Chapter 10
Percy groaned in frustration, grasping the locket in his hand. He had woken up that morning to see it glinting in the sunlight on his windowsill. When he had come home from school, he began his research. He had tried everything. He had racked his brain for information about the locket, but he couldn't make any comparisons.
And, of course, he fixed it. When it was about seven 'o clock in the evening, Percy figured that Annabeth would be wanting her locket back. He was just about to walk up to the mansion when he heard a tap on his window. Looking out, he saw Annabeth clinging to the top of the tree. He opened the window.
"Did you fix it?" she said.
Percy held the necklace up on its chain and it sparkled. Annabeth hoisted herself up onto the window sill and gently took the necklace put of his outstretched hand.
"Thanks," she murmured. "Could you, uh, help me put it back on?" she said, gesturing to her neck.
Percy nodded and stepped back. "Come inside."
She slid onto the floor soundlessly and handed Percy the necklace, pulling her hair up. Percy reached around her neck and clasped the gold chain together.
"There you go," he said.
Annabeth smiled. "Thanks," she said. "Really, I mean it."
She took a deep breath. Percy watched as she tucked the necklace back into her shirt. "Okay, so, you remember that picture that Tyson had?" she said. Percy nodded.
Annabeth sat down on his bed. "Well... I drew that."
"I had gathered that much," said Percy, sitting down next to her.
"Well, I drew it when I was six... Because of something my social worker told me," she choked out.
Percy scrunched his eyebrows. "You don't have to tell me," he pointed out.
"Yes, I do," replied Annabeth. "Anyways, my... My report said that I was born in a... A truck."
"Like the one in your drawing?" questioned Percy.
Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. I don't know how my social worker found it out, but... It was a navy blue truck. A Chevrolet."
Percy stared at her. "So you think..." he started slowly. "You were born in our truck?"
Annabeth blushed slightly. "Yeah," she admitted.
"Well," said Percy, standing up. "There's only one way to find out."
Annabeth's eyes gleamed. "Really?" she said.
Percy grinned and offered her his hand. She took it and pulled herself up. Together they climbed out the window and raced to the driveway. Percy pulled on the car door and scowled. "I keep forgetting you don't have to lock your vehicle here," he muttered.
Annabeth laughed. "Welcome to Summerville," she teased.
They both climbed into the backseat. Percy watched as Annabeth ran her hands over the seat. "Just thinking that my mom might've sat here..." She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't really have to. Percy understood.
He absentmindedly ran his hand along the leather. It slowly traveled to the bottom of the seat. Then, he felt something. He narrowed his eyes and pulled it out. He had never bothered to check under the seats before. There was no reason to.
The object was a thin sheet of paper. He turned it over and discovered that it was a picture. Annabeth gasped.
In the picture, there was a woman who looked to be about eighteen years old who was lying in the backseat of the truck. Her curly blond hair was pulled back into a pony tail and her gray eyes were half closed with exhaustion. Her skin gleamed with sweat and she was covered with a blanket. In her arms was a baby.
Annabeth made a choking noise. Her trembling fingers took the photo from Percy. "If that's not proof, then I don't know what is," said Percy.
Annabeth didn't say anything, but she opened the door of the truck and moved to get out Percy followed her. She seemed about to run away when the screen door slammed shut. Percy froze as Paul and his mother walked out of the house.
Percy begged Annabeth silently not to run. If she took off, things would be even worse for her. Sally walked right up to them. "Percy," she said. "Is this one of your friends? I haven't met her."
"Um... Yeah." Percy didn't offer a name.
Sally tilted her head questioningly at him and turned to Percy. "My name's Sally. I'm Percy's mom." She stuck out her hand.
Annabeth smiled slightly and shook it. "My name's Annabeth."
"Annabeth? I don't remember seeing your name on the sophomore list," said Sally.
Annabeth tensed up next to him. Before she could make up any kind of excuse, Paul stepped forward. "I saw you," he said. "Up at the mansion. I thought I was going crazy, so I went up to check it out. I saw the stuff, but I didn't tell anyone about it..."
Annabeth stepped back. Her body slightly pressed into Percy's, but she didn't seem to notice. Percy didn't mind at all.
"So... you're this 'Ghost Girl' all of my coworkers keep talking about?" said Sally.
"Not exactly," muttered Annabeth.
Paul scrunched his eyebrows, seeming to figure it out. "You live there?"
"She never said that," pointed out Percy.
"But it's true, isn't it?" said Sally, starting to look upset.
Annabeth didn't say anything, just looked down at the ground. Percy noticed that she had folded the picture and stuffed it in her back pocket.
"Are you alone in there?" said Sally gently.
Percy put his hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "Mom, please don't say anything. Annabeth's got no where else to go."
Paul sighed. "Percy, are you asking us not to alert the authorities? Annabeth's a minor. She doesn't have any legal right to be-"
"Look," said Annabeth. "I've lived here since I was eleven. I was in the foster system before that, and I'd sooner kill myself than go back to that life."
Paul opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure of what to say.
Sally looked at Percy, seemingly trying to evaluate the situation. "Okay," she gave in. "We won't report you. As long," she added. "As you promise me something."
Annabeth looked up with hopeful eyes. "What is it?"
Sally smiled and put her hands on Annabeth's shoulders. "That you'll at least come over once and a while so we can make sure that you're okay."
Annabeth grinned. "I think I could manage that."
Percy watched as Annabeth continued talking to Paul and Sally. He got the feeling that maybe, just maybe, Annabeth was slowly being woven into their family.
Hey guys! This is an awkward chapter. I apologize if I rushed it.
Today's theme song is for Percy and Annabeth (again)!
He Won't Go by Adele
Special thanks to Mystica Tempest for the theme song.
Review! (That's all I can say when I'm feeling especially uncreative.)
-Rebel