I am so, so, so sorry for the delay, school started, homework and projects as usual. It's snowing really heavily and school was closed yesterday and today I was ill too. Plus I got bad writer's block for the first part of the chapter. I feel so bad for not updating sooner :( I'm so sorry guys!
Guest – I know that, as I have said and have previously used her in chapter 1 but is there a specific reason as to why you have told me, like a mistake? I would be grateful if you could tell me...I'm confused as to why it seems I don't know her name is Sally. Chelsea is the name I've given Mrs. Chase since at the time, Percy is at Annabeth's house.
Daughterofathena – Thank you! I'm so glad you like it and here it is for you!
Guest – Honestly, at the time she was just a random person at the arcade but if it were her, it would make it much better for this chapter too, do you mind if I use that? It's a brilliant idea!
JojiBean – haha yes she certainly is and she's even bigger in this chapter and haha here I am!
Athena's Gray Owl – thanks for the PM, I was a little confused when I read your review so thank you for explaining!
vivi-rose – thank you! And I most certainly agree, I kinda forgot her in the excitement of the big break-up but I think you'll find she features in a way you wouldn't have expected in this chapter!
Thanks for the reviews as usual and get ready for some surprises in this chapter, mainly to do with Drew!
Percy
My first thought is, how could I have been so careless? The picture thankfully, doesn't show Annabeth's face, but we're holding hands and soon enough they'll find out. It's not me I'm worried for, though. It's Wise Girl. She's worked so hard to not be the centre of attention in high school, but merely to be able to quietly do her work, and stay at the top of the school as usual. And because of me, it might be jeopardized. And not in a good way.
Just from the comments on the one picture, I can see that if Annabeth gets found out, she'll be in big trouble with the girls of Goode High. But, wait. Drew's here. And she knows about us being friends. Will she tell? Surely she's realized who it is by now; it's pretty much obvious to anyone who knows us properly. And what's this about following me? It seems like I'm going to have rabid stalker girls on my trail. Isn't there something called privacy in this world? No, wait surely they're joking. No one would do that.
The front door opens and I hear Paul's voice greeting the visitor. Annabeth. I jump off the bed and walk into the living room only to burst out laughing. She's so wrapped up in scarves and layers, you can't see her face. "Nothing from you Seaweed Brain, this is all your fault." she mumbles crossly, rapidly peeling off the layers she's wearing, ending up in a simple top and shorts.
I look at her indignantly. "How is this my fault? You're the one who decides to show up in all that in the middle of October! I know it's chilly, it's not that bad!"
"I'm talking about the picture. Didn't you see? They meant the stalking, Kelp Head! About three girls are watching your house from nearby, pretending to be doing something else. They would have seen me instantly walking up to your apartment. It wasn't a joke; Drew's the reason for this. And we need to talk." With that, she grabs my hand and pulls me to my room, Paul watching us with an amused expression on his face. "I'm guessing you won't want dinner yet then. I'll get Sally to send in some snacks, okay?"
"Oh that's fine we'll come and get them Paul. Tell Sally to yell for us when they're ready, thanks," Annabeth says, poking her head around the door. "What was that all about?" I ask as she flops down on a seat, sighing in relief at the slight breeze that comes in through the window. "Okay, did you see the picture or not?" she demands, her gray eyes swirling like clouds in a brewing storm. "Yes…" I answer slowly, what's up with her?
She gets up and paces around the room, muttering obscenities. I catch the words Seaweed Brian and brain full of kelp, so I'm guessing it's a lovely talk about how wonderful I am.
Annabeth comes to a halt in front of me, gray eyes swirling again. "Well, that picture is the subject of the school. And everyone wants to know who it is with you. And Drew said something two days ago about a love story and she is the one who is most eager to find out this 'love story' between you and 'the mystery girl'. She knows, most likely, it's me. So, what connection do these things have?" she demands.
Okay, so Drew is here because of a majorly (A/N: if it isn't a real word, I just made it one. If it is, I used it.) dramatic love story. She knows it's me and Annabeth in the picture and wants everyone to know, but in a dramatic sense. Drew also knows we're just friends, so how does that make any sense?
Annabeth notices my predicament and smiles faintly. "Remember, Drew is Aphrodite's daughter. The same goddess who promised a troublesome love life for you. Piecing it together now Perce?"
"Wait. Drew is acting on her mother's promise to get me and you together? What?! Am in one of those crazy dreams where nothing makes sense? Me and you...together? Like a couple? Okay, Drew is officially mad." Annabeth looked down, and suddenly I'd realised what I said.
"No no, Annabeth I meant that we like are never going to be together! You said it yourself! Not that you aren't a girl I'd want to date, I wish there were more Annabeth's in the universe that weren't my best friend, because I can't jeopardize our friendship. Ever."
"It's fine, I understand what you meant to say." She replies but I don't think she is. Every girl has an inner dream of being thought of as beautiful right? And at least by her best friend if not by other guys. "Besides, who knows the story about you and me may not be true. Drew could be planning something else for you, I'm still the mystery girl remember? That girl could be anyone who falls into Drew's trap." She continues and once again, she never ceases to amaze me with such logic and scrutiny of people. Annabeth can read humans like an open book.
After an hour, Annabeth decides to leave, saying the girls outside should be gone by now and she can safely go home. I watch her silhouette walking down the road and smile forlornly. I still feel guilty for whatever's happening, and I need to be the one to put things right.
Lily decides to make an appearance in my room tonight. It seems like ages since we've properly seen each other, I've been forgetting she's even around. Don't tell her that, she may be thirteen but I'll never turn eighteen next August if she heard me say that.
Lily, as everyone says, is the female version of me, but her eyes don't remain sea-green all the time. They change colour like Mom's, but always sparkle. They're beautiful to me, as well as her black hair spilling around her shoulders, her tan skin and athletic figure. She's my little precious sister; I'd give my life up in a heartbeat if it meant keeping Lily safe and sound. She has the mischievous smile I do, the rebellious streak, the dislike to being restrained. The dyslexia, ADHD, battle skills.
I could go on and on about how she is the exact same as me, only female and younger. She's a daughter of Poseidon too, equally dangerous as me and she also had featured in the war, too much for my liking. Lily's so sweet; she can make anyone's heart melt with a few words. It's hard to believe she could hurt a fly, but she's a wonder with a sword and dagger.
"Hey Lil, what's up? Anything wrong?" I ask, looking up.
I'm surprised with tears running down Lily's cheeks and instantly pull her into my arms, rocking her like I used to when she was little. Heck, she's still my little baby sister, but I treat her like she wants to be, a forthright teenager with big dreams. Seeing her like this, it just makes me want to pound the thing that did it to her until it disintegrates, regardless of whether it's a monster or not.
"What's wrong Lil?" I ask nervously as she sobs into my t-shirt, "Who sis this to you?" She says nothing, but holds me tight while her sobs turn into chokes and then hiccups, until she calms down.
"W-we-well, you know Jade? The one I told you about?" she asks tentatively, and I nod, gritting my teeth. Jade was nothing but a b**** to Lily last year, and I wanted to have a few words with her then, though Lily wanted to fight that battle herself. Now, I definitely would.
"Well, Jade, she exposed my disabilities in front of the whole school and everyone was laughing and pointing at me and then she told everyone about Jack!" Lil's last words came out in a wail and she started sobbing again, my shirt getting soaking wet.
Lily has dyslexia and ADHD like most of us demigods, but she had another problem as well. Brain tumour. She had so little and survived for thirteen years, but it affected her studies as well as the dyslexia and doctors warned it would get bigger. I became the extra over-protective brother as soon as I heard, and we made sure no one knew what she had because of the cruel people out there.
What she is telling me, how everyone was laughing at her being weak just horrifies me. I can't believe there are people out there who are like that. I punch the wall in fury and Lil looks up, scared to see my face. "No, no Perce don't. Don't go all Poseidon on her, please?" she begs and I melt hopelessly. I kiss the top of her head and sigh in defeat.
"Fine. But the next time she does something like this, you won't be seeing her again unless you pay a visit to Intensive Care Lil. Now what's this about Jack?" Jack Warner is Lily's lifelong crush, her friend since third grade. She'd been totally in love with him since he kissed her on the cheek after a swimming lesson.
"Jade told everyone that I liked him and Jack was there! He just looked at me, stunned before I couldn't take it and ran out of the cafeteria. Scarlett came with me and calmed me down but just now I looked and it's all over Facebook!"
"That's it Lily. Jade and I will be having words." I say firmly ignoring Lily's pleads. "No no, Percy they'll mock that too! That I'm a little baby and my brother's girl and you know what'll happen! You can't, I've got to fight this battle on my own. I'm strong, you saw that in the Titan War!" she goes on and on and I give her an "I'll see."
Secretly, I'm kind of glad that she's so grown up now, a full teenager able to cope with nutters like Jade.
The next day, the minute I walk out of my apartment, I spot a girl's figure against the sunlight, trying to stay hidden. I recognise her as Abby, one of the girls who follow around Drew nowadays. Drew's the new 'popular figure' at school; anyone's who 'anyone' wants to be in with her.
As I walk to school, I can feel the eyes following my figure, darting around to see who I'm looking at. I can't chance a glance at Annabeth's home because there's someone standing there, waving and smiling flirtatiously at me. I ignore her and move on.
It's a nightmare, something you'd read in a story. I can't believe they're actually following me, it's plain outright stalking! I mean, who cares if I'm the most popular and just had a break up? The girl population of Goode High has seriously has something done to whatever they're drinking, I'm sure of it.
The day's worse, I can't even slip a note in Annabeth's locker without someone knowing. I can't even look at her since there is someone following my gaze! It's like something out of a story, it's crazy. I get pretty much fed up and irritably ignore everyone, who assume it's to do with the fact the picture of me with my 'girlfriend' got out.
What is wrong with this world?
Drew
Ugh, being the daughter of Aphrodite can be a dreadful bore sometimes. I mean, the jobs Mom sends me on. Like this one. She loves 'Percabeth', and trust me when I say this, she was seriously upset that they didn't realise they loved each other at the end of the Titan War. So, I've got the glorious job of getting them together and making them realise their true love for each other.
If I'm honest, they are really cute together, and I want them to be together. But that's a secret; no one must know Drew has a kind side. It's the mushy side of being the daughter of Aphrodite, and one I don't show.
I look at my Facebook page, smiling as I read all about the 'mystery couple'. Perfect. Now I just need to get the two to realise they love each other, I mean it's so obvious. But how to do that? Dramatic, definitely and there's got to be some monsters. Otherwise, what fun will it be?
The phone rings. Mom. "Oh. My Gods. DREW! You're brilliant! I can't belive you took that picture! Percabeth will soon come, I can't wait! They are the cutest thing since Helen and Paris of Troy!" Ouch. Mom's squeals may have just made me deaf. "Yes, Mom but I still have a lot to do. The two shook it off so easily! It calls for a little something dramatic soon, but not yet. Right now, we need to get them thinking, then I'll drop the bomb."
"Oh my gods I can't wait! Love you Drew!" I sigh as Mom hangs up.
Now, how to get these two to realise their feelings?
So, what d'you think of Drew's plans? I wanted to make her character a little nice, though she still plays with relationships like her toys. Not that I like Drew, but her character wasn't fully developed and I wanted her to have a little goodness, but the same old Drew is still there for the majority! Hope you liked it and reviews will bring an update!