6. A Letter
Percy went over to Annabeth's house after his encounter with Luke. Dr. Chase opened the door. Instead of his usual stern yet kind face, Annabeth's dad's expression was just stern when he saw that it was Percy.
"Good morning Dr. Chase. Is Annabeth here?" Percy asked shyly.
"She's up in here room." Frederick replied curtly, closing the front door behind them.
Percy dashed up the stairs. He came to a halt when he reached Annabeth's door and gave a few knocks. "Come in." Annabeth called.
Percy walked through her door. Annabeth had her back turned. She obviously didn't realize it was him who walked in. She was sitting in the middle of her room in a pair of sweat like shorts and a gray tank top. Her curly hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. Surrounding her was a bunch of papers.
"What are you doing?" Percy asked.
Annabeth sprung up from her position, her cheeks a little flushed.
"Percy! I didn't know you were coming over!" Annabeth said frantically.
Percy chuckled lightly.
"Why are you so embarrassed? What are those?" He asked, pointing at the papers around her.
"Oh. Those are, um, blue prints."
"Blue prints? For what?"
Annabeth looked over at them strewn across the floor.
"Nothing particular. I just like studying them."
"You are the only person I know who actually likes studying in the middle of summer." Percy laughed.
"Well, I don't like studying a bunch of school work." Annabeth defended. "I only like looking at blue prints because I want to be an architect. I'm not that much of a nerd."
And before they knew it, they were both laughing.
"Not that I don't like you over at my house or anything, but why are you here?" Annabeth asked.
"Well it's kind of weird, actually. I saw Luke Castellan at Starbucks today. He actually talked to me. Crazy, right?" Percy admitted.
"Well what did he talk about?"
"He actually introduced me to someone you know."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "Who?"
"Do you know a Thalia Grace?"
Annabeth literally leapt in the air. "No way!" She squealed. "She's in town?"
"So I take it you do know her?" Percy clarified.
"I've known her since I was 7. We were best friends. But when we turned 15, her dad sent her to some all girls archery thing out in the middle of no where. He said it would keep her out of trouble. As I'm sure you noticed, she's…impulsive."
Percy nodded. "Yeah, I got that."
Percy checked his watch. It was almost 4. Sally needed him back at the apartment to help set up for her dinner party. "Annabeth, I have to go. But my mom's having this dinner party thing tonight. You and I should go out."
Annabeth grinned. "Call me later."
a.a.a
Back at the Jackson's apartment, Sally was ferociously cleaning the floors and cooking the dinner. "Hey mom, I'm home!" Percy called. Sally shut off the vacuum.
"Hi, Percy," She replied. "Someone called a little earlier for you on the home phone. They left a message. It sounded important."
"What did it say?" Percy asked nonchalantly.
"Some lady name Kate Willis wants you to meet with her in her office. It's about some sort of letter you sent in. I didn't get the full details. I'll listen to the message again."
Sally pressed the phone to her ear.
Percy was confused. What letter? He never sent a letter to any company. They probably had the wrong guy.
"Percy, it's the big business complex over on 5th. Suite G16." Sally notified.
"Mom, I never sent any business a letter." Percy spoke.
"Well then you better go meet this Kate and tell her that she has the wrong guy then." Sally said dismissively.
Percy sighed. He really didn't feel like going to some business to tell them they screwed up a phone call.
He looked over at Sally. She had that "mom look" on her face. That face that told anyone: This is what you need to do, so you are going to do it.
"Fine. I'll go over there to tell them they messed up." Percy grumbled.
a.a.a
It took awhile for Percy to drive over to the complex due to the famous New York traffic. When he arrived, he walked straight to the receptionist sitting at the front desk. She was dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt with a matching blazer. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a slick bun. On her chest was a shinny gold name tag that read: Melissa, Receptionist.
Melissa looked up when she noticed Percy. "Hi! Can I help you?" She chirped.
Percy looked around. "Um, I think you guys sent me a message that was meant for someone else. My name is Percy Jackson-."
"Mr. Jackson!" Melissa cut him off. "Ms. Willis has been waiting for you. Just ride up in the elevator to the G section. She's room 16. Have a nice day!"
And with that, Percy scampered off towards the elevator, more confused than ever.
Percy found Ms. Willis's office. The door was open, so he walked in casually. A woman was sitting in a swivel chair behind a large wooden desk. She looked right at Percy. "You must be Percy Jackson. I'm Kate Willis. Please, just call me Kate. Sit down."
Kate had dark brown hair French braided down her back. She wore an all black tailored work suit and she had glasses on the bridge of her nose. She was intimidating to Percy. Kate looked like she meant business.
"We received your letter, Mr. Jackson. And I would just like to thank you. We really need guys like you in a time like this." Kate beamed.
Percy's mouth was agape. "I never sent any letter. What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about your application to join the armed forces, of course."
Percy froze. He could feel his pulse ring through his ears. This wasn't happening. He never sent in any application to join the army.
"Kate, I never sent any application." Percy said, trying to stay calm.
"Mr. Jackson, I'm holding it right here in my hands." Kate waved a letter in front of him.
"I never sent that." Percy's voice wavered.
"Are you saying this letter is fraud, Mr. Jackson?" Kate assumed.
"Well yes. I mean no! I mean…I don't know who sent it." Percy was practically begging at this point.
"Are you aware of what's going on in Afghanistan right now?" Kate's voice was sounding more and more dangerous.
All Percy could do was nod.
Kate continued, "The army really needs more soldiers right now. This is no time to joke with an international headquarters. By sending a fake letter, you could go to jail. Did you know that? This is not to be taken lightly."
Percy stood up. "I told you! I never sent any letter!" He was near panic.
"Well since you can't tell me who did, would you rather go to jail?" Kate sat back crossing her arms.
Percy let his head drop in defeat.
"Didn't think so." Kate smirked.
"I don't want to go." Percy confessed. All he could think about was Annabeth.
"Just think of it as an opportunity, Percy. What, are you scared about it interfering with college?" Kate asked.
"Well no it's just that-."
"Great. Then since school doesn't interfere, I don't see a problem." Kate interrupted Percy. It was the second time that happened to him that day.
Percy dropped his head even lower.
"Now it says here that you're only 17 right now, but you'll be 18 in August. Is that correct?" Kate read off the letter.
Percy solemnly nodded.
"In a month you'll be eligible. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have a month before your training starts. That is all Mr. Jackson. It was a pleasure." Kate faked a smile.
Percy rushed out of her office as fast as he could. Who would do this to him? Who would send in a fake application to the military with his name on it? Percy was livid. He wanted to punch practically everything in sight as he stormed off to his car. On his way out, Melissa shouted a cheerful, "Have a lovely day, Mr. Jackson!"
But she was introduced to his middle finger as he bolted through the lobby doors.
Percy was mad, that's for sure. But then all his feelings turned to sadness when he received a text from Annabeth asking about dinner plans.
Annabeth. How was he ever going to tell Annabeth he got listed into the army on accident? He had only known her for almost two months and he wanted to know her for so much longer.
No. He couldn't think like that. He would get out of this mess. He would fix this. He had to fix this for the blond girl with the gray eyes.