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Chapter 19: In the Rain

Percy

Everything was soaked from top to bottom. Nothing in his personal belongings escaped the drenching rainstorm. Wet and cold, Percy couldn't have imagined today to end up like this, not especially when he was having such a good time earlier too.

Once he got an emergency text from his dad, nothing else mattered except for going back home. Not even if the most beautiful girl he's ever met in his life was sitting in front of him, looking worried for his sake. He should have stayed and told her what was going on, but going back home was way more important with what's happened.

Halfway back to school, Percy trudged through despite the harsh and unrelenting downpour. It was nothing compared to the agonizing concern in his heart. Praying to God, Percy hoped with all his being that nothing too serious had happened, cause he wouldn't know how to keep himself standing if something were to-

"Percy!" There was a shout through the booming thunder. It was her voice.

Her voice?!

Faint footsteps rushing behind him, Percy could barely hear her casual sneakers hitting the rain puddles and making a splash with every step. The pouring rain made sure of it. He stopped dead in his track and turned around, a bit in disbelief as he held her just as drench figure in his gaze.

She tried to catch her breath amidst the freezing rain, "C-Can you at least tell me what's going on?"

Percy was speechless as the girl with blonde hair tied in a messy ponytail stood in front of him. The adorable side curls were stuck completely to her gleaming pretty face. Her long and wet ponytail was bunched up and glued together behind her back. Her uniform was super wet and soaked beyond help, yet the firm and determination in those grey eyes were fixed onto his with endless questions and worries.

"Annabeth…" Percy managed to say her name with surprise still rolling in his system.

On the very first day of being a transfer student to a new school, Percy remembered all too well how defeated and exhausted he was after taking a delayed Long Island train to the city. Despite his very first time being in the presence of such tall skyscrapers, his groggy sleeplessness and physical tiredness made sure to dim any of his awing amazement.

It had drained every ounce of his energy after riding the rail system, and because there was more to get to his new school, he decided to get something heavy with caffeine so he could at least be awake for his first day.

Effortlessly making his way out of the large train terminal- shimmering with golden fanciness and shiny marble tiles, Percy walked for what seemed like an endless eternity before he finally ended up at that one shop where his older friend worked. Looking to score a free cup of wake-me-up, he scored something else instead.

And that was his first time meeting her, the girl with deep grey eyes that's particularly been stuck in his mind night and day since he came to Goode high: the most prestigious and famous school in all of New York.

To say that she was one of a kind would be an understatement. No one had ever made him feel this way since his first crush… but that's probably because no one had ever 'accidentally' splash him with an entire cup of large sticky caramel coffee before. Like always, Percy could smile forever at the mere thought of their first encounter.

It's been a week now since the two of them met through the most unlikely circumstances. Ever since that day, she had been by his side after school every single day and Percy had gotten so used to being with her that he couldn't imagine it being any other way.

Even if his experiences told him that people often enjoy taking advantage of others, this girl was the opposite of all that he'd gotten used to believing in. She showed him kindness and gratitude that most others in his life had been taking for granted, and before he knew it, he began to take himself for granted too. But something about her changed him…

A tiny flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different. His weariness and guard for people automatically disappear when he was with her, and it was as enjoyable as it was refreshing.

The chance to know her felt like a blessing, and Percy found himself growing much closer to the girl with messy blonde ponytail than he could have ever anticipated, or even thoroughly explain. He wanted her by his side, no matter how unfamiliar they were or how awkward their interactions might still be.

Like a meteor came crashing into earth, Percy never expected someone as mesmerizing as a shooting star would hang out with him so willingly. As a matter of fact, he thought he would suffer about the same fate that plagued his freshmen and sophomore years back at his high school back home.

Yet, all that changed when he met Annabeth- the girl who was smart beyond her years, charmingly beautiful just like a princess, carrying a sense of childish youthfulness despite being in high school already, the sort of girl who was kindhearted to everyone and cared about people close to her. She unexpectedly came into his life when he wasn't even looking for it, and now he didn't know if he could keep going without her by his side.

Sure, they might have unwitting got stuck together at the beginning, but Percy didn't regret their chance encounter one bit. He didn't regret meeting her in the most comical way possible. He didn't regret spending time studying with her every single day after school, getting to know her more and more, feeling fond of their time together, or getting way too attached to her presence than possible.

It went without saying, but Percy could only hope that Annabeth felt the same way, that she didn't regret being stuck with him either. After all, she was the one carrying his heavy burden without getting anything back.

But if there was one thing he regretted about his relationship with Annabeth, it's that he could never repay her for being kind to him or the many times she helped him through his troubles.

But as Annabeth stood in the rain with him, all her clothes wet while she waited for his answer, Percy might have found the answer his heart had been looking for at that moment.

But why?

Before him, Annabeth's firm expression morphed into a slightly uncomfortable one. She squirmed and hid her eyes away from his, "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"

It was then Percy finally snapped from his shock. He couldn't believe her…

The distance from the pizzeria back to school wasn't too far away, but the city was vast enough that it gave multiple paths back to their school's parking lot. In many ways, she was lucky she even caught up to him. If he had taken a slightly wrong turn, she would have missed him completely.

Eventually, the first word to come out of his mouth was quite different from how he had originally planned their conversation to go, "W-What are you doing here!?"

Once he started that initial question, he couldn't stop staring at her with the look of an overprotective older brother, ready to give her an earful, "Annabeth, you know it's raining like crazy, right?"

Despite the roaring thunder and heavy blanketing downpour, Percy could make out her trembling figure in the rainstorm, just enough to tell that she was freezing cold. Yet, she… s-she willing came after him despite all these conditions. He almost didn't want to believe it. Why did she come after him when she didn't even know what's going on? It couldn't be because…

"I am your friend, Percy! You don't think I would get worried if you ran off like that?" She had to shout through all that background noise, "Plus, I- I…"

Annabeth was shivering like mad. It didn't help that she wasn't wearing anything that could protect her from the rain. Her ash grey jacket provided some protection no doubt, but it had already turned into a deep shade of grey long ago, just like his. Percy knew he had to do something, or else she would most definitely get sick. He looked around, then it clicked in his head.

"Here. Don't just stand there…" Percy grabbed her hand without thinking and brought her to a small awning of a closed shop.

It offered a bit of shelter from having heavy raindrops fall right onto their heads, but that would have to do. Now he was ready, ready to scold her for being stupid enough to come after him. What if he had already gotten to his car? What would happen to Annabeth then? Alone? In the rain by herself? He didn't even want to imagine that very real possibility.

"How did you know I was coming down here?" In the end, Percy just couldn't bring himself to scold her.

"You said you were going home, right? It's not hard to connect that dot." Annabeth made a face at him for his apparently stupid comment. He rolled his eyes. If they weren't in the middle of a thunderstorm right now, Percy wouldn't have let that insult go without making some banter back.

"Anyways, I- I…" She struggled to say, her words muddled before Percy noticed a rather pink blush on her cheeks. She was heating up despite being soaked in nothing but cold raindrops.

"I came after you because I wanted to make sure you are okay." Annabeth told him as straightforward as possible, "Plus, I didn't like that you just left me alone without giving an explanation. So, what's the big deal?"

Several answers came to his mind. He could lie to her about what's really going on. He could refuse to tell her the reason. Lastly, he could be honest and just let her know why he ran off like that. That last option was the hardest though. After all, it was his own family emergency and he didn't want her to know his mom was in the-

Yet, all Percy could do was watch her face heat up more and more. A reply formed over his lips, but he couldn't speak because the fluster look on her blushing face made any movement impossible. He stared back at her in a bit of wordless amazement, his attention captivated by the bright redness over her cheeks as she hid her gaze sideways.

Why is she's blushing like mad? But wow, I can't believe she could look so cute- Nope! N-Not… Not right now, Percy!

He scolded himself for the sudden inappropriate thought. It was then when Annabeth narrowed her eyes and held her suspicious and intriguing gaze back into his green eyes, forcing him to gulp and cough awkwardly a few times.

Just don't look down… Don't look down no matter what…

"It's a family emergency," Percy said simply and kept his eyes level.

Luckily, his answer shifted both their attention away from the embarrassment between them. Her blushing expression faded before taking on a more serious look, "Did something bad happen?"

Percy hesitated and looked away, but Annabeth spoke for him, "Please… I want to know."

Annabeth said something afterward that surprise, no- it frightened him to hear them. He felt a tingle running through his spine when she said it confidently without any doubt in her voice, "And I want to help, whatever it might be."

Why? Why are you trying so much to help me?

Underneath the raging storm, Percy was putting up a tough front to hide that he was just as freezing as the girl before him. Yet, his heart wavered slightly when Annabeth said those words, "It's…"

Why did she want to know? It wasn't her concern, right?

"It's not your problem." That's what Percy wanted to say, but the rudeness prevented him from impulsively saying something he could regret.

Percy felt his fists clench up. It was a fact that what happened to his mom didn't concern her, so Percy shouldn't feel angry whatsoever. Yet, why is he feeling an uncontrollable emotion boiling inside him when he should have been glad that Annabeth was such a good friend to him?

It didn't make any sense, but the determination in her eyes somehow made his worries, his concern, even his troubling thoughts felt way less intense. He felt a wave of calmness when Annabeth unintentionally assuaged a lot of his unpleasant feelings.

Percy didn't know why, but seeing Annabeth's insistence eventually made him want to tell her everything. He didn't want to struggle on his own, to deal with the massive uncertainty and the hair-raising feeling he's got ever since the text message from his dad.

The sudden urge to reveal everything to Annabeth pushed him further and further up against a wall. He didn't like how it felt. Furthermore, he made a promise to himself where he swore he wouldn't burden her with even more of his troubles. Despite it, he was desperate and overly distress enough that the pain was too great to keep to himself.

Emotions were getting the better of him now. It didn't help that the ferocious weather and the girl in front of him- looking so determined and concern for his sake, made controlling his feelings even more difficult.

His eyes grew watery when Annabeth didn't waver from wanting to know more, "I am sorry…"

Fortunately, the rain might have hidden some of his overflowing tears, but Annabeth saw right through his attempt to hide it. Her expression softened. Despite being on the verge of crying his eyes out, she held his gaze without even a hint of annoyance on her flawless and beautiful features, those eyes grew warm and consoling, flashing deep grey back into his sorrowful green ones.

"I am sorry." Percy finally cried this time and didn't hide it.

Percy couldn't hold it in anymore and shed more than a few tears right in front of her, "My mom… She is in the hospital right now… I- I don't know why, but I- I am scared… She is my everything, and I can't…"

A bunch of horrifying and terrible images ran over his head, but he couldn't stop imagining what might have actually happened. If his mom was in danger or barely being kept alive… he might as well crumbled here and end things now.

After all, this wasn't the first time he-

Shivering from fear as well as the cold damping his clothes, Percy couldn't stop thinking about how weak he really was. After all that's happened to him, he thought he would have gotten to a point where he could tough everything out, whatever it was and no matter how bad it might be.

He was wrong. The truth is, he hadn't grown one bit since Tyson… since he…

"Percy." Her soft voice spoke his name slowly.

Through his tears, there was a strong abrupt tug on his jacket before a new warmth engulfed him. He was still freezing on the outside, but his frozen solid heart melted as soon as she hugged him. Thrown into a daze, Percy barely managed to make a mumbling sound when she pressed herself against him, both her hands on his jacket as she leaned her head on his chest.

He was speechless.

"I am sorry." Annabeth spoke so gently that it comforted him without him even knowing, "I understand how you feel, Percy. I- I… My father… he-"

When she paused, Percy knew he shouldn't pursue it. Instead, he pushed through his comfort zone and did something he probably- no, definitely, wouldn't have done if they weren't in a situation like this. In essence, he reached around with both arms and placed them on her back, hugging her too.

A soft whimper escaped from the girl in his arms. It seemed like she was melting against him too.

"It's okay. You don't have to."

It was silent and quiet for the next two minutes, nothing except for the raindrops on the flooded pavements. Either of them needed to say anything. They both know it was enough. Not sure when to let go, their hug went on for longer than Percy would have imagined. He knew he was seeking comfort from Annabeth, and it's obvious that Annabeth was doing the same with him. Despite the worries for his mom, he didn't want to rush this moment between them.

It might have kept raining with booming thunder and blinding lightning, but the little shelter they have created and shared right now felt anything like the harsh reality around them. Instead, Percy felt warm, comfortable, and safe with the girl he connected so much with in so little time.

Eventually, a shift between them signaled Percy to move his hands away from her back. Annabeth did the same as she moved slightly away but kept herself close. Percy wiped his eyes.

"I am sorry for crying over something so stupid…" He admitted after calming down, "I am such a crybaby, right?"

Annabeth shook her head and looked into his eyes honestly, "It's not. You are worried about your mom. Anyone would be."

Percy nodded and forced a small reluctant smile. When he saw Annabeth mimicked a brighter smile back at him, he felt lighter and suddenly the heavy breaths caught in his throat weren't as suffocating as before.

They were quiet for a bit, then Annabeth opened her mouth, her words seemed uncertain and her voice grew weaker as she spoke, "Percy…? I know this is not something I should be involved in, but… can I come with you?"

There was no need for any subtle hints. Percy understood her meaning thoroughly.

"I mean, I know it's weird for me to come with you, to sit in your car, to stick with you when you are already worried about your mom. I know I am taking advantage of you, but I… I don't have anywhere else to go and I don't know who else to turn to. I don't know how to get back home either. I know I am giving you more trouble, but if…"

Her question didn't surprise Percy one bit. Percy knew what she was saying because their wavelengths were already in sync, even more so after she involuntary hug him and he returned her gesture. Instead of hesitating, Percy reassured her by rubbing her forearm. He caught her attention when she looked up and held his gaze, then he said gently, "It's okay, Annabeth. I wouldn't want to leave you here by yourself either, you know? I am not that type of person."

Annabeth looked down at her feet, "Hmm."

Percy knew she was thankful even if she didn't show it. Personally, he didn't mind having Annabeth tagging along, and if she didn't suggest the idea herself, he would have done it for her.

"Are you sure your family won't mind? I can wait in the car if you-" She doubted.

Percy shook his head and held her hand to silence her, "No. I don't mind, and I am sure my family wouldn't mind either."

It was for the best. Besides, there was no way Percy could leave her in the city alone when she was supposed to get to the edge of Long Island, where her home was waiting for her. Even though taking Annabeth with him wouldn't solve that problem, at the very least, he could keep her safe and sound until there was a solution.

"Percy…" Annabeth gave him a soft look that Percy hadn't seen before. It made him feel a strange sense of dizziness and he grew more attached to her at the moment, "Thank you."

Percy smiled awkwardly and held her hand tighter, "We should go…"

Just then, he was suddenly reminded of what was in his bag.

"Oh! Wait a minute…"

Percy shuffled through inside his bag. No surprise, everything was wet one way or another inside, but none of that matters. He was looking for…

"Yes! I know I pack it with me today."

Pulling out an umbrella, Percy threw his bag back over his shoulders and showed Annabeth what he found. Grinning proudly, he received a hit in the chest instead.

Taken back, he groaned, "Oww… Why?"

Annabeth was hiding her reaction behind her smirks. Finally, she let out a few hopeless laughs, "You are impossible, Percy. You have an umbrella this whole time?"

Percy knew what she was insinuated, but he decided to let that go and gave her an embarrassing smile.

"Don't make fun of me, okay? I was rushing back to the parking lot…"

Annabeth teased, "Yeah-yeah… I get it, but you could have remembered it earlier."

Percy shook his head in mocking despair and open the umbrella. Luckily, the frame was supported by reinforced steel, so even in these windy conditions, it shouldn't do much damage and bend it inside out.

"Come on, princess. Keep up or else you are going to get soaked again."

To his surprise, Annabeth took his advice beyond what he was expecting, "Don't look…"

Feeling her close the distance between them, Percy almost couldn't hide a sudden yelp from escaping his lips when Annabeth pressed herself into his left side. She wrapped her arms around his and pushed herself so close to his body, it was giving him major difficulty to function properly.

"Uh…"

Annabeth was quick to silence any of his wander thoughts, "Don't take this the wrong way! I am not- I just don't want to get wet again."

Percy decided not to let that get to him and make the situation even worse, "Okay. I'm going to keep going now."

Annabeth nodded and followed after him.

They stepped down the sidewalk and hurried back to their school's parking lot. And for the very first time, Percy finally accepted what his heart had been saying and he was glad to have someone like Annabeth by his side. Safe from the pouring rain, their connection grew a little more under the umbrella.