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Annabeth:
"Percy, you know I love everyone here, but do I really have to get everyone in the house a present? There's like 30 people living here!" I asked, wondering how I was going to be able to pay for all the Christmas gifts.
"That's why we do 'Secret-Santa'!" Percy responded. "We are actually drawing names later today."
Of course they did. I should have thought of that. In case you don't know what that is,( I really don't know how you would not know) everyone gets one person that they have to get a gift for and, it is a secret. Everyone buys or makes one gift; everyone receives one gift.
In many ways I thought "Secret-Santa" was a good idea but also a bad one. I hate you when you get a really lazy or cheap "Secret-Santa", and you get keychain or something cheap like that. It ruins a part of Christmas. You really know your family cares about you when you get a pencil for Christmas!
"Does Chiron have a system to prevent people from getting lame gifts for somebody?" I asked. I haven't gotten a real Christmas gift in a very long time.
"You have to tell Chiron what gift you got," Percy replied.
That brought me to another reason this may not work out well..."Have Travis or Conner ever put only their names in the hat or something like that?"
The first time we did 'Secret-Santa' that happened Travis and Connor were not very happy with only getting one gift, so to prevent that from happening again, Chiron puts the names in and checks the names right before we draw." Percy answered.
Christmas was next week, and the good presents will run out as Christmas approaches, so I was planning to go shopping as soon as I got the name.
"Why didn't anybody tell me sooner! I already bought presents!" I answered realized how much time and money I have already spent.
"I'm not saying you only have to buy one present. You can buy additional gifts. I always get Chiron a gift," Percy answered trying to calm me down.
I have a job. I've only had it for a few weeks. I'm work the Starbucks that is across the street after school and on the weekends. People need to tell me about "Secret-Santa" sooner because I already bought most of the gifts, and I will have to get the rest of the people gifts too because I would look really bias and unfair if I only gave half of the house a gift, but not the other half.
"The gift money comes right out of my paycheck!" I said while hitting him on the arm for not telling me this sooner.
I was giving Percy a small lecture, but he interrupted me to tell me that the house was going to start drawing names soon.
XXX
I was walking down the stairs to the living room where everyone was waiting to draw the names. I have gotten used to the long staircase. I never thought I would, but I did.
As I walked down the hall, I was able to catch a glimpse of living room. I saw a big brown paper bag in Chiron's hands that probably had the names in it and all the kids sitting. I sat down next to Thalia in a couch in the corner of the room.
"Good morning," Chiron said warmly to all the sleepy faces.
I realized that we were going in alphabetical order to pick names. I was going to be one of the first to pick a name out of the bag because my last name started with a C. That was good news to me. I wanted to have a broad range of choices to pick my gift-receiver from.
Chiron then called my name and whispered to me,"The only way you will draw again is if you get your own name, okay?"
"Got it," I replied as I closed my eyes and put my have in the brown paper bag. I scrambled the stripes of papers with my hand as soon as I felt all the strips. I just grabbed one and pulled it out. I put the little strip in my hand and glimpsed at the name to see who I had. Silena.
That's perfect! Silena is so easy to buy a good gift for. Everyone knows she is obsessed with any beauty product of any kind.
I crumpled up the small strip and put it in my pocket and sat back down with Thaia.
"Who did you get?" Thalia whispered to me as soon as I took my seat.
"I'm not telling you!"
"I won't tell!"
"Thalia, it's called 'Secret-Santa' for a reason!" I insisted, refusing to tell her or anybody.
"Fine!" Thalia finally accepted.
A few more names got called by until Thalia was called. Thalia walked up and quickly pulled out the first strip she made contact with. She quickly read it and her face dropped to a hostile look. I don't think she is happy with whoever she got. Thalia crumpled up the paper angrily and threw it to me. I uncrumpled it, and I saw why she wasn't very happy: Clarisse. Nobody in this house drove her more crazy. I handed the paper back to her, trying not to smile, as she sat back down next to me.
"Isn't funny!"
"Kind of is!" I insisted. "This might be good for you guys! Maybe this can help you guys be friends!"
XXX
I stood in the mall (ugh!) shopping (ugh!) in the beauty section (UGH!). I hate the mall; I hate shopping; I hate perfume, makeup, etc. But I had to do this anyway. Silena is sweet, and I want to get her a good gift. I stood in the perfume section and tried to find one that she doesn't have. This was the problem; anything that Silena wanted, she had. I pretty sure Silena has every bottle of perfume that she liked from this section, so I moved on to a purse store.
Purses were on sale because Christmas was coming up. Thank goodness for the sale because usually Silena's taste is much more expensive that I probably can afford, but I saw some purses that she might like that I could buy.
This was pure torture. I probably looked at three hundred purses; I'm all pursed out. I really don't like any of the purses, but I was determined to find one for Silena. Maybe getting Silena a gift wouldn't be easy after all...
I walked through the aisle of purses, "Too ugly, too ugly, ugly, ugly..." I knew SIlena wouldn't like the purses that I looked at. Then I suddenly saw a bag that might have potential. I quickly snatched it up,bought it and left the mall. The purse was a pink leather tote. I didn't like it, but I'm sure Silena will.
I was tired of all this shopping, but them I remember that I need a few more gifts. I sighed and walked back into the mall. This is going to be a long day...
I pulled my list out and striked through the names of the people that I had already got a gift for. I went on this tiring montage of shopping for the next three hours, and I noticed that I only had one name left: Percy.
I started to think. What do boys usually like? Tickets to game? No. Music stuff? No. A book? Yeah, right... I called texted Thalia. I need ideas.
Me: What do I get for Percy?
Thalia: idk. Video game?
Me: No! He doesn't need to destroy anymore brain cells! Ugh! You're not any help!
I closed my phone and put it back in my pocket. I walked around the mall to try to see if I might see something that he might like. I think I had an idea. Percy has a watch;I constantly looked at it when we were on the deck. I should get him a new watch! I know he likes a watch because he already has one.
You guys may be wondering why he has a watch because most people just pull out their phone when they want to know the time. He has one because in Goode High School, we can't bring our phones in the classrooms, and there aren't any clocks in the classroom because they can be "distracting" and they don't want students to stress out on tests because students will think that they don't have a lot of time left if they keep on looking at the clock.
I happily walked in to the jewelry store. I couldn't wait to go home! I was exhausted from shopping; I don't know how people do this for fun. Being in a jewelry store scares me a little because of how expensive everything was. I'm afraid that I will break something.
"Hello, do you need any help you?" A man behind the counter asked me as I approached the watch section.
"Um, I looking for a watch,"I answered.
"I see. Is there any particular style that you're looking for?" He asked.
"Not really," I said.
I found one I liked, and I'm pretty sure Percy would like it. It had a back face, which is my favorite style, and their weren't any numbers, just silver streaks to represent the time.
"Can I see that one?" I asked while pointing to the watch.
He took a key from his pocket,opened the case from behind the desk and retrieved the watch.
I took it in my hands and inspected it. I put on my wrist, but it was so loose that it slid right off. Maybe it's too big. I just realized that I didn't know Percy's watch size. I had an urge to call Percy and ask him, but he would definitely be suspicious.
"Is there a problem?" The jeweler asked when he noticed the unhappy expression on my face,
"The watch is great, I just don't know the watch size of the person I want to get the watch for," I replied.
XXX
"Where's Percy?" I frantically asked Grover while he was walking down the hall, and I didn't see Percy in his room.
"He's having lunch," Grover responded.
I ran down to the kitchen, glimpsed over the corner and scanned for Percy. I found Percy, but he didn't have his watch on. Yes! I ran back to his room and started looking for it. I had to find it. The jeweler asked me if I had any of his watches that fit him. He said I could bring one in and he could find out the size of the watch, and make the new one the same size.
I shuffled through his drawers, shelves, and etc. I'm sure Percy wouldn't mind if I were in his room or if I take something from it. Then I spotted the watch laying on his desk. I snatched it up, put it in my jacket pocket, and ran out.
A few people tried to say something to me like "Oh, Annabeth, where have you been?" and "Come sit with us!", but I just said that I had to go somewhere.
The jeweler said that he would hold the watch for me. He promised he wouldn't sell it, but if I wasn't back by 8:00 p.m., which is when the store closes, he would have to take it off hold. I said that that would be completely fine because it was only 2:00 p.m., and I was going home and coming straight back.
I arrived back at the mall and rushed into the jewelry store that I was in preciously to see the same jeweler at the counter. He brought out the watch before I even reached the counter. I took Percy's watch out from my pocket and set it on the counter.
The jeweler measured it and counted somethings. He took Percy's watch and Percy's future watch in the back where he told me that he was removing parts of Percy's future watch so it would be the same size as Percy's watch.
He returned after about 5 minutes with both watches. I thanked him, paid for the watch, and I was out.
XXX
It was Christmas morning, and I felt so cheerful. Everyone woke up early, and we were all opening presents. We were only opening "Secret-Santa" gifts, meaning that I would have to give out the gifts I got for everyone individually on my own time.
Silena wasn't hesitant to rip throw the wrapping paper. It made me so happy to see the smile on her face. I, then, told her that I was her "Secret-Santa". She thanked me for the gift, being the sweet person she is.
It was my turn to open my gift. I haven't even thought about who my Secret-Santa might be. Chiron handed me my gift. I lightly shook it like children do when they try to guess what it was. The box was pretty heavy. I really had no idea what it was.
I opened it and found a molecular mixology kit (A/N: This is what I wanted!) in the box! Go ahead judge me, I'm such a nerd! This is perfect for me. It was so cool. I haven't gotten a Christmas or Birthday gift in such a long time.
"Who was my Secret-Santa?" I asked while my face was still glowing.
To be honest, I wouldn't have cared if the present wasn't that good. It means so much to me that someone cares enough to put any effort to try to make me happy, but getting even more than I wanted just made everything better.
Grover raised his hand,"I was your Secret-Santa."
"Thank you so much, really. It means a lot to me, and It's so cool!" I said while giving him a hug.
The rest of the people opened their gifts, but I didn't pay much attention to them because I was still dazed by mine. The coolest thing I've ever gotten before I came here on the holidays was a keychain.
After all the gifts were handed out, I went to each individual room with a red wagon that I borrowed from Chiron (he has everything!) piled with gifts. Everyone thanked me as I explained to them that I was told about "Secret-Santa" after I purchased most of the gifts.
I noticed that there was one more gift in my wagon, and it was Percy's. The terrible thing about the wagon was that I had to DRAG IT UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS. Since I only had one present left, I just left the wagon on the first floor (the floor that I was on) and carried the gift up the stairs.
After many stairs, I approached Percy's door.
"Knock, knock,"I said as I knocked on the door.
The door quickly flew open with Percy standing at the door,"Hey!"
"Merry Christmas!" I said as I held out my present.
"Annabeth, you shouldn't have–"
"Well, I did," I interrupted while I pushed the present toward him.
He took the box and opened it,"That's so nice of you."
I smiled.
"I really like it. I needed a new watch. I have no idea what happened to my old one. It's like it disappeared. Weird, huh?"
Ah! I forgot to put his watch back! Ugh, who cares,anyway? He has a new one,"Yeah, really weird..."
"I got you a gift, too" Percy said as he set down the watch. He opened a drawer and pulled out a box.
I started to rip through the wrapping paper. I began to open the box, and I instantly knew what it was.
"You got me an architect lamp!"I asked.
"Yeah...?" He answered in an unsure way.
I quickly took it out. Oh, it was so beautiful. I would always complain to Percy that I needed one, but I didn't think that he actually listened to me! It was the best architect lamp I've ever seen. I felt so loved; I felt like someone cares about me, and wants me to be happy.
"I love it!" I reassured Percy.
Percy sighed in relief, and I gave him a bone-crushing hug.I think I might have hurt him but who cares!?. I felt so safe with Percy. When I'm around him, I felt like I'm cared for. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I might be falling for him...
What do you think? How was it? Let me know how you liked it in your reviews! Next chapter will be in Percy's POV. Please review, favorite, and or follow!
Happy holidays!
-h0a4l2e1y