Percy was slowly walking down the streets. He didn't know what it was, but something just didn't feel right the last few days. It wasn't just because of the six monster attacks the last two days, or Estelle crying in the middle of the night. He was used to that. His head and limbs were heavy and he felt stupid. While he had been in school, he couldn't seem to get any of the things his teachers asked him right. He walked past a few shops, but suddenly stopped when he saw a little alley. He knew walking through allies in New York wasn't desirable. The city wasn't exactly robber-or-murderer free. Yet, he knew this alley would be at least ten minutes shorter. He sighed deeply, gripped Riptide in his pocket, and decided to walk through it.
The alley smelled bad, like a garbage dump. There were rats running around, and it did absolutely nothing to lift Percy's spirits. He started walking faster; his monster senses were going off, and he didn't know if that meant there were actual monsters or just bandits. He clutched Riptide, as he started running through the alley.
After a few minutes, he tripped over a metal can and slammed face first into the concrete. He stayed down for a few seconds, and for some reason he felt like crying. He groaned and got up, only to see his books scattered over the floor. He bit his lip while he slowly started to pick them of the floor again. He pulled his backpack onto his shoulders, and walked further. For some reason, it felt like there was lead in his shoes.
He just turned around the corner, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It immediately set off all of the warning bells in his head. He pulled his shoulder loose from the grip, and ran. His book bag was heavy and smacked his back, which hurt a great deal. The person caught up to him, and held him by his arm and the hinges of his backpack. 'Come on. I know you have money, kid. Give up.' Percy kicked him on the shin. He let go of Percy's arm, and Percy turned around and kicked the man in that one spot that hurts a lot, before running off, with his backpack still beating against his back.
Percy breathed heavily as he stepped into his apartment building. He had ran all the way from the alley in which the strange man had tried to rob him to the building, and his already tired body didn't like that. He took the elevator to the right apartment - usually he would take the stairs, but he just couldn't do that today. He stepped out of the elevator, opened the right door, and dropped his backpack on the floor. It crashed onto the floor, and it was clear from the sound that something in there broke. He looked at the book bag, and suddenly his eyes felt hot. He felt like yelling.
Yet, he didn't. That would upset Estelle, and he didn't want to make his baby sister cry. He stepped into the living room, and immediately realised that there was nobody there. There was a note lying on the table. He picked it up. 'Dear Percy,' It read, 'Today I am going to an extra class at the university. Paul has to work over. I brought Estelle to a baby-sitter. We'll be back at six P.M. Love, Mom.'
Percy just stared at the notes for a while. After a few seconds, he tore it to shreds, threw it in the trash can and dropped onto the couch. He yelled loudly into a pillow, and felt a tear making its way down his cheek. He just laid on the couch, until he heard someone unlock the door. He sat up, not realising how ridiculous he looked. 'Mom? Paul?' he asked. Percy thought he was sounding childish. You could hear the sadness in his voice. 'Are you two there?' He whispered. Instead of his parents, Annabeth came walking into the living room (Sally had given her a key to the house, so she could get in whenever she wanted. She considered Annabeth part of the family, after all. And, I guess, technically she is, but we don't have time to get into the Olympian family tree. Not now, not Never).
Annabeth had a big, goofy smile on her face while she walked in, but it immediatly vanished when she saw Percy in his teary-eyed stage. 'Percy? What is going on?' She asked, while making her way to the couch. She sat down next to him. Percy shrugged. 'I don't know.' Annabeth sighed, and got the pillow out of his hands. 'Come. I'll make you a cup of cocoa, and then you tell me exactly what has been going on in the last few days.'
Annabeth put some extra blue food colouring in the chocolate milk, too. She handed it to her boyfriend. 'Here. Now, what has been going on?' Percy stared at his mug with blue chocolate milk. 'You start to sound like Chiron when someone is having a problem. You spend to much time with him.' Annabeth pursed her lips. 'That isn't answering my question.' Percy took a sip. 'There have been six monster attacks last two days, and Estelle has been crying through a huge portion of the night. After two weeks, my mother and Paul just needed some sleep, so I offered to take care of her during the nights. I haven't slept nice in seven days, and on top of that I am starting to believe that school is actually trying to kill me. And... I was almost robbed on the way home from school. I tried to get here faster, via a dirty alleyway, and he grabbed my arm... and I kicked him and just... ran.'
He took another sip of cocoa. 'And I just don't feel very good, for no apparent reason. You make good cocoa.' Annabeth gave him a little smile. 'I know I do.' Her smile vanished again. 'Also, that isn't nothing, Percy. Far from it. Six monster attacks, No sleep and almost getting mugged? That is more than most teenagers have to deal with in an entire high-school carrier. It's to much for you, Percy. You need to take some rest.' Percy looked at her, and put his cup down on the coffee table. Nobody said anything for a few seconds. Annabeth raised her hand to touch his arm, but Percy suddenly burst into tears.
Annabeth pulled her arm back, but after a few seconds put them around his shoulders again. Percy laid his head onto her shoulder. 'I just... don't...' he sobber loudly, and put his arms around her waist. Annabeth stroked his back.
'It's alright, Percy. Just let it all out.' Percy pulled her against his chest. Annabeth pushed a kiss onto his shoulder.
After five minutes, Percy took a deep, shaky breath, and he stopped crying. 'Annabeth, just...' he sniffed, and let out a soft sob. Annabeth pushed a tear from his eyes with her thumb. 'Don't worry Percy. Everybody has those days.' Percy nodded, clearly not very convinced. He picked up his mug again. He wanted to take a sip, but stopped when he saw which mug he was holding: one with a colorful reef printed on it. He smiled, while a single lost tear ran down his face. He wiped it away, while saying: 'you know... my mom got this mug for me when I was about seven. I saw it at Target, and immediately loved it, but she said we couldn't get it. I was pretty disappointed, but didn't complain. A few days later, Gabe had gotten drunk, and he had hit me.'
A tear slid down Percy's cheek again, as he paused. 'The next day, she gave me the mug. It made me feel good, as if it was something Gabe couldn't touch. Ridiculous, of course, he could have destroyed it whenever he wanted. But from then on, it was my good-luck mug. I used to drink cocoa from it whenever I felt bad, because it felt better.' He smiled as he stared at the mug, and took a long sip of chocolate milk. Annabeth smiled. Suddenly, she felt like she could use a tissue as well. 'That's cute. And amazing.' Percy nodded.
Annabeth got up from the couch, and stretched. 'Let's just watch a nice, sappy movie. I am feeling like that after this.' Percy nodded slowly. 'Me too. I'll grab a snack.' Annabeth looked through the DVD-collection. She chose a film, put it in the DVD-player, and then disappeared to the bathroom to get a washcloth. Meanwhile, Percy walked back into the living room with a plate of nacho's (they were a little blue). He sat down, and looked at the television. He sighed. 'Annabeth? West Side Story? How old is that one?' Annabeth came back with a washcloth.
'Incredibly old. And I love it.' Percy sunk down into the pillows on the couch. He cleaned his face with the washcloth, and brought it back to the bathroom. As Annabeth grabbed a small pile of blankets and got comfortable on the couch. She kicked of her shoes. Percy came back with comfortable clothes - a t-shirt and flannel pyjama pants. He cuddled next to Annabeth, who reached out of the blanket to get the remote control to put the movie on. After that, she laid her head on Percy's chest. 'Do you feel a little better now?' She asked, before switching on the movie.
Percy nodded. 'Yeah. I guess I'll take the roads with more people. There are less monsters and robbers there.' Annabeth nodded. 'Also, you should put up a schedule with your parents, maybe. Then you can share taking care of Estelle and you will all get enough rest.' Percy sighed deeply.
'Yes. I'll talk to them about it once they get back.' He kissed Annabeth's' head. 'Now let's watch West Side Story.'
That afternoon, when Sally and Paul arrived back home, with Estelle in her buggy, they found two teenagers asleep on the couch, cuddled into a blanket, with the menu of West Side Story still standing open. Sally stroked Percy's cheek, as she readjusted the blankets. She dimmed the lights in the living room and put out the television. She walked into the Kitchen, where Paul had already started to make dinner. She stretched. 'You know, Percy can praise himself lucky with Annabeth. She is a very sweet girl.' Paul nodded.
'I know, I know. She can make good chocolate milk on top of that.'
To The Guest Who Requested this: I hope you like it! Also, you don't have to use Puppydog-eyes next time :).