[A/N: This chapter's a bit short but I still hope you'll like it. Thank you for the reviews. Keep them coming! :D]
WISE GIRL'S SEAWEED BRAIN
Chapter 9: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
PERCY
Samantha made beef steak, mashed potatoes and even had barbecues.
I quickly dug in and stuffed my face with food. They were really good but I guessed I was the only one really enjoying the food. Annabeth and Samantha were both looking at each other like they were expecting the other one to turn into a beast and eat the other two.
"Okay," I said, setting my utensils down. "Out with it, you two."
They both looked at me and I almost cringed. "What do you mean?" asked Annabeth.
"There's some weird vibe between you two," I explained. "I mean, it was like with Thalia and me."
"Who's Thalia?" Samantha asked.
"Um, my cousin. Father's side." It was true. I looked at Annabeth. "You said we both have the same personality that we'll either be best friends or we would try to strangle each other. You two are so much alike I would say the same thing."
"You're wondering which one of the two we are," Annabeth said.
"Yeah."
"I'll say the first," Annabeth said. She then smiled at Samantha. "I like you. You're nice."
Samantha nodded before smiling. "Me, too."
I sat back contentedly and continued eating.
"So, how long have you guys known each other?" Samantha asked.
Annabeth and I looked at each other. We shared a smile and she took my hand under the table. "Since we were twelve," she said.
"Wow," Samantha said in awe. "And you were dating since then?"
"No," I said. "We just got together last summer. My birthday. But something told me this girl had been in love with me for a long time before that."
Annabeth gave me the evil eye. Seriously, I think she had Thalia taught that to her. No one except that punk-clothed Hunter could give such glare and make anyone cringe. My girlfriend tried her best except I knew she couldn't really get mad at me.
"Keep that up, Seaweed Brain, and I might change my mind," she threatened me.
I pouted. I knew what that expression does to her and she sighed. "You know that's not possible," I said.
She smiled but didn't answer, though her eyes said it all: I was right. Yeah!
I glanced at Samantha and found her looking at us. There was a small smile on her lips but her eyes were sad. "You okay?" I asked.
She seemed to shake herself off of a daze. "Yeah," she answered. "Just – I just enjoy watching you two like that. You two are sure a perfect match for each other."
"I'd say," Annabeth said. I recognized that tone. She only uses that whenever her message has underlying meaning to them, and when she knew the person she's talking to will get them. Unfortunately for me, I don't always understand what she really means. "Percy's loyal, kind and brave." I puffed my chest at her compliments and she laughed at me. "But he's also pretty dumb."I smirked. "So he needs someone like me to keep himself in check."
"Lucky he has you," Samantha commented.
I could swear there was something weird going on with those two. I just couldn't figure it out. Hey, I'm no child of Athena; I have no gift in reading people. Or maybe my head was just full of kelp, just like Thalia and Annabeth said.
"I'm pretty lucky, too," said Annabeth. "Percy has been there for me from the very beginning. He had protected and saved me a lot of times. It was hard for me to admit that I fell for a guy like him –"
"Hey!" I protested. "What's that supposed to mean?"
" – but I figured out that I need him in my life and lucky for me, he needs me, too. So here we are," Annabeth finished. I didn't get what was happening. I mean, yeah, I kind of liked what she said, but I had no idea why she had to say that at all.
Samantha nodded and looked down, stabbing a piece of barbecue with her fork and putting it in her mouth. After swallowing, she said, "Anyone with eyes can see that, Annabeth."
"I hope so," said Annabeth. "The last thing I want is to go around telling students at our school that Percy is already taken."
Oo-kay. I knew Annabeth is kind of territorial with her friends and – uh, fine – she's kind of possessive when it comes to me. I totally understand that. After our conversation last winter break at Camp, it confirmed what I already knew: Annabeth was still struggling to let people in her life. I knew it had been almost nine years since she ran away from home when her mortal family technically turned their backs on her. She was a kid and on the run when she met Luke and Thalia, who had taken care of her for a while until Luke turned out to be a nasty traitor and betrayed Annabeth many times.
Long story cut short: ever since her father disappointed her and after Luke hurt her, Annabeth had built a wall around her, protecting herself. She lives in constant fear that if she let someone else in, that someone will just end up causing her pain. It was for this reason I knew why Annabeth had a tight grip on me. We had been through a lot together and I knew she didn't want to lose me and I would never want to lose my Wise Girl.
But what was happening was totally out of the jurisdiction (Annabeth taught me the word. I actually know the meaning of it, you know!) of my understanding. Samantha, however, appeared to get what my girlfriend was trying to say without putting it to words. My mortal friend nodded.
I frowned and looked at Annabeth, asking. She shrugged and said, "Samantha, do you happen to have some water with a twist of lemon?"
Samantha shook her head. "No."
"Percy," she said, turning to me. "Do you mind running to the grocery store to get me some?" That was a weird request. I was about to protest that she could just settle with normal water – how is that any different anyway? – when she added, "I want to have some alone time with your friend. I want to get to know her better and I guess it's better done without you hearing us. Girl's time, Seaweed Brain."
I sighed. "Fine."
I stood up and left them staring at each other.
ANNABETH
"Since when did it start?" I asked carefully.
Samantha blinked. "Since when did what start?"
I looked her in the eyes. "Samantha, my boyfriend may be quite oblivious and obtuse but that doesn't mean that I am, as well. You see I was once like you when it comes to Percy. I tried at first to push away my feelings then I realized it was futile. Then I tried to get him to notice those feelings. Except he didn't. Percy isn't the kind of guy who puts meanings into actions. That may be good but at times like this, I know it's a disappointment to you." I paused, letting her catch up with me. "I'll ask again, since when?"
Samantha took some time before answering. I didn't mean to put her in a hot seat on the spot but I knew there are things that gets worst the more you try to run away from them. This was one of those things. We needed to have this straightened out as soon as possible.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" she asked suddenly.
Love at first sight? Did that mean she's in love with my boyfriend? It seemed things were a whole lot serious than I thought. At first, I surmised, with the help of Samantha's actions, that she had a crush on Percy, but now she was asking me if I believe in love at first sight?
"I don't know," I answered. "You mean that's what happened with you?"
Samantha shrugged. "I guess." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall for your boyfriend but when Percy found me, I was at my lowest. My Dad wasn't visiting, my Mom spends the majority of her time drunk. I didn't have any real friends." Samantha bit her lower lip. I was prepared to tell her to back off of Percy if I had to. What I wasn't prepared for was to feel sorry for her. "I was being bullied when Percy found me. I was dressed like a beggar and he stood up for me. From that day, I knew that a certain Percy Jackson had made a permanent residence in my heart."
I nodded. "But you do know that he loves me, right?"
Samantha gave a sad chuckle. "You don't have to tell that to me, Annabeth. I knew from the very first day that he would not feel the same feelings I have for him for me."
"Do you love him?" I asked.
"I don't know what that word means," she said. I felt like someone was squeezing my heart. I started this conversation just so Samantha would know her limitations when it came to Percy but now, I felt so sorry for her that I wasn't sure whether I was doing the right thing.
"Does being in love with someone means he's the last person you think about at night and he's the first person who enters your mind in the morning? Does that word means that you have this fierce urge to reach out and touch his hand, his face and kiss his lips? By the word love do you mean you feel this fluttering in your stomach whenever he smiles at you? Do you mean when you asked that you feel like you're dying whenever he's not around or if he is hurt? If yes, then I am. I'm in love with your boyfriend."
I didn't know how to answer. There was a part of me that wanted to warn her or threatened her that she had to stay away from Percy. But the way she talked, the way her voice shook made me back away. I suddenly understood why Percy befriended her: she was lonely. And maybe she reminded him of me. If we weren't of to a bad start, I would've offered her friendship without hesitation.
She wiped a tear from her cheek and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
I surprised even myself when I stood up and hugged her. I may be a possessive girlfriend but I'm also a girl. I couldn't just sit and watch her struggle with her feelings just because they were meant for my boyfriend.
Samantha was reluctant at first but she eventually hugged me back. "Are you sure it's love you feel for him?" I asked.
She pulled away. "What do you mean?"
I took a deep breath, remembering Luke. It still hurt whenever he crosses my mind. He was my family and it was still a sore spot for me. "There was a time when I thought I was in love with someone else. We actually went through the same thing. My family shut me out and I ran away from home. For some time I was alone until I found Luke. He took care of me and treated me like his own family. I looked up to him and admired him. As I got older, I felt like I was having feelings for him. But it wasn't what I thought. I wasn't in love with him. Percy helped me get my feelings sorted out. Maybe that's what you're feeling right now."
"I don't know," she said. "Maybe it is but I will never find out."
"Because you can't tell Percy?"
She nodded. "I don't want to lose him, Annabeth. I'd rather have him with me this way than not have him at all."
"Percy isn't that kind of person, Samantha," I said. "He won't abandon you juts because you have feelings for him."
"But if I do tell, I know I'll be destroying something I treasure. I can't risk that, Annabeth. I can't risk losing him." She looked at me with her teary eyes. Then she smiled sadly and said, "I'm sorry. I'm not supposed to be telling you these. You're his girlfriend and I don't want things to be awkward between us."
"That's guaranteed, Samantha. I'm pretty good in reading people. Even if you didn't tell me what you fell for Percy, I would've known about it just by watching you. That doesn't mean we can't be friends, though. Your feelings for him set aside, I actually like you. We have the same personality."
Samantha smiled again and this time, there was a hint of genuine happiness in her eyes. "I'd like that." She seemed to be debating on telling something and added, "You're not going to tell him, are you?"
I shook my head. "That's not for me to tell." I looked at her. Samantha was a really nice girl. She wasn't the typical rich kid who was a brat and a snob. She had kind eyes and a very pretty face. Just the kind of girl Percy would fall for. Before I could stop myself, I said, "Just keep in mind he loves me, okay?"
"Do you really have to tell me that?" she challenged. "Don't you think I know that no matter how much heart I put into loving him, it will never be returned? I know Percy is yours and will always be. I live with that pain every day, knowing that he will never see me more than a friend. You don't have to worry, Annabeth; I'm not going to steal him away from you."
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I didn't mean to say that."
Samantha gave me a sad smile. "Sure you do. But it's okay. I understand. I can't expect you to be all cool about this. And now that we're friends," she said, "I'd like to give you a piece of advice." I looked at her, waiting. I doubt she would say something I don't already know. "Spend more time with, Percy."
"What's that supposed to mean? I transferred to his school for him. Isn't that enough?"
"No," she said. "Annabeth, you may be attending Percy's school now but that doens't guarantee that you will have every minute together which is good, of course. It's okay for couples like you and Percy to spend some time apart. You still need to have a life outside each other but these past week, Percy was really sad and disappointed. He wouldn't tell me what you were really doing except that you love it. And while he understood what it is, that doesn't mean he's not hurt with you ignoring him."
I stared at her. It never really occurred to me how nice Samantha was until that moment. I mean if she wasn't sincere with everything she said about not doing anything to drive a wedge between me and Percy, she would've seized the opportunity when Percy was sad and had made a move towards him.
"I know that," I said. "I had been to caught up with doing what I love that I forgot he's there. That's why I transferred to Goode, to make up for the lost times."
"You make sure to do that, Annabeth," she said. "I'm not the only one with feelings for Percy and not all of them are like me. Your boyfriend's very kind to every one, you know. Now I know he doesn't really see what's happening around him. He even puts up with Amber even when she's practically trying to get into his pants on a daily basis."
I frowned. "Who's Amber?" I asked.
"The girl you were talking to at lunch."
"You saw me talking to her?"
"Yeah. You're the new girl so I actually saw you. I didn't know you you are that time, though."
"That girl sure has a lot of nerves," I commented. "And what did you say about her trying to get into Percy's pants?"
Samantha giggled. "She's been looking for a way to, you know, hook-up with him. Percy turns her offer every time nicely. But that girl isn't one who gives up. One time, she even sent him a, um, nude picture of her."
I almost fall off my seat. "What?"
Samantha laughed at my expression. "Yeah. Percy was really horrified and quickly deleted it."
"He better did," I said.
"Oh, he did. I watched him. Anyway, if you're going to be aware of someone, it should be her. Amber has the reputation of sleeping with every guy. And she has her eyes on Percy for a long time. The fact that he keeps on putting her off only intensifies her . . . urges for him."
I felt like running my dagger through that silly mortal girl. "You mean she's – she's lusting for him?" I hissed.
Samantha nodded. "I guess you could say that. I mean, jeez, Annabeth. Requests to be transferred to Percy's gym class has been astronomical since he became co-captain. I doubt that has something to do with what is being taught since it's all the same. It's your boyfriend they're after."
"I'd been dealing with that kind of stuff even at Camp," I said.
"Must be hard."
"It is."
"You do trust him, right?" she asked.
"Of course. But that doesn't mean I don't want to throw those girls one by one to a bottomless pool."
Samantha cracked up. When we're not talking about her feelings for Percy, I really liked the girl. "If you really trust him, you have nothing to worry about. Percy's teenage guy and he has raging hormones but I haven't seen him flirt with other girls. Usually it's the other way around."
"Oh, he'd better not do that."
"Do what?" asked a voice from the door. It was Percy. We had been to caught up with our conversation that we didn't hear him.
"Nothing," I said. Samantha and I shared a smile. I'm glad I made a new friend but that didn't set aside the fact that there's a possibility that this girl would come between Percy and I.
I shook my head and accepted Percy's kiss, determined not to let my fears get the best of me. Percy and I belong together. Period.
[Next - Chapter 10: THE BOY IS MINE]
