Chapter 28: Meeting the Parents
Long author note… yes this must be here : answer was Clarisse or the plumbing chapter (I think you guys know the rest…I do not own Percy Jackson!
AAZ: Woah, Chiron there might be a few new readers, erm, campers that will entering your camp for training for a day.
Mr. D: EXCUSE ME Annoying Ape Zebra! There will not be any new campers without my permission! I have many troubles with all these… ugh… demigods!
Chiron: Mr. D, this is a safe haven for demigods, we should take them all in with open hands. *turns to AAZ* May I ask who are these demigods.
AAZ: Well… *points towards a large crowd at the base of Thalia's pine tree* I had the satyrs go on emergency recruiting to get all of them here in time, but I assure you… THEY ARE DEFINITELY DEMIGODS! All fourteen demigods accounted for!
Chiron: Have they been claimed?
AAZ: Only some of them to be honest, but the others should get claimed soon *mumbles* or they'll just disappear after a day…
Chiron: What?
AAZ: *laughs nervously* Nothing! Percy my friend! YOU HAVE NEW SIBLINGS!
Percy: Did you say I have new siblings?
AAZ: YES! MEET THEM! IT'S Sportgirl247 and Percy Jackson Fan 29!
Percy: HEY WE HAVE THE SAME NAME! Wait… why is there number in your guys name?
AAZ: They have unique representation of their names, kind of like a pseudonym!
Percy: What's a presodym?
AAZ: Don't worry your siblings can help you! They probably got the brains of the family
Mr. D: I have never heard Poseidon having any more kid-
AAZ: Mr. D, do you seriously have time to stalk Poseidon's every girlfriend?
Mr.D: *Dangerous glow in his eyes* excuse me…
AAZ: *snaps finger and Mr. D disappear* OH MR. D YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MEETING TO ATTEND TO? I GOT YOU! *turns to Chiron suspicious glaze* He's busy talking with Hades about the dead partiers from a few days ago. But there are a few unclaimed demigods, I was hoping-
Travis: WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM! WE HAVE LUKE HERE TO HELP US!
Luke: Why am I always brought back? I LIKE MY LIFE IN ESYLISM! STOP TAKING ME OUT WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF COOKING MY BARBACUE!
AAZ: Calm down Luke, it's just because your old friend wants to talk to you-
Luke: Thalia? But she's-
*Hunter comes out to view smiling*
Luke: NOO NOO NOO! PLEASE SHE'S SHE's- *claws at the groun* HADES TAKE ME BACK! HADES HELP!
AAZ: Hunter you may join Luke but don't… how do I say this nicely… kill him. Travis and Connor I may still need you guys to help the rest of the campers. YOU HAVE 11 CAMPERS IN YOUR CABIN!
Connor: Dad have been busy! *laughs*
Travis: Let's hope these kids have shaving cream because I'm in a mood for a *glance at confused face of campers* shaving my beard! Yes my beard!
Connor: Nice save bro!
AAZ: Just a second guys! They are not all your siblings, actually only CelestialBronzeLightning is your real sibling!
Connor: Wait… then-
Travis: There's no more undetermined… what's with the sudden-
AAZ: *snaps finger* There are still undetermined campers, and these will be staying in the Hermes Cabin, AzianDemigod16, The Innocent Little Human, yanksrock615, br1ck, Tajee165, no-percabeth-no-life, viet girl14, nerdygangsta, and AtlantaJackson95
Travis: *daze* shaving cream…. Shaving cream AHHH WHY AM I HOLDING SHAVING CREAM!
Connor: *nods are new campers*
Travis: WE HAVE… uhh.. COUNSELORS DUTY TO DO!
Annabeth: Those are weird na- IT'S YOU AGAIN!
Nico: What is all this madness…. I'm trying to sleep here!
AAZ: NICO GOOD TIMING AS ALWAYS-
Nico: I just woke up… whatever, I'm off.
AAZ: WOAH WOAH WOAH! You still need to show your siblings around!
Nico; SIBLING? WHAT IS HAZEL DOIN-
AAZ: Who's Hazel? I was talking about Lightning- AND'Death!
Annabeth: Again with the weird names!
Percy: Wise girl it's not cool to call people's name weird.
Annabeth: Oh and Wise girl is any better!
Percy: I'm just-
Nico: You guys mind fighting and kissing later? I'm tyring to figure out how my dad manage to even get another date…
AAZ: He's the god of the dead, lots of girls like dark and mysterious-
Nico: Not me-
AAZ: You're not a girl…
Nico: Not what I meant! I mean, my dad is old… he wears SKULL UNDERPANTS!
Percy: So that is true?!
Nico: Of course, I think he was about to get me one for Christmas but Persephone decided to turn me into a dandelion… which completely ruin my first Christmas in the underworld…
AAZ: *runs away quietly*
*night time*
DEMIGODS/READERS: AHHHHH! WHAT IS THIS?! MY SHIRT! NOOO!
Chiron: STOLLS!
AAZ: *whispers* High five guys! You did well! Here's 30 drachmas!
Travis: Nice doing business with you!
Connor: *drops drachmas 5 feet away* You mind getting that for me
AAZ: Sure! *walks ove- * WHAT IS THIS?! STOLLS! GET ME OUT OF HERE!
Travis: Sorry we can't get blamed!
Connor: But if it makes you feel better… there's a life time supply of shaving cream down there!
AAZ: Damn Stolls…. I hope you guys are enjoying your cabins… cause I'm going to get punished by Zeus…
Percy's POV:
I lagged behind as Rachel went on about the art work of some guy who cut off his ear. To be honest… I was only half listening; my mind was more focused on what Annabeth was here for.
'Why was she here?' I kept asking myself.
"Percy, Percy?" Rachel's voice interrupted my thoughts.
My head shot up, "Huh? What happened?"
"Nothing happened besides you weren't really listening to anything I was saying." Rachel pointed out.
"I was listening," I defended myself. "Some guy who cut his ear off right?"
Rachel sighed, "Is that all you took from this?"
I smiled weakly, "He did some kind of art?" I grabbed her hand and led her back towards the way we were going before.
"Where are we going now?"
"Come on, we've been looking at other people's artwork, I want to see yours!" I said excitedly. Rachel smiled slightly and let me drag her away from the Van Gogh guy's painting. "So what's with Fred here suddenly?"
"He's my manager, Percy you know that already." Rachel laughed.
"You guys seem rather close-"I began.
"Are you getting jealous?" Rachel smirked.
"He's naturally a flirt." I started. I wasn't sure whether or not I was jealous or not, sure I felt inferior, but for some reason the feeling wasn't as intense as it should've been. "He does know that we're together… I mean you guys broke up right?"
"You actually think I am someone to be cheating on you after trying so hard to get back with you?" Rachel stopped walking and pulled me back.
I quickly shook my head, "Not you, I'm just worried that Fred might not have known we're dating."
"Oh trust me, the guy knows. He tried to flirt with Annabeth just now." Rachel laughed. "That guy never stops flirting."
"He needs to know his limit." I said a bit angry but it soon washed away because I suddenly remember about Annabeth. "Wait you haven't exactly told me about why Annabeth was here."
"I told her to come," Rachel said simply. I cocked an eyebrow and waited for her to continue. "I gave her the invitation for you," Rachel said simply.
"The invitation?"
"The one Michelle gave me to give you." Rachel explained.
I immediately panicked, "Wait what?"
"The dinner party right? Michelle told me to tell Annabeth as well if I ever see her, so I called her up." Rachel said as if it was nothing.
While I was just trying to not freak out, "Rachel, you know that both Annabeth and I are not particularly friendly… or like even stranger mode. Having her going to the dinner would just make everything-"
"Normal again." Rachel finished for me.
"No, even more chaotic again." I told her.
"What's the difference anyways? You were just going to ask her later on."
I shook my head, "Actually… I was thinking of not asking her at all." I mumbled. "I mean it's not like anyone can tell the difference, my dad couldn't even see that his real daughter is all the way in California… while another random girl is pretending to be my sister!"
"It would seem… that you are still mad at her." Rachel noticed.
"I'm not mad-"
"Just confused?" Rachel offered. I didn't answer her. "You're not acting like yourself… and frankly I don't like it. When we just got back together you were just like before, then just because of this little dispute, you're putting off everything." Rachel paused as if she wasn't sure whether or not she should continue. "The reason I actually called Annabeth here… was because you seem to be acting this way because of your little dispute. I'm starting to think the only reason you came here is probably because I told Michelle to give me the invitation."
"That's not true!" I tried to deny. Sure I was kind of avoiding Rachel a bit but either way I was not going to miss her art exhibition. "Except from the fact I found out about the invitation… I was still going to visit you anyways." I admitted. "I felt guilty for putting you off all this time."
Rachel sighed, "I know," She entwined her hands with mine. "I'm glad you still care enough to feel guilty."
This time I actually laughed for real, "Well aren't you glad that I'm also extending the dinner invitation to your Dare Enterprise."
"Nice try, but considering that my family's company is a big organization, we're also invited." Rachel told me with a rather know-it-all tone.
"By the way, it's Paul's birthday today, are you heading over to celebrate later?"
"I'm not sure." Rachel began hesitating a bit. "I've been invited to a celebration with some of my friends."
I frowned for a moment before putting a smile back on my face, "It's okay, I mean I just wanted to ask, just in case you didn't make any plans."
"I'm sorry- it's just-"
"Rachel it's fine." I said trying to not make her feel so guilty. "I can't expect you to let go out your friends just because of my stepdad's birthday." I laughed trying to lighten the mood.
"Now… when was my boyfriend ever such a great gentlemen?" Rachel asked pretending to look rather clueless.
"I've always been a nice gentleman." I grinned.
"Well nice gentleman, where should we go next?" Rachel feign politeness as she smirked at me.
"Come on, time for you to show off a little bit."
"First promise me that I'll get the Percy that I love back?" Rachel looked at me, her emerald green eyes piercing through mine.
"I promise," I told her, knowing that I'll have to find Annabeth and actually talk things out with her whether I like it or not.
Annabeth's POV:
Oh gods… no… how am I going to deal with this?! I stared at the invitation in my hand as I sat in Thalia's car, right in front of Percy's house. I'm not really sure why I'm so nervous. I was going to have to face him sooner or later anyways… 'Why not later?' The cowardly part of my mind offered. I instantly pushed that thought behind. I haven't seen him at all for over a week at least… maybe two… I'm not going to waste my time keeping track of that.
I opened Thalia's door and instantly cursed, knowing that the great Thalia Grace would be yelling at me for hogging her car for the whole day. I looked at the place that I've called home for at least a couple months now.
I walked up to the front door and hesitated… whether or not I should knock. Stupid I know… probably one of the most stupidest thing I've ever done in my life… yes this definitely tops the transferring to Columbia what not. If what Rachel had said was true… if what Thalia had said was true… then why should I be scared of facing Percy. 'Because you'll never know exactly what's the outcome of this situation.' The logical side of my brain told me.
To be frank, my brain probably speaks the truth now. As much as I want to find out the outcome of what would happen when Percy confront me or I confront him… I'm a bit scared… because knowing Percy… he is much too unpredictable.
I cleared my throat and raised my hand up… preparing to knock the door… but quickly put my hand down before I could get up the courage. 'Practice makes perfect.' I told myself as I rehearsed the lines I had in my head.
"Percy, I know you're mad at me for lying but I didn't mean too- oh sure I totally didn't mean too." I mumbled to myself. "Look I'm sorry… can we just pretend nothing happen and be friends again-? No no… way to blunt." I paced around the front porch, trying to think of new conversation ideas.
Little did I know there was a car pulling up the driveway… and just my luck it was Percy Jackson walking out of there.
"I don't usually say sorry… but considering that it's my fault..- NO NO!" I stomped around not taking any noticed of my surrounding. "I'm a liar but you're also a liar… so it's fair game right- no… too offensive… it'll just get him more mad."
"Do you need anything?" A voice from behind me said out that nearly made me jumped right out of my shoes... or socks… whatever the case is.
I twirled around at once noticing the voice was not a male's voice… thank the gods that it's not Percy… but rather it's an older woman. Well she looked rather young and she has this kind look to her eyes even. Her brown hair was loosely tied up as if she had hastily tied it up in a rush. Her brown eyes seem to spread warmth all over my body, just like her confused smile was.
"I-I'm… umm…" I didn't know what to say. To begin I don't even know this woman… and yet she seems rather familiar with this place. Let's just say… I was shocked when she took out a pair of keys that I recognized as my- er… Percy's house key.
"You must be looking for Percy." The woman said with a kind voice. Her hands reached over to open the door. She turned around to face me as she placed the keys back into her handbag. In her hand she held some kind of novel. "Why don't you come in and make yourself at home?" She offered.
I hesitated, "I'm not sure-"
"Its okay, I'm sure Percy wouldn't mind. He told me to come visit him… yet he forgets." The lady chuckled as she stepped into the house and motioned me in. "That kid…" She laughed as she walked back out her car. "Would you mind helping me carry these in?"
I nodded, "Sure," I quickly followed her out to her car as she handed me a short pile of books.
"Can you carry those?" She asked me as I took the pile of books in my hand and carried them in. She smiled at me, "Just take in those and put it on the table in the living room first. You're not in a rush are you?' She asked a bit embarrassed.
"N-no," I quickly said. "I'm just here to look for Percy, but I have some time on my hand." I smiled back at the woman who seems to be unable to keep the smile off her face.
"Just carry those into the house, I can get the rest." She told me. I nodded and placed the pile of books on the table as I walked in with the older woman right behind me. I stood up and was about to leave when the woman called me back. "Do you want anything? Percy's probably going to be home soon so you could just wait." She told me.
"Umm… if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" I asked cautiously… I mean… it's not everyday that you see a random woman walking up to a home that you've lived at for almost more than half a year. Just to make things more weirder… she seems to have the key to the place as if she lived here before you.
The woman didn't seem the least offended by my question, instead she just turned around, her eyes twinkling with such kindness I couldn't help but feel like I'm in a presence of my mom before she had died. "I didn't introduce myself yet did I?" She asked, more to herself. "I must be getting too old. I'm Sally Jackson."
"Jackson…" I let Percy's last name hang in the air a bit before realization came to my mind. "You're- you're Percy's family member?"
"You're a smart girl." The woman laughed as she walked to the living room, I followed her, bit unsure of what I should do. "Actually though… I think Percy's mom would be the more appropriate introduction."
I tried to compare the two faces. They had the same facial expression aside from the fact that Percy's hair is jet black and he had a bit of a tan. But I could tell the similarity, the kindness behind their smiles, the little mischievous spark deep within their eyes, and most noticeable was the friendliness casual greeting that both the mother and the son seem to carry out.
"I'm sorry I didn't know-"
Ms. Jackson laughed, "There's no need to be sorry Annabeth. You actually helped me a lot with those books. If I had to carry that box of books by myself, Percy would be complaining about my health." Ms. Jackson looked up at me as she piled the books out. "The house actually looks cleaner than normal… was he expecting you?"
"He didn't know I was coming over." I told her as I came to the conclusion that Percy's mom doesn't know about his little half sister.
"Well I'm actually surprised to see that boy clean. I can't get him to clean his toy box when he was small… but now that he lives in a great house like this… it's so clean. Look at that! Even his table is shining!" She exclaimed pointing to the table in the living room.
I smiled a bit at the memory of Percy being so annoyed of me making him clean his pigsty.
Flashback
"Look at this fish tank! It's the only thing that's clean in this house!" I exclaimed noticing dust on everything… but the fish tank which was gleaming with such brightness that outshines everything else in the room.
"I can't help it." Percy shrugged his face grinning from ear to ear. "I like my fishies."
"Fishies? You still say fishies?!" I asked a bit bewildered. Seriously? A matured man saying 'fishies'? I mean sure, Percy is totally not mature at all, but still. "I don't care what you do… but you are cleaning this place, I can't stand living in a pigsty like this!"
"This is clean!" He gestured to his room.
"Yes… and I'm dumb." I said sarcastically.
"You said it, not me." He grinned holding his hands up.
Honestly at that moment I was ready to slap the grin off his face. "IT WAS SARCASM!"
"You know, it's pretty funny when you're mad." Percy tilted his head to the side like a cute little puppy.
"And your face is going to look cute as a corpse if you don't start cleaning this room." I warned him.
"It's clean-!" He began as I held up a dirty pair shorts in one hand and a ripped t-shirt in the other. He quickly grabbed it away from my hands. "I hate you…" He mumbled.
I grinned, crossing my hands, "Good now start by dusting."
End of Flashback
She turned around to face me. "But are you in a hurry to go home?" She asked me
"I'm not in a hurry," I told her. "I just needed to find Percy."
"Then that's great, you wouldn't mind helping me make dinner right?" She asked. "My husband and Percy should be getting home soon, and I am sure that Percy had forgotten about Paul's birthday already."
"Your husband, Poseidon?" I asked because honestly that's the only person I would consider as Ms. Jackson's husband.
"No, that's just Percy's father. We parted ways a long time ago." She said good- naturedly. "It's his step-dad's birthday today. Percy was the one who invited us to celebrate Paul's birthday at his house… but it looks like he forgot about it." She opened the paper bags that held some raw food she probably brought from the stores and placed it on Percy's kitchen table. "Can you get me the eggs?"
I reached into the Percy's refrigerator and grab a few eggs from the dozen and handed them to Mrs. Jackson.
Sally turned around as if she had forgotten something, "This is so rude of me, I don't even know your name."
This time I laughed for real, "I didn't introduce myself. It's Annabeth Chase." I greeted Percy's mom.
"Where is that flour?" Ms. Jackson asked herself. "I'm not sure where it is, he's not really consistence in where he keeps his food."
"It's in the first cabinet right next to your feet." I told her, trying to be helpful.
Sally raised an eyebrow as she managed to get the flour from under her feet, "You're familiar with everything around this house." Sally noticed. "Do you come here often?"
Now was the right time to get nervous, I didn't know whether or not she knew exactly about Percy's father's little skirmish with other women. "I… umm… we work in the same company so we're rather close,"
Sally nodded as if she accepted that reasoning, "Well time to make the cream and frosting."
By the time we finished making the homemade cake, I was rather comfortable talking to Percy's mom. It's rather understandable how these two people could be related, they just make me feel so welcomed. Through talking to her, I almost forgot about my problem that had risen with Percy.
"Blue frosting?" I asked as I saw her mixed some blue food coloring into the finished product. "Percy was seriously about the blue food?" I asked remembering about one of the first conversations I've had with him and he had said something about 'blue food'.
Before Ms. Jackson could answer, I heard the front door swinging open and I heard Percy's voice, "I got it Paul, I can't believe you're so old now."
"What? Now that I'm no longer your teacher you don't respect me any more Percy?" Another man's voice.
"Paul you know that's not what I meant!" Percy's whining voice could be heard from all the way in the kitchen.
"Percy in the kitchen!" Sally called from beside me. Instantly I panicked. I've been so distracted talking to his mom that I forgot how to deal with talking to him! "Your friend is here too!"
Percy's footsteps were getting closer and closer, I felt my heart beating a bit more faster than normal. "My friend?" At that moment his head poked through the kitchen doors and his sea-green eyes widen in surprise. "A-Annabeth…?" He stuttered.
"I saw her as I got to your house, so I invited her in." Percy's mom said as she casually placed the finished cake onto the table. Little did Ms. Jackson noticed the tension between both Percy and I."Well since you are home now, I've brought over some books for you."
Percy didn't answer, all he seems to be doing is just staring at me in shock.
"Why don't you and Annabeth help bring those up to the empty room?"
I instantly cursed remembering how the empty room probably still holds my personal belongings when I had lived with Percy. While on the other hand, Percy seem to snap out of his trance as he grabbed my hands and pulled me away from the kitchen. "Sure we'll do it." He said quickly dragging me away from his mom and step-dad.
"So…" He began as if unsure what to say as he placed down the pile of books in his room.
"I know, you called me up here to yell at me. If you want to yell at me, go ahead and get it over with." I told him bluntly. "I know I'm a liar and you have all the rights to yell at me. I used you for your money just to go to the school here."
Percy's eyes went wide as he registered what I just said, "That's- that's not what I called you up here for. I-"
I knew what I was going to say, I prepared it for almost a week now, looking back… I don't even know why'd I even agree with Emily's plan. "I've already prepared my resignation to the school as well as the office. I'll tell your real sister to come to New York. I'm sorry for wasting your time, and causing you all these trouble."
"Annabeth, just-"
"I'll leave New York and not bother you ever again." I said with finality as Percy just stared at me too shock to comprehend what he had just heard.
Review Answers:
Gill: Honestly I never knew that, I live in the west coast so I kept thinking that In-N-Out are over at the east coast as well! But haha thanks for telling me :D
Sierra: In my opinion just give writing a try! It's better to try it then regret it later huh?
Dude702: Interesting, I always love reading your predictions haha, probably something I've never thought of, I'm not actually sure if I'm planning on bringing in Calypso yet or no, still debating in my head actually! Thanks again world greats and awesome dude!
-0-
I know.. I know, I'm getting a bit rusty.. considering I've been just looking at History notes all day long about homo sapiens, homo erectus… kill me now! But yeah, school's been hectic and it's only the third day, so I'm pretty much in for hell this year (sigh) But will I make Annabeth leave New York? Honestly I'm just planning a quick Percabeth recouncile (since I always seem to drag things on) Well tomorrow will be more fun… FRESHMAN FRIDAY! Freshmen had better watch out cause I'm gonna destroy them *smirks evilly*
Agent Astro Zombie