Alvie was having trouble believing that he had actually been asked around someone's house.
Obviously he was going to panic.
"Alvie, you'll be fine." Annabeth assured. Alvie didn't say anything. He didn't want to screw up in front of Crystal's parents and he especially didn't want to screw up in front of Crystal. Thanks to the bullies, Alvie didn't really have friends, which meant he hadn't been around anyone's house, other than relatives, obviously. "Alvie, look at me." Alvie glanced up, his eyes lingering on his mother's for a second, before he dropped his gaze. Annabeth sighed and ruffled his hair. "You better get ready. You're leaving in an hour."
"And you haven't even had a shower." Percy added, appearing out of nowhere. "Heh, rhyme."
"Shut up, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth made to hit him, but Percy dodged and grabbed Alvie.
"Hostage." Percy claimed, putting a finger gun to Alvie's head. "Ransom of blue cookies."
"Alright, alright, you're hungry. There're blue cookies in the cupboard at the top."
"Thanks." Percy grinned. He took Alvie with him, keeping him hostage with the 'gun' at his head. "Want one?" Percy asked, getting the cookie jar down and holding it out to his son. Alvie hesitated. Percy never shared blue cookies, but they were nice. "Go on, before I change my mind."
"Thanks Dad." Alvie said, taking one in each hand. Percy blinked at him. Alvie watched him carefully.
"Good boy." Percy finally said, smiling. Alvie returned the smile, biting into the cookie. "Go and get ready. You now have fifty eight minutes."
Fight seven minutes and forty two seconds later, Alvie was walking out to the car with his father. Percy was a bit hyper, seeing as he had had a dozen or so cookies before Annabeth had managed to confiscate the jar.
"Have I met this Crystal?" Percy asked, starting the engine. Alvie put his seat belt on before replying.
"That girl that was with me when you got called in 'cos of those guys."
"Okey dokey then." Percy smiled reassuringly at Alvie. "Well then, let's get going." Alvie handed over the bit of paper with Crystal's address on and Percy put it into the sat-nav. Do not trust an ADHD demigod son of Poseidon to drive and follow a map or directions from his wife. It had to be a sat-nav. Mainly because it didn't get angry at him like Annabeth did for missing a turn fourth time in a row.
"Out."
"Mmm…" Alvie hummed uncertainly.
"Want me to come with you?" Alvie nodded slowly, glancing at his father appreciatively. They got out, Percy holding Alvie's rucksack. They jogged up the stairs to the town house and Percy rang the doorbell. He liked it instantly, hearing the doorbell ring inside, but it wasn't a normal doorbell- it rang and it sounded like a chorus of hyperactive monkeys.
"Crystal, that bloody doorbell!"
"Sorry Mom!" The door opened and Crystal smiled at them. "Hi, Alvie!" She grinned.
"Hi."
"Are you OK? You look a bit peaky." She held his face in her hands, pinching his cheeks. Percy smirked.
"He's just nervous." There was a curious meow. Percy looked down and saw a black cat staring at him with vibrant green eyes.
"The cat's got eyes like you, Dad." Alvie said quietly.
"That's Pebble. She's my cat." Crystal clicked her fingers. Pebble looked round as Crystal held her hands out. The cat jumped into Crystal's arms and rubbed her cheek against Crystal's affectionately, purring happily.
"Aren't black cats unlucky?" Alvie asked.
"Some people think so. We don't."
"Witch." Percy said. "Oh sh- didn't mean to say that, sorry."
"It's alright. We've had that before from our God-is-amazing neighbour." Pebble looked at Alvie with her green eyes, unexpectedly jumping at him and winding around his neck, getting comfortable across his shoulders. "Oh, she does that. I think she likes you."
A man appeared behind Crystal. He was taller than Percy by three inches at least with dark brown-red hair and pale brown eyes. He had a fairly square jaw and a tough complexion that matched his muscular build. He wore jeans and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up as if he had just returned from work at an office.
"So this is Alvie." The man regarded Alvie for a few seconds before turning to Percy. He held his hand out in greeting. "William Murphy."
"Percy Jackson." Percy smiled, shaking William's hand. He remembered Crystal now. "Thanks for having Alvie."
"That's alright." William said bluntly. Percy noticed the lack of enthusiasm in William's voice but was distracted by a woman who could only be Crystal's mother appearing next to William.
"Hi!" She beamed. She was an older and taller version of Crystal. "Oh my gosh, I love your eyes!" She told Percy.
"Um, thanks."
"Mom, don't scare them away." Crystal smiled. She looked at Alvie. "Mom's a bit loopy."
"You should meet my aunt then." Alvie said instantly. Percy grinned proudly.
"Why are they still on the doorstep? Where're your manners, Crystal?" Crystal's mom was a bubbly person, putting on an angry look that was obviously acted.
"Where are your manners, Mom? You haven't said your name."
"Oh yeah! I'm Joy."
"Percy."
"Alvie."
"Oh wow! I love your eyes as well! Come in, come in." Joy waved them all in.
"I better go." Percy said, handing Alvie his rucksack. Pebble shifted and meowed, jumping down from Alvie's shoulders and winding around Percy's legs. "Thanks again for having him."
"Oh, that's alright." Joy waved it off, more enthusiastic than her husband. "He's adorable!"
"Adorable?" Alvie repeated, looking confused.
"Yes, adorable." Joy pinched Alvie's cheeks playfully, moving his head from side to side. "I might have to adopt you."
"Mom…" Crystal warned, her cheeks fading pink.
"I'm just teasing, sweetie." Joy hugged her daughter, laughing. Percy ruffled Alvie's hair.
"Any problems, just ring, alright?" Alvie nodded and watched his father go, waving as Percy drove off.
Crystal dragged Alvie in and gave him a tour of her home with Joy, the bubbly mother who made everything so much easier and more fun to do.
"Dinner will be ready in about an hour." Joy beamed. "How about you show Alvie the surprise room you had planned?"
"Oh, yeah. Nearly forgot about that. Duh…" Crystal pulled a face, indicating her own stupidity. She grabbed Alvie's hand and pulled him away. "Come on, you. You'll like this one."
Crystal took him to the top floor and opened one of the two doors at the top of the stairs on the small landing. "You like?" Crystal smirked.
The whole room was full of books. Shelves, tables, chairs- everything was here to make this library comfortable. A proud, dark wood mantelpiece with intricate carvings stood to the right, a pile of logs set and ready for burning. "Hellooo… Alvie?" Crystal waved her hand in his face and he blinked, pulling himself together. He smiled at her.
"This is so cool." He grinned.
"Mom, Alvie's borrowing a few books."
"If that's OK." Alvie added quickly.
"Of course it is, sweetie!" Joy smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
"Lunch will be ready in ten. Crystal, be a good girl and set the table."
"Good girl?" Crystal echoed. "Mom, I'm not five." Joy patted Crystal's cheek, smiling.
"Go. Or starve."
"I'll help." Alvie offered. Crystal smiled at him.
"You're alright." She told him. Alvie shook his head and insisted.
Lunch was roast chicken and an assortment of vegetables. Alvie sat next to Crystal while her parents sat on the adjoining sides, one at either end.
"I hear you were both in the principal's office. Twice this week." William announced monotonously. "Why was that?"
"I told you-" Crystal started.
"I'm asking Alfie." Alvie wasn't paying attention, watching Joy put a chicken leg on his plate.
"Alvie." Crystal corrected before looking at her friend. She nudged him to get his attention. Alvie looked round curiously. Crystal nodded in William's direction, redirecting Alvie's attention again.
"Why were you sent to the principal's office?"
"Um… some kids were, uh…" Crystal took his hand under the table, offering silent assurance. "Some kids were being jerks and, uh, I reacted."
"Reacted how?" William asked as Joy set Alvie's dinner in front of him. He barely noticed though, aware of Crystal's warm, soft hand in his. It was very distracting, but in a nice way.
"William, you're not very good at ice-breaking, are you?" Joy smiled. Crystal noticed that her mother had seen Alvie's hesitation at William's interrogation. "Alvie likes reading. Ask him about that."
"Reading? What about sports?" Alvie shook his head.
"My brothers are the sporty ones." He said quietly.
"What sports do they do then?"
"Um, loads. Basketball, ice hockey, swimming, diving and, uh, some others." Crystal squeezed his hand under the table to reassure him again. He had spoken in mumbles. He only did that, as she had noticed, when he was nervous or uncomfortable.
"You look like a runner." William commented, narrowing his eyes at Alvie. "Do you do track?" Alvie didn't respond immediately, his eyes fixing on the gravy jug, the salt and pepper shakers and the jar of extra cutlery.
Without thinking, he dropped Crystal's hand and rearranged the objects in height order.
"Alvie, are you OK?" Alvie studied the rearranged objects for a few seconds before looking at Crystal.
"I'm OK." He said quietly, not holding her gaze.
"So, Alvie." Joy said, smiling to ease the tension. "What books do you read?"
Crystal noticed that Alvie rearranged quite a few objects into height order- books, ornaments and the likes. She asked him if he was OCD, but he said 'no'. She didn't question him after that.
"OK, this is my room. There's a spare mattress you can sleep on tonight." Alvie nodded, looking around her room. It was a very stylish room, not girly at all, but very tidy. It was sleek, with a mahogany bedstead. The duvet was navy blue with alternating thick and thin black stripes, like a barcode. The wall behind the bed was white, decorated with black canvas prints with blue flowers on either side of the bed. The adjoining wall and the wall opposite that were deep sea blue. The curtains were white with wavy blue and black lines with a matching lamp shade. A magnificent mahogany wardrobe stood in each corner of the left wall as they walked in. Directly in the middle of the two wardrobes was a matching chest of drawers with a cluster of framed photos on top with a majestic, dark wood mirror hanging above it. The carpet was black- knowing Crystal, to hide the dirt. But there was a spotless, white, fluffy, semi-circle rug at the end of the bed with a low, mahogany, double-door cupboard on it, pressed against the end of the bed. On top of the cupboard was a small, flat screen TV. Alvie later found out that the cupboard housed Crystal's PS3 console, games and controllers. (Effie Trinket would love this room- all that mahogany…)
Crystal smiled at him. "What do you think?"
"It's so cool." Alvie grinned. He pointed at the blank wall space above her bed. "You could graffiti your name there. Use black and light blue spray paint." Crystal looked at the space, visualising his suggestion.
"I'll have to talk to Mom about that. Hey, are you any good at Zombies?"
"Zombies?"
"Yeah, on Call of Duty Black Ops."
"Kino?" Alvie smiled.
"Let's do this." She grinned.
For a girl, she was pretty good at killing zombies- almost as good as Alvie. And she was a true gamer girl, cursing zombies if they hit her or if her gun ran out of ammo when she needed it most.
They played through all the maps; from Kino to Ascension, including Dead Ops.
By the time they turned it off, it was nearing ten at night.
"I'm hungry." Crystal announced. She scrambled up and around to her bed, kneeling and reaching under it. She pulled out a box of crisps (chips to you Americans), chocolate bars, bottles of water, packets of marshmallows and three packets of chocolate digestives.
"Sugar gives you nightmares." Alvie said. Crystal waved it off and told him to help himself.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door; a very enthusiastic, yet light knock.
"Mom, is that you?" Crystal smiled.
"Hiya!" Joy sang. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah." Joy entered.
"Ohmygodchocciebiccet!"
"Mom, breathe."
"Gimme!" Alvie held the packet up and Joy eagerly and greedily took the lot. "You've been holding out on me." Joy whined, pointing accusingly at her daughter. She stuck her bottom lip out in a mock sulk.
"Mom, you can have the rest." Crystal laughed softly.
"Oh goodie!" Joy beamed. "So, Alvie, you OK? Crystal isn't being mean, is she?"
"No, she's cool."
"Let me know if she's trouble."
"I'm not trouble."
"You are." Alvie and Joy said together.
"Why are you ganging up on me? It's not fair!" Crystal protested, folding her arms and hunching her shoulders, sulking.
"If the wind changes direction, your face will stay like that." Joy teased in a sing-song voice. Crystal smiled. "Much better." She pulled a chocolate digestive from the packet. "Now," She said through chocolate biscuit, pointing at them with her biscuit between her middle and ring fingers and her thumb, "lights out at eleven. No loud noises or music after that."
"If I give you another packet of choccie biccets, can we stay up until half past?" Crystal asked sweetly.
"What makes you think I can be bribed so easily?" Crystal held up an unopened packet of chocolate biscuits, smirking. "Ooh, alright. But no later." Joy took the biscuits and turned to leave.
"Thanks, Mom." Joy waggled her fingers at them and closed the door behind her.
Crystal found herself waking up about two. She frowned up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling for a short while before rolling onto her side to check on Alvie.
She was surprised to find him wide awake and sitting up. He was reading from a Kindle that had a built in nightlight.
"Alvie?" She didn't get a response, but when he was reading, she didn't expect to. "Oy. Alvie." She poked his shoulder and he looked round. "What are you doing up?" In the light from his Kindle, he looked exhausted.
"Can't sleep." He replied quietly.
"Well put the bloody Kindle down." Alvie locked the screen and tucked the electronic in his rucksack. "Now lie down." He lay down; his grey eyes almost raven in the darkness of the room. "And go to sleep." He just stared at her. "Annnd… go to sleep." She flicked her fingers at him as if he would fall asleep instantly. "Go to sleep."
"It doesn't work like that." He smiled.
"Do you have trouble sleeping anyway?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "I let my sleeping tablets at home though."
"That was clever." He hummed in agreement. "I know something that can help." She smiled, forcing herself to leave the warm bed. "Come on." He got up and followed her downstairs and into the kitchen. "Mom has trouble sleeping as well sometimes. She uses this." Crystal put a box on the counter and looked at him, placing her hands on her hips.
"Tea." Alvie said, unimpressed. He looked at her in disbelief. "Why will tea help me sleep?"
"Herbal tea. Safer than sleeping tablets and less addictive."
"Right."
"Try it." Crystal insisted. When she next spoke, her tone was bitter. "William will hit the roof if you fall asleep during his interrogation of you tomorrow at breakfast." Alvie looked at her curiously.
"You don't like him." He stated.
"Of course I don't. He's a… well, I've got so many mean words about him; I don't know where to start." Alvie smiled weakly. "Look, Alvie drink tea, Alvie go sleepy time and Alvie no be sleepy in morning."
"Make… Crystal… happy?" He asked haltingly, frowning as he tried to pick up her forced, false, cave-man-style speaking pattern.
"Alvie drink tea and make Crystal very happy." He nodded and Crystal set about making him a tea.
Alvie did sleep and he seemed more relaxed in the morning. He made a mental note to tell his mother about the herbal tea.
"I told you- ow- herbal tea would- ow- help."
"You're trying to rip your hair out."
"I'm fine." She smiled at him in the mirror, tugging the hair brush through her tangled hair. "Ow…" She complained. Alvie moved forward and eased the brush from her grip. He brushed her hair for her, easing the tangles out and not nearly ripping her hair out like she had been.
Her hair was soft, silky and warm and Alvie easily fashioned it into a French plait, taking a blue hair band from the surface of the drawer in front of her.
Crystal gingerly felt her hair, checking her reflection in the mirror. "You read, you're funny (sometimes), you're a good interior decorator and you can do a girl's hair." She looked at him in amusement. "Can you cook?" He shrugged.
"Some stuff."
"Oh, you just get better and better. Now out, I need to get changed." Alvie obediently left and she closed the door behind him.
Alvie did not expect to see William outside.
"Hi." Alvie said nervously. William just grunted, grabbing Alvie's arm and dragging him down the landing, out of earshot of Crystal's room. William's fingers dug into his arm in an iron grip. Alvie didn't say anything or make any protest at the pain.
"You stay away from Crystal." William snarled, shoving him away. "There is something different about you, something that doesn't sit right with me." William was right in Alvie's face, anger coursing through his body.
"I- what did I do?"
"You're too close to Crystal. You're just another boy and you'll end up hurting her."
"I won't."
"Prove me wrong then." William growled. "Until you do, however, you'll always be a stupid, disgusting little brat who belongs in the gutter." With each word, William sharply prodded Alvie in the chest. "You sicken me. Get out of my sight." Alvie stared at him for a few seconds before stumbling away.
"Alvie, are you OK?" Crystal asked, opening her door to his knocking. "You don't look that well." She felt his forehead and frowned. "You feel fine. What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Alvie lied, mumbling, feeling William's glare on him.
"I'll call your mom." Crystal sighed. She took his hand and led him into her room, ordering him to sit on the bed.
"Have fun then, bud?" Percy asked, glancing at Alvie in the rear view mirror. Alvie didn't reply, staring out of the window. Percy looked at his wife in the shotgun seat. She had half-turned in her seat and was watching Alvie worriedly.
"Has something happened? Did you and Crystal argue?" Again, Alvie didn't say anything. "Alvie?" She reached back and put a warm hand on his knee. His eyes flickered and he looked at her. "What's the matter?" She asked softly. Alvie just stared out of the window again. "Percy, pull over." Percy did. "Alvie, if something's happened, I want to know before we get home." Alvie watched the cars passing by, noticing a light patter of rain starting to fall on his window. It gradually increased and Percy flicked on the windscreen wipers. "Alvie, sweetie, talk to us. That's what we're here for."
"Nothing." Alvie said. "I just want to go home." Annabeth glanced at Percy. He turned off the ignition, sat back in his seat and folded his arms stubbornly.
"I'm not driving anywhere until you tell us what happened." Alvie rested his forehead against the cool glass, closing his eyes and listening to the patter of raindrops.
Percy stuck to his word and they ended up sitting there for half an hour. He only changed his mind when Tobias rang, asking where they were. He was keeping an eye on his younger siblings with Sophia and Vicky, but the triplets were getting worried that their parents hadn't come home.
"We'll be home in a minute."
"Is everything OK? Why'd you pick him up early?"
"We don't know. He's not talking." Tobias sighed.
"I'll talk to him when you get home, if you want." He offered. Annabeth smiled.
"You can try. Thanks Tobias."
"Anytime, Mom." Tobias cut off. Percy held his hand out to her, smiling reassuringly. Annabeth laced her fingers with his.
"Last chance, Alvie." She said, looking in the rear view mirror at her son. Was he sleeping? No, his eyes were open slightly.
When Alvie didn't move or speak, Percy started the car and began driving home.
Alvie noticed his parents' linked hands and remembered how Crystal had held his hand last night to support and comfort him. He felt the phantom touch of her hand on his. It brightened his mood slightly.
OK, this is a very long chapter, 3000+ words, so why don't you, oh, I don't know, REVIEW PLEASE! :D
And for Tobias's story, I'm going to do up to 130 chapters, if I can, but that's only if you guys put forward ideas that you want to see in Tophia's life and things as such. I will use what I can- the extra chapters will be like one-shots of some things in the main story.