Piper's POV (didn't see that commmin')
Annabeth and I walked in an uncomfortable silence, neither of us speaking to each other after we left the boys at that small clearing. There were happy squirrels jumping around from tree to tree. Most likely gathering nuts for the winter, the squirrels and other woodland animals paid no mind to us. I even saw some reselling near the bushes. Wait… their not reselling… I quickly look away, my face burning. I see a skinny chipmunk starring at us from its perch on a nearby brand. The way it tilted its head oddly reminded me of repair boy. I hope Leo is okay, that nasty bruise has got to hurt. I felt bad because I didn't notice him at first; all I was thinking was that I had to find Jason.
When I saw him lying there, alive and looking adorably confused, I almost cried from relief. He was there, he was breathing. So I did what any 16 years old daughter of Aphrodite would do, I ran straight for him and squeezed the life out of him. He was very dirty and had twigs and leaves sticking out of his short blond hair, but I most likely didn't look any better. The kiss was a little spontaneous of me, but I was so glad to see him, apparently he was very glad to see me too. We stood there for a while each enjoying the moment as our tongues danced with each other. I rapped my arms around his neck, trying to deepen it as best I could. He, in turn moved his warm hand to rest on my back. By then, we were very much making out, and I was very much enjoying it. He always sends sparks up my spine, yes pun intended. Unfortunately we both needed to breath.
Pulling back for air, I saw his cheeks were very flushed, and he looked at me, those blue eyes filled with relief. Something my own expression mirrored. We had a silent conversation, asking each other if everything was alright with our eyes. Out of the corner of my vision, I noticed Annabeth walk over to Leo, who was knocked out at the time. I nodded my head in their direction.
Our scouting was filled odd glances and carefully placed steps. You never know when a monster is near. Annabeth kept her scary grey eyes ahead, looking for any danger. Though who would even dare to cross her path must have a death wish or suicidal thoughts. I don't know how Percy can handle that stare when she gets mad at him (and from the stories I have heard, she gets mad at him a lot). Just the thought of her vicious wrath gave me shivers. I never thought I would be so relieved to hear the sounds of busy traffic. Once we were out of the woods (no pun intended), I could see where we were better. A four lane highway cut across two hills, one on the side we are on, the other the opposite side. Trees lined the outside, looming over cars as if to try and block the sky. A cold wind blew from the cars zooming by at fast speeds. It looked like fall here, which was weird because just yesterday it was almost June. SUV's and large trucks were the majority of the vehicles there.
We walked up the small hill to the little gravel patch beside the asphalt. Annabeth stuck her left arm out and raised her thumb. Now I have never really hitch-hiked before, but I am pretty sure that nobody would pick up to strange girls on the side of the road who look like hobos. We had scrapes, bruises, scratched, twigs, leaves, and who know what else covering us. Cars drove by, passing at speed that was probably over the speed limit, people not even glancing our way, as if we weren't worth the time. But after about two minutes of standing there (looking like idiots, if I do say so myself) a blue four door car pulled over.
Out stepped a teenager, maybe 16 or 17. She had short fiery curly red hair that framed her round freckled face. She was wearing a NYU sweat shirt that was way too big for her. Jeans were cut off at halfway to her knees, and covered in marker drawings. She closed the door to the car with a perminate smirk on her face, like she was about to get loads of black mail. Her cloudy green eyes filled with laughter.
"RACHEL!" we yelled at the same time. There is no way we are back in New York, is there? We crashed when we were flying over Ohio, or something. How are we this far north? Now that I think about it, many things don't make any sense right now…That's when Rachel decided to burst out laughing. She clutched her stomach as she almost doubled over. Her eyes crinkled as she took a few steps toward us, getting more room to chuckle. What was so funny? Did I have something on my face? I shared a look with Annabeth, her grey eyes as confused as mine. This was defiantly not expected, then again, you never know with Rachel.
"Well, Annabeth," she said after she had her laughter under control. "I never expected to see you here, how was Texas? Did you finish the quest? Why is she here? Is she another demigod?" She started to fire off questions I had no idea how to answer. Now I took her breath in as a turn to talk.
"What about Texas? We only left for the quest a day ago. And what do you mean by 'Who is she'? I'm Piper, we met at camp!" Maybe being the Oracle gives you memory loss, but I kind of doubt that. Now the both of us were even more confused. What the hell-erm-Hades is up with this girl. Has she gone crazy while we were out on the quest, or something?
"What do you mean that I met you at camp? I am not allowed to go there. Annabeth what is she talking about?" I starred at her, seeing if she had gone insane. The Rachel I knew lived at camp when she wasn't at her boarding school. Apollo and Chiron built her a creepy cave up on a hill. It looked scary from the outside, but the inside was totally decked out, she took me up there once to show me her paintings. Now all of the sudden, she thinks she doesn't know me. Then I looked at Annabeth, who was studying Rachel closely. Out of the blue, she said:
"Piper something is seriously wrong here. I don't think she is the oracle anymore…"
I know it's kind of a cliché, especially because of my mother, but I gasped. Then I turned to look at Rachel, who looked like she was as confused as us. Her head was kind of tilted, like a dog trying to figure out why it can't reach its tail. Then she kind of pointed something out that was really obvious to anyone who ever met Annabeth.
"Annabeth, your eyes their… grey… and… your hair it's… Alright, what is going on!" she demanded. She looked almost scarred of her; well a lot of people are scared of her. She can be intimidating and cold when you first meet her, like when she is trying to find her missing boyfriend and only comes up with a Jason with one shoe. But Rachel and Annabeth are friends; they have known each other for a while.
After that there was a long talk, and I did my best to stay out of it. Annabeth explained what our quest was and about The Prophesy of the seven. She told her about her role at camp, and how they were going over to meet our roman neighbors. Rachel gave a few snorts at some random places throughout the story and smiled slyly when she was finished.
"One question," she asked looking at both of us now. She was twirling her hair with her index finger, making the already curly strand turn into a perfect ringlet. "Do you believe in alternate dimensions?" She asked us this very calmly and casual like, as if everybody said this, not just the scientists and mentally insane.
"Um, no…"I said with some hesitation. Hey, it is not every day that you get asked this. They both seemed to jump a little, as if forgetting I was there for a minute. Well, they were doing most of the talking; I guess it had been a while since I spoke. I looked at Annabeth, silently asking if Rachel was crazy or not.
"Excuse us for a moment." Annabeth said as she lightly tugged at my now somewhat charred shirt. This whole thing seemed too coincidental to me, there are millions of people that drive in and out of New York every day, and somehow Rachel is the one to stop. She led us a safe distance away from Rachel, one where we could see her but far enough that she can't hear us.
Before I could speak she said, "Look, just play along with it."
"I am sorry, but what!" I whisper-yelled. She then gave me this look that said to just shut my mouth and let her explain. I wonder if all Athena kids have used that look, and how many times a certain son of Poseidon received it. Her blond hair flew around her head from all the wind, she didn't seem to notice it much, still too preoccupied with setting those steel grey eyes on me.
"Listen, we have to go along with her. There is a chance we could be dreaming or in a coma. It's not unheard of that demigods can have shared dreams. That crash on the ship might have knocked us all out. Besides, even if this was not a dream, she has a car and Leo needs help. You're going to have to trust me on this." Her voice was soft, but I got the feeling she was not taking 'no I will not do that' for an answer.
I nodded slowly and we walked back over to Rachel, who was leaning back on her car, starring back at us, her eyes studying us. "Alright, what do you mean by alternate dimensions."
"You know what; I am not really the person to say. This whole thing looks a little out of my league; I think I know someone who can help though. But first, you guys really look like you need to speak to Chiron."
"So you're going to take us to camp?" Annabeth asked her cold grey eyes still starring intensely at Rachel. Though, Rachel looked like she was used to angry demigods glaring at her, like it was a daily routine.
"First McDonalds, then my house, then camp." She said while opening her passenger door. The inside of the car was covered in old papers and rappers.
"Why do we need to"- I stopped myself-"never mind. Our friend is hurt; we need some serious healing, fast." I had almost forgotten about Leo earlier, I was trying to make up for that.
"Bring them hear." Rachel said. "I might be able to help."
(; line break!
Wow Leo, I know your head hurts and everything but do you have to lean on my shoulder and then start DROOLING! I look like hell as it is, stop making it worse. And- Oh, please tell me that's water. It's quiet in the car, except for the occasional gibberish from Leo's unconscious form. On the other side of him, Jason sits leaning over the window, looking out at New York. I wanted to sit next to him, but Leo, even though he is out like a light, is always finding ways to literally, get between us. That and I wanted to give him a proper thank you for that kiss he gave me earlier. Annabeth is siting shot gun, while Rachel speeds through green lights.
When we found Leo again, he wasn't looking to good. His head was drooping and the wound looked infected, which I know is not good at all. He may be annoying, but he is still my friend. Rachel suggested heading over to her apartment first, temporally for getting her Mickey D's run, she said she had some demigod medicine supplies there too (why, I have yet to find out). So we all packed into her somewhat small car and speed through the streets to the Upper East Side of New York. The windows were open a little, allowing the stench of the city into the car. While we were at a stop light, Annabeth asked a question that just occurred to me.
"When you pulled over, you said that my eyes looked different, why is that?" she turned her body in the passenger seat to look at Rachel properly, her eyes calculating all of her movements.
"Well, the Annabeth I know is a daughter of Ares, not Athena. Her or I guess your eyes are brown." When Rachel said Ares, I thought Annabeth was going to faint, I see that is not her favorite God. I can understand that, even though I have never met him personally, but if he is like his children…
Wait, another Annabeth? Oh, this is so wrong. I think Rachel has been hitting the happy juice. Then again, Rachel did say we are in an *cough* alternate universe *cough*. So I guess that, in a way that makes some sense. Using brain and brawn are two completely different ways to handle a situation.
"Oh…" She trailed off probably not knowing what to say. Luckily, I stepped in, not wanting her to feel embarrassed. I like Annabeth, despite her being a little distant and very smartass-y. She is fierce, and determined, two things I admire.
"So you said that you have never been to camp, yet you know about demigods and you're a mortal, right?" Hey, maybe in this universe she is a demigod, it is easier to believe then Annabeth being a daughter of Ares. The idea of that happening gives me shivers.
"Yes I am a mortal. But I think I know someone who can explain things better to you than me. From your description, a lot of things here are very different." She said, looking at me through the rear view mirror, he eyes sparkling, as if sharing an inside joke with herself. The car started moving again when we hit a green light.
***this is an amazing line break***
Not too long after, we arrived at a nice looking apartment building, and parked in the parking lot. The doorman was rather nice too, but he looked a little wary when he saw Jason almost dragging Leo up the four flights of stairs. The walls were a calming cream color, but fading a little. The stairs going up had green carpets and sconces made of stained glass lighting the way. So far it looked old, but well-kept and updated some. All five of us then arrived at a dark wood door on the fourth floor.
"Home sweet home" Rachel muttered mostly to herself as she pulled out the keys and unlocked the door. We all filed in behind her.
A small hallway leads the way to the rest of the apartment, connecting it to the door. A few feet from the entrance there was a small closet in which Rachel put her dirty/muddy shoes she was wearing from our walk in the woods and gestured us to do the same. She then led us down the hallway and to an opening on the left, where she turned on light from a switch I could not see.
"This is the kitchen" She said as she strode to the middle of the somewhat small room. The room itself was about 12 by 8 feet, with cabinets lining almost three walls. It was old, like the rest of the building, and it was in need of updating. The linoleum counter top was covered in many papers and utensils, and the light wood cabinets have seen better days. What struck me as really odd about this place were the appliances. They looked to have been made out of carnival glass, or bronze. All shinny and a brownish-gold color, they stood out in the mix match room. Rachel reached over to the fridge and pulled out a little bag of ambrosia, then walked right past us calmly.
She turned on a lamp further down the hall, and lead Jason (who now was basically carrying Leo) to the couch. Here comes the fun part. I didn't know it at the time, but I was standing in the very home of the very someone that has been missing for months. I also didn't know that this person was going to make Annabeth very mad, and buy me dinner.
That's it for now, long one done. Already typing the next and should be posted soon. Just to let you know, everyone will still be in the same gender, and yes I am severally changing them, and yes, we will meet the other Annabeth. PLEASE REVIEW!