HIIII GUYS! *Hides behind nearest person* I know it's been a while, but this is unfortunately what happens when school starts back. Thankfully I was able to take some time and write during the Christmas break! Sadly this is one of my shorter chapters, but don't worry, it gets the point across ;). Now without further adieu... here's chapter 22 of Layers.
Previously on Layers...
Percy looks into Annabeth's eyes for the first time since she got into the car and she could tell just by looking at them, that she was not going to like his answer.
Percy pulled her close and kissed her hair.
"I'm so sorry baby. I'm sorry that I have to tell you this."
She tried to free herself from his arms, but he resisted.
"Percy! What the hell are you talking about? You're scaring me."
"Baby, my dad and your mom weren't friends...your mom hates my dad because she was his fucking mistress."
(...)
PERCY POV (Kind of)
Percy was sitting on his bed, strumming his guitar when his phone rang. Annabeth.
"Hey Baby, what's up?" He asked, smiling at the thought of his girlfriend. Damn he loved calling her that.
"How do our parents know each other?" Annabeth said quickly.
"What?" Percy was confused. "They don't. Well... my mom has never said anything about it."
"You need to talk to her. I just told Athena about us and when I told her Sally's name, she freaked out and told me that you weren't allowed in the house. She wanted me to break up with you."
Percy pushed his guitar to the side and stood up running a hand through his hair.
"That makes no sense, Annabeth. I've never met your mom before."
Annabeth had made sure of that.
He heard her sigh over the phone.
"I know. But ask your mom anyway. Maybe we can find a way to solve the problem or something."
"...Okay. I'll ask. I will call you when I find out ok? And until I do, don't go speak to your mom. We both know you and your temper can get you in trouble." He said in an attempt to make her laugh.
Annabeth chuckled lightly, "Ok. I'll talk to you in a few."
"Bye." I love you. He wanted to say, but he knew she wouldn't know how to react so he held back.
"Bye."
Percy scrubbed his hands over his face before he went to go find his mom.
He saw the light on under her bedroom door and knocked lightly.
"Come in."
He went in and found her sitting up in bed reading a book.
"Ma can I talk to you about something?"
Sally put the book down. "Sure."
He took a deep breath. "Annabeth just talked to her mom about us and when she told Athena your name she freaked and told Beth that she should break up with me."
Sally's face dropped and her eyes turned glassy.
Percy cursed under his breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry I just...I was just wondering." He said timidly.
"No no," she wiped her face and sighed. "No, I'm just surprised. I should have told you sooner I just never thought this would happen. I should have known when we moved out here."
Percy was all kinds of confused. "What are you talking about? Do you know why Athena hates me?"
Sally squeezed his hand, "No baby, she doesn't hate you! I don't think anyone could hate you. She has a problem with me...and your dad."
Percy flinched back, "What? She knew dad? How?"
Sally put her head in her hands. "Through his work."
"Dad was a marine biologist. Athena is a neurologist. What the hell would make them work together?"
Sally shrugged, "I'm not sure I just know that a few years ago they had to come together for a research project. I don't speak doctor, so I never understood. He would have to fly to New York pretty often for about 3 months straight." She smiled weakly at Percy, "I'm not sure if you remember, you were about 13 at the time."
Percy nodded, "I remember how much he used to travel, but what does this have to do with Annabeth's mom? Did they get in a fight or something?"
Sally closed her eyes and let a tear roll down her cheek, making Percy worry even more.
"I didn't want to tell you this, Percy. I didn't want the memory of your dad to be tarnished by a bad decision."
She said sadly.
Percy was starting to see where this was going and he didn't like it at all.
"What happened, Mom? What did Dad do?" He asked in a hard voice.
"I found out about his relationship with Athena about 3 months before he died. It had been going on for about 2 1/2 years." She said quietly.
In an dangerously calm voice Percy spoke, "Dad had been cheating on you for 2 1/2 years?"
Sally nodded slowly.
"How did you find out?"
"Text messages. Your father left his phone out one night."
They were both quiet for a few minutes.
"So Athena...hates you...even though she was the home wrecker?"
"Yes. She was hurt by it too, Percy. She didn't know we existed." Sally insisted.
"I don't believe that."
"It's true. She may be bitter right now, but I don't think she would willing go along with being the other woman. You forget that she had children of her own and had just lost her husband." She reminded him.
Percy's head snapped up from the bed sheet. "Yes, she had just lost her husband. She should be grieving! Not fucking a married man!"
Sally scowled at him, but didn't say anything so Percy could cool down.
"D-d-do you think Athena introduced them? Did Annabeth meet Dad?" He asked in a hollow voice.
Sally shook her head, "No, I don't think she did."
"I know you kept it from me so that it wouldn't ruin my perception of Dad, but I don't know what to think anymore. I feel like the last 2 1/2 years of grieving for a man that I thought was the best person in the world, was a lie."
Sally sighed and ran her hand through his hair. "I know sweetheart, but you still have to remember him and what he was like before all of this came out."
"How are you so calm," he demanded, "How were you so calm? You didn't act an differently in the few months before he died!"
His mom sighed, "I was mad Percy, so mad. And I felt betrayed and hurt, but... we were still a family. We were slightly chipped and cracked, no longer perfect, but we were still a family. I loved him with everything in me, that didn't change. And whether you believe it or not, your dad loved me too. I think that his infidelity might have been a product of us getting married so early. He cheated out of curiosity, not out of love. And I know. I know that he was a grown man and that it doesn't excuse what he did, but I know that he didn't stray due to lack of love. He loved the both of us so much Percy. His love for you? It knew no bounds from the moment I found out I was pregnant. I don't want you to think that this had something to do with you at all. It didn't even have anything to do with me. It was his decision and his battle from the very beginning."
Sally started to sob silently, "I didn't fight him on anything. When I confronted him I wasn't even angry. I didn't think I should have been spending my time being angry. I think subconsciously, I knew that that would be our last few months together. Everything felt so precious. Every word. Every hug. Every emotion. It's like I knew how distraught I would be if we spent our last few months bickering and being annoyed with one another." She sighed heavily and Percy could feel his eyes welling up with unshed tears.
"When I woke up the morning of the accident I was completely at peace. I had decided that I loved him and no matter what, we were going to put this aside." She sniffled, "I was obviously a little late with that epiphany considering it wasn't even 3 hours later when I got the call about the accident."
Tears ran down Percy's cheeks silently while Sally ran her hands through his hair.
"This is a lot to take in, Mom." Percy said tiredly.
"I know baby. Believe me, I know."
"Shit, what am I supposed to tell Annabeth?" He sat up and rubbed his face. "She absolutely adored her dad, and when she finds out that Athena moved on so quickly, it's going to make her hate her mom even more, if that's possible."
Sally sighed, "I'm not sure."
"She wanted me to call her as soon as I found out." He whispered, "I think I should just let her sleep and tell her this weekend."
"No Percy," Sally said quietly, "Don't try to hold this in. Annabeth is someone you can lean on who will understand your situation. Let her help you while you help her."
Percy sighed heavily, his heart feeling 5 times heavier in his chest than before, and put his head in my mom's lap, seeking comfort only she could give.
"Percy..."
"Percy..."
"Percy!"
Percy shot up feeling disoriented. "What?" He rubbed his eyes drowsily.
"You need to go to your room and get some proper sleep. Its almost 12:30."
"Shit!" He jumped up and fished for his phone. It had been 3 hours since his phone call with Annabeth.
"I told Annabeth I would call her back."
Sally grabbed her son's hand tightly in her own. "Perce are you awake now? Enough to drive?"
He nodded.
"Then I think you should go tell Annabeth in person."
(...)
Annabeth's POV (Kind of)
Percy looks into Annabeth's eyes for the first time since she got into the car and she could tell just by looking at them, that she was not going to like his answer.
Percy pulled her close and kissed her hair.
"I'm so sorry baby. I'm sorry that I have to tell you this."
She tried to free herself from his arms, but he resisted.
"Percy! What the hell are you talking about? You're scaring me."
"Baby, my dad and your mom weren't friends...your mom hates my dad because she was his fucking mistress."
Annabeth stood still for a good 10 seconds.
She was utterly confused.
She had heard what Percy told her, loud and clear. She was just trying to wrap her head around the insane notion that Athena and Percy's dad could have been...romantically involved.
She looked at her anxious boyfriend.
"Percy are we together in what the definition of mistress is?"
Percy paused and gazed at her wearily. "I'm pretty sure we are."
"So you're trying to tell me that my mom amd your dad were seeing each other behind our parents' back?" She asked slowly, feeling rage beginning to burn from the inside.
Percy cleared his throat quietly and shook his head.
"Not exactly. Your dad had passed away about month before they started the affair."
Annabeth sucked in a fast breath. You know that barely contained rage she had going on earlier? Yeah well it's been let loose.
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!"
GUYYSSS I KNOW IT'S SHORT AND I'M SORRY! But there's more to come, I promise.
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