~ Wassup my Angels ~
Long time no see. It's Seaweed Brain Sunday, it's 2018 - new year, new start, new chapter! Oh my God 2017 was a crazy year, I think I wasted most of it... Ooops.
Oh well, I plan on travelling a lot this year so I can be more independent and find myself or whatever ;))
~o~
I wanted to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of the loveliest girls I know - Hermione Historia Chase. Hope you have a wonderful day chicaa! xoxo
~o~
Also, question. Has anyone seen the TV Show 'Good Morning Call' on Netflix? I haven't seen season 2 yet but it's the cutest thing. If anyone has I would love to know whether you're team Uehara, Daichi or Issei. I was team Daichi and then I became team Issei even though I think Uehara sometimes has his cute moments. Issei in glasses is the cutest! 3 3
Even more importantly, who has seen Strong Girl Bong-Soon on Netflix. I swear to God Hyungsik is the most gorgeous, stunningly attractive guy I've seen in my entire life. It's actually painful that his character can't be my boyfriend. Urgh, my heart just races everytime I see him.
Not even joking guys. THIS IS A PROBLEM Because...I may have just switched otps. And it's also quite possible that after all this time of wanting Percy from Memories to be my bf that now I would rather have the character Min Hyuk from Strong Girl instead. WHAT IS THIS!?
Seriously, people just go watch the whole season, there's only 1. And you won't be disappointed. They are the cutest couple ever. The way he genuinely loves her is incredible! It's heart rendering! I wanna cry :'(
Cinder Luna - Thanks ma girly! Super happy that you liked the reunion. Tell me about it, Percy just sets the bar waaay too high. *Cry* Love you ~ AWG
Hermione Historia Chase - EEEEEEKKKKK. YOU LIKED THE REUNION AND YOU'RE HAPPY SO THAT MAKES ME HAPPY! YAAAAY. AND OMG YOUR BIRTHDAY IS TODAY, THAT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE, GIRL, THAT IS FATE! Honestly, you are like a ray of sunshine with a rainbow in my life! Thank you for everything! LOVE YOU ALWAYS XOXOXO
I am the Daughter of Poseidon - I am NO Goddess in disguise! I can promise you that but you flatter me so thank you :))) I didn't even know you could MAKE actual stories on EPISODE... Whoa. I might do that one day. Lots of love ~ AWG
Dimitri Jinx - YOU ARE HONESTLY THE MOST AMAZING PERSON I KNOW! Your reviews are like little gifts wrapped in red ribbons and pretty paper. Ok, fluff said - onto my actual response to your lovely review. I'm so happy you liked the kiss. Is it bad that I'm kinda happy it made you cry? You know, I cried when I wrote it so...yeah. Oh and yes, it's gonna fall apart. Of course it is, it's me we're talking about - drama and angst is my thing ;) But I'll patch it up real quick, I promise. I really hope you see this when you return to ff. Just know I'm thinking of you. :( Lots of love, your gal ~ AWG
abidoodle.e - Hi Abi! Thanks for reading my story, I'm SO HAPPY you liked it! AW, your review honestly made me smile so much. I'm glad that my personality shows through my writing and my review responses. You can always pm or review any questions about me that you want to know. Oh my Gods, you are being way too kind right now. Stooop :))) Oh and I totally agree with you about people making Percy out to be a dick in most fanfics, I noticed that too. It's nice to "meet" someone who approves of a guy getting in touch with their emotional side. So basically I LOVE YOU for loving 'Memories' Percy. Lots of love ~ AWG
Trixy J - Wooow! I can't believe my story brought you into the world of ff! Also I laughed when you said your friend paid you! :)) Okay, reading Memories in a day is a serious achievement and the fact you did it whilst eating in the bathroom genuinely makes me love you even more. THANK YOU SO SO SOOO MUCH! I hope you liked the reunion and I'm definitely going to bring back the sass in Percy. ;) Lots and lots of love ~ AWG P.s. sorry for replying so late.
TheGirlWhoFlew - Oh my Gods, girly. I'm kinda speechless and shook over how beautiful and sweet your review was. I'm so happy my story gives you something to fall back on. That honestly means the world to me. You are definitely not just a nameless person, you're one of the sweetest reviewers ever and have definitely carved a place for yourself in my life TOO! Promise I won't leave this story. Thank so much! All my love ~ AWG
leighismyname - I have no words to explain my emotions after reading your amazing, most wonderfullest review everr! *Thats not a word* Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for liking my story, the slow burning relationship, for thinking it could make a frickin' TV SHOW! I'm excited for domestic percabeth too! :)) Oh and yes, Annie is most definitely a Greek Goddess. Thank you so so much ~ AWG
Now where were we? Ah, yes.
Percabeth fluff ;)
Chapter 10
The Storm Part 1
Annabeth POV
Wednesday 6th April
Song Tribute: [6/10 – dodie]
The morning sunlight broke through the cracks in the white chiffon curtains and a warm breeze kissed the surface of my skin.
My eyes slowly fluttered open in the blinding light. It took me a moment to realise where I was. Shifting my head, I caught a glimpse of his shoulder and then his arm draped lazily over my waist. A soft smile pirouetted across my lips and for a while, I just lay there; securely wrapped in his arms. Safe.
I began to trace my fingers lightly across his trident tattoo on his left forearm, it had become a habit of mine. My touch stirred him in his sleep and he moaned, tightening his grip on me instinctively. Butterflies soared in my stomach and I gasped.
"Morning, beautiful." He murmured.
I smiled, pulling his hand up to my lips and kissing it softly before snuggling my cheek against it.
"What time is it?" He asked in that God-given morning voice.
I glanced at the bedside clock. "Seven fifteen." I murmured. "We should probably get up."
"Or we could just not." He said, pulling me around and propping himself up on his elbow.
I smiled up at him. He looked so cute with his messy bed hair and that tired, morning look in his eyes. "Percy, if my mother finds out—"
"She'd probably kick my ass." He nodded.
"She'd do worse than that." I grinned. "She'd probably banish you from the house."
He smiled, reaching over to gently brush a lock of my hair behind my ear. "It would be worth it though." He whispered after a long pause.
For a moment, I couldn't help but get caught up in his eyes. The way he was looking at me now—I'd never seen a look like that before. At least, not when he was looking at me. It gave me a feeling of warmth in my chest and sent a thrill of shivers over my skin.
"You're so pretty in the morning, it's not fair." I murmured, feeling myself being pulled deeper into his enticing gaze.
He smiled. "They don't call me pretty boy for nothing."
That made me laugh a little and I turned onto my side to face him entirely. My expression dropped. "I wish…I wish it could have always been like this."
"Me too."
He held my gaze for a long time before I suddenly shook myself awake, remembering where I was and whose house I was in. "Um, I need to be in the shower."
"Love it, let's go." He grinned.
"No." I breathed with a shy smile. I was probably blushing. "Just me. I'm late. I have to be at Athena Associates by 8:45."
"Couldn't we just skip everything for today?" He asked with those rebellious eyes. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
I giggled. "As much as I'd love to, trouble, you have school."
"Fine." He sighed, sinking back into the mattress.
I slid out of bed, straightening my nightdress and fixing my hair. "Get up, Seaweed Brain." I sighed.
His eyes were closed as the duvet was wrapped around his hips leaving everything from the waist upwards on full view.
"I'm driving you to school and you're gonna make us both late."
"Can we stop for ice cream on the way?" He mumbled.
"No." I said firmly. "There are towels in the bathroom if you want a shower. I'll meet you downstairs." I said before sneaking out of the room.
The corridor was empty as I quickly sprinted back to my room, carefully shutting the door behind me. I let out a muffled squeal, covering my mouth and bending my knees in excitement.
"Okay, okay. Get it together, Annabeth." I muttered, going to take a quick shower in my ensuite bathroom.
Freshly washed and dried, I began to do my morning skincare routine in a towel wrap. My mother had become obsessed with Korean skincare recently and had spent a fortune on toners, essences, serums, moisturises—you name it. It was tiresome work keeping up with it all but the effects were revolutionary.
Then, I blow-dried my hair, tying it into a low, messy bun with my curly wisps falling down to frame my face. The jojoba scent of my shampoo filled the air, reminding me of paradise islands in the summer time.
After fishing through my closet for a while, I decided on a backless nude pink romper, a black lace top underneath and a pair of patent nude platform pumps. I grabbed a black and silver clutch, shoving my phone and car keys inside before spritzing myself with a Chanel perfume and slipping outside again. My heels clicked across the marble floor as I made my way down the back stairs, towards the dining room.
Everyone was already at the table with my mother at the head, sitting elegantly in a stylish red dress and black heels. Bobbie sat at the head of the other end and Matthew sat on the far end of the table, next to Percy who was busy explaining what sport he did to my mother. Bobbie and Matthew looked at him like he was a God or something, Matthew was even trying to copy how he was sitting.
Percy looked amazing as usual, he wore the same black T-shirt and Vans he'd been wearing yesterday but had decided to keep his grey sweatpants on. He was eating some toast and Bobbie and Matthew had ordered the exact same thing as him, even though they usually ate fruit loops every morning. That made me giggle to myself a little as I neared the bottom of the steps and that's when they all heard me.
My mother looked up and smiled warmly. Percy's eyes widened at the sight of me.
"Whoa..." He murmured and I blushed, smiling nervously as I came over.
"Isn't she beautiful?" My mother smiled, looking at me proudly and making me blush even more.
"Stop it." I smiled, gently taking the seat opposite Percy and placing my clutch on the table beside me.
I looked up at him shyly and he was smiling at me with intense sea-green eyes. I couldn't help but smile back at him before looking away quickly.
A waitress came over and I gave them the brightest smile before politely ordering a fruit salad with honey yoghurt. I wasn't feeling like a heavy breakfast today.
"How did you sleep, Wise Girl?" Percy grinned at me from across the table and I started blushing again. Damn it Percy!
"Fine thanks." I smiled. "You?"
"Better than I have in weeks." He winked at me and I did a shy pouting smile. Luckily my mother was focusing on her coffee, so she didn't see and Bobbie and Matthew were fighting over the last piece of toast.
"So what's the plan for this morning?" My mother asked in her tuneful voice.
"I'm taking Percy to school and then driving to work. Do you want me to take Bobbie and Matthew in as well?" I asked just to be polite but I hoped she'd say no because I wanted to spend time with Percy...alone.
"No, that's okay, darling. I promised I'd take them." She smiled, taking another sip of her coffee and I smiled inwardly before glancing at Percy who waved his eyebrows up and down at me. I grinned uncontrollably before busying myself with eating the fruit salad in front of me.
Bobbie and Matthew continuously questioned Percy on football and basketball. Seriously, they wouldn't shut up about it. Whenever Percy would tell them that he was captain or something about winning a game, they would look at him with such admiration like they wanted to be him when they were older.
"Right, my darlings, you run upstairs and get ready and I'll meet you back downstairs in ten." My mother smiled at Bobbie and Matthew who got down from the table and ran upstairs.
"I'm gonna go grab my stuff." Percy said. "Thanks for breakfast." He smiled at my mother charmingly and she returned a warm smile.
"Anytime, dear." She said before he got up from the table and walked around it. He placed a hand to my shoulder as he walked past and planted a soft kiss to the top of my head. I closed my eyes blissfully, not even caring that my mother was right there before he disappeared upstairs.
"So...when did this happen?" My mother smiled knowingly.
I sighed, not bothering to think of an excuse. My mother and I had an open relationship anyway. We shared most things so I didn't feel nervous telling her. "Just yesterday." I smiled.
"Where? When? How?" She blurted excitedly.
"Mother..." I sighed and she giggled.
"Okay, okay." She smiled. "But hold onto that one...he's a keeper."
"Isn't he just?" I smiled happily.
"Annabeth...honey." She sighed, serious all of a sudden. "I think it's time you went back to school. I think if you want to go to college it would be good for you to finish your A Levels and I know you already finished most of the work for it before you left so you'll just be going back for the exams."
I smiled. "I was thinking exactly the same thing."
"You were?" She smiled and I nodded. "Wonderful! So maybe I'll call Goode High this morning and set it up for you to go back maybe next week."
"But what about Athena Associates?" I frowned.
She smiled, taking my hand softly in hers. "There will always be a place for you there, honey. You can come in whenever you want outside of school and I have a number of business trips abroad this summer that you can come along to if you like. But for now, I think you should focus on school."
I smiled, nodding understandingly. "Thanks, mom."
~xXx~
I fixed my hair before taking my keys out of my clutch and looking at Percy. It was almost 8:00 am and we were standing in the hallway beside the front door. He was frowning at me weirdly as he fiddled with his bag strap.
"What?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
"You're so outta my league, Wise Girl. It freaks me out a little." He frowned, completely stunning me.
I'm out of his league? Uh...no. I think you'll find it's the other way around.
Song Tribute: [This = Love – The Script]
I smiled modestly walking over to stand close in front of him. I gently tucked a strand of hair out of his eyes with a painted finger and smiled up at him. "Liar." I whispered, brushing my fingers underneath his chin. He opened his mouth to protest but I was already shutting him up with a soft kiss. I felt his hands at my waist moments later but the kiss ended too soon because we both had to leave.
"Come on." I smiled, taking his hand. "We're going to be late."
"Okay." He whispered and then we walked outside together. It was a sunny morning and my white convertible shone blindingly in the sunlight. Once we got in the car, I pulled on a pair of sunglasses and Percy did the same. He looked so damn sexy in sunglasses.
The radio played a 'Script' song as the large gates began to open and I contemplated how sweet the lyrics were for a while. And as I drove towards the city with Percy's arm draped over the back of my chair, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
~xXx~
We arrived at school on time and I drove right up to the bottom of the steps to drop him off. I could see the crowds of students, filing into the school, turning their heads to stare at who had turned up in the 'expensive' looking car. I really don't understand why my mother went all out on this Audi R8. One morning I'd woken up and she'd put a blindfold on me, guided me outside and revealed the shiny white car in the driveway. I swear, I hadn't been able to speak for an hour after that.
Everyone's eyes all widened in shock when they saw Percy and I—together.
"I'll come pick you up if you like." I smiled at him, pushing my sunglasses to the top of my head. It was only fair since it was my fault that he didn't have his car or Blackjack and I was more than happy to do it.
He smiled. "If that's okay? What time do you finish?"
"Just before you. I'll be here at maybe ten past two."
"Cool." He grinned getting out of the car and walking around to my side, up onto the curb. "I'll see you later, Wise Girl." He waved and began walking up the steps. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed to watch him go but I knew I'd see him in a couple of hours.
I was just about to drive away when he stopped three steps up and turned around. "I forgot something." He said, walking back over to me.
"What?" I frowned as I watched him peel off his sunglasses and swiftly walk towards me.
"This." He smiled bending down and cupping my cheek as he pulled me into a soft kiss. I jumped in shock because he had just kissed me, so easily, in front of all the High School students like I wasn't a total freak to all of them, which I was. I totally was and he was like a God to them and this was just so wrong…but it felt so right.
There was no movement but I held his wrist gently in my hand and leaned up into the kiss anyway. He chuckled at my reaction and I found myself smiling.
"Got everything now, Seaweed Brain?" I murmured against his lips.
"Actually no." He smirked. "My bag's in the back."
"Oh sorry." I giggled, still a little breathless from the kiss as I grabbed my keys. He walked around the back but the button wouldn't work. Damn Bobbie and Matthew for fiddling with my car keys again.
"I haven't got all day, Wise Girl!" Percy called and I rolled my eyes before getting out of the car. I wasn't really comfortable stepping out in high heels in front of this many students but I had to use my key to manually open the boot so I had no choice. I tried not to look at them as I walked over to where he was standing at the back of the car.
I opened the boot for him and watched him slinging his bag over his shoulder. He turned, flashing me that famous dazzling smile and I felt a little out of balance in these platform shoes. I glanced over at the students hanging around the front steps and they were all subtly staring at him. The girls couldn't keep their eyes off him.
"They're all looking at you." I murmured and he smiled reaching out to pull me against him by the waist.
"No, they're all looking at you." He said in a low sexy voice.
"I don't like people looking at me." I whispered nervously.
"I'd get used to it if I were you." He smiled. "Unless it's a guy...then I'd beat his ass."
I giggled and then he leaned in to kiss me once more. I smoothed my fingers over his jawline and round the back of his neck.
"Percy?" I heard a shocked girl's voice and we pulled back to see Rachel staring at us in shock a couple of metres away on the curb. Drew and Calypso were standing beside her, staring at us with their jaws dropping to the floor. I felt nervous butterflies in my stomach and I tried to pull away but Percy firmly held me in place.
"Annabeth?" Rachel breathed, even more shocked than she sounded saying Percy's name.
Neither of us said a word before Drew scowled at me and began dragging the other two away, up the stairs and into the school hallways. Rachel looked like she'd stopped breathing with her eyes blown to the size of saucers. It was as if her whole entire world had turned upside down at that very moment. She looked devastated…
And I felt awful
"Well this day's just getting more and more interesting, isn't it?" Percy smirked at me.
"Everyone's going to know that we're...we're..." I didn't really know how to finish that sentence because there wasn't really a label on our relationship right now.
"Going out?" Percy finished for me and my heart fluttered in my chest. "I don't care. Means I can rub it in all their faces."
I giggled. "I doubt they'd be impressed."
"You'd be surprised." He smiled. "You're famous around here."
"So are you." I frowned.
"Aren't we just made for each other?" He sighed dramatically and I smiled up at him, shoving him a little. He grinned as I turned to close the boot.
"I need to go." I said reluctantly.
"I wish you didn't." He said seductively as he pressed me up against the back of the car making me gasp a little.
"Think you can last a day without me, Seaweed Brain?" I teased.
"Nope." He grinned, pecking me on the cheek and then on the lips before pulling away. "See you at 2 o'clock sharp." He saluted with two hands.
"You got it." I smirked, getting in the car and pulling on my sunglasses. I saw him grin and begin to walk up the steps as I drove away with a smile on my face. It just wouldn't go away. I was too happy.
~xXx~
Percy POV
I walked into school that day feeling more hyper than I'd ever felt in my life. I had just spent the night with Annabeth. I had kissed her!
Note to self: Annabeth is a really good kisser.
I smiled at that, walking through the corridor. People stared—of course they stared, I'd just turned up with the hottest girl on the planet and kissed her in front of all of them. I glanced at all the guys around me, I knew they were jealous but Annabeth was mine.
After all these months of holding back and acting cool, Annabeth was finally mine and I was hers. I wanted to shove it in all their greedy little faces and if that prick Luke ever showed his face again, I'd slam him against a locker and kiss her right in front of him.
I found the gang hanging around our usual locker space again and I could tell I was smiling giddily because they were all staring at me like I was some crazy person.
"You seem awfully happy, Kelp Head." Thalia frowned as I came over.
"Do I?" I smiled, casually leaning my back against the lockers. "I hadn't noticed.
"So, I called Sally last night...she said you were at a friend's house." Silena smiled knowingly and I couldn't help smirking.
"You didn't." Piper looked at me in horror and I knew exactly what she was thinking.
"No!" I frowned, straightening up. "Gods no! It's not like that. With Annabeth...with her everything's different."
"You mean because she's hot?" Grover smirked and I glared at him giving him a forceful shove. "Okay, okay." He sniggered before holding his hands up and apologising sincerely. I knew he was just joking anyway.
"So, what is it then?" Jason smiled.
"I dunno man, she's just dug her little hooks in me and that's it—I'm gone." I smirked, waving it off.
Silena squealed. "Don't you just love love?" She sighed happily, snatching my arm up and dragging me to chemistry as she pestered me with questions about last night, all of which I avoided. I wanted what happened last night to stay just between me and Annabeth, that way it felt more special or whatever.
It was funny because Annabeth was so out of my league. She was successful, she was smart and she was absolutely beautiful. I might even dare to call her sexy in that outfit today. I couldn't deny the annoying feeling at the back of my head saying I would lose her to someone better and smarter but I tried not to think about that because for now, she was mine. For now, she was my girl.
And I was the luckiest guy on the planet.
~xXx~
"Am I the only one who didn't have a clue what was going on in that Chemistry lesson?" Grover raised his eyebrow pulling his bag strap up as he, Piper, Jason, Silena and I walked back from Starbucks.
It was nearly the end of school and we had kinda skived but it was a maths lesson and neither of us wanted to go, except maybe Jason but he wanted to come because Piper was here. I found it pretty funny how he never wanted to break the rules but in our group, that's all we ever do, so he just tags along, clenching his teeth like nothing could go wrong.
"Nope." I smirked. "I've just learned to tune Mr. Johnson out." Piper and Silena giggled at that.
"I am so not ready for that practice test, isn't that like next week?" Jason asked.
"Urgh, don't even get me started on that." Piper groaned, face-palming. "I don't even know what topic it's on."
"Something to do with surface area and concentrations in experiments I think." Silena frowned as if she was trying to remember herself.
"Oh yeah! And catalysts." Piper added.
"Okay, seriously guys I have no idea what the fuck you're on about and it's really stressing me out." Grover frowned and we all sniggered at him.
Truth is, I didn't know what they were on about either but I was less of the 'stressful' type. Plus, I didn't really care about Chemistry...like at all. I had only taken it because it seemed like a less boring subject than most—big mistake.
The only plus side was that I'd sit next to Annabeth but even that was out of the picture and it had been out of the picture for over five months now. My grades had seriously started to go down since I lost the best Chemistry partner in school.
"Let's talk about something else then." Silena smiled. "What's happening with Prom?"
"Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow. "It's April, Silena. Prom's not until, what, June?"
"I know." She smiled, waving me off. "But still. Just getting organised."
"I bet she already has her dress." Piper smirked.
"And her shoes." Grover added.
"And her false nail collection is all neatly organised in colour order." Jason sniggered.
"Right here guys." Silena rolled her eyes.
"And she's already looked up the exact type of flower she wants on her corsage so she can tell Beckendorf weeks in advance what to buy her." I added with a grin, nudging Silena playfully with my shoulder.
"Again...right here." She sighed heavily.
"Let me guess." I smirked. "Pink roses?"
"How'd you know?" She looked up at me in shock.
"I know you." I smiled with a shrug and she grinned up at me.
"So, what does Annabeth like?" She asked and my heart suddenly sped up in my chest just from the mention of her.
"Huh..." I frowned. "I don't actually know..." I shrugged. "Why are we even talking about this? Stop." I scowled at her as we turned a corner on the street.
"Fine." She smiled. "But are we gonna do an after party or something?"
"Oooo, we should do one at your Dad's house again, Perce. Remember the last one? People were talking about it for weeks afterwards!" Jason grinned.
"You mean the one where Travis and Connor caught Grover making out with a tree in a goat onesie?" I sniggered and Grover face-palmed.
"I thought we agreed never to speak of that again." He grumbled and we all burst out laughing just thinking about how ridiculous he looked. I had full on laughed for like three hours straight when I first saw it on Connor's phone.
"Well, anyway." Jason grinned. "Yeah, that one."
I smirked. "Sure. I'll ask my Dad."
"Sweet." Jason grinned and then Silena started blabbering on about more Prom stuff but my trail of thought wondered away.
It wasn't because I'd become interested in something else or because someone else had started talking to me, no. It was because, at the moment, I got the strangest feeling that we were being followed.
"Percy?" Piper frowned a few moments later when we were turning another corner. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine." I waved it off before we bumped into the last person I'd want to see.
"Percy?" She gasped and we all stopped dead in our tracks.
"Heeeeey, Rachel." I said awkwardly, fiddling with my bag strap to pass the time. "What brings you here?"
She held up a camera. "Art project." She shrugged. "I was just taking some photos of the city. You?"
"Skiving." I shrugged casually and she giggled a little to herself at that. I liked her laugh, it was cute but I still didn't particularly like her. Sure, we'd sort of straightened things out over the past few months but things were still a bit off with her. I still felt a tension between us whenever we met so that's why I tended to just avoid her completely.
"I wanted to ask you something, actually." She smiled as the others and I stood there awkwardly. "Since we're friends now...I was thinking that you and I could go grab some coffee sometime or something"
I cringed, feeling the awkwardness just getting worse and worse. It didn't help that all my friends were standing around to see this. Grover was probably laughing his head off on the inside right now.
"Rachel—" I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "Look…I know we've made up and stuff but honestly, I don't see us ever being friends again. I don't wanna be mean but...I'm with Annabeth now and, well, I'd like it to stay that way."
Her mouth opened a little in shock and I could've sworn she was about to cry. I felt really bad for her at that moment, even after everything she'd done to me. Somewhere inside that fake manikin styled body of hers, she was still the Rachel I once knew. I may not call her RED anymore but I still cared about her.
"I'm sorry, Rachel." I murmured sincerely but she just waved me off, nodding understandingly.
"I'm the one who should be apologising." She sighed, looking at her feet now.
I sighed, feeling really uncomfortable and just wanting to run away now. I gave Piper a 'help me' look and she nodded understandingly.
"We should get back now." She piped up, taking my arm and we all shuffled around each other so we were now going opposite ways. "It was nice seeing you, Rachel." She called before dragging me down the road with them.
I glanced back at Rachel and my heart swelled when I saw her distraught face. I mouthed 'I'm sorry RED' for old times' sake and she gasped with tears in her eyes. I felt so bad but there was nothing else I could do so I just turned my head and continued to walk in the awkward silence that had fallen between us now.
"Is it wrong that I feel terrible?" I murmured a few cringey silent moments later.
"No, Percy." Silena stroked my arm soothingly. "It's in your nature to care about everyone. Even people who were once close to you but aren't anymore. That's just who you are and I think that's a good thing."
"You have nothing to feel sorry for, Percy." Piper added. "You didn't do anything wrong. Rachel will get over it eventually."
"It's been nearly five months and she still hasn't." I frowned making Piper sigh.
"Some people are harder to get over than others." She smiled nudging my shoulder and I guess that cheered me up a little.
~xXx~
Annabeth POV
I left after a good day's work at the office and sat in traffic, listening to the radio. Some cheesy pop song was playing but I was too busy in thought to change it. I had pulled my black converses on because that's usually what I did after a long day in heels and they were always going to be my favourite choice of footwear.
The thought of Percy waiting for me at school sent my heart racing. Even the idea of us being together, for real now, was mind-blowing. I could hardly bring my mind to come to terms with it. This was what I'd always wanted. I would be going back to school next week and I'd get to see him every day in almost every class. I'd get to sit next to him in Chemistry again.
I wonder how different things will be now…
Song Tribute: [The Passenger – Hunter As a Horse]
Having had enough of the traffic, I turned into an empty car park because I knew there was a shortcut through a small road behind it. I hummed along to the song happily, pulling my sunglasses on to block the bright sunlight shining down on me.
And for that one moment, I was caught up in my own blissfully happy bubble. Unaware of the shiny black van tearing down the road towards me.
They had timed it perfectly—almost as if they knew I'd take this shortcut. As if they'd mapped out every move I would make that day to ensure when the best time to strike was.
Oh, how naïve it was to think, for even a second, that this was all over. That I was finally free to live out my life in peace. Naïve and ignorant and oblivious because I thought the storm had passed. Turns out, everything prior to today—every goodbye, every tear—that was just an ingredient to feed it.
I pulled out onto another road and turned only to see a huge black shadow spilling from the air to engulf me. I felt a scream rising from the back of my throat but it was gone in seconds due to the impact. The crash was ear-splitting, sending me jolting against my seatbelt, flailing this way and that. Shocks of pain zapped up the back my neck as it twisted awkwardly. I could taste blood in my mouth but for a while, I didn't know what it was.
My head lay against the airbag now, unable to move as I moaned in a daze. A piercing high-pitched noise was ringing in my ears relentlessly. I was confused at first. I didn't know what had happened, it was all so fast. But then it was the pain that my mind could only focus on. God, why was there so much pain?
I wasn't bleeding externally, that I could tell. The pain was more internal like my whole body had been twisted by a pair of large hands. There was a sickening dizziness at my temples and it spread over my face, blurring my vision for a long time.
Gradually, I managed to push myself back up against the car seat and straighten my head but the whiplash was like nothing I'd ever felt before. I honestly could have been sick in my own lap at that moment.
I could feel myself drifting off now. It was going to happen; I was going to pass out and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I reached for my clutch, sitting on the passenger seat, painfully slowly but I could barely lift my own arm let alone focus on the clutch itself. Strangely, I could see two of them and I didn't know which one was real and which one was an illusion.
My phone was in there but before I could even attempt at calling someone, a hand reached in—long fingers enclosed around the clutch, pulling it out of the car. My heart seemed to scream in my chest, pounding against my rib cage as if it knew something I didn't.
I looked up wearily to see the last person I ever thought I'd see again. There...standing the other side of my car door was Luke Castellan. Behind him was a large black van, fit for kidnapping little girls.
The hairs on the back of my neck began to stick out and an icy chill ran up my spine. I couldn't pass out. Not here. Not now. Not with him. I knew that the moment I was out, he'd take me. I'd never get to Percy, I'd probably never see my mother or Bobbie or Matthew ever again.
Was he really going to kidnap me?
"Hello, Grey eyes." He grinned maliciously and my heart jerked in my chest. "It's okay." He smiled, leaning over and stroking my head. I moaned, trying to pull away but I was too weak. "You can go to sleep now." He whispered, his voice like the winter wind.
At that moment, I did exactly what he said and went to sleep. I didn't want to, but the darkness swallowed me whole and this time, it didn't spit me back out again.
~xXx~
Percy POV
We were just nearing school when suddenly it seemed as though everything just happened all at once; a large black Van skidded up beside us and the doors slid open—out jumped Octavia, Max, Doug and then Raf.
"Rafael..." I sucked in a heap of air as we all stopped dead in our tracks.
I felt a sudden panic. This couldn't be happening, not with my friends here. I couldn't involve them in this too. I'd already dragged Thalia and Annabeth, the last people I'd want to put in danger, into it, I couldn't put my other friends in danger too.
"Hello, brother." He grinned, light flickering off his eyes in the most malicious way.
"What's going on?" Jason frowned. I wished he hadn't asked because at that moment, they all pulled out handguns, keeping them hidden underneath their black coats.
"No sudden movements." Raf grinned. "You're all coming with me."
"Raf, don't do this...I'll come with you just let them go." I pleaded but he just rolled his eyes.
"Do you have to play the hero every time, Jackson? Just get in the fucking Van before I shoot pretty girl over here." He said, pointing his gun at a terrified-looking Silena.
I couldn't move. My feet wouldn't budge. I just couldn't bring myself to let him take them but what else could I do?
"Move it!" Raf snarled and Silena and Piper jumped before scrambling into the van along with Jason and Grover. I glared daggers at Raf but he just smirked and gestured with his gun for me to get in the van.
"Percy?" A soft voice came behind me and we all turned to see Rachel standing behind me. She dropped her bag in shock, backing up when she saw the guns.
"Get out of here RED, go!" I warned her but Raf cut me off.
"Actually, you can stay right there or I'll blow your fucking brains out."
"You're not gonna harm a hair on her head." I snarled but he just smirked, gesturing for Rachel to come closer. She stumbled over, her lips and hands trembling as she did so. She stopped beside me and looked up with such fear in her eyes, I felt awful.
"Raf please...let her go, you've got the others. I...I don't even care about Rachel. We're not friends anymore." I said, trying to sound convincing. If he thought I didn't care about her, maybe he'd let her go.
"You're a terrible liar, Percy." He smirked. "Just like your pretty blonde friend."
My eyes widened and then narrowed at that. What was that supposed to mean?
"Now get in the fucking van." He said, flicking the safety switch off and Rachel stumbled after the others.
With a low growl, I eventually followed her and they climbed in after us shutting the door behind them. We fell into darkness as they shoved us down onto the floor and drove away.
I could feel Rachel trembling beside me and I did the only thing I could think of to comfort her. I took her hand in mine and held it tightly. I hoped she wouldn't get the wrong idea but I felt like it was my responsibility to look after her and the others so I didn't let go. I moved my arm out and found Silena. I could hear her sobs and then she whispered in my ear.
"Percy, what's going on?" I felt a lump in my throat and I couldn't even answer her question on fear of my voice cracking. I just found her hand and held her close to me. I hoped Jason, Piper and Grover were alright but for now, at least I knew Rachel and Silena were okay.
~xXx~
Annabeth POV
I woke up cold and blind, sprawled across a stone floor in pitch blackness. I tried to sit up but found that my hands were tied behind me tightly. With a gasp, I collapsed back onto the floor, my breaths escaping as ragged gasps. Desperately, I tried to free myself, forcing tears back into my eyes but I could feel spasms in my chest—the inability to breathe.
Somehow, I slowly managed to push myself up to a sitting position with shaky arms and blinked in the darkness. As much as I tried to focus on something—anything, I just couldn't. It seemed as though I was sitting in the centre of a black hole and everything around me only went further and further into the dark abyss.
I curled my feet up, glad that I was wearing converses and not heels right now. "H-hello?" I murmured, slowly standing up now. My heart raced in my chest. There could be anything out there, anything at all but I couldn't see. I was blind, I was hopelessly helpless. I took a shaky step forward.
"Luke?" I whispered, feeling my voice closing up in my dry throat. "Luke, are you there?" I said a little louder. "Please..." I murmured, walking forward slowly. I tapped my feet on the floor, expecting to find a trap door or a hole I'd fall down into and break my leg or something.
I forced myself not to sob but as I continued to walk and continued to see and feel nothing, I was slowly beginning to break. "Hello?" I shouted and my voice echoed across what I guessed was a small room actually from the sound of it.
"Somebody help me!" I yelled. "Somebody please!" I yelled tripping over my own feet and stumbling to the floor, hard. I winced as my neck jolted, it was still aching from the crash and it made my head swirl sickeningly. I felt queasy but I didn't think it was bad enough to make me throw up this time.
Song Tribute: [In the House, In a Heartbeat – John Murphy]
- (okay, this is a very specific soundtrack, it's only on YouTube and it's from a movie called 28 Days Later - never seen it. The song's well creepy but kinda sick.)
I cursed myself for being so weak and took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Then I pulled my arms under my feet, around to the front before I used them to push my body back up again. I told myself to focus on finding a way out of here and not the sickening feeling of fear in my stomach.
Using my tied hands to find my way, holding them out in front of me, I finally reached a wall. A breath of air seeped out of my lungs as I felt the relief of finding at least something in the pitch black. Slowly but surely, I fumbled my way across it, looking for anything; a door, a window, a light.
Suddenly, my fingers found something sticking out of the wall—it was a light switch. A strong sense of relief passed over me as I flicked it. Flash!
Like a knife slashing across my eyes, a deep red spilled into the room as if a thick blanket of blood coated everything—oozing and bubbling over the walls. I gasped, stumbling back against the wall in the shock of it all as I began to take my surroundings in.
When I realised it was just a darkroom, the ones they use to make photographs, I relaxed a little. A shaky breath trembled from my lips and I used the dim light to observe the ropes around my hands. Luckily, it was wrapped around my wrists in a figure of eight pattern so I was able to twist one side tight enough in order to pull one hand out.
I tossed the rope aside and looked around for an exit. There were no windows but there were two doors on opposite sides of the room. I rushed over to the closest one, desperately trying to yank it open but it was locked from the outside. Mentally cursing, I ran for the other door only to be disappointed yet again. I frantically rattled the handle, finding myself getting more and more desperate and scared with every second that it didn't open.
I whimpered a little stumbling backward and collided with a cold metal surface. The impact made me gasp, turning around in shock to find a table with trays upon trays of some sort of liquid substance. There were strange bottles and stacks of photograph paper scattered across the surface too in a neatly organised state as if the person arranging all of this was obsessed.
"What is this?" I murmured, peering inside the only tray with a piece of paper inside it. I frowned, carefully lifting it out of the tray and holding it up. It was blank but I could see an image starting to form as the liquid dripped off it, making sploshing noises in the trays. I watched it closely as the image became more and more vivid.
Slowly, slowly, it started to form. The image; winding a twisting around the page—sinking and slurring into place. And then—as if all at once—a face appeared. Crisp and clear as day.
With a gasp, I dropped the photograph instantly and staggered backward.
Pure and absolute terror shattered through my veins. My blood went ice cold, like winter to the touch. I could feel it—in my whole body—the frozen fear. It was like a colossal tidal wave surging over me, plunging me into complete and utter darkness. I couldn't look away. The fast-approaching symptoms came soon after. Trembling. Heart pounding. Muddled thinking. Vision blurring. Stop breathing.
It wasn't just any face.
It was my face.
It was in that moment that I thought I'd seen my worst nightmare—but I couldn't have been more wrong. It was about to get even worse.
I slowly glanced up and to my absolute horror, there were more photos of me hanging from long lines of wire and pinned on with wooden pegs. I sobbed a little, covering my mouth as I looked at them all. There were some of me walking home alone, walking into Athena Associates in smart business outfits and there were even ones of me sitting in the cafe when I was waiting to see my dad. The worst ones of all though were the close-ups. There were dozens of ones just of my features; a simple photo of my eyes or my lips. There were so many of my lips, I couldn't count them all.
"Do you like them?" A voice suddenly came to my left and I gasped, jumping out of my skin as I stumbled back against a cupboard which made a loud clattering sound.
My eyes landed on Luke standing in the open doorway, I hadn't even noticed him come in. He casually shut the door behind him, walking around to the other side of the table from me but I didn't move. I could barely find the courage to even breathe.
"This one's my favourite." He smiled picking up the photo I'd dropped in the tray and hanging it on the line carefully.
It was taken from yesterday, I knew that because I was wearing my white bikini. It was a close up of my face and shoulders so you could just see the top of it. I was turning back to look at something with a happy smile on my face and the moment looked so perfect and innocent but nothing about this was innocent.
I just watched in horror as he clipped my face to a piece of wire as if I was something he could put on display to look at whenever he wanted. I felt my skin crawl at the thought of that. How long had he been doing this?
"Luke, what is this?" I whispered, trembling a little.
"Oh Annabeth, don't be afraid." He smiled warmly but I felt far from reassured. "I'm merely displaying these photos to show how beautiful you are." He nodded, looking at them all proudly. "I figured if I can't see you all the time I may as well keep a little something of you." He turned back to me.
"A little something..." I breathed. I couldn't believe this. "Luke this...this is insane." I shook my head.
"What do you mean?" He frowned, looking hurt. "Don't you like them?"
"Luke, this is stalking." I whispered, not wanting to anger him. "This is illegal."
"I thought you'd like them." He frowned as if he couldn't believe it. "I thought you'd be happy that I took them."
"Luke, listen to me." I gulped my nerves down, slowly stepping towards the table. "You have to stop this. It's not right."
He looked at me utterly shocked for a few moments before I saw anger flicker in his eyes and everything happened so fast I didn't even have time to scream.
"WHY ARE YOU SO UNGRATEFUL?" He yelled, his voice booming across the room deafeningly as he swung his hand across the table angrily, sending trays and bottles everywhere. They smashed and spilled all over the floor and I gasped stumbling away from him up against the cupboard.
"Luke, stop!" I cried. "Please!" I begged but he stormed over to me and gripped my upper arms so tightly it hurt. He dug his nails into my skin and I cried out a little, holding back tears.
"I'm done playing nice with you Annabeth Chase." He spat. "You wanna do it the hard way? Fine, we'll do it the hard way." His eyes were fuming as he dragged me against my will towards the door.
I thrashed and cried for help but no one came. He tried to open the door and hold me at the same time but I was putting up such a fight, it was impossible.
"Stop fighting!" He yelled.
"I'll stop fighting when you let me go!" I shrieked.
An animalistic growl rose from the back of his throat and suddenly he was crashing me against a wall and covering my mouth with some sort of cloth.
I screamed and writhed under his grip, my eyes widening, but the cloth muffled it. I can't even describe the sheer terror I felt as the world around me seemed to spin in endless circles and slowly, I began to become weary with exhaustion. The pungent smell of Chloroform was enough to make my eyes roll into the back of my head. It felt like I was slowly suffocating in a smother of chemical fumes.
I fought back even harder after that, thrashing my fists against him and squealing as loud as I could but soon I was collapsing in his arms. I felt his grip tighten around me protectively—felt his hand on my waist and the fact I could do nothing about it made me sick.
The last thing I saw was just a glow of red light covering the room and then everything went black like blood clotting—drying up into a thick clump of sticky, gooey blackness.
~xXx~
Whooooooooaaaa. What the actual frick' just happened people!?
Find out in the next chapter.
Major cliffie? Yes, I know. Sorry about that. It was wickedly necessary ;)
Pretty much of all you guessed the fact that because I'm an evil author, I like to mess around with percabeth and so evidently, something bad was going to happen.
OH. MY. GODS. Just wait until you read Chapter 11, I'm stoked. It's gonna be one heck of an action/ drama/ thiller packed chappie.
And the famous Rafaello will make his long-awaited return ;)
stargazer1300 - Aaaaww thank you so so much. That honestly means the world to me. Eeek this review made me really happy if you can't tell already :)) Lots of love ~ AWG xxx
FrictionFiction108 - Brooooo, I honestly love reading your reviews. They kinda make me learn stuff about my own story, you know. They are that deep. Haha no worries for reviewing a bit late, I'm just glad you did. Hope college is all going okay. Fair enough for not liking the Adderall, that's totally understandable. I'm happy you liked the kiss and the thing you said about A and P giving solace to one another kinda made my heart melt. Oh and yep, Rafaello will definitely come in a fuck everything up but only for a little while ;) Thanks again ~ AWG
NONAME2002 - OMG, thank you for the most amazing, funniest review everr! Yes, there is a third book. Loool, totally understand you wanting to kill me for the Charlena break up. Rafael's gonna shop up very soon ;) Hahahhaaha, I'm actually laughing so much rn. There won't be any more near-rape scenes, don't worry. Thank you so much, Mr or Miss Noname. I hope you finally got some sleep! Haha. P.s. I'm well jealous you live in NY.
Charliejnr - Thank you! Oh no worries, I'm 17.
1FANOFALLTIME - AAAWW THANK YOU SO MUCH! I would actually love for you to see my Pinterest boards, I'd love everyone to, but it's on my private account and I don't want people to know my identity and yada-yada-yada. Sorry, I don't really know how to get around that problem :/
Stara13 - Oh my gosh, thank you! You read that fast ;) It's nice to hear from someone who doesn't mind long updates as well! Oh and p.s. I love long reviews.
tiwari2041 - Oh my Gods! I hope you're okay and your family is too. Hahaha, don't worry your identity is safe with me ;) Jokes. I agree the beach scene should have been shorter, I was going to go back and edit it but then I thought ppl would get annoyed about that so I just left it.
Guest (Grace) - I'm definitely going to send our Wise Girl back to school, dw ;) Omg, I knooow, aren't they just the cutest pair?! (Annabeth and Piper) One of my favs too. It will last...kinda. You'll see. Oh and yes, I feel like I've really Grover out and I'm trying to give him more 'stage time'. Lucky, you have snow! We only got a little this year in the UK, at least where I am. Oh and I love your 'Sway' song suggestion, I've added it to the list. Hopefully, I'll be able to find a spot for it ~ AWG
BookFanfiction - Thanks lovey. Yeeeaaaah...Rafaello is totally around the corner ;) Lots of love ~ AWG
LiveLoveLaugh - Omg, do you really think so!? That honestly means so much, thank you! I'm sending you a mental box of tissues ;)
PeriwinkleLuv9 - THANKS GIRLY! No way, you saw a live action of Percy and Sally, that is honestly the cutest thing I've heard all frickin' day! Oh and yes...it's about to get a little more serious ;) ~ AWG
A Seaweed Brain - Your review seriously made me smile because that's exactly what I was thinking about their kiss. I didn't want it to be some extravagant/ public thing - I wanted them to be in their own special little world when it happened. Ok, that quote suggestion is adorable! About the song, I do love it but I feel like a lot of people won't because it's from the Twilight series and don't get me wrong, I like Twilight, but a lot of people don't, you know? Oh, but it's such a cute song... Hhhmm. Idk, I'll think about it. Thanks ~ AWG
IrisAcaciaRose - Oh yes! I meant to reference that TMI quote. Glad you noticed it fellow TMI fan ;) THANK YOU SM!
Raghda - Thanks for reviewing even though you usually don't, that means a lot. I'm really glad you liked Ch. 9 and yes, the kiss was a very long wait. Haha ~ AWG
nerdycook24 - AAAAHHH. Thank you so much! Oh, and I liked the fact Grover didn't hug her straight away too ;) Judo flip is coming, I promise! Whoa...someone mentioned my story on tumblr? Oh my Gods. I'm shook.
Don'tDrinkThat - YAAAY! I'm glad you like CH. 9! Hahahahhaa I'm smiling so much right now. Yep, they totally did but dw Athena won't find out. LOL. And omgomgomg you like my song tributes!? I honestly love you for that! P.s. here's you're next dose of Dreams ;)
Okay, I'm sorry I only managed to get through like half of the reviews. I kinda spent all day responding, lol. But it's okay because I love you guys and I feel terrible if I don't reply to practically everyone anyway.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed The Reunion chapter. Sending all my love to you guys.
Oh and those of you who have seen Strong Girl Bong Soon, don't forget to flippin' tell me because I'm dying to find people I can talk to it about. If you didn't see already, I blabbered about it at the beginning of the chapter. ;)
Lots of love
~ AWG xx