Chapter Ten

When I woke up, I was laying on a soft bed, realizing that it was my own. It was either morning or the afternoon. My clothes have changed and I was in a blue t-shirt and dinosaur pants. I left a bag of my things at Thalia's place. I tried to get up, but my head hurt so bad! I must've hit it when I fainted in front of the door. I lay back down, trying to ignore the pain while thinking. All I can think of was what happened. I can recollect only some moments of when the empousa attacked me. My head hurt even more thinking. I can't ignore the pain any longer. I moaned really loud. Why did this happen to me? Why did the empousa attack me and what did she mean by 'I want you'? No one ever had a crush on me. I wasn't good looking, I'm barely athletic, or even that smart! What did she mean?

That question kept circling my mind and won't leave it alone. Finally, I yelled. It somehow made me feel better, but the pain in my head was overwhelming. I was able to hear footsteps outside of my room door. Then, my mom and Paul come bursting in,

"What's wrong, Percy? Are you okay, baby?" My mom always over reacts. Paul stands there looking almost as scared at mom.

"Nothing mom," I say with a weak chuckle. I tried to get out of bed the second time, but my mom wouldn't let me.

"Don't get up, Percy! You need to rest."

"It's okay, mom. I can manage it." I got up and sat on the edge of my bed. Mom's hand brush through my hair, making it messier than it really is, but it felt good.

"Paul, can you get the cookies in the oven?" mom asked.

"Certainly, Sally." Paul winked at me and I smiled, winking back at him.

"You have cookies in the oven?" Mom's cookies are the best. If I had to rate it form one to ten, I would rate it infinity.

"Yes, I do. And guess what color it is," she asked, with a smirk.

"Blue!" I yell.

"Correct." You see, my mom would cook anything she can, blue. Cookies, cakes, pancakes, a lot. It all started because when Smelly Gabe, my old step dad that lived here, said that there is no such thing as blue food. My mom wanted to prove him wrong so she started cooking and baking blue. She can even make blue Coke! Blue is my favorite color ever since.

Mom smiled. She brushed the hair out of my eyes whenever my hair gets too long.

"I found you outside the apartment door yesterday when there was a loud bang on the door. When, I checked it, I found you on the ground. You were pale, wet, and freezing cold. I was about to scream and try to make sure that you were alive." Tears started to stream down her face and leave marks on her cheeks. "But then, I saw your smile. And then, I knew that you were alive. You were okay and I had nothing to worry about." Her hands covered her face, trying to hide her face and trying to stop crying. I hugged her. I always knew that hugging her would comfort her, make her feel good.

"It's okay, mom. I'm right here. I'm all right." I smile, but tears are starting to form in my eyes. I suck it up as hard as I can. Then, Paul walks in with a tray of blue chocolate chip cookies and puts it on my desk. The smell filled the air. Then, he notices us for the first time.

"Oh. I'm sorry I interrupted you two. I'll go back." But before Paul could go back out, I grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him in for a hug. He was surprised at first, but closed his eyes and hugged us back. This is one of those moments where you think that everything is going to be all right, even if you know that it's not. It's just us. Paul, my mom, and I. A great big family.

After a couple of minutes, we all pull apart. My mom had stopped crying by now, but her eyes were red and puffy. Paul pat my back with a smile, and left the room. My mom kissed me on the forehead. Then, she looked as if she remembered something.

"Oh yeah. Percy, your cousins called. Apparently you were missing for a while and they were worried sick about you. When they found out that you were here, I could here someone cry in the background. I guess they were worried sick about you, sweetie. You have great family and friends and they will always be by your side." She hugged me one last time and went out of the room. I stood up, my head spinning,and tried to keep my balance. I go over to my desk and grabbed a cookie. Slowly, I started to chew on it. When I out my elbow on my desk, I heard a rattling. Confused, I open the drawer and found a box full of drachmas, Ancient Greek currency. I knew that I can Iris message them because using electronics could kill me.

Should I Iris message them? Did they care enough to pick up? I kept trying to find the right answer, but I finally decided that I will IM them. I take a drachma out of the box. I spray some water outside of my window where it's bright and sunny. It castes a rainbow. Throwing the drachma, I say " Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering. Thalia Grace's house." A picture suddenly appeared. It was of Thalia, Nico, Jason, and Annabeth, spread around in the living room. Nico was watching TV was Jason. Thalia was sitting on the couch, listening to music. Annabeth stood by the window, staring outside. It was silent except for the TV. Nobody seemed to notice me. I gather up the courage to say the first word.

"Um." That got all there attention. With their eyes wide, they got up from wherever they were and ran over to me...or at least the Iris message. They started to rant on about how worried they were and never to do it again. Nico and Jason were hugging with big, silly grins on their faces. They noticed how weird they looked because Annabeth, Thalia, and I were staring at them. I cleared my throat so that they can give me time to talk.

"Um, I'm sorry I...walked out on you guys." Then, they started to talk once again. I rolled my eyes and this time, I yelled, straining my voice. "GUYS!" That got their attention. "Look, I'm sorry I walked away on you guys, but I needed time to think. I'm sorry I worried you guys, but I'm fine. I'm at my apartment in fifth street. If you guys would like, you can come visit." I smiled the best I can without looking like I had to use the bathroom. Annabeth was the first to speak.

"Percy. Did you know how worried I was! Why did you do this? I felt like it was my fault because you left, because I had caused everything. If I didn't ask any questions, then you would've been fine." She started to cry.

"Annabeth, I didn't mean to make you worried. I'm so sorry, but please stop crying." She turned and I looked strait into her eyes. They were startling gray, like a stormy night. I couldn't help but blush. She them turned away with her cheeks tinted with red. Then, Thalia spoke up.

"Percy, we're so glad that you're okay. We plan on visiting you today so wait for us." Before the Iris message turned off, I was able to here the goodbyes from my friends. Not the bad kind, but the good kind. I don't even know why I left. I have such awesome friends. This happens once in a lifetime.