Ok first want to say thank you so much for reviewing! Seriously, reviews mean a ton to an author of something. Next, I want to say sorry about how the chapter posted last time. Finally, I'd like to tell you all that I have a tumblr, bookwormx10 and it'd be super cool if you checked it out! It's focused on PJO and HoO. Thanks again for everything!
Annabeth's head pounded like a stampede of bulls were running a marathon over her brain. Her mouth was dry, tongue thick and swollen, and terribly uncomfortable in her mouth. She felt like the apocalypse happened in her body. A big, bloody, deathly apocalypse. She was hungover.
What happened last night?
There was that party her and Piper went to... Oh gods the party! How much had she drank? Clearly too much by the clamorous buzz in her ears.
Her blood had turned to lead overnight. Legs and arms were dead weight, too exhausted and overwhelmed to carry a body. It was as if everything was in the state of one gigantic yawn.
She laid there on the bed, 70% sure she was still drunk, and trying to suppress the bile rising in her throat. The acid burned fiercely, begging and pleading to escape like a prisoner locked away.
What had she done to herself?
Annabeth was always a lightweight when it came to drinking. She hardly ever went out and when she did the most she'd have was half a beer. It felt like she'd taken half a dozen tequila shots and downed a pint of whiskey.
The golden morning rays of sunshine began to filter through her closed eyelids. Even those faint traces of light made the blonde groan in agonizing pain. They made her feel like her insides were being seared to a crisp, then turned over and beaten.
"Well good morning, Sleeping Beauty." A low chuckle wrapped it's words around Annabeth's eardrums in torment.
"Piper?" Annabeth moaned, not daring to open her eyes and see if she was correct.
"Well I'd certainly hope so, considering you're currently sleeping in my bed." Piper let out a bemused smirk.
Of course she'd be at Piper's. When you were as drunk as Annabeth and had a caring devoted friend, you didn't go back to your own house.
Tentatively, Annabeth sat up, her elbow making an indent on the malleable mattress. Little by little she opened her eyes to let in the twirling streams of golds and yellows.
At that exact moment, Piper decided it was a smart idea to open her light pink curtains even further, bathing the room in drenches of sparkling honey.
Annabeth hissed like a cat that had fallen into an unexpected puddle. The malevolent sun cursed her eyes and her head. The rays shot another dose of pain through her body, coursing it's way through veins as fast as a rushing river.
"Piper. I swear to all effing hell if you don't close the goddamn curtains right now..." Annabeth didn't finish off her threat, instead squinted her eyes to adjust the level of hurt her body was experiencing.
Piper let out another laugh.
"Hun," She began, "You couldn't even poke me in your current state."
Annabeth felt her body slump forward in defeat, causing another wave of pain to flow in her skull. Piper was right, she could barely even sit up without wanting to die.
"Here take this." Piper said shoving something into Annabeth's hand.
She felt her fingers curl around a cool, frosty glass and three small tablets.
Water and Advil.
"Oh thank goodness." Annabeth whispered to herself before taking a large gulp of water accompanied by the three small pills.
The smooth water soothed her scratchy, dehydrated throat. It brought nourishment to every ache and pain. The Advil weened off the splintering headache, making it into only a dull throb. For the first time that day, Annabeth finally felt a small speck of bliss.
The euphoria lasted about seven seconds.
"So had a wild adventure last night, did we?" Piper smirked devilishly at the other girl.
Annabeth gave her the best glare she could manage with her eyes still caked in last nights make up and feeling red and raw from crying.
Wait. Crying?
Annabeth couldn't remember ever crying. Though, all the signs were there. The weariness and sting of her tear ducts. The way the back of her eyeballs felt as if a cloth was taken to them and relieved of all moisture.
"I'm never drinking again." Annabeth groaned, flopping her head into her hands.
She massaged at her temples, regretting all the decisions of the previous night. The worst of it all, she couldn't even legally drink until six more months. Annabeth Chase never made stupid mistakes like this. Well, almost never.
"Percy called about an hour ago. He wanted to make sure you were all right. I told him you looked like death hit you with a stick." Piper said almost flatly, twirling a strand of brown hair between her tan fingers.
"Percy?" Annabeth asked.
Why would Piper mention him? Why did he call for her? More importantly, how did he know to call for her?
"Oh man, you don't remember, do you?" Piper said with a look of shock mixed with laughter.
"Remember what?"
Annabeth could feel herself growing frantic. One of her worst fears of drinking was not being in control of herself. What had she done that she couldn't remember?
"Let's just say you payed someone a visit last night." Piper said wit a suggestive smirk.
The blood drained rapidly from Annabeth's cheeks. Her jaw hung stupidly open.
What had she done?
Piper burst into a fit of hysterics. She looked as if she was about to pee her pants in amusement.
"Oh relax." She said, placing a gentle hand on Annabeth's tense shoulder.
"Tell me what I did right this instant, Piper McLean." Annabeth's voice was hard and stern, unwavering in her demand.
Piper told her friend everything from the last night's events. She told her of Annabeth practically breaking into Percy's apartment. She told her of the sobs that erupted from Annabeth's mouth and how she fell asleep snoring like a trucker on Percy's couch. Piper then made sure to emphasize that a shirtless Percy carried Annabeth to Piper's car while she clung to him like a kitten.
Annabeth didn't know what true embarrassment was until the end of Piper's tale. Her face was inflamed, ravaged by a rosy pink. Her ears were as hot as fire and a sinking stone traveled down her stomach.
She wasn't even going to look at alcohol again, much less consume it.
"Please tell me you're joking." Annabeth's hoarse whisper was filled with dread in each syllable.
Piper shook her head, a little sympathy added for her friend's sake.
"Maybe just give him a call. Apologize for slobbering all over his chest." Piper shrugged.
Annabeth glared at the brunette with the heat of an inferno, but still tugged the phone from Piper's hand.
A strew of long, complicated, and uncensored cursed words flung themselves from Annabeth's mouth as she searched for his contact in her friend's phone.
Angrily and a bit ashamed, she tapped the call button on his contact.
One ring.
Two rings.
As each sound went by the more Annabeth felt the need to hang up the phone right now. What would she even say? Sorry that I walked into your house and slept on your couch when I was drunk? She sounded absolutely pathetic.
"Hello? Piper?" A husky, deep, almost morning voice said into the speaker.
It startled Annabeth so much a small gasp released itself from her lips.
"Annabeth, actually." She quickly breathed out the words, afraid if she said them any slower she wouldn't say them at all.
"Oh, hey, Annabeth." Percy said with a slight chirp of laughter.
"Listen, I just wanted to say..." She choked on her words.
If there was anything Annabeth had too much of it was pride, and apologizing for her mistakes was a sharp jab that would wound it mortally.
She took a deep breath of air, mentally preparing herself. On three, she told herself.
One.
Two.
The feeling of shame came back as powerful as the wave of tsunami. It crashed on every end of her nerve. Every feeling soaked in the disgusting stench of disgrace.
She couldn't do this. It was mortifying. She would never be able to look him in the eye again.
He had to carry her out. She drooled on his couch.
No, stop thinking like that. She could do this. All it was was a simple apology. Any normal, functioning human being could do this.
Three.