Authors Note: Hi! Okay just telling you this: I had softball practice tonight and my second softball Championship tommorow. So, I may not post tomorrow but I'm going to try my hardest. Oooh. Wish me luck. But, there is always hope. Anyway, I was so excited to write this chapter because it was fun to see one of the twins at Percy and Annabeths house. Not much else to say so...Enjoy!
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I stared a the blue cookie in front of me, wanting to eat it but, I was pretty scared.
You see, YoYo made them. Never tried YoYo's food. Saige said sometimes its was good, and other times, she killed the food product. I'm wondering which one this was.
"Percy! My cooking isn't bad! It's actually really good. Remeber the cupcakes I brought for lunch the other day." satrted YoYo. I was getting even more nervous. "I told everyone that m mom made them, but actually, I made them. And, you loved them."
"Me!? I hated those things!" I exclaimed. I really did. they tasted like cardboard. Moldy, wet, disgusting cardboard.
"Then why did you tell me that you loved them?!"
"Because I didn't exactly want to hurt your feelings."
YoYo just rolled her eyes. "Would you just try the dang cookie!" she yelled. I could tell that she was getting a little angry. I'm sure that you coud tell, too.
"Okay. . geez." I shakily brought the cookie up to my mouth. then, I cautiously bit into it.
Heaven. One way to describe this cookie, was heaven. When it weent into my mouth, the chocoate melted in my mouth. It was so good. Then, the actual cookie wa so soft. You didn't have to use any foce. That also melted in my mouth. I/cloed m eyes and savored the flavor in my mouth. When i reopened them, I saw YoYo standing with her arms crossed.
"Disgusting? Or Fabulous?" she questioned with an eyebrow raised. Yep. She knew that they were good, and sh knew that I would love them.
"Fabulous." I muttered.
"Excuse me, " she said with a glint in her eyes "what was that?"
"They were fabulous okay. FAB-U-LOUS!" I sounded out each syllable.
She laughed. "I'm glad you like myy cookies, Percy."
"Yeah, whatever."
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"So. Anything special you do after school on a normal day?" asked Saige.
I laughed. "Nope. Just sitting on the couch, watching my house shows."
"House shows?" questioned Saige. I didn't answer. I just turned on the TV and turned on HGTV which is the channel my house shows are on. Tiny house, Big living was on.
"This is my house show favorite show is Fixer Upper. I wanted to be an architect when I was oler, but nw, I want to be an interior designer. I love decorating things. When i have my own house, I want to build it myself. My last home, back in California, was built by my birth mother. She was an architect. When she finised, she made a really fancy sign with the words The mark of Athena. She left her mark on the house. But she died when I was four." I finished. Saige looked very interested in this.
"If you don't mind me asking," started Saige. I don't like where this is going. " how did she pass?" Those words transferred me to that cold December night.
"Daddy. Where is mommy and Malcolm?" I asked.
Daddy picked me up and placed me on his hip. "I don't know, Princess. But, they will come home. I promise." he said in a sweet voice. I placed my head on his shoulder so I was looking behind him. My eyes fixed on the Mark of Athena sign my mother put on the wall. Underneath the words was an owl. Mother would always say, "That is your gurdian angel, Annabeth. It will always protect you, as long as you believe, and have hope."
"Knock. Knock. Knock." echoed through the house. Dad put me on the couch and then went to get the door. I looked and saw a police officer standing there. I could hear them talking.
"Is this the Chase family? Like, Fredrick Chase.p asked the officer.
"Yes. I'm Fredrick. Is everything okay, officer?" asked my father. He sounded worried.
"Well, I have no idea how to tell you this, but, your wife and son were shot tonight. I am terribly sorry for your loss. Especially if its in the season of giving. you have my regrets." the officer took his police cap off and put it across his chest, over his heart. I didnot know what was exactly going on, but I do know what the word 'shot' meant. I hopped off the couch and went to my father and the officer who has bowed his head. My father was crying. I hugged his leg. The officer must have seen me.
"Is this your daughter?" asked the officer. he was probably asking my father but I nodded my head.
"I am Annabeth. Is everything going to be okay?" I asked the officer. He bent down so he was my height.
"Annabeh, sweetie, everything will be okay. One thing you should remember, is that there is always hope. Things will be okay." The officer promised. The words, there is always hope, replayed over and over again in my head.
I snapped back into reality and felt something warm on my cheek. A tear. I looked at Saige. She grabbed a tissue for me.
"Its okay. You don't have to tell me. If it makes you cry, then I really don't want to hear it." said Saige. She smiled. An apologetic smile. I smiled lightly back.
If we have both had some hard times in our life, we can possibly be good friends. But, the officers words still replayed in my head.
There is Always Hope.
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After the cookie fiasco, I had four more of YoYo's cookies. My mother laughed as I ate them all. YoYo swatted my hand away as I tried to grab another.
"I wanna save them for Saige, you cookie monster!" laughed YoYo.
"Oh, shut up." I joked. YoYo glanced at the time.
"Wow. It's already 7:30. Did you grab anything for dinner, Sally?" asked YoYo. I tuned out as they talked. I saw Neptune sleeping on his gray bed. My thoughts drifted to Annabeth. She wouldn't be a horrible friend to have. But...
"Yes, Percy. She is actually a great girl. You just haven't had the best start with her yet." Seriously, YoYo is a mind reader. I did not say anythng out loud, and she replied to the thoughts in my head.
"How did you kno-" I started.
"I can read your mind, Perc. We have been friends since seventh grade. I always know what your thinking." stated YoYo. then, she walked oner to the sink to help my mother wash dishes.
But, the wuestion was; Was Annabeth really a great person? If I was the one laying on the sidewalk, would she save me? Would she be the one that I would tell my secret? The secret that even my mother didn't completely know? Could she ever be a friend like YoYo. Would I ever give her a nickname?
I know that no one could ever replace YoYo. I glanced at her. She was already family. Could she be the next Saige? Or, could she help me find the right girl for me?
I stopped thinking when YoYo hopped aroud so she was facing me.
She had a big smile on her face. "You gonna come help, Perc? You know, we could have a cleaning race which we loved to do when we were younger!"
I grinned. "Alright, Alright. I'm coming." She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the small sink in the small kitchen.
"Ready. Set. Go." said YoYo. And so the cleaning race begins.
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Authors Note: I loved writing this chapter. It was fun. But, also sad. See, I'm better at the feeling parts. My friends say that I am awesome at writing feeling stories. So, this chapter was more my style. And, if my conversations in this stoy or any story, ever seem a little stiff is because I am a deeper writer. Anyway, what did you think about Athena's death? And, what about the Mark of Athena sign? I abesolutly fell in love with the idea. Anyway, please wish me luck for tommorow. I really hope we win. My team won last year. Lets hope I can win again this year. So, hope you enjoyed and..Bye!