Chapter 4: The Smiles
Disclaimer: GODS LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY ZEUS! I ALREADY TOLD YOU! I DID NOT WROTE THAT YOU WERE A DRAMA QUEEN *thunder* err…. KING WHATEVER! *lightning* OKAY! IT WAS SOME GUY WITH THE INITIAL RR! LOOK FOR HIM!
Annabeth's POV:
I felt a presence behind me, irritated I turned around to the a guy just looking at me. Of course all the instincts in my body is telling me, 'Creepy alert! Creeper!' Obviously I ignored it as I studied the guy. He looked pretty young, probably in his late twenties with a good built and a fair tan. He had gorgeous raven-black hair and had a perfect body. However the most notable part in his physical appearance would have to be his green eyes. They looked exactly like the ocean's current and I almost felt myself pulling into it. Overall this guy is actually, I guess you could say… hot? The most creepy part however was how his features matches Emily's, black hair and green eyes. He was leaning casually against the wall with dress pants and a formal shirt. He seemed almost alarmed as I turned around to look at him.
Then as if someone injected me with a dose of reality, I realized I was making a mess of his table, I quickly stood up and gathered up my papers.
He pulled his hand up to scratch his head as if not sure what to say, "Umm… hi?" He said it almost as a question. "I'm guessing… you're Annabeth Chase?" He asked stupidly.
I had a strong urge to say, 'Well… duh!' but I held it in. "Then you're Percy Jackson." I said trying to make it seems like a casual conversation between a brother… sorry half-brother and half-sister, not some random strangers. 'Well… this is awkward…' I thought as I just stared at him.
I looked at the mess I made, "Sorry for umm…" I racked my brain, for once I was at a loss for words.
He let out a light laugh, "Taking too many notes?" He offered.
"I was going to say trashing your table… but that works." I smiled back. 'Maybe this won't be as hard as I thought.'
We stood there in a bit of awkward silence, as he seemed to be staring back at me just as he did before I turned around. He walked over to me and I felt my heart beating a bit faster, and I wasn't sure if it was from nervousness. "So… I'm taking it that you're my sister?" He asked as he looked down at my notes.
"You could say it like that." I answered a bit too quickly.
"So uh… nice to meet you then, I'm guessing that was you I was talking to on the phone?" He asked his face scrunched up as if he doesn't know what to say.
"Yeah…" I trailed off, 'Is he really that stupid?' I wondered, not really daring to say it aloud.
I looked at him as his eyebrows were scrunched up as if not really understanding my notes. I couldn't help but stare at him thinking that maybe he already figured out that I wasn't his sister. "You're interested in architecture huh?" He said taking me away from my thoughts.
My eyes brightened. "Yep, that's one of the reason I'm here to study in Columbia." I told him my eyes gleaming with pride. "What about you?" I asked him.
"I work in the family company." Emily's brother told me. "Been here for five years straight," He gave a little smile. "But didn't actually start working until the third year." He said as I noticed his lips curled into a little frown. "Anyways, sorry for coming home a bit late today, my buddies invited me for a drink." He told me.
I raised an eyebrow, "You drink?" I knew not to get involve with drunken drivers, especially after my mother's car accident about two years ago.
He quickly went up to deny this as his eyes widen in fear, "No!" He hastily yelled as if nervous, which made me kind of suspicious. "I mean I go with them, but I'm the driver so I don't drink." He said honestly, but his eyes seem to hide another message.
"Well, you don't seem drunk." I told him trying to keep the smile off my face. "Sorry for assuming." I apologized.
He shook it off easily, "None taken, so when did you get back here?" He asked. "I mean you seem to be here for a while, considering the large amount of notes." He gestured towards my papers.
"I was about to visit my friend, but turns out she was busy, so I just headed back here." I told him.
"You could've just called me. I wouldn't mind picking up my sister," He grinned as my heart took a leap.
I tried to reassure myself that I wasn't about to fall for the looks of Emily's brother… for gods sake! He thinks I'm his sister! "Didn't think you would still be there." I told him.
"I stayed at the airport for a while…" He trailed off his face holding that sad look once again.
"Why?" I asked my curiosity taking the best of me.
"How about we get you settled in?" He offered changing the subject quickly.
I mentally slapped myself, 'Great he thinks I'm some annoying girl that asks too much questions.' I thought as I nodded, but I wasn't about to let go of that question. For one, Emily's brother seems a bit… I don't know… mysterious. "Umm… yeah sure." I said and followed him to my luggage.
"Well… I don't usually have guest stay over… but I'll get a room cleaned out by next week," He told me. "While then, you could sleep in my room." He offered.
I felt a bit guilty letting him sleep on the couch like that. "Are you sure? I don't really mind the couch." I told him.
"Positive, I can stand a week living on the couch." He told me with a grin. "Just leave your luggage out here, we'll get it sort out by next week. Come on, I'll show you to my room." He lead me away from the living room. "That's the bathroom, I'm sure you already know." He walked past a couple rooms.
"Well… the toilets and the shower does help." I replied sarcastically.
He laughed at my remark, "Come on, I don't need you insulting my little tour of the house like that." He opened the door at the end of the hall. "Now please don't get blinded by the interior of my room." He mocked me.
"I'm afraid I'll probably faint from it." I shot back.
He grinned, "Well, then let's see who's right now… shall we?" He opened his door. I would like to see I was blinded by the beauty… but truthfully… I was disgusted with the mess. There were clothes scattered on the floor with pictures shoved under the bed that was left unmade. Scraps of ripped papers were scattered freely all over the floor with messy writing on each one.
"Looks like a hurricane went through here." I retorted. He quickly scrambled to pick up the clothes. "No need to try to clean… I'm already here." I told him.
He stopped and stood up straight, "This actually looks better than normal." He observed.
"I hate to see normal then." I mumbled.
"I have a clean freak as a sister…" Percy mumbled as he quickly threw a pile of clothes into the closet.
"What are you talking about-?" I stopped remembering that I was… in fact his sister. "Nothing, just blanked out for a moment." I said lamely.
He looked up in confusion, "Okay… so how about you get settled in?" He told me and walked out. "By the way… when exactly do you start at Columbia?" He asked me before he walked out.
"Next week," I told him. "Why?"
"Well, according to our so called father, he wants me to be your driver, taking you there." He stated. "So… I'm here at your command." He said with a grin.
"Nice to see I have such a devoted driver." I smiled back,
"You're not as bad as I thought you would be." He praised me.
Before I could stop myself from asking, "Would that be the looks or the attitude?"
"Maybe a little bit of both." He joked and looked around his room, "Well I'll let you have the room to yourself then, I just need my pillow and blanket." He walked over to the messy bed and grabbed a pillow and a blanket. "There's another blanket inside the closet feel free to look in there. Anyways, make yourself at home." He told me with that crooked grin and headed on out to the living room, closing the door behind him.
I looked at the closed door as he walked out, thinking about my little conversation with Emily's brother. I smiled, then quickly shook my head, 'Remember I'm here to study… not to look at cute guys.' I reminded myself. I felt a bit happy, despite the messy room, 'I could get use to living here.' I thought as I hopped on the bed and pulled out a book before drifting into a deep sleep.
Percy's POV:
I woke up to the smell of eggs and bacon. I sniff the air and couldn't help but think of my mom's food. I rolled off my bed… or at least what I thought was my bed and landed on the floor. 'Why the hell am I on the couch?' I asked myself then the memories came rushing back. I've just met my sister yesterday and she wasn't as bad as I thought she was, and me… being a good gentlemen let her sleep on my bed while I suffer on the couch. I would be lying if I said she wasn't pretty, actually she was breathtaking. Half-smiling, I thought about how easy it was to talk to her yesterday, and I actually found a thing or two about her. One, she's planning in majoring as an architect, and two she's one heck of a clean freak. I looked around my living room to see my clothes gone from the couch and all my scraps of food were all gone.
Neatfreak.
I felt my phone buzzed on the living room table and hurried to pick it up, "Hello?" I asked a grudging voice.
"Percy! My boy!" I heard the old man's annoying voice blaring through the phone.
I groaned, 'What do you want now, old man?"
"So have your sister made it safely?" He asked me.
"Yes," I answered with my eyes still closed.
"Good, good, now do me a favor and take her out sight-seeing a bit."
"I can't," I tried to argue, even though I was able to easily talk to her, I wasn't ready to spend a whole day with a complete stranger. "I have a meeting today at noon." I quickly made an excuse.
"Then take her with you!" My dad added cheerfully. "Come on, it's killing two stones with one bird!" He incorrectly stated the old saying.
I was about to correct him, but thought against it, "You know what… fine…now can I get back to sleep?" I didn't even wait for an answer before I hung up.
Squinting my eyes, I realized it was barely 8 o'clock. I frowned, knowing that now that I'm awake I can't go back to sleep anymore… not with the racket my sister was making in the kitchen with the bacon sizzling, and the toasts just being finished. I let out a huge yawn and sat up, stretching my arms. With a lazy effort, I manage to stand up on my leg and walk to the kitchen. "Looks like… I'm going have to wake up to this every morning from now on." I announced as I walked into the kitchen.
She turned around, surprised, "Oh gods, did I wake you up?" She said nervously as if I caught her doing something wrong. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to mess with-"
I tried to keep a straight face, "You really need to stop saying sorry. Actually it's nice for a change of a good home-cooked breakfast." I smiled and sat down on the chair.
I couldn't help but noticed how different she looks from my dad and I. "I never said these were for you." She joked.
I looked at the table, "Well, I see two dishes set out, so I'll help you out and take one." I grinned. 'Wow… I've been smiling a lot…' I noticed. 'Maybe it's nice to have someone keeping me company for a while, even if it's my half-sister.'
"Well, I guess I'll share my second meal with you then." She said reluctantly with a fake sigh.
We both sat down and started eating, letting the silence hang in the air. I couldn't help but notice one moment we're all buddy-buddy, then the next we're like really awkward strangers. I actually wanted to get to know her a bit more, I mean she actually seem interesting. With me, never ever having a younger sibling to take care of (not that she's really that young), I actually wanted to see what it is like to have a younger sister.
I messed around with my food a bit and looked up to see her analyzing me with those intense grey eyes. I tried not to cower from her gaze, because frankly I've never met anyone with such starling grey eyes. "So, hope it wasn't too awkward yesterday." I started blabbing trying to avert from her gaze. "I mean… it must be kind of hard just moving across the country and living in a strangers house." I continued before I could stop my mouth from moving. 'Oh yeah…' I thought sarcastically. 'Great way to make it awkward for your sister,' I scolded myself. "Well… I mean not completely strangers, but yeah…" I trailed off. "Siblings."
Weirdly she didn't seem fazed, instead her expression morph into one of confusion, then as if she remembered something, "Oh yeah, siblings, sorry just couldn't get it in my head, I keep thinking you're Emi- I mean a friend." She let her words slipped and looked at me as if scared.
I studied her a bit as she made a little slip of word. I guess I could understand why she doesn't see me as her brother, I mean… we looked nothing alike. "I can relate," I let out a nervous laugh, "I mean we look more like enemies then family. I actually expected you to have the family trait."
"Family trait?" My sister asked as she started cutting her eggs.
"Mmhmm." I nodded as I ate a piece of bacon. "You know… green eyes and black hair, I mean all my…err… our other half-brothers has it." I took another bite out of the bacon. "Or so I have heard," I mumbled. I looked up and saw her tense up just a bit that I thought it might've been my imagination. "Kind of weird you got the grey eyes and blond hair instead." I said a bit clueless.
She started choking as I looked up once again to see that she was coughing. "Wow calm down," I let out a weak laugh, "No need to be so nervous all around me, I pretty sure I don't have razor claws." I joked, trying to not make her feel nervous.
She let out a forced laugh, "That's not it, umm… so when does your father-" She quickly caught herself, "I mean… our father usually visit?"
"The old man?" I said a bit rudely as she seems taken back. "He's never really here, goes on a business trip for a year if he wants to."
"Oh," She replied with a sigh in relief.
I manage a smile, "Don't want to meet him yet?"
"Not it's that-" She began as if surprised.
"Chill, he's not my favorite person either." I shrugged it off as I took another bite of my egg. "Anyways… you got anywhere to go today?" I asked her remembering my dad's request.
She shook her head, "Not really, I just might head over to visit an old friend." She replied.
"Good, because I got a job to give you the overview of how the company works and if you don't mind, I'm meeting an elderly lady today about a construction, and our dad think it would be great if you come along." I told her.
"I'm okay, I wouldn't want to distract you from your work." She stated as if nervous.
I laughed and for some odd reason, I wanted her to come with me. Maybe she'll be able to talk some sense into Ms. Collin into giving us the piece of land. "Actually, I was hoping you would come and maybe help me convince the lady to sell us the piece of dump for construction."
"Piece of dump?" She asked in wonder. "Why would you want something you call a piece of dump?" She asked a bit curious.
"Well, it looks like a dump," I mumbled. "I already have plans of getting it cleaned up… and well if I don't, my friend would kill me anyways, he's pretty much an all for green guy." I grinned remember how Grover had spent days in our childhood years just ramming into my head how the earth would be a big dump if we don't stop all the damn pollution.
"So what kind of construction are you guys doing this time?" She asked clearly interested.
"Well, just decided to build an aquarium on that land for those sea creatures. Obviously we need a big land, so I was hoping that she would sell it to us." I scrapped off the last piece of bacon on my plate. "Although it seems like I'm not very persuasive." I stood up. "So are you coming then?"
Her eyes shifted a bit as she let out a nervous laugh, "I guess I have no choice now do I?"
"Well, our old man is pretty persistence." I answered a bit confused by why she was so tense.
She stood up holding her plate in her hand, "Well, I'll be ready in five minutes if that's okay." She looked at me a bit questionably.
"Yeah that's cool," I looked at the dishes. "How about I clean these up so you could get ready?" I offered as she looked like she was about to protest. "Come on, you already cooked, it's only fair if I cleaned." I grabbed a pair of gloves from the drawer and turned on the water.
I noticed her eyes were not meeting mines as she replied, "Umm… sure, thanks Percy." She replied with a slight smile. For the first time I noticed, she finally called me by my name… or the name I wanted to be called anyways.
I smiled, "Ehh.. this is nothing, you should've seen the mess they make when they crash down a building… now that was a pain to clean up." I joked. I looked at her still awkwardly standing there, "Well, get on with your life and go change."
She smiled back and I couldn't help but feel a bit accomplished having her smile without all the nervousness of being my sister. I grinned to myself as I wash the dishes, 'Looks like smiling does make a person happier.'
So….. how was this? Horrible? AWESOME? Good? Bad? Percy's version of awkward? Nervous? READ AND REVIEW! Excited? Me too! But after this update… I'm gonna have to go back to one update per week probably… cause well… school obviously… *sigh* anyways READ AND REVIEW!
Guess WHAT? I'm rereading the whole Percy Jackson series for the…. Wait for it…. 10th time at least! Trust me! Give me a quote from the book and I can instantly state it without hesitation! I should be more committed to my schoolwork and remembering math formulas rather then reading Percy Jackson… but seriously… can't help it! Is it just me… or do you guys have to read a book (*wink wink* Percy Jackson) before you sleep… cause seriously… if I don't have a book in my heads, I seriously can't sleep. It's either a book or some music and I'll fall asleep in less than 10 minutes… other then that… you could never get me to sleep at night…
Kiransomers: haha you're right, Percy won't look further into that at all because he's a Seaweed Brain XD, glad I was able to keep the characters in well… characters, thanks again!
Hades favorite doughter10: haha thanks! I love all those words! Probably the most positive adjective that I've seen in one place XD
C-Nuggets N.L.: I know! I love his voice… it's… just amazing! Well you got the scene of Percy and Annabeth awkward (kinda?) conversation, and no problem! I love your stories, it's only right if I'm kept posted on what you on planning for your stories (gods I'm sounding like a creeper XD)
GemOfOlympus: I hate cliffhanger to my friend XD but you gotta love them as well (I am such a hypocrite )
TooLazyToLogIn: Haha thanks! I'll give that song a try :D
Thanks again to all the reviewers!
Song: Smile by Avril Lavigne One of many of my favorite songs :D
Agent Astro Zombie