CHAPTER 14 & 15

Root of all Evil

Geek Movie Marathon-slash-Date – Part 2

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HELLO, GUYS! I'm finally back after a long (like really long) hiatus. As my big apology to those I kept waiting, here's two chapters. I know y'all been waiting for this. So yeah. Enjoy, and review!

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ANNABETH

"Annie!" Thalia yelled through the phone.

"Don't call me that. Anyway, Thals, wanna come over? At Percy's house? I'm with Sally and I'm taking care of her because she's sick." Annabeth replied.

"Well, sure. Wait, where's the Kelp Head himself?" Thalia asked.

With that bitch, Annabeth wanted to say. But of course, she knew it would be pretty wise not let Thalia know she was jealous. Or else Thalia wouldn't let her hear the end of it. She'd get pulverized by pep talks and stuff, and Thalia wasn't the best to give those. Sure, she did give good advice, but the way she gave it was weird.

"He's with his 'epic date' with that little— Callie, remember? That's why I'm here taking care of his mom." Annabeth firmly assured.

"Well, want me to bring Luke, Jason, Piper and Rachel? Rachel's here at my house." Thalia asked.

Well, it could be fun, right?

"Sure, why not." Annabeth replied.

"Okie-dokie, Annie, see ya." Thalia disconnected.

Annabeth kept her phone and sighed as she lay down on the Blofis-Jackson's couch and sondered.

Annabeth always felt complete whenever she was with Percy, and without him there today, she felt completely empty, and her feeling isn't just like she lost Percy. She also felt as if he was stolen from her.

She sometimes forget the time Percy liked her, where a 'date' with him meant to the whole world to him. She never knew he liked her though. Seeing Percy's whole world mean to him for another girl was a really painful look for Annabeth. She had him, but she lost him. Once she realized how she felt it was too late.

Back then, if she told Percy she liked him too, she would've looked like the girl who made Percy's dream come true. Now? If she told him now, she'll look like a desperate idiot. She's amazed how time changes quickly, and envies Callie, since Percy fell for her in an instant, and that was mainly because Annabeth rejected him. He was looking for love.

Part of her hoped, really hoped, that Percy was just with Callie to make Annabeth jealous. But as much as she knew Percy, and as Sally told her, he was not the guy who'd do that type of thing.

With nothing to do, she opened up her phone.

The sight of her phone's wallpaper already almost brought her tears. But she affirmed herself.

I do not cry. Not even for a silly crush.

Her wallpaper was her and Percy. Their face and cheeks stuck together side by side. He looked so handsome when he smiled, Annabeth thought. And Annabeth herself was smiling, too.

The photo itself was taken the day before Valentine's Day.

The day before Percy got his heart broken.

The day before Annabeth made the biggest mistake of her life.

She typed in the lock code for her phone (818) and opened up her messages.

YOU: Hey, Seaweed Brain. How's the date?

She sent the message.

To her surprise, Percy answered immediately

SEAWEED BRAIN: Its going gr8! Im turnin off my phone now since the movie's running. TTYL bye

And just like that.

Annabeth sighed.

She's afraid after all this, she's going to become an afterthought.

There's a knock on the door.

"I'll get it, Sally! It's them!" Annabeth shouted.

Once Annabeth opened the door, well, it was Jason, Piper, Luke, Rachel and Thalia.

"HI, Annabeth!" Rachel shouted and immediately hugged Annabeth. Rachel actually started as Annabeth's rival or something, but eventually, things changed and they needed not to be reminded of what happened there.

"Oh! Why are you still in your cinema attendant uniform?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh, well, my shift just got done and well, you know the cinema's open whole day because of that Star Wars thingy." Rachel replied and immediately went inside.

"Hi, Annabeth. We brought pizza." Luke said and hugged Annabeth and gave her the 3 boxes of pizza.

"Yo! Hi. I got dibs on the meat pizza." Jason said as he entered the house.

"Hi. Don't mind him, how're you?" Piper says. Annabeth always thought she was too nice for her own good.

"Ah, I think Sally's going to enjoy this." Thalia whispered

Each of them greeted Sally Jackson herself, with Jason introducing Piper as his….. friend. Sally already knew, though.

~oOo~

It was already afternoon.

As soon as Sally fell asleep and they were still watching Interstellar on the TV, everyone was already finishing the pizza.

"Like, seriously, I don't understand half of what that 'Tesseract' is." Luke exclaimed. "It's pretty dickin' confusing."

"Hey, how 'bout let's watch some Marvel movies while we're at it." Annabeth exclaimed.

"What's with the sudden interest in Marvel movies?" Thalia asked.

I wanna be a geek too. Annabeth thought.

"Just y'know. Wanna try and watch it." Annabeth said.

Thalia gave her the "I'm watching you." Look.

"Joke's all on Percy, though. He would've had fun with us here with OUR own movie marathon." Thalia said as she bit through another pizza slice.

Annabeth really wanted him there. She would've snuggled up to him or shit like that, but too bad! That 'geeky' girl had to ruin of everything.

"Speaking of Percy….." Rachel started, and sat back up. "I did see him and Callie earlier at the cinema. Me and Perce even talked a bit. He bought up some snacks."

Oh, gods, please stop.

Annabeth never wanted to join a conversation whenever the subject was Percy/Callie. Like usual conversations of "Calercy" or some shit Thalia made up, Annabeth kept quiet.

"Oh, yeah? Was he smiling like an idiot as usual?" Jason asked.

"Oh, definitely." Rachel replied with a smug look.

"Oh, man. That guy is finally happy. And it is all thanks to me. Man, I am a lifesaver. Percy owes me. Big time." Jason said.

Wait, what?

What the hell does that mean?

"Woah, there, Lightning rod, what the hell does that mean?" Annabeth asked with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Yeah. What are you blabbing about now?" Piper asked jokingly.

"Okay, I figured, Percy was all like, moody because of what happened between him and Annabeth here." Jason pointed a pizza slice at Annabeth. "So, this girl came to Piper here." He gestured to Piper. "Piper's a member of the so-called 'SGC' and the girl, was supposedly their leader. She talked to Piper about how she had an extra ticket. The girl introduced herself as Calypso Atlas. So there's this rumor going around, that Calypso, had a huge crush on Percy. So, she came to me, as Piper's, um, friend, and asked me if I knew anybody who liked Star Wars."

Jason wasn't finished. He bit his pizza.

"So, knowing the girl liked Percy, I told her, well, Percy. Saying Percy's name, already made the girl blush. So I pushed the girl, to ask him out. And she did! Voila! Now Percy's got a date." Jason then stretched his arms and sat victoriously.

"Y'all can thank me later." Jason added.

All that was in Annabeth's mind was

What the f-?!

WHAT THE F-?!

WHY YOU LITTLE—

WHAT IN THE NAME OF ATHENA AND ALL THE MIGHTY—

Annabeth was so mad at Jason, that she didn't even think to suppress her emotions.

"What the heck? It was you?! You're the one that paired him up with that little—!" Annabeth shouted so loud that even the neighbors could hear. "I'm sorry."

Annabeth just couldn't believe it. The main reason why this was all happening. Main reason why Percy and Callie are together. Main reason why Annabeth was jealous. Main reason why Annabeth realized who she liked.

It was because of Thalia's quicky little brother, Jason.

The root of all evil.

For a wise girl, Annabeth sure did something unwise.

"Woah, woah, woah, calm down. What in the name of Hades is this all about?" Jason was straight up scared of Annabeth.

"HE DOESN'T NEED CALLIE!" Annabeth bursted out again.

"Okay, calm down, Annabeth. What in the world is your beef with Callie?" Rachel asked.

Annabeth's second biggest mistake ever made.

"They might've been, well, childhood friends, then Callie might've bullied her or something." Piper added.

"What? Are you kidding, Piper? Have you seen how Callie talks?" Rachel rebutted.

Just then, in the middle of the living room, Thalia bursted out laughing.

"HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHA!"

Thalia was laughing so hard, tears strolled down from her eyes.

"Oh my gods! Are you guys idiots?!" Thalia continued laughing.

"SHE'S JEALOUS, THAT'S WHAT SHE IS!" Thalia pointed out.

As everyone in the room took in that shocking revelation, Annabeth reacted as immediate.

"I am NOT jealous of that bit—Callie!" Annabeth shouted.

"Seriously, Annabeth, it's like killing a guy in front of the police and then telling the police you didn't do it. We, caught you redhanded." Thalia smirked triumphantly. "Looks like the 'I don't like Percy' stuff she says doesn't sound so convincing anymore, huh?"

"I am not jealous!" Annabeth said again.

"Really? You almost called her a bitch." Luke added.

"Oh, yeah. She's jealous, alright." Rachel smirked.

"I'm not." Annabeth continued.

For so long, Annabeth just held on to Percy. She thought of him as a friend, and she'd like to keep it that way. The idea of Percy marrying someone else, the idea of him dating someone else, the idea of him having kids and a successful life with someone else, sounded really good to Annabeth. But the closer it became into a reality, Annabeth wanted nothing more than to be the person Percy was going to date, marry and have kids and all that.

"Hang on, maybe, it's like a friendship jealousy than a romantic jealousy. I mean, you never know…." Piper added.

"Again, Piper? I know your mom is an expert on love, but c'mon, Annabeth almost called her a bitch." Rachel said.

With nothing to answer, Annabeth sat down and sighed in defeat.

"Am I jealous?" Annabeth asked.

"Trust me, Annie, I knew from the day Callie asked Percy out. I saw the look on your face whenever they hung out. I had my suspicions, but yeah." Thalia said as she took another pizza slice from the box.

"I don't get it. Why did you say no in the first place? I mean, the man basically confessed to you that he liked you." Luke joined in.

"I don't get it also. Why can't you just tell him that you like him?" Jason also asked.

"Wow. For guys with girlfriends you sure as hell don't know jack about women." Thalia.

"I didn't know I liked him back then." Annabeth asked.

And that was it. One sentence that defined every single BFF love triangle in the world. Ever. It's when someone is confused, and the song defines it too.

"You only know you love [him] when you let [him] go."

"Explains your sudden interest in Marvel movies." Thalia took another pizza slice.

"Also, I can't just tell him straight up that I like him. Might've worked three months ago, but I look like an idiot if I do that now." Annabeth murmured. "Besides, I don't think he even still likes me anymore. And he said it himself."

Piper slapped Jason in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for!" Jason retaliated.

"Thanks for ruining Percabeth , you dickhead!" Piper cried.

"Well, thank me at least for making Annabeth here realize something!" Jason replied while rubbing his arm.

"And what's that?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia simply put her hand in Annabeth's shoulder. "We gotta get him back. We'll help you."

Annabeth never expected this. But she was planning on doing it.

"How?" Annabeth asked. "How?! She's prettier, smarter, cuter and geekier than me. She's above me a lot. She's also filthy rich and I don't watch or read any comics or movies that she and Percy do!"

"She just has an advantage." Thalia said.

"We have our own."

"Okay, whatever it is you girls have planned, I'm gonna stay neutral in this one." Luke intervenes.

"Yeah, me too. I don't wanna be the one people point fingers at." Jason adds.

Piper stops and looks at Rachel for a moment, and together they say in unison, "We're in."

"So you're not in, Luke? Well, that sums it up! I'm breaking up with you." Thalia scoffs and crosses her arms.

"OKAY! OKAY! Alright! I'm in! You know I was kidding, Thals…." Luke apologizes as fast as he could.

"Good. Also, Jason, you're in too, since you're the one who got us in this mess in the first place." Thalia adds.

"Ugh." Jason merely complains.

"So when do we start?" Annabeth asks.

"We just did." Thalia said.

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PERCY

"No, the Sith are more reasonable! They have, well, force lightning, force choking, and tons of other stuff. They are here to bring about peace in the galaxy. Jedi are lies." Callie remarked.

"No, Sith are stupid, see, they see everything as this, and this, and this!" Percy was making hand gestures of explosions. "And didn't you hear?! The good guys, they always win!" Percy shouted.

"Good guys are overrated!" Callie added.

"Bad guys are losers!" Percy rebutted.

"HEY!" someone from the theater shouted. "Do you mind?! Someone's trying to watch a movie here!"

"Sorry!" Callie said. Then she chuckled.

"I can't believe we're bantering like nerds here in the cinema." Callie chuckled again.

Percy's inherit weakness, was girls laughing. The way Annabeth laughed when he was around her made him blush like a demon, and he always found it cute. Percy hated it when his weakness came, and was a bit glad he wouldn't do that again with Annabeth, since Annabeth didn't even like him back. He never anticipated getting the weakness again from another girl.

"I've never talked 'geek' to anybody before besides my cousin, Nico." Percy admitted.

"Well, you read, don't you? Like Annabeth?" Callie asked, though she didn't feel comfortable asking it.

Percy loved reading literature, though the books he loved were conflicted. He would read Harry Potter books while Annabeth read books like Calculus or some History book or shit like that. Annabeth would read about planets and the American Civil War, while he would read about Star Wars and the superhero Civil War.

"Yeah, her books are more, uh, learning and mine are more, entertainment." Percy said while scratching the back of his head.

Callie took popcorn and ate and explained, "There's actually a whole lot you can learn from fiction books, like, life lessons. Trust me, I learned a lot in Superior Spider-Man." Callie said.

Percy was in a shock.

"You've read Superior Spider-Man?" Percy asked.

"Well, yeah. It's a pretty cool twist. Bad idea, but cool twist. I mean, Doc Ock taking over Peter Parker's body? That's just insane." Callie said.

"Well, it didn't last long, did it?" Percy said.

"Nope." Callie replied.

"And we're completely forgetting we're watching a movie." Percy said.

"Yep." Callie replied.

They both turned their heads to look at the screen in front of them.

"But I was going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"

"By the way, I'm curious, really, but how did you pop the question to Annabeth?" Callie asked.

Callie's curiosity made Percy sweat a bit.

CALYPSO

Callie always knew Annabeth and Percy had history. And it would've been impossible for one not to like the other. Like, what was there not to like about Annabeth?

She was the symbol of every guy's ideal crush. Someone really, really smart. A blonde who is a genius, she looks like one of those princesses you typically see in stories but never in real life. And who wouldn't have a crush on Percy?

Percy was the man every girl dreamed off that would sweep their feet. He wasn't a typical handsome a-hole like the others. He was nice to everybody he met. And the fact Percy cancelled their date yesterday to take care of his mom, showed he was definitely a keeper.

She knew there would've definitely been a way Percy would fall for Annabeth.

And a way that Annabeth would fall for Percy.

Percy huffed some air, and obliged.

"It was Valentine's Day." Percy finally said.

Percy WOULD.

"Let's just say I bought her chocolates and the norm, and admitted to her at the school parking lot, then well, I got rejected." Percy said. "Too bad."

Well, she's a complete idiot for rejecting you, Callie thought.

"But why?" Callie asked.

"Why? Well, I never possibly met her expectations, or maybe she must like someone else." Percy added. "But believe me, I am definitely over her. I can accept she doesn't like me, and now I did realize, she's better off as a friend." Percy said, and took a gummy worm.

Why, though? Callie thought.

If there's anything Callie knew of Annabeth for the past week, she knew Annabeth definitely likes Percy. She's seen the way Annabeth looks at her. Annabeth already kind of hated her, and you could see her jealousy was genuine. Callie is still confused why she would reject Percy on that day. Is Annabeth playing him? Or using him or something?

Impossible.

But why?

Well, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure, right? (Black comedy is always safe)

"Well, I know I asked this before, but…." Callie took a deep breath. "Do you still like her?"

"Well, maybe a bit. But I don't think so." Percy affirmed.

That was all the words she needed to bring her joy and happiness.

She finally got a chance.

"Percentage back then on Valentine's Day?" Callie asked.

"About 110% I liked her." Percy said.

"Percentage now?" Callie asked again.

"About 12%" Percy said. Then he laughed.

"Alrighty!" Callie exclaimed.

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What a comeback!

After a very, very, very long hiatus, OTPMaker22 has finally returned.

As always, the minimum no. of reviews I get, the more prone I am to Writer's block.

So REVIEW!

I HOPE TO GET 20 REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER SO PLEEEEEEASE REVIEW!

It's good to be back.

Next chapter is coming this week, too!