Chapter Seventeen
"I can't, I have this… thing after school!" I try to reason with him over the phone. It figures, the only time my father wants to talk to me is when he needs something.
"Annabeth," He sighs into the phone like listening to me is just taking too much effort and he needs to save his energy for his work. "Sometimes… you need to make sacrifices; we all need to make sacrifices honey." There it is that stupid 'honey'. I hate it when he pulls this crap. He can't just ignore me for the majority of my life and then only pay attention to me when he needs a favor. I hate him, I hate him so much.
"Well then…" I start, my tone edging into dangerous before my indignation finally overwhelms me. "Why can't you make sacrifices, skip the worthless meeting and take care of Bobby and Matthew? Or better yet, why can't Helen do it; they are her kids, right? They're even legitimate!"
"Annabeth Chase!" My father protests into the phone, but I hang up, not wanting to hear him spew more crap about how he's sorry if he makes me feel like he loves Bobby and Matthew more, but I can't use it as an excuse to lash out at people. An excuse? I don't need an excuse to lash out at my family they give me enough reasons to be angry on a daily basis.
"That sounded bad." Someone observes and I whip around to find Luke standing in the cafeteria courtyard. The sun reflects off his blonde hair, making it look even paler than usual. His expression stays blank, with no happy grin or mysterious twinkle in his eyes.
"It should've." I point out and perch myself on the edge table next to him. He sighs and wraps an arm around me, pulling me into a brotherly hug. I'm comfy and safe, extremely safe. I could honesty fall asleep in his arms. Just being around him is an instant stress relief.
'Doesn't it suck when your family doesn't give a damn?" Luke scoffs bitterly; I glance out of the corner of my eye at him. There's anger in his eyes, that's somehow making his scar stand out against his tan skin. Sure I'm pissed, but I don't have the same level of utter fury that Luke's channeling. He hops on the table beside me. "I can't wait till I can get out of here, leave my past behind." He seems to notice when I flinch, and he reaches out and takes my hand. "Not you Annabeth, I wouldn't leave you behind, you're definitely involved in my plans for the future." He assures me, holding our intertwined hands on his thigh.
"Luke, I'm leaving." It's like word vomit, I can't help it; I just say it. I meant to say it gently, to gracefully bring up the subject, and make sure he fully understands the situation. I can't remember the last time that I had to do something completely without his help. I've always had him as a support system, someone who I could always talk to. I can't remember the last time I didn't confide in him; but lately, everything's been distant between us. I don't like this awkwardness and discomfort. Luke immediately tenses and jumps off the table to stand in front of me.
"What are you talking about Annabeth?" His voice is low and soft, but something in his eyes makes me nervous, like I've done something very, very wrong.
"I have to get out of here," I start, feeling uneasy, as this sounded so much better in my head. "There's something I need to do, while my family think I'm on the Greece trip." I continue, still waiting for his reaction. Determination settles on his features.
"I'm going with you." He says it with so much determination that I almost nod and agree with him, even though I can't. I wish I could, but this isn't about me, Percy's the one who's calling the shots, and there's no way I could force him to include Luke in something so personal. If he wasn't already friends with Grover, we might have wound up walking across the country.
"It's not like that, Luke; it's not my decision to make." I try to explain, but not only do I sound like a bad action movie, I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall, and I can't possibly get through. Luke flinches, and a bit of pain flashes in his eyes. I want to take away that pain, to make him feel better at all costs.
"Yeah, whatever" He shrugs and starts to back away. My heart drops and I don't want him to leave, I can't let him leave. This is my first time even hearing from him since that awkward conversation in Sports and Society.
"Wait!" I call and then skid to a stop in front of him, leaving my textbooks behind. "Are we okay Luke, I mean, after the game the other day…" I trail off, not sure how to explain that I feel shut out without sounding like a loser. I almost bring up the stalker, because now I'm almost certain that he saw him too. What else could possibly isolate him from me so suddenly?
"Of course we're okay, Annie girl, I'll always be there when you need a friend." He assures me, and there it is again, that certain light in his eyes that has me on edge. I pick apart his words slowly, wishing I didn't understand his meaning. Friends, as if we'll never be anything else, despite my feelings for him. Am I really so transparent that he has to remind me? Here I was, so naïve that I was actually thinking that he might actually be starting to share my feelings. He must think I'm just a stupid little girl. I fake a smile, even though I feel like I'm going to sob.
"Yeah, see you around Luke," I chirp half heartedly. Luke's eyes soften and he seems more like himself again, his scar less prominent. I'm halfway to the door, to slip back into study hall, when Luke opens it for me.
"Do you need a ride home today?" He asks, and there's something about the way he says 'home' that makes me wonder if he'd be willing to take my anywhere outside of the safety of my house, which is the only real benefit of my family. His cerulean eyes are almost pleading, begging me to just go home and stay there. I don't know why he suddenly seems so concerned with my safety.
"No, I'm good; I'm meeting up with Grover today." I mutter slipping into the hallway. Luke nods, before turning to take the opposite fork from my direction. At the door, I glance over my shoulder and see that Luke is gone, without ever looking back.