Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 36
"Annabeth, wait up!" Percy called out, chasing after her quickly.
In all, he had no idea how a motorcycle couldn't catch up to a person, but it wasn't the time to think. She turned around, her mouth forming into a small o as she saw him drive towards her.
"What are you doing?" Annabeth yelled, struggling as he tried to reach for her in one hand.
"Get on, or you can go by yourself," Percy responded in aggravation. He looked behind them, frowning. "Hurry up!"
She might've well screamed in frustration. With one hop (without any help,) she jumped on the motorcycle. Looking behind, she paled.
"He has a car!" Annabeth shouted.
"... Right. And we all know cars beat motorcycles in speed," Percy said, snorting. Nevertheless, he sped up; mainly due to the small punch Annabeth gave him.
"Do you even know where we're going?!" Annabeth shouted in question.
"Great question Annabeth- I have no idea," Percy admitted. "Do you have any money?"
"Who asks that questions when we're being chased?!" Annabeth scolded, ignoring his laughter and comment of 'Chase gets chased.' "That's the worst pun I've heard so far."
The sound of an engine roaring could be heard. Annabeth's eyes widened as she glanced behind. Percy couldn't help but do the same. The instant he did, he paled even more than his companion.
"Why would you mistake a huge truck for a car?" Percy groaned, feeling the urge to bang his head on the handlebars.
"He switched okay?! A few minutes ago, he had a car!" Annabeth countered. "Why did I have to get on the motorcycle anyways?"
He chose not to comment, trying to go faster. In a way, he was glad Annabeth had gotten on the motorcycle, even though it meant handling her constant comments.
They swerved over around an alleyway of boxes on the sides. Annabeth groaned loudly.
"What?" Percy defended, hearing her annoyance. "Only pedestrians or motorcyclists can fit through this road..."
"And also, big scary trucks that can bulldoze those boxes no problem," Annabeth retorted sarcastically.
It was true. The truck honked three times, the sound of boxes tumbling down, and yells being heard.
A box of watermelons started to fall. Annabeth noticed it first, looking up to the sky, before realizing that the sky wasn't green with tiny white dots sprinkled all over it. Percy only observed the fact a few seconds later, but it was already too late.
"Get off- get off!" Percy shouted, abandoning his precious motorcycle after he was sure his passenger was off.
A few seconds later, a loud crunch could be heard. The black-haired teenager stared with wide eyes as his motorcycle got damaged in ways even Hephaestus couldn't fix. It was virtually broken apart in ways that a human body wouldn't look too good on.
"We have to go," Annabeth hissed lowly, tugging on Percy's arm like a little child. Seeing his crestfallen look, she stopped for a second. She wasn't as heartless as her friend who would've said 'sucks for you cuz. Let's go!' "Percy, you can get another one later... Or maybe not... But we have to go!"
He snapped back to reality. "... Right..."
"He's getting out!" a voice screeched.
They turned around, alert in their eyes. A middle-aged person stared at the truck driver in anger.
"You ruined my fruit you prick!" the person screeched again, bending down to grab something before throwing the watermelon at the driver's face.
"Now," Annabeth said quietly, sending out the signal for them to run.
With one last look towards his ruined vehicle, Percy ran together with Annabeth. Somehow they managed to run hand in hand as if they were in a clichéd movie.
"... Your hand's sweaty," Percy commented, glancing at their intertwined hands.
"Why did you decide to hold hands then?! It'll just slow us down," Annabeth countered, wiping her hand on her jeans. She made a face before speeding up.
"Can you slow down?" Percy asked, panting for breath as he stopped. "I have a cramp."
"And I don't?" Annabeth replied sarcastically, stopping all the same. "Five second rest. Just because the person got a watermelon headshot doesn't mean he'll be gone forever."
"O-One... two... thr.. three... four... five.. six..." Percy counted, stopping at every word.
"One second too many."
Percy stared at her in disbelief, his breathing getting steadier. "Why don't we just hide?"
"Doesn't sound too shabby... But considering the fact that I already found you..." a voice whispered menacingly.
"Hey! Come back here you prick!" the bystander shouted, throwing another watermelon at his head.
He didn't have time to dodge before a huge watermelon hit him in the back of his head again.
Using the time where the two people were arguing, they ran away again, rounding a corner in the process. Percy's breathing increased as if he had an asthma attack.
"Go," Percy said, trying to catch his breath. "I'll just slow you down."
She was quick to decide. "No. You'll obviously slow me down but..." Annabeth's grey eyes looked down at the floor. "You're the only thing I have left."
"That's not true," Percy said gently, but at the same time, it was rather awkward. "You have your friends uh... Let's see..."
Annabeth laughed at his awkward antics. She held out her bag that she had with her the entire time, and pulled out her purse. Percy stared at it like it was their ticket to heaven. Before he could begin to talk again, she laughed again.
"Let's go somewhere where he can't find us," Annabeth suggested, placing her purse back in her bag. "Then we can go eat at... Wherever..."
They stepped out of the alleyway and back into the streets bustling with people.
"Rachel!" Percy suddenly called out.
Annabeth gave him a strange look. "What?"
"She's one of your friends isn't she? The one who... Almost seems like she's telling the future."
"Yeah. She even set up this booth once. Well it was only a few days ago but that's not important. She earned money to give to this 'save the Giant Pandas' charity fund. It worked for a while, but when she predicted this math test wrong... She went out of business after that."
Percy wasn't really listening. He looked thoughtful. "Do you think we'll live in the streets forever?"
"Unless you have the skills of a robber," Annabeth responded which was basically her way of saying 'I don't know.'
"Never took you for the robber or street kid type Annabeth," a new voice joined in.
Said person turned around. Percy stepped closer to her as some sort of protection, ignoring the small 'I don't need help' comment. His facial expression changed from laughter to disbelief.
A 'statue' was staring at them with 'it's' emerald sparkling green eyes. It's facial features twitched. Percy pointed at it.
"D-Did it just talk?" Percy stammered.
Annabeth rolled her eyes, shoving his hand down. "It's rude to point to friends." Not even waiting for a reply, she continued. "That's Rachel."
The 'statue' nodded. "Thanks Annabeth. But if you would mind making way for people..." She pointed towards a hat filled with coins. "I'm trying to save the Giant Pandas."
"So that's why you have black and white paint all over you..." Percy blurted out.
Rachel narrowed her eyes. "Yup. And you're..."
"He's Percy-" Annabeth started, but got cut off by getting tapped on the arm several times.
"Gotta go," Percy continued.
"Percy Gotta Go, right. Nice name," Rachel complimented. She saw a man pushing his way towards them. "And I'm guessing that dude's after you?"
Annabeth nodded hesitantly, wondering what her friend would do this time. Instead of yelling 'bloody murder' or something crazier than that, she handed them big Giant Panda masks made out of cardboard.
"Put them on," Rachel instructed. She forgot all about being a statue for a second.
"The catch?" Annabeth questioned curiously.
"You have to stay with me until I raise enough money," Rachel said with a smile. "Aww, you guys look cute with Giant Panda masks on."
"At least it covers up some of my scars," Percy muttered lowly.
"How much money?"
"I need five hundred, but so far I only have four hundred and something..."
"Where are they?!" a voice screamed out.
The trio didn't move, pretending they were 'Giant Pandas.' A couple of people tossed in some coins. The man barged his way through, seeing what all the 'animal' stuff was about. Once he saw the money filled hat, his eyes got wide with greed.
"Thank you very much for your donation sir!" two bright voices chorused together. One of the two identical brothers held up his empty looking wallet.
"Give that back!" the man roared, lunging wildly.
A spear hit his head with perfect aim. A buff looking teenage girl stepped out from the crowd, jeering at him. Clarisse kicked him in the stomach just to make sure.
"Oops, better get out before you get hit again," one of the brothers spoke with a grin.
The man was about to protest until he felt the spear whack his backside. He howled, running away quickly. The two brothers cheered, clapping as if to say 'it's all a show, pay up.' Rachel looked at them, a small smile on her face. They groaned, looking inside the wallet and coming up with a five dollar bill.
"Another great donation by our stage performers!" Travis Stoll yelled out, dropping the money in the hat with a small frown. Under his breath he added, "stupid bet."
The small audience clapped, more than a few stepping forwards to donate. The two runaways stared at the scene with slight wide eyes.
"Okay, show's over, any last donations?" Rachel shouted, clapping her hands in delight as a ten dollar bill floated toward her. "Thank you! You won't get trampled over by any Giant Pandas sir!"
People started to leave, getting disinterested as the crew cleared up. Percy and Annabeth took their masks off, breathing heavily for fresh air.
"Thanks Rachel," Annabeth said gratefully.
"No problem," she replied, shrugging it off. "Now we got more than five hundred anyways, you're free to go. Nice to meet you Percy Gotta Go."
"That isn't my name," Percy told her, scowling as Annabeth laughed lightly. "It's Percy Jackson."
The 'oracle' cracked a smile. "Great. Rachel Elizabeth Dare."
They shared a grin, before Percy turned around.
"C'mon Annabeth, let's go find somewhere to eat. I'm starving," Percy urged, but in truth, it was the fact that he felt a little sick.
"Sure. Thanks again Rachel!"
"Yeah, sure." Rachel replied as if it were no big deal that a man was chasing after them. She watched them go, a forlorn look in her eye. "Hey wait a second!"
They were just about to enter a fast food place, but they still turned, Percy looking sickly pale with blood dripping off his forehead. Annabeth gestured for him to stay, while she jogged over to her friend.
"Twenty dollars for you and Percy Gotta Go," Rachel offered, holding the twenty dollar bill in her hand.
Annabeth bit her lip, looking over to Percy who was waiting impatiently. Survival of the fittest, she thought before grasping the bill in her hand. "Thank you so much Rachel. It-It's really appreciated."
"You gave me some business so it's the only thing I can offer," the 'oracle' replied. "You better go back to Percy. See you around Annabeth!"
And with that being said, she left, all the equipment already gone. She lingered for a while, her hand still holding the note, before she ran back to her street companion, a wide grin on her face.
A/N: Happy Valentine's Day! Well, I added in some of the characters but they won't appear much. The court case is going go happen a few chapters later, which means that the story is going to end soon. Thanks for all the support!
Sheened: I don't think so, but I appreciate any review amount!
karaliza76: Thanks! And no, I've never tried making a sandman, why did you need the chocolate bar though?
Guest: She ran first, and thanks!