "However did I not guess that you'd grow up to be an actress." "A very good actress." Percy declared brightly, "You heard the director last week- I'm a natural."
"Yes," Sally laughed, "Yes you are honey. Piper, as much as I'm sure my daughter deserves it can you let her up now?"
"Okay Mrs Kane." Piper stood up, and Percy pushed herself up so that she could sit up straight.
"Where's the terrible twosome?"
"You need to stop calling your siblings that." Sally shook her head, "They're currently in the playpen I brought with me- though knowing them they're escaping as we talk- you can definitely tell that they're related to you and Sadie." Sally gave a wry smile, "Alexander especially."
"Yeah, well 'Stelle's favorite is Carter of all people. I mean I love Carter but he just reads to her." she let out a huff, "He's nowhere near as fun as Sadie and I-"
"You say that as if you don't adore your brother." Sally shook her head fondly.
"I-" Percy blinked before she pouted, "Hush mom, you're embarrassing me in front of my friend."
"I think it's sweet." Piper announced, "When that girl tried to pick on you for your hair last week, the way your brother and sister showed up so quick was awesome-"
Percy grinned evilly, "Yeah, she regretted that." it did help that a lot of the kids in the school came from Brooklyn House- which meant that they could get word of anything happening to one another very quickly- and Brooklyn Houses residents looked after their own.
"I didn't hear anything about this." Sally remarked, "Do I want to know or is it better for me to have plausible deniability?"
"Uh-" Percy considered for a moment, "Well Carter didn't do anything too bad but I'm pretty sure some of the stuff Sadie threatened to do was illegal."
"I-" Sally tilted her head upwards, "Of course, of course your sister would make threats-" she paused, "Did this Haley girl at least apologise for being mean to you?"
"Uh- it was hard to tell through the babbling." Percy admitted. "But I think so. Not that I needed them to stand up for me." she added.
"It's true." Piper agreed, "I was there, I was actually holding her back when Carter and Sadie showed up out of nowhere."
"Well at least you didn't actually hit her." Sally sighed, shaking her head, "Now can I trust you girls to behave whilst I go and make sure that your brother hasn't tunnelled him and your sister free from the play pen?"
"Don't be silly mom. Alex wouldn't tunnel them both out. He'd climb."
"Children." Sally let out a fond huff, "You drive me insane-" there was the sound of a door opening, cutting off whatever Sally had been about to say, and then.
"It's only us!"
"Dad!" Piper was on her feet in an instant- and Percy was only a few steps behind her as they rushed out of the bedroom to the entrance of their hotel room- both of them skidding to a halt- Percy nearly crashing into Piper's back.
Both Tristan and his father- who Percy had met a few times but never really talked to looked stressed- and Percy peered at them curiously as Sally followed them quickly.
"Tristan, Thomas how did it go?"
And there was something about the expressions on their faces that made Percy's stomach sink, and she grabbed Piper's hand as the adults exchanged looks.
"I think the girls should go back to their room." Tristan said after a moment, "We should talk privately."
"But dad-"
"Pipes." that was Thomas- he gave Piper a tired strained looking smile, "Listen to your father f-" he cut himself off, a heaving rattling cough that shook his whole body bursting past his lips, and Piper winced, a frightened look on her face.
Percy squeezed her friends hand.
"Yes sir." because sure she didn't like being told what to do- but she could tell when adults were being serious for a good reason. So she quickly pulled Piper back to the room, despite Piper's obvious reluctance, and she shut the door behind them.
"Piper-"
"He's sick." Piper's voice was shaky, "He's really sick. Isn't he? I think my dad's been crying."
"I- I think he might be." Percy gave her friend a weak smile, "But- it might not be that bad- and you know mom'll help make sure he's got the best treatment for whatever's wrong with him."
"She will?"
"Of course." Percy watched as Piper moved to her bed and sat down, hesitating before, "Do you want me to try and listen in and see what they're talking about?"
"Please." Piper nodded quickly, "I- I dunno if I can do it." she admitted.
So Percy sat down next to the door, pressing her ear against the crack, and if she quietly whispered a spell to help herself hear better, well, Piper wouldn't realise.
"-The doctors said it's not too far along. It's not good but the cancer hasn't had much chance to spread- but- the treatments-"
"They're too expensive son, you need to take care of that daughter-"
"Dad-"
"Don't be stupid, either of you." and that was Sally's voice, firm and no nonsense, "Tristan you're my friend-and more importantly I think my daughter would be heartbroken if Piper was hurt. So whatever treatments Thomas needs, I can pay for them- now don't worry, either of you. I don't care about the money but if you want to pay me back for it we can sort it out when you have the money but with cancer you can't waste any time. How good did they say the chances are with treatment Thomas.
"They said it's a thirty percent chance of survival since they caught it early- but Sally you've already paid for the tests you don't owe us anything you can't just-"
"Thomas, Tristan, I am not going to let you go without treatment. Don't you want to see Piper grow up." that made the old man go quiet for several long moments before.
"We will pay you back somehow-"
"I will." that was Tristan again, "Sally- you've already done so much-"
"Tristan, my little girl is happy. She's got a new best friend and she adores Piper- and I love seeing her with new friends- she's not always had the chance to make friends so this is really good for her and Piper's been good for her. I'm doing this for those girls in there."
"We really do appreciate it-"
"Of course. Let me know everything you need and we'll see what we can do- and I will look after Piper when you need babysitting- Percy enjoys spending time with her anyway so that works out well for everyone don't you think?"
"It does." Tristan's laugh was weak. "And thank you for watching her today-"
"Nonsense, she was no trouble. If I can handle my tribe of terrors then I can handle your daughter- she's a dream to look after, really. At least she's never threatened to blow up someones bathroom because they annoyed her."
"Percy?"
"Yes."
"Your daughter really is a spirited one-"
"Hm, that's one word for it. Now." Percy could practically imagine her mom straightening up, "I think I should be taking Percy and the twins and heading home- I think you two need to talk to Piper."
"Of course." Tristan's voice was tired, "How do we even-"
"It won't be easy- but Piper's a smart girl. She'll understand I'm sure of it. And you have my number. If she needs to talk to Percy then you can call me up and I'll let Percy have the phone- she's going to need her friend for this."
And Percy pulled away from the door, standing up from her crouch. "What happened?" Piper asked quickly, "What did you hear?" and she could see from the look on Percy's face that it was serious, despite Percy's attempts to conceal it. "Is my grandpa gonna be okay?"
"I dunno." Percy darted towards Piper, hugging her tightly. "But mom's gonna help no matter what okay? And- and your dad and grandpa are gonna talk to you once we're gone."
"I- you won't tell me."
"I- I dunno how." Percy ducked her head, "I'm sorry-"
"It-" Piper hesitated, "It's okay."
"Mom told your dad that if you need to you can call me tonight- I'll be there okay? As soon as you call I'll be there."
"You're the best friend ever." Piper hugged Percy back tightly, and then there was a knock on the door and Percy pulled away from Piper.
"I gotta go home now. But I'll see you soon Pipes."