Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the song "The Other Side of the Door".
"Would you like anything to drink today, Miss?"
I jumped and looked up at the airline stewardess who was smiling broadly.
"Uh, just coffee. Black, please," I told her, putting my book down.
"Of course!" she said brightly, cheerfully handing me a cup of steaming coffee.
Ugh. Morning people.
I sipped my coffee quickly while glaring at the oversized man next to me who was snoring loudly. This was probably the least enjoyable flight I'd ever had the displeasure of traveling on, and the only thing that was keeping me from parachuting out was the fact that I'd see Percy soon.
But not soon enough I thought grimly as my neighbors's head lolled onto my shoulder. With as much patience and class as I could muster, I shoved him off of me.
I counted down the minutes until I landed in Arizona.
After another two hours in the air, the plane finally touched down in Phoenix. I leapt up from my seat and practically skipped off the aircraft, desperate to get out of the cramped quarters. Instantly, it was like being hit by a wall of hot air.
Oh yeah, I was in Arizona alright.
My leggings and sweatshirt, which had seemed nice and cozy back in the brisk spring air of Massachusetts this morning, made me feel hot and stuffy by the time I got to baggage claim. I stripped off my sweatshirt, revealing one of Percy's high school swim team t-shirts.
"Goode High School?" I heard someone read of the back of my shirt inquiringly. I turned around to see a boy not much older me, blonde with brown eyes and towering over me.
"Uh, yeah," I said with a smile. "It's a high school in-"
"Manhattan, yeah," he finished for me, grinning. "I know. I've got a buddy who went there. He and I are training together for the Olympics this summer."
"Percy Jackson?" I asked, wondering if the world could get any smaller.
"Yeah," he said, clearly surprised. "You've heard of him?"
"This is his shirt!" I said, laughing as I pointed. "See? Swim team shirt. I'm Annabeth Chase, Percy's girlfriend." I stuck my hand out for him to shake.
Recognition lit up the boys features. "Oh, we've heard all about you!" he chortled, shaking my hand. "I'm Easton Brennings. It's nice to meet wonder girl at last."
"Nice to meet you too," I said, rolling my eyes. "Don't believe everything Percy says, by the way. I'm really not that great."
"Well, he's made you out to be half goddess practically, so we'll just have to wait and see," he said with a wink.
If you only knew the half of it, I thought. No pun intended.
Just then I spotted my yellow duffle bag rolling around on the carousel. Having yanked it off the conveyor belt, I straightened up to face Easton.
"Well, it was fun meeting you," I said, "but I really should go. I'm not sure when Percy's training ends today, so I should probably head to his apartment..."
"He's working until noon," said Easton, checking his watch. "Would you like to come an see where team USA is training?"
"Percy said I couldn't get in-"
"Sure you can," he said, waving a band airily. "As long as you're accompanied by someone with a key card. Such as myself," he said grandly. "Why do you say, stop in and surprise him?"
"If you're sure it's allowed..." I said hesitantly.
"Don't worry. It's really not that strict, Percy just doesn't have his head out of the water long enough to realize it." Easton lead the way outside, each of us towing our baggage. "Amazing swimmer, your boyfriend. It's ridiculous."
"Completely," I agreed, hailing a taxi. "So, why were you traveling?"
"Oh, visiting my sister in New York. Her company just moved her up there a month ago," he said pleasantly, tossing both of our bags in the trunk and slamming the lid. I gratefully slid into the air conditioned cab, the leather cool against my skin.
"Thank god for air conditioning," said Easton brightly before turning to the driver to issue instructions.
The ride was enjoyable with Easton as palm trees flew by. Within thirty minutes we were approaching a large building, which, judging by the looming scent of chlorine, held several Olympic-sized pools.
"Here we are," said Easton, after insisting he pay both of our fare. "This is where the magic happens."
"Fancy," I joked, staring at the nondescript building in front of me. Every architect's nightmare.
By the time we got inside, I was once again sticky with sweat. For a California girl, I sure liked my chilly weather. Easton was swiping his key card left and right, ushering me through a series of doors and finally into a big pool viewing area. Down in the pool, swimming the butterfly at incredible speed, was...
"Hey, there's Percy!" said Easton, pointing. "But... you probably knew that," he added sheepishly. "Well, I've got to be in the pool in fifteen minutes, so I should really get ready. Great to meet you," he said, shaking my hand. "To be honest... I kind of though that Perce was making you up."
"I get that a lot," I said, grinning.
"I'm not surprised," said Easton. "He's kinda of a..."
"Seaweed Brain?" I supplied.
"Yeah, thats a good term for it," he said. "Well, you're more than welcome to go down and walk around by the pool. I'll see you later!" he said, turning to walk off.
"Bye!" I called, waving. I watched as Percy got out of the water and over to who was presumably his coach. I watched with pride as the coach clapped him on the back and held up his stopwatch, delightedly grinning. A new record, no doubt.
A medical trainer walked up to Percy to take his blood pressure. My smile began to fade as I realized that she wasn't just doing a check up- she was totally doing a check out. She was batting her eyes and flirting shamelessly. Frowning, I examined her more closely; she was a petite girl, with short brown hair and full bangs that swept across her forehead. She was pretty, though there was something about her that I instantly didn't like. Besides the fact that she was putting the moves on my boyfriend, that is.
My boyfriend, who, judging by his facial expression, didn't have the foggiest idea that she was flirting with him. When I was the one crushing on Percy, his obliviousness was infuriating; now, it was a handy guarantee that I knew Percy would never wander. Like, ever.
Standing up straight and trying to look as fierce as possible, I marched down to the pool doors and pushed them open, letting the hot air and humidity wash over me. My flip flops smacked the concrete as I made my way over to where Brunette Barbie was laughing at something Percy said that probably wasn't even a joke.
"Oh Percy, you're so funny," she said, swatting his shoulder playfully.
"Uh, thanks..." said Percy, unphased.
"Oh, you're so modest!" she squealed.
"Uh... Could you take this off now? It's cutting off my circulation," said Percy politely, pointing to the constricting sleeve used to take blood pressure.
"Oh, right," she said, batting her eyes again and laughing.
I found the sound very irritating.
"Percy!" I called sweetly, grinning as I saw the girl's face fall.
"Annabeth!" he cried joyfully, running over and wrapping me in a strong and slightly wet hug. As we embraced, I looked over Percy's shoulder to see the girl standing with her hands on her hips and looking sour.
"Well, who is this?" she asked shrilly, trying to smile, though it looked like a grimace. Percy let me go but took my hand, turning to talk to her.
"Connor, this is my amazing girlfriend, Annabeth," he said, putting an arm around my shoulder affectionately.
I wiggled my fingers at her smugly. Connor looked ready to vomit.
"Annabeth, this is Connor. She's a medical trainer here."
"Nice to meet you," I said.
Not really.
"You too," she said coldly.
Clearly, the feeling was mutual.
"When does she leave?" Connor asked Percy, as if I wasn't there.
"Oh, I'm never really gone," I said pointedly. "I'm always around, keeping an eye on Percy..." I said mystically, narrowing my eyes at Connor.
Percy gave me a strange look. "She goes home in a week," he said.
"Well, we should probably get going," I said quickly. "Ready, Percy?"
"Yep. Just let me change," he said, still looking at me curiously as he kissed my forehead and headed for the showers.
Connor and I glared at each other before she walked off, her stupid bangs bouncing indignantly.
Twenty minutes later, we were flying down the streets of Phoenix. "What was that all about?" asked Percy, screeching to a stop at a red light. "You were incredibly... hostile."
"I was just making sure Connor wasn't causing any trouble," I said innocently.
"Causing trouble? Like what?"
"Oh come on, it's obvious," I said rolling my eyes. "She was flirting with you!"
"What?" asked Percy, inching the car forward impatiently. "She was just talking to me. I mean, I know I'm devastatingly handsome," he joked, "But Connor was just being friendly."
"Too friendly," I said darkly.
"Look, she wasn't flirting with me. Just forget it, okay?"
"Yes she was!" I snapped. "I'm not stupid!"
"Oh, and I am?" asked Percy defensively, hitting the gas a little too forcefully as the light flashed to green.
"You must be if you can't tell that that bimbo was-"
"Annabeth, she's a nice girl," said Percy through gritted teeth. "Stop being over protective. I can take care of myself!"
"She was all over you!" I hissed angrily.
"She was just having a conversation! You are overreacting!" he said irritably.
"No, I am not," I said, exasperated. "I know a slut when I see one, Percy."
"You've lost your mind," he said, shaking his head. "You really have. You're being too sensitive, and you're being delusional, and you're completely fabricating this ridiculous notion from somewhere in that over active brain of yours!"
"Excuse me?" I cried furiously, my fists balled up in my lap. "You take that back! All of it!"
"No!" snapped Percy, changing lanes smoothly. "You are being childish. Grow up."
"I'm the childish one?" I shrieked, my voice reaching incredible octaves. "You wouldn't know a flirting female if she hit you in the face! With a frying pan," I added for emphasis.
"You're supposed to be the level headed one!" yelled Percy, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"Well, you're supposed to be my boyfriend, so stay away from other girls!"
"Unfortunately, I don't live in an estrogen-free utopia," said Percy acidly. "Sorry, but I can't avoid everyone with a vagina."
"Not like you'd like to anyway," I said sourly. "You probably enjoy the attention."
"Enjoy it?" asked Percy, enraged.
"Yeah! For all I know, you could be egging dear old Connor on!"
"Maybe I should be! At least Connors not a paranoid nutcase!"
"Fine!" I snarled as the car screeched to a halt at another red light. "Why don't you go ditch the nutcase and go out with Connor?"
"What, and leave you to fend for yourself?" laughed Percy hollowly.
"Oh, that's all that's keeping you from leaving? Don't want me to fend for myself? Well, news flash, I fended for myself just fine when I was seven and was only equipped with a hammer, thank you very much." Huffing a few stray hairs out of my face, I glared at him with all of the intensity I could muster. "For your information, I don't need you." And to prove my point, I unbuckled my seatbelt, threw the car door open, and walked away.
The door slammed behind me.
"Annabeth!" cried Percy, rolling down the window. "What are you doing? Get back here!"
I kept walking.
"Annabeth!" yelled Percy. "Get back here! Now!"
Horns were beginning to honk as Percy remained unmoving, blocking the intersection. I kept walking, ignoring what he was saying.
"Annabeth, please!" he yelled.
"No!" I shouted, without turning around. "I've had enough!"
In a stroke of luck, at that moment a taxi came screeching around the corner.
"Hey!" I called, waving wildly.
Miraculously, the car managed to stop, and I hopped in.
"Take me anywhere. Preferably a hotel," I said, turning to see Percy attempt a U-turn to try and follow me. "Hurry!" I said.
Suddenly, I was thrown back into my seat as the car shot forward, making a hairpin turn around the corner.
"Hey! Watch it- oh, Gods," I said, getting a good look at the drivers.
The Gray Ladies smiled eerily at me.
"Hello, dear," said the one with the eyeball, who was currently Tempest. "You're looking lovely."
"Uh... I didn't summon you," I said as politely as I could.
"No, your mother sent us! I guess she was so pleased that you finally dumped that sea cucumber," said Wasp.
So much for a stroke of luck.
"Heroes have always had commitment issues," said Anger, her empty socket a black hole.
"Bad news, those boys."
"So self centered."
"We've seen this same scene happen for eons..."
"Some of us have seen it!" snapped Wasp. "Tempest always hogs the eye-"
"Do not!" shrieked Tempest. "You had it for half of the Trojan War!"
"That's because I won a bet!"
"RED LIGHT!" I screamed, heart in my throat. I slammed into the back of the front seat with a sickening thud.
"Now look what you've done!" shouted Anger scathingly, plucking the eyeball out of Tempest's socket and popping it into her own with a squish.
"Give me that back!" demanded Tempest. "Or so help me, I will-"
What she would do, we never found out, because we were promptly pounded back into our seats as Wasp slammed on the gas.
I hated this taxi.
After a painful ride of lurching, hairpin turns, and optometrist jokes, we arrived outside a hotel. Mumbling my thanks over the sister's bickering, I stumbled out of the taxi. I had only my phone and my purse which had my credit car, my lip balm, and two tampons.
Annabeth Chase... running away completely and unequivocally unprepared since age seven.
I must have looked bizarre checking into a room with no luggage, but hey, what are you gonna do about it?
Thirty minutes later, me and my stupid pride were sitting there alone. I had turned on Grey's Anatomy, but was barely watching it as I stared at the phone. It lit up for the hundredth time, caller ID flashing Percy's face across the screen.
Like all the rest of the times, I didn't pick up. I was too angry... I was so mad that I was worried that I would lose it and tell him that it's over. And, surprisingly, I didn't want that.
Thunder rumbled outside as I wiggled my toes, wishing I had socks. I kept going back over things we both said, all the misinterpreted things and misread feelings.
I don't need you.
The words echoed in my head, sounding nasty and bitter.
But I do. I do. I do.
I sighed heavily, wishing that Percy was here. And pizza.
Percy and pizza... I was a girl of few needs.
As I mulled over the simplicity of my necessities, I heard a tiny Ping! from the window.
I ran over and threw open the window, and, wondering how my life could become anymore cliché, looked down to see Percy standing there, looking relieved.
"Oh, Gods, I'm so glad that was your window!" he yelled. "I've been throwing rocks at all of them, and I've gotten some pretty nasty reactions from some of the other guests!"
"Oh, good job," I said sarcastically.
"Why did you run away like that?" he shouted.
"I don't think I owe you an explanation!" I yelled.
"Yes you do!" he pleaded. Just then, the sky cracked and rain began to dot the sidewalk.
"Like what?" I shouted. "There's nothing you can say to make this right again!"
"I love you!" he screamed.
Well, dammit. The rain was pouring down, and Percy was looking at me expectantly, squinting through the torrential rain.
What do I do now?
My mind was racing. I bit my lip, and finally I motioned for him to come inside. I could see his grin from five stories down as Percy sprinted toward the front doors.
I waited by the door nervously, wringing my hands. There was a light tapping on the door, and I put my eye to the peephole.
All I needed was on the other side of the door.
I opened it, and a completely dry Seaweed Brain stood there with his hair ruffled and hands in his pockets.
"I'm sorry," we said at the same time. We both looked up and chuckled.
"Me first," I said. "Look, I was being an overbearing girlfriend."
"I know."
"And you can take care of yourself."
"I know."
"But you were wrong, Connor was flirting with you."
"I know."
"Well babe if you know everything, tell me why you couldn't see that when I left, I wanted you to chase after me!"
Percy stepped toward me.
"Wise Girl, I can't even begin to figure you out, let alone try to guess what you want me to do." He smiled and took my hand.
"I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. I really never realized she was into me... because I never gave her a thought. The only girl I ever pay attention to is you."
I put my arms around his neck and put my chin on his chest so I was looking up at him. "How is it that you managed to make it rain so you could have a romantic apology... In the middle of the freaking desert?"
"I know people," he said, shrugging. "My Uncle rules the universe, you know."
"I did know, actually," I said with a smile. "Percy?"
"Yeah?"
"I do need you," I told him. "Quite a bit, actually."
"We need each other," said Percy quietly. Our lips met, and for the first time since I'd been on vacation, I was happy.
"Well, since you've already paid for the room, what do you say we hit up room service and watch the meteorologists rave about this freak thunderstorm we're having?"
"Sounds good to me," I said, grinning as Percy scooped me up and carried me to the bedroom.
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