Chapter 7: Pictures of Our Memories
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson…happy….
Percy's POV:
"This is my office," I told Annabeth as I showed my little sister around the company. I've just picked her up and was now showing her around the company… as my so-called father requested.
"So… I'm working here?" Annabeth asked a bit amazed and a bit scared.
"Yeah, I guess… I mean of course since you're family we could get you a spot as manager and you could work whenever you're off school." I offered.
Annabeth's face hardened, "I'm thinking of finding another place to work, I don't want to buy my way up."
I was a bit baffled and well… amazed. "You won't need to have such a high pride it's-"
"It's not high pride… its call having a sense of human moral," She retorted back.
"Okay, okay, but dad wants you to work here, so either you talk with him yourself…" I saw her face paled a bit, "Or… we could come up with a compromise."
"Let's go with compromise," She managed her face returning its color.
I thought about it for a bit, "You are taking a major in architecture right?" I asked her.
Her eyes narrowed and looked at me a bit suspiciously, "Yes… what's in it for you?"
"Well… we're looking for a couple suitable drawings for some of the company's small construction… it would help if you could contribute…" I trailed off.
"So you're saying… you want me to plan out some buildings for this company?" Her voice sounded a bit protesting, but her grey eyes are telling me something else.
"Don't worry it's not that big of a project, just simple little things, you could assist me for a while… until you get the hang of things around here, and I'll pay you accordingly." I told her. "Of course… that work is no easy feat; you might start by just simply getting coffee for people and such." I reminded her.
"I'm fine with that." She replied stubbornly.
For one I was a bit amazed with how high she holds her pride, while she could've gotten an easy manager position, she settled for something as simple as cleaning the toilet. "Then it's settled then… you could be my personal assistance, just follow what Michelle says, she pretty much runs this place when I'm not here." I informed her.
My sister nodded taking in the information. "Okay, I'll take it."
After a while of touring around the whole company for what seems to be the hundredth time, we finally settled down, taking a break in my office while I quickly cleared a desk space right beside mines for her.
"Isn't there any other desk outside?" Annabeth asked as she watched me struggle with the loose papers.
"Unless you want to walk up and down 30 flight of stairs, I'm sorry but no," I grunted as I carried a whole stack of binder towards the shelf. "You know… if wouldn't hurt to help out a bit." I mumbled sarcastically.
"What do you think I'm doing?" She shot back as she finished clearing off all the loose materials inside the cabinet.
"Whoa… How the heck did you do that so fast?" I asked obviously baffled.
"It's called organization." She answered. "You should try it sometimes." She pointed towards my disorganized desk. "So you finally finished yet?"
"Just finished." I replied loading off the last bit of paper near the edge of my desk. 'I'll take a look at those later.' I told myself, knowing that I'll probably just stuff them in a corner the next day. I walked away from her desk and walked back to my desk, relaxing in my chair after the hard work.
Suddenly my office door flung open and Michelle walked in holding a folder in her hand. "Mr. Jackson," Her voice was grim as if what she was telling me was not good news. "Umm… Ms. Dare is on the phone, she's asking to talk to you."
I tried not to express any emotions, 'She made me a lifeless zombie for more than three years… 'I reminded myself. For a moment I noticed Annabeth standing there with a look of confusion on her face, I sighed masking my face of past pains, "Michelle, just tell her I'm busy right now." I replied hastily as Michelle nodded understanding my situation with Rachel in the past. My secretary hurried out and closed the door behind her, leaving just us siblings together in the office.
"So who's Ms. Dare?" Annabeth asked curiously after a moment of silence.
At that moment for some reason I just snapped, "Mind your own business…it's no one important."
She was taken aback by my sudden display of anger, "Why-
I leaned back in my chair, "You know what…? Just go give yourself a tour of New York; I still have some paperwork to finish up. You could take my car if you want," I slide my keys towards the edge of the table. "Just leave…" I said with finality, my good mood ruin by the one phone call.
I looked up and saw my half-sister's grey eyes analyzing me like an interesting piece of work; she looked like she wanted to ask me some more questions but seems to know better. For once I was glad, one… I did not know how I would react when I suddenly get all mad, all I know is I tend to hurt myself and those around me and that is the last thing I want to do today.
"Okay…" Annabeth seemed to studied me for a bit, then walked up to grab my car keys, "I'll… um… see you at home later than." She said as she took one last look at me. I pretended not to notice the intimidating analyzing stare my sister was giving me, and tried to look busy through all the folders on my desk.
I just simply ignored her, I was not trying to be mean or anything, but… I just couldn't seem to bring myself to say anything…much less trust someone I've only known for a day with something like this.
I spend the rest of the day in my office looking over files after files. I went hours simply replying emails after emails, 'Dear Mr. Perseus Jackson, there's been an oil spill near the Gulf of Mexico; this brings the concern of the many animals that lives inside the gulf. If possible, could you send some assistance to fetch the animals out of the polluted water until we have taken care of the problem and-' I shook my head and quickly send back a reply while writing myself a memo to Michelle so she could send over some assistance to help rescue the animals in the gulf.
After sending the message I quickly focused my attention on the new orders I've just got shipped in.
'Approximately three ton of glass at the size of 5m X 5m, with a larger size of 20m X 30m, for the reconstruction of the New York Aquarium.' I read over the rest of the list and scrolled down a bit more, 'A truckload filled with cables and metal support for the bridge remodel.' I quickly skimmed through and opened an old bookmarked page to look at the past news.
'Marine Biologist Extraordinaire Perseus Jackson- Perseus Jackson (commonly known as Percy Jackson) have managed to done the impossible again as he strike down into the deep providing our common scientist with new information about the newly discovered species, known to the common citizen as Bessie. With a tail like a serpent as shown in Jackson's picture and an interior of a cow, scientist believe this creature is to be a mutant due to the pollution given off by a nearby factory that was forced to closed down due to over exertion of toxic chemical. Jackson (shown in the above picture with his girlfriend Rachel Elizabeth Dare) have been the only person that was about to go into the deep alive and able to get into close range with the creature-'I stopped reading the article and looked up at the picture where Rachel was standing with me hand in hand, both of us grinning like fools.
'Bessie is now being held at the Olympus Aquarium for further studies, and by request of the discoverer himself, there will be no test on the creature that might harm it in any ways. He claims this is a way for more kids such as himself to embark an interest into the field of oceanic biology, for as quoted by Jackson himself, there are many secrets in the deep blue sea.' I couldn't help but think about how better life was three years ago, remembering how discovering Bessie have got me a chance with my dad and convincing him to build an aquarium for Bessie alone. I let my eyes drift back to the picture on top where I was standing there holding a picture of Bessie in one hand and Rachel's hand in the other. At that moment it seems as if nothing was impossible, I remember feeling as if I could do anything. I used to have the perfect life… the perfect girlfriend, then that all changed.
I shook my head, 'Focus, on the work on hand right now.' I told myself and called Michelle in. "Have Ms. Collin replied yet?" I asked her as she rummage through the piles of papers that I've just placed on my desk.
Michelle looked up, "Yes, but she said she needs more time to look over the proposal, and Percy," I looked up at my colleague, knowing that she'll never call me by my first name at work unless it's something personal. "It's Rachel; she's been repeatedly calling the office asking to speak to you. I've already told her that you're not here, and the security guards at the bottom are not allowing her access to our floor. However, Percy, she's disrupting the company workers by demanding to see you. I don't mean to butt into your business, but maybe it's best if you tell her yourself that you don't want to see her." Michelle told me.
I nodded, taking in her words, I've forgotten for a moment that Michelle's almost like the big sister I've never had. I managed a slight smile towards my friend standing in front of my desk, "Thanks," I mumbled quietly, "I'll get to that later." I waved her concern off, not really wanting to face Rachel ever in my life again.
"Okay, well, everyone's already gone, and I suggest you get home too." Michelle told me as she hurried out to pack her stuff.
I didn't feel like walking home yet so decided to stay an extra hour at work with a headache of files and contracts. After reviewing over the last bits of the money received from entrance fees and the collaboration with the food court at the old aquarium, I finally d ecided to shut down my computer and head home.
"Good night Mr. Jackson." The security guard greeted me away as I walked out of the company's glass door. I gave a slight nod in his direction and headed towards the bus stop instead of to the parking lot, remembering that my sister have my car. I quickly draped my jacket over my shoulders as I made my way into the interior of the bus.
I leaned my head against the windows as the city lights past by. Passenger got on and off, but I just stayed in the same place for two reasons. One I was feeling pretty comfortable inside the seat, and two, my stop was not here yet. Finally I reached my destination, as the bus stopped in front of a familiar ice cream shop. I grudgingly walked into the store seeing only a few late customers sitting next to their love ones.
A waiter came by and escorted to me to my seat as I told him that I came alone. I sat down in one of the chairs as he took my order for a latte ice cream with chocolate syrup, and an assortment of fruits being added to the side. A few minutes later my ice cream sundae was in front of me as I took one bite after the other, remembering the last time that I've came here with someone else when I was actually happy.
*Flashback*
"Come on!" I urged as we got off my car, I was happy, excited, and nervous even. I've known her for more than seven years and was more than determined to make my move tonight. My hands reached inside my pocket making sure the box was still in there.
"Slow down Percy!" Rachel quickly said as I stopped my hurried pace standing to face her in front of the ice cream shop. "I actually need to tell you something." She told me, her smile wavering a bit. Her green eyes darted back and forth as if afraid someone was following her.
"Are you okay?" I asked a bit concern. "You could tell me anything… you know that right?' I assured her.
Rachel looked up nervously for a moment I was worried that she knew I was about to propose to her, but then the worried look disappear just as quickly and replaced it with the same old smile I've come to love, "Let's go eat first then."
I grinned and grabbed her hand, "Now we're talking!"
I lead my girlfriend into the shop and motioned her to sit down while I go get us a waiter. "Hey excuse me…" I told a waitress as she walked by.
She stopped in her track and turned to face me, "Sir, can I help you with anything?" The waitress asked me.
"Actually, would you mind putting this ring inside my girlfriend's ice cream?" I asked her. "I'm planning on proposing to her." I told the waitress quickly, glancing in Rachel's direction who was busily typing something into her phone.
The waitress grinned warmly as she look at the box in my hand, "it would be my pleasure, may I ask what table you guys are in?"
"The one in the corner." I quickly replied pointing towards my red-headed girlfriend.
She nodded and motioned me to walk back to my girlfriend. I walked up behind her as she stared intently into her phone as I covered her eyes, "Guess who?" I grinned despite knowing that she couldn't see me.
She didn't answer me, "Percy… there's actually something I want to talk about." She said removing my arms from her eyes.
"Come on Rachel… why so serious?" I asked trying to joke my way around her sudden change of behavior.
I sat across from her as her green eyes were filled with nervousness and sorrow.
"Here's your food!" The waitress I was talking to earlier cheerfully greeted us. "Enjoy." She told us as she placed a boy of ice cream into Rachel's side and another on mines. I noticed the ring from my direction right away; it was hanging at the tip of the ice cream right under the cherry.
Rachel took three spoonful of ice cream before she saw the ring. "What-" She finally got the message and I took it as my chance to say the phrase that I've been wanting to say since I've dated her.
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare, will you marry me?" At that I got out of the chair and went down on my knees. Luckily it seems that the place was only half-full so it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be. I expected Rachel to jump out of her seat and engulf me in a hug screaming yes, but she stood there staring at the ring as if it's the worst thing in the world.
"No… no, no, no… Percy you can't do this to me." She mumbled just loud enough for me to hear.
I was flabbergasted, at lost for words even. Here, my girlfriend I've dated for five years… saying she doesn't want to marry me. "Rachel, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." I knew our relationship have had its ups and downs but we managed through high school, through college, and now reality, I knew before we would make it through everything… but now… I'm not too sure.
"Percy… I'm sorry, I can't accept this." She placed the ring down and rushed out of the shop leaving me with sympathetic looks. Without waiting for another moment of embarrassment I grabbed the ring and rushed out after her.
I kept reassuring myself with words like, 'She's nervous just like me… I was making a big scene of course she's nervous and... .' I kept telling myself over and over. 'It's not that she doesn't love me, Rachel loves me just as I love her.' I repeated over and over in my head. I finally caught up with her as she made her way into her apartment. "Rachel?" I asked her as I walked into her apartment.
She was sitting there in her living room, with all her things packed, and suitcases with filled with an assortment of stuff. "Wha-"I squeaked. I quickly cleared my throat and tried to desperately get back my voice. "What is this?" My voice croaked. In the pits of my stomach I already feared the answer. In her hands she held one plane ticket, her apartment was already cleared out. I squinted my eyes to read the plane tickets which reads, Italy.
"Percy, I'm leaving tomorrow." She said quietly.
My mind was suddenly clouded by anger as she said that, but I tried to keep calm, "Only for a couple days right?" I said hopefully even though I already knew the answer.
"No," She paused as if not wanting to say the next few words. "It's actually for at least two years." She told me her head still facing the floor.
For a moment I was at lost for words, "When were you planning to tell me this?" I said quietly, knowing that I'll burst and start yelling any second.
Rachel's eyes were starting to tear up, "You weren't suppose to find out this way…" She mumbled to herself. "I was going to tell you-"
"WHEN? You're leaving tomorrow!" I yelled, knowing that I've completely lost it. "When you are on the plane? Two years later?"
"I knew you were going to react like this!" Rachel yelled back matching my volume. "Percy I need to go! This is my future!" She tried to tell me.
"What about us then?" I asked keeping my voice under control.
"We could still continue our relationship." She tried to assure me.
"You don't understand do you? Two years is a lot of time, people change in two years, everything changes in two years." I told her. "You're going over there alone… " I murmured.
"I'm not going alone." She mumbled quietly. "I'm going with Apollo." She managed.
My anger flared, "FRED!" I knew all about Apollo, or his real name Fred Kiron, owner of Delphi Inc., the musical and art leading industrial company, known for their many museums all across the country. They recruited the most talented of those all around the world. However, I also know Fred personally, he was nicknamed Apollo for a reason, for his flirting nature with the ladies with his talents. I knew he have taken a liking to Rachel, her unique artistic ability and her beautiful looks. "That makes its much better…" I stated sarcastically.
"Apollo, he could take care of me." Rachel told me.
"And I can't…?" I questioned her as she looked pained.
"You could" She insisted, "but with Apollo I could have a future with my artwork, I could be somebody important in this world." She said her eyes giving away a dreamy expression. "He'll help me realize my future."
"In order words… you're leaving me for him." I stated the horrible truth. Rachel looked at me shock. "You know he likes you, the only reason why he didn't make a move on you because he respected my relationship with you." I told her.
She looked at me in disbelief, "I can't-" Her face was scrunched up. "I can't believe you would think of me like that!" The truth behind my words dawn to her. "I would never cheat on you! How did you even consider that!" She yelled at me.
I couldn't help but felt inferior as she said that, I knew then I have no more control of my words, "TWO YEARS RACHEL! A LOT CAN HAPPEN! A LOT CAN CHANGE IN TWO YEARS!"
Rachel took a breath trying to calm down. "My feelings for you won't change." She told me.
I shook my head, "You are going over there alone… alone with Apollo, there's no guarantee that any of us with stay faithful, I don't want our relationship to be a lie." I told her earnestly.
"Our relationship won't be a lie! I still love you and always will!" She told me, her voice filled with begging.
"I can't do this long distance relationship, they never work… you may love me, but you can't love someone without being near them." I told her. "If I can't express my love to someone, I can't love them." I said my heart aching with every word.
"Percy…" She placed a hand on my cheek, "I need this, I need to go to Europe." She told me. "Just wait for me."
"I can't do that anymore… I want us to have a future together." I told her. "If you go over there with Apollo… "I trailed off.
"This is for my future, I could become someone over in Europe!" She tried to tell me. "I am not doing it for anyone, I am not leaving you for him or anything!"
"You're already someone! You're the most famous artist; selling pictures that are worth millions of dollars!" I countered.
"That's just in the U.S! I could be someone in Europe! The place for art! The center of all art!" She begged. "Percy I just need two more years, please wait for me." She begged.
"I've already waited for you for too long, when you left me for another guy, I was there waiting for you when he broke your heart." I began, holding back all my tears. "When you failed to present your art, I was there for you. When you got rejected, I was always there. I was always there waiting for you, it's always about you, it's always about your art… have you ever considered how I felt… being only second to you and your art!" I shouted.
Rachel for once was stunned, she's probably never seen me this angry before, but I no longer cared… the only girl I've ever loved is leaving me… I looked at her face, my eyes were probably red, "I'm just asking this once Rachel, can you just do something for me…just this once?" I held out the ring. Despite how much pain she have put me through, I still did love her.
Rachel finally looked up, "Percy," She took a piece of paper out from inside her suitcase, and showed it to me, "This gives me a future, I could get my art shown around the world. I could get what I've always wanted. I can prove to my dad that I could survive on my own and best of all I can show the world my art." She told me her voice straining a bit.
"You've already proved it to him! He accepted your way of art after you were able to get a contract with the museum! You were able to get buyers and became a millionaire!" I threw my hands up in frustration, knowing that the night I planned for us was far from perfect now.
"He never accepted it! He's only in it for the money! You don't even know the half of it Percy! My dad… he's always complaining how I was never good enough! This is my chance to prove him wrong and be a famous artist! I love you though!" She argued.
"This is just an excuse and I need to know that you love me for real!" I told her my angry rising with every second passing. "That I'm not second place to your art…" I said quietly.
"You don't get it Percy, art is everything I have." Rachel stated.
"Then what about me?" I asked looking straight into her eyes.
"You're someone that I love with all my heart." She replied her eyes brimming with tears now.
"Then prove it…" I said with finality. I grabbed the piece of paper from her hand and held her papers in one hand and my ring in the other. "It's either your art or me." I told her.
"Percy, don't make me choose." She begged me.
"I need an answer," I told her with persistence. I couldn't stand not seeing her for two years, and there's no guaranteed that it'll be only two years and then there's Fred to consider… I just couldn't control my actions.
"Percy don't-" Her eyes were tearing up as she sadly look up at me.
"I'm done waiting… I've waited for seven years," I said with finality. "Will it be me or your art?" I asked her, desperately hoping that she would choose the ring.
She looked at me in disbelief as if I even had the nerve to ask her this question, then without looking at me she quickly snatched her papers from my hand, leaving me there once again holding a single ring with a broken heart.
I resisted the urge to run out of her apartment, "I thought your future involves us… but I guess I was wrong…" I grimaced, "Here's the ring, do whatever you want with it… I have no more use to it." I placed the ring gently down on the table and walked out of that apartment, trying to hold on to my sanity.
And that was the last I ever saw of Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
*End Of Flashback*
I aimlessly poked at my ice cream, remembering the painful past, I was beaten that day, and because of my depressed state I caused the death of three people. That one day alone changed everything that was soon about to happen, that- "Percy?"
I look up to meet the familiar face in my flashback; her red frizzy hair was as beautiful as always. Her emerald green eyes were shining with happiness, her lips curled into a sad smile. I was staring at the face of the one and only… Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
DUN DUN DUN! CLIFF HANGER! WELL… now you've found out why Rachel has left Percy! You guys caught the Fred/Apollo in there, not making Apollo the bad guy or anything… but you have to admit… he was a pretty big flirt. Anyways… how was this? Good? Bad? Horrible? Poor Percy? And see… I did not make Rachel that evil! She was just concern about her future! Well… yeah… kind of…. ANYWAYS…. REVIEW PLEASE!
Well… As you can see… I'm no longer depressed (reading the whole Percy Jackson series again does help a lot… and spending a lot of time listening to music) still probably a bit stressed… just teeny tiny bit, but I decided to update a bit earlier cause well… I got excited after my band concert yesterday… and well…. I got battle next week and probably won't be able to update, so I gave you guys a pretty long chapter this time… and a little bit of a back story on Rachel/Percy relationship! See told you guys Rachel's not that bad, plus I think since she picked Oracle over Percy, I would think she'd pick art over him as well. I have nothing against Rachel it's just that she's the only one suited enough to be with Percy… other than Annabeth that is :D
Question: Anyone can guess who are the three deaths that died in the car accident? (If you say Percy and/or Nico I will definitely kill you) But I probably won't reveal it until well…. many… many chapters later…
REVIEWS:
Kiransomers: I love Thalia too :D I'll try to develop the sibling Percabeth relationship first cause well to yeah…PERCABETH! Haha but I agree it'll be plenty of awkward when they (more like Percy) starts realizing they are not siblings.
Yashendra2797: Don't worry this is Percabeth romance! For sure! Well just the bro-sis thing to help develop the plot but I assure Percabeth later on :D
Percy: not yet at the moment but probably really later on!
GemOfOlympus: Well I'm chilled down a bit about the copy story thing, but hopefully they'll take it down soon, haha I totally get the feeling of wanting to yell at your siblings though! And sure I'll happily read it! I'm looking for something to read at the moment anyways :D
Fluffy Bunnies Are So Cute: haha yep I'm always reminding her in case her ego gets too big :D Haha now that you mention it… Nico does seem like a mini James Bond XD
C-Nuggets N.L: haha thanks :D I don't swear outside but Thalia seems like the person (considering that she's real) to be swearing a lot without meaning most of it so yeah , haha and that other friend of hers you will find out soon, well… not soon… but soon MWHAHA!
AllStarry707: haha I would keep Rachel out and put it just as a side character but yes you're correct it's not possible, hmm… I didn't think of that idea of Annabeth being the witness, but I'm taking that into consideration because honestly that's a good idea, since I haven't thought of how Percy would discover of Annabeth's identity yet…. But that… is absolutely amazing! :D haha sorry for the long author note, but I hope the lengthy chapter made up for every long author note in the end!
Capilla007: Don't worry I love Leo, but you know I just needed a flirter and Leo was just perfect considering how annoyed Thalia was at Leo in TLH! (can't wait for MoA!) But I agree with you in the family thing XD but it's cool how you could play the beginning of that song! I love it :D. But yeah, I'm totally going to let Percabeth bro-sis relationship evolve first :D haha I am not going to spill anything about Nico and Thalia though I'd probably already did….XD
SONG: Pictures of You – The Last Goodnight LISTEN AMAZING SONG AS WELL! (So many good songs)
Agent Astro Zombie