"Percy" I started softly. "He was my best friend and I miss him" Oh gods I was already crying. Stop Annabeth, stop crying. You don't cry. You're going to be sixteen really soon, you can't cry. You're strong.
"Percy was a really great guy" I read off my card. Oh screw the card. I tossed it over my shoulder and cleared my throat, swallowing the sob in my throat.
"Most of you know him" I continued, my voice tight with sadness, already hurting from swallowing the tears. "And if you know him then you know how he is. You know that when he walks into a room it seems like the sun is shining brighter. When he laughs the world seems to be a happier place. When he cries, the world cries with him. He's always so kind and thoughtful. Percy is something really special. Sure he's the prophecy kid. But I mean he could let that go to his head and order everyone around like he's Zeus or something but he doesn't do that. No, Percy, my Percy took that prophecy so his cousin wouldn't have to. He risks his life on a daily basis for others. You'd have to be insane not to love him. I was a different person before I met him. He's softened me up. Look at me I'm crying? He always seems to prove me wrong, something most of you don't even bother trying" I heard a few scattered laughs. A little kid was standing next to Dionysus, started bawling hysterically. Dionysus patted his head. Weird, affection coming from him?
"I hated him when we were young. I thought I would never talk to him, much less wear his clothes and be crying over his…death. He proves me wrong. He always does. Sure his brain is full of kelp" I let out a watery laugh "but it's good quality kelp. It's selfless kelp. It's caring kelp. It's courageous kelp. It's my kelp. I love that kelp. I love him. I miss him and he hasn't even been gone a week. I wish he could prove me wrong this time and come back from the dead. I really wish he could. So when you're stuck in a situation. Don't stand there like an idiot. Think 'What would Percy do?' because it would be the right thing to do. When you love someone, love like Percy does. When you think about what you want to be. Be like Percy. You can't go wrong there." I let out a sob and wiped my nose on the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
"G-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-ood bye" I was full out bawling now. I just noticed that I was talking about Percy like he was still here. That just got me crying harder as I realized he wasn't here, like shaking as the sobs wracked through my body. I vaguely felt one of the Stoll brother's pull me away, Travis, and hand me a tissue, one hand around me, the only thing keeping me from falling apart. Who knew? Usually the Herme's kids are the ones breaking things, not keeping them together.
Later that night I sat in Cabin six, head phones in my ears, tissues by my side, siblings keeping a safe distance, covers in a twisted pile at the foot of my bed, and eyes finally losing their red and puffiness. I clicked on my iPod. Some song by Taylor Swift started playing. I wrinkled my nose. What was this even doing on my iPod? Then I realized what song it was. I'm Only Me When I'm With You.
Percy and I were sitting in his cabin like we usually did on Saturday mornings while everyone else was at breakfast. I was flipping absentmindedly through Percy's CDs when I found a Taylor Swift one and I burst out laughing.
"What is this?" I clutched my sides.
"Oh that. Tyson's" he chuckled and popped it into the CD player. Sure Percy, nice try, we know you have a secret Taylor Swift obsession. "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" rang throughout the room. We started laughing and jumping around his room, singing along with the music, our voices horribly out of pitch.
"I'M ONLY UP WHEN YOU'RE NOT DOWN!" I had his Minotaur horn clutched in my hand like a microphone.
"DON'T WANT TO FLY IF YOU'RE STILL ON THE GROUND" Percy finished with a long high note, a pretty terrible and earsplitting one I might add.
"This is the stupidest song" he laughed collapsing on his bed. I fell down next to him.
"Kind of reminds me of me and you" I sighed, snuggling up to his shoulder.
"You're right" he nodded his head.
"Does that make us stupid?"
"Yup"
"But we already established that fact, right?"
"Speak for yourself" he chuckled.
"Oh so now I'm the stupid one?" I cocked my eyebrow at him.
"Yup" he nodded his head.
"Think what you want Kelp head" I rolled my eyes. That's when he started tickling me and before I knew it we were both laughing hysterically, screeching "STOP! STOP!" as we tickled each other. So there you have it. I'm Only Me When I'm With You is our tickle song. It's our eight o'clock in the morning on a Saturday song. It's our let's scream at the top of lungs song. It's our make fun of song. It's our cheer each other up song. It's our song.
I reached immediately for the tissues and forced myself to listen to the rest of the song. I swear I could almost feel next to me laughing. I blew my nose on the tissue. I wish there was something I could do. You know what? I am Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, capable of anything. Let's go prove me wrong. Let's go bring Percy back. I mean really, I can't be moping around my cabin all day, listening to Taylor Swift, not cool. So I did what the old Annabeth would do. I jumped out of bed, stuffing my iPod under my pillow, the tissues in my pocket (just in case) and hurried out the door, ignoring my siblings calling "Annabeth!" after me. I rushed to the Big House. Chiron was playing Pinochle with Mr. D. They both look upset as they played their cards.
"Chiron" I called, my voice cracking.
"Annabeth what's the matter?" he put his cards down in his lap as I jogged up the front steps.
"I want to bring him back" I said, rocking from my heels to the balls of my feet, following the ceiling fan with my eyes as it went around and around and around.
"Isn't that cute, Annie Belle wants to bring her little boyfriend back" Mr.D laughed but his eyes were sad, like he was actually upset Percy was gone. Must be drunk.
"Annabeth….." Chiron looked at me with concern and sympathy.
"Listen Chiron. It's either you help me out with this and give me your permission or I go on my own without your permission. That's that. You can't convince me otherwise so don't even try" I crossed my arms defiantly.
"Well" he clapped his hands together "looks like we've got another quest on our hands." That's why I love him.
"Thanks" I chewed on my lip.
"Well what are you waiting for kid, oracle time" Mr. D rolled his eyes "We don't have all day here!"
To the oracle. Great, a dried up mummy dressed in a far from stylish outfit ready to tell me it's not possible or that I'm going to die. I'm pumped.
Ok so seriously sorry that this is so short and you had to wait so long. Um sorry if it's still sad and depressing, from here on out there will be adventure, happy chapters with hints of sadness of course. Ok I have a question for you! Who do you want to go on the quest with Annabeth? Umm other than that please review. Sorry if there was any mistakes. Constructive Critiscm appreciated. Candy to those who review. Over and out.