Percy
Coach announces the Varsity Team when we're all on the field, huddled around him. I glance at Annabeth and Malcolm, Malcolm's fidgeting and Annabeth is bouncing on her toes. I smile a little, but she notices me watching. I notice her scowl and turn away.
"With no further ado… Luke Castilian, Annabeth Chase, Malcolm Chase, Clarisse La Rue, Katie Gardner, Percy Jackson, Jake Mason…" Coach continues but I stopped listening.
I glanced over at Annabeth who high fives her brother and grins at Luke. When he grins back, she blushes beat red. Then she notices me watching. She shakes her head and frowns, like I'm puzzling to her.
"All the names I've called have made Varsity, everyone else, I'm sorry to say we don't have enough people for a J.V. so you've been cut. Try again next year." He says, with a sigh as he lies his clipboard down. "Varsity players, hit the track, I want four laps." Someone cheers and then I see Clarisse smack Jake. There's some laughter as we all jog off.
I look over my shoulder and see a few people walking off. A few of the girls are crying. I feel bad for them, but there isn't enough people, unfortunately. I almost want to tell coach that he should have everybody, or nobody, but I know that wouldn't be productive. I can't help the guilty suspicion that I might have taken the slot away from someone who deserved it more, but I have to put my foot down.
As we reach the track, we start at an even pace, there's the usual rush of people, jogging down the track. By the third lap we've all split into groups. I'm towards the end of the middle.
"Pick up the pace, seaweed brain," Annabeth taunts as she flies by me, her sneakers pounding a steady rhythm on the cement. I shift in to second gear and run fast enough to catch up with her.
"What did you just call me?" I ask, she tries to jet away from me, but I stay with her.
"Seaweed brain: surfer guy, beaches, head full of kelp…" She trails off, and I have a painful suspicion that I've just been given a brand new nickname.
…
Annabeth
I scramble up into Luke's car, after a rushed shower. Luke's already waiting, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. The minute I'm in the seat, Luke takes off careening down the street. Luke's reckless driving always kind-of scared me. But this was full on petrifying. We squeal along streets, and I'm left trying to get my seat belt on before I fly out the window. I finally manage to click it in and am left sliding around on the bench seat, almost slamming into Luke multiple times. We finally screech to a stop in a back alley.
"I want you to know something." Luke says with a sigh.
"You thought the best way to do that was to reenact The Fast and The Furious!" I demand; and Luke just grins.
"I'm a little on edge." He admits. His smile fades. "I want you to know, I'm holding you to your promise." He orders, staring at me with his bright blue eyes. I turn away; sure I'd thought about it, I didn't have any intentions of..." I mean it Annabeth, we all swore we wouldn't run away again," Luke urges, turning me back towards him.
"Yeah, look how well that turned out." I protest. Luke half-heartedly smiles, though he knows, all too well, I wasn't trying to make a joke.
"I know Thalia, screwed up, but like we've always said; you'll be okay Annabeth, just make good decisions." He reminds me, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder. I scoff.
"Oh yeah, because you, Thalia and Grover are such great role models" I roll my eyes, I don't mean to sound so cynical, especially with Luke , but getting lectures from kids who've spent more time in Juvie than they have out is really starting to bother me.
"I mean it Annabeth, I didn't want to pull this card, but we took the fall, and we didn't do that so you would get sent to Juvie, and have a record, a few years later." Luke reminds me, I look down, ashamed. Despite what the Police and our parents might think; I was never the naïve, impressionable girl I came across as.
I've spent just as much time running away from home as they have, I just never got caught. When I was little, my dad cared that I left, he just couldn't ever get his baby girl in trouble. It was when he married my step mom that things became ghastly. She started trying to convince him to ship me off somewhere the next time I ran. I tried to stay put, it was hard, but Thalia, Luke and Grover were always there when I needed to vent. Eventually I snapped; I can't even remember what pushed me over the edge, I just couldn't take it anymore.
I ran, and I got pretty good at it too, with Luke, Thalia and Grover's help, we managed to pretty much disappear off the map. As time wore on more and more people started looking for us, though and things got much harder. One night, really late, we were walking through a shady part of town and I could've sworn I saw the man in the suit, from when I first met Luke and Thalia. He smiled at me but kept walking, like it wasn't that strange to see a bunch of kids wandering around alone late at night.
That was the same night that we got caught. I remember just rounding a corner, and seeing painfully bright flashing lights, and booming voices demanding for me to get on my knees with my hands above my head. I remember I almost ran, I was ready, tensed to bolt; but I felt Luke and Thalias' steady hands on my shoulder. They urged me to just go with, to not put up a fight. I don't think I would've listened if it had been anyone other than them.
I went with them and I remember them offering me something to drink, treating me nicely. Eventually my parents showed up. My step mom immediately insisted it was my fault; that I had been the driving force, she was right, of course; but I just sat there silently vowing not to react. My father had been convinced that the other kids had talked me into it; I was only twelve after all. I almost laughed when he said that.
I don't know whose idea it was, or if they had planned it ahead of time, but eventually they released me to my parents, and Luke wasn't. Thalia and Grover told me, in hushed tones, that Luke had told the officers he had convinced us all into doing it, that it was his fault. We got off scot-free, only Luke got probation and strict orders to stay far, far away from us. It wouldn't be the first time we'd get arrested, but it was the one that had dangled over my head. I hadn't spoken up; I had let him take the blame for me. I know I have to listen to him now, especially after everything that's happened lately so I nod.
"I promise, I won't run… as long as you don't either." I swear, nervously taking Luke's hand. He looks at me; then grins. I feel him gently squeeze my hand, affectionately and almost have a heart attack.
"I should've known you'd find a loop-hole." He chuckles, " But fine, I'll stick around as long as you do." He hugs me gently before putting his car back into gear.