Chapter 8
"Come on!" Percy tugged Tyson along. It was a Thursday afternoon and the sun was shining. Percy had a good feeling about the day.
Percy crept up to Annabeth's window and tapped on it slightly. When there was no response, he tapped again, a little more irritatedly. "Annabeth," he whispered.
A sleepy looking Annabeth in torn up jeans and a black tank top opened the window. "You weren't supposed to come back," she said menacingly, though the effect was ruined by a gaping yawn.
"What's with you?" said Percy. "Tyson just came to thank you, like any polite person would do. What do you say, Tyson?"
"Thank you for helping me not fall out of tree and go CRASH!" said Tyson happily.
Annabeth gave a small smile. "No problem, bud."
"So," said Percy, hoisting himself up into the window frame and sitting on it. "How's life in the Haunted Mansion, Ghost Girl?"
Annabeth smiled slightly and shrugged. "Same as ever, I guess."
"So, that knee's not bothering you?" he said.
She shook her head. "Trust me, I've endured way worse than that. It was nothing."
Percy saw her stiffen as the sound of an approaching vehicle filled the air. "Come on," she hissed. "Inside."
Percy lifted Tyson into the room, then crawled in himself. The three of them stood there and watched from the window as Paul got out of his old truck and walked into the house.
Percy released his breath. "He didn't see us," he said.
Annabeth didn't respond for a moment. She stared at the window, looking at something in the driveway. "That's a nice looking truck," she said.
Percy snorted. "Are you kidding me? It's a used 1995 Chevy. My parents got it the year I was born. It's a piece of crap."
Annabeth looked out at the truck again. Percy was wondering why she had taken interest in it when Tyson pointed to a picture hanging in the corner.
Annabeth stood next to him. "That... That's my old family. See, that's May, and Hermes, they were the parents," she said, pointing to each person in turn. "And there's Malcolm. He was your age the last time I saw him."
"Who's that?" said Percy, pointing to another boy in the picture.
Annabeth's eyes darkned. "Luke," she said, turning away from Percy.
"This is my calendar," she said. Percy noticed that almost every day had a red marker slash through it. Tyson noticed too.
"Why are there red marks?" he said.
Annabeth opened her mouth, and then closed it again. "I... Well, it marks of the number of days I've been alone."
Tyson clapped. "You don't have to mark it off anymore! Percy and Tyson will be Annabeth's friend!" he declared gleefully.
Annabeth smiled uneasily. "That's really nice of you, Tyson, but you can't come back here any more."
Percy watched as Tyson's lower lip began to tremble. Oh, you've done it now, Annabeth, he thought.
"Why not?" whimpered Tyson.
Percy rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Annabeth," he said. "There's hardly anyone who ever comes out here. And besides, we hid from Paul just fine, didn't we?"
"Paul?" said Annabeth questioningly.
"Our stepdad," mumbled Percy. "Anyways, can't we please come visit you sometimes? Please?"
Annabeth stared hard at him for a second. "Why do you want to be my friend so badly?" she said.
Percy shrugged. "You're a mystery, Annabeth. And I always wanted to try being a detective. Plus," he added. "You wouldn't have to be so alone anymore."
Annabeth looked down for a second.
They were distracted by Tyson holding up a piece of paper. "What is this?"
It was a crayon drawing. Percy could just barely make out the form of a navy blue truck that looked a heck of a lot like their family's truck when Annabeth snatched it out of Tyson's hands.
"Nothing," she said, stuffing it in her back pocket.
"So..." she said as Tyson continued wandering around her room. "You mean it? You... You really want to be my friend?" she said.
Percy nodded earnestly. "Yes!"
She smiled slowly, and Percy felt a fluttering feeling in his stomach. "Alright, then," she said softly,
"What's that?" said Tyson, pointing to something lying on the unmade bed.
Annabeth gasped. She snatched the shiny trinket up from the bed and sat down. "Oh, no!" she moaned. "I forgot to take it off this morning. It must have broken while I slept!"
Percy moved forward to get a better look. She was holding a necklace. It had a gold chain, which a locket on the end shaped like a small disk. On the face of the locket was an elaborate red and gold emblem. It struck Percy as familiar, though he couldn't remember where from.
"Wait... You forgot to take it off in the morning and it came off in your sleep?" said Percy.
"Yeah, I usually sleep during the day, from around five in the morning to six at night," she said.
"Of course," said Percy. "Silly me."
"Where did you get?" said Tyson, staring in awe at the broken necklace.
"My... My mom and dad gave it to me," she said. Percy glanced at her questioningly. "It was the only thing the left with me, besides... Never mind."
"Hey, maybe I can fix it," said Percy. "If you let me take it home. Also, that emblem on it... I swear I've seen it before somewhere. Maybe I could do a little research on it while I'm fixing it, and..."
He didn't continue. Annabeth's eyes had taken on a cold, steely look. "Maybe you and Tyson should leave now," she suggested cooly.
"Look, Annabeth, I didn't mean-"
"Just go!" she said. "I've got stuff to do."
Tyson said goodbye to Annabeth, totally having missed the tension, and they began walking home.
Percy kicked a small stone lying in the yard. What was it with that girl? And the necklace? Why was it so important to her that she wouldn't even let him fix it?
Percy had a lot of questions about this "Ghost Girl", and he was determined to find the answers.
Eh. Not my favorite chapter, but what did you guys think?
Today's theme song is another one for Percy and Annabeth:
What I Did For Love from the Broadway Musical "A Chorus Line"
Come on, guys! I can't think of ALL the theme songs! Leave suggestions! I would be ever so thankful!
Thank you so much for reviewing. They almost make me forget how much I hate my school.
So help me forget a little more by reviewing!
-Rebel