As you will see in the memory, I was watching EMO BREAK-UP on Shane Dawson when I first started writing this chapter.
Annabeth:
"Alright, go to the link at the bottom for part two," I told Percy through the phone. I was spending a few weeks with my dad before I went to camp. High school seemed like a blur now that it was over, and thank the gods it was over. I had been told that my senior year would be fun, but the truth paled to what expectations everyone had told me.
Maybe for them it was fun to parade around with the name 'Senior' as though it would make you forget the torture of the rest of high school. They may have enjoyed how some people were partying to the max because they knew that they were going to peak in high school. Someone might of even liked the constant competition to become valedictorian, which I won by the way. Prom was a drag as I had to go to two of them. The one at my school was so quote unquote 'perfect' that I hated it. Plus, Percy and I hate dances. So, it was pure torture both times around. When that was over, I was packing up my room and working on Olympus. By the time Graduation rolled around, I could have slept for a week. My dad had me get packing and come home to California with him. I only had a few weeks until I was heading back to New York and then to Boston where I would be attending Harvard.
"Why are we watching Emo Break-Up?" Percy smirked as I bit into an Oreo.
"Because we can, Seaweed Brain. Now, press the link," I ordered at him, and, with a small laugh, Percy did as I said. I listened to the beginning music and watched as the video popped up.
"Okay, I vote she's pregnant," Percy said as the emo girl walked out of the room.
"Dude, it's been like two seconds into the thing. Why do you think that?" I asked.
"It's a gut feeling. I'd think I'd just know."
"Oh come on, you wouldn't even know if I was pregnant," I smirked as I bit into another Oreo.
"I would, too."
"Oh you would so not," I watched as the movie continued to play, but Percy wasn't done with this conversation.
"I would know if you were pregnant now."
"How?"
"Are you pregnant now?"
"No," I sounded unfazed, but I felt like hitting him through the phone. What? If I were pregnant, the only way he would know would be that I was going through five stages that are very close to the break up stages: denial, anger, sadness, anger again, some more anger, and then acceptance.
"That's how I know."
Ten minutes later:
"Dang it, you were right," I pouted as I pressed the 'X' on the web browser. I took out the blueprints for Olympus I hid under my bed. My dad didn't want me working while I was here, but I couldn't just stop. Dad and the boys were out at a baseball game, and my step-mom was on girls night. Since I didn't feel like doing either one of those, I just stayed home, telling them I'd call Percy or something. My dad wouldn't be back for a while, and I only need to fix just a little problem. He can't freak out about that, can he?
"Hey, I gotta go. Grover just showed up with a pizza," Percy told me as if he had told me that his mom wanted him to clean his room, not his best friend showing up out of the blue with a pizza. I wasn't fazed though. Grover used to do that when something went wrong or amazingly awesome. Fight with Juniper? Show up at his friend's house with a comedy and a pizza. Bad grade? Pizza and a horror movie involving a teacher dying. An awesome grade? Pizza and the episode of That Seventy's show where Eric decides to become a teacher with all of his friends. Decided to propose to Juniper on Graduation? First, go to Annabeth with something sweet, then go to Percy with pizza and beer.
What? All of us almost die every year. He didn't want to waste time with her, and, besides, it's more of a promise ring to get married 'some day'.
"Oh how I miss Grover's life updates with pizza visits," I smirked, "I love you, Percy."
"I love you, too, Annabeth."
I looked at Percy across from me. Sarah was in Westchester for her parent's funeral, and it was about time Percy and I actually had a conversation.
If we're going to raise our daughter together, we have to work together. At least, that's the pep talk Celia gave us. I was worried that we wouldn't get passed the surface, like we always seemed to. We knew things about each other like why he got divorced and stuff like that, but we hadn't really talked about anything. I took another sip of my Starbucks coffee and let the caffeine run through my veins. We agreed to meet here yesterday when we both got the call about how Sarah chose us. I had no idea how this thing was supposed to go. Do I just go straight to the point or try small talk?
"Alright, so, we need a hearing by the end of this month," Percy told me, and, following a nod, I continued it.
"And a school for her. The school year is starting up soon," I looked him in the eyes as I said this, which honestly made me pretty proud of myself. When I thought of school, I thought of how I used to wait and wait until summer finally would come and I could see him. Then again, everything reminds me of him. I guess that's what happens when you're with a guy nine years.
"Of course," Percy nodded and probably made a mental note of something.
Silence began to join our conversation. Around us, the coffee shop was full of life and laughter, but we weren't. It was like the rest of the world was separated by a glass, and we were stuck together, unable to say anything. I didn't know what to do other than just sit there. We screwed up big time in our past, and we just can't seem to put it behind us. I want to. I want to get rid of all that pain and let him see me as the Annabeth he used to love, not the one who gave up his daughter.
"So…" I was about to say 'Sarah' when I realized it wouldn't be a good idea. Right now, she was the glue that held us together, and I didn't want it to be like that. We couldn't always talk about Sarah. Yeah, this meeting was about Sarah, but I don't want all of the times we see each other to be like that. I want us to be able to have a nice, peaceful conversation.
"Have you started on Sarah's room?" Percy smiled warmly, which made my inside turn to mush. I ignored how I felt like a teenager whose biggest crush had just said 'Hey', and I nodded to him.
"Yeah, I'll need the approval from her, but I have it planned out," I smiled as I looked into his perfect eyes. My knees went weak, and I started to thank the gods that I was sitting down so I wouldn't have looked so pathetic, falling down just from looking in his eyes. He held my gaze for a few moments before shifting, making my smile fall a little bit.
"Juniper has everything planned, right down to the color sheets," Percy smirked, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was thinking 'Like you probably would have done…' Either way, I smiled at the thought of Juniper because I hadn't seen her in years.
"How is Juniper?"
"Well, she and Grover got married a year ago next week, and they have a two month old son named Tyler," Percy shrugged.
"Big year for them."
Percy let out a small laugh that could have reformed even the Grinch into wanting to be just plain wonderful. Now that I had seen him again, I couldn't imagine how I survived these seven years without him. At first, I focused on school and acted as if I hated him. By the third trimester, I knew I missed him, but I also knew I couldn't raise a baby. That's what he wanted. So, I couldn't have him. Life went on, and I continued to say that I hated him, meaning it less and less as the years went on. Now, I didn't mean it at all. All I wanted was him and Sarah, which were the things I gave up all those years ago. I wanted to fix everything, but he wouldn't let me.
I squirmed in my seat. I felt bad enough about everything. Why do I keep bringing it up?
"I meant what I said at the hospital two days ago," I looked down at the coffee cup.
"About needing a drink?" Percy smirked even though even he knew exactly what I was talking about. I looked deeply into his eyes, for once not feeling butterflies or wanting to throw up.
"You know what I mean," I told him, not looking away. Percy quickly averted his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. Finally, he shrugged.
"Oh come on, I shouldn't have gotten so upset because you saw that two twenty year olds who lived in separate states couldn't raise a baby," Percy was about to say something else, but he tried to stop himself. Finally, he decided that he might as well tell me.
"And I should have gone after you," his voice was so small that I could barely hear him.
"What?"
Percy, who I think could have been blushing, looked down at his cup of coffee. He shut his eyes tightly as if he felt like curling up into a ball and dying. I didn't look away from him though. He opened his eyes and squeezed his hand until his knuckles went white.
"I should have…" Percy summed up his courage, "gone after you, Annie."
I was about to cry, but I pulled myself together and into a smile.
"You just called me 'Annie'," I smiled warmly at him, and he simply hung his head.
"Alright, how about we call it a truce?" Percy ignored my first comment.
I had to admit, it was really appetizing to let it all go. I wouldn't think about it, and it wouldn't be hidden in everything we told each other.
But we wouldn't forget it. It would stay with us like scars.
"Okay, a truce," I shrugged, "But you still called me 'Annie'."
Percy laughed for a moment and took another gulp of his coffee, rolling his eyes.
XXXXXX
I turned off the car's engine, looking at the house in front of me. Lush grass was shining in the warm afternoon sun, blinding my eyes. I don't think I've ever seen grass so green, and a little girl in a black dress was letting her feet sink into the grass, creating a big contrast. The brick house stood out of the hot summer sky, making me wonder how this place was only an hour away from New York City. The house looked just like the other ones in the Westchester country club. The beautiful home made me need a long nap from how picture perfect it was. Up the side walk, a tall woman stood on the porch, and a little girl, hearing the voice of the woman, came from the front yard and up the sidewalk to her.
The woman intimidated me as her cold glare looked at my Infiniti. I opened the door to walk up to the drive way and to the house. The woman's long, brown hair was tied up into a bagel-like bun. The icy look in her amber eyes made me want to throw up. Her bony wrist held onto Sarah closely, and her high cheek bones and thin face reminded me of a Russian for an odd reason. The woman's thin lips pursed when she looked at me, and she finally let go of Sarah. Finally smiling, Sarah ran straight to me.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her cheek.
"Annabeth," she squeezed me tightly, and I finally let her go.
"I want you to meet my Aunt Renee," Sarah began to pull me to the twenty-something woman on the porch. Somehow, the cold glare of the woman made the warm summer air evaporate for a winter chill. I couldn't imagine her being related to either Eric or Jill. From the stories Sarah tells us and from the few times when I met them both, they sounded sweet and caring. But this woman didn't look like that.
She reminded me of the nuns at the catholic school I spent two years at in New York or the queen of the gods herself. If Hera could have any demigod children, I'm pretty sure this is what they would look like. I couldn't imagine this woman having twin boys as Sarah had told me. Her skin looked Botox-fresh, and she looked much too cruel to handle a child. The sweet smile she gave Sarah made me relax a little until she finally looked at me. The mothering look in her amber eyes quickly changed to one of one of those mean girls you saw in high school.
"I'm Renee Tompkins," Renee's lips turned into a superficial smile as if she were trying to find all of my weaknesses in just one glance. I pulled myself together and nodded to her.
"I'm Annabeth Chase."
"Sarah, why don't you get to your room? I need to talk to Annabeth for a minute," Renee didn't even bother to force her eyes to seem sweet when she looked at Sarah as she told her this. Sarah looked at me for a minute as if pleading for me to run for my life, which didn't comfort me much.
"Alright," Sarah's voice was small as she let go of me and went through the front door. Renee watched her lovingly go as if she was a simple housewife whose big accomplishment was Sarah, and of course her size two body. When Sarah closed the door behind her, the love evaporated, and she suddenly reminded me of those women I see crowding up Sax Fifth Avenue with her cold glares and beautiful face.
"So, you are Sarah's birth mother?"
I was a little stunned, but I brushed it off. That was why I was here, and she didn't want to waste time with small talk. Okay, I can handle that.
"Yes, I am," I nodded, wondering where she was going with this.
"Why'd you put Sarah up for adoption?" She crossed her arms across a Chanel business dress, which I had in the back of my closet. I silently made a vow to give the dress to Rachel because now, I would only think of Renee when I wore it again. If it hadn't been for her heels, she would have been a good five four, but you would never think of her as short. Somehow, her long legs made her look about five ten.
"I was young, and I didn't know how to raise a baby," I told her quickly, not taking the time to process why she had asked.
"What about the father?"
"What about him?" I asked with a smile. Sure, I didn't want to give her my life story, but, if it helps me get Sarah, I'll do it.
"Where is he? What happened with you two?"
"He lives in New York City. We got in a disagreement about giving up Sarah, and it quickly pulled us apart."
"Why did you suddenly come for Sarah? It's been six years since you gave her up."
Now that one I couldn't handle. The way she looked at me was the way that a woman looks at a pregnant fourteen year old. I could have explained that I wasn't sixteen like she imagined, but that didn't matter. I made my mistakes, and she has no right to judge.
"I gave her up because I knew she would have a better life here, but her parents are dead. I'm just trying to be there for my daughter," I felt like snarling but I didn't dare. If she wanted, she could raise hell for me and Percy about this, and neither of us wanted that.
"You do know I was her godmother," Renee looked at me as if I had just stolen her boyfriend, not taken custody of her niece, "My sister trusted me to raise her."
"That's not what the will said," I smirked, and her amber eyes widened. I felt relieved about finally saying it, but I also felt stupid for screwing this up.
"Excuse me, I need to help Sarah pack," I was about to find Sarah, but she pulled me back by my arm.
"If you hurt her, I will take her back in a second," the cruel look about her didn't intimidate me this time. I knew she was serious, though. If I made one misstep, she'd be packing Sarah's bags for Tennessee. I called on my reserved strength to not scream at her for threatening me. Instead, I took a deep breath and remembered that I was here for Sarah.
"I understand," I removed her bony wrist from my arm and walked through the front door.
A six year old girl sat on the wooden stairway, holding her head in her hands. Her grey eyes lit up when she saw me, and she immediately got up, smiling. I started to wonder if Renee had dressed Sarah as she was wearing a dress quite similar to Renee's. I brushed off that thought as Sarah came up to me and took my hand again.
"Follow me," she smiled bubbly and started to lead me up the stairs, "Aunt Renee can be scary, but she's nice when you get to know her."
I smiled at her and looked around the house. It had all been packed up. I remember Celia said that the family had sold the home. So, I guess everything would be packed up, but everything felt weird about this place. There weren't any spots were they had put up pictures or anything, and the scheme of the house seemed to be crème. Everything looked perfect as if no one had ever lived here. I started to wonder how life would have been here for Sarah. This doesn't seem like the place you could have a child. Once up the stairs, Sarah proceeded to lead me across the soft, no-stains white carpet to the second bedroom to the right. She opened the door, and I was a little stunned.
"I thought you hated pink."
Everything seemed to be pink in this room. The painting above a twin bed-covered in everything pink- was the word 'Princess' in hot pink cursive. What looked like a homemade quilt had fairies in random colors all dancing on pink. A pastel pink desk sat with boxes on it. The house was being sold furnished, and I could see why Sarah definitely didn't want to stay here.
"I do," Sarah sighed as she looked around the room. I couldn't imagine how she was feeling. Sarah had grown up in this house, and suddenly, her parents died. Her birthparents showed up, and she was leaving the only home she had ever known to move to New York with two people she barely knows.
"When's Percy getting here?" Sarah asked hopefully, making me smile. I looked at my watch. He was supposed to already be here. But no, he was late. That whole thing with Renee would have been a whole lot easier if he had been there, too, but, of course, he was late.
I was about to answer when a knock came from the door behind me and Sarah's face lit up.
Found him….
"I'm late, huh?" he smirked, and I simply rolled my eyes when I turned back to look at him. Sarah ran straight up to him, and he pulled her into a hug.
"Percy," she smiled when he held her up.
"This is really… pink," Percy looked around the room with Sarah still in his grasp. I nodded to him, and he didn't say anything. Instead, he set Sarah down and assessed the place. It was weird looking at him surrounded by pink.
Well, no, it was hilarious, but still weird.
"We're supposed to take the boxes because the new owners are coming in a few days," Sarah looked around the room like she couldn't wait to be done with this place.
One Hour Later:
I shut the truck of my Infiniti and grabbed the keys from my blazer pocket. Percy had most everything, but I don't think he cared. I took a deep breath as I looked back in the direction of Renee. Her diamond tennis bracelet and matching necklace seemed to be the only two things that didn't completely depress you when you first looked at her. Percy walked from the car behind me to stand beside me.
"Calm down, Annabeth," Percy whispered in my ear, and I nodded to him, not looking away from Renee.
"I'm…fine," I lied. Percy looked at me skeptically before walking towards Sarah, who was talking to Renee about something. I followed him, wanting to take his keys and drive away because his car was blocking mine.
I watched as Renee shook her head at Sarah, and Sarah did the puppy-dog-eye thing. I didn't know how Percy wasn't scared of Renee. I mean she was Biotch de la Biotch. Who the hell wasn't scared of her?
Apparently Percy….
"Buh pwease, Weneh?" Sarah did the 'wuh' and 'uh' thing Percy used to do when he was trying to talk me into something. Going to see the latest James Bond movie instead of watching 'She Gets What She Wants' for the millionth time? Say 'Anniebeth' and 'uh' at the end of everything. Skipping class to drive down to the beach? Beg and wrap his arms around while saying 'Pwetty, Pwetty, Pwease'.
"Sarah, James and George are looking so forward to seeing you," Renee told her in what supposed to be a playful manner, but it came more across as 'Total-Bitch-Making-Fun-of-You' than that. Suddenly, I got a craving for a blueberry bagel and strawberry smoothie from Panera Bread for some odd reason, and I really wished I could just get on the road and as far the hell away I can get from Renee and the couture hotspot of Westchester.
"Fine," Sarah pouted and crossed her arms across a 'Westchester Junior Swim Team Summer Camp' tee shirt. With the approval of Renee-ugh, by the way, Renee wanted Sarah to stay in that depressing black dress all day- Sarah changed into jeans and that long-named-tee shirt. But I was still suck in pin-stripe Armani business suit and Prada heels that made me want to cringe about the pain as I had forgotten my gel inserts.
"Okay, Annabeth and I need to get going, Sarah," Percy took the liberty of talking first as I was scared to death of Renee-yeah, still. Renee's gold glare washed over me, and I pulled myself together so that I didn't look like a new freshman trying to stay out of people's way on the first day of school.
"See you tomorrow?" Sarah asked us, but I could tell it was aimed at Renee.
"Sarah will be staying with me for the next week or so. Then…" she cringed, "Sarah will be off with you."
Her thin body tensed when she said that as if she had just said 'And my husband will take away my unlimited Amex and won't even give me a limited edition black diamond necklace, bracelet, and matching drop-down earings!' instead of 'Sarah will be off with you'. She twisted her right wrist as if the sight of her diamond tennis bracelet cheered her up and fiddled with her matching necklace. Now that she had let her bagel-bun had been let down, her diamond stud earrings had been covered up, which I knew if her hair didn't look like Angelina Jolie would make her so depressed that she would have to twist her five carat diamond ring around.
"So, I guess it will have to be awhile, Sarah," I smiled warmly at her, partly wanting to twist the black pearl necklace around my neck just to make Renee mad.
Sarah pretended that she wasn't pouting, but I don't even think Renee fell for that.
"Bye, Sweetie," I smiled at Sarah. Looking into her eyes sparked a memory inside of me…
"I hate you," I collapsed onto the sandy beach, soaking wet. Percy did the same beside me, and my heartbeat sped up again.
"You…" deep breath "took the dare."
"Shut up, Percy," I smiled as I stared up at the stars above me.
The night had started out normally. I snuck out of my cabin to talk with Percy. It was the summer after Freshman year of college, and we had spent basically the entire summer together after we had spent so long commuting Boston-New York. Percy and I went to the lake as it was out favorite place. Thirty minutes and make-out session later, he dared me to jump in the lake. I said I would do it if he did it with me. I had expected him to say no, but he didn't. We made a deal that he would let himself get wet and I would jump in with him. Both of us stripped to our underwear and jumped in. Somehow, we ended up racing, and, when he beat me every time, I kept racing him. I ended up losing my earrings that I forgot to take off, and I was too tired to look for them.
Percy sat up on his side and wrapped his arms around me, getting sand all over my bare stomach. I ran a hand through his black hair as he looked at me. The bliss from him holding me tightly blanketed me better than the warm summer night air ever could. His beautiful, sea green eyes shined brighter than the stars so that I couldn't look away.
"I love you, Percy," I told him, feeling like the moment would never it. It was like the world around us disappeared and it was just us, the stars, and the beach.
"I love you, too, Annabeth," Percy smiled as he leaned in to kiss me. I could have passed out when his lips met mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and I could feel his lips smile in the kiss. I couldn't remember a time when I was more in love with Percy Jackson than that moment. Everything was gone. We weren't thinking about school or the drive to see each other. The gods were the last things on our mind. The only thing that was on our mind was each other.