Chapter 7: Eyes Without A Face
Portland, Oregon. 1981
It was raining.
That's what it had been doing the entire time they'd been there. The entire time they'd spent going from motel to motel, from campsite to campsite, from shitty bar to other shitty bar. The entire time it had just been pissing down rain. So naturally, they mostly stayed inside.
Percy hated staying inside.
He actually enjoyed the rain. Back in his hometown, when he was a boy, there had always been a massive rainstorm that rode through town every year. The skies would darken for a few weeks, covering the Texan plains in grey clouds, before the rain would pour from the sky, soaking the desert until every once of dust had turned to mud.
Cars would get stuck, people would loose their shoes, pets would track dirty footprints all throughout houses. It was glorious, and Percy would always take full advantage of it. Whether it were him ripping donuts on the farm, or taking Rachel for a trip to the old drive-in for a romantic rainy movie, or hell, even just going for a walk with his hat on his head and his denim pulled tight over his chest while he wandered around with his thoughts.
Percy loved the rain. He didn't love what was happening right now.
To be fair, nothing was happening right now. He was sitting in bed, pulling his jeans back over his boxers and his shirt back over his scratched up back. Zoe was laying in the bed, a blanket covering her naked form as she watched Percy slowly dress himself, pulling his boots on over his feet.
He was taking his time, and he'd take his time on his walk too.
"Don't be long, alright?" Zoe called to him from the bed.
He couldn't help the way his shoulders slumped before he turned over to look at her.
"Or what? You gonna come find me? We both know you don't like the rain."
She let a slight frown pull at her lips, "I don't mind the rain at all, Percy..." Her lips pulled back into a smile as she poked his back with her toes, "...It's just that it's a good excuse to stay inside. To get all... cozy."
He turned away from her before the scowl spread across his face. He slipped his coat on. His coat, his denim one. The coat she'd all but claimed about a decade ago and had worn just about every second since. The coat he could only wear in moments like this, where she was in bed waiting for him. The coat that he really, really missed wearing...
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts as he stood up from the bed. He turned back to her, watching as she rolled over in bed onto her stomach, letting the blanket slip so there was nothing covering her. She looked over her shoulder at Percy, who couldn't help but stare, before his eyes snapped away to the door.
She caught him though, and it made her smile. He gave the door handle a twist and slipped out without a word.
The second he was out he felt his teeth grit. How? How was she able to just... worm her way into his brain like that? He'd wanted nothing more the last few days than to get some time to himself, nice and alone, and yet when she turned over like that... lord, he just about lost it and hopped right back into bed with her.
He straightened up, taking a big unnecessary breath to calm himself as he dug his hand into his pocket and made sure what he needed was still there. It was, so he made his way to the entrance of the motel, to the thing he'd seen as they entered and made sure to take note of.
The mailbox.
He walked up to the thing, a decrepit rusted out piece of shit that looked like it was put up before Percy was born. He reached into his pocket and made damn certain he'd gotten the address and recipient right on the letter.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
3141 Southend road, Half Blood, Texas.
From: Peter Johnson
Return address: N/A
He grimaced when he read his pseudonym. It was stupid, sure, but it was easy enough to figure out it was from him.
He dropped the letters in, hoping that mail services still stopped at this old box and just... stood there for a moment. In the rain, just letting it wash over his skin. God he wished he could get cold. Maybe if he was lucky he would. Maybe he'd get sick and catch a fever and be coughing in bed for days. Maybe he'd need to go to a hospital for pneumonia or something and they'd tell him his life was in danger.
God, wouldn't that be something...
He sighed and walked back towards the building. Not his room, but just the building, leaning up against it as he fished something out of his pocket.
Cigarettes. An old pack of Marlboro Reds. Cowboy cigarettes. He'd never really gotten the chance to try them before breathing became a choice, and frankly was kinda glad he didn't. He didn't enjoy them, not one bit. They tasted like shit, hurt his head, and more often than not made him puke.
He didn't like them, but he made himself smoke them. It made him feel alive, like he could still be affected by nicotine. Like he was doing damage to himself somehow. Who knew? Maybe his kind could get lung cancer. Maybe he'd finally feel something after a few decades of hacking back smokes.
He stuck the cigarette in his mouth and hefted his zippo. It was an ancient thing, a silver shelled, hand assembled lighter with celtic knot patterns all over it. Looked to be about a thousand years old and he had no clue where he'd gotten it from, but it always lit up on the first strike, and that's all that mattered.
He raised it up to his cigarette and lit it, taking a deep breath before tilting g his head back against the motel and exhaling. It was nice. Doing this, having a smoke in the rain. He didn't enjoy the smoking, but he did enjoy the act. It felt... human.
His little moment was interrupted when a station wagon with a roof covered in luggage pulled into the parking spot right in front of him and a family started piling out.
They were a portly bunch, all probably tipping past 200 lbs and not looking like that bothered them one bit. They piled out of the car, a mom a dad and two kids, and immediately got busy untying their luggage from the roof of their station wagon.
They weren't really having a good time of it, with dad trying his best to loosen the ropes as mom led the two kids off to their room. Percy watched as the man struggled in the rain for a moment before he ditched his cigarette, stepping on it before walking over to the man.
"Need a hand?"
The man turned to him and beamed a grin. He was older, probably early forties, with a curly head of brown hair tucked under a red cap and a loosely trimmed Van Dyke style goatee. He looked real happy, and Percy didn't know how much of that was because of his offer.
"Like you wouldn't believe, son."
Percy smiled and reached up for the ropes, shifting them loose with a flick of his super strength hands. The man let out an impressed chuckle.
"Damn, son. You ever think about playing sports? You got quite the mitts on you."
Percy let out a soft smile as he hefted the biggest bag of the roof of the car.
"I used to, back in high-school," Percy gave the man a grin and flexed his bicep, "Shoulda seen me make that pig skin fly."
The man let out a laugh before sticking his hand out with a smile, "Hedge. Gleeson Hedge."
Percy gripped his hand and shook it, "Jackson. Percy Jackson." He let his eyes narrow a bit as he cocked his head to the side. "I'm guessing that's coach Gleeson Hedge?"
The man let out a chuckle, "That obvious?"
"Well..." Percy said, shifting the next bag off the roof, "Your first words to me were asking if I've ever played sports..." He turned back to the man, "So it was a fair assumption."
The man shook his head with a chuckle, "I really need to leave work at home on vacations..."
Percy let his eyes squint a bit, "You're on vacation here?"
Gleeson let out a snort, "Not a chance," Before he let his gaze drift back to Percy's, "..uh, no offense."
Percy held up his hand, "None taken. I'm just passing through, too."
Coach Hedge leaned against the car, "Oh? where you headed, son?"
Percy shrugged, "Just... around, I guess. Never really had a destination, don't think I ever will."
Hedge nodded at his words, taking them in, "Sounds like quite a life you live."
Percy shrugged, "Yeah, something like that..." Before he met Hedge's gaze again, "Where you headed?"
"Whistler." Hedge replied with a smile, "Wife and kids love skiing, and apparently Vancouver is slightly less rainy this time of year."
Percy met the man's eyes and let his head shake slowly, making Gleeson's eyes widen.
"You've been there?" Gleeson asked, to which Percy shot him a nod.
"Trust me, Vancouver?" Percy said, shooting the man a slight smirk, "May as well be called Raincouver."
Gleeson sighed, shaking his head as he tucked his hair up into his hat some more.
"Well... guess I shoulda packed more raincoats..." The man mused. Percy smiled as he worked at getting the rest of the bags off the roof, before Gleeson asked another question.
"You on the road alone, son?"
Percy froze, his hands tightly gripping one of the bags. He loosened up immediately, hoping Gleeson hadn't noticed his reaction.
"Uh, no..." Percy said under his breath, "Im here with, uh... with my girlfriend."
Gleeson let a grin spread over his mouth, "Oh, little romantic trip, eh?" He leaned in, a devilish smile on his face.
"Just keep it quiet after 9, eh? That's the little ones bedtime."
Percy lifted the last bag off the roof and dusted off his hands, trying to swallow the sourness that he tasted when Gleeson mentioned the night time activities he was used to with Zoe.
" I'll keep that in mind."
Hedge let out a soft chuckle, "Yeah, I remember when me and the Mrs were your age, son. Want my advice?" He gave Percy a soft look, "Savour these moments, your youth. They'll pass you by before you know it."
Percy was silent for a moment, his eyes at the ground, taking in the man's words as he spoke, before he looked up and met Gleeson's gaze.
"Gleeson?"
The man let go of the bag he'd grabbed, "Yeah kid?"
Percy was silent for a moment as thoughts passed behind his eyes.
"What's it like having a family?"
The man was silent for a moment, letting his eyes draw back into a soft squint as he answered.
"You think about that a lot, kid?"
Percy shifted back and forth on his feet.
"All the time."
The older man smiled, reaching up to clap his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"It's amazing, Percy. It's hard sometimes, as most things are, and it's expensive, so so damn expensive..." Gleeson shook his head glancing at the luggage, before he turned back to Percy with a smile, "...but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Percy was silent for a moment, the rain softly dripping down his hair as he stood there thinking about what Gleeson said, before the man gave Percy a soft chuckle.
"You wanna know something, son?"
Percy looked back up at the man, "What's that?"
Gleeson gave him a smile, "I think you'll make a great family man some day. You've got that... heart, that it really takes to be one."
Percy was silent, not smiling or frowning necessarily, just standing there in silence as a feeling washed over him.
Deep, cutting regret.
Gleeson cleared his throat, reaching for the bags as he did.
"Well, inreally appreciate your help, son..." He gave Percy a friendly smile, "...think you could give me a hand getting these to my room?"
Percy smiled and hefted the bags without a word, shuffling after Gleeson as he was led to the man's room. They opened the door and Percy dropped the bags inside, giving the man's hand another firm shake before he left, walking back to his room.
Dread already worming its way back into his heart.
He approached the door and reached for the handle, taking a deep breath and turning it before he pushed it open and stepped in.
He didn't expect this.
Zoe, dressed. Not naked, not partially naked, not asking him to make her naked. She had on a loose sweater and some sweatpants that they'd picked up from the Nike headquarters in Beaverton.
She was dressed, and collected, and wasn't working her hands over his pants for once. He couldn't really do more than stand and stare as she placed around with a TV remote.
She turned towards him and gave him a smile.
"Hey." She said.
"Hey." He replied.
She lifted up the remote, holding it towards him.
"Know how to work one of these?" She asked, "I thought we should watch a movie."
Percy let his brows furrow in confusion.
"You want... to watch a movie?"
She smiled and slid out of the bed, sauntering over to him and gently laying her hand on his chest.
"Yeah." She replied, "I thought you could use a... breather."
He was quiet again, staring at her as she stood in front of him, before he gently slid the remote out of her hand, before he pointed it at the TV and clicked a button, turning it on.
It was Monty Python. Percy loved Monty Python.
He let a smile creep over his face and practically leapt into bed, throwing off his jacket and kicking off his boots as he did so. Zoe smiled at his reaction, walking up to the bed and settling into it next to him as the movie started up.
He was silent for a moment, his hands laid across his lap as the movie played, before he cleared his throat.
"Y'know, I wasn't expecting this."
She turned to him, a curious expression on her face.
"Expecting what?"
He leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he did.
"Well... this. Basically anything besides what we normally do."
A small smile played across her lips, "I thought you could use a break."
He couldn't really help himself, and he didn't particularly want to, but it only seemed right for him to wrap his arm around her shoulder. If at least to keep her happy.
"I could." He said turning to look her in the eye, "Thank you."
There was a moment there, while they sat in the bed. A moment when he could almost pretend. Pretend that this was okay. Pretend that he was okay. Pretend that this was something he wanted.
He felt reality creep back up, but he shoved it back down as he turned to the screen. He could stand to pretend a little more.
Zoe settle into his chest, nuzzling his shoulder as her eyes floated off the screen. Truth was, she wanted round two, pretty immediately after he'd left the room.
That was until her ears had perked up and she'd heard him talking outside. Talking about having a family, and how much he wanted one. She decided against her urges, and gave him a break, and to be fair... well, having him wrap his arm around her almost felt better than round two.
It almost made it feel like this was what she wanted. Something real.
Annabeth never enjoyed waking up.
Maybe it was the fact that her back always hurt in the morning, or the fact that she could always taste how bad her breath was, or the fact that Mrs O'leary usually needed her bowl filled with food and she was always the one to do it.
No, normally it was just the fact that waking up meant reality, and her dreams were always what she preferred.
She sighed, sitting up out of bed as she tugged the leather jacket off her shoulders. It made her smile a bit when she pulled it off, holding it in her hands as she set it on her bed and remembered the dark, mysterious boy that had leant it to her.
She couldn't get her mind off him, not even for a second. It was a little embarrassing if she were being honest just how much that boy had been occupying her thoughts, even as she slept.
He was just so... interesting. Fascinating, gentlemanly, polite. Any of those words described him and all of them were on annabeths mind as she slipped into her bathroom and ran a shower, stepping in after she'd stripped down and getting to work rubbing the morning grime off her body.
She hoped there wasn't much to do today. It was Saturday, and summer. That combo usually meant no chores. She stepped out of the shower, running a towel over herself to dry off before she slipped her clothes on for the day. Jeans, orange t shirt, flannel. Because why would it be any different?
She sighed, slipping her Yankees cap onto her head. She was about to leave, before she paused, letting a small smile spread over her face as she picked up Percy's jacket, pulling it over her shoulders.
There, she thought to herself, That's a little different.
she left her room and headed for the kitchen, kinda surprised to find her dad there.
Frederick Chase was exactly two things: Friendly and hard working. The former was something that applied in every aspect of his life, the latter applied mostly to the second he stepped foot on his land. So seeing dear old dad standing in the kitchen, on the phone of all things at 8 a.m. instead of milking cows or moving hay or working on that piece of shit tractor just about made Annabeth's head spin.
He was talking quietly, muttering into the phone with a stern look on his face as he rolled an apple in his hand. Annabeth kept her eye on him as she moved to the fridge, openingit up and grabbing an apple of her own as well as a carton or orange juice.
She grabbed a glass and poured herself some o.j. as she watched her dad hang up the phone, a tense look on his face.
"What's up?" Annabeth asked. Her dad glanced at her with a very weak smile and shook his head.
"Nothing Annie." He said, dusting the apple off on his chest. "Just got off the phone with Geryon."
Annabeth felt her eyebrows raise a bit. "The triple G ranch guy?"
Frederick nodded, "Yeah, the weirdest thing happened last night to one of his cows..." He raised the apple up to his mouth and took a bite, chewing and swallowi before he continued, "...something broke its neck and bled it dry."
Annabeth felt a frown pull at her lips.
"You serious?"
Frederick nodded, "Yeah, weirdest thing though?" He added, leaning in a bit, "...not a drop of blood anywhere. Almost like whatever it was drank it all..."
Annabeth bit into her own apple, mashing the thing between her teeth.
"Maybe we've got a chupacabra..." She mused.
He let out a small smile, "Maybe..."
They both finished their apples, tossi g the cores in the garbage before Annabeth plucked her keys off the counter.
"Where you headed?" Frederick asked, watching as she crossed to the door.
"Library." She replied, slipping on her sneakers, "Got a couple books on hold."
Frederick nodded, before a small smile spread over his lips, "Mind if I ask where you got that jacket?"
Annabeth froze as her hand was about to reach the doorknob, feeling the colour drain from her face.
"Uh... a friend."
Frederick nodded slowly, his smile spreading a bit.
"Well, if you see this friend again, let him know I'd still love to have him over for dinner."
Annabeth felt a small smile tug at her lips as she stepped out the door, leaving with a soft "I will."
She stepped out, and was pretty immediately met by a familiar face. Short choppy hair, electric blue eyes, leather jacket of her own and torn up denim. She didn't really pay Annabeth any mind, no, she was busy staring at her neighbours house.
Annabeth sighed, "Thalia, what are you doing here?"
The punk shot her friend a look before letting her gaze float back over to the massive home.
"Recon." She replied, "Just... scoping out your weird ass neighbours."
Annabeth let out a breath, "They're not weird."
Thalia let a small smirk play across her lips, "Oh I bet you'd think that. You got pretty familiar with one of them last night, no?"
Annabeth couldn't helpnthe blush that spread over her cheeks, "Don't you even start..."
"How could I not?" Thalia asked, poking at the jacket on her shoulders, "He even left you with a parting gift, how romantic."
Annabeth snapped a glare in her friends direction, making Thalia back off.
"Why are you here, anyways? Also, how are you here? It's not like you've got a car."
Thalia shrugged, "Mom dropped me off. Figured we could hang out, and seeing as how youre already on the way out the door..." She said, poking Annabeth in the nose, "...figured I'd tag along."
Annabeth sighed as she moved towards her truck, Thalia grinning as she followed closely.
They hopped in the truck, with Annabeth filling Mrs O'leary's bowl before she did, taking note of how happily her dog was chewingon her old tennis ball.
They peeled out of her driveway and started the long ride to town as Thalia opened the window and stuck her hand out.
"Think It'll rain this year?"
Annabeth nodded, "Just like it does every year, Thals."
Thalia shook her head, looking out the window.
"I hate the rain, Annie."
Annabeth letna small smile spread over her lips, "Is that because you smell like crap every time you get wet?"
Thalia scowled as she pulled her hand back into the truck and crossed her arms.
"No." She said, her eyes falling a bit, "...it's because it was raining the day he left."
Annabeth was quiet for a moment before she laid a gentle hand on her friends leg.
"I'm sure Jason's okay, Thals. He's resourceful, you know that."
Thalia let a breath out of her nose as she drummed her fingers on the door of the car.
"I hope so..." She mumbled, before she turned to Annabeth, "Heard from Nico this morning?"
Annabeth sighed, "I thought you were looking after him last night."
"Well, I was..." Thalia said, a small grin spreading over her face, "...That's until I caught that Latina by the jukebox staring."
Annabeth shook her head as a small frown pulled at her lips.
"You're insatiable, you know that?"
Thalia shrugged, "I was in a mood. Some bayou billy just would not take a hint last night..." She tapped her fingers on her chin with a sly smile, "Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure he was with your Mr. tall dark and handsome when he came in."
Annabeth felt a blush spread across her cheeks and her grip tighten on the wheel, making Thalia grin.
"Thalia. I will drive this truck into a fucking ditch, I swear to God..."
Thalia laughed, kicking her feet up on the dashboard as she leaned back in the seat.
They were silent for a moment, before Annabeth spoke up again, "But really, is Nico alright?"
Thalia sighed, "Is he ever? I mean, really, he didn't seem too bothered when I left. Bought my family business excuse, or just didn't care." She shrugged, "It's alright, he's tough. I'm sure we'll get a call from him soon."
Annabeth nodded, admittedly letting her worry peak a bit in regards to Nico. Nico was like a brother to her, and like an annoying, extremely important brother to Thalia. They both cared about him, Thalia a little more so considering they both swung for their own gender. Well, there was that, and the fact that Nico had been for her when Jason had up and dissappeared. But that was a touchy subject that she left to them to discuss.
Her thoughts seemed to evaporate once they pulled into town. Half blood was... well, exactly that. A town. A one story, ancient, town. With crumbling buildings and wide sidewalks and street lights that weren't quite bright enough. It was old, it was quiet, it didn't have a whole ton of people.
It was home, for better or for worse.
Annabeth pulled up to the town hall and Thalia pretty immediately let out a groan.
"Of course it's the library you nerd..." She grumbled under her beneath as Annabeth let out a small smile.
"Come on Thals. Couldn't hurt to read a book every once in a while. What's it been, a year since your last read?"
Thalia shot her a scowl and stuck out her tongue, before she slid out of Annabeth's as Annabeth did the same.
They made their way into the library, an old one story thing that was made of red bricks and most likely held together by prayers. They walked in the front and headed straight for the front desk, where the librarian, a pale woman with auburn hair and slim features, let out a beaming smile as soon as Annabeth came into view.
"Well well, miss Chase. Done with the Odyssey already?"
Annabeth shot her a smile, "You know me, Ella. It's never more than a week per book."
Ella shook her head, "Yes I know, dear. I remember the time you finished War and Peace in three days..." The woman sighed, letting her gaze flick up to Annabeth's, "Y'know, I can't believe I'm saying this, but you really need a person in your life, not just books."
Thalia poked Annabeth in the ribs and wiggled her eyebrows at her, all while pointing at the jacket. Annabeth frowned before she picked up the new novels she had on hold off the counter. She was about to leave, before Thalia piped up and said something that made Annabeth nearly freeze right there.
"Well speak of the devil..."
Annabeth followed her friends gaze over intot he library and there he was, sitting at one of the tables with a book in hand. Mr bar, Mr leather jacket, Mr tall dark and handsome, as Thalia had put it, sat in an easy chair reading a book.
Thalia gave her a look, which became a smile, which became her grabbing her friends hand and practically dragging her over. Annabeths heart pounded, admittedly just like it had at the bar and when she'd first seen him at the old farmhouse. She couldn't help but notice his ears perking up as she approached. It was a little weird, almost like he could hear her coming...
"Well look who this is." Thalia loudly said as they got up to Percy, "Well, I guess I'll just leave you two to each other's company, then." With that, she shot Annabeth a wicked smile and left, probably back out to the truck.
Annabeth sighed as she turned back to Percy, who was still turned away from her but had raised his gaze from the book.
"Well, she's certainly a character." Percy said, looking over his shoulder with a smile to meet Annabeth's gaze.
She felt a slight blush flush her cheeks and a smile pull at her lips, "Yeah. That's Thalia for you. Well, I guess you haven't really met her before..." Annabeth said, wringing her hands, "...so, yeah. That's Thalia for you."
Percy was silent for a moment, before a smile pulled across his face.
"Smooth." He said, "Real smooth."
She sighed, putting her hands on her hips as she gave him a soft glare, "Well not everyone's as slick as you are, Percy."
He smiled, turning back to his book as he did.
"Still calling me Percy?"
She let a frown pull at her face, "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
He shrugged, "Well, I did say my friends call me Percy..." He looked over his shoulder and met her gaze again, "...just making sure we're still friends, and that wasn't just your drink making decisions for you last night."
She was quiet for a moment, before a small smile spread across her lips.
"If we weren't friends, I wouldn't be talking to you right now, now would I?"
He shrugged, his own smile now forming, "I suppose not."
She let her eyes narrow a bit as she gestured at his book, "Mind if I ask what you're reading, friend?"
He tucked a bookmark in his page and shut the book, showing her the cover.
It was Dracula, by Bram Stoker.
She pursed her lips slightly as she nodded at his choice.
"Not bad, a little grim of a book, but not bad at all."
He shrugged, "Yeah, I've always had a bit of a love hate relationship with this one."
She frowned slightly, "Why's that?"
He shrugged, "I dunno. As far as the story is concerned? It's a masterpiece. But the vampire stuff... I dunno, it kinda misses the picture for the frame, in my opinion."
She stepped a little closer to him, "Why's that?"
He shrugged again, "I've always though the most interesting parts of vampires were the mental aspect. How would that life affect you? How would it break you down?" He looked up at Annabeth, "Always wondered about that stuff."
Annabeth let her gaze narrow a bit at the young man, "You like vampires, huh?"
He looked away, back at the cover of the book.
"It's an... interesting subject for me." He said, taking a moment to pick his words.
She let out a soft smile, before pulling the book from his hand.
"Well, if you've already read it, might I suggest a different book?"
Percy shrugged, "Shoot."
She smiled, "Interview with the vampire by Anne Rice. Really delves into the mental and moral aspect of it. I think you'd like it."
He let his brow furrow and nodded, "Never tried that one, might just give it a read."
Annabeth let a smile cross her face as she reached into her book bag, "Well you're in luck."
She pulled out a novel. It had a mustard yellow colored cover and old English font words over it, reading (pretty obviously): Interview With the Vampire.
Percy was in silence for a moment, before his eyes narrowed slightly and he looked into Annabeth's eyes.
"Did you plan all this out or something? Because, not gonna lie, you seem like the kind of girl to do something like that."
She held the book back as a joking frown spread over her face.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He smiled as he reached for the book and slipped it from her grasp, tucking it under his arm.
"Nothing, just... you are something else, Annabeth."
She let a little smile spread over her face.
"Yeah, well... same goes for you, Percy."
He gripped the book tight as he rose to his feet, his spurs lightly jiggling he did.
"So...' He said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Would you like to... hang out?"
She crossed her arms, a smirk playing across her face.
"Is this you asking me on a date, Percy?"
He squinted his eyes and took a step back.
"I believe we've already decided that our little get together are called activities."
She let out a laugh, a soft noise that floated up to Percy's and just about made him float into the air with it.
"Okay Percy, are you asking me on an activity?"
He stuffed his hands in his pockets, giving her a soft smile.
"I believe I am."
She smiled at him.
"Got anything in mind?"
He stretched his neck, making his tattoo flare and warp on his neck.
"Well, since our walk last time was so nice, maybe we can do that again?"
She let her smile spread a bit.
"Alright. Mind if I dump my books in my truck before we do?"
He let out a smile of his own.
"So long as I can too."
Thalia had already left by the time they'd gotten to the truck and dumped all their stuff.
Wasn't too surprising to Annabeth. Thalia was... wild at heart, a real lone wolf, in more ways than one, and sitting in a car until she was done talking up Mr tall dark and handsome wasn't really in Thalia's wheelhouse.
Oh God, now even she was calling him that...
To be fair though, it was accurate. He was tall, he was definitely dark, and... let's just say it was hard not to stare as they walked.
He had his hands tucked in his jeans pockets as he led her down the sidewalks, taking note of the storm clouds that hung overhead. She couldn't help but let herself listen to the sound of his steps, and the soft jingle that rang out every time his boot landed.
"Why do you wear those?" She asked him.
He turned to her, "The spurs?"
She nodded, "Yeah, the spurs. I can't say I've ever seen you ride a horse."
He let out a soft smile, "Well to be fair you've only seen me for a couple days."
She let her own smile come out, "So what you're saying is you, on a horse, that's..."
He turned to her, "A strong possibility."
The sun dared to peek through the heavy clouds that hung overhead for a second and Percy grimaced, immediately fishing out his sunglasses and slipping them over his eyes. Annabeth noticed and couldn't help but comment.
"Too bright for you?"
He nodded, "It an... eye condition." He said, before turning to her with a smile, "Had it for years now."
She let her gaze flick back forward as she moved a little closer to him.
"Well, it does have some upsides..." She mused.
He turned to her, "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," She replied, turning to look at him, "You get to wear those cute glasses."
He let a sly grin pull over his face, "You think I'm cute?"
Her smile fell a bit, "I don't believe I said that."
"Well, no..." He said, taking his hand out of a pocket to rub his chin, "But, you think these glasses are cute, and they're on my face, so by law of association that must mean you find me at least a little cute."
She let her head shake as she breathed out a sigh, "You're very... philosophical, you know that?"
He shrugged, "I try."
She smiled, letting herself get a bit closer to him as they walked. She felt happy, and comfortable. Just like she had the last time they talked. She felt like it was just her and him, walking through the world swapping quips and soft smiles as they spoke. If she was being honest, the conversation they were having, it almost felt perfect.
So of course, the rain had to come along to ruin it.
It came out of nowhere, just like it always did this time of year. One second it was dry, and the next it was pouring down droplets of water from the sky.
Annabeth cursed, tucking her hat a bit tighter on her head as she scurried under one of the awnings that lined the sidewalk. She turned back to Percy, expecting him to be following her, but he wasn't.
He was standing in the rain, glasses off and eyes closed, looking up slightly as it fell on his face.
She watched him for a moment, taking note of how a small smile had spread on his face as he stood. He looked so... happy. Like the downpour was the only thing he'd been missing his life.
He looked so peaceful, she couldn't help but stare. Stare at him until he snapped his gaze over and caught her.
He smiled, giving her a soft shrug as her cheeks reddened a bit.
"What?" He asked, holding his hand up so drops of water fell on it, "I like the rain."
Annabeth shot him a soft smile, "I do too, just not enough to do that."
His smile widened a bit, "You sure? It's quite the feeling, I must say."
He held out his hand towards her. She hesitated for a second, taking a look up at the sky as the water poured down, before she decided a little water never hurt anyone.
She took his hand, he pulled her into the rain, and they stood.
She leaned her head back, just like he had, all smile holding both his hands tight. She closed her eyes as the water gently struck her cheeks, beading on her skin and running down her neck.
He was right. It felt... amazing. It felt freeing, and so secure. It felt like all her problems and worries faded away, washed off by the downpour. It felt like all that existed in the world was the rain on her skin and the hands she held.
The hands attached to the young man that she hadn't stopped thinking about since she'd seen him last night. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
He was staring at her, and not trying to hide it.
She felt her mouth open a bit as their gazes locked, her hands still tightly gripping his. Her heart beat picked up, she felt it in her chest, and almostnas if he could tell, he smiled.
"Am I making you nervous?" He asked.
She sighed, shaking her head, "You seem to do a lot of things to me, Percy Jackson. But yeah," She lifted her gaze up to meet his, "Making me nervous is one of them."
There was a moment there, between them. A moment when the words stopped again and all that was there was two gazes, staring at each other. She watched as his smile fell a bit and his gaze softened and it looked like he wanted so badly to say something, but he didn't. He instead let out a soft chuckle, and rubbed his tattoo. A habit she could tell, even from the short time they spent together, meant one of two things.
He was nervous, or he was thinking.
"Well..." He said, letting out a soft breath, ..."how about I stop doing one of those things..." He said, as he started leading her back to the truck, "...that being getting you soaked with rainwater."
She let out a small laugh as he pulled her along. She followed him, tightly holding his hand as he led her down the sidewalk, back the way they came, before he cut through an alleyway. She was a little surprised that he knew the shortcut, one that she hadn't shown him.
If she didn't know better, it almost seemed like he knew this town better than her.