Chapter 21: Struck by Lightning
Annabeth
The woman on the hospital bed was as beautiful as a stunning portrait painted by Master Leonardo himself, even if she was wrapped with bandages everywhere. About the same age group as my mom; if I had to guess, my mom was probably a bit older than her, yet she somehow always looked younger than anyone in her generation. In any case, the deep brown curls that cascaded down to her upper shoulders flowed gracefully like a breathtaking Cliffside waterfall. It's not difficult to see that her hair was silky and smooth. Her features were soft yet steadfast like that of a mother who had three rambunctious boys to deal with simultaneously. Given the gentle complexion, she could easily pass a calm and peaceful aura on anyone who she liked. Brown eyes sparkling with friendliness, it felt like she could never get mad at anything even if it somehow irked her.
Standing in her presence for the first time, I really hoped she liked me, or at the very least, didn't find a reason not to like me. Yet, I couldn't focus on anything I noticed because-
Sally Jackson?
Why did I paused and my body froze when I heard her name? Sally? It felt so familiar. When did I hear her name before? It had something to do with prophecy and fate— Oh right! Last night when I came home to an empty house… that's when I overheard my mom having that hush conversation with a woman named Sally!
But it couldn't be. It was just a coincidence that Percy's mom was named Sally too, right? Yet her voice…
"Annabeth?"
I snapped my eyes towards Percy and saw him looking worriedly at me, but something felt off.
"You okay? You don't look so good." He asked.
I took a quick glance at the other side of the room where Percy's dad was looking at me with the same expression, "You look pale, Annabeth. You want to take a seat?"
I touched my cheeks and felt what they were saying. It seemed like I went cold as soon as Percy's mom revealed her name. Feeling so strange, I tilted my gaze toward Percy's mom and saw her looking back at me with an even more curious look.
"Annabeth? You okay?" She voiced her concern too. Again, something felt off.
Everyone was looking at me now. Even Bobby and Matthew were growing with strange curiosity by the seconds, but they kept their mouths shut. I was beginning to feel self-conscious with all these eyes on me, yet I couldn't do anything to alleviate this agonizing feeling, my body only growing weaker and weaker… Until things happened beyond my understanding.
… Ungh! ...
Caught staggered, my whole body shot up as tingles rushed from the base of my body all the way up to the top of my skull. There was a deep painful throb on my forehead and a sharp pinch on my brain stem…
I stumbled on my feet.
Everything just turned blank all of a sudden and all I sense was a thick veil of darkness around me. It must be just me spacing out, but it felt more than that, more than just falling asleep while standing in the middle of the room. It didn't make sense either. I was still conscious and fully thinking, yet everything around me seemed seal off, frozen in place and I couldn't do anything to change that.
No. Stop looking at me like that… Stop it!
Just before I felt as if I was losing my mind, a familiar warmth came into contact with my skin and I awoke from the nightmare. The new sensation on both my hands seemingly brought my perception back to how it was. I snapped my eyes at the arm holding my right hand, following it until I realized who it belonged to.
"Annabeth?" Percy spoke so worriedly after he shifted his seat in front of me, "You okay?"
This was real. Mr. Blofis was on the sideline instead of staring at me worriedly, doing his best to control Bobby and Matthew who were still going on about me being Percy and I dating. Meanwhile, Percy's mom had her attention divided between her two sons and us, spending the majority laughing at what the twins were saying.
"Oh, you two… where did all your manner go? Can you see you are making our very pretty guest uncomfortable?" Her expression was firm yet glowing with that motherly love.
For whatever reason, her smiling words did wonder on Bobby and Matthew. They immediately stopped and apologize.
"Sorry, mom."
Wow! What the hell was that? That was so effective…
When I've finally come to my senses, I realized I've been frozen awkwardly in the same place without acknowledging or even greeting Percy's mom back. Definitely not making a good first impression, I shook myself out of that sudden daze and pulled my hands away from Percy.
"I am fine. Thanks."
Percy still looked worried despite the reassuring smile I gave him. I was grateful for his help though. His mom was fully watching us now, so I pulled myself back together and ignored Percy for now. I could always find a way to make it up to him.
"Hello, Mrs. Jackson." I tried to keep cool, pushing away the racing thoughts in my head from overtaking me, "It's nice to meet you too. I am Percy's- uh… friend at school."
That last part was a bit difficult to get out of my mouth, but once I did, she shot me a brief smile that filled me with so much unexpected warmth I wasn't remotely prepared for, "Please… none of that. Just call me Sally, Annabeth."
Really? They are really friendly just like Percy said, huh?
I nodded awkwardly when Mr. Blofis grabbed my attention afterward, "That's right. You can call me Paul too, Annabeth. No need to be so formal with us, remember?"
His blue eyes were subtly reminding me what he said earlier, but it still made me uncomfortable to use their first name when I've only met them for the first time, in such an awkward circumstance too.
"O-Okay." I paused, "Um… Are you okay, Mrs. Jacks- S-Sally?"
Her smile seemed to have grown, "Yes, I am fine. Thanks for asking."
Sally then turned to Percy with a knowing smirk, "Percy? Shouldn't you introduce your friend to everyone? I mean, you bring such a beautiful girl with you to see me, things must be serious, right?"
I could tell she was just making a harmless tease, but the context of what she was saying made it impossible to control the steams coming out of my ears, both cheeks flustered beyond the point of ever calming down.
"Mom!" Percy groaned while looking as red as I was, "It's not like that… We are not what you think we are, okay? She's just my tutor. Jeez, you are pretty energetic after almost getting-"
My heart sank for a moment.
In any case, there was a graveness in Percy's voice after he paused. I knew it must be directly related to the accident that led his mom to the hospital in the first place. Now I was really intrigued and my-sometimes-troublesome-curious-personality couldn't stop ruminating on the possible scenario. My awareness perked right up and I was observing for every little detail I could find.
In the end, I've managed to narrow it down to three possible categories.
Before I could seal my lips shut and stop myself from butting into their family business, my mouth opened automatically. I blurted out without holding back my tongue, "What happened? Those are burn injuries on your hands, right? And the head bandage. Do you have an open lesion wound and a concussion? How did you-"
A series of humorous chuckles left from Sally's smiling lips after Percy denied her wildly inaccurate intuition. Of course, it wouldn't be normal for us if everyone we met didn't think we were a couple already. Thus, I wasn't too surprised by his mom's insinuation. Still, I paused in the middle of my interrogation just before she brought her gentle brown eyes back to me. Shooting me an interesting glance, I felt self-conscious right away and tried to pull my question back at the last second.
"I am sorry. That was out of line. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Sally must be thinking that I am such a nosy girl, digging into her business when I wasn't even remotely close to anyone in her family. Besides, I was just tagging along because Percy let me stay with him for the time being. Otherwise, I might actually be on the way home right now in someone's taxi while worrying about my safety.
"It's okay, Annabeth." She reassured me, "You don't have to look so uncomfortable and guilty. I don't mind you asking. Besides, it's nothing too serious anyway."
Percy let out a soundless gasp. It was obvious that what his mom said surprised him, "Nothing too serious?! How is getting-"
Again, Percy paused abruptly and look deliberately at his younger brothers who weren't mature enough to catch the hidden meaning. However, I easily caught it. Both Bobby and Matthew took alternating glances at their big brother given the sudden interruption.
"Percy?" Matthew asked while Bobby followed suit, "Big brother?"
Keeping a secret was hard, but I wouldn't know because I've kept so many in my life that it had slowly become second nature for me. Whatever might have happened with this severe accident, Sally must not have wanted to burden her children with it. Perhaps, Percy and Mr. Blofis were the only ones who knew what happened.
Percy stayed tight lip and sighed. I saw Sally smile understandingly at her older son before waving her hands at Bobby and Matthew to come closer to the bed.
"You two want McDonald's for dinner?"
Crouching beside the hospital bed despite standing upright, Bobby and Matthew's faces lit up like fireworks, "Really mom?"
She smiled, "Yes honey buns. I've got to reward you for coming to see me, right? Just don't go and eat too much, okay?"
Radiating with so much of that motherly warmth, I would feel insanely love if I was Bobby and Matthew right now. Yet, envy took hold of me. There was a particular piece of me missing since the day my dad left me, my mom, Owlfred, everyone else in our lives, and never came back.
"Paul." Sally turned to her husband, "Do you mind taking the kids to get McDonald's? I am pretty hungry myself so I'll take a cheeseburger too."
Given the prospect of McDonald's, their constant babblings about me and Percy were all but gone from the minds. I was glad, but at the same time…
"Yes!" They shouted in unison without so much of a passing thought.
Kids… No wonder why they are so easy to manipulate.
Any sort of adult would realize that Mcdonald's was just a distraction to get to the real goal Sally had in mind. Furthermore, any third-rate detectives would figure out why she decided to pull both her husband and the kids out of the room. Obviously, it involved a boy with sea-green eyes and a girl with blonde hair and grey eyes in the same room.
Breathing normally became difficult. I gulped nervously since I wasn't sure what to expect, there wasn't any experience to fall back on because this was the first time I've ever found myself in a situation like this: forced to having an eagerly awaited conversation with my new crush's mother while intruding on her sudden hospital stay without a solid reason.
I really hope my intuition and instinct won't fail me too badly…
Mr. Blofis no doubt figured it out too. After all, there was a brief wink and a shift in his blue eyes when he shared a passing glance with his wife, "Well, come on, Bobby and Matthew. I'll let you have some fries too if you are lucky."
Like two speedy race cars, they bounced from the bed toward their father in less than three seconds and hurriedly pushed him onward from behind his back, "Dad! Let's go!"
I watched the scene unfold, a little befuddled by their silly antics before amusement found its way to my lips and made me laughed a bit. Certainly, Bobby and Matthew were definitely siblings with the boy next to me. After all, their dramatic and childish way of doing things reminded me of that someone else in the same room we were right now.
"Hey! Hey! No pushing!" Paul shouted as he was being ushered out the door.
Soon as her husband and the two goofy twin disappeared from the room, Sally shook her head and shot me an apologetic smile, "I am sorry about my sons… They are not the easiest to get a handle on if you know what I mean."
I felt a joke coming and grinned, "Yeah. I've had a few first-hand experiences with that."
Hearing her laugh made me feel a bit easier. Surely, she must have liked that because she grinned back at me with the same humor, "Oh I know just what you mean, Annabeth."
As a result, a sarcastic Percy turned to me while flabbergasted by my uncalled-for joke.
"Hmm, I can tell we are going to get along quite nicely, Annabeth." Her brown eyes twinkled a bit in my direction, then she turned her humorous sly look toward the boy next to me, "Percy? I do hope you are behaving yourself with such a wonderful and nice girl, are you?"
"Mom!" Percy actually pleaded, "Please stop…"
A desperate and embarrassed expression that I haven't seen on Percy before, I love how his mom was able to get that adorable side of him out and I fell in love with his scowling features right away. I only hoped and wished to see more of that from Percy.
Left with the same sly smiles on our faces, Sally laughed and gestured me to take the seat beside Percy which I hesitantly did so; there was nothing but bright blushing red pouts on his face instead, "Well, since we are alone now, mind telling me what's going on, Percy? Not that I mind meeting your very pretty tutor… as you so say."
She winked at the both of us, yet she turned her gaze a few centimeters toward me and left me with a more suggestive smile. I let out a composed sigh and decided not to add more gasoline to a forest fire.
Again, her romantic hint about us was as subtle as it could be. But for some reason, it didn't make me blush like crazy as much as I thought. My face only grew a little bit pink. Perhaps I was getting along with her so well that it didn't even faze me when she teased us.
Or maybe it was because I came to realize…
"Come on…" Percy whined, "I've told you about Annabeth being my tutor since the first day. You know this is true."
He turned to me for support, "Right? Please tell her that you are just my tutor."
But Percy, why did you talk about me to your family so much if I was just your tutor?
I nodded awkwardly, "Ahem… Yes, I am just Percy's tutor and friend."
Ever since I was a child, I've been known to be very perceptive and more insightful than others in my age, which was why I could tell what Sally was thinking and what she might say next. I was ready this time though.
She opened her mouth to say something I've already predicted.
"And it's not what you think, Mrs. Jackson." I habitually went back to using her maiden name, "I am sorry for intruding on your family like this, but it's only because your… Percy was very nice and helped me out."
Sally blinked in confusion, "I am sorry. I don't understand… What do you mean?"
"Annabeth's phone broke." Percy filled in the rest for me, "Her driver can't find her and she can't contact her mom to pick her up. She lived so far away in the Hamptons, so I decided to bring her along and… you know, make sure she's okay."
Sally still looked a bit befuddled by our explanation.
"I was tutoring your son… Percy before this. He let me come with him because I didn't feel comfortable taking a stranger cab back home." I said and dip my head at Sally in apology, "I am sorry for dropping by unannounced."
Hanging my head down, I was waiting for her to reassure me that it was all fine, that no harm was done with me being here, but maybe that's too hopeful. I should prepare myself now that she knew the truth of my presence, and take the consequences no matter what it might be.
"He-Hehee… Oh, you two are so perfect for each other…" Sally burst out laughing.
Now it was my turn to be perplexed by her unexpected reaction. I felt like it came out of nowhere, and her amusement somehow startled me, "You are not mad?"
Caught off guard, Percy had about the same reaction I had on my face, but a single sigh later he looked calmly relieved. His expression softened before a smile move across his lips. He chuckled back at his mother who was still giggling in amusement, "Mom… you are so embarrassing."
I wasn't sure what was going on, especially when I was serious and trying to apologize for showing up out of nowhere. But given that Sally didn't seem mad, I went along with whatever this was.
"Oh, said who?" One look at her teasing smile and I knew it was something to be fear, "You were the one blushing bright red whenever I tease you about Annabeth at home."
She then turned to me and blurt out his secret much to Percy's horror- his alarm features could have lasted for eternity- while I was prepared to suppress my own giggles climbing up from amused delights.
Sally didn't even hesitate one bit, giving no regard to Percy's upcoming protest.
I felt my lips twirling into a wide grin. After all, Paul already revealed that little-known secret and gave me tingling goosebumps earlier, "You know he talks about you at home all the time, Annabeth. He wouldn't shut up about how great-"
I hid a chuckle behind my palm.
With the speed of lightning, Percy reacted and for just a brief second, I thought he might actually be suffocating his mom with the pillow he grabbed from behind her back. I laughed, suppressing it with my right hand yet they all heard it.
"See! You are so red now." Sally's muffled laughs were so infectious and cute, I couldn't help but join in despite how it probably made Percy feel, "Who's the embarrass one now…"
Percy pulled the pillow back. Steam vapors were literally streaming out of his red cheeks, over the top of his head, fluffing his messy onyx hair until a few strands started to stick out, before he threw the soft rectangular cushion back on the bed into Sally's lap, "I am going to the restroom if you are going to be like this."
He walked all the way out the door, but he turned around at the last second and cast his sheepish eyes with me, "Please keep an eye on my stupid mom while I am gone, Annabeth?"
As much as I would have liked to, I didn't want to be mean and laugh at him in his current state. So instead, I gave him a wide witty smile and nodded back. He titled his head timidly and left the room. Now it was just me and Sally, and finding myself here, I had a feeling that was her goal all along.
"I am sorry if I embarrassed you too, Annabeth, but I just want to get my son out of the room so we could have a proper talk, girl to girl, you know?" Sally tried to catch my attention with an afterglow of that motherly smile.
It was just as much as I thought. I was about to respond when-
"Ahh! Stupid! Stupid! Why am I so stupid?!"
It was a loud scream from just outside the door to this room. His frustration was clear and there was no mistaking it. Knowing who it belongs to right away, we caught eyes and shared a genuine long laugh together. Percy probably heard it too and speed away afterward.
I bit my lips and shook my head, whispering softly, "He's an idiot…"
Then I realized Sally was right here with me. She raised her eyebrows and I immediately blushed, "I mean, he's very smart too."
It was a lame recovery, but when she humorously narrowed her gaze I felt much better about making that joke, "Hmm… Don't worry. I am not going to deny that my son is a goofball sometimes." Her brown eyes twinkled, "Especially when it comes to a girl as cute as you."
Her intention was as obvious as my secret denial feelings for Percy, and suddenly there was nothing but blushes creeping on my cheeks. I tried to hide it despite being in a face-to-face distance with Sally. She could obviously see everything. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try.
"There is no need to feel so fluster, Annabeth." Sally grinned, "I wasn't flattering. It's true. You are very adorable. It's no wonder why Percy grow so attached to you since he came to your new school, among other things."
I quickly looked down despite that last bit intriguing me, "What other things?"
It wouldn't be so easy, and as expected, Sally shot a funny smile at me, "Mmm, I think it's best if Percy tells you them himself, right?"
I wasn't able to get her to spill more secrets about Percy's feelings for me, but I doubt I was ready to hear them anyway. In any case, I kept my head down and held my silence. Pretty much the case, the rosy blushes on my cheeks told her everything without me needing to utter one single word.
"Say," Sally whispered to avoid attention, but the mischievous demeanor she suddenly possessed scared me enough to want a bathroom break too, "What is it that you like about Percy?"
I almost screamed, "Huh?! I- I don't like him like th-that…"
Her brown eyes burrowed their gaze right into my grey one in search of every little secret I held about Percy, the deepest of my emotions. Of course, I averted them right away, but if my intrinsically above-average observation skill was correct- and it always is, then she got every bit of details she already needed, in such a short glance as well.
I gulped halfway and held my breath.
A playful smirk soon moved across her lips from left to right, "Oh, you don't have to hide it with me, Annabeth. We are both girls, so it's not hard for me to tell. But it's okay if you don't feel ready to say it, I don't mind."
I felt the needed to save this fast, or else… "It's really not like that, Mrs. Jackso- I mean, Sally. We really are just friends at school. I am his tutor, that's all."
Her sly smile gave away that she wasn't convinced, not one bit.
"Anyway, enough of that for now." I was so, so relieved by her sudden desire to switch topics, "You still don't know why I am in the hospital, right? Since you explain to me your reason, I guess I'll-"
I cut her off, "Huh, wait? Are you sure it's okay? I mean, you didn't want to let your twins know what happened to you. Are you sure you want to let me know? Plus, I am not-"
I must have surprised her a great deal because she furrowed her expression quite a bit. I paused mid-sentence and was scared for a second that I might have unintentionally offended her or something, but then the most satisfying smile appeared over her lips and her eyes gleamed.
"Percy told me you were smart… I didn't realize just how smart you really are, Annabeth." Sally commented with a deep smile, "I mean, I was already a bit shock that you could figure out all my injuries with just one look. It's no wonder you've become my idiotic son's tutor. I guess I should thank you for keeping his grades up." She laughed at the last bit.
I tried not to gloat when her compliment made my heart skip a beat, "Percy's isn't really that bad, to be honest. He follows my explanation quickly and understands what I teach him with only a few repeated tries. Besides, I am glad I am his tutor because…"
Wait, wait, wait a minute… What might you be doing, Annabeth Chase?
My mouth paused automatically when I was stupid enough to almost reveal my feelings for Percy, the reason why I kept up with the impromptu responsibility that was thrust onto my plate since the first day. Though it wasn't like Sally didn't have her assumptions since we first met.
She smirked when I broke off abruptly, "Well, you are right, about me not wanting my younger sons to know what happened because it's only to scare them. As you assumed, I've only told Percy and my husband, but I don't mind telling you, that's is if you are still curious?"
I nodded my head up and down eagerly and widen my eyes in preparation, "Yes. Truth be told, I've been curious for a while now."
Sally smiled and pointed to the seat closer to her, the seat that was taken up by Percy before. I did so, but only because she might want to keep her voice down when she revealed the serious accident.
I leaned in when she waved me closer. Throughout the process, I was keenly aware of how Sally was building up the tension as if it was such a big reveal that one would fall out of their seat or something like that.
"I was struck by lightning." She said in a strange and incomprehensible look, but there was a constant half-smile on her lips for reassurance.
I froze at her brief explanation, then a force propelled through my legs and I almost fell out of my seat.
"Huh?!"
