Hey guys! I'm hoping you liked the surprise I left you with last chapter. :)
W/o further adieu...the 14th chapter of Layers.
"We should go to the beach!" Thalia yelled the minute they all sat down at the lunch table.
"What do you mean the beach?" Annabeth asked incredulously.
"The beach," Thalia said slowly, "You know, sand. Water. Ocean. Stuff like that."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "I know what a beach is, Thalia. I'm just wondering why you want to go when it's 40 degrees outside."
"It's not that cold." She looked around the table with a pleading look. "It won't be cold guys, we can go and just enjoy the weekend."
"And freeze our asses off?" Percy asked from beside Calypso.
Thalia sent him a glare.
"Stop worrying about the weather and think about the fun we can have!"
"Where would we go anyway?" Jason shoved a tater tot in his mouth.
"I don't know. Montawk? Coney Island?"
"You've got this all figured out haven't you?" Calypso said sarcastically.
"Yes I do." Thalia rolled her eyes.
"So...who all would go?"
"Everyone! This is a friends trip! Well...everybody except for you." She said pointing at Katie who was listening in on their conversation. "I don't like you."
The girl flicked her off and Thalia just waved her away.
"Can I bring a friend?" Calypso asked.
Thalia nodded, "I guess so." She raised her chin towards Annabeth. "Ask Pipes if she wants to come too."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Okay, but do I have to go?"
"Uh, yeah,"
"Why?" She practically whined.
Thalia stood up and crossed her arms. "Because I said so. Everyone is coming and we're going to have a great time so stop worrying about what could go wrong or the damn weather. We're going to have so much fun... Isn't that right guys?"
"Sure," a few people mumbled.
And that, was how Annabeth ended up waking around the mall with Thalia, trying on bathing suits.
Thalia was running around grabbing suits left and right and tossing them towards Annabeth, who was looking through them and putting them back on their shelves when they showed too much of the 'No No Zones'.
Thalia walked towards her with a new stack and pushed it into her hands.
"Don't think I don't see you getting rid of what I give you."
"Did you really expect me to keep those string bikinis?"
Thalia just nodded at her like she was dumb, and Annabeth puffed out her cheeks, "Why don't I just grab a nice one piece and we can get out of here?"
Thalia gasped dramatically and grabbed at her heart. "No! One pieces are for old ladies and Baywatch lifeguards! You have an amazing body, why don't you want to show it off? I'm sure Jason would love that."
"Jason's already seen it," she said rolling her eyes.
"Well maybe other people." Thalia shrugged.
Annabeth's mind immediately flashed to a pair of bright green eyes, but she pinched her arm before she could conjure up who they belonged too.
She had been doing that a lot lately, well everytime her mind brought her to Percy Jackson.
Which was quite a bit.
After she had the first dream about him, her mind just wouldn't quit and she didn't understand why.
The dream had been innocent. Just Percy sitting in on one of the bean bag chairs from the bookstore while Annabeth walked around working. Maybe her mind was just telling her that she felt overworked...yeah, that was it. It wasn't anything deeper than that.
Sure, he was attractive.
But, they were on friendly terms and even though her feelings went no further than that, it didn't stop her from feeling guilty.
Calypso shouldn't have to worry about her friends dreaming about her boyfriend and conjuring up possible feelings.
Annabeth felt like a horrible friend.
And then...there was Jason.
He was hiding something, it probably wasn't big or something that should worry her as much as it does, but it was there.
That however was not a reason why she should be dreaming about Percy.
Jason didn't deserve it when he's been nothing but a loving boyfriend to her.
Annabeth felt like an awful girlfriend.
She could see the black tips of Thalia's nails as she waved them in her face. "You have your thinking face on."
She pushed her hand away. "Yeah, I'm thinking about how dreadful these swimsuits are."
Thalia just rolled her eyes and grabbed Annabeth's hand to drag her to the dressing rooms.
She opened up the first stall and shoved Annabeth inside.
"Change into those and come out after each one." Thalia sat down on the bench across from the stall. "Try them on in the order that I gave them to you, and please, for your sake, don't try to skip over any or you'll find yourself embarrassed when I come in there to watch you change."
Annabeth rolled her eyes and picked up the first suit. "Why don't you go try on your own stuff and let me change in piece." She said exasperated.
"I already have mine. It's black and it's tiny." She sounded smug.
Annabeth tried on the first tankini and glanced at herself in the mirror. It was bright blue and covered in rhinestones.
Gross.
She walked out of the stall and slouched in front of her friend.
Thalia shook her head. "Okay. That's awful."
"Glad that we've come to the same conclusion. Now can I throw the ones I don't like out?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Fine. Just don't get rid of all of the bikinis." Thalia said and gave her the eye.
Annabeth said nothing and just turned around and went back into the stall.
She looked down at the large pile in front of her and started weeding them out, throwing them over the door when she didn't like them.
She tossed the last one over her head and the disgruntled noise Thalia made when it smacked right into her, brought a smile to Annabeth's face.
"Green or silver, Thalia?"
The punk girl peeked her head through the crack in the door.
"Try them both on."
Annabeth shrugged the sliver one on and was immediately uncomfortable with all the exposed skin. She was looking down at her very bare stomach and thighs while she walked out.
Thalia stood up in front of her and waved her finger around for Annabeth to turn.
"It's cute, but not really you. I can tell how uncomfortable you are right now." She barked out a laugh. "I can't wait until you see mine."
"Okay, so the green one then? Good lets go."
Thalia stopped her. "Wait! You haven't even tried it on."
"I don't need to. They're aren't any other options." She shrugged.
"There are always options." She scolded, "Go try it on."
Annabeth mumbled from all the way back to the stall and didn't finish until she was walking back out.
In the green bathing suit.
"Now that's the one!"
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"I love this, it shows off everything!"
"Wait what? Nevermind then. I'd rather not have my goods on display." She said covering her boobs.
Thalia smirked, "Not with my brother you don't. But whatever." She said before Annabeth could glare. "I don't mean everything, just the good stuff ya damn nun! Just think about it, Jason will be a walking wood plank the whole day!" She cackled.
Annabeth puckered her lips. "That's gross, Thals. You think about your brother like that entirely too much."
Thalia shrugged and ushered Annabeth back into the stall.
"Did you know," Thalia started, "That twins can often find themselves in a situation where they are attracted to each other?"
Annabeth snickered, "Well don't let me get in you guys' way."
"I'm nearly stating a interesting fact."
"It's the Sea of Incest." She sang as she grabbed her purse, the new swimsuit and walked passed Thalia to check out.
Annabeth put her potential purchase on the conveyor belt and quickly looked away when she caught the man who was ringing it up, staring at her.
"How are we doing today, ladies?" He said, talking to both of them, but only looking at Annabeth.
Thalia sensed her discomfort and chuckled, "We're just fine. My friend over here," She nudged Annabeth, "Is just excited about showing off her new bikini." She said with a cheeky grin.
Annabeth felt her cheeks heat up as the man's eyes widened and he smirked.
"Well, I hope you have a fun time." He winked and handed her her bag.
She just nodded, smiled and then practically ran out of the store, Thalia in tow behind her trying to hold back her laughter.
(Line break)
"So let me get this straight. You guys just...talked, and now you're best friends with Percy Jackson?" Thalia asked incredulously.
"No, Thalia. It isn't like that, we just realized we had some things in common," she shrugged, "So now...we don't dislike each other as much."
Thalia raised an eyebrow, "So...friends?"
"You're going to call us that either way, Thals, so sure. We're friends." She said sighing.
Thalia nodded and grinned as she thumped her hands on the steering wheel to the song on the radio. It was 8 o'clock in the morning and they were driving away from Annabeth's house and about to head to Montawk to meet up with the others.
"So when we get there there won't be any canoodling?"
"Canoodling? No Thaila I'm not gonna canoodle with Percy in front of Jason." She said incredulously.
Annabeth leaned over to look in Thalia's ear and knocked on her forehead.
Thalia shot her a look, "What the hell are you doing?" She said batting her hand away.
"Checking to see if you've lost your mind."
"I didn't lose my mind, I was just asking a simple question."
"One that makes less sense than the usual stuff that comes out of your mouth."
She adjusted herself, propped her feet on the dash board, and looked over at Thalia through her sunglasses.
"Enough about me, there's nothing going on. I want you to tell me what's happening with you and Nico."
Thalia glanced at her, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Annabeth waved her away. "Oh don't play coy." She pointed at Thalia's small black shorts and cropped tank top. "That's the closest to a stripper that Thalia Grace has ever gotten. There's got to be a reason behind it."
Thalia calmly shot her the finger, making Annabeth giggle.
"I don't know why you're talking. You look just as bad as I do."
Annabeth looked down at her shorts, flip flops and tank top.
"I do not. At least most of my skin is covered."
"Not for long," Thalia mumbled.
"Stop trying to change the subject."
She swatted Thalia's hand away when she tried to turn up the radio.
"I'm not. There's nothing to talk about. Stop being a pushy bitch and let me listen to my music." She said laughing.
"Fine, but I'll get it out of you later."
"Sure you will. Don't hold your breath." She mumbled.
And before Annabeth could get a word in, Thalia reached over and turned the music all the way up.
(PERCY POV...kinda)
Percy didn't want to go to the beach.
He did not want to hang out with his "lunch friends" outside of school.
That's where they needed to stay.
At lunch.
But no, Thalia had to open her big mouth and now he was being dragged into the car by Calypso.
She was taking this seriously, too seriously. She almost forced into his swim trunks.
"If you are the only one that doesn't show up, you're going to look like an asshole." Caly had told him when he expressed his deep dislike for the arrangements that planned to take up his Saturday.
Saturdays were for sleeping, and no one seemed to understand that.
He tried really hard not to show his extreme dislike for the trip for Calypso's sake.
Apparently he wasn't doing a good enough job.
"Oh my gosh!" She slammed her hands on the steering wheel. "You are so dramatic, Percy! Stop pouting and if you want to, we can leave after about an hour." She said irritably. She was already pissed that he made her drive because he claimed he didn't feel awake enough to make the 'journey'.
He sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm being annoying right now, but I could seriously be sleeping."
"It's good you aren't sleeping. You miss half of the day from your Saturday hibernating." She said getting on the freeway.
He looked out the window. "I see no problem with that."
He saw Calypso shrug. "I guess I just thought you would be happy about seeing some of your friends out of school."
"Caly, you sound like my mom." He chuckled.
"I'm serious," she huffed.
"So am I. But babe, I see Nico all the time outside of school. Other than him, there's no one else." He lied.
"Not even...Annabeth?"
He shot her a weird look while she just stared ahead. "Annabeth's not really..."
"Yes she is, Percy. You told me yourself."
"Maybe that was a lapse of judgment." He shrugged.
"It wasn't. Stop trying to talk yourself out of this."
"Why do you care if she's my friend or not?"
"I'm your girlfriend, of course I care. I think you need more friends anyway."
"Way to make me sound like a loner." He played with the window controls.
Up.
Down.
Annabeth was a strange subject to talk about.
He liked her, she was nice enough when she wasn't being a super bitch and her nice moments out shined the latter.
Up.
Down.
Sure, they had some similar history and it was nice to talk to someone about his dad, but that didn't mean they were best friends. He was sure he'd find a way to fuck it up between now and graduation.
Hell, he probably wouldn't last 2 weeks.
Up.
Down.
Up.
Click.
He turned to see that Calypso had locked the window from his use.
"I'm serious, Percy."
He ran a hand through his hair impatiently.
"I thought girlfriends hated it when their boyfriends were friends with girls? Isn't that part of the secret girlcode or some shit?"
Calypso chuckled halfheartedly. "You know I'm not like that. I just want you to have fun."
He wiggled his eye brows at her and winked, "How much fun?"
He expected her to giggle, or roll her eyes like she usually did when he was being silly. But nothing. She just stared straight ahead like she hadn't heard him.
He felt his eyes narrow as he studied her demeanor for a few seconds, but quickly shrugged at went back to looking out the window.
He didn't need to worry, she was just in a mood.
He chuckled softly to himself, she probably had PMS or something.
(Line break)
About an hour later, they pulled up to the beach and parked next to Nico's black jeep. Percy looked at the cars. It seemed that the only ones that were already there where were Frank, Hazel, Nico, and Jason.
He immediately rolled his eyes at the thought of the prick.
He slipped into his flip flops and jumped out of the truck to catch up to Calypso, but stopped short when his feet hit the ground.
The sand found its way between his toes in the best way and he found himself taking a large gulp of the sea air that surrounded him.
A seagull landed a few feet beside him and he found himself grinning at it.
Damn he loved the beach.
He walked over to the group that was standing by a large tree.
"Hey, Perce," Frank greeted, punching him in the shoulder. "You look like you're in a good mood."
Percy laughed, "I actually-"
"Were you just smiling at that bird? Getting soft are we, Jackson?" Jason motherfuking Grace interrupted.
And just like that, Percy's good mood vanished.
He wouldn't let the asshole know that though.
He smirked, "Grace, I'm pretty sure you're the only one getting soft out of all of us, if you know what I mean."
The pink flush of anger that seemed to cover the blond instantly, brought Percy a large amount of satisfaction.
He turned to Frank, "Who are we waiting on?"
"The rest of the girls and then that's it. So Annabeth, Thalia, and Calypso's friend, Cami."
Percy cocked an eyebrow, he could have sworn everyone at their table was invited, but hardly any of them were coming.
"They said they had better stuff to do," Frank answered his silent question with a shrug.
Percy grinned, "Good, nobody liked them anyway."
Frank shot him a fatherly looking stare, but dropped it with a chuckle.
Percy slid his flip flops and shirt off and walked over to Calypso who was having Hazel rub sunscreen down her back.
"I'm going for a quick swim."
"Everybody's not here yet." She said, rubbing spots of sunscreen in on her arms.
"I know, I'll be fast. I just wanna get my hair wet."
She chuckled, "Sure you are. Go." She nudged him, "Go play."
He grinned as he walked backwards.
Percy stoped walking when he reached the water. It was sloshing over his toes and it was freezing.
That wouldn't stop him though.
He walked into the ocean until the water reached his chest. And then he went under.
He ran his fingers through his hair underwater and started to freestyle in circles.
He closed his eyes and found himself getting lost in the motions.
Before his dad died, Percy would always come to the beach with him and go swimming or fishing or snorkeling. That's how Percy became such a water lover.
His dad was the one that pushed him to join the swim team back in Seattle his freshman year.
Hell, his dad was the reason they were able to move to New York in the first place.
His dad was the reason Percy made the choices he did. Good...and sometimes not.
Percy shook his head and flopped on his back to catch his breath.
He rubbed his fingers together, they were wrinkled like expired raisins. He had been in the water a while, time flew.
He threaded water for a few seconds when his ears perked up.
"Percy!"
"...Percy!"
He groaned as he slowly made his way towards the shore. He didn't bother to check to see who called him.
We made it to where the water stopped at his waist and he looked up already annoyed and ready to tell off the girl who called him. He assumed it was Thalia.
It wasn't Thalia.
It was a pair of very long, very tan, very attractive legs. That definitely didn't belong the the goth she-devil.
He kept going up, seeing some hips, a small waist, a chest-.
Don't stare. Don't stare. Don't stare.
His mind told him.
He didn't listen and he was almost sad to see them leave when Miss LongLegs squatted in front of him so that they were eye to eye.
Annabeth had her blonde locks up in a high bun, a few pieces falling into her face. Her bright eyes were widened almost comically.
She looked hot.
That was...until she started talking.
"Percy! How are you not dead right now?"
"Wha?" He started walking out of the water and he was now towering over her small form.
She stumbled to her feet.
"How are you not dead? You've been under water since we got here. You didn't even come up for air, you were just laying there!"
"When did you get here?"
"Like 5 minutes ago!"
"Oh. That wasn't very long."
He started walking towards his towel.
"What do you mean? 5 minutes under water is impossible." She starting trailing behind him.
"I can go 7 and a half."
"Minutes?" She squeaked.
"No, not minutes, hours," he answered sarcastically.
"Well that's...um, impressive."
"Yep." He chuckled.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure you didn't drown or anything."
She sat on one of the beach towels and fiddled with her hair.
He laughed out loud. "And what would you have done if I were drowning, Annabeth?"
She shrugged, "I would have gotten Jason or someone to go and get you."
"Jason would probably hold my head under for longer." He snorted while he ran the towel up and down his torso.
She frowned, "That's not true and you know it. You guys should really-."
She cut off her sentence as she started to look south.
He watched her cheeks turn pink, with extreme satisfaction might he add, when she realized how much of him was really showing.
He smirked, "See something you like?"
She seemed to regain her composure and managed to roll her eyes. "You wish, Jackson."
"Oooh last name basis again, huh?"
She laughed and was about respond when Jason called her name.
Her face dropped sightly when he motioned for her to sit next to him, but she nodded anyway and stood up, giving Percy a small smile before leaving.
"What were you guys talking about?"
Calypso's voice said out of nowhere.
Percy jumped, "Damn, you need a cowbell or something."
She laughed and grabbed his hand, tugging him towards where everyone was sitting.
Percy sat next to frank on the ground and pulled Calypso onto his lap.
"Why are we sitting in a cult circle, Thalia?"
The emo girl, who was sitting on Nico, glared at her friend. "It's a friend circle, Annie."
"That sounds even lamer." Percy said into Calypso's shoulder.
"Shut it, Percy! You're ruining my mojo!"
He decided not to mention that she never had any mojo to begin with. He wanted this day to go somewhat well.
"Okay. As I was saying, before someone interrupted me, I was thinking that we could maybe play some games."
"Like what?" Jason asked. There was always that one dickwad that had to ask the stupid questions.
"Like...chicken and volleyball and other stuff."
"Sounds like you've got quite the plan, Thals," Annabeth chuckled.
"I do, we can just come up with stuff as we go."
"Wait!" Calypso sat up, "We can't do anything until Cami gets here. She promised she would be here."
"Kay, we'll wait for her."
Please review :)
~TUTU