~ Hey Angels ~
Sorry, this chapter took a little longer to write than I expected but it's finished now. I was struggling with a scene and only realised once I'd finished writing it that it just didn't fit.
It didn't feel like my story so I deleted the whole thing. Major time-waster but 'Dreams' is all the better for it now :)
I hope you've all had a wonderful week and I hope all of you out there, having a rough day, in need of a little downtime, can sit and enjoy reading this little chapter.
I just wanted to quickly clear things up in terms of ages with the characters. It's based on what birthdays we know from the books (apart from the slight changes I made to Percy and Annabeth's birthdays just for storyline reasons) but also just for how old I wanted each character to be currently.
So here they are...as a recap:
...
Annabeth: 16 years old.
The following are 17: Jason, Piper, Leo & Grover (they'll turn 18 over the summer)
The following are 18: Percy, Thalia, Reyna, Beckendorf, Connor & Travis
...
Review Response...essays to the people who sent me essays :)
HephaestusBuilds - You, sir, you are Gold! Oh my God, I just want to say hi and thank you ever so much for all the wonderful, wonderful things you said about my story. I'm honestly overjoyed that my writing has given you some sense of inspiration to continue with your own writing. Judging from your review and the way you analyse things in depth, I can tell that you like writing so I sincerely hope you get back into it!
I feel truly honoured and blessed that you put so much time and thought into telling me your opinion on each character. It was so interesting to read about each one. I can't even tell you how smiley I got when I was reading your thoughts on Annabeth. Everything you said is EXACTLY what I wanted to come across from her and so many people misunderstand. They say her timidness is annoying - frustrating I get - but I wanted it to be cute and adorable which you got so thank you. And she is charming and kind-hearted and urgh, your description makes me want to meet her in person too!
I LOVE your whole outlook on Percy. Reading your thoughts just made me love him even more as a character which I didn't think was humanly possible. I like what you said about him being "defined in how he is" that's really intriguing and something I completely agree with. Because he is a very in-depth character - someone with a lot of layers.
A little quick rundown of your questions. I want to include more Sally scenes because you guys like her so much so that is something I'm thinking about. The Zoe Nightshade story is something I've always just played out in my head, I've never written it down. Like I can picture the scene and what happened but I don't really intend to include it in this story, sorry about that. I suppose if I ever decide to write prequels, that could be an option though...
To be honest, there aren't anymore Poseidon scenes in the story. It kinda gets less focused on the parents as it goes through, except for maybe Athena. But I do edit as I go along so you never know, I might decide to include one. Drew is pretty much out of the story now and Rachel too. However, in the far future of the third book - story, (I never what to call it) there is a Rachel x Annabeth scene where I redeem her and she's happy and content with her life. Oh, and Reyna and Thalia are not a thing, although now that you mention it, I can understand why you thought that way. I often put the two of them together. I just feel like they share a lot of personality traits. But also their connection allows Annabeth and Piper to have a deeper connection which I like.
That wraps up my incredibly long review response. Thanks for everything! I'm so glad you found my story and that I found a really lovely reader.
All the best,
~ AWG
SurfinBird819 - I honestly think I just live for reading your reviews. They ALWAYS make my day. And thank you for reassuring me that the last chapter wasn't terrible, I really needed that. What you said about Annabeth being there for Bobbie and Matthew in a way that no one was for her when she was growing up is honestly just the sweetest, truest thing! And by the way, I frickin' love Post Malone too and Drake has some major tunes! I listen to a lot of genres too, I go through phases.
I know how you feel, percabeth makes me want what they have all the time. I'm glad you like Jason x Annabeth, I love writing scenes about their friendship and I'm especially glad you liked the bromance. I live for it. I honestly find it so cute when guys don't care about that stuff so they'll just hug each other despite stereotypes.
So, my sneaky little writer-critic, you are the first...and only person to pick up on the Universities scene. (And yes, they are UNIVERSITIES!) Btw, was that a Sunny in Philadelphia reference? Nice! :D All I'm gonna say is you're along the right lines. But it's all under control, the ending will be happy. I promise.
Hahahah I feel old too now that I'm 18. I was definitely 15 or 16 when I started writing Memories. Now I'm older than my main character :'(
I'm so happy you liked the secret room scene, I wasn't too sure about it but your opinion is enough to reassure me on the matter. I completely agree, I felt as though they'd always had deep chats in the past but what they could say to each other was always restricted because they couldn't admit their feelings. So that room was a chance for them to have a release. Oh, and yeah, I think scenes is the right terminology ;)
Urgh, honestly just thank you for loving Thalia and Sally and momma's boy Percy! Of course, mums are there to make things awkward! Haha.
Aaaww, I just want to say thank you for all the support and reassurance you give me. I really appreciate you saying not to get disheartened by people pressing me to update. I just really appreciate you. Spain was lovely by the way, thanks for asking. I had a ball with my gal pals. Wow, you went to Amsterdam, I'm so jealous. How was it? Was it very party-ey? :))
Thank you for everything. I'll wait patiently until the sun rises in the west and sets in the east for your next review ;)
Your girl,
AWG
On to the story! This is chapter 20!
Get ready for some warm and fuzzy feelings in your stomach ;)
Oh and also, I'm gonna give some early praise to my Queen Athena for not only being a badass woman but a badass mom!
Chapter 20
Secrets and Lies
Annabeth POV
Tuesday 3rd May
8 o'clock had already been and gone by the time I heard Blackjack roaring up the driveway.
Timing had never really been Percy's strong point.
I felt butterflies in my stomach, gulping down the rest of my coffee and setting the empty cup on the table. My mother, still reading the morning Newspaper, told me to have a good day and to work hard.
"When do I ever not work hard?" I smiled, pulling my small black bag over my shoulder. It had a long gold chain and lay flat on my upper thigh when I held it in place.
Its size would make it easier for me to sit on a motorbike, I figured, but the practicality stopped there.
Keep it a secret…but the bag itself was Chanel. It was a classy looking thing with a smooth black leather coating and a shiny gold clip. Not something I liked to go waving about because things like that brought up questions in High School. It wasn't as though I'd hand picked it or anything, or personally asked for something that screamed money, as tiny as it is.
My mother just simply never shopped in anything but high-end stores.
If anything, it was an embarrassment. A "silly mentality" my mother always told me to get over. But a part of me was always amused by the idea of someone like me fitting into a world like hers.
I got up from the breakfast table and kissed my mother lightly on the cheek. She smiled, peering up from her paper to look at me.
"Darling, one can always work hard but to make any sort of difference in this world, one has to work harder than everyone else." She told me. "That's how I was chosen out of 300 other male-orientated candidates to work at the largest firm in the world."
My mother had told me about the long and gruelling process she'd undergone to work at Gensler Associates, specifically the New York branch, an architecture company with an annual income of $1.5 billion.
It was one of the many things that kept me forever inspired by her. And that was before she went on to build her own company and surpass Gensler, making Athena Associates the largest architecture firm on the globe.
One day, I'd have to go through that too. One day, I would no longer be a trainee with special benefits because of who my mother is. After University, I would have to do the same examination process as everyone else. The same internship as everyone else. And there would be no room for bias.
If I failed, then I would fail.
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
"So the legend says." I swooned dramatically and my mother laughed in amusement. She had such a lovely laugh. Sweet and tuneful.
Then she carefully took my hand in hers, setting down her Newspaper and turning to me whole-heartedly.
"They'll tell you it's a man's world out there, my darling, but I can tell you it's a woman's world for any girl willing enough to take it."
Her words spoke to me in a way no other words ever had. They felt like words every young girl should hear in their lifetime.
My skin tingled with the sudden urge to prove everyone and everything wrong. Not only to make my mother proud but to make myself proud.
She smiled at my expression, reaching up to arrange my wavy blonde hair over my shoulders before gently tapping them. "Go get 'em."
The brightest smile beamed across my face. "I will." I told her, grabbing my phone and turning to leave.
"I love you, darling." She called after me.
"I love you more."
I heard her soft, charming laughter. "I love you most." She murmured but I heard her.
For just a second I looked back, it was only to smile at her one last time but when I turned, my smile dropped. I froze.
She'd set the newspaper on the table and I could see it now; the photo on the cover. The title read 'High School student faces 35 years in jail for suspected drug dealing'.
It was Luke.
I felt a tug in my chest. I couldn't quite understand why but a part of me wondered how he was doing. How well he was coping with this new reality.
If only I could ask him why he did all the things he did and understand it all. Maybe I would feel sympathy towards the guy. Maybe I would get the answers I needed.
Already, a chill came over me as I stepped out the front door, slotting my phone and keys into my bag. The weather was supposed to get bad again this week and I wasn't at all surprised, it still being the beginning of May and all.
Even in my ice white fuzzy sweater, black pinstripe trousers and heeled, gold zip boots, I was still cold. A black leather belt was fitted tightly to my waist despite there being no trouser loops for it and it's golden buckle matched my bag.
I rushed to the edge of the terrace balcony that overlooked the huge front driveway and saw my Seaweed Brain waiting for me. The long set of marble steps between us meant I couldn't see him in detail, just his outline but I recognised his black hair, smoothed back by nothing other than his fingers, and of course the death machine he was leaning against.
Even from here, I could tell he was looking up at me.
A smile crept up at the corners of my cheeks and I swooned, dreamily gliding over to the staircase that rounded down below the balcony terrace and joined to the long, main one. Descending it quickly wasn't the easiest of things in these boots but I did my best so as not to keep him waiting too long.
Finally, I slowed when I came to the last few steps.
His smile was the first thing I noticed, it was a dark, mischievous smile. One that fit perfectly with that motorcycle and leather biker jacket. He'd never looked more 18 in his entire life.
It was spell-bounding.
Lord, why am I so attracted to his bad-boy side!?
Something about him looked different today but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps yesterday had been such a massive turning point in our relationship that I just saw him differently now.
I'd always known that I loved him, pretty much right from the start, but now it felt like my emotions had undeniably surpassed being in love. Whatever comes afterwards. Whatever it is that makes me love him so much it hurts and yet stay because it's this type of pain that I can live with.
Because I more than love him.
He wore a light grey jumper, dark jeans rolled at the ankles and his classic Old Skool Vans. Casually but coolly, he leaned back against Blackjack, arms folded as he watched me come to a pause on the last step.
I smiled softly, unable and pretty much unwilling to hide just how relieved I was to see him.
Percy slowly straightened up, sweeping away a lock of hair that had escaped, and walked forward. My heeled boots and the step meant that we were pretty much the same height once he was standing in front of me.
My head actually swirled a little at the sight of him being so close.
His hands found my hips and I instantly felt warm again.
"Ready to go, princess?" He asked, his voice soft but low like a man's.
"Mmm." I smiled somnolently, reaching up to tuck that rebel strand of hair out of his eyes again. My finger-tips gentle and delicate as I did so.
"Did you sleep well?"
I nodded, my heartbeat slowing at the intimacy of the moment. It wasn't one of those small-talk things, he asked me in a way that showed he genuinely cared.
"Did you?"
"I sleep better these days because of you." He murmured with a smile that could melt the sun.
I beamed, pulling him closer as I smoothed my fingers through his hair and wrapped both arms around his neck. We were so close, I could feel his breath. It smelt sweet like coffee.
Song Tribute: [My Obsession – Pale Waves]
His mouth searched for mine, his hands sliding up to my waist and I kissed him slowly. The softness of his lips made my body ache for him. I don't know what had made the moment so sweet and so tender but it was daintily blissful.
Our lips parted ever so gently but our eyes stayed closed as we held each other for a moment.
"We're going to be late." I whispered, still brushing my fingers through his hair. It felt so good, naturally soft and thick.
He pulled away slightly and I lazily opened my eyes to see him smile. "She thinks we're gonna be late." He turned to tell Blackjack.
I laughed at his silliness, secretly enjoying the few seconds I had to thoughtfully admire his face while he was turned.
"Well, we mustn't keep her royal highness waiting." He said looking at me with a playful glint in his eyes and suddenly he was picking me up in his arms.
I gasped, yelping slightly from the rapid motion as my legs wrapped around his waist. His hands felt strong under my thighs as he carried me to his bike, all the while smiling up at me.
He set me down on top of Blackjack before picking up his crash helmet and adjusting its size for me. I waited patiently.
"What about you? What happens if we crash?" I frowned.
"We won't crash." He said looking up at me before placing the shiny black helmet over my head. It was a snug fit which kept me warm but muffled a lot of what Percy was saying. "And if we do, then I'll die happy knowing you'll live."
I scowled at him, not liking that answer but he just grinned at my expression and began fastening the strap below my chin.
"There," he said, his fingers lingering on my skin as he met my eyes, "you're all good to go."
I smiled, standing up to test the balance. "It's heavy."
Percy let out a small laugh at my cuteness. "Figures." He said, reaching out to pull down the dark, tinted eye screen so that I was completely encased. The noise was loud in my ears and it shut with a hard click.
Then he lifted a leg over Blackjack and fired her up, she roared to life like a seven-headed hydra. I steadied myself with a hand on his shoulder and climbed on behind him. Even though I did feel completely comfortable with him a part of me still anticipated my heart to leap out of my chest.
Blackjack thrummed and rumbled beneath us like a volcano waiting to erupt but, surprisingly, I wasn't scared this time. Percy waited for me to wrap my arms around him and I felt him tense slightly once I'd slipped my fingers inside his leather jacket. Then he pulled away, slowly rounding the huge, monumental fountain so as not to leave tyre marks on my mother's lovely stone driveway.
Once we were through the enormous black iron gates, he revved the engine and we sped away like a bullet through the cold, crisp morning air. I hugged him tighter for warmth, feeling the breeze skating across the bare strip of skin that my loose sweater failed to cover at my waist.
We drove a few peaceful minutes with nothing but green plains and tall trees either side of us until eventually, we passed other estates. Each and every one of them glistening like gemstones in the sunlight with vibrant colours of flowers dusting their gateways. My mother's had to be the grandest in the area but this was one of the richest estate communities on Long Island so they all looked a million dollars. It was obvious that people who lived here came from money.
It wasn't a snobby environment though, it was more calming and picturesque; the kind of place you'd want your kids to grow up in.
I tightened my grip around Percy as he sped up and we zoomed down the road together. I'd missed this. The feeling of the wind on my skin. The feeling of his muscular abdomen under my finger-tips. The feeling of my heart dancing in my chest. The adrenaline rush, like nothing you'd ever felt before. Everything.
As we got into the city, I tilted my head back and watched the skyscrapers, rising infinitely into the clouds, passing by. It was as though I was flying and they were moving below me. Their shiny surfaces gleamed in the morning sunlight blindingly but it was beautiful.
I felt wild and free like never before and it was breathtaking seeing the world from this perspective. Everything just seemed a hundred times more fascinatingly beautiful. I smiled blissfully, breathing it all in and I don't think I'd ever wanted to breathe so much in my entire life.
I tried to take in every tree, every building, every person, every car, everything and remember it. I wanted to remember it all. I never wanted to forget this moment and for once I didn't worry about mine and Percy's relationship not lasting after High School because right now I did have him and he had me.
By the time we were bursting into the parking lot, I could already feel the stares on my back. Percy skidded us into a space and I gasped as we came to a sudden stop. He laughed because my grip on him was so tight at that moment for fear of falling off.
"Still alive, Wise Girl?"
I yanked up the eye-screen. "Unfortunately for you." I smiled, sliding off Blackjack and pulling off the helmet.
Percy pulled the keys, sending her to sleep, and climbed off.
Sensing my hair was a mess, I shook it and flattened the curly strands with my fingers before straightening up and holding the helmet against my hip. Percy was staring at me, a smile played across his lips.
"Well aren't you just something?" He let out a heavy breath, looking me up and down.
I laughed, flashing him a smile. "Come on, Seaweed Brain." I tilted my head to the front entrance behind me and began to walk away.
He ran to catch up, taking his crash helmet before evenly matching my pace. We'd reached the bottom of the steps when I looked up and saw that people were staring. And I mean really staring. They weren't even bothering to be subtle about it anymore, they were full on gawking.
"Everyone's staring." I whispered, sucking in a breath.
"It's 'cause they know it means something when I take a girl on Blackjack." He smiled, reaching down for my hand. I smiled up at him before looking at the floor shyly.
I lifted my head as we walked through the corridor together, my boots clicking on the shiny stone as I went. They added at least another 4 inches to my height.
People greeted us warmly and girls giggled at Percy dreamily even with his hand in mine but I didn't blame them. I never blamed them really. When it came to Percy, you couldn't control yourself and I was living proof of that.
I suppose guys smiled at me too but I didn't think it was as full on as people with Percy. Piper and Silena had always said I was blind for not seeing how guys acted around me but as much as I tried to understand it, I just couldn't.
I couldn't believe that guys would ever think that way about me. I seriously still don't understand why Percy does.
When I moved across to go to my locker, he moved to his simultaneously, jolting me back because our hands were still entwined. I gasped a little from the sudden change in direction and he laughed as I nearly tripped over my own feet. I pulled my hand out of his and slapped his shoulder but that didn't stop him from laughing.
"I swear you get more annoying by the second." I scowled and he just pouted at me, doing a little kissy motion. I kicked the side of his thigh gently, shoving him towards his locker and he snickered as we separated.
I began pulling out my maths books while he slid off his leather jacket and left it in his locker with the crash helmet. The others were nowhere to be seen this morning, I guessed they were already in the form room making a racket.
Then I turned to see Rachel and Calypso passing by. Rachel looked stick thin today, I'd picked up on that yesterday but the skinny jeans and long sleeved blouse she wore really showed it now. She'd always been a skinny girl but she was thinner than me now. Her boobs were almost non-existent and I'd always remembered them as being big.
There was something about her face too—it looked sunken.
Calypso surprisingly gave me the brightest smile I'd ever seen. "Hey." She said and her voice was tuneful, I hadn't really heard it much before but it was nice.
"Hey." I smiled back at her.
"I love your outfit." She called back.
"Oh, thank you."
Well, I think I just made friends with Calypso Ogygia…
Rachel neither smiled nor grimaced, her facial expression was neutral but there was a deep sadness in her eyes. I watched them skid painfully across Percy's back before moving to the floor where they remained.
She was upset and trying to hide it but I could tell. Even behind all those fancy designer clothes, I could see a girl wanting to cry.
Part of me knew it was because Percy had chosen me over her and maybe it was because of that that she'd never truly like me. She'd never be able to forgive me completely and I didn't blame her really.
My sadness quickly went away once Percy and I were walking through the corridor together just the two of us. Our friends would be waiting for us in the form room but for now, we just enjoyed the sweetness of each other's company.
~xXx~
They were all gathered around a few tables and chairs when we arrived. Connor and Travis were nowhere to be seen which probably meant they were skiving. Apart from them, and the incredible amount of noise they were making, the room was entirely empty.
"Good, you're both here!" Piper cried, grabbing both me and Percy and sitting us down on one of the tables. "I've got news."
Leo snorted. "Oh, I bet you do, Miss I'm no longer a—"
"If this is another one of your sex jokes about me and Jason, you can save it, Repair Boy." Piper glared daggers.
There was a chorus of muffled laughter between everyone. Leo didn't seem too happy about having one of his famous jokes cut off mid-sentence.
As normal as it is, I always felt a slight discomfort whenever somebody brought stuff like that up in a group situation. Only because it reminded me of the fact that I was the only person here who was still 16. The others were all 18 or soon to be.
"Anyway," Piper smiled. "My dad said his house in Colorado is free next weekend."
"No way!" Percy gaped, all excited, I wasn't too sure why yet.
"Yeah way!" She grinned at him, standing beside Jason who was perched on the edge of a chair. She had her fingers in his hair as she talked. "And you're all invited."
"Sick!" Both boys exclaimed, shooting up to grab hands and bro-hug.
Apart from them, everyone else was pretty calm about it. Thalia didn't seem all too happy about it in fact and Grover looked horrified.
"Is it like a holiday house?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, yeah." Piper smiled at me as if for a moment she forgot that I was behind on all the traditional things they did together as a group. "It's a chalet in a really popular ski resort. He used to take me there every winter. We've all been together once or twice, except Reyna who I have yet to persuade."
She scowled at Reyna who just smiled and twirled her side braid before looking elsewhere.
"I'm not going, just putting it out there." Grover stated.
"Of course, we all know you're not going." Piper rolled her eyes.
I frowned, glancing at Percy for an explanation. He smiled at me. "Grover doesn't do Winter weather. Not enough trees."
"Oooh, right. " I nodded. "Do you all know how to ski then?" I wondered aloud, crossing my dangling legs at the ankles.
Percy and Jason cracked up as if they knew something I didn't.
"Oh no." Piper laughed. "Most of us are pretty terrible at it, to be honest."
"That one time when Leo—" Percy started before losing it mid-sentence.
Jason nodded, closing his eyes and laughing in agony. "On the ski slope—" He wheezed.
Both of them started slapping the nearest table and jumping around as if the memory was the most hilarious thing.
"With the bike helmet—" Percy laughed even louder.
They were so far gone that it had become silent laughter with tears stinging the corners of their eyes.
"Shut up. I thought they were there for the skiers." Leo scowled, causing the boys to howl in pain and hold their stomachs, waving for him to stop.
"Yeah, it sure helped when you went straight into that tree." Jason sniggered.
"He wouldn't hit the slopes for a week. Oh, it was classic." Percy sighed.
"This is why I hate going there with these two." Thalia cut in. "They're so irritating, honestly."
"What because we can snowboard and you can't even make the kiddy slopes?" Jason snorted, making Percy crack up even more as he gave him a low five.
"I fell over one time!" Thalia yelled, rising to her feet.
"Face planted more like." Percy muttered. More convulsive laughter.
"Oh, you little b—"
"Okay! That's enough!" Piper declared. "Boys, quit acting like a bunch of boys."
They both bit back their sniggers and stood side by side, composing themselves.
Thalia slumped back into her chair with a huff. "I'm not going unless those two stay behind."
"Oh come on Thalia, it'll be fun." Piper pleaded. "They're only joking around, they don't mean to show off."
Reyna actually snorted making everyone glance at her. She pressed her lips together, covering her mouth and pretending that the buttons on her jacket needed fiddling with.
"Something you want to say Miss Reyna Avila Ramirez Arellano?" Percy raised an eyebrow, putting on an accent.
She smiled amusedly at his perfect pronunciation. "Enjoy the cockiness now, Percy, I'll be skiing circles around you."
Everyone ooed.
"Is that a challenge?" He asked.
"Can you even ski?" Leo cut in.
A smile played across her lips and she sat back, folding her arms. "You'll have to see, won't you?"
"Nah, she's playing, Perce." Jason said but Percy was eyeing her and they shared an amused look before the discussion was over.
"See Reyna's coming, Thales."
"I suppose if it's just one weekend…" Thalia muttered. "But I don't wanna have to sit through gross couple stuff, you lot are melts—"
"Awesome!" Piper clapped over her. "You'll come too guys, won't you?" She whirled around.
"I'm down." Jason grinned.
"I'm always down." Percy added.
"Leo?"
"Oh alright but only if I don't have to share a room with them two." He pointed at Percy and Jason.
"Yay!" Piper hugged him. "You can share a room with Beck, you'll come won't you?"
She turned to Beckendorf who'd been sitting quietly and patiently the whole time. He looked up at me, his brown eyes soft and warm.
"I'll go if Annabeth goes." He smiled.
I smiled back at him, my heart swelling.
"Whoa whoa whoa, hold up." Percy took a step with his hands up. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I laughed. "I'll go if Beck goes."
"Excuse me!" Percy shrieked, his eyes widening at me. "What do you mean you'll go if Beck goes? What about me?"
"You're going anyway."
"Yeah but I'm supposed to matter more than him to you." His lower lip sank as he frowned in the cutest way.
"Percy." I giggled at his silliness.
"Annabeeeth!" He whined, stomping his foot, jumping up and down like an unhappy toddler.
"Whaaat?" I smiled up at him.
"They're not sharing a room together." He pointed a finger at Beck whilst looking at Piper. "Okay, he's going on a separate corridor, I mean it."
All the boys were laughing now, including Beck.
"Percy, stop." I stifled back my own laughter.
"Don't you give anyone any ideas." He frowned at me and then at my sweater where it was sliding off my left shoulder. He came over and pulled it upright again. "And quit looking like that!"
I smiled up at him. "Like what? I'm not doing anything."
"You're too pretty!" He complained. "Stop it!"
"Percy!" I shrieked, nudging his leg and looking at the floor shyly.
The others all laughed at the fact that I was blushing majorly now.
"You're wearing hoodies and sweats for the whole weekend." He told me.
I kinda liked him being overprotective like this. It was cute.
"I mean, it will be snowing, Percy." Piper cut in. "So it's not like she'll be in a bikini."
"That's too bad." Beckendorf teased and I glared at him hard.
Percy's mouth fell open. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
Jason gripped his shoulders laughing. "He's messing with you, mate."
"You better watch yourself in gym." Percy scowled.
"Yeah, you try to keep up, bro." Beck smirked.
Annoyance crossed Percy's eyes and he took a forceful step forward only for Jason to swiftly pull him back. "Okay, pretty boy, that's enough."
"Aaw, let me at him." He whined like a baby and I knew none of this was serious. After all, Percy and Beck were best mates but it was funny to watch.
Beck smiled triumphantly, crossing his arms.
"Come sit here you big baby." I smiled, grabbing Percy's wrist and pulling him over to the desk.
I sat between his legs and pulled his arms around my waist. He was pretty happy about that so his mood shifted quicker than a light switch. He hugged my stomach tightly, pulling me into him and burying his face into my shoulder.
"Aaw, look the liddle puppy's happy." Leo commented.
"I'm the oldest person in this room, Leo, and I will fight you." Percy retorted, cool as a cucumber.
"Well, I'm the youngest so both of you set a good example." I said and Piper smiled at me, flashing me a wink that told me I'd done a good job.
"My apologies m'lady." Leo bowed his head slightly and I rolled my eyes at him.
Percy smiled pressing a kiss to my temple. "Sorry."
I squeezed his thigh gently to let him know it was okay and smiled at the floor.
The others fell into a happy conversation as the form room began to fill up with students.
"You okay?" Percy whispered in my ear while the others were talking. I'd been quietly thinking for a while.
I smiled softly, turning to look into his eyes. "Mmm." I hummed.
"Can I have a kiss then?" His eyes glinted playfully.
I beamed, glancing to see that the others weren't looking, and then turned to peck him on the lips twice.
When I pulled away to look up at him, he was smiling brighter than ever.
~xXx~
The sound of Jason beating Leo at pool was a sound I'd gotten pretty used to lately. It began with denial and then anger and then bitterness and finally acceptance.
"I let you win!" Leo cried.
"You say that every time." Jason grinned.
Thalia and I were sitting on the sofa together, watching it all go down with the TV as background noise. It was lunchtime which meant the common room was pretty packed with Seniors, gathered around tables drinking coffee, playing table tennis, chilling on bean bags and having a laugh.
The school had meant for this room to be a place for all Seniors to de-stress but it had become more of a cool people place to hang and muck about. You wouldn't find many introverts in here which is why this was the first time I'd been here.
I'd never even known how nice this place was. It had blue walls, pale wooden floorboards and bright windows. A large seating area around a huge plasma screen TV, 3 pool tables and 2 table tennis tables. Beanbags were set up snuggly in a far corner with a shelf full of books that no one read. A door leads off into the 'quiet room' which was carpeted and had loads of sofas and comfy chairs where people would go to just chat.
"Don't tell anyone I said this but I thrash him every time." Thalia smiled, resting her chin on her folded arms on the back of the sofa as we watched the boys decide who got a turn next.
"What, Jason?" I gasped. Jason was good as well.
She nodded. "That's why he likes playing Leo because he always wins. But ever since we were kids I'd beat him."
"How come nobody else knows? Everyone thinks he's great at it."
Thalia didn't answer for a moment and I watched her face soften as she looked at her brother. "I tease him about a lot of things and he loses a lot of battles with me…I suppose I just like to let him have this one."
I smiled at her warmly, admiring her older sister instincts. She looked away sheepishly when she saw my facial expression.
Although they were in the same school year, because of the huge gap between their birthdays, Thalia spent a lot of time being a year older than him. And I'd always heard that Jason was pretty timid as a kid.
That's why Thalia had always been the one to face the worst of her mother's wrath as a child. She did it all to protect Jason. Never let her mother hit him, only her.
"Don't worry I won't tell him." I whispered to her and she was grateful for that.
"I know he's grown up now and he can take care of himself but there are still times where I can't help but want to protect him, you know?"
I nodded. "You both went through a lot together when you were kids. It's natural to feel that way."
She smiled at me. "You've always been the one who understands me, Annabeth. I hope you know how grateful I am to you for that."
A warm feeling appeared in my chest and I reached out to touch her arm. "Any time."
"Authorities are busy questioning how these criminals were detained and who mysteriously aided these arrests."
Thalia and I both glanced at the TV and I felt us both stiffen at the image on the screen. Mugshots of Octavia, Douglas and Maxwell, framed the News reporter who was describing the events of their suspicious arrests.
A witness appeared on screen, describing some kind of rooftop encounter they'd seen from their apartment.
"It was crazy man, he was like some kind of dark angel sent by God or the Devil, I'm not sure which."
A part of me became transfixed by the screen because just like everyone else watching this in the city, I was curious too. Maybe I had my suspicions on who was behind it all but I wanted to know more.
After all, if my instincts were right, I was dating the mysterious figure they're all talking about. I was in love with the dark angel.
And I wanted answers. Answers to the so many questions that had been swirling and swirling around my head ever since I heard about it. They'd been buried down deep inside me when Percy returned home because a part of me was too scared to ask him. Too scared to ruin what we had.
But I did wonder…
I wondered what had happened during those weeks he'd disappeared without a trace. Whether he'd really put away his name for the time being, pulled on a black hood and stepped out into the night hell-bent on seeking revenge.
Was that really my Percy?
Slowly, I turned my head to look at him. To look at his face and see if his eyes would give me some kind of answer.
He was playing pool, standing aside, holding the cue and watching Grover calculating his next move. His eyes scanned the table meticulously as if foreseeing where each ball was going to end up.
I'd seen Percy play pool before. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Jaw-dropping and mind-blowing at the same time.
He briefly glanced up and caught my eye. He frowned at my expression as if trying to understand what it meant but then his gaze floated upwards to the TV screen behind me.
I watched his face fall. His eyes sink. His breath overflow from his lips.
There was a slight panic about him now.
I don't know why I opened my mouth to say something but he was already handing his cue to Jason and walking out the door. He disappeared into the quiet room, leaving the others slightly bewildered.
Thalia and I shared a look that said one of us should go after him. We both knew exactly what was going through his mind right now because, out of all the others, we were the only two who had begun to consider that he really had done it.
All those things in the News.
"Talk to him." Thalia told me quietly. "He'll listen to you."
I nodded, slowly getting up and crossing the room to the doorway. I stepped inside, closing the door behind me gently.
He was standing in front of the long window that stretched the full length of the room. Other than a few students at the very far end, gathered around some sofa booths, we were the only ones in here.
It certainly was quiet in here and the window overlooked the quad with its lush green grass, large oak tree and water fountain, making it rather peaceful. I could see why this place was meant for relieving stress now.
Percy had his hands in his jean pockets with his head drooping. The soft fabric of his light grey jumper sat on his broad shoulders in a way that made me want to hug him so badly but a voice in my head told me not to.
The tension in the room was much more serious than something you can just simply hug away.
"Percy?" I murmured.
No answer.
"Percy…" I tried again, standing a few metres behind him now and edging a little closer. "I know about—" I paused. "What I mean to say is…did you—"
"Don't." His voice came, rough and somewhat drained. "Don't ask me, Annabeth. Just don't."
"Percy, I don't care." I sighed, moving to stand only just behind him, close enough to touch. "Whatever it is that you did, I don't care."
He said nothing.
"Please just talk to me. Nothing you can say would ever push me away."
He kept his back to me, taking a deep breath, and lifting his head. He looked so incredibly tall in comparison to me and I was wearing boots. It was frustrating. As though I could never be on his level—never fully understand him.
"Go back inside, Beth." He told me flatly.
"Percy, you can't keep doing this." I sighed. "You can't just keep things locked away forever and expect them to disappear."
"Some things are better left alone." He whispered and my heart sank.
"This is different—"
"How?" He whirled on me and I gulped in shock, my eyes widening. His face was dark—an expression I was all too familiar with.
"How is this different? You think you know what happened. You don't." He spat.
"Well…I'm trying to understand." I squeaked, shrinking in on myself.
Silence.
"Did you do it?" I finally whispered, my voice barely audible.
"No." He told me coldly.
Part of me didn't believe him. Part of me saw him as a liar intent on keeping his lie forever.
But what for? Was he trying to protect me or was he just hiding something from me?
"For once, can't you just leave things unanswered? Please, I'm begging you." His eyes bore into mine. "It's better this way."
"But—"
He rolled his eyes which hurt. "I'm going back inside. You stay here for a bit."
I was shocked by his sudden authority. "Percy—"
He was already walking away and leaving me standing alone, on the brink of tears. I sank onto one of the sofas, burying my hands in my hair with a heavy sigh.
I hated this; arguing as a couple. It gave me a whole new sense of fear and paranoia that I would lose him.
But I couldn't help but want the answers he was refusing to give me. And if he wouldn't tell me…
maybe someone else would.
~xXx~
Percy was playing pool again when I finally came back into the room, 10 minutes or so later. Jason looked mortified at the sight of himself losing to his best friend but everyone knew Percy was the champion at pool.
He wouldn't even look at me, pretending that we hadn't just fallen out over something really quite serious.
His denial made me angry. But my heart kept me weak.
I slumped onto the sofa next to Thalia, feeling quite defeated. She asked me what had happened but I just shook my head, not wanting to talk about it.
My eyes trailed over towards Percy again and I tried not to cry watching him grinning and laughing with the boys, acting as if nothing had happened.
How could he do that?
Aren't people supposed to be honest with each other when they're in a relationship?
I willed him to look at me but he didn't. Not once.
Eventually, I gave up and sank into the sofa, hiding my head from his view. If he wasn't going to meet my eyes then I didn't want him to see me at all.
A part of me hoped that he was looking at the sofa now and that with me out of sight, he could finally act guilty for how he'd handled things.
Thalia looked at me worriedly. "Just give it a couple days, Annabeth. Percy's always been a slow burner and he'll get mad at anyone who pushes him too soon."
I nodded. Even without telling her anything, Thalia knew Percy well enough to guess what had happened.
"He'll tell you when he's ready."
That I didn't believe. I didn't think he was ever going to tell me. He'd been pretty adamant about that in the quiet room.
Clearly, I love you doesn't mean I'll always be honest with you.
For a while, I just sat curled up on the sofa, feeling sorry for myself and watching Thalia play with the zipper of her leather jacket. We'd both been sat in silence for a long time, listening to the sound of the red and yellow balls being knocked around the table as background noise.
And when, finally, the time came to pack up our stuff and leave, my self-pity had turned into something else entirely. For a feeling began to stir in my stomach. Something I realise, only now, had been with me all day. Slowly itching away at me ever since I stepped out the front door this morning.
I rose to my feet, pulling my bag over my shoulder and crossing the floor to where the pool table was. Percy was packing up the balls while the others filed out of the door.
"You coming, Perce?" Grover called back.
"Yeah, I'll catch you up." He waved him off and soon we were the only two left in the room. Something he hadn't realised until now.
I think it had taken that conversation with Percy for me to realise what I actually wanted.
It had been building and building inside me. Twisting and forming into the words I only now found the courage to say.
"Percy…" I started softly from across the table but keeping my posture high. "I'm going to see Luke."
~xXx~
Oops, sorry, had to throw in that little curveball at the end ;)
And it all started off so lovely... ah well.
It's only natural for Annabeth to be curious and to want answers, not just from Percy but from Luke, for everything he did when they were supposed to be...well kind of (friends) I suppose. Don't really know what one should call them really. "Weird acquaintances"?
I know a lot of you thought all of this drama sh*t was over but I kinda just wanted to give it some closure. I want Percy to open up to Annabeth and for them to get past it - tie up some loose ends - which you'll come to understand in the next few chapters - and only then can they kind of settle into their fun-loving, easy-going lives! :))
So that's my plan anyway. What do you guys think?
Review Responses:
metamorphoses15 - Hehe, thank you. I know, Annabeth has grown so much. Tell me about it, Sally is my spirit animal. Love her to bits. I aspire to be like her! And yeah, I wanted Percy to have that cuteness about him bc of his love for his mom.
QueenOfWolves - AAAWW THANK YOU SM! I missed you too! ;) Hahahha, no not yet, Dreams is just over 500 pages long. Memories was 850 altogether though.
Mind and Sea - Oh my gosh, thank you, you're so sweet! Aaw, that's cute that you guys are friends, you both seem lovely. I've never had a friend to talk about ff with...mainly bc I don't tell my friends much about my writing. But it's nice that you two have each other.
Lilliana - Oh, I'm sorry girly. I suppose I don't usually respond to really short reviews bc there's not much I can say back to them. I do read them though and I'm so glad you like my story. Have a wonderful day Lilliana!
Booklover4lunachase - Aaaww you're honestly so cute. I was just about to turn off my latop but I saw your review and I had to reply. I'm really glad my explanation helped you to see things both ways. That means a lot. Lots of love ~ AWG
Cinder Luna - Aaaahh! Thank you, I'm happy to be back. I'm glad you liked the Sally scene, I had a lot of fun writing it. My birthday was lovely, thanks for asking and yeah I got two vinyls I really wanted so that was amazing! Looking forward to you updating The Order, madame! Jokes, take all the time you need. Your incredibly supportive girl ~ AWG
WiseBrain101 - Aaahhh, thank you so much! I'm honoured you made an account for me ;) Oooohh you know wisegirl4kelphead, aw I like her, she's really nice. Thanks for making my day by reviewing!
RTR - I'll refer to you as this from now on then ;) Oooohh were you the one who recommended that OneRepublic song? Love it! Glad you like the vibes so far. Thalia and Reyna aren't a thing but you're not the only who thought that, haha. They're just really close friends. I feel like they have similar personality traits in places. Ah, I'm really glad you like Athena, Jason and Annabeth's relationships, they're really fun to develop. I love having Jason has an overprotective brother-like figure in this story! Thanks again!
Kavita Ayyar - Hey, no problem at all! I always feel like readers deserve responses and I like talking to you guys. I'm glad you liked the Sally scene, I totally agree with you about the godly parent thing, she's gold! Paul isn't currently in this story but I might mention him in the next one so that Sally can end on a happy note.
Dicxon Phoon - Love your reviews. Thanks for always being so understanding about my absences, it really puts me at ease. Graduation was a ball, thanks! I'm glad you like the cuteness in the previous chappie. Have a lovely day!
Penny - Hi Penny! I'm good thanks, how are you? Aaww, thanks for the quotes, I'm sure they'll help encourage me somewhere along the line. I can't even tell you how much it means to me to have you push me towards my dreams. Have a wonderful week lovey xx
Nobody 1 - And you are simply awesome! Thank you.
Kitty - Thanks girly, that means A LOT! I'm so happy you liked Thalia's scene in the previous chapter, I felt like she was missing from the story a bit so I wanted to build her relationship with Annabeth and her being protective seemed like a good way to go. Oh and sorry for taking forever to update ;)
Booklover - WHAAAT? MAJOR COINCIDENCE! HAHA! Glad I updated just in time then :) Omg GIRL, I should hope that by now you are dating this "super duper cute" guy even if you turned him down the first time. Young lady get yourself together, you are FABULOUS! Never tell yourself that guys deserve better than you. He asked you out for a reason, sweetie! You're a beautiful person inside and out and I can tell you that even as someone who doesn't know you personally. And besides, guys like a girl who can wear sweats, they look cute. I'm wearing them right now. Literally. I wish I could hug you or something. Being 12 is tough though, you're figuring a lot of stuff out at that stage. Just remember that more than anyone you are your biggest critic. Whatever you dislike about yourself probably doesn't even cross other people's minds. What I'm saying is don't put yourself down. Appreciate yourself. If you like the guy, go out with him. If you think he won't like you, let him decide that for himself. If it turns out bad, then he's the one making the mistake, honey. Trust me.
Aaaww girly, I will always reply. I'm so glad you feel like you can talk to me. Honestly, any time. And yeah...parents can be like that sometimes ;) I've noted your song and quote suggestion down btw. Love a bit of Swift and Beyonce.
Hermione Historia Chase - AAAAAAHHHHHH. MY GIRL! Lol, don't worry I scream too. Hahahahaha you make laugh, you! Aaw, I missed you too. I always miss you. I'm majorly happy that you liked the pink/blue ;) percabeth fluffy fluff! Next level does seem to be peeping out doesn't it...;) I totally agree that Annabeth is lucky to have Jason. I wish I had a reliable, protective guy friend like that too. Oh my gosh...stop, I'm actually crying at your words right now. Literally melting here. I love you. I love you for always being here to uplift me and for putting faith in my writing and for making me think that I actually have what it takes to be a writer. I will never EVER forget you and what you've done for me. I hope I can keep you in my" warm cloud of words" a little while longer ;) Love you my favourite little reader of all time xoxoxo - P.S Hehe yeah clubbing is a blast! THANK YOU!
abidoodle.e - Well...being called a MOTHERFUCKING QUEEN has definitely made my MOTHERFUCKING DAY! Yoooouuu I LOVE YOU TOO! Glad chapter 29 made you smile, I hope I can always make you smile. I'm so glad you like the friendship scenes, I always wonder if people think they're just there to fill space but I agree that too many fics just focus on Percy and Annabeth. Aw, girl, no I get you. Honest, loyal friends like the ones I've tried to create in Memories are super hard to come by. I've had my fair share of struggles in the past but I'm very lucky today. Oh, and I love momma's boy too ;) and I'm really happy you said Sally is sometimes more childish than Percy bc I totally agree! Oh and yeah, no worries, I felt like everyone needed a little reminder. Have a wonderful summer too girly!
Thank you ALL for the most wonderfullest (that's not a word) reviews ever!
And I hope you all have a lovely week. I was enjoying the sunny weather in the UK a couple days ago but it's been pretty rainy today :( Although I suppose it was quite a nice refreshing break from the baking heat. Literally baking. My English origins can't deal with this exotic heat. Lol
Plus, it's raining and I'm about to go to bed and if you guys know anything about me, you know I LOVE falling asleep to the sound of the rain ;)
...
Just a quick rundown of what's to come in future chapters:
o Jail encounter with Luke x Annabeth
o Percy opening up to Annabeth
o Dark angel vibes...for the very last time. I'm actually quite sad about this :(
o The skiing holiday with a very fit snowboarding Percy ;) and perhaps a few cuddles in bed. Just cuddles tho! Don't get any ideas...
o Just more cute percabeth stuff before GRADUATION
See you all soon. I'm currently writing the jail scene chapter from scratch so...same story as this chapter really. I can't promise when the next update will be but I'm aiming for Sunday!
Lots of Love,
your girl,
AWG xx