Chapter 19: Emily Reveals the Secret
Disclaimer: Annoying? I do not own disclaimer… no? fine… I do not own PJO…. What is pepper jam orange… but it's rather good… what… you want pjo to mean Percy Jackson and the Olympian? FINE! I DO NOT OWN THAT!
Apologize… My parents actually signed me up for some SAT classes… and honestly I'm really bored in there and my lovely cousin (sarcasm intended) kept on turning off my tetris battle game… anyways I'll try to answer any questions next time! Yes yes… not much Percabeth this chapter as well, but PERCY WILL FIND OUT!
Onward with the story :D
Percy's POV:
"I want us… to give us one more chance."
I don't know how I felt when I told her that, but I could feel my heart beating as her eyes glanced over mine. For a moment she just stood staring at me, then without warning she griped my hands and pulled me into a hug. "You're not lying right? This is not just a plan to get revenge on me right?"
"What do you think I am?" I smiled slightly as I wrapped her into a warmer embraced. "I'm not a crazy teen… I'm mature Percy now."
"You made your sister pretend to be your girlfriend." She pointed out.
"It was a momentary decision…" I tried to defend myself.
"What made you rethink about all that?" She asked as she pulled away.
I grinned for a second before thinking of Annabeth, "Let's just say… that my sisterly ex-girlfriend talked some sense into me."
Rachel raised an eyebrow, "Now… you've never told me… how exactly did you get a sister…?"
I look a bit uncomfortable, "Umm… you know… when a guy and a girl-"
Rachel laughed, "Not that Percy… I meant… is she actually your sister or…?"
I blushed at my embarrassment, "Oh…"
"I mean, you guys look nothing alike… and…" Rachel shifted her feet nervously as she glanced up at me.
"And… you're jealous?" I asked with a slight smile. I wasn't use to Rachel being jealous… it's usually me who was the one chasing guys away from Rachel. Considering she was the daughter of the magnificent Jonathan Ivan Dare, Rachel was almost like the unnamed princess of the modern word. Through all the times we dated, of course, her dad never approved… and was always setting her up on dates with other rich families. Her dad claims that, 'They are more fit for Rachel's taste' whatever that means.
"And…? What if I am?" Rachel asked straightforwardly.
For a moment I was taken back before I remember that Rachel never bothered to hide her feelings much.
"Relax… she's my sister. Well… more like half-sister…" I shrugged. "My dad had her as an affair with some other woman."
Rachel relaxed a bit, "Why is she here though?"
"My dad apparently just found out about her not to long ago and ordered me to take care of her as she goes to school in Columbia." I explained.
"Wait… you're living with her?" Rachel asked with a slight frown as if she's thinking of something unpleasant.
"Erm… yeah? She wanted to stay in the dorms… but then things got complicated… so I kind of forced her to stay with me." I admitted.
Rachel looked surprised, "And you're okay with it?"
"What's so weird about that?"
"Well… I don't know… you're usually so reserved with yourself," Rachel stated.
"Me? Reserved?" I cocked my head to the side in confusion.
"Usually… I don't know… it took me a while before you even agreed for me to step foot into your house." Rachel mumbled. "And in other words… I'm just jealous that your sister gets to spend some time with you and I don't."
I almost laughed, "You're saying that you're jealous that I'm spending time with my sister while I've always had to make sure that your father never set you up with anymore dates."
"You shouldn't worry about that," Rachel assured me. "Since you are now a big shot in the world, I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind." Rachel quickly checked her watch before turning back to me. Without warning she leaned up and gave me a kiss on my cheek, "I have to go now, there's a client that wants to buy my artwork."
I nodded and walked her to her car, "You're not going to leave me like last time right?" I asked her the familiar worry creeping up.
She shook her head, "I don't think I could ask for a better boyfriend than you."
I stood there in shock as she drove away thinking about what just happened. I wasn't sure about the relationship between Rachel and me. She just called me her boyfriend… but I wasn't sure if I'm willing to rush our relationship like that. I was planning on taking it slowly… but Rachel seems to think otherwise.
I thought about what happened in a matter of hours. I was mad at Rachel. I can't stop thinking about Rachel. Annabeth annoyed me with her wisdom. I called Rachel up. Now… we're back together. Truth to be honest I was glad all that tension between Rachel and I was over. I made a note to send a thank you to Annabeth and Pollux later.
Did I forgive her too easily? Did Rachel deserve to be forgiven?
~PAGEBREAK~
"What are you doing here Nico?" Was the first question I asked when I opened my office door to see someone sitting on my chair.
No response.
"Nico?" After a brief silence I heard a soft breathing. I walked closer to see that my young friend was fast asleep with an unlikely creepy smile across his face. "Nico wake up buddy," I said a bit louder.
"Hmm…" Was his response before attempting to roll over. Sadly… my chair was not as stable… or he have gained a couple pounds… because the chair flipped over leaving Nico to land face first towards the ground.
The poor guy barely flinched as he sleepily sat upright taking in his surroundings. "Oh… hi Perce."
I gave him a slight nod, "You should've told me you were coming." I told him sitting down on one of the chairs.
He gave me a surprised look, "When have I ever called in…?"
I shrugged, "True… you go missing for a couple days or even weeks, and then suddenly pop out of nowhere."
"Thank you Cap. Obvious." Nico said sarcastically. "Anyways… you're pretty late today… I was here the whole morning."
I frowned, "Michelle never told me you were here."
"Maybe cause she didn't see me come in?" Nico offered as he readjusted my chair and casually sat down. I raised an eyebrow, "Don't worry I went in through the front door." He assured me.
I leaned over to my desk to grab a folder, "So it's not like you to be drinking smoothie…" I commented as I saw him reaching for something that looks like strawberry smoothie.
"Oh this?" Nico held up his drink. "It's just… umm… my friend gave me a gift card to this place and I didn't want it to go to waste. But that's not the point... one of the reason I came was to ask how did the wedding pictures for Grover's wedding go?"
I bit back a curse, "What do you mean?"
"I heart from the Stolls that you left them with the job as male models… whatever that means…"
"I'm pretty sure they told you what happened then." I shot back.
"Yeah… Connor flirted with that camera girl." Nico said with a slight angered tone.
"They didn't tell you Rachel was there?" I asked him obviously confused because I personally thought that Nico didn't come because Rachel was there.
"Rachel was there?" Nico asked as his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"Dude chill…" I took a deep breath, noting his anger when I mentioned Rachel. "Wait… if you didn't know that Rachel was there… why didn't you come?"
"I had an assignment." Nico said with a shrugged. "But… if Rachel was there… how exactly did you deal with her?"
"I didn't," I answered truthfully. "And umm… about Rachel…" I trailed off.
Nico noticed my hesitation and glanced up, "Please… please don't tell me that you guys got back together…"
I didn't answer the question instead I asked him another question, "Why exactly do you hate her so much?"
"I don't hate her… I just hate how she just pretty much use you and then left you." Nico explained. "Now don't go dodging the question…."
"We….err we-"
"GOD DAMMIT PERCY! How can you just accepted her apology so easily!" Nico flared slamming his fist on the table.
I looked down nervously, "Actually… I'm the one that proposed the idea of getting back together…" I could've scorn, at that moment everything just went crazy. It was almost as if there was an earthquake because I felt my chair wobbling as Nico slammed against the table one more time.
"Y-you... I can't believe you would even think of proposing that idea!" Nico exploded. "Did you forget what she did to you? Did you forget how much harm she caused you?"
"I really believe she's sincere this time though," I told my young friend. I didn't care if I sound a bit whiny at the moment, but at the moment all I could think about was Rachel's smile when she learned that I have forgiven her. "You should've seen how happy she was…" I sighed contently remembering the memory.
"You were always a people's pleaser… what about you Percy? Rachel is happy… but are you?" Nico asked me with a controlled angered tone in his voice. He quickly took a few deep breath and maintain his posture.
I thought about what he said… sure enough I was happy that I made Rachel happy, but that wasn't it… I was also happy that our feelings were cleared and I don't have to avoid her anymore. Other than that however…
Nico sighed knowing that he'll never get through this thick stubborn head of mines, "It's useless to convince someone until they are facing the literal truth…"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… You're always about making sure everyone is happy… and never focusing on what you really want. Sure you're completely all that when you're arguing for the most stupid thing… but then it concerns someone you care about… you're pretty much no longer yourself. Rather you're… just… someone that everyone likes."
"You're saying it as if it's a bad thing." I mumbled.
"Maybe cause it is… you're like an older brother for me. I get it that you like her… but I swear… if there's any problem I won't stand for it. I don't like Rachel as much… but if it's considering your happiness… I'll stand by it." He huffed. "Still… I didn't come here to talk about your so-called love life with Rachel."
"Then what did you come here for?" I asked knowing that my emo-like friend won't come here without a reason.
"To be blunt… my boss is stalking your past."
"Excuse you," I nearly chocked. "My past?"
"Yeah, you know… the time when you disappear from the surface of the Earth and only came back to appear on the front page cover of every newspaper."
I looked at him in bewilderment, "And why exactly are they looking there?"
"Because… they assume that you might've encountered something during your run that might've captured the attention of this terrorist group." Nico informed me.
"And you have full permission to tell me this?" I asked a bit surprised, because usually Nico don't gossip about his next mission.
"Actually I was commanded to tell you about this…. My boss needs some information from you… and because of that… we are just going to have to trust that you'll tell us." Nico said hopefully.
"In all honesty… there was nothing… I was just on the run and I made a few short friends… " I mumbled. "Everything is on the disclosed files that you guys have though," I told Nico.
"Yeah… but it's not enough to prove anything… we know for sure that you were being chased while you were on the run… but it's weird that they would leave such a big time gap after every attack." Nico mumbled to himself as if thinking of something complicated.
"I'd say you should just give it up… the accident is probably just a pure accident… and you guys are just overcomplicating things." I told him.
Nico narrowed his eyes, not really believing anything, "I don't know Percy…" Nico mumbled before deciding to drop the topic. He reached in his pocket to pull out a phone, "Oh and before I forget why I came here… Apparently you forgot your cell phone the other day," Nico placed a familiar looking phone on the table.
"Dude… my phone is right here," I pulled out my own iPhone and showed it to him. "I think… that's Annabeth's phone." I took it from his hand.
"Well… here you go then." He stood up to leave.
"You're leaving already?" I asked.
"Yeah, I only came by to check on you… apparently you are fine and living the love life with Ms. Dare," He said bitterly.
"She's not that bad Nico…." I mumbled.
"Yeah and I'm not creepy," Nico replied sarcastically.
"You know you just admitted you're creepy…" I commented.
Nico walked towards the door, "Well… isn't that what everyone thinks… I'll be going now." Nico mumbled. "Warn Rachel if she ever does something as unexplainable as that again I'll never forgive her… and feel free to drop by my house anytime there might be some files I have to give you," Nico informed me before disappearing out of my office.
I sighed and called up one of my co-workers inside, "Danny, go inform everyone about the meeting tomorrow, make sure to contact Leo Valdez, so he would be able to explain this to our sponsors,"
"Yes sir, is there anything else?" My co-worker asked.
"Oh, did my sister drop by?" I asked him
He adjusted his glasses, "I don't think so, no one saw her today,"
"Ok and if you don't mind, can you get these plans photocopied for everyone that'll be presented in the meeting?"
"Sure, no problem." Danny replied and took the papers from my hands and left.
I took a look at the sketch drawing of the fax Leo just sent me when I suddenly heard a light beep from Annabeth's phone. Not sure of what to do… I hesitantly reached over and picked up the phone.
I didn't know whether to answer or not…
'Don't pick up the phone…. It's Annabeth… but what if it's important?' I wondered. I made a split decision and pressed the call button.
Before I could say anything a girl's voice blared through the phone, "ANNABETH! So… how's life with my fake brother?"
I could've sworn my heart nearly stopped then, 'Fake brother?' I didn't thought much about it… 'Maybe it's just… something else?' I thought hopefully.
"Annabeth? Are you there? It's Emily here!" The girl's voice called again. "Is it just the bad signal? Hello?" The girl talked to herself through the phone.
I mentally grimaced not sure of what to say.
"Annabeth… I can hear you breathing on the other line… Now how about you tell me how is it going with pretending to be a fake sister to the famous Perseus Jackson?"
I held my breath and let out a quick, "I'm not- What?" in a high pitched voice so it sounded more girly.
"You sound weird…" The girl commented. "Anyways... last time we talked you told me how my brother was all-"
"Your brother?" I squeaked like a little girl that I was not.
For a moment there was a paused on the other line, "Yes my HALF-brother, Perseus Jackson… the guy you've been staying with because of the plan we had." The girl offered with a sarcastic tone that seem somewhat familiar to the one I've always used.
Without thinking I quickly hung up the phone and stared at it as if it might explode. 'What just happened..?' I asked myself as I stared at the caller ID picture of the person that just called.
"Emily Kim," I read quietly off the phone then drifted my eyes over to the picture and nearly dropped Annabeth's phone.
Sea-green eyes and long jet-black hair.
My real half-sister.
Annabeth's POV: (Happening at the same time but you know… different place :D)
"How was the match?" Luke asked as he took a seat next to me. Luke reached down and placed his bags of equipment onto the floor.
"That was good," I complimented him and to be honest it was, it was almost as if Luke was unbeatable on the field.
"That's all?" He asked with an amused expression. "Usually when girls see me fight they start swooning."
"You sure they are not fainting?" I smirked.
"Probably…" He admitted, "From my charms." He flashed a smile towards my direction and I couldn't help but felt my heart fluttered a bit.
I raised an eyebrow, "You call that charm?" I teased back.
Luke shrugged as he leaned back and propped his leg on an empty chair in front of us, "So I heard that you moved back to live with your brother?"
"Yeah," I replied. It was actually not that bad moving in with Percy, aside from us getting into little debates about the craziest thing, it was rather comfortable. Added to the fact I can get ice cream pretty much anytime I want even though I'm no longer his pretend girlfriend… I guess there has to be a benefit to have a brother like Percy.
"Can I ask why?" Luke asked his eyes trailing the match at the bottom.
"Conveniences," I replied. I had no idea why I didn't want to tell Luke about almost getting kidnapped, but for some reason I felt that it was personal for me… and I didn't want to reveal too much about myself.
Luke raised an eyebrow and shrugged it off, "But you have to tell me… did you actually watch the match?" He asked with a smile tugging at the edge of his mouth.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well seeing that whenever I'm looking over you have your eyes absorbed in a book… so I wasn't sure whether or not you were enjoying yourself." He admitted.
Instantly I felt guilty… did I look at my book that much? "It's not that," I quickly said, "I just have a term paper due soon."
"When?" He looked at me curiously. "You don't seem like the type to be procrastinating."
I looked away a bit shyly, "Actually it's due next week…" I laughed nervously. "But I'm able to multitask."
He whistled, "I was right," He cracked a smile. "So tell me while you're multitasking did you enjoy while I sliced off the guy's leg?"
"You didn't and even if you did… you'd probably be disqualified." I told him as he cracked a smile.
"So you did look." He mused. "For that… I thank you Ms. Chase." He faked a ridiculous bow.
"So when's your next match?" I asked him.
"Don't got any left, it's all up to my teammates now," He pointed to one of the fighters at the bottom. "So are you tempted for some food later?" He asked with an irresistible grin.
I noticed his hand was inching closer to mines and I have to admit I could feel my heart beating a bit faster than normal. I thought about all my lectures for today, I've already finished more than half of it and it was not due until next week. Then again… I never like to procrastinate anything… maybe I can make an exception this time. Ignoring the lingering good-girl voice in my head, I gave him a bright smile, "I would love to."
SADLYLUKABETH~
"How'd you enjoy the food?" Luke asked as we walked around the food center.
"Nah, I enjoyed the part where you spilled spaghetti on your shirt." I laughed pointing to the stain on his white t-shirt. Luckily Luke had decided to change into his regular clothes instead of going out with his heavy fencing gears.
"Would you believe me, if I said that I planned it to make you laugh?" Luke joked.
"Well… considering there was a rather surprised look on your face… nope! Sorry I can't bring myself to believe it." I grinned as I turned away from him and walked towards an empty store that sold some of those small stuff animals, but before I could walk into the store Luke pulled me away towards one of those flower stands.
"Do you like it?" He asked holding out a single rose with a rather charming look to his face.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that I can't stand scented flowers… for some reason they make my nose a bit stuffy. So instead I just accepted the flowers trying to put it away from my face while at the same time, not making so obvious, "Thanks, but what is this for?"
"Celebrating the first time that you actually approved of going on a date with me," He grinned
I could feel my face blushing, 'First date? This was a first date? I should've dressed up better or…?' I usually don't have these trail of thoughts, but for some reason… Luke made me feel a bit conscious about myself with his charming looks and rather perfectionist personality. Instead of answering like the flustered girl I was feeling like, I simply said, "Date huh? I don't think I ever actually agreed to that,"
"How about just a simple… lunch outing?" He offered looking past my shoulders a bit as if distracted.
"I can stand that," I smiled back at him.
"Hey," He said somewhat in an uncertain voice. "How about you go over there and I'll catch up with you later," He said pointing towards the empty shop I was looking at earlier. "I think I left my wallet inside the restaurant." He said as he rushed back towards the restaurant.
I looked at him in confusion before walking back towards the empty store. I stood staring at the rather huge stuff animals when I suddenly felt a presence behind me. I was about to turn around when I suddenly blacked out.
DUN DUN DUN! ANNABETH FAINTS! PERCY FINALLY FINDS OUT! Okay I apologize for the Prachel… as well as Lukabeth.. IN THE SAME CHAPTER!(I mean it can't get any worst than that!) So… at least Percy is not that much of a Seaweed Brain that he couldn't figured out the real half-sister! But what did you think of that? Good? Bad? REVIEW PLEASE!
Blame my sister for getting me into Kpop…
Song: F.T. Island- Bad Woman (A rather depressing but amazing song if I do say so myself :D)
Agent Astro Zombie