Chapter Five
Annabeth
Percy turns the car into my street and stops in front of my house. "You ready?" I ask, nervously.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Percy replies and gets out of the car. He locks it behind him before we walk up the stone path to my house. I jog up the steps in front of him and put my key in the lock before turning it. I push the door open and frown when I don't hear anything.
Normally my seven-year-old twin brother's Bobby and Matthew are running around screaming at the top of their lungs but today… there's nothing. "Hello?" I call out, closing the door behind Percy. I poke my head around the living room door and find the twins staring at the TV with sad faces. "What's the matter?" I ask, curiously.
"Dad's angry," Matt says and I furrow my brow.
"Why?"
"We don't know," Bobby replies and I shrug and walk towards the kitchen, Percy following me. I find Sue stirring some type of sauce in a pan on the stove and she looks up when I walk in.
"Hi," I greet.
"Your dad is in his office. He wants to speak to you," she replies.
"What's going on?" I ask, confused.
"I think Percy should leave," she says, ignoring my question. Dread fills me and I glance at Percy and then back at Sue.
"W-why?" I stutter but I already know.
"Aphrodite Beauregard is pregnant- she saw you at the hospital today and phoned your dad," she replies.
"Oh god. H-how did he take it?"
"Go see," is all she says before she goes back to stirring the sauce. I turn to Percy.
"You can leave if you want," I say but he shakes his head.
"We're in this together, right? I'll come with you," he replies and smiles slightly.
I take his hand nervously and give it a squeeze before leading him to my dad's office. I knock but walk in anyway without waiting for a response. I find my dad sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. He looks up and my eyes widen at the sight of him. He looks like he's aged ten years since this morning. "Is it true?" he asks, his voice too calm.
"Yeah," I whisper and squeeze Percy's hand again.
"Why?"
"It's not like we planned it, dad," I reply.
"How could you be so stupid?" he says, his voice getting louder.
"Don't you think I know it was stupid?" I yell, going red in anger. I don't need my own father judging me. "I didn't know I'd get pregnant! Do you think I want this- to have a baby at seventeen years old?"
"Then why don't you get rid of it?" he growls.
"How can you say that? I'm carrying your grandchild and you want me to kill it? Did you say the same thing to mom when she was pregnant with me? Or when Sue was carrying the twins?" I scream.
"Calm down," Percy says, soothingly and massages my hand with his thumb. "The boys will get scared.
I sigh, knowing he's right… for once. "I know I've made a mistake, I know we were stupid but it's not your problem. It's my body and I want this baby," I say, calmly. "You'll just have to get used to the idea."
"And what about you? Are you going to run off and leave her?" my father growls at Percy.
"I'm staying right here. I'm not going anywhere, sir. I promised your daughter that I'll be by her side all the time," he replies and I'm surprised at how calm he looks. Earlier he was so nervous he was as white as snow.
"And how are you going to afford a baby?" my father asks.
"I've already put an application in at the local swimming pool for a job as a lifeguard," Percy replies. This is news but I'm pleased he's willing to get a job to help out.
"And what about you, Annabeth?" my dad snaps.
"I was thinking about getting a job at the library," I reply and he seems satisfied.
"Where are you planning on staying?" he asks. Percy and I glance at each other, we haven't talked about that yet. "Or are you planning on living separately?"
"I was thinking we could rent an apartment. That way we can both look after the baby," Percy suggests and I nod. It's not a bad idea.
My father stares at us, not knowing what else to ask. I think we can do this. I actually think we have a chance of doing well. "I'm so disappointed in you two," my father says and tears fill my eyes.
"I know you are," I whisper and look away.
"You can go now," he says and I nod. Percy opens the door for me and we walk out. I walk him to the front door and he puts his arms around me.
"It wasn't that bad," he whispers, holding my tight. "I thought he would've killed me."
"He's angry," I say.
"It's understandable- his little girl is having a baby," he replies.
"I'm not a little girl anymore," I whisper and he pulls away.
"Tell him that." He offers me a small smile before leaving. I close the door behind him and then walk up the stairs to my bedroom, not wanting to look at my father's disappointed face any longer.
(The Next Day)
I wake up early so I can have a sick session with the toilet and a shower before school. I stand in front of the floor length mirror in only my underwear and turn to the side. I stare at my stomach and smile, satisfied that the small bump is barely noticeable. I throw a pair of jeans on and my orange camp shirt before brushing my teeth and throwing my hair into a ponytail.
I walk down to the kitchen and I swear the tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife. I stuff my lunch into my bag before making myself a bowl of cereal. I sit at the table with rest of my family and try to ignore the uncomfortable silence. I look at the clock. I have ten minutes before Percy is picking me up. I look back at my dad, and then Sue and then the twins and I sigh. I can't be around them everyday if they're not going to talk to me. "Did you sleep well?" I ask the boys, hoping they'll start screaming and shouting and fill the air with noise. They nod… and that's it.
I stand up abruptly, anger spreading through me and I run to my bedroom and stuff any item of clothing I see in the backpack. I empty my moneybox and put all my money in the bag, thankful that I had saved over 200 dollars. I hear a car horn and run downstairs. "I'm staying with Percy for a while!" I yell and slam the door before anyone can say anything. I run to Paul's car and slide in. Percy drives away after greeting me and I lean my head against the window.
"Can I stay with you for a while?" I ask him, nervously. I feel his eyes on me and turn so mine meet his.
"Your welcome to stay at my apartment whenever you want," he smiles and I sigh in relief.
"Thanks. Your mom won't mind?"
"You know she won't. She loves you to bits!" he replies and I smile, knowing that his mom is fond of me.
We arrive at the school a while later and get out of the car. "Why is everyone staring at us?" Percy asks as we walk up the steps. I look around and sure enough everyone is staring. I frown, glance at Percy, and then shrug.
We walk through the hall and I hear bits and pieces of what the other kids are whispering. "She doesn't look pregnant," one girl says.
"I wonder who the father is," another adds. I gasp. They're talking about me. I look around, my eyes wide. How does everyone know? Is my bump bigger than I thought? I look down at my stomach and it looks as small as it did earlier. I look up again and my eyes fall on mine and Percy's group of friends. They're watching us in disbelief. My eyes fall on a raven-haired girl, the expression on her face guilty.
Anger once again fills me for the second time today and I barge past everyone until I'm standing in front of Thalia. The next thing I know my hand is stinging and there's a red mark on Thalia's cheek. I just slapped Thalia Grace.
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