Hi guys! Thank you so much for your reviews! They make me as happy as Percy or Annabeth are when they get a new letter from each other. ^_^
This chapter got a little too long, so it had to be split into two parts. This is part one. Please enjoy!
Chapter 8, Percy's POV:
I wasn't really aware of anything around me anymore. I didn't know why I kept going to school every day, or why I kept trying keep a normal expression on my face. The only thing I knew was that I missed Annabeth. I wanted to see her more than anything. I just wanted to be with her, and it was safe to say that I felt pretty miserable without her. The only real time I would cheer up was when I got a letter from her and the process required enough waiting as it was.
Today was the third day since I send my letter. I wondered if she would even answer my question. I sat on the couch , letting my thoughts get to me.
"Percy, we're home," my mom said as she entered, Paul closed the door behind her. I came back to my senses.
"Oh," I said. "Hi."
The first thing I wondered was, if my mom had got the mail. But Paul and my mom were too busy talking as they entered the kitchen. I'm not much of an eavesdropper but I couldn't help but listen as they spoke.
"Do you really have to?" My mom's voice was saying.
"Unfortunately, they aren't giving me much of a choice."
"So when will you be back?"
"A couple days at the most. It's a long drive."
I entered the kitchen, getting their attention. "Where are you going?" I asked, waiting to be filled in.
"Unexpected business trip."
I nodded.
The truth is, I couldn't have cared less about anything else at the moment. The last thing I wanted was Paul or my mother getting on my case, but I couldn't resist asking about the mail.
My mom seemed to read my face. She smiled, "Percy, it's in my purse, the fist pocket."
No matter how much I tried to hold back, I was sure I was returning the smile. The thought of checking for another letter from Annabeth made a sudden tinge of excitement fill my veins.
I didn't wait around finding my mom's bad. It wasn't long before I was holding a clean white envelope. My heart was beating hard.
I went to my room, hearing Paul and my mother talking about me in the kitchen. I sighed, closing the door.
I gently opened up envelope taking out two pages full of Annabeth's handwriting.
I read anxiously.
Dear Percy,
Sometimes I feel like there might be an empathy link between us, too, but if you want to get technical- there's really no possible way there could be one. But, I know what you mean, Seaweed Brain. It's almost like…I can feel you perfectly. Almost like how Grover describes reading emotions. Maybe it's just us.
That was the first time I felt any other kind of feeling going through my body other than dread that week.
I allowed myself to read on, trying to stay collected, until Luke's name appeared.
I have hope for Luke because I knew him, Percy. I know what he was going through. Thalia's death wasn't easy on him, he was angry. I'm disappointed he left. That won't change. But, it's not fair that everyone treats him like the bad guy. If I don't defend him, who will? Along to the way of defending him, I guess I buried away the disappointment. Like I said, he was the first person who ever cared about me, Percy. He was like my big brother. I… I forgive him, though. I'm letting go, Percy.
That was the first time Annabeth let me know that she didn't love the guy, and I had to admit it felt like a burden was lifted off of me. I had been angry that she was wasting her time over someone who was as ruthless as Luke, but things seemed to change slowly as I let Annabeth's words sink in. She had a past with him and he became her big brother. I understood that. Just for a second, Luke didn't seem all that threatening anymore.
As for Calypso…You're right, I expected it.
These past days I was worried sick about what Annabeth would think of Calypso. I read on, feeling like I was holding onto the paper tighter than before.
What I'm trying to say is that…it was going to hurt no matter when you told me. It did hurt.
I'm happy you told me, though. If you hadn't, my mind would have drove me crazy trying to guess exactly what happened at her island. I'll let you in on a piece of my mind…I always had an image of you and Calypso sitting happily near the water, without a care in the world. It was eating me up. Thanks for fading away that image from my head.
I trust you, Percy.
Slowly, burden and burden was being lifted off of me. For the first time, I felt like the moon lace sitting outside my windowsill wasn't something I had to hide like a forbidden secret. I wanted Annabeth to know that I left the island for her.
This isn't going to be easy, but it's something I need to know. Did you love her?
Her next question seemed to catch me off guard as my eyes glided across her handwriting. It wasn't that I didn't know how to answer it; it was that I was afraid to.
I need the answer. It's worse not to know the truth and I promise that I can handle it- whatever the answer is. Tell me the truth.
I found myself smiling slowly. She seemed to know what I was thinking all the time.
For the first time, I felt safe going into thinking about how I really felt when it came to Calypso. I remembered her island and I remembered the smell of cinnamon. I remembered her face; prettier that the goddess Aphrodite herself with her gleaming eyes and natural face. The fates sent her someone who she couldn't help but fall in love with, but it worked both ways because I fell too. I loved her on her island. It seemed to sink in for the first time. The moment I seemed to step back to reality, set foot back at camp and see Annabeth's face at my "funeral", it was like the feelings faded. I didn't love Calypso anymore.
I'm not going to lie to you, Percy, because I owe you that much. I don't hate Calypso. I hate the thought of you and her. Just the thought of her talking to you kills me, Percy.
I felt like my stomach was hosting the ocean with its waves rising deep. Annabeth's words were familiar; it was the way I felt when she would talk about Luke.
I can't lose you.
There is was. My heart seemed to pick up one beat at a time until it was racing. I couldn't loose Annabeth either, andit was as simple as that. There was a feeling surging inside of me that I had never acknowledged before the way I did now, stating at her words. I missed Annabeth and all I wanted was to be with her at that exact moment. Words on paper weren't doing it for me anymore. I needed to show her, to tell her, exactly what I felt.
… I just want you to know that I trust you. I feel safe knowing the prophecy is yours, and it's much better than if anyone else was responsible for it.
I want to tell you not to worry, Seaweed Brain. Everyone believes in you. I believe in you. You're going to make the right choice. I just know…You're going to make the right decision.
Her saying that meant a lot, and I couldn't lie about it. She was a daughter of Athena, prideful and worthy…the fact that someone like her had fate in me was enough to make me take an easy breath.
You're the only person that's gotten through to me like this, Percy, and I hope you know it. Let's make a deal: I'll be happy if you're happy. It works out that way without both of us trying, at least for me anyway.
Alright, I'll stop boring you now and get to what you've probably been waiting for; I'm going to complete my birthday present by giving you the answer to your question.
I swallowed nervously, reading on carefully.
What do I think of you?
…
First of all, I think you're a total Seaweed Brain. Your head is full of kelp. Sometimes you come up with the stupidest ideas in the world.
When I first saw you, Percy, I didn't know what to think
…
All I could come up with to say to you was "Your drool in your sleep."
Now, that we're talking about it, I might as well tell you what I've been meaning to for a long time. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that as soon as you woke up, but you seriously had me distracted, Seaweed Brain. What I'm trying to say is that when I gave you a full glance, you looked good, alright? There, I said it. You better not hold that over me and don't you dare bring it up again!
…
How do I feel about you?
You are the bravest, most courageous, honest, amazing, caring (I swear to the gods that I'm not just listing adjectives here. I mean it.) person that I've ever crossed paths with, and probably ever will cross paths with. I just…I love all of those things about you.
You started off as just another camper, Percy…but since then, you've become much more than that. You're my best friend…you're everything to me.
Thoughts upon thoughts seemed to be crashing at me. It wasn't the fact that I had just gotten a bunch of compliments that left me smiling, it was the fact that they were coming from Annabeth and she meant it. I wanted to tell her how I felt the first time I saw her, I wanted to tell her that everything went both ways. Everything that I had wanted to say was finally piling up and I felt like I could have exploded. There had been too many interruptions- Athena, Grover, Argus- it needed to end.
I end my letter to you on that thought, Seaweed Brain.
With Love, Annabeth
"With love, Annabeth." Those words seemed to echo in my head no matter how many times I tried to downplay what she meant. I had thought that after putting the page down, all of the confusing feelings at war would seem to settle down, but the feeling felt permanent. I was tired of reading Seaweed Brain on the paper over and over without having her voice to say it. I actually wanted to see her face instead of putting an image together in my head to go along with the words. I wanted to see her roll her eyes when she knew I was being stupid instead of reading her reaction on the page. There was no denying the fact that it hurt. I missed her.
I didn't know what came over me when I stood up. One thought seemed to be dominate over all the others in my head at that moment and it was the thought that I had to see Annabeth no matter what. I needed it now.
Without really thinking of trying to take control of my thoughts, I let whatever I was feeling take over. I walked outside the room, meeting my mom and Paul as they sat on the dining table talking.
When my mom saw the look on her face, she seemed to stop mid sentence as she spoke to Paul. "Percy, honey, what's wrong?" My mom asked, scooting out of her chair slightly to look at me.
I dind't know what to tell her, and for a second I was at a loss of words. Then, the thought of seeing Annabeth seemed to push me forward.
"I don't know," I said, trying to steady my voice. "But, I need to go see Annabeth."
My mom looked speechless as she stared at me. She spoke after a long beat of silence. "What do you mean?"
"I need to see Annabeth," I repeated. "I know it sounds crazy, but I can't go another week like this. I can get to California."
"Why do you need to see her so suddenly?" My mom frowned, and I could tell she was trying to do the best to make sense of the condition I stood in front of her in. "Did something happen? Did she ask you to come there?"
My mom turned seemed to turn to Paul. He looked the same way, stuttering for words. I knew I had just put a huge load on them and I felt bad, but what I needed had to be done.
"Percy," Paul started rationally, "You have to understand that you can't just go across the country all of a sudden. You have school, and-"
"The weekend is coming," I said desperately, realizing immediately how stupid it sounded.
Paul sighed, he seemed to be studying me. "Where does she live, Percy?"
"San Fransico."
I was expecting it when his eyes widened. I looked over at my mom who shared the reaction when she seemed to realize what Paul was getting at. I had no idea what was going on when my mom gave Paul a stern look, shaing her head. "There's no way. He can't…I mean, is it even possible?"
Paul's eyes locked into my mothers. "We probably could," he said in deep thought.
"What is it?" I finally asked, irritated with the suspense they were putting me through.
Paul took a deep breath. "The business trip I told you about," he explained. "Well, don't get your hopes up- but it's in San Fransico. I'll be going there this weekend."
All the nerves in my body seemed to jump at the chance.
"Wait, "my mom said, putting her elbows on the table. "There are a lot of complications. Paul, you need to get permission from your supervisor about this, and it's not a simple trip."
Paul scratched his beard. "Once we get midway, we'll be driving the rest of the way in the provided car. I don't think it will be a problem dropping someone off on the way to one of the meetings."
My mom still looked uneasy and I understood her worries. But, the thought of a safe and possible way to get to California to see Annabeth seemed to expel every other worry form my mind.
I gave Paul Annabeth's address.
My mom looked at me concerned. "Percy, you don't even know if Annabeth's parents will appreciate the company. Make sure you ask for her family's permission. And, honey, you still didn't tell me why you need to get there so urgently."
"I just need to," I said, not really knowing what I was saying anymore. "I'll work everything out, don't worry."
The concern in my mother's eyes didn't fade. Despite Paul being there, my mom blurted out, "San Fransico is not the safest place for a person like you to be."
I knew she was referring to the monster attraction for the city. "Annabeth's been living there and she's fine," I told her. "We'll be alright."
My mom's eyes fixed into mine. "I can't stop you from doing this," she said quietly. "But, I need you to be safe. Understand that you'll only get a few hours. I need you to be home after that."
Standing there, a few hours seemed like the best thing in the world. I found myself turning to Paul. "Thank you," I said, meaning it more than I could show.
"I know how you feel," Paul said, studying me. For a second, I wanted Paul to tell me how I felt because I sure as Hades didn't understand all the feelings making my stomach flip over and over. All I really knew was seeing Annabeth would bring a type of peace I needed at that moment.
"You care about her," Paul said slowly.
I nodded, not brushing off my parents remarks for once.
When I went back towards my room, I was only sure of one thing. The feeling I was witnessing inside of me was something new.
Part two will be up shortly. Please excuse the technicalities in this story about Percy's method of getting to California. It needed to be done for the purpose of what comes next.
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