. Lonely Lullaby
Disclaimer I don't own PJO
Chapter 10: You've got to be Kidding!
Annabeth's POV
It's no secret my life's a mess right now. Seeing Percy brought back an emotional rollercoaster I wasn't strapped in for. I tend to think about his offer often. What would happen if I did go back to New York? Would I be appreciated? Would people be happy I was even back? Would anyone care that I'm not dead? These questions all branch off into other questions and soon enough I'm questioning myself all together and that's dangerous. Now I'm pissed off and I have to go to work, great.
When I got to my office I sighed and sat down. I was almost down with the last floor blue print when I heard the slamming of doors and then then an exasperated scream before another slamming door went off. Guess everyone's having a rough morning with the new deadline deal. That's right a deadline and everyone on this floor is about to have heart attacks because of the meeting that's supposed to be held at three. More than half the floor is hyped up on coffee or Mountain Dew, me drinking the latter. I haven't gone till sleep until passed one am for the past three weeks. I finally finish and start to make my way to the copy room. Then my day got worse from there.
My heel just broke. I laugh tiredly and pull the shoes off my feet and throw them away. Then I replace them with my black high tops, which are far more comfortable despite the fact they're against office dress code. Copy after copy slides out of the printer and soon enough I'm making my way to Dionysus's office. I knock on the door and then fling it open.
"Here are those copies you wanted Mr. D" I say and then notice he has someone sitting at the desk with him. "Sorry I didn't know you were in the middle of a meeting."
"That's okay Mrs. Chase. You can leave them on my desk." I'm surprised he's sober and he actually said my name correctly. I drop them and turn to the door when the man sitting with Mr. D calls to me.
"Chase as in Annabeth Chase?" He asks. I was a fool for not recognizing who he was the moment I walked in. I'm met with sky blue eyes. His blue eyes that remind me slightly of Thalia's and I freeze in my place. Then I remember who I'm dealing with.
"That depends," I cross my arms. "Who's asking?" He smirks.
"Jason Grace, I believe we've met before." He says with a knowing look. This is the end of me, this whole thing. He's going to tell Thalia and all hell will break loose. That can't happen.
"Yes, I do recall." I say. "I'll see you at the meeting Mr. D" After that, I walk out of the office feeling flustered. What in Sam hell is he doing here? Why was he talking with Mr. D? I look up at the clock. I've got fifteen minutes before I'm crammed in a room with twenty other people to discuss our building plans.
Even before everyone's at their seat, I notice the extra chair, the extra chair Jason sits in. Mr. D and I sit at the heads of the table and he calls the meeting to order.
"I was given the last of the copies to begin building earlier this afternoon by Mrs. Chase." People applaud. "But Mrs. Chase, unfortunately will not be able to make it to the sight." I gasp.
"What?" I shout all attention on me now.
"Annabeth calm down." Mr. D says holding up his hands.
"I will not calm down! I want to know why I'm being removed from my position! Jason so help me-" I get cut off.
"Mrs. Chase sit down!" I sigh and oblige. "You are being removed from your position because you will be needed on a new project." I feel a flash of relief. "Don't worry, Michael Yew can take over on the job here but you'll need to head out of state." My jaw drops.
"Out of state? Where?" I ask envisioning Hawaii or somewhere lush and green.
"Manhattan, New York." My heart drops to my stomach; my eyes widen and threaten to pop out of my head. He seems taken aback.
"Manhattan as in the city?" I ask.
"Is there any other?" He asks.
"Well I'm sure there must be avenues or boulevard's named after the city." I answer.
"Do you have a problem with that?" He asks and I catch Jason's eye, my breath hitches and I can't believe the words I choke out.
"Not at all. When do I leave?" I ask trying to sound nonchalant but I can't.
"A week, you're office needs to be packed up and ready to be shipped to our east coast office." I nod. "Any other questions?" He asks.
"Yeah just one, any recommended apartments?"
When I was walking back to my car Jason called out to me. I spin on my heel angry at him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I spit out angrily.
"I could ask you the same thing." His tone is calm compared to mine.
"Just because you could doesn't give you the right." I slam my car door but he taps on the glass and I unlock the shotgun seat door and he sits down.
"I think I deserve at least an explanation." I start the car. "You didn't leave us with tracks to follow, no signs that you were okay, you could have been dead for all we know!" I gulp; I hadn't felt guilty about this until now. "Then my dad gets this anonymous tip that you might be in San Francisco! Who else knows you were here!" My lip starts to tremble and I can't help bursting into tears.
"Look I'm sorry okay!" I choke out. "I needed to get out!"
"Why so you could get away from Percy?" He says mockingly rude.
"Jason! I had more problems than Percy! If you honestly think that…then get out of my car." I whisper.
"What kind of problems?" He asks.
"There are some things you don't need to know about Jason! There are some things bigger than boy issues!" I shout in his face speeding down a less crowded street.
"Slow down!" He says. I ease up on the gas pedal.
"If I go back to New York I'm going to have to fess up and go back to my normal life. You think my parents are going to want to see me!" The last time I talked to my mother we got in this huge fight. She barley even talked to me at my own graduation."
"Pull the car over." He commands and I do so. I can only imagine how ridiculous I look. My mascara running down my face, skin splotchy and red, tears roll down my face like rain. Jason wraps his arms around me in a brotherly way. "What if it doesn't go back to normal? What if it gets better?" He says smiling at me.
"What if it gets worse?" I ask my voice cracking. I feel so weak. So drained of energy and I lean into him.
"There are all kinds of possibilities in this world; I believe we get to choose how we want things to go. You have two options: one being that you wallow in your own self-pity and hide from the world for the rest of your life or you come back to New York and you can show everyone what badass bitch you came back as. Show them you're successful, make them mad for doubting you couldn't do it, and make them jealous." A new spark fires inside me, something I have felt so many times before; determination.
"You're right you're absolutely, one hundred percent, correct." I can feel his smile on the top of my head.
"Glad you figured it out. So you're coming back with me?" I nod and smile.
"Of course I am. The new Annabeth Chase needs to show New York how it's done."
So it took me forever but here this new, very short chapter is. Review, follow, favorite. I love you guys!