Annabeth's P.O.V
I was worried about Percy. I'd never seen him as tense as he had been since getting the call from his mom.
"Hi Sally" I said, "I'm going to make a hot chocolate for Percy can I get you anything?" She was putting on a brave face for the customers, but I could see the same tenseness that Percy had in her eyes.
"Hi Annabeth, no thank you" she replied.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm not really sure how to answer that right now" she told me, watching Percy and his dad like at any moment something was going to go wrong.
"I'll take this over then" I said talking about Percy's hot chocolate, she nodded but she was distracted.
I'd never seen Mrs. Blofis so, for lack of a better term, out of it. I wanted to help but I wasn't sure I knew how to, or if I should, it wasn't like it was any of my business. Yet, I still wanted to. Mrs. Blofis, Sally, had made me a part of her family when she'd accepted my application to work at the coffee shop. She'd made all of us that work here feel like part of her family that was why we loved working her so much. I really wished I could do something to help her.
I walked over to the booth Percy and his dad were sitting in.
"Your blue hot chocolate, extra marshmallows" I said placing it in front of Percy.
"Thank you" he said.
"Can I get you anything else?" I asked going back into worker mode out of habit.
"Can I get a refill?" his dad asked.
"Sure," I said and took the empty expresso mug from the table. Percy looked a silent apology at me, and I offered him a smile. I worked here after all. It was okay.
I made the expresso and took it back to the table, before leaving them be.
"Annabeth, you don't have to work, you don't have a shift today" Sally said to me.
"I want to, it's distracting me." I confessed, I was worried about Percy, he was so anxious after his mom had phoned him and I didn't know how to help with that. Sally nodded and we set into our usual rhythm of work.
Sally and I were ten minutes into our inventory lists when I heard Percy shouting.
"Leave it and go!" Percy's voice carried to me and Sally. I looked over at a clearly mystified Sally Blofis and immediately dropped what I was doing to make my way to Percy.
He stood in the booth his hand on a small stack of papers, his face was red with anger and his other hand was clenched in a fist. I'd never seen him so angry. It was actually a kind of terrifying, even Luke hadn't angered him so much.
"You're being short sighted Percy" his dad said calmly, "This is a real money maker."
I instantly knew what had happened and I felt sick to my stomach.
"Get. Out." Percy growled angrily. His dad shook his head as if he were disappointed, but he did get up and leave.
I rushed over to Percy and took his hand off the stack of papers that I had come to realise was his story and I pulled him out of the booth. Percy dropped my hand and his arms immediately encompassed me and I felt my shoulder dampen as he buried his head in my shoulder to hide his tears from his mom.
"H-he thought-" Percy tried.
"I know Percy, I understand, it's okay" I told him. I looked at Sally from the corner of my eye and see looked more confused than I ever remembered seeing her in the time I had worked for her. "You need to talk to your mom." I whispered. Percy didn't respond but I felt him nod.
Although she was confused, Sally knew something was going on with her son. As no one else was in, she turned the sign on the door to closed, made three hot chocolates and we all sat back in booth three.
Percy took a moment longer to collect his thoughts before sliding the story he had given his dad as an early Christmas present over to Sally.
Sally read "The Seal and The Walrus." Her eyes flashed with anger in a way I'd never seen before. I was experiencing a lot of firsts with both Sally and Percy today. I laced my fingers through Percy's under the table and squeezed his hand in what I hoped was a reassuring and comforting manner.
"He thought it was fiction" Percy said dejectedly, "he wanted to publish it. He thought I'd come to him for help with my writing." He was so angry I could almost feel it radiating from him.
"Why did you give him this?" Sally asked.
"I wanted him to understand" Percy said "What a joke that was" he added sadly.
My heart broke seeing him so upset all I wanted to do was make him feel better and I had no way to do that currently. His father had taken his greatest pain and seen it as a way to profit. He'd not understood what Percy had been trying to say at all. It was my fault in part, if I'd have never told him I didn't have a good relationship with my family, one he wanted to help me fix, he wouldn't have felt the need to try and fix things with his own dad. It would have happened eventually I knew that. It was who Percy was. He would have tried to fix things with his dad further down the line, but because he'd pushed me to start fixing my relationship with my own family, he felt hypocritical that he wasn't doing the same.
I felt selfishly guilty, like I had caused all of his problems today and I didn't know what to do to help. I couldn't even imagine what he must be going through right now. All I knew was that I wanted to help.
Sally had taken Percy's hand over the table and squeezed.
"Percy, your dad and I don't always see eye to eye," She started, and I wondered where she was going with it. "But there is something we agree on, you are a remarkable writer, Percy."
Percy looked up at his mom, a confused expression adorned his face.
"I guess you get it from me, and I'm proud of that in a way I'll never be able to show you. I used to write short stories, I even had a few published under a pen name of course." She brushed over this like it was of little importance. But I could see that Percy knowing that his writing was one more way he was connected to his mom meant more to him than anything else. "I've known for a few years now. You're talented Percy, at so many things."
"Not maths" Percy joked, and it was a positive sign that he was so open to making the joke.
His mom chuckled a little. "No, perhaps no maths, though you've found a way around that." She looked pointedly as me and I blushed involuntarily. "The stories you always told Estelle, that could get her to do almost anything, even in the midst of a tantrum, they were, are, creative. They're enjoyable, heart-warming stories. And even though this story," She paused placing her had on top of the story, "isn't heart-warming, it is good. I don't have to even read it to know that."
I suspected that Sally knew exactly what the story entailed even though Percy had never shared it with anyone. It was the same way Thalia and Jason knew who the Walrus really was. "You don't have to be a writer Percy, but you would make an excellent children's author, if it was a path you wanted to pursue." She told him and almost all of Percy's anger had drifted away.
"You really think so?" He asked tentatively, and I wandered if marine biology as much as he loved it, had been his backup plan.
Percy's P.O.V
My mom thought I'd make a good children's author… I guess I've always wanted validation for my writing, to know how good it really was, but I'd never thought about trying to get it published. Could I even do that now?
I thought back to what my dad had said back at the coffee shop.
"This story is brilliant Percy, it has everything you need in a good plot line, you just need to give the characters actual names instead of calling them the Seal or the Pup."
"Story" I replied hesitantly, like I'd just been smacked in the face, which it kind of felt like I had.
"Yes, it needs a bit of polishing but once it's done and published, you'll see it was worth it." My dad said.
I felt like my heart had just fallen through my stomach. He thinks it's fiction, he thinks I've come to him with a story for publishing, Oh Gods! Anger bubbled in the pit of my stomach and suddenly I couldn't take it anymore, I snapped.
"Leave it and go!" I yelled, letting my anger get the best of me, I really should have smashed more plates at Smash World last night.
"You're being short sighted Percy" dad said, "This is a real money maker."
The thought of my pain being a money maker made me feel physically sick.
"Get. Out." I managed to growl out, my fist was clenched tightly pushing my nails into my palm as I tried to control my anger. I'd placed my hand on the story so he couldn't take it with him.
My one attempt to reach out to my dad and clear the air before trying to mend the rift between us, caused by his absence and my anger, gone. Snapped away as if it never happened. Well Merry Christmas to me, I thought sourly. I shook my head to clear my sour memories, it was Christmas eve and dad wasn't going to ruin that for me.
I was sat on the sofa at mom and Paul's in between Annabeth and Estelle. Bobby sat next to Annabeth and Matthew sat on a beanbag front of us. I'd offered to take the beanbag, but Matthew had insisted. Mom and Mrs. Chase were in the kitchen, Paul, and Mr. Chase each sat in an arm chair.
We were watching a Christmas Carol, a tradition in the Chase house hold for Christmas eve.
"You, ok?" Annabeth whispered to me.
"Yeah" I whispered backed "you?"
She smiled up at me and nodded before turning her attention back to the film. I watched her for a few moments longer, it was hard to be in such close proximity to her and not want to kiss her.
Her hand found mine and interlaced our fingers as she had earlier at the shop. I felt my heart start to race but thankfully I managed to keep myself from blushing. My phone buzzed in my pocket it was Jason.
Jason: Hey, how's it going?
Percy: Good. Watching a Christmas film, you?
Jason: Good. Just got off the phone with Piper. We're official! :)
Percy: Of course, you are :). Happy for you.
Jason: How are things with Annabeth?
Good question, I thought to myself before responding.
Percy: They're okay, I really like her. I'm going to try asking for another date after Christmas.
I looked over at Annabeth again before pressing send. Yep, definitely asking her out again, especially after her support today. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank her enough. It's funny, now she was a part of my life, I couldn't remember a time when she wasn't. It was almost like I was coasting along until she came into my life.
Jason: You should! Ready for swim season?
Percy: As I'll ever be!
Swim season, I'd forgotten that that was this semester with the heavy work load I was going to have it was going to be a tougher spring semester than I was anticipating. Although it did mean at some point next week my new letterman jacket would be delivered.
There were many sports team traditions when you were seeing or with someone. For basketball, you asked them to wear a jersey with your name on like Jason had with Piper. If you then gave them your letterman jacket as well, things were considered serious. I had a feeling Piper would be wearing said jacket the next time she went to a game.
Swimming didn't really have the jersey phase that basketball did. There was just asking them to wear your letterman jacket. I'd never had someone that I wanted to ask while I was at NYU.
Rachel my high school girlfriend, used to wear my swim hoody if she was at mine, but it always stayed with me. Cali and I weren't even together long enough for something like that to occur.
I wandered if Annabeth would want to wear my letterman jacket. I kind of wanted her too, for no other reason than seeing my name on her back and other people knowing that they'd missed out on a woman of a lifetime. Just thinking about it made me blush.
Jason's P.O.V
I'd been texting Percy while I waited for Thalia to get home. I had to tell someone that Piper and I were officially exclusive. I felt like such a dork for being excited about it all, but I really liked her. I'd been calling her my girlfriend for weeks now, but it was final official, and I was happy.
The vegetarian thing was an adjustment, and she hadn't asked me to make that change to my diet, I'd done it by choice. Well, at least when we're together and some of the food I've had so far wasn't too bad. I'm still unsure about trying tofu after seeing it raw in the supermarket, that one I might need some convincing on. But I knew without a doubt that I would do it for her.
I was excited for Christmas, I always was, it was a day Thalia and I got to spend together. It usually consisted of present opening in the morning, going to Aunt Sally's for lunch and then hanging out there for the afternoon until coming home for films and junk food before bed.
What I was most looking forward to this year was the extra addition of my video call with Piper to open our presents. I really hoped she liked the gift that I'd bought for her.
I was also really curious to find out what she had given to me.
Thalia got home around five and she looked exhausted. Fortunately, I'd already ordered our 'traditional' Christmas eve dinner, Chinese. It would be here in about fifteen minutes.
"Hey, how was your day?" I asked her as she settled on the sofa.
"Trying," she said, "two emergency surgeries, a cat with a ruptured hernia, and a dog who had a needle stuck just under its eye, that it had eaten."
"Well put your feet up, food is on the way, I ordered our usual. I'll get you a drink and you can chill out because you're done until the 28th." I said and she smiled.
"Thanks, Jace"
"Beer?" I asked.
"Please" she told me.
I went into the kitchen and returned with two beers.
"So, how was your day?" She asked me.
"Good, spoke to Piper this morning, and Percy a little while ago and just chilled out until you got back really." I told her.
"And how is your girlfriend?" She teased me, I didn't mind though, I was really enjoying the fact that Piper was my girlfriend.
"She's good, she actually asked if you'd had a Per-date today?" I asked.
"A what?" She asked.
"Oh, good so it's not just me that didn't understand that reference. I thought you had some secret code or something. It's a Percy update" I told her having gone through this with Piper earlier.
"I see," she said laughing. "No not today, I've not heard from either Percy or Annabeth today. I just assumed they were busy."
"She hasn't had one either. She also said Annabeth didn't call this morning."
"That's odd, Annie never misses their catch up call. I wonder why she didn't phone. I hope she's okay."
"Just drop her a text message, I'm sure everything's fine. Percy didn't mention anything when we were talking earlier." I said and now that I thought about it, he hadn't really said much earlier.
Annabeth's P.O.V
After the twins and Estelle went to bed, I went to Percy's room. I'd been thinking a lot about the conversation, that took place at the coffee shop this morning. About Percy publishing his stories.
I retrieved my iPad and stylus from one of the bags that Thalia and Piper had packed for me. I only ever used it for college work normally but drawing relaxed me. I wish I'd seen it before this afternoon when I was looking for something else. Anyway, I took my iPad out to the living area and sat next to Percy. Our parents were in the kitchen doing something for tomorrow.
I opened my design app and started sketching.
After around twenty minutes Percy asked what I was doing.
"It'll sound silly" I replied heat rising to my cheeks.
"No, it won't" he told me.
"I've had this idea of what The Seal from your stories looks like, so I thought I'd try and draw it. Although, now I have, it looks horrible. I should stick to buildings." I confessed.
"Can I see?" He asked and I appreciated him asking rather than just looking. Although I suspect a little like the personal space thing that I probably would have made an exception for him on that as well.
I passed the iPad to him and let him look and a smile graced his face.
"Can I make a suggestion?" He asked tentatively, like we were on new ground. It was really sweet actually.
"Sure" I said.
"Add some weight" he said.
"Like definition?" I asked.
"No like fat" he said smiling.
He passed the iPad back and I adjusted the lines to make the seal a little bigger. I also made the eyes a little bigger and turned them a colour I deemed pretty close to Percy and Estelle's. I decided to add white strips like a Ribbon Seal would have as well, before shading the rest a dark grey colour.
"Better?" I asked.
"Perfect" he responded.
"I wouldn't go that far." I said.
"I would, it looks great Annabeth, really." He said and I could tell he was serious by the look in his eyes. My heart started to flutter in my chest in a way I'd never experienced before Percy. I couldn't help but smile.
"If I decide to give the book thing a go, I'll have to hire you as my illustrator."
"There are much better illustrators out there Percy." I said.
"I'll have to disagree" he teased.
I rolled my eyes, but it didn't prevent the blush that now stained my cheeks.
My eyes flicked those lips that I'd captured in a kiss the night before. I noticed his eyes glanced down to my lips too. He started to lean in, and I felt myself do the same.
"Do you kids need anything?" Sally's voice interrupted. The two of us sprang apart faster than you could say 'Santa.'
"No thank you, Sally" I answered.
"All good mom" Percy said rubbing the back of his neck like he did when he was nervous.
Sally hadn't even stepped out of the kitchen. She had only called out. But it was enough for the moment to have passed. It was frustrating.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Percy asked.
"Yes"
Thalia's P.O.V
Jason and I were watching silence of the lambs.
"It's not the most Christmassy of films" Jason noted.
"You know you could have picked the film" I replied.
"Well, the next one will be more festive" he promised as it was his turn to pick next. Truthfully, I didn't mind watching festive films, I just hadn't seen this one in a while and it was a Hitchcock, which makes it a classic.
"I have no doubt. What time are we starting tomorrow?" I asked.
"I don't mind. We said we'd be at Aunt Sally's for half 11. So, 9?" He proposed.
"Nine it is." I agreed.
"Hey," he said, and I paused the film because we were talking through it. "How serious do you reckon Annabeth is about PJ?"
"Very, why do you ask?" I replied.
"I think he's in love with her" he told me.
"And you're a love expert now are you Li'l bro?" I teased.
"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying it seems to be more serious than just wanting to date. How he was at the hospital, it was like someone had carved out his heart, in that waiting room."
"I know what you mean" I agreed. Percy had looked devastated when we had entered the waiting room at the hospital, almost like he would never be happy again if she weren't okay. "What about you and Piper?" I teased.
"What about us?" He asked.
"Will she be receiving your letterman jacket?"
"Of course, she's my girlfriend" he told me, and his face flushed a crimson colour.
"Is it love?" I teased.
"I," he stuttered. "I don't know yet. I just know I've never felt like this before."
"I'll bet you $20 that it's love for you and Piper and I'll double up and say it also is for Annabeth and Percy." I told him.
"Doesn't seem like a fair bet" he told me.
"Are you too chicken?" I taunted.
"No" he replied.
"Then take the bet" I said.
"Put a time scale on it. I have to have told Piper and Annabeth has to have told Percy that we love them by ...?"
"Valentine's Day," I said, "and if it's what you're feeling, and you don't tell her to win the bet I'll kick your ass Li'l bro. Piper is a great girl and deserves to know how you really feel about her."
"I promise to be honest about my feelings" he said holding out his hand. I took it with my own and shook it.
The bet that he'd tell Piper was nothing really, I knew he loved her just like we knew Percy loved Annabeth. The bet for Annabeth to confess she loved Percy well that might be where I fell down.
Annabeth and I were similar in ways that made us great friends. But we were also similar in ways I sometimes wished we weren't. One of those things was our ability not to own up to our own feelings. I hadn't done it all those years ago with Luke and Annabeth wasn't doing it now with Percy. We'd both become better at though, through the years. So, I had hope, I also knew that Annabeth was in love with Percy, even if she didn't yet.
Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
Ψ
~Author's Note~
Hi all, thanks for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it please let me know!
Going Dark - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope you liked this one too? Let me know!
SarcasmRocks - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter! There are places like Smash World that exist though they aren't called Smash World I've totally made that element of it up! Hope you liked this chapter please let me know!
Merendinoemiliano - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter please let me know what you thought of this one!
Anz2KFire - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter let me know what you thought of this one!
QueenAnnabeth18 - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter I hope you liked this one as well? Let me know!
TheProudpearl24 - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I'm sorry you felt the kiss was out of the blue perhaps if I explain it'll seem less so. Percy was showing Annabeth that he was making her a priority during there talk something she hasn't had before so she showed him how much she appreciated it by kissing him. Apologies if that wasn't clear. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, please let me know!
- Thank you for your review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, please let me know!
Wisegrl14 - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you loved the last chapter. I can confirm Annabeth's mom in this story is actually dead. I think it would be a little cruel to do that to her! I hope you enjoyed this chapter please let me know!
Aweesh ganegoda - Thank you for your review! I'm not going to stop writing. writing is my outlet so I will have an ending to this story! Yes, Delphin is the god of Dolphins correct! I hope you liked this chapter, let me know!
Happy reading all! Stay safe! :)