Wild Hearts – Chapter 1: Catalyst
Full story description:
It hits like a truck when it happens, that feeling when you feel like you haven't lived at all…
Annabeth lives a pretty straight-edged life, not taking risks, existing within her parameters, not breaking any boundaries. Though she has her outlets, she hasn't had THAT moment yet, or has she? And is just choosing to ignore that feeling that her life could be so much more… especially considering what happened last time.
Percy on the other hand, is absolutely letting his experiences define him. Absolute on the fact that he has had THAT moment, and is living life to its fullest, especially since that moment left him so broken before.
What will happen when these two grow closer together throughout school, and prove to be the missing element in each other's life, or will the past be too big of a mountain to get over?
Okay, before you start reading because, hopefully, you've decided to stay, I figure I'll fill you in on a few things before you have a chance to go to the reviews and write "Ohhh, you spelt this wrong, its spelt this way…"
I'm from the UK, so we spell things differently over here. Now for words like "mum", I will try to switch to the American way, which is "mom". However, for other words, like "Colour", you'll just have to accept that I'll be spelling it that way.
Now, again I don't own any of the PJO characters, uncle Rick does, though for the purpose of crafting my own story, I have personalised the characters a bit, soooo yeah. We can finally get started.
Now, this is my first story, so take it easy on me, but feedback is always welcome.
Hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 1
Catalyst
Annabeth POV
Monday (06/09/17)
*beep*beep*beep*beep*beep*
The birds were chirping the morning songs of autumn as the sun had just started to make its way over the horizon, a beautiful sight to behold out of my bedroom window, about as beautiful as most mornings at 6:00am, though no-one is ever up at this time to appreciate the sunrise, or the morning song, which is fine. Feeling as if it's all something exclusive to me gives me a nice warm feeling inside, like the world has made its own little segment just for me.
Sighing in content, I shuffled my sluggish body out of bed, the warmness of my duvet being traded for the cold filling the rest of my room. Sliding my now freezing feet into the bunny slippers next to my bed, I grabbed my phone off of my bedside table and made my way from my room to the kitchen, taking in the stillness of the sleeping house, yet being careful not to wake up any of my family. The longer that they stay asleep the better. I don't want to have to deal with a pair of hyperactive twins this early in the morning, or worse yet a grouchy step-mom.
Stealthily making my way past the LEGO landmines on the stairs and in the hallway, I entered the kitchen setting the kettle on, knowing I'd need some caffeine in my body to help me get through today. The kettle had boiled by the time I had successfully managed to pull all of my hair into a tight ponytail, not one curl was unaccounted for. I was just about to take a nice long sip of my coffee when a, Meow, nearly made me drop the mug on the floor. God I would've been grounded for weeks for pulling a stunt like that. Looking around for the culprit of my "almost calamity", I found the little hairball sat lurking under the footstool in the living room.
Stalking into the room, I raised my fingers into a gun and pointed at the area below the footstool.
"Sir Pounce, come out with your paws up".
Without so much as a glance in my direction, the bundle of fluff gave one more, blunt Meow before lowering its head and going back to sleep.
"Well you're no fun at all are you?" I said back in retort to the cat, before realisation dawned in, that I was just arguing with a cat and losing. With cringe and embarrassment flooding through me, I decided to take my coffee and retreat back to my room.
Once back in my room, I took a nice long drink of my coffee, the heat of the liquid counteracting the cold still biting at me, whilst standing at the bay window in my room. Gazing at the neighbourhood waking up around me, my thoughts kept going back to wondering about what today would bring. What would my first day of 12th grade be like?
It'll be like all the other years of school, duh. Will it though? I don't know why, but I have this gut feeling that this year is going to be massively different to all of the others… but how? Instead of racking my brain trying to figure out where this feeling was coming from, I decided to leave all thoughts of school there, instead focusing my mind on exercise, the thing I do every morning. Plotting out a jogging root in my head, I slipped off my slippers and slid out of my pyjamas, finding a pair of running shorts and nice sweatshirt. Finishing off the rest of my coffee, I grabbed my headphones and started my "running playlist", slid on my running shoes and headed out the front door.
As soon as I'd closed the front door, I was off. Jogging down the drive, onto the pavement and then down the street. The freedom you feel when running is absolutely unparalleled, you feel free in body and in mind. It's one of the things you can do without putting much thought into, so it's an easy way to get lost in your own brain.
Taking in the fresh, morning air was like a drug to me, doing more for my body than the caffeine did as I Jogged past all of the groggy houses on my street, waking up to go to work or school…
There it was again, the thought of school once again forcing itself into the front of my mind. Why, why does this thought keep coming back round? Since I wasn't really focusing on running at this point, my body had gone into a sort of autopilot, I decided that I would actually tackle this head on. What has me so one edge about school today? It's not just the fact that it's the first day of grade 12, I'm a grade A student, I can do most of the stuff they throw at me in my sleep, no, something happened.
I saw the animated letters above my head as I had my "Eureka" moment but remembering what it was made me want the earth to split open and swallow me whole, a nauseous feeling rising to the top of my stomach. It hit me hard enough that I had to stop running, sit and take a breather. I remember. Thalia told me about it. Rachel broke up with… Percy.
Rachel broke up with Percy, Rachel broke up with Percy…
I must have sat there for about 5 minutes with that thought just running through my mind. You see, me and Thalia have been best friends forever and we've both had problems with Rachel for a long time. Rachel is this rich, stuck-up, snobby red-haired devil that used to torture me and Thalia every day in middle school, and even the start of high school. Thalia is a pretty mean girl, as in you don't want to mess with her because she will kill you, whereas I'm not the violent, or confrontational type, so you can tell which one of us Rachel's bullying affected more. That was until she got together with Percy. Because he and Thalia are cousins, him being his benevolent self politely told Rachel to knock it off. A nice gesture had he not gone on to play happy families with the she-devil. Making it so as long as they were together, me and Thalia didn't have to deal with Rachel anymore. But they're not together anymore…
The consequences of that. I had to start running again, sprinting, anything to get away from those thoughts. Body and mind were now both sprinting to get away from the thought that Rachel's torture would again start today. Why this year? The most important of my life, the one that decides where my career will begin. Now Rachel's going to mess it all up again.
The capitulation of my mind had already started, I was now wondering how I could either please, or avoid Rachel. All I had to do was not give Rachel a reason, as long as there isn't a catalyst to restart that vicious cycle, then it shouldn't re-emerge. All I had to do was be nobody, not exist, especially when she was around. With my mind now "at peace", even though I'd just signed away any thought of fun I could have this year, I could again focus on my morning run, which I did, right in time to run into the catalyst.
"Woah there, slow it down tiger, you look like your running for your life." Said Percy.
The sound of his voice was equal amounts a nightmare as well as a godsend. But he can't be here with me right now, I'm trying to appease Rachel, if she hears that I've been talking to Percy, then I might as well sign my death certificate now. But I can't just ignore him either, my mother raised me better than that.
"Oh God, sorry I ran into you… I was just, in my own world I guess" I gave him a coy smile, hoping he'd leave the conversation there, and keep on doing whatever he was doing. What was he doing?
Before I had the chance to shut my voice down, I'd already come out with the question. "So, Percy, what are you doing here?" accepting that I would have to finish this conversation with him. Not that I was complaining too much, it is Percy after all.
"Ahh you know, same thing as you it seems. Morning run?" My lord his voice, deep but tender, it could easily make most girls buckle at the knees.
"Uuuuuhhhh yeah, I guess" I said, barely getting the words out.
"I guess?" He chuckled, "Does that mean you didn't know you were out on a morning run?" He questioned, again laughing to himself at my nervousness.
"No, I mean… ugh, it's… I was just…"
"Annabeth" he said, making me face him, looking me dead in the eyes, "are you alright?"
Knowing I had to convince him, I mustered up all of my courage, and looked him dead in his hypnotic, sea green eyes. "Yes Percy, I'm fine, Honestly. There's no need for you to worry".
Worry was still plastered on his face, his eyebrows were scrunched together and his jaw was tight, but his face was slowly being overtaken by a satisfied look, that then morphed into a mischievous grin. Why was he grinning like that?
"Okay, I guess you are okay… and ready to race." He slyly added on.
"Ready to race? What?" I questioned, still trying to figure out what he was planning in his head.
"yup, 3 2 1 GO!" He shouted, already half way down the street before my mind comprehended that we were racing.
I couldn't help but laugh as I started to chase after Percy, without a care for what would come later, happy in the moment.
Maybe getting to know Percy wouldn't be so bad. He might just end up being a different sort of catalyst in my life.
-Line Break-
All I could hear was the blood pumping through my body and the concentrated breathing pattern I had adopted. My arms swung back and forth slicing through the air, carving a path for the rest of my body. My legs weren't just my extremities anymore, they were well oiled machines, capable of winning medals, something I had proven on multiple occasions. My eyes however were transfixed on the muscular build of Percy, who was still evading all of my efforts to overtake.
Percy was more of a physical athlete, having well defined arm and leg muscles that caused all of the girls at school to collapse around him. He had a muscular back, something I was getting a very good view of being stuck in second in this two-horse race, as well as a six-pack stomach that was clearly visible through his running top. Not to my surprise though, being captain of the Swimming team at Goode, as well as also being a star player for both the football and Soccer teams would leave most with the body of a God. I was just surprised that he was this good at running, considering he wasn't known for being a sprinter. I should tell him to sign up for the Goode Athletics team, we could use someone like Percy on our team.
"Come on Chase! I know you can run faster than that!" Percy yelled, a smug look plastered on his face as he looked back at me.
Or, I could put him in his place and teach him a lesson about sprinting. My want to wipe that smug smile from his face was now driving me on, making me sprint faster, and faster, until we were neck and neck. Approaching the quarter mile mark, or at least that's what I estimated.
I overtook Percy, taking a good long look at his face, wanting to see the look of astonishment in his eyes as I beat the ALMIGHT Percy Jackson at something. There was no hostility in my actions, I just get quite competitive in what I do. However, when I passed him and looked back there was only a smile on his face, like watching me beat him was something he was enjoying.
I was running. Seriously running, the world was nothing but a blur, a vacuum, where nothing existed other than me and Percy, staring at his face, I couldn't take my eyes off of him, his face had morphed into pure horror, I didn't think he would take me winning that badly.
"Annabeth!" Percy screamed.
It was a horrid scream. A scream that I knew meant that I was in imminent danger. I turned my head back to where I was running so I could look death in the face when it happened, and sure enough there it was. A Black SUV hurtling down the road, right towards me.
I couldn't die yet, could I? I hadn't lived yet, I hadn't built a career, hadn't made my mother proud, hadn't proven myself to the world. And the worst thing about it? I felt like I had nothing to remember. No-one would remember me for the life I lived, if anyone remembered me at all.
Then it happened. I felt it hit me. It wasn't as heavy, or as painful as I thought it was going to be. I looked towards the object that would kill me, to see that it was still metres away, horn blasting. But I had been hit by something.
Now laying on the pavement, the cold concrete being a stark contrast to the fiery temperature of my body, I took in the world around me. The car that I thought would be my ending was now gone and out of sight, the bellowing horn of it fading away, stillness and calm returning to the world around me. All was peaceful and quiet, apart from the excessive, panicked breathing coming from me.
Then, like an angel coming to me, Percy entered my vision. He had saved me, literally saved my life. He had pushed me out of the way of that car and broken my fall onto the pavement, and now he was here to make sure I was alright.
"Beth! Hey Beth, you're okay" he whispered.
Just hearing his voice made me feel so much better, I tried to stand up, big mistake. My body was still rattled from the near-death experience. My once, machine-like legs had now turned to jelly, like a new-born deer. I collapsed to my knees, hugging my arms. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I had nearly been killed. That would've been the end of Annabeth Chase. No future, no memories, nothing. Then Percy had saved me, he had given me another chance, a chance to live a life I will remember.
Percy kneeled down next to me, grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a hug. "I'm here" he said. "Don't worry, you're okay, I've got you" He said reassuringly. I couldn't help it. My exterior had been broken and my world view thrown into turmoil. All my life I'd been thinking about careers and jobs. I hadn't ever put thought into whether I was acting out a life worth living. I collapsed into Percy's arms and let loose the tidal wave of tears that had been held back behind my eyes.
"Percy I…"
I couldn't get the words out. I wanted to thank him so badly, I wanted to thank him for saving my life, for racing with me, for making me realise that way my life is going isn't necessarily what I want. But I couldn't. All I could do was cry, because I am weak. I shouldn't have survived that. I should be dead. And I hate myself for being so stupid.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. You're okay." Percy calmly said, standing me up, using his bodyweight to keep me on my feet until my legs felt like working. I was glad that this all had happened early in the morning and that no-one had been around to see my near-death experience, or my weakness in dealing with it.
"Come on Annabeth, let's get you home. If you're okay with that?" He asked tenderly. It was kind of weird that Percy was acting so caring towards me, consider that he and Rachel were the "Happy Couple" at Goode. I mean, not that Percy was very mean to people, he just carries a lot of influence that he uses irresponsibly sometimes, but he's definitely not as bad as the she-devil.
"Annabeth?" Percy asked again, worry entering his voice. The look on his face, as if he was looking at a glass vase slowly shattering.
"No Percy, it's fine, I can walk on my own" I said, just about managing to complete a sentence, my voice hoarse from the crying.
A small smirk crossed his face. "Who said anything about walking?" he asked rhetorically, smiling to himself. "Blackjack is just around the corner, I'll drive you home."
"Percy, you don't have to do that for me. You've already saved my life…" I trailed off.
"Annabeth, I can't just leave you here. Thalia would hunt me to end of the earth if I left you like this." Percy said.
"Ha. Yeah she would." I said, my voice dropping at the end. Of course, that was why Percy was acting so caring towards me. That's the only reason he knows my name at all, is because I'm his cousins friend. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed.
It was a short, silent walk. Neither of saying anything, just taking in the cool, windy breeze of an autumn morning. Walking had become easier. The whole incident had left its mark in my head, a scar that would eat away at my psychology, something that would never heal, but the physical symptoms had nearly worn off and I was no longer clinging to Percy like a crutch.
We rounded the next corner, and there sat Blackjack. I'd seen Blackjack before, across the parking lot at school. Everyone knew the absolutely awesome car that Percy drove, but seeing it up close was something different.
It was a beautiful 1967 Mustang, coloured Raven black with sea green stripes going down the middle. If Percy was a car, he would be Blackjack. You could just tell.
Percy opened the passenger door and motioned for me to enter, like a proper gentleman. If seeing Blackjack up close was something different, then sitting in Blackjack was on a whole different level.
The 50-year-old brown leather interior was as crisp as the day it was crafted, meticulously stitched together. The whole car smelt like the ocean. At first, I thought it was an air condition he had in the car, then I realized that it was Percy's smell. It was a comfortable smell, I could close my eyes and imagine myself sunbathing at the beach, on a towel in the sand.
I was broken out of my daydream by Percy opening the driver's side door and sliding into the seat next to me. Placing one leg in after the other, then sliding the rest of his body onto the seat before resting both of his hands on the steering wheel. He pulled a pair of aviators out of the centre console and put them on, before turning to me and flashing his pearly whites. Only Percy Jackson could make getting into a car so sexy, my lord. I'm starting to sound like all of the girls at school, what is he doing to me?
"Where to Ms. Chase?" Percy said, acting out his part as a chauffeur.
"Home please Mr. Jackson" I said in a mock British accent, acting out my part as the clientele.
"Of course, Madame I suggest you strap in." He said whilst putting on his seatbelt. I took his advice and put my seatbelt on before looking over at Percy who was staring at me smiling.
"Ready? Then let's go" he said, not giving me the opportunity to answer before he revved the engine, effectively waking up anyone in the neighbourhood who hadn't woken up yet and set off in a cloud of smoke.
-[ Line Break ]-
If driving was an art, then Percy was Picasso. We screeched to a halt outside of my house with me not being able to stop giggling over the way that Percy was driving. That drive was the perfect mix of crazy, race-like driving and calm, peaceful cruising.
"Wow. I didn't know you could drive like that! Am I going to have to start calling you Baby?" I said laughing, unable to contain the giddiness within me.
"Well only after I take you to the fiiiiinest wining and dining of all the wines and dines in town, though I much prefer Annabeth over Debora.
"God we're such geeks" I said, now laughing at the both of us for quoting Baby Driver, I was surprised that he knew the reference, I didn't peg him for a movie person. Though I also didn't peg him for an athlete, and he almost trounced me in a race. So, it appears I'm not the best judge of character.
"Yeah, I guess we are" He laughed, looking down at his watch. "So, when do you want me to come and get you?" he asked, still looking at his watch.
That caught me off guard. My laughing abruptly stopped as I said "What? What do you mean pick me up?". I was confused, we were only having a joke around about going to dinner together, heck he was quoting Baby Driver, he wasn't seriously asking me to dinner. Was he?
"Beth, it's seven-thirty-five. School starts in less than an hour, and frankly after that run, we both need showers. It'll take you about an hour to walk to school, so unless you want to stink for your first day of senior year, I'd suggest you take my offer." He said it so confidently, it left him with a satisfied look on his face. His sea green eyes gleaming underneath a mop of jet-black hair, knowing he was right and that I couldn't argue.
"Fine, you win this round Percy. Come and get me around ten past eight, I'll be ready." I said smiling. He was such a gentleman, it was hard not to smile when I'm around him. What is he doing to me?
"Cool Annie, I'll see you then!" He said with a massive grin on his face. He knew, he knew that I HATE the name Annie. Forget what I said about a him being a gentleman. "Don't call me that!" I shouted.
The engine roared on Blackjack as he pulled away, smiling and waving at me, his hair blowing from the wind blasting through the window, as he disappeared down the street. I turned around making for the front door, still smiling uncontrollably from my morning, sure I'd almost died, but with Percy Jackson around, that could happen and it wouldn't matter. He had that effect on you.
-[ Line Break ]-
Opening the front door, I was greeted with an intoxicating aroma of bacon frying over the stove, and toast getting ready to pop. My stomach rumbled with want for the food, especially since the only thing I'd had today was a coffee, I was beginning to feel the effects of not eating too, a light throbbing building at the front of my head.
"Hello! I'm back!' I shouted, waiting to see if whoever started to fry that bacon was still around.
"Annabeth, is that you" Helen replied, poking her head through the doorway of the kitchen to see me. A smile plastered itself on her face once she saw me, stepping out of the kitchen to come and give me a hug.
"Morning sweetie, I'd thought you'd gone to school already, you're going to be late! She said, releasing me from the hug, still holding onto my shoulders. "Go grab some breakfast, I'll get changed into jeans or something, and then I'll take you to school, okay?". I loved Helen, she was a bit overbearing at times, but she always meant well and always wanted what's best for me, and I adored her for it.
She was looking great this morning, wearing a red, polka dot 50's style knee length dress with red high heels to match. Her usual straight black hair had been styled into victory rolls, making her look like a 1950's American housewife, with bright red lipstick that really pronounced her lips, and cat eye glasses.
"It's okay Helen, a… friend of mine is gonna come and get me in like, half an hour, so don't worry." I said, not wanting to raise her suspicions on who this "friend of mine" is. She's been on my tail about getting a boyfriend, saying that I'm too pretty to be single, especially as a senior. So, saying to her that a boy is coming to drive me to school would probably make her squeal. She'd be picking out my wedding dress by the end of the day.
"Well okay then, someone doesn't enjoy my company" she said with mock hurt laced in her voice. She held her hand to her chest, acting as if she was offended, pouting at me.
"Let's just say that I don't want to ruin that pretty little outfit you're wearing" I said, starting to butter some toast for breakfast.
"You like it?" she asked. "I thought it might have been a bit over the top" she said looking down, swinging her dress around.
"I love it. You look like Lily James at the end of Baby Driver." I said, taking a bite of my toast, making my way back to the hallway.
"Ooo, I love that film. I'm gonna put Harlem Shuffle on now." She giggled, running to the speakers in the living room.
I laughed at her childish antics as I made my way up the stairs. Suddenly, a pillow flew past me, followed by two identical troublemakers having a swordfight, playing as if they were pirates. The antics of my little-brothers never ceases to amaze me. Bobby was wearing an eyepatch and a captain's hat, he had his sword locked up against his opposition with a grin plastered on his face. Matthew on the other hand was wearing a bandana with a fake pirate balanced on his shoulders. Pulling his sword out of the deadlock, he swung towards Bobby's legs, making connection and causing Bobby to fall to the floor, pretending to have lost his leg. Matthew stepped over Bobby, preparing to strike the finishing blow, until I intervened.
I swiped Matthew up in my arms and disarmed him of his sword. "If Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones are just about done? I need to get to my room." I said, putting Matthew down and opening the door to my bedroom.
"You're no fun Annie!" they said in unison, before moving their battle downstairs, screaming and fighting all the way down the stairs.
"Hey, you two have school in twenty minutes! Go and get ready!" I shouted back down the stairs at them, receiving no reply. Sighing to myself over the antics of my two brothers, I went back into my room, ready to have a nice hot shower.
Stepping into the on-suite (yes, I was lucky enough to get an on-suite in my room) I looked in the mirror. Pulling my hair out of the ponytail I'd made before my run, my blonde princess curls tumbled down the side of my face, creating the perfect golden picture frame for my stormy grey eyes. I looked quite good for someone who had nearly died today, and it was only 7:45 in the morning, how was I going to make it through the rest of today?
Take life one problem at a time, something my mother always told me to do, looks like I'd have to implement that this year. It seems like this is going to be the year for problems.
Turning the shower on, I stripped out of my now sweaty and sticky running clothes, taking my phone out of my pocket and opening iTunes. Turning on my showering playlist (yes, I have a shower playlist, don't judge) my ears were greeted with the amazing sound of George Ezra's; Paradise. Smiling, I placed my phone on the counter, along with my Fitbit. I took one step into the shower, feeling the hot water splash against my feet. Stepping under the shower fully now, the hot water a haven for my body. The heat relaxing all of my nerves, letting me release all of the pent-up stress and adrenaline from this morning.
I ran my hair through the water, clearing out any knots or matted areas caused by this morning's run. I then grabbed my Citrus Verbena shampoo, running it through my hair thoroughly, giving my hair the lemon scent that I love.
After finishing up my shower, I wrapped myself up snugly in a towel and made my way back out into my room, picking up my items on the way out. Looking down at my phone, I saw I had a text from Thalia. "Why is Percy taking you to school Annie?" Of course Thalia would take this the wrong way.
"Not even a good morning Thals?" I replied back with. No good morning, how are you? You ready for the first day back at school? No, just why is Percy taking me to school. Thalia through and through.
"Good morning. Now, why is Percy taking you to school?" Thalia's message read. Well it's a start I guess.
"We ran into each other this morning, he offered. Nothing more!" It was nothing more, right? All we did was accidentally bump into each other, have an epic race, almost die, go for a ride in Blackjack, and have Percy offer to drive me to school. I don't think I left anything out of my message.
"Sure Annie, Sureeee." Well clearly Thalia wasn't convinced, I won't stop hearing about that today, will I? No, you won't My brain replied. Fantastic.
"I gotta go and get ready Thalia, I'll see you at school." I replied, hoping to leave that conversation there. I didn't want to go anymore in depth about my meeting with Percy Jackson, especially not with Thalia. Placing my phone down, I plugged in my hairdryer and set to work on drying my hair.
The time read 8:00am once I'd finished drying my hair, only ten minutes until Percy gets here! Dropping my towel, I ran over to my wardrobe and picked out an outfit. I settled for light blue skinny jeans that had some floral patterns down the legs, a white Arctic Monkeys t-shirt, and a grey denim jacket with a winged eagle on the back, except the eagle was an owl, with black vans for my footwear.
I quickly ran back into the bathroom, picking up my Fitbit, sliding it onto my wrist next to my watch and my silver owl bracelet. Grabbing my bag and the rest of the things I'd need for school, I made my way back down stairs and into the kitchen. Helen was sitting on the island seats reading a newspaper, eating some toast. My little pirates were nowhere to be seen either, the only evidence they ever existed being the swords, eyepatch and parrot laying on the ground in the hallway.
"You all ready for school sweetie? You look gorgeous by the way" she said, placing her newspapers down, taking another bite of her toast.
"Yeah, I'm ready Helen, thanks." I said smiling at her, she's just so sweet and caring, I don't know what I ever did to deserve a step-mom like her.
"Well, looking like that you're bound to get a boyfriend this year, perhaps this "friend" of yours coming to pick you up hmmm?" she said, giving me a coy smile, raising her eyebrows. "Is he hot?" she asked much to my embarrassment.
"Helen!" I said, gasping at the invasion of privacy that was going on here. She always loved playing in my love life, wanting me to find a boy. I didn't need this now though. I needed a way out, I wasn't having this conversation with her.
Then, like a prayer answered by God, there was a loud revving sound outside as a car pulled up. I heard a slam which I presumed to be the car door shutting. A few seconds later there was a knock on the door.
Opening the door, I looked into the sea green eyes of my saviour "Come on, let's go!" I said, grabbing Percy and attempting to drag him away from my house as fast as possible.
"Woah, not even a hello?" Percy said, smiling at me, resisting my efforts to pull him away.
"Nope" I said, letting go of him now, and making a break for Blackjack. I heard a call out from the front door as Helen stood there, waving goodbye to me and checking out Percy. "He's hot Annie!" she called, make Percy blush as I died from embarrassment.
"Bye Helen!" I shouted as I got into Blackjack, frantically motioning for Percy to get in and drive away as fast as possible before Helen had the opportunity to embarrass me even further. Blackjack's V8 engine roared into life as Percy started to pull away, still laughing and blushing from Helen's comment. "Just remember, I get to pick the wedding venue!" Helen yelled, before retreating back indoors. If I could've slipped any lower into my seat then I would have.
"What was that all about?" Percy asked, managing to get his sentence out through a gap in laughter.
"Don't even ask" I sighed, my step-moms behaviour boggling my mind to the point where I didn't want to even try and explain it to Percy.
His laughing now subsided, Percy switched on the radio and our ears were greeted with the sound of 1975's; Robbers. We both just sat there in content, listening to the song as Percy drove us both to school. Blackjack steaming down the highway towards Goode, towards the
rest of whatever today would bring for us.
-End of Chapter-
So guys! I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter enough to continue with the story. This was previously two small chapters broken apart but I decided that combining them into one would be better. I hope you all agree hahahah.
I've also decided to rename the chapters from; "Catalyst" and "A life worth living", into Happy Accidents because Annabeth meeting Percy is a happy accident, nearly being hit by a car? Not so much.
Love you all and hope you like the next chapter!