I can't believe that I just invited Annabeth to my apartment. I hadn't even thought it through before I sent the text asking her to come laser tagging with me. Laser Tag has always been my thing- I have never told anyone where I go, much less invite them with me last minute. I think I never invite anyone because it seems so lame, like why is a twenty year old dude is going laser tagging by himself on a thursday? Lame, right? Right after I sent the text, I drop my phone and run my hands through my already unruly hair and start to freak out a bit. Gods, she's going to think I'm so lame. What is she doesn't like it? My phone landed screen up, so I could see when I got the text, 'yes'.
Once again, the mysterious Annabeth made a decision that I wasn't expecting. I figure I can't back out now, so I give her the directions to my mom's place, glad that she is out of town for a few days with Paul and won't get to see me with a girl. She's been one my case for a while now about why I dumped my last girlfriend almost 3 years ago and haven't found someone new yet.
I walk into my room to grab a t-shirt, shorts and runners, when I realize just how messy I've let the apartment get without the nagging of my mom, so then I have to race around trying to clean up. Even though I know it's probably a waste of my time I want to making the place look presentable.
I toss the dirty plates in the dishwasher, not even scraping them or putting them in properly. I hide all the used pots and pans that have food like cement stuck to them in a random cupboard, and I leave all the empty pizza boxes and take out boxes in a garbage bag on the balcony. I can't wait until I find a place of my own; I've been looking for my own place, but haven't found anything I like yet.
'Good enough' I mutter as I run into the living room; it's no better than the kitchen. I cram all my controllers and laptop into selves, knowing that when I want all this stuff again, I am going to have a hell of a time trying to find it.
My room is probably the worst, so I pick everything up and shove it in my closet, slamming the door shut on the threatening pile of junk. I don't know why I'm cleaning my room, because Annabeth isn't even going to be in here. Whatever. I'm rifling through on of my drawers looking for a pair of shorts, slightly worried that they have been buried in my closet when the buzzer sounds. Annabeth's crackling voice, "Hey, it's Annabeth."
"Come on up"
As I am waiting for Annabeth I take one last look around the apartment to see if I cleaned everything. Or maybe I am looking for something that can get me out of this situation. I hear her footsteps pad down the carpeted hallway, then she knocks on the door. I wait a few seconds before I answer it. Don't want to seem to eager or something.
Gods, she looks gorgeous. Her hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and her hand is nervously playing with the button on her jacket.
"Hey, come in. I'm almost ready."
She follows me into the kitchen, but I don't turn to look at her. If I do, I'm sure she will see just how badly I am freaking out. "Just wait here while I find my stuff." As soon as I reach my room, I realize that my hand is shaking. So much, that when I reach to pick up one of my shoes, I drop it. "Come on. Get it together." I whisper to myself. I give myself 2 minutes to get my shit together.
When I have finally calmed down enough to think straight, I walk back into the kitchen. Annabeth is sitting on one of the bar stools staring intently at her phone screen.
"Ready?" I ask.
She gives me a tight lipped smile, slipping her phone into the pocket of her windbreaker.
"Sure. just warning you though, I am probably going to suck really badly." I open the door for her and lead her to the elevator.
"Don't worry about it. I'm good enough for the both of us." Wow, Percy, sound like a douche, why don't you. I'm mentally ramming my head into the wall as we wait for the elevator.
Surprising me, Annabeth busts out laughing; all of the sudden a lot of the tension between us disappears. "You can protect me," she jokingly nudges her shoulder against mine, her smile huge.
"Yeah," I mutter.
The laser tag place, Laser Quest, is not to far from my building. I discovered the place during exams in my sophomore year of highschool, and I was super fed up with words and I just wanted to shoot something. I've been going to laser tag for a really long time and I know most of the employees and fellow laser taggers by name. There is a bunch of us regulars that are always playing thursday. We now have our little group and though we never speak about it, sometimes when there is someone new playing, we all gang up on them. My old girlfriend, Claire, was not the type of person who would understand why I wanted to play a stupid game, and I never thought to invite her. Jason doesn't even know that this is my stress reliever. I don't know what they think I do thursday nights and I don't really care.
Annabeth and I chat about school and everyone that was at the club last night while walking the 3 blocks to Laser Quest. Last night was really weird. I had wanted to talk to Annabeth, but she was always distracted or busy talking and dancing with everyone else. Then she had just seemed like she wanted to talk to Jason, which for some idiotic reason pissed me off, even though I know he is incredibly loyal to Piper. Eventually, I just gave up and started to chatting up this other girl, Caly- something; I never really caught her name. She was gorgeous and everything, but I just never really got into any of the conversations that we had. Multiple times throughout the night, I tried to excuse myself without being super obvious, but she somehow managed to keep me there. Annabeth left then, and I stayed a little longer. I must've kept drinking because I woke up with the girl's picture and number, no name, and a killer hangover.
"How do you know Reyna?" Annabeth's hands are buried in her pockets and her shoulders are hunched together from the cold; I want to put my arm around her… Wait. What the fuck?
"Umm I met her a couple years ago when I went on a trip to San Diego. We both hit it off- we're a lot alike- and we've kept in touch ever since. She's just in New York visiting."
The walk signal illuminates.
"I promise we're almost there; are you going to make it?" I ask, worried that she might die from hypothermia, she's shivering so badly. Everyone who is usually walking on the busy street had disappeared. New Yorkers have an incredible way of disappearing as soon as the weather gets cold.
"I'll be fine." While she says it, she straightens up, a look of defiance on her face.
"Alright. Well you're in luck, because we're here." I hold open the door to the non-discrete building. From the front door, there are immediately stairs going down. I lead the way down the stairs. At the bottom, there's a small hallway which leads into the dimly light, but with more than enough neon signs, main room. The front desk is positioned in the corner, with an arcade off to the side and a surprisingly tasteful lounge for the parents of kids to hang out in. Cole, one of the middle aged employees, is manning the front desk.
"Hi, Percy. Just you?" He's eyeing Annabeth standing behind me.
"Nope. A two-hour pass for her as well." Cole smirks at me as I pass him my credit card.
I had him my 'Quest Card' -I know, it's cheesy- and he loads the card with my time. "What do you want your screen name to be?" I ask Annabeth, and she steps up to stand next to me at the counter.
She looks deep in thought for a second. "Athena."
"Cool. Athena, goddess of wisdom. Seems fitting" I laugh.
"Why is that funny?"
"Because it fits you perfectly. And mines BlackJack."
"Really?" She sends me one of those huge, happy smiles.
We sign our lives away on waivers and Annabeth gets her card pass.
"Okay, I have to get changed. There are locker rooms over there, and I will meet you out here in like 5 minutes."
She nods, and we head off in opposite directions. The men's locker room is deserted and I spent a minute or two in front of the mirror, and try to wipe this stupid smile off my face. It won't.
When I exit the change room, Annabeth is standing in front of one of the arcade games, watching a kid play this racing game, a studious look on her face.
"You put all your stuff in a locker?" I ask as I stand next to her.
"Yup."
"Ready, then." I've planned our arrival right on time for the next round to begin. There are two mazes, but I like one better than the other so I always try to be on time to play my favorite. They normally run for a really long time, and when you arrive you just join in on a game that's already playing, and when your time card runs out, your gun stops working and you leave or fill your card up with more time, but every few hours they reset.
"Sure, but I warned you I am going to be terrible."
Seriously, Annabeth, don't worry about it. Just have fun."
I lead her into the entrance of the first maze where we pick up the heavy packs and our lasers. There are people already there, some I recognize, but I'm too busy trying to help Annabeth get setup. The automated voice counts down from 10, and the doors open. Annabeth and I are the last ones in, and I immediately lead her up a few ramps to a plate form that I think has the best advantage point. Everyone has one minute before people can start shooting. I always start here and make my way around.
It's totally dark, except for a few dim light here and there. The one thing I like about this location is how quiet it is. It's almost eerie, and it makes the whole experience that much scarier. The only way to identify other players are the few small LED lights that are on the laser packs.
Once someone is hit, their gun is deactivated for one minute. Once a player is shot 3 times, thegun is deactivated for 3 minutes. THe system records who shot whom. After the game, in the main room, there are score boards. I have one of the highest kill scores at this location. Once our guns are active, a green light illuminates on our guns.
"Ok, just follow my lead," I say to Annabeth as we creak along a ramp, and behind a wall.
From aways away, I hear a beep, indicating that someone has already been shot.
I'm leaning out around a wall, hoping to get a glimpse of someone, when i hear Annabeth draw in a quick breath, and the beep of someone being shot, a swear and footsteps running away. I straighten up and place my hand on her shoulder. She's grinning.
"Sorry that you got shot so fast. I should have gone to a more protected spot." I'm not used to playing with another person. I'm surprised when her grin grows.
"Percy, I didn't get shot. I shot some girl. You had your back turned and I was watching the other way. That was awesome!"
I don't think that Annabeth will need so much protecting after all.
Oops…. Is it really April? I think I was kidnapped or something for a couple months- that is the only reason I can think of to explain why I am updating in April when my last update was in October, right? God I am a terrible person, so in an incredibly weak attempt for you wonderful people to not come to my house and murder me in my sleep you are going to get multiple updates over the next couple of hours.