Chapter 8: You're Lucky We Are Siblings
REALLY SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I guess I have to apologize for not updating… but my hands really sore so I couldn't really type and I was pretty much sleeping the pain off. Why the pain you ask? Well… I got into a bike-car accident on Friday (just a day before my battle performance… unlucky much….) anyways I'm fine though and I haven't told my parents about the accident or anything at all… cause well... it wasn't that big of a deal, I'm just a bit sore on the my left leg and shoulders..to be honest I'm more worried about my twisted bike (fixed it a bit… but.. still it's not exactly working…) and what my mom would say when she sees the texting bill that some of my friends sent me to make sure I'm okay…. Me and my twisted mind… anyways… onward with the story :D
Disclaimer: When you see a Percy Jackson book with my name on it…. I swear…. You've been drinking too much…..
Percy's POV:
I stared at the girl in front of me as she called out my name. The same girl that left me, I studied her features carefully, and she still looked the same as before, only more mature.
"I already told you… I have no business to see you anymore." I told her coldly, reminiscing the time that she left me.
Her smile turned upside down as I said that, "Percy, I know what I did was wrong… but-"
"You left me three years ago… that's okay…, but when I got into the car accident… where were you?" I asked her. Rachel for once was speechless as I continued. "I just want to ask you something once… did you know about the accident at all?"
"I-I-"Rachel stuttered as she tried to tell me.
I took one look at her and knew the answer, "You knew about the accident but you didn't visit me once… not a single phone call, nothing at all…" I grimaced. I thought about what Nico said about Rachel being at the accident and not calling the ambulance.
"Percy I can explain," Rachel nervously looked at me as if realizing something… something not so good.
"Then explain… were you there at the accident?" I asked her fearing the answer.
Rachel's face looked pained as her mouth tried to form words, "Yes… I was… but I didn't know it was you!" Rachel said not looking at me. "I was scared…. I was afraid!" Rachel tried to defend herself.
I took a deep breath, "Then why didn't you call the ambulance?" I asked calmly.
"I-I-"Rachel looked like she was thinking of what to say, "I was about to call… but Apollo… he dragged me away before I could! I swear I was meaning to call about the accident at first though!"
"Apollo…" I said the name with a hint of annoyance, it's not that I hate Apollo or anything… but he was the guy that stole my girlfriend, my to-be fiancée. "Even if Apollo was dragging you… you could've taken a minute… just a minute to call… that minute could've saved the life of three people!" I yelled.
Rachel was taken back as she finally looked at me with those green orbs. "Percy you knew I had to go… I needed to board that plane and Apollo knew it too. That's why he dragged me to the airport." Rachel said even though I knew she was holding back something. "I did try to call the ambulance afterwards when I already boarded the plane safely… but… it was already too late…" Rachel trailed off.
"You could've called when you had the chance! Did you even care when both of my friends died! The innocent person in the other car also died because the ambulance came too late! DID YOU EVEN CARE THAT I WAS A SECOND FROM DEATH!" I yelled at her.
Rachel was obviously sobbing now, but her face was etched with fear for some reason, "Percy… you can't understand what I've been through… I was scared… I wanted to visit you but I knew you were better without me."
"Better without you?" I scoffed. "I spend months after months inside the hospital, then was later send to physical and mental therapy… admit it… it was always about your art… "
Rachel look pained, probably because what I said was true, "You don't understand… Apollo… he-"
"He what? He confessed his love to you? He said he loved you? Now you're rubbing it in my face that you guys are getting married?" I glared at her.
"That's not it!" She quickly denied.
"Explain why every art magazine cover have yours and Apollo's face on there. Holding hands… smooching each others face." I said those words with disgust.
"We did date… but it was only briefly, and then we broke up because I wanted to come back here." She confessed.
"Then tell me … why did you come back here?" I asked clearly curious but I wasn't going to let her know that.
"I want to give us another chance." She said taking a step closer to me.
"Us?" I nearly exploded. "When have the word 'us' ever meant anything to you? If I heard correctly… you were over there in Europe dating Apollo! Now that he's off with some other bimbo… I'm your rebound aren't I?" I said angrily. "I already told you before… and I'll say it again… when you left me three years ago to die… we were already over." Just like that I walked into the darkness of the night towards my house leaving Rachel there alone but also digging a big hole in my heart with each step I walked further away from her.
I somehow managed to drag myself home without looking back at the red-headed devil that left me a long time ago. I fumbled to take out my keys as I reached the front door. Finally after many attempts of killing my doorknob it finally gave way and opened. I saw a flicker of light in my kitchen and checked the time to see it was already one in the morning. I silently walked towards the kitchen thinking that my little sister was probably getting ready for her enrollment into Columbia University. I made my way towards the kitchen table to see a familiar sight of papers being scrambled all over the table, but instead of having Annabeth's grey eyes staring back at me, her head was down and she seems to be sleeping. Despite my depressed mood I suppressed a smile as I looked at her notes from a textbook that was probably suppose to help her catch up with the curriculum of her transfer.
There were at least thirty pages of handwritten papers, I scratched my head wondering if my half-sister even went out for a bit of sight-seeing after I lend her my car. I'll admit I felt guilty for making her leave today to explore the busy streets alone, but at the moment then I was too pissed off at Rachel to be doing anything except work myself to death. Her hands were spread over her notes with a pencil dangling out of one hand and her head rested on the cold wooden table. I silently chuckled to myself, 'When she's not yapping that big know-it-all mouth of her… I could live with her as my sister.' I stared at my sister, surely she doesn't seem to be anything like dad. I felt a bit sorry for her, having to move across the country on our dad's order.
I quickly walked over behind her in attempt to wake her up, "Hey," I said softly. "Wake up Annabeth."
She slightly stirred in her sleep but her eyes were kept closed, "Hmm…" She mumbled.
"Get up," I repeated myself. "You're lying on the table." I tried to tell her as she was probably drifting off in her dream land. Instead of waking up she buried her head deeper into her arms.
I looked at her uncomfortable posture as she was hunched over the table and inwardly groaned, 'Looks like I'm going to have to carry you...' I sighed and carried my sister in my arms, 'She's actually lighter than I thought…'
"You're lucky you're my sister." I mumbled as I carried her towards my bedroom. "Or else I'd probably left you there sleeping with a sore back…" I softly laid her down in my bed as she turned over to sleep on her side. I lifted my little sister's head up a bit to rest it on the pillow, and then pulled up the covers over her. After taking one last look at the person I just met a day ago, and wondering how the hell we were even related I finally turned off the light and stepped out of the bedroom. I let out a sigh as I sat there drinking a cup of warm milk under my porch.
"What the hell do I do with Rachel back in my life? Then there's this new sister I have to spend time with? " I asked no one in particular. "Then there's also the accident that's coming back to haunt me." I mumbled quietly as I looked up at the stars in the sky, recognizing Hercules constellation, and the Big Dipper and so many more.
Annabeth's POV:
After spending the whole day at my fake brother's home taking notes to catch up with the classes at Columbia, I thought I would finally get a break. However, I woke up today with a start and to the smell of burnt toast. I looked around and realized I was in a bed, wondering how did I even get here?
I quickly walked towards the burning toast smell.
"SHIT!" I heard a familiar voice cursed as a sizzling sound came from the kitchen.
I appeared at the doorway to see a pretty funny sight with Emily's brother with this hands held up from the burning toast that landed safely in the trashcan. "Looks like breakfast is ruin." I remarked as Percy whirled around at the sound of my voice.
"Oh… you're awake."He said a bit surprised. "All the notes you wrote yesterday…" He began. "I left them in the living room; I could get them if you want?" He offered.
"I'll get them later." I said shrugging it off as I looked at the black charcoal toast in the trashcan. "Thanks for umm… letting me borrow your bed," I said weakly.
He let out a slight chuckle, "No problem, that actually gave me a chance to watch some of the late night shows I've been missing." He joked and then jumped in alert as another burnt toast popped out. "Did you go anywhere yesterday… or did you just stayed home writing notes?" He asked me, turning his full attention on me making me a bit nervous for some reason.
"Dare to take a guess?" I taunted.
He shrugged when suddenly the black toast burned his hand. "DAMMIT!" He cursed as he quickly threw the really burnt toast into the trashcan.
"How about I teach you how to make breakfast?" I offered.
"Cooking… not my thing… I usually order take-out." Percy mumbled.
"Well… something we have in common." I noticed. "But the least you could do is learn how to cook some easy omelet just in case of emergencies." I told him.
"I'm trying… you saw how well that turned out…" He said motioning towards the burnt toast.
I took one look at the grown man's pouting face and couldn't help but laugh, "Here, I'll show you how to cook a simple omelet with bacon and toast." I smiled and walked over to the stove turning on the fire as I poured a bit of oil into the pan. He stepped aside and watched me carefully as if afraid I might burn down his kitchen. "While you're waiting for the oil to heat up a bit beat the eggs and add in some salt, pepper, and occasional seasoning." I quickly grabbed a box and mixed the eggs together adding a bit of this and that.
I looked up to see Percy staring at me intently… or rather looking at the food a bit hungrily.
I cleared my throat and he wiped the drool from his mouth. "Then carefully pour it into the pan, being sure not to dump it all at once because you'll probably get killed by jumping oils." I added as I gently poured in the eggs. "Now… you wait about twenty to thirty seconds before you flip the omelet over." After a while I added in some ham, bacon bits and green onions and folded the omelet. "And the final solution… is a good plain old omelet." I told him as I placed the omelet down into the plate. I grab a knife and quickly cut the omelet in half giving a share to Percy. "Next time you make the food though." I told him with a serious look.
We sat down at the table as Percy seems to enjoy his omelet, "So do you want me to take you to the university?" He took another bite, "Our old man's order."
I nodded, "A ride would be nice." I said thoughtfully and couldn't help but admire that even though Emily's father…as much of a jerk he seem to have been according to Percy… is very caring towards her because she's his daughter. Well… considering that he made his son do all the work.
Percy nodded and tasted another piece, "This is actually delicious!" He said with a grin.
"Of course it is," I rolled my eyes, "You've never had your girlfriend cook any food for you?" I asked in an attempt of a joke.
"I don't have a girlfriend." The suddenly depressed guy next to me mumbled as he placed down his fork.
I looked up, obviously surprised at his sudden change of mood and the scene from yesterday popped into my mind where he was all happy one second then sad the next. I knew then I had asked the wrong question. "Oh," I said awkwardly, the tension in the air was tenser than usual.
"I'm done, I'm going to get changed," He said as he stood up, leaving scraps of bacon on his plate. "You should too… "He told me and left the kitchen leaving me wondering about this Perseus Jackson.
I stared after him as he walked out to the next room, knowing that his depressed mood probably has something to do with someone named Rachel from the conversation I've heard earlier and apparently she is... or was his girlfriend at one point. I frowned, 'Is it just me… or is Emily's brother is full of mystery…?' I thought to myself as I finished my omelet.
As usual I was in his Mercedes as he weaved through the busy streets of New York coming upon a local arcade filled with the buzzing electronics and a bunch of teenagers coming in and out of the place. "Lotus Arcade... what exactly are we doing here?" I asked him a bit suspiciously. One minute he was all the depressed and the next thing I know… he's introducing me to an arcade.
"Playing games." He replied easily with the sad look hidden beneath his eyes as he tried for a realistic fake smile.
"No need to pretend you're happy when you're obviously not…" I glared at him as his fake smile changed into a real frown.
"I guess there's no getting pass you…" He murmured. "Come on, let's go play some games." He told me.
I hesitantly agreed, knowing that he probably just want someone to accompany him while he's trying to get off some stress. Percy picked up a blue plastic gun and placed a couple quarters into the slot as he gave me the red plastic gun. He didn't even bother explaining the game before we were off shooting zombies and taking each other's back as the other fight. I smiled having not playing this much games for a long time. Then I looked over at Percy, whose face was full of concentration and anger. It seems rather than relaxing himself, he seems to be so intent on killing the zombies or punching someone.
After a while of playing an intense game of air hockey and a bunch of other racing games we finally sat down for a burger and fries. Percy seemed to have calmed down a bit as he eagerly took down his burger in less than five bites. I watched him in amazement before my phone let out a ring.
"ANNABETH?" A familiar overjoyed voice shot through my right ear.
"Nice to hear from you too Emily…" I said sarcastically.
"So tell me… how's New York?" She asked me, rushing through her words. I looked up and glanced at Percy. "How's my so called half-brother?" She continued.
"Eating some burgers and fries with him." I told Emily trying to not have Percy notice my discomfort.
"Bad time?" she asked, I could almost hear her voice raising a bit of suspicion.
"Kind of…" I trailed off, taking another glance at Percy who was raising an eyebrow at my conversation. "You mind calling me back later?" I asked her.
"Sure, I've got to get going anyways." She said glumly.
"I'll talk to you later Em" I said and quickly hung up to see Percy taking a sip of his coke.
"So who was that?" He asked a bit curious.
I let out a nervous laugh that didn't go unnoticed by him, "Umm… my dorm partner from Stanford." I said honesty. 'Okay maybe not exactly the whole truth either.' I thought to myself.
He eyed me for a bit as if thinking it over then said something completely unexpected, "How about I take you to meet some of my friends?" He grinned. "I've already got all my work done weeks ago, so taking a break for a day wouldn't hurt."
"I don't think I really have a say in this." I remarked sarcastically.
Percy shrugged as he stood up from the booth and offered his hand, "Well… they have been asking about this mysterious sister of mines…"
I let out a laugh, "So I'm your hidden sister?" For some reason I felt a bit guilty lying to him, but I quickly shrugged it off.
"Wouldn't they be surprised now?" He answered with a smirk plastered on his face, "When they find out that my sister is annoying but apparently obsessed with taking notes."
I playfully glared at him, "Well… I have an apparently obnoxious brother who's actually a workaholic for apparent reason…" I trailed off looking up and trying to read his expression. I remembered he told me about how he wasn't always a workaholic until a couple years ago or something, 'Wonder if that had anything to do with his moody depress mode.' I wondered.
"They wouldn't be surprised." Percy stated as he walked to his car.
A few minutes later we arrived at a wedding venue as my so-called obnoxious brother dragged me into the place. "Uhh… why exactly are we here?" I asked him with a bit of confusion.
Apparently the expression on my face must've been hilarious because Percy cracked a smile, "Crashing a wedding." He answered.
I was about to ask him about who's wedding it was when a somewhat familiar voice that I couldn't seem to recall shouted out, "Perce!"
I turned around to see a guy that was probably a bit older than Percy with a wisp of a beard at his chin as if he forgot to shave. His curly hair was spread around his head and he wore some casual khaki shorts and a green shirt that said, "P.A.N.". Next to him was a beautiful girl with long brown hair with occasional green highlights on the side. In her hand she held a flower while her head was rested on the older guy.
Percy turned around to greet his friend, "How's the wedding coming along G-man?"
'G-man?' I wondered as I look at the familiar guy. 'Where have I seen this guy before?' I kept asking myself again and again.
Percy averted his eyes told the girl with the green highlights, "Juniper I haven't seen you in a while." Percy quickly let go of me and went to give his friend a hug.
The girl with the green highlight, Juniper, laughed good-naturedly, "Well I could say the same to you Percy." She said as Percy released her from the hug. "You're always in that little office of yours, it's so rare to see you nowadays." She smiled.
"Well, you'll be able to see Perce at the wedding Juni, he's the best man." G-man grinned at his to-be-wife. I studied G-man a bit more trying to figure out what's so familiar about that guy but couldn't decipher anything. I was carefully looking over the couple when the older guy caught my eyes, "So who's this lady?" G-man asked Percy. "Did you finally got out of that office and look for a date?" G-man smiled weakly at Percy as if they were discussing something private.
Percy gave a quick look at G-man which didn't go unnoticed by me. The look that he shot towards G-man was full of pain and hurt that I couldn't help but wonder. Percy cleared his throat and turned towards me, "This is my sister actually." He stated.
G-man and Juniper smiled, "Nice to meet you," Juniper said flashing me a friendly smile. "I'm Juniper by the way and this guy here is my fiancé."
'Juniper… that name sounds familiar…' I thought but smiled politely back, "G-man right?" I asked as G-man cracked a smile. "Does that stand for something?"
G-man let out a laughed with Juniper and Percy following right behind, "That's actually just a nickname Percy here calls me." G-man explained, "It's actually Grover Underwood." He held out his hand for me to shake as realization came to my face and my eyes widen.
I decided to play it off coolly, "Annabeth Chase," I shook his hand, "remember the little girl in the library?" I asked him.
Grover's eyes widen just as mine had earlier, "Annabeth?" He let out a relieved laugh as the other two stared at us in confusion.
"He was the part-time librarian at the local library and occasionally planted trees outside to help with the environment in the neighborhood." I explained. "I used to help him with the planted trees and water them daily since he left." I turned back to my old mentor. "Looks like you did marry the girl of your dream." I smiled at the beautiful girl next to him.
"Girl of his dream?" Juniper asked with a slight blush on her face.
"He actually talked about you a lot, of how he met this girl at a local volunteer planting event." I told her as Juniper's eyes gleam with joy. "That time he was still crushing on you and would always talk about you." Grover blushed right to his Adam's apple.
"So you guys know each other?" Percy asked after staring at us in amazement.
Grover laughed, "Yes, but…" Grover looked between the two of us, "You…guys are siblings?" He asked looking back and forth between the two of us. Percy honestly nodded as I hesitantly tried to avoid any eye contact. If Grover knew I was lying… he didn't say anything. I knew he was able to read emotions pretty clearly… and he probably figured out something was up.
"That's the girl I was talking about." Percy told his friend. "Where's the Stolls?"
"Them? Probably planning the next ultimate prank." Juniper replied with a bit of anger. "I did not appreciate how they nearly destroyed the community garden just to piss off Katie."
"Where's Nico? He was suppose to be here by now…" Grover wondered checking his watch.
"That guy…" Percy looked pained as if he remembered something. "He... just got a new leading evidence towards something."
Grover narrowed his eyes at Percy, and I for once was glad to be off his attention. Luckily for Percy, Grover didn't question him anymore after that. "So you got your best-man speech done yet?" Grover asked.
Percy laughed, "Dude calm down, we still got time."
"Yo Grover!" A voice called out from above us, "You want me to fix up the sound system?" A gruff voice asked.
"Give me a minute Jake!" Grover called back to the guy named Jake. "Well, I'll talk to you guys later, nice seeing you again Annabeth." Grover pulled me into a hug and grabbed his fiancés hand.
I stared at the to-be wedded couples from a distance, "When is the wedding?" I asked Percy as he led me back to his car.
"In about three months." He replied as we got into the car and turned to face me, his green eyes were full of curiosity. "Now… you never told me you knew my best friend." He glared jokingly.
"You never told me your best friend was Grover Underwood." I shot back, pretty satisfied with my comeback since he quickly changed the topic.
He stared out the window and quickly turned on his engine, "Let's get going home." He told me with the gleam gone from his eyes. I followed his gaze and saw a flash of red racing down the sidewalk holding a black bag in her hands.
I raised an eyebrow, "What's with the sudden change of emotion?"
He didn't answer me, but instead shifted his gears and went out into the street, his face solemn as he drove home.
So… how was this chapter you think? Don't you think Percy make such a wonderful brother! I wish my siblings *cough* older sister *cough* be as considerate as Percy… (minus the carrying because she'll probably drop me on my butt)….anyways….. good? Bad? Horrible? At least Percy and Annabeth creates some kind of awkward brotherly and sisterly bond right?
Review:
C-Nuggets N.L.: Glad you can see that, I wanna make Rachel completely innocent in this, (you know be true to the characteristics) Haha and to Thalia's other friend, it'll be reveal but don't worry I'll be dropping hints if you could catch it :D
Fluffy Bunnies Are So Cute: haha yep definitely Percy's time of the month XD (nah just kidding ) I agree with you though, Rachel is a good character
J'aime lire: haha I promise it'll be reveal soon if I can get my chapters written up :D hopefully now I'll have more time since battle is over :D
GemOfOlympus: Haha I can't wait for your next update though, I'll have to admit because it seems almost completely mary sue at first, but you stuck through, and it was amazing after you were able to get past the first few chapters! Especially with all the twists, don't worry, take those flames as a compliment and improve on it :D Love the DEADLY SINCERE at the bottom XD
Song: Heads Over Heels –Boys Like Girls
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