AN: So, as promised this chapter was finished and posted by this week :)
Sometime during the middle, there will be a short italicized section. Those are Annabeth's thoughts. I don't think I've ever explained this, but my writing is straightforward. Regular type for narration, "quotes for spoken parts ", italicizes for thoughts.
Anyways, please enjoy, and don't skip the AN at the bottom. Many questions I need answered to decide what's going to happen next in the story.
Annabeth was having a good day; or as good a day as she was going to be having in a while. You see, today was the first day of construction. Her plans had been approved by the buyers, the materials had been ordered and arrived, and her usual crew of workers was just arriving in their muddied company truck. There was just something about the rising sun, about the smell of concrete and dirt that made Annabeth shiver with excitement.
Her day progressed quickly as she meticulously watched the work being done and adjusting minor things here and there. During a lull, when the construction workers were doing something Annabeth was sure they couldn't screw up, Annabeth stepped into a trailer that served as a temporary office. Annabeth was looking at some papers about all the materials that had been ordered, when the door unexpectedly creaked open. Annabeth glanced up and did a double take while her brain registered just who it was that was strutting into the trailer. Athena. The woman who might as well have been a Goddess in her own right.
Annabeth hurriedly stood up and greeted her. After that, there was really nothing left to say, except for the reason Athena had decided to drop in. "I called," she started.
"I, um…lost my phone," Annabeth lied.
Athena simply nodded, like she believed the blatant lie. "I wanted to talk."
"About?"
"How you were. And about this," Athena said while pulling out a folder."
Annabeth completely disregarded the topic of her emotions and simply reached her hand out for the folder. Inside she found numerous pictures of her and Percy. All looked stalker-ish, like they were some hot-item the paparazzi took sick enjoyment in following. There were pictures of them at Half-Blood ,walking back to their respective apartments, of them kissing. So many intimate moments…violated. "What in hades are these?" Annabeth asked with nostrils flaring in a tone that did not hide her seething anger well.
"Pictures that Poseidon had taken of you and Percy."
"And how did you get them?"
"I have my ways. But that's not important." Athena waved her hand in the air, as if the action dismissed the topic from ever being said. "Percy got a copy of them, so I thought it only fair that you did as well."
Annabeth had to hesitate when answering. Athena's last statement had left Annabeth confused. She couldn't comprehend it, nor could she get past the wording of it. Percy got a copy. Did he want a copy? And why in hades didn't he tell me? So what if we're not really talking. I have a right to know don't I? Gods damn it all, I have a right to know if I'm being stalked.
Calm down Annabeth. Calm down. It's not Percy's fault. He doesn't have to tell you anything. You stormed out on him. You broke it off. Percy's not that kind of guy anyways. He wouldn't want pictures of us like that. Poseidon probably just gave them to him. He didn't ask for them. "What do you expect me to do with them," Annabeth asked as soon as she got all of her emotions under control.
Athena didn't seem to mind the palpable pause in their conversation. In fact, she seemed to know of the inner-turmoil Annabeth was having and seemed to be content that everything was going according to how she had planned it. So when Annabeth recovered faster than Athena had anticipated, Athena was at a loss for thoughts and words—but only for a second. "Why, anything you want. I don't want them. I gave them to you so you can do with them however you please."
And there it was again. The uncaring attitude that Athena had gotten so used to, so well at portraying. The walls of gray that were automatically put up when things got too touchy-feely. Gray. The embodiment of indifference. Of neutrality. Never as pure as white, but not as evil as black.
Annabeth just stood there, not knowing what to say. She hardly expected Athena to come show her the photos so they could gush on and on about the possibilities of what they could mean like two teenage girls. But she had hoped that Athena would share some of her thoughts and opinions. So Annabeth just stood there, not bothering to hide her emotions—it had been clear quite some time ago just how much adoration Annabeth had of Athena; she was practically the epitome of the twenty-first century's businesswoman.
Annabeth loved Athena. She idolized her. Annabeth just wished Athena would let down her walls for once. She wished Athena would tell Annabeth her opinion, tell Annabeth what she wanted her to do and didn't want her to do. Annabeth wished that Athena would just come out and say that she didn't like Percy. That she didn't like the fact he was friends with Poseidon. That she abhorred the fact that Annabeth ever had something to do with him. Although Annabeth would never guarantee that she would take her advice, she still wanted to hear it.
Athena had eventually left. Not at all bothered by the awkward circumstances she left under. Annabeth had slumped into her seat behind her desk thinking about all the possible consequences that their little meeting had created. Thinking of the story that Athena would be able to tell of a cute little girl who loved her and looked up to her and expected some sort of mother-daughter relationship to grow like they were in some kind of cliché movie. It all depended on Athena's humanity whether or not she would tell it—and everyone knew Athena and the twelve owners were as far away from humanity as a person could ever hope to achieve.
You put up walls and paint them all a shade of gray
And I stood there loving you and wished them all away
And you come away with a great little story
Of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you
Overall, she had had a splendid day with 'the boys,' watched as a landscape of nothing transformed into the skeleton of a building—her building,—and to top it all off, they were ahead of schedule. It was the perfect day.
But Annabeth was observant. She was astute. She should have seen the gray clouds that Athena had brought with her. She should have noticed how they lingered even after Athena had left. She should have seen the overcast sky and been able to foretell the rainy ending that would conclude her perfect day. After all, she and smooth-sailing never went together. So after Athena flooded Annabeth with the metaphorical rain, she should have expected Athena to walk away as if nothing happened. As if she didn't do anything wrong. As if there was nothing that she had to defend.
And now, now that Annabeth was alone in her 'office,' held prisoner in the same cell as her emotions; she could do nothing but face them. But now, they finally made sense. They were straightforward and followed a path that Annabeth could understand. What she realized was this: while Annabeth could try as hard as she wanted, she would never be able to reach Athena. She could never be able to become the same person as Athena no matter how much she idolized her. And now, she realized, it wasn't such a terrible thing. It wasn't the worst thing in the world if Annabeth would never be anywhere as cold as Athena was.
Oh what a shame, what a rainy ending given to a perfect day
So just walk away, ain't no use defending words that you will never say
And now that I'm sitting here thinking it through
I've never been anywhere cold as you
And, was that a terrible thing? That Annabeth could be empathetic towards others. Isn't the terrible thing Athena's apathy? Isn't the terrible thing how Athena inspires others to follow her, but not feel anything for her worshipers? Isn't it good that Annabeth would give a damn if someone was crying over her? Isn't it good that Annabeth would give a damn if someone would risk their life to save hers? Isn't it good that Annabeth would give a damn even if Athena didn't?
You never did give a damn thing honey but I cried, cried for you
And I know you wouldn't have told nobody if I died, died for you
Died for you
This was the day that Annabeth had been looking forward to for weeks. The day where she would finally have something to distract her from herself. She should have known it wouldn't have gone off without a hitch.
Athena's visit was more of a blessing than it was a curse. Yes, it brought on an onslaught of emotions for Annabeth. But the new insights she now had were invaluable, well worth the price of a perfect day. It was as if Athena's intelligence was infectious. After Athena visited, everything in Annabeth's head became crystal clear. Not just stuffed into some closet and forgotten about, but everything had been seen and understood. Annabeth finally understood her emotions.
Yes, Athena was an amazing person—as were all twelve owners. But none of them were worth idolizing. None of them really wanted a friend. All they wanted was someone under their thumb. Another person they would be able to manipulate and control with their power. Every condescending smile that graced their face was an insult to someone. Counting every scar they had inflicted was impossible. There were simply too many, and every fatal blow they landed would never be seen by the world. Only by the inflictor and the inflicted.
And now that Annabeth was clear-headed. Now that she was able to think rationally and analytically. She had no idea why she had ever wanted to be anywhere near as cold of a bitch as Athena was.
Oh what a shame, what a rainy ending given to a perfect day
Every smile you fake is so condescending
Counting all the scars you made
And now that I'm sitting here thinking it through
I've never been anywhere cold as you
Hello again :)
First off, What'd you think? Good? Bad? I should update faster (XD)?
Second question: I have a good 5 (possibly more, possibly less) more chapters to write before the story will be done. My question is, what do you guys want? I have one more depressed chapter I had planned before Percy and Annabeth meet up again (and yes, before they have their happy ending). Do you guys want me to write it? Or do you just want me to skip to the making-up part. You guys really aren't missing anything if you just want me to skip to the reconcile, just some mopey stuff. But that will bring you closer to the end.
Review and Tell me your thoughts :)
*Remember: The more reviews I get, and the faster I get them, the faster I will know what to start writing.