Sorry if any of the descriptions of different states are horrible, I've only ever been to Ohio & Georgia (never stopped on the trip back and forth). I'm not too sure what the official pairing will be; just know it'll be a rough ride of love and possible lust. I might put it to a vote if enough readers are interested.
Enjoy!
Rick Riordan owns the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
That includes the characters!
Percy P.O.V.
There are a few people scattered around the beach, some give us weird looks while others ignore us, yell out to us, or snap photos. We're still about twenty minutes to the car and it's getting dark when two girls finally get the courage to walk up to us. The taller of the two being a teen with black hair that falls to her shoulders in straight layers, big excited blue eyes, and a braces filled smile. I look down to see the other one, a girl who must be the taller ones little sister. She resembles the other's looks; pale skin, blue eyes, except her hair falls around her face in dark, messy ringlets which makes me suspect the other straightens hers.
The small girls smile is gapped tooth and stretched from ear to ear as she looks up at me with shy yet eager eyes. "Hello, Mister Percy, sir." She says in a steady voice. "I was hoping you could sign my shirt." She holds out a green sharpie as she puppy dog eyes me. "You see, Sir, it's my little sisters birthday and it would just make my day if you could give her this one present. She's such a huge fan-I am too, of course- and, please?"
The older one asks, flushing slightly. I bite my lip nervously and look over to see Rachel staring at something in the distance as she rapidly blinks back tears. "Oh," The older girl yelps, I look back to see her eyes widening even more as recognition for the situation sinks in and she spots Rachel's running mascara. "Sorry, this is a bad time. Maybe later would be better." She's already grabbed the little girl's shoulders and started to steer her away. "I didn't realize you were- you two were in the middle of something. Sorry-".
"Its fine," I sigh, jogging to catch up with them. "Here, what's your name?" I ask once the little wide eyed girl has turned to me and I'm kneeling down in the sand at level with her. "Emily!" she giggles, holding out the marker again.
My eyes soften as I uncap it and have her pick a spot on her shirt, my earlier worries already fading away as I remember the first autograph. It was before I even left New York, I was saying goodbye to Calypso, a very close friend of mine who always smelt like cinnamon, when her little cousin barged into the apartment and begged me to sign a picture of Calypso, her, and I. Her name was Emily as well. After a moment of pleasurable surprise, I smiled and signed my very first, fan asked for autograph. Of course, then it was just because she'd asked, I never dared dream that I'd make it this far.
Emily chooses the top, right of her chest so that whenever she wears the shirt, I'll always be 'in her heart'. "There you go," I smile, ruffling her hair playfully. "Wait," she screams. "Don't I get a birthday kiss?!"
I chuckle, a tad bit hesitant, and then I lean forward and peck her on the cheek. I absolutely love children, I think I'd like one of my own one day. "Happy birthday, Emily." I whisper before standing. She gasps. "Maddie, Madison! Did you see that? I'm never washing my cheek again!" Just you wait 'till puberty, I think, chuckling in my head. She then wraps my legs into a hug, a bit of sand brushes off of my pants and into her face but she barely notices. "Thank you so much, Mister Percy!"
I laugh and look up at the other girl, Madison. "How would you like a picture? I'll put it on Instagram." Her eyes widen, again, and I start to worry for their safety. "Are you-really? Oh, that would be amazing!" she squeals, clapping her hands happily. I smile and quickly pull out my I-phone 5s- part of my deal with apple is that I advertise all of their new products, though they say it's for free. Yay, just peachy, don't you think? I kneel, as does Madison and Emily stand between us. I hold out the phone but at the last second call for Rachel to join us. She bends down from behind me and hesitantly loops her arms around my neck, resting them on my chest as she presses her cheek to mine and smiles. I check her face in the screen and see no clear evidence of her tears and finally take it.
"Oh my gods, thanks so much, you're the best. My friends will never believe it! A picture with the Percy Jackson and Rachel E. Dare? No way! Thanks again, I got to get her home." Madison points to a yawning Emily.
"No problem," I laugh. I watch them leave and once Emily's shrieks of joy are fading, my nervousness comes back full first. As I turn around, I realize Rachel's mood is back as well. Sighing, I take her hand in mine awkwardly, and we take the rest of the fifteen minute walk to my car in silence. I post the picture on Instagram and watch as its likes and reposts go up in seconds. I'd tagged San Francisco Bay and I can practically here the fans-those in close range-minds calculating whether or not they'll be able to catch me before I leave if they leave their house right now. I've been staying in Cali for some time now and I've most of the fans of mine that I've met are from here, but there's always more.
I laugh, huskily, under my breath as I pocket the phone and let go of Rachel to open the passenger door of my black Bronco. Really it's just my 'leisure' car; I hate being flashy or a show off. Rachel mumbles an almost inaudible 'thanks' before hopping into her seat. I bite my lip and walk to my door to jump in. I open my mouth to say something; maybe try to apologize, even though I don't know what's wrong, when a few camera flashes stop me. Wow, they sure pick bad times to show up, I think. Rachel lets out a sort of wail and slams her seat belt into its lock. "Let's just go. Please!" I look over to see her face again covered in tears but this time it's very noticeable as more flashes illuminate the paths the liquid has trekked down to her chin. Ignoring the paparazzi, I reach a hand up to wipe away some of the tears but she just swats it away, hard. At that exact moment, a ton of flashes go off and I slowly rest my hand back on the steering wheel. "Just go!" she yells, pointing wildly to the exit of the parking lot. I bite my lip again as I numbly fire up the truck and put it in reverse.
After dodging a few crazed, suicidal paparazzi, we drive for around thirty minutes in silence. The drive could have been faster if traffic wasn't so shitty, but it was. So, yeah, thirty minutes of awkward, uncomfortable silence later and we're finally home. The house is located on Sea Cliff, almost peering over the bay. It's a large, Spanish style manor, five bedroom, three bath, full basement and attic type of deal. Of course it has had modifications to fit our needs, such as the studios. There are three cherry blossom trees lining the orange, path stone walk way to the door.
Really, I just let the gardeners, Persephone and Demeter do what they want and it always looks amazing. Though I swear I once saw some wheat growing in a few neat and organized rows. One of Demeter's many weird- erm, unusual fetishes, but it may as well have just been my imagination. Right now, though, with paparazzi blocking the gates-I swear there's absolutely no end to these people- and Rachel's sniffles becoming sobs once more, there's not much time to admire the scenery. I hastily unbuckle my seat belt and push open my door. "I'll be right back, stay here." I mumble, not looking at her.
I jump out and make my way through the small, yet rough crowd. "Percy," A woman yells as I finally make it over to the gate. "Rachel seems awfully distraught, could you two be arguing?"
I scoff lightly as I flip up the covering for the pass code handset. Could we be arguing? Why, that's absurd! It's not like every other couple in the world hasn't argued at one point or another. Why can't we? Why is it so surprising that Rachel and I can have our disagreements? Why is a whole swarm of press needed to come and document the experience? Of course I don't voice my thoughts, as I block my password from their sneaky, prying eyes. Apollo, my manager and major vocalist, told me to do as little talking in front of them as possible unless told otherwise.
The gate clicks once, signaling that one of the two locks has been successfully unlocked, and I turn to head back to the car. "Could this be the end to what your fans are calling 'Perachel', Perseus?" Another man asks.
I hate to admit it, but at his words, I stiffen, balling my fists, and it's not just because I hate my full first name. I quickly get back to the car, ignoring the rest of the questions poured on me. "Rachel," a man yells, but the rest of his sentence is silenced as I slam my door and rev the engine. I beep once, and then press on the gas and coast through the crowd after pressing a button on my visor to unlock the second lock on the gate.
We finally make it into the safety of the walled in yard and I press another button to close the gates. "Just park here." Rachel sighs, slipping off her seat belt and out of the car. My brow furrows but I quickly follow suite, dropping the keys in my pocket, as she makes her way to the large front doors.
I take one last glance behind me to see the orange glow from the street light revealing most of the pop. dispersing while only a few stay, setting up a few more cameras. Grinding my teeth, I turn to follow Rachel inside, closing the doors behind me.
She beelines for `the shiny, wooden stairs planted in the left of the center of the opening, waiting type front room. To the left of the stairs, a hallway leads to the kitchen, and to the right, another leads to the living room then branches off for the studios. One is for art and another for recording or songwriting and such. Rachel is an artist as well as a model, and people pay big bucks for her work, I actually have a ton hanging up all around the house.
I run after her, but she's already disappeared up the stairs. "Rachel," I yell, clomping up the stairs one at a time.
I walk down the hall, finally upstairs, and go straight to our bedroom. She's moved in about a year and a half ago. We were both only just about to turn eighteen but neither of our parents minded too much, though my mom was a bit freaking out. Yes, Rachel and I, we've done… that, once or twice. Okay, maybe a little more than that but whatever! We lived in the same room for almost as long, at first we were both a little scared of sleeping in the same bed. I know what you're thinking; I'm a wimp, but that quickly changed one night when… some things happened. I won't go into it too much, but let's just say it involved alcohol. Yes, we're both still underage but what else are you supposed to do with a fully stocked wine cellar and 'man cave'?
Anyway, I try pulling open the door but it's locked. "Rachel," I sigh, pressing my forehead against the cool wood. "Open up, do you think I forgot our anniversary or something?" With that, I hear another choked sob slip out into the hall.
"Rachel!" I yell, banging my fist against the door. "Let me in-are you on your period?" I mentally slap myself.
"I'll get you some chocolate and Chinese food! I know your favorite!" Oh God, just shut up! I mentally yell at myself. "You said you'd tell me when we got home!" I jiggle the knob again. "Rachel!" I scream. Suddenly the door is pulled forward and I fall to my knees as I lose my balance. Oh, I was pulling, I was supposed to push. Stupid Kelp Head. I look up to see Rachel's face, eyes watering, tears silently gliding down her flushed cheeks.
Although by the set of her jaw and the straightness as she stands, I can tell she's determined to stick with whatever it is she's decided to say. "Percy," she sighs, wiping her hands under her eyes, effectively drying her tears. She kneels down in front of me, hugging me tightly as if she'll never let me go, but somehow I know she will.
"Rachel?" I ask, my voice cracking as I loop my arms around her waist and pull her tightly against me. "Percy you know… you know I care for you deeply. We've had such a good friendship. We've known each other our whole lives even." she whispers. She sounds so small, and I feel like the older brother who's little sister is about to tell him she broke his X-box. I bite my lip painfully. "What is it, Liz?" I prompt.
After a moment of silence, one that makes the rock in my stomach grow and causes a lump to appear, she speaks in a rush. "We need, I mean- I believe, we need a break. This isn't working and I think a little time away from each other could help ease this bad tension." While she talks, her arms loosen from around my neck. I blink. It takes a moment for my thoughts to become audible. Is there cotton in my mouth? That's what it feels like. "A break?" I ask numbly.
A break. Bad tension, what tension? Did she just call our life long relationship a 'this'? A thing? A word keeps circling in my head. Break, break, and break break. She nods her head slowly, pulling away from me to look into my eyes. She looks so sad, is that how I look? I stare at her, my eyes growing foggy and I suddenly hear a ringing in my ears.
Her lips start moving, silent words that don't register in my head as she stands, revealing her luggage behind her, packed neatly away. Away, she's going away. Then it's too much. It's too much like last time, when she told me that her dad was making her go, that she's rather stay here, with me. When, just as I was hugging her and brushing away her tears and holding back my own because crying isn't 'manly' and I had to be brave for her; her dad was there. Her dad was there telling her, 'We have to go now,' because he had an important meeting that he absolutely could not miss. One, so important, that he couldn't just give us five minutes alone. Just five flimsy minutes, five minutes that could have let us said our actual goodbyes and… And I hadn't even told her I'd loved her before she was pried from my hug and yanked out of the door.
It's too much. Suddenly I'm standing holding Rachel's wrists and backing her against the hallway wall. "No, no, no. Rachel you can't. You can't- can't leave! I need you!" I'm staring into her wide eyes, my hands tightening onto her like a life support, her eyes flash from a look of surprise, to anger and slight terror then something else. "Percy stop, you're hurt-". I cut her off. "I need you." I whisper urgently.
By the gaping of her cherry red lips, the widening of her knowing eyes, the hesitance in her slacking muscles; I can tell she remembers. She knows and is remembering as my eyes send pleas to her. She can't leave. I take advantage of her shock to press my lips to hers hungrily in a wave of pure terror and need.
For a moment everything is okay. My eyes are closed and it's only Rachel and I on a lovely, care free day. All we know is love a warm grip over our hearts, a passion heated paradise as her lips dance with mine. But then it's too hot, and the world is burning down, down, down. This is the end of life as we know it. All occupants have been wiped out as Rachel's face jerks away from mine. The ringing in my ears is gone, it's been gone for a while, I notice. "Perseus," Rachel growls angrily.
I blink at her dumbly. "Don't you ever- you can't just- ugh! You're hurting me, Percy!" she says, biting her lips as if to hold back a sob, her face twisting to show pain.
My eyes widen and my hands spring apart as she wrenches her wrists away to cradle them at her chest. "Well I don't need you, Perseus. I was trying to keep our friendship intact, you-you idiot! I tried making this as clean a break as possible but you leave me no choice. I d-don't love you like that anymore. I've found someone else, someone b-b-better. And don't you dare ever kiss a girl without permission, especially me!" she screams. "I'm-". I start, taking a step back and raising my hands slightly. Then she slaps me. In that moment everything slows. I see her hand whip up, back, then forward, I see in her eyes all of her built up anger explodes as her hand comes in contact with my tan cheek, hard. Oh, it's hard, intense and painful, burning. As a quiet gasp that lasts forever escapes my lips, I stumble away from her.
Did that just happen? Is the only thought I can muster. I look up to see her wide eyed glare waver as she realizes what she's just done. Her mouth opens as her eyes soften and for a moment I think she might apologize. A weight lifts from my chest as I stupidly think this is all some big, ridiculous joke she's played on me, just like old times. But then she fixes her jaw and her beautiful green eyes harden once more.
Okay so here's this… In the future of this story I think not all the chapters will run right into each other day by day, I may start skipping locations, P.O.V's and days might become week summaries, do you know what I mean? That'll be later on though; I still have to squeeze some things into this night. But I did have some questions. Does anyone think I break down Percy's actions too much? And I'll also start trying to make the chapters longer while progressing more into the story. I'm thinking the updating for this story will be really random but once I get into it, I'll be able to tell you guys when and if I'll have scheduled updates.
Thanks for reading! Please review, I love that constructive criticism.