Thank you so much to everyone for the reviews! I'm sorry that it took me almost two days to post this chapter up. It was because i kept rereading it and making changes, but I think I am finally satisfied with it. I worked hard on it, so it would be great to hear what you guys think!
Chapter 3, Annabeth's POV:
I sat on my bed, hugging my knees. It had already been three day's since I wrote to Percy. Did he get my letter? Would he write back immediately? Would he think that what I wrote about Rachel was weird? Thoughts after thoughts about my letter to Percy kept coming through and I was on the edge of losing it.
Suddenly, the sound of a truck pulling up next to my house was heard and I nearly jumped to go look out the window. As if by luck, it was none other than the mail man. I sprinted down the steps and out the door faster than I knew I could to open mail box as soon as the mail man's extended arm had closed it.
I quickly shuffled through the mail, not even paying attention to the fact that the mail man was still there.
"Eager to get a letter?" The elderly mail man asked with a smile.
"Yeah," I forced back a smile, "I've been waiting for three days."
"Good luck on it!" He tipped his hat before driving off.
I ran inside and all the way up to my room, flipping through the stack of envelopes in my hands: Mortgage bill, college invitation, The Jackson's residence, New sale, Help the environment, Notice.
"Ughhh!" I sighed. No Percy.
Wait… The Jackson Residence? I felt a stupid smile creep on my face. "That was stupid, Annabeth," I mumbled, talking to myself.
But, the embarrassment vanished away as quick as it had come when I realized exactly what I was holding in my hands. Percy had wrote back!
I eagerly ripped open the letter.
Dear Wise girl,
His small hand writing made me smile, and I knew how much he hated writing because of his dyslexia. I had gotten used to writing, but knowing that Percy had written anyway was good enough for me.
I read each word carefully, surprising myself that I even went back to reread most of his sentences.
...
Anyway, if you really care, I didn't invite Rachel.
Besides, Wise Girl, did you really expect me invite Rachel over while you were at camp working?
Don't ask me why, because I could barely explain it to myself. But, after reading those two simple sentences, I felt something that eased me for the first time since I could remember. I felt relief.
Annabeth, I don't know why I'm writing this, but I just want to tell you that there in NOTHING between me and Rachel. I'm just starting to know her. I'm just telling you because, well, because, you're my friend, Annabeth.
I small smile appeared on my lip. Staring at the words, I found myself biting my lip. I wanted to believe more than ever that there was nothing between Percy and Rachel but there was still something inside me that felt like a cold stone in my heart. I just didn't know what to think when it came to that mortal red head.
…
Annabeth, I know you care. I know what you were going through on Half Blood Hill that day and you don't have to explain it to me. I understand how you felt about everything happening with…you know, Luke and everything.
Just the name of Luke made me stop and lower the letter in my hands. I was sure that if I began biting my lip any harder, it would have bled. Taking a breath, I brought the letter to my eyes once again.
So, do you think Luke is still there somewhere inside? Do you think Luke is still Luke? I'm asking because you just seem to know where he is all the time. It's like you know what's happening to him day and night. Just like the way you knew he wasn't dead after Thalia pushed him off of Mt. Tam.
The truth was that ever since everything that Percy and I had been through during our last quest- not to mention Mt. St. Helens, I couldn't shake the feeling that my last connection with Luke was cut off. I didn't know if I was ready to tell Percy that, but the fact still remained.
I didn't know if Luke was still Luke anymore, and it hurt me more than ever. I had hope for Luke and I needed him back. But, I could sense the feelings for Luke that always stayed deep inside me changing. Luke hadn't given me much more to hold on to other than a forgotten friendship. He was almost like a long lost friend, now.
My thoughts began racing and I caught myself before I could conclude anything else. I didn't even know what I was thinking anymore…that I didn't love Luke? That couldn't be possible, I heard myself saying. My prophecy was about him and there was nothing I could do to change it.
I breathed, realizing Percy's letter was still in my hand and nearly crinkled from where my fingers held it due to how tight I had began gripping it. What would I tell Percy, I thought, the truth?
I finished reading the rest of the letter and for some odd reason, I felt like I had to write back right now almost as if my life depended on it. I started quickly.
Seaweed Brain!
Thanks for writing back. I'm not going to lie because seeing your letter is the first thing that truly made me smile since last month, too.
I'm glad your school's good. (I've known you long enough to know that "stupid" usually means okay in your words, when it comes to school.)
And, to answer your question: yes. Your dad totally meant it when he told you that you're his favorite son. I've seen Poseidon before, Percy, and ever since he's claimed you… he just has something new to his pride. How can he not be proud when he has a dedicated son like you?
Anyway, thanks for thinking of me and not inviting Rachel.
Wait, wait, wait! What did I write that for? I quickly scratched it out, instead trying my best to explain how I felt:
Percy, you seem so happy with Rachel. You guys live close together and go to the same school… you're only going to get closer.
I didn't know why I was writing all this. It didn't look anything like a letter to my best friend. Knowing that I would never be able to bring myself back to telling him this, I regretfully continued trying to explain.
I mean, Percy, I know you guys are just friends, but she gets to see the side of you that I never saw. The side of you when you're in school, working, and just having fun.
Seaweed brain, I don't hate her. She's a good person. I just… I really don't know. Great… now, you've got me stuck. When I think of a word I'll tell you.
On Half Blood Hill that day…thanks for understanding. It means a lot to me. I'm sorry that I didn't properly say Bye, but like I told you, my mind was seriously going through a lot then.
Now, there was just one more thing I need to cover, and I gripped my pen as tight as I could. I found myself taking a breath and planning my words carefully, before I letting the ink stain the paper.
Percy, I don't know about Luke. I wish I did. You were right, though.. I could feel him, day and night. But, I can't anymore. If this happened a year ago, I would be able to tell you everything about Luke and be absolutely positive. But…it's different now. I don't know anything about his position with Kronos. I can't feel him anymore, Percy, and I'm not sure what happened to me.
With all the courage I had, I put the pen back on the paper, determined to tell him exactly what I knew as a fact:
Ever since, you know… that incident back at Mount St. Helen, I guess I feel like I've lost him.
Don't think to hard Seaweed Brain… you know exactly what I'm talking about.
I wanted to crawl into a hole; I couldn't believe I had just written all that. I set the tip of my pen on the words, ready to scratch through it, but something stopped me. It had taken me nearly ten minutes just to jot down those words and I could easily erase them in nothing but seconds. But, there was another choice; leave the word written as they were. I felt my heart beat picking up as I tried to imagine what Percy would think as he read this.
With every ounce of courage I had left, I picked up my pen. I wasn't about to erase all of that; I just couldn't
It's scares me, Percy. Because, I have no idea what's going to happen. Kronos is taking over Luke and there's nothing we can do.
I wish you knew the Luke that I knew. He's not evil, Percy. He's just angry and he's influenced right now. If you knew him back then…I think you wouldn't hate him.
(Don't take it the wrong way, Seaweed Brain. I swear I'm not writing this for him. I'm saying this for you. I just want you to have less people you have to hate. It would be nice, for a change, if you got some more happiness rather than worries.)
Luke's like a big brother to me.
Even I didn't know what I meant by those words, but I kept them on the paper. Determined to lighten the mood, realizing exactly how deep the letter had gotten, I continued.
So, anything new happen latley?
I honestly miss you, Seaweed Brain! I almost wish my dad didn't have to move up here. It sucks being far away from the camp, and you, and everyone, you know?
Reply A.S.A.P!
The person who will always be there to have your back when you need it,
Annabeth Chase.
P.S: I almost forgot! I never gave you a birthday present, did I? Okay, so, there's not much I can do from here, but here's what I can do… Hope you like the present.
My present: You get to ask me one question and you get back one truthful answer. Fair enough? I'm sorry it's nothing big but…Hey! It's the best I can do from another state!
I reread the letter over…and then read it again. I wasn't satisfied because it looked like anything but a letter to 'just your best friend across the county'. Then again, though, nothing is the way it ever should be for half bloods.
I kept double minding myself about whether or not I should actually give Percy that birthday present. I mean, what if he asked me something impossible? Something that I just couldn't answer.
Reassuring myself with thought that Percy usually never asked anything to purposely make me uncomfortable, I folded up the letter and sealed it.
I ran down stairs, ignoring what everyone was saying to me. The most important thing right now was getting that letter in the mail box, and that's what I did. I found myself placing the letter carefully inside the center of the mailbox and sticking the alerting flag on the side of the box up.
Did you like it? Please tell me what you think! It took me two days to write this and finally be satisfied with it! So, please review and tell me your thoughts. I'm also taking suggestions! So, please review! It will make me really happy! Love you all! Keep reading!
