8
Annabeth's POV
"I'm home." I said to no one in particular as I walked through the front door.
"Hi Pumpkin," My dad walked in from the living room. "How was school?"
"Oh it was just wonderful! We learned about the importance of friendship and loving one another! And then we frolicked through the fields with the butterflies holding hands!" I said in a high-pitched voice, and held my hands over my chest dramatically.
My dad laughed. "Always sarcastic. You get that from me, you know."
"'Course I do." I smiled.
"You have a lot of homework?"
"Nah." I did. But I didn't need my dad pestering me to do it, so I lied. I was going to do it, just...at 3 a.m, maybe?
"Alright. Well, I want you to get it done because we're going to go meet Nana May for her birthday dinner at 5:00. So, be ready." My dad sipped what I assumed was coffee from his mug.
"'Kay." I then made my way up the stairs, taking them two at a time, like I usually do. I went into my room, closing my door behind me. I found myself smiling as I threw my book bag on the floor.
That was one of the best home encounters I'd had in the last few weeks. My dad was usually out on business trips, but when he was home, everything was better.
Helen became tolerable, and I had someone to really talk to at home. I mean, I could talk to Bobby and Matthew, but not very much because they're in the third grade. My dad had seemed like my best friend since we moved.
Part of me thought that sounded sad, but the other part of me didn't care. That part of me always saw the good in my father, despite how angry I was at him for marrying Helen. That part helped me get over the anger. That helped me realize that he was trying to do what was best for me, in going away on all these business trips so he can pay for the house and food and everything else.
I pulled out my phone and threw myself on my bed. Pressing play on my Spotify playlist, music began pouring from my phone.
Play the scene over again
Before the credits rolling in
Inside my head
I scrolled through Instagram and Snapchat while I just sat on my bed listening to my music.
Suddenly, I was reminded of Jackson's note, declaring war. I quickly jumped up and grabbed a pen and notepad. If I wanted to win this war, which I was going to, I needed to start planning.
Now.
...
"Hey Pumpkin?" My dad called up the stairs.
"Yeah?"
"You ready to go?"
Shit. I was not ready to go, but my dad didn't need to know that."Yeah, just give me a second."
"We'll be in the car."
"Kay." I quickly jumped up and threw on my converse. The burgundy ripped jeans, black crop top, and black flannel I was wearing would have to do. I grabbed my burgundy hat and phone from my dresser before walking out of the room.
I flew down the stairs, taking two at a time.
You're probably wondering, why are you rushing so much, I thought you wouldn't care.
The thing is, normally I wouldn't care but this is Nana May. If we were over five minutes late, I would never hear the end of it, especially because it's her birthday. I flew out the door, closing it behind me.
I hopped in the car, next to Bobby and Matthew in the back seat.
"Alright, are we all in?" My dad asked, looking in the rear view mirror.
"Yes." Was the collective response.
The next few minutes were spent in silence, until my dad spoke up.
"Annabeth, Nana May said that her friend and grandson are coming as well. Apparently her grandson is about your age, so you should try to get along. Maybe have some interaction with other people, instead of just that phone." My dad looked at me in the rear view mirror.
I rolled my eyes at the phone comment. "I guess I can try to be nice."
"Good. It'll be good for you, maybe you'll get along really well." My dad smirked at me.
"Dad!" I whined. "There are kids in the car!" I said, covering Matthew's ears who covered Bobby's ears. Helen slapped his shoulder.
My dad just laughed." I was just kidding."
I didn't think very much of my father's comment, until we got there.
I had no idea that that prediction was going to get a whole lot funnier.
...
I walked into the restaurant and followed behind Bobby and Matthew as everyone made their way to our table.
When I saw who was sitting there, I blanched.
"Annabeth, you alright?" My dad asked.
There he was, in all his stupidity. Messy black hair, navy blue hoody and all, sat Percy Asshole Jackson. Jackson turned around to see who had just arrived and when we locked eyes, I swear his nearly fell out of his head. "Chase?"
"Jackson?" I asked just as incredulously.
I must have been standing there for longer than I thought, because everyone had already taken their seats, leaving one seat left; the one next to Asshole. I was going to get my father for this later.
When I looked over to him, he gave an encouraging smile, I glared at him.
"Annabeth, come say hello." Nana May waved me over. I reluctantly made my way over, my eyes lingering on Jackson for a second longer.
I kissed Nana May hello, and then said hi to her friend, Estelle Jackson. She introduced Percy, who sat across from her, at the end of the table.
"This is my grandson, Perseus."
"It's Percy, grandma." Percy reminded her.
"Right." She said. Then she turned to me" He hates it when people call him by his official name."
"Oh." I smiled with a small laugh.
After a little more chitchat, I took my seat. "Well, who would've guessed Percy Asshole Jackson was my grandma's friend's grandson?" I looked at him."Oh wait, I mean Perseus Asshole Jackson." I smirked at him. He just glared.
"Who would've thought Annabeth Wiseass Chase was my grandma's friend's granddaughter?" He retorted.
"I still take that as a compliment." I said, biting into a piece of bread.
"Whatever gets you through the day, Chase." He said looking back at his phone.
"Ooh, what do we have here?" I asked looking over his shoulder at his Instagram.
"None of your business." He turned in an attempt to push me away, but he can't shake me that easily.
I was able to swiftly grab it out of his hands by reaching over his other shoulder, plucking it right from his grip.
He turned and looked at me. "What the hell, give it back." He was angry but trying to be quiet because we were in a restaurant. This made me laugh harder. He settled on taking my phone, which was sitting on the table. "Ha. Give me mine and I'll give you yours."
"Nice try, but my phone isn't unlocked." I smirked and wiggled his phone. "Yours is."
I quickly went to work making sure to follow myself on Instagram, and put a picture of me on his Snapchat story, saying, "Add me on snap: xxchasexx."
After taking a million random pictures on his phone, and looking though some old ones, along with his Snapchat Memories-let me tell you, I found some good stuff in there-I looked over at Percy.
He was taking a bunch of pictures of himself, and everyone at the table, who all seemed oblivious to us, having their own conversations.
Percy held up my phone to take a selfie, getting both himself and me in the shot. He smiled wide, thinking he had caught me off guard, but I smiled too. He proceeded to take a million more, with me making random peace signs and finger both ended up hysterically laughing, when Percy nearly knocked over his glass of water.
I was able to snatch my phone back when he wasn't paying attention.
"Hey! You have to give me my phone back." He reasoned.
"Who said that?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Come on, Chase!" He looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Mmmm." I pretended to think about it while I continued to take selfies of us and he kept trying to grab his phone, reaching around me.
Helen sent us a death glare from our seat next to my father. We quickly tried to look normal; I pretended to look over a menu and Percy's arm dropped across my shoulders, as he pretended to look over the menu with me. We looked up and gave a bright smile. She continued her conversation with my dad.
He probably thought nothing of it, but when he put his arm over my shoulders, part of me freaked out. I mentally slapped myself for overthinking a small gesture. It was nothing. I told myself to ignore the electricity that seemed to radiate from where we touched. I couldn't possibly understand why it was there, though.
When we were in the clear, we resumed to exactly what we were doing; laughing and taking pictures.
I think that I was laughing and smiling for every picture, and though Jackson was struggling to get his phone, he was laughing and smiling with me.
"Okay. You can have it back now." I decided, handing him his phone.
"Thank you." He said, slightly out of breath from laughing and struggling.
"Annabeth, do you know what you want?" My dad asked from across the table.
"Uh...still deciding, dad." I quickly picked up a menu and pretended that I was looking at it the entire time, and not stealing Asshole's phone.
"Okay. Well we're ordering soon."
"Kay." I turned back to my menu.
Just then, the waitress walked up to the table."Are we ready to order?"
"Yeah. We're gonna start here and work our way around." My dad said, pointing to the twins who sat across from him. Helen gave the waitress their order.
"What would you like miss?" The waitress asked me.
"Uh, I'm having the pizza."
"Would you like anything like pepperoni, pineapple, sardines?"
"Pepperoni."
"Alrighty." She scribbled on her notepad. "And what can I get for you sir?"
"Same thing as her." Percy nodded to me.
"Of course." The waitress scribbled in her pad and moved on.
"Real original." I said.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Percy raised an eyebrow at me, the hint of a smirk on his lips.
"No." I shrugged."Where would you be without me?"
"Probably living my best life eating lunch at school in peace." He explained.
"Hey Asshole?"
"Yep?"
"You ever been slapped before?"
Jackson laughed.
"You have to admit, I do spice up your lunch period significantly." I said, rolling my eyes for emphasis.
"Not in a good way." Percy sipped his coke after chuckling.
I nudged his arm, causing him to spill a bit of his coke on his shirt.
He put his coke down and his mouth dropped open."What the hell, Chase?!" He whisper-yelled.
I snickered."I have not the slightest bit of a clue as to what you could possibly mean."
He glared at me. "You're the worst," Jackson dabbed at his shirt with a napkin.
"Yeah sure." I waved my hand dismissively before taking a sip of my ginger ale. Percy went to nudge me, but I dodged it, still sipping my soda.
I put my drink down and smirked at him."Nice try."
...
"Well. See you tomorrow." Jackson stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets.
Everyone was saying goodbye as well all walked out of the restaurant. My dad and everyone else was piling into the car.
"You still suck, Jackson." I smirked at him.
"You're still a wiseass, Chase." He returned the smirk.
Then I walked off to the car. This dinner turned out better than expected.
And it was because of Jackson.
Weird...
...
Author's Note: Okay, so I know this was a really stupid chapter like, wtf kind of idea is this, but I tried. I'm tryna move this along. But it's not easy. Anyways, thanks for all the reads! Don't forget to comment, ect. Thanks and love you guys!
-Percy Jackson Fanfic Writer123