Till The End

Chapter 11

Percy POV

Percy smirked.

"Very funny," Percy said. "But seriously. Where is Rachel? She was just here a while ago."

Jason looked at him, puzzled.

"Percy," he said. "Who's Rachel? Are you sure you didn't hurt your head too?"

Percy frowned. Jason wasn't a good liar. Knowing him like a brother, Percy could usually tell when Jason was lying.

"Rachel Dare," Percy said. "Curly red hair. Green eyes. Our childhood friend."

Jason looked away from Percy, turning to Annabeth. They made eye contact.

"Who's Rachel, Jason," Annabeth asked.

Percy looked to the left. Everything still hurt. Coupled with his ADHD, Percy could barely focus on anything. He heard faint conversation come from Jason, Annabeth, and the other girl. But he couldn't grasp the words. There were many things in his room. Like the platter of peeled and sliced apples that Rachel had...

"Apples!" Percy exclaimed.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

Percy stared at Jason.

"Apples! These are the apples that Rachel just peeled for me while she visited."

"There's definitely something wrong with him," Jason said. "Call the nurse."

The brown-haired girl turned and left the room.

"I don't need a nurse," Percy said angrily. "If anything, you need one. How could you forget Rachel after all we've been through."

"Percy," Jason said. "I'm saying this for the last time. There is no one that you or I know that goes by the name Rachel."

"What do you mean?' Percy said. "There's physical proof. The apples. The ones that Rachel peeled for me. They're still right there."

"What apples Percy?" Jason said. "There are no apples in this room."

Jason turned to Annabeth.

"I think this might be some serious head injury," Jason said.

"For the last time, I'm fine!" Percy roared. "I don't have a freaking head injury."

Percy and Jason glared at each other.

Just as the conflict was about to escalate, a nurse broke through the door with the other girl in tow.

"I think he has some head injury," Jason said to the nurse.

"I'm totally fine," Percy said.

"Honey, I think it would be best if we check up on you," The nurse said. "If nothing is wrong then we'll do nothing but there's no harm in being safe."

"But I'm fine," Percy said. "My arm doesn't even hurt anymore. I could be discharged now."

"Mr. Jackson I do think it would be in your best interest to get checked on," The nurse said.

Percy looked at the nurse's face. There was no changing her mind.

In hindsight, Percy would wonder why he did what he did. Normally he would have begrudgingly taken the check-up. Maybe with less of a hassle from Jason. But what followed would be one of the most unusual points of his life so far.

Maybe it was his ADHD acting up, maybe it was the medicine, maybe it was fly that had been buzzing around the room for the past five minutes. Whatever the reason, Percy flew into action. He ripped the IVs off his arms and leaped out of his bed. He flew over Jason's head and landed by the door. He threw it open and dashed into the hallway.

The next half-hour was a blur. He briefly remembered dashing through the hospital's halls, taking more than his fair share of wrong turns, and taking random turns through the bustling scene that was New York City at night. After a while, he felt himself lose control of his body. His strides became automatic. His turns - predetermined. It was as if he was subconsciously leading himself somewhere.

He seemed to get his answer as he found himself busting through the doors of a nice apartment complex. He broke for the stairs and took them two at a time. His feet pounded away at the stairs for a while, never bothering to exit into any of the floors of the complex.

He finally reached the roof access door and slammed it open. He found himself a spectator of the beautiful view from the roof. As he caught his breath, he caught the unmistakable figure of a beautiful girl leaning over the railing of the roof, gazing at the view

He immediately pulled himself to her, slowing down a few feet away from her.

"Rachel," he said.

The girl turned to look at him and smiled.

"Percy," she said. "You made it."

"I," Percy started. "I did."

"I see you are feeling better," Rachel said.

"Yeah," Percy said.

"Did you have the apples I left you?" Rachel asked.

"I... didn't get a chance to," Percy said, thinking about Jason's words.

"Well at least you're here," Rachel said wrapping Percy in a hug.

All of Percy's doubts disappeared. He was fine mentally. Rachel was a real person. She was here with him. She was touching him. Jason was wrong.

"Yeah," Percy said.

"I'm sorry for not talking to you in forever," Rachel said.

"It's fine," Percy said, as memories of Rachel flashed through his mind. "I'm just glad that you came back for me."

"We have a lot to talk about, don't we?" Rachel asked, letting go of him.

"Yeah," Percy said with a smile.

"But we'll have all the time in the world to catch up," Rachel said.

"I don't know about that, I think it's past my bedtime now," Percy joked.

"I'm actually going to Goode with you," Rachel said.

"Really?" Percy asked.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "So we can talk whenever we want. And with Jason too."

"Yeah, that would be amazing!" Percy said, his excitement making him forget how Jason had forgotten about Rachel.

"Speaking of Jason, does he still run out in thunderstorms acting like a lightning rod?" Rachel asked.

"He actually does," Percy said with a laugh.

"No way," Rachel said.

"Yes way," Percy said.

"He almost got baby Sam electrocuted for doing that," Rachel said.

Percy chuckled. "I remember that. But he does worse stuff now."

"No way," Rachel said.

"Yes way," Percy said, with a devilish grin.

"I have to hear everything," Rachel said. "Your bedtime can wait."

"Everything can wait," Percy said. "I've been waiting for this moment forever."

"So have I."

* One Week Later *

Percy stepped into Mr. Blofis' English Class. It had been a week since the whole incident occurred and the school had closed down until the present day. He got quite an earful from the hospital staff after his escape and night out with Rachel, but nothing too bad happened. His wound was pretty light, so he had managed to get out of the hospital after the week was over. The week wasn't that boring as Jason, Annabeth, and the other girl, Piper, had visited him multiple times. As expected, the only concern Gabe had shown towards Percy once had gotten back was whether Percy could still provide gambling money for Gabe with his lifeguarding job.

Percy found an empty table with five seats and sat at it. Jason, Piper, and Annabeth had gone to find the cast list for the school play which Jason and Piper had auditioned for over the weekend. Annabeth had decided to tag along and asked Percy to save them seats. It was kind of cool how Percy had a sort of friend group now. It reminded him of back when Rachel was still with him and Jason when they were younger.

Percy sighed thinking about Rachel. He was ecstatic when Rachel came back and met him at the hospital. But then she had never shown up again for the rest of the week. If only Rachel could have rejoined their new friends with him.

"You look like you're longing for someone," A voice said from beside him.

Someone had snuck up on him while he was stuck in his head.

"I'm pretty sure that was the look that you used to have when you missed me."

Percy looked up and saw a familiar face.

"Rachel!" He exclaimed.

"I told you I would be at Goode," Rachel replied.

"I thought that you left again," Percy said.

"Sorry about not showing up again last week," Rachel apologized. "I had a lot of stuff to sort out. Moving takes a lot more work than I remember."

"I bet it does," Percy said.

"But I'm totally free for whatever you want now," Rachel said. "We can do whatever you want whenever you want."

"Hmmm," Percy thought out loud. "Then let's get some ice cream together after school. Your treat, of course."

"Sure... but why after school?" Rachel asked. "Why not now?"

"Since when was Rachel Dare such a rebel?" Percy asked.

"Since when was Percy Jackson such a wimp?" Rachel countered. "The Percy I know would be glad to skip school for ice cream."

"Well," Percy said with a pause. "I guess learning's not so bad after all."

"Who are you and what have you done with Percy?" Rachel joked.

"PERCYYYY," Jason called as he rushed into Mr. Blofis' class. "Guess what?"

"What?" Percy asked turning to Jason.

"I got cast as an understudy!" Jason exclaimed.

"Jason you do know that understudy means a backup right?" Piper asked, walking in with Annabeth.

"Oh," Jason said, slightly dejected.

"That's still good for your first time acting," Percy said. "What about you Piper?"

"Piper got the lead, as usual," Annabeth said.

"Impressive," Rachel remarked peeking out from behind Percy.

"Oh yeah Jason, it's Rachel!" Percy said. "I told you she was back. Rachel, can you believe that Jason didn't believe me when I said that you..."

"Percy..." Jason said. "Who is this? I've never met her in my life.

Percy furrowed his brow. He was seriously getting pissed off at Jason. Sure he may not have been the sharpest tool in the shed. But to forget so many childhood memories with Rachel... unacceptable.

"I'm getting tired of your bull, Jason," Percy started.

"So am I, this prank isn't funny anymore, Percy," Jason retorted.

"How can you say that to Rachel's face?"

"Maybe I would feel bad if I knew who the hell Rachel was! Neither you nor I have ever known a Rachel when we were little. This girl is obviously lying to you."

"Jason I..."

"It's alright, Percy" Rachel interjected. "Though I am sad that Jason doesn't remember me it has been a while so I can't blame him too much."

"Class is about to start, Percy," Jason said. "Please stop this charade. You know that you don't know her. I frankly don't trust her and neither should you. Let's go"

Jason grabbed Percy's hand and tried to drag him away but Percy shook him off with a glare.

"I'm good. I think I can decide who to be with for myself," Percy said.

Percy took one last glance at Annabeth. Her expression was unreadable. Was she sad? Worried?

Percy shook his head. It didn't matter either way. She had chosen Jason's side over his and he wasn't gonna try and do anything to change her mind.

With one last glare, Percy led a protesting Rachel away from his now old friends.

AN: Heyyyyy guys...

Yeah, I know. It's been a while. I should've probably communicated better with y'all that it went onto hiatus. I had a bit of writer's block and got way busier. I felt pretty inspired today and decided to take a look at my old stories. Reading them over I can't help but see where my writing and direction were lacking, but it still has a lot of potential. So I'll be picking my stories back up over the summer. I'm not promising an update every day, or week, but they will come. As for the story itself, I have direction now. I'll have to write around a few plot holes to figure it out maybe but it will get good soon. This is not your typical High School AU. Hopefully, you stay with me through the ups, downs, and inevitably long breaks to see the conclusion of the story because it will be well worth the wait. As always R&R to ensure I don't forget about the story and catch yall later. - AR