He's Gone Away…

Chapter 15

Awkward

Annabeth's POV

Annabeth and Thalia arrived around 10 at Annabeth's boarding school.

The principle stared at Thalia, Annabeth and Sally. "So, what you are trying to say is, Percy, your son, your cousin and your best friend, has disappeared. And you have taken a break from school, because of the stress and worry. Now you want to come back." "Yes" they coursed.

"Well, Miss Chase, because your schoolwork is so good and you can catch up fast, I will permit you to continue school. Miss Grace," she continued, ignoring the daggers in Thalia's eyes. "Because your father has set down a large sum and because Miss Chase's psychologist requests that you attend this school, I will let you. Mrs. Jackson, as to your request, of letting Miss Chase and Miss Grace stay with you, I will allow it, because you are their legal guardians and emergency contacts in the state of New York."

"Thank you!" "Thanks!" "Thank you, Mrs. Freedman" "Your welcome, now will start on Friday or Monday?" "I don't know. Friday perhaps." "Good. I will let your teachers know. Miss Grace, I assume you would like to be in the same classes as Miss Chase, seeing as you both have dyslexia and ADHD." "Yes, of" she started sarcastically. "That would be appreciated Mrs. Freedman," Annabeth finished saving Thalia a lecture about how proper girls speak kindly to their elders, Mrs. Freedman was impossibly old fashioned.

"Well… goodbye girls, Mrs. Jackson." "Bye!" "Goodbye." They left the office.

They went to a café and decided what to lie about and what to tell the close truth about. They decided that Percy would be kidnapped, but it wasn't publicized because the nature of the kidnapping and that they cannot disclose more information. They decided to lie tooth and nail about Annabeth's pregnancy. They decided to say she was missing for so long because she was distraught about Percy's kidnapping, then she became sick and now has just gotten better. They decided that Thalia is there because of Annabeth's instability at the moment.

After this, Sally, Thalia, Annabeth and Aphrodite went shopping for Thalia, because all she had was hunter clothes, and lose fitting shirts and dresses for Annabeth. The gods gave Annabeth a special credit card that would let her buy any maternity clothing (or something in her mind that she would ware that is like maternity), some clothes for Thalia, baby clothes and baby things. [Sorry if I get the stores wrong, I've been to 2 malls in my life. We don't have them where I live, so I go when we visit grandma.] Aphrodite dragged them, through the mall, into Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic and Forever 21. Thalia bought some punk stuff there, but Annabeth didn't. Annabeth found teen clothing, but no maternity.

When they walked into the oversized Old Navy, she just asked the lady at the front desk if they had maternity clothing. "Of course we do! It's right over here… Do you mind my asking, but who is it for?" "Uhh…" "It's for me!" Aphrodite cut across Annabeth. Annabeth shot a look of thanks across at Aphrodite and prayed oh, thank you, Aphrodite; that could have been awkward! No problem Aphrodite responded in her mind. "I want to look young and hip! So I brought my niece and her friend!" continued Aphrodite. "Well if that's the case, you can buy babydoll tops, tunics, ponchos and dropwaist tanks instead! Maternity ware has such a… a…" "Maternity" interjected Thalia. "Ya, maternity look." "Oh thanks for the great advice!" "Oh, I also recommend buying maternity jackets and hoddies, because soon you won't be able to zip up your own." "Thanks!"

"Annabeth, consider her advice. And lets look in the teen section! I think ponchos might be 'in' this season! Since my children have so much influence on the fashion world; I'll put in a request from their mother."

"Aphrodite," Sally said, "how about they look there, while we look in the maternity and woman's section. Remember we are shopping for you!" "Ohh, I forgot about that! Well, girls I hope you find something good! Meet us in the dressing rooms in 20 minuets, to model!" "Okey, bye!" They walked off to the maternity.

"Well… Um…" "I don't think we need to be shopping this early for maternity clothes or baby clothes." "I agree; it's completely unnecessary. Well, common Thals, let's get to it. The sooner we start the sooner we'll be done."

[Don't bother to look up the clothes; I just made them up! If I have something specific I will put the URL on my profile.] They found a dark gray poncho, a sea green babydoll top with lace, a green, yellow and blue floral babydoll, a light gray babydoll top and a dark blue tunic. Well, actually they found lots more, but Aphrodite didn't approve of it.

By noon, Annabeth was 'starving.' They decided to go to a Mexican restraint. Annabeth couldn't decide what she wanted. So she had Thalia order for her; yet she ended up eating Aphrodite's food instead.