Chapter 4
Percy came home from school and went into the living room where her mom was talking on the phone.
"Hey, mom."
Sally turned and smiled weakly at Percy. She seemed nervous.
"Yes, yes. Of course. And the results?" Sally said frowning.
Percy slumped in the couch and turned on the TV—some reality show was playing.
Suddenly, Percy heard the phone crash onto the floor.
He turned quickly to where his mom was frozen—her eyes wide.
"Mom. Mom what's wrong?"
"Oh My God." She held her forehead with her other hand on her hip.
"What? What's wrong?"
"The— The… DNA… Annabeth." She said panicked.
Percy's own eyes widened. He laughed weakly, "You're kidding. Right, mom?"
She collapsed onto the couch, but Percy caught her, "Mom! Are you okay? Mom!"
Tears were flowing from her face.
"How could we have not known?"
Percy was about to answer, but Annabeth suddenly came through the front door. She saw her mother collapsed in Percy's arms and ran over to them, throwing her backpack down on the floor.
"Oh My Gods, Mom. Are you okay? What happened?"
Sally reached up to touch Annabeth's cheek, "My sweet, sweet girl."
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Sally just kept looking at her in silence—and Annabeth knew. She knew that the DNA tests had come and that it told the truth she knew somehow was true.
Annabeth stared blankly at nothing.
Percy tried to reach out to her, but she stepped away.
"What? So I have a real family out there— somewhere?" She said shocked. Her hand went up to clasp over her mouth.
"Annabeth." Percy said.
She slumped onto the floor and tried to soak everything in.
"A social worker is going to come to sort everything out." Sally said quietly.
Annabeth's breathes came short and she pushed back a strand of her golden hair. Everything that came after that went by like a blur.
The social worker did come. And Annabeth only heard bits and pieces. They knew where Annabeth's biological family was and that they were in that very city. They had to see the others birth parents and decide what to do.
The thing was— Annabeth didn't want to leave.
Four days later…
Everything around her was moving fast and she was the only one frozen in time as they drove over to the house that she was supposed to live in.
Percy was beside her, sitting quietly—watching her as if worried she might break. She hated people looking at her like that.
They parked in front of a quaint house— poor compared to their mansion of a house. They all walked in and Sally knocked on the door. A middle aged, but beautiful woman opened the door. Annabeth gasped seeing the resemblance. The woman had her similar gorgeous golden hair and grey analytical eyes—hers being more cold. She was wearing a shawl over her shoulders as if there was no heater in the house and a plain grey dress. But though her clothes were basic, she had an intimidating presence about her as if she considered herself royalty in the territory of her household.
"Hello. Come in. please." She said with regal authority.
Her eyes went to Annabeth and they widened a bit seeing the similarity probably. It made Annabeth almost shiver inside.
Another girl came from down the hall. Annabeth's eyes widened as she saw who it was.
Crystal.
Shit, Annabeth thought, my life is officially now a reality show.
Crystal's lips turned up slightly seeing Annabeth there. Percy's fists clenched seeing that bitch again— and realizing she was his biological sister. It was weird and infuriating at the same time.
All of them walked over to sit in the living room.
Crystal and the blonde woman on one side and Annabeth with the rest of the Jackson family on the other side. Annabeth didn't pay attention to most of it. Just the fact that the woman (her biological mother) was Athena Chase and that Crystal definitely wanted to switch lives with Annabeth. Annabeth simply sat emotionless, looking at nothing as the people around her decided her future life.
She didn't know what she wanted.
"I'm not ready to simply give you my daughter." Sally said.
"You mean my daughter." Athena retorted.
"I was the one who raised her for fourteen years, she is a daughter to me."
"Give me my daughter and I'll give you yours."
"We can't just switch so abruptly. They have to get used to the transition. We are talking about a major switch which will change these girls lives forever." Poseidon said.
Annabeth couldn't take it anymore. She stood up suddenly and said, "You know what? I don't care anymore." She looked over at her mom, "I'm going through with the switch."
"Annabeth." Sally said.