CHAPTER 13

Honesty With The Mother

ANNABETH

As Percy and Callie left, Annabeth was there at the Jackson-Blofis residence. Taking care of Sally was her top priority right now, and besides, she had nothing else to do this Saturday. Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

It's not like she didn't want to take care of Sally, since she's actually fond of the woman. It's because, usually this Saturday, she and Percy would hang out at the Empire State building.

Just to talk, hang out, eat some ice cream maybe, and just sit there quietly enjoying the view.

But all that had to be ruined because of her.

Calypso.

Oh, well, Annabeth thought. It won't hurt to stay here all day, anyway.

Annabeth was currently at the house's kitchen, pouring two hot chocolates in mugs, one for her and one for Sally.

Sally's cup was white, and full of flowers, and as stated by Percy, "mom's most favorite mug in the world, which she probably loves more than me", although Annabeth knows it's not true. Sally loved her son very much, and that can be seen the moment you met Sally.

But it wasn't Sally's mug that mattered.

It was the mug Annabeth used.

The mug was colored in waves, mixing dark blue, medium blue and light blue together. And there were also small fishes swimming in the side.

Percy's favorite mug.

Sometimes, she wondered how did they get this far?

From being best friends since they were kids, to being REALLY best friends during high school, with the revelation that Percy actually had a crush on her after all these years, and when she finally did return the feelings, Percy had already found another. But still, Percy chose to stay friends with her.

That was Percy's defining attitude to Annabeth. Never giving up on anybody.

Sometimes, she blamed Calypso for being the reason Percy doesn't like her anymore. But then again, Annabeth realized, she had no one to blame but herself.

She brought the two mugs of hot chocolate down to the living room, where Sally Jackson lay in the couch with a blanket over her.

"Sally, I brought the hot chocolate." Annabeth told her.

"Oh, Annabeth, it smells great already coming from here." Sally said weakly, with the flu taking in.

Annabeth handed her her mug, and then Annabeth took a sip in hers.

After Sally took a sip from hers, she tried engaging Annabeth in a conversation.

"So, how's your dad?" Sally asked eagerly.

"He's fine. He's with my stepmom for the duration, and it's just me at home." Annabeth replied, though she wasn't feeling the tone of the conversation.

She hated (a bit) spending every minute in the house of the Jackson-Blofis family because she was stuck there while Percy was on his dream date with Calypso.

Then Annabeth remembered, did she and Percy have any "dates" that were considered really "fun"? So far, whenever it was just her and Percy, all they did was go to restaurants, go to beaches, go places just to hang out and watch a movie normally. Every moment of those let Annabeth think, that Percy really enjoyed those moments.

Those moments were the moments where Percy actually liked her. Moments where Percy would squeal in his bedroom whenever they had something planned.

It hurt her that it will never happen again, except for another girl.

Secretly, she hoped Percy will have a bad day with Calypso.

Common sense, for some.

"Something's bothering you, Annabeth." Sally commented.

Of course, Sally will know that. Annabeth was like the daughter Sally never had. Of course she knew something was going on.

Annabeth would you usually hesitate and lie, but she wanted to talk about it.

"Yeah. I can see it in your face. It doesn't have to do anything with Percy. . . . doesn't it?" Sally added as she asked.

Annabeth didn't say anything, but the look on her face said a lot. Sally took it as a yes.

"Ah. I knew it. You know, you can tell me anything." Sally added again.

Annabeth didn't even know where to start.

"It's just—" Annabeth stopped then sighed. "I—" She can't even speak about it.

"What is it? Is he acting weird again? Has he been ignoring you again? One of his mood swings?" Sally asked.

There is no escape.

"I. . . I like him, Sally." Annabeth confessed.

Sally didn't react. She simply smirked and patted Annabeth's hair.

"But you always did, Annabeth. You're best friends." Sally weakly smiled.

Annabeth stood up and frayed her hands. "No! Not like that! I mean…. The, you know. The like, that's—" Annabeth didn't get to finish her sentence as Sally gestured her hand in front of her pose and stopped her from talking.

"Say no more, Annabeth." Sally said, gesturing her to sit down. "I understand."

Annabeth sat down.

For some reason, Sally's reaction reminded her why she loved Percy. Because he had a great mother. He never had a father, and his first stepfather was an abusive asshole, but he did live with a mother that took care of him his whole life, that nurtured him until he became the man he is today.

"So, you're saying you have a crush on Percy?" Sally asked, now fully serious.

"...Yes." Annabeth hesitated at first. "Are you mad?"

"What? No, no. I'm not mad. I've been pining on you two ever since you were kids. I liked the idea that you could be my daughter-in-law." Sally smiled.

It brought happiness to Annabeth that Sally didn't mind them dating. There was a 100% chance Percy and Annabeth dating could've happened, but those chances lowered once Percy started seeing Calypso. She chuckled at the thought.

"There's one huge hole I've found about you, though, Annabeth." Sally said as she narrowed her eyes.

Annabeth was ready for whatever Sally had to say.

"Why didn't you tell him three months ago? Didn't he basically confess to you? He's not been the same for three straight months." Sally stated.

"I didn't know back then, okay?" Annabeth blurted out. "I didn't…. think I liked him back then. I always saw him as a best friend. I always thought the idea of me and Percy dating was horrible. But right now, it turns out to be a not-so-bad idea." Annabeth trailed off.

Annabeth couldn't believe this. She was literally confessing her feelings for her crush…. to his mother. Sally could've been an exception, but it still felt weird nonetheless.

"I see, I see. The usual woman. I don't blame you." Sally stated.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.

"The usual. Typical woman sees a guy best friend as merely a friend. Not interested…. until another woman's in the picture." Sally explained. "I'm not saying that it's a bad attribute. But I've seen it multiple times."

Annabeth couldn't believe it herself. She was becoming the usual, regular teenage girl. Hopelessly in love.

"So, setting aside things" Sally huffed. "What are you planning to do?"

"I can just tell him, right? He still likes me." Annabeth stated, but deep inside she knew that was a LIE.

"Maybe. He cares for you, Annabeth. Always has. But I don't know if he still likes you." Sally explained.

The truth did indeed hurt.

Then Annabeth had this crazy idea, that she hoped would be true.

"Do you think he's just with Callie, to, I don't know, make me jealous? Like his plan to make me like him?" she asked.

Fingers crossed.

"If that's true, then it's already working." Sally added. But then her brow furrowed. "But Percy isn't the type of man who would do that and I've seen the way he looks at her. It's like his world will fall apart once Callie doesn't talk to him. His world already fell apart when you told him you didn't return the feelings three months ago, and Callie seems to be rebuilding it. I've heard how he describes her. 'the perfect girl' he would say. And that was just yesterday." Sally finished.

The perfect girl.

So Calypso was indeed perfect in the eyes of Percy. Percy must've seen that in Annabeth, too. But since then, his views must've changed. Deep down, Annabeth knew she had no chance against Calypso. She tried to hold back her feelings, make it seem Percy's description of Calypso didn't hurt. But in truth, it did.

A lot more than she realized.

So maybe Annabeth could tell Percy. Just out with the truth. Was it not that hard to say "I actually like you." to Percy himself.

But it wasn't the embarrassment Annabeth couldn't handle.

It was the rejection.

Somehow, Annabeth knew she would be rejected.

"So, Annabeth. What are you planning to do?" Sally asked her with eagerness.

"Try to win him back?" Annabeth asked.

Sally chuckled. "You can try. But no brutal stuff. I don't want your jealousy of Callie to overcome you. I don't wanna hear news about you murdering her and stuff like that." Sally joked.

"Seriously?" Annabeth asked with joking tone.

Sally laughed too.

"Now, would you be a dear and turn on the TV? WWE is on."

So that was her plan.

Try to win him back.

But the competition already has an advantage.

MUST READ!

DONE!

Part 2 of the Star Wars marathon date in the next chapter

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OTPMaker22 out.