Hi guys! Bunches of thanks showered out to anyone who came back to read chapter 2! Lots of cyber cookies for you! (::) (::) ! Anyway, I know that chapter one was really, really, really short…so I had to update as soon as possible…and I promise that each chapter will have a minimum word count of 4,000 words! (Not including Author's Notes) I will try as hard as possible to update really fast, and it will most likely be really easy, because it's SUMMER! . So maybe a chapter every one-to-three days? On the rare occasion that it will be more than a week, I will warn y'all ahead of time, and update as much as possible before the time where I cannot update…anyway, I'll stop with this Author's Note now, and continue on with the story! *cheering crowd* Okay, okay….CHAPTER TWO!
Chapter 2:
Annabeth's POV
Thalia and I have become pretty good friends in the time since she rescued me from the friendly neighborhood crazy person. *cough* Clarisse *cough*. I actually managed to tell her my story…some people that despise me would have said that I finally cracked, and I'm not as "strong as I seem". Maybe so, but it's helped me a lot. For example, Thalia invited me to room with her, since her old roommate, a girl named Juniper, decided to move in with her boyfriend. She—Thalia—has a nice little apartment in SoHo, which surprised me. Behind the black eyeliner, black eye shadow, black spiky hair, and her electric blue eyes, turns out that Thalia is pretty rich. Or at least her family is.
Family. A word that now disgusts me completely.
"Annie! Get your butt off my couch and go get me some coffee!" Thalia yells from her tiny office. She is a PI, or Private Investigator…so her work can be pretty stressful.
I proceed to stick a pair of ear buds into my ears, and turn up the music on my iPhone to full volume. Silently, I rock out on the couch, hoping that Thalia will forget about me and return to her work.
"ANNABETH! I KNOW THAT YOU'RE INGNORING ME AND THAT REALLY TICKS ME OFF!" I sigh. My masterful plan did not work.
"Fiiiinnnneeee." I groan. "But don't call me Annie ever again, or that coffee you want might just end up down your shirt." I say, threatening her.
"Annie. Just go get the coffee. There's a Starbucks down the street that's pretty cheap. For New York. Just get me anything that's strong and will keep me awake for the next twenty-four hours."
"Tough case, huh?" I ask, flicking through texts on my phone.
"Stop stalling and get your butt out the door." I sigh and pull on my grey boots, my silver coat, a polka-dotted silver and blue scarf, and a turquoise hat. At this time of year, anything less than five layers was a death wish if you're going outside.
As I slowly make my way to the Starbucks, I take a deep breath and stare at all the stores, businesses, and people that populate New York. Even after a month of living here, it still seemed so strange. Nothing at all like San Francisco, where I had been born and raised.
I open the door of the coffee shop, and sigh at the blast of heat that greets me. Outside, blowing winds strong enough to knock down trees, and snow big enough to create mountains battle the relentless crowds.
A crowd I am no longer part of. I thought smugly. At least not for these next five minutes.
"Ahhhh!" I slip on a patch of ice near the door and tumble to the floor—only to be caught by a pair of arms. Strong arms, I might add.
My eyes still tightly closed and panicked breaths coming from my mouth, the words that the stranger that caught me says to me fly completely out of one ear.
"Eshcoooz megljfgl?" I ask, eyes still closed. After taking a deep breath and composing myself, I correct my sentence: "Excuse me?"
"I said, are you alright ma'am?" The stranger says. As I open my eyes, I notice it's a guy, and a not bad looking one either.
His raven colored hair is messy and every which way—which I find intensely cute for some reason—and his sea green eyes stare at mine with worry. Gods, I wish I had eyes that beautiful color. Not just simple, boring, grey ones.
He lifts an eyebrow, and I realize that I have still not answered his question.
"I'm fine, thanks to you…" I say, before noticing the extreme closeness of our faces.
It would be so easy….to just grab your face and kiss it…
I mentally slap myself. I couldn't start a relationship, not now, most likely not ever. And 2) he was a complete stranger. Maybe he had a girlfriend, or he was married, or he was a CONVICT!
Again, my face receives a mental slap. What is with me and convicts…?
"Miss?" I blink. "Would you like some help?" he asks sweetly.
Awww, I coo, he cares about me!
There is something seriously wrong with my brain.
Suddenly I notice how muscular this guy is, and how incredibly—STOP!
Nope, I would not like your help.
"Yes, please." I say and this time mentally punch myself. After ordering the coffee, and talking with the guy some more, I realize what a nice person he is.
"So…" he started, "It registered within me that I didn't know your name…" He said, throwing me a charming smile as we walked back to Thalia's apartment.
"It's Annabeth, Annabeth Ch—. Just Annabeth." I smile, and berate myself for almost giving away my last name. I was still a missing person to the press, and therefore anyone, and I mean anyone, could not be trusted. Except for Thalia.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Percy." I notice how he didn't offer his last name either, and I don't pry.
"So…first time here, or do you live here?" I grin, noticing his slight New Yorker twang.
"First time here, but I've managed to find a place with a friend."
"Hmm." He says thoughtfully. "My favorite color is blue." I stare at him in surprise at the blunt, random thing, before giggling.
He wiggled his eyebrows, causing me to laugh harder.
"My favorite color is grey." I say.
"Grey." He says. "Grey….?"
"Yes, is there anything wrong with grey?" I ask, veiling a teasing threat.
"No…it's just so…grey." He said, puzzling over what exactly he was trying to tell me.
"I love your eyes." I say. Before a shocked expression comes over my face.
Note even "I like your eyes." but "I love your eyes."? Annabeth, Annabeth, Annabeth, what has gotten into you? I chide myself.
He stops for a second, before catching up with me.
"Thank you." He offers sincerely. "I love your eyes too." I rolled my eyes at how he paused on the word 'love'.
"They're just grey, though!" I argue. "Your eyes are much better."
He shakes his head. "Nuh-uh. Your eyes have miniature storm clouds in them, plus they sparkle." He winks and I can feel myself blush.
"Well," I say, thinking of a better comeback, "your eyes are little miniature oceans, complete with waves and surf and a brilliant blue sky. Your oceans rage about restlessly, like your really thinking about something." I lean in unconsciously, studying his eyes. My eyebrows furrow in concentration.
"Maybe about how beautiful you are." He replies, leaning in as well. I think about my annoyingly curly blond hair, and my simply grey eyes. Nope, not beautiful.
Before anything can escalate between us, I place a finger on his lips, stopping them from reaching mine. He pouts, and I almost cave.
"Come on," I recover, pulling away, "my friend's apartment is right there." I walk in the door, nodding to the doorman and heading over to the elevator.
"So…Annabeth. I really like you." I blush and lower my head more. I've barely known this guy for half and hour! But maybe…that doesn't matter when it's true love! My heart argues.
"Maybe we can meet for coffee sometime? In an hour or so?" My breathing hitches for a second.
"Coffee again? Does a Mister Percy have a little obsession? And so eager to see me again?" I say teasingly, even though inside my heart is basically exploding.
"So what if I do? At least it's with you." I smile at the rhyme he makes.
"Alright." DING! The elevator door opens.
"Top floor?" Percy asks. "Is your friend rich or something?"
"Maybe…" I smile. Smiling, I've been doing that a lot lately, and especially with Percy.
I unlock the door to Thalia's apartment and open the door, showing Percy inside.
"Well welcome to the humble abode that I currently live in." I wave an arm, pointing to all the rooms as I state their purpose. This is the main room." I gesture the large room we are standing in. "There's the kitchen." Point. "The corridor with the main bedroom, and seven other bedrooms." Point. "Dining room." Point. "Pantry." Point. "Den." Point. "Office." Point. "And finally, the last—and my favorite—room: the sunroom." I point over to a glass enclosed area that houses several plants, rocking chairs, and had quite a few stained glass paintings.
It was peaceful, quiet, and there was absolutely no reason that Thalia should have had it built there, but maybe her old roommate had wanted it to be there. For that I was very grateful to Juniper, even though we didn't know each other personally.
Percy let out a low whistle as he observed everything with wonder.
"Not bad, huh?" I said, hanging up my coat and hat and scarf. I stomped my boots on the Welcome mat, removing any leftover snow that hadn't melted during my trudging around the building.
"Not bad?" Percy said, turning to me. "Not bad?! Gods, this place is amazing Annabeth!" He grinned.
"Annie did you get the coffee?" A voice screamed at me from the office. I sighed.
"Please don't call me Annie. My name is Annabeth."
"Alright Annie, I'm coming to get it. Was that another voice I heard?"
"Uh…yeah?" I said, hoping it was okay with Thalia that I had brought someone over.
Percy looked very awkward, shuffling his feet. I motioned for him to follow me into the kitchen and sit down. He obliged.
"Is it a guy?" Thalia said as clicking noises could be heard from the computer in her office.
"Uh…yeah?" I said again. Wow Annabeth, what a brilliant answer.
"Do I need to give him the talk?" I blushed as Percy snickered.
"Just kidding." Thalia said as she walked into the kitchen before stopping shocked.
"Thalia?" Percy said surprised.
"Hey, cuz." She said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Welcome to my little home. Now what are you doing here?" Judging from the glares that the two cousins were sending each other, I was pretty sure they did not have a stable relationship.
"Annabeth invited me in." He shot back turning to me. Unpredictably his gaze softened as he stared at me, but hardened again at the sight of Thalia.
"Out." She said before going to open the door. "Get out."
I watched them both in confusion…what could have happened between them to cause such hate?
"Annabeth." Percy turned to me. "I'll see you later?" He asked, and I nodded my affirmation. We traded numbers quickly, and then I began to stare longingly at him. I don't know why, but every time I placed eyes on that boy I swear my heart began to take over my entire body.
Annabeth, you've only known him for around an hour…it's not normal for someone to behave like this. I scolded myself.
Thalia glared at him until he left her apartment.
"Annie, don't see him. Please tell me you won't go see him." I glanced at her, puzzled.
"He may not seem like it right now, but Percy is a dangerous person. A very very very very bad person." She talked to me as if I were a child.
This irritated me very very very very much. I, Annabeth Chase, was not a child. A minor, sure—in the eyes of the law, but as an extremely responsible sixteen year old, I was not a child.
"Why?" I asked instead, bottling up my feelings for later. I would need them. Don't ask me how I knew, but I knew.
Thalia turned away from me.
"Just trust me on this, Annie. Percy is not someone you would want to start a friendship with." The way her voice paused on 'friendship' told me that she definitely did not want anything more than a friendship. And if possible, no friendship at all.
I don't know why this made me more determined, but it did. I made a goal: become friends with Percy.
And maybe something more…? Shut up.
Thalia turned around and walked back to her office, coffee cup in hand. A few minutes later, I heard furious clicking. I sighed, before checking my phone.
2:15 PM. Had it really been only fifteen minutes since Percy had left? Even though I hadn't known him long…it felt like we had known each other forever.
Call Percy. I stared at the button. I was being desperate; I was meeting the guy in forty-five minutes, had just seen him fifteen minutes ago, and I wanted to call him. I gingerly placed the phone down on the kitchen countertop and backed away slowly.
Sitting in the main room, I opened up my laptop and resumed my search for a job. Even though I was sixteen, I could pass for eighteen, which would be an acceptable age to work as an architect. Oh, an architect. I wanted to be an architect so badly it physically hurt. Not every second of every day, just whenever I thought about it.
I just loved looking at impressive architecture and seeing in my mind where the structural points were, how to improve it, and the texture and quality of the building.
Olympus Architecture. I clicked on the link, and viewed the website. From what I could gather, it was a very popular business that had done many buildings in cities worldwide. It was headquartered in New York, however—a plus. I practically was drooling at the paycheck, work hours, and designs. For every building successfully designed, a hundred thousand dollars, as well as the fifty thousand per month. The work hours were simply to finish blueprints as soon as possible, but if it wasn't finished in under four months, the fifty thousands stopped until finished. And I could work at the office, at home, or on the go via the digital app! I grinned, before entering information about myself in the Hiring section. For a second I considered lying about my age, but honesty was always important.
Sent. You will be notified if we have accepted your application, and you will receive an email with the time and date of your interview shortly. Good luck young architect—Olympus Architecture.
I crossed my fingers before setting up an alert that would inform me if I received any emails.
Browsing CNN, I noticed an article that had the words New York, dangerous, bank robbery, and recent in them. Becoming very concerned, I began to read the three paragraph long report of vicious robberies all around New York.
The robberies of New York City started about three months, when the Bacchus Bank located in central Manhattan was attacked by a group of gunmen, who demanded that a million dollars be handed over to them, or they would murder the innocent civilians in the bank. Being the good citizens they were, the accountants saved the lives of many people by doing as they requested and at the same time alerting the police. Sadly, they did not arrive on time. This was the first of many attacks to plague New Yorkers, and there is no end in sight.
Over the course of the next two months after that incident, many more banks were attacked. Officials deemed them to only be "pitiful bank robbers". But late last month, the same group began striking anything and everything, from simple tourists to grocery stores, and even civilian houses. Unfortunately, no one was ever able to catch them red-handed.
They are now called "The Thieving Ones", and are a severe threat to the public. They are armed and dangerous, and if anyone has contact with a member of the group and are able to hand information to the police, a reward of one million dollars is offered for any legible piece of information. More is on page eight. –Robert Dionysus.
By specific request, all other pages of this article have been removed for the safety of the public. Thank you, CNN.
I groaned, the story had just begun getting interesting!
DING! DING! DING-DING! I jumped up, shocked and answered my phone.
"Annabeth?" I smiled; it was Percy.
"Hey, Perce!"
"Uhh…are you on your way?"
I glanced at the clock; it was already 3:00!
"Um…yes! I will be right there!" I was already struggling into my boots and coat as I ended the phone call.
"Thalia, I'm going out!" I yelled while fastening the buttons.
"Be careful!" She screamed back at me.
"Bye!"
I basically ran out of the apartment building and wiggled myself through the crowds and into an empty Starbucks. Empty except for a person who was smiling at me with amusement.
I looked down and blushed. My shoes were untied, my buttons were done wrong, and my scarf had managed to wrap itself around my wrist. Funny, in my hurry to get to Percy I hadn't noticed.
"Here, let me help." He jumped down from the stool that he had been sitting on, and helped me unbutton my coat.
"You're very cute, you know that?" He said while bopping my nose. If it had been possible, I turned redder than I had already been.
As we sipped coffee and just chatted, I felt happy. Happier than I had been in a long time.
As the now familiar tone of sirens went down the street, I realized at how I had completely changed my life.
Being on the run to living in a posh apartment in SoHo was a big step up.
As the sirens got louder and louder, I looked outside and saw several police cars parked in front of the Starbucks.
Percy grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the countertop, where luckily no one was at currently.
"Shh." He whispered, shoving me closer to the ground.
I gulped. Had they found me? Had my parents finally found me? I imagined the scene in my head:
My father, Frederick Chase would probably lock me in my room, ground me, take away anything I enjoyed, than sneak off to his secret lover. My mother, Athena (she disliked using my father's last name) would most likely lecture me for hours, then take away my privileges, then call her friends and mouth off about what a horrible child I was, and maybe even call child services saying that she didn't want me. Helen, my father's girlfriend—who I most definitely did not consider part of my family—would talk my ears off about the twin baby boys that she's having with my father. Now multiply that times every day of my life.
Honestly, sometimes I think that my older brother—who was given away after birth because he was an "accident"—had it better than me.
And I absolutely refused to think about what Jeremy had done.
I had finally broken down and run away. Away from the pain, disappointment, and eternal sadness that lived beside me.
"Annabeth," Percy's voice yanked me out of my stupor, which I was thankful for.
"There's a back door that we need to use." He whispered in my ear.
"Wouldn't they have already surrounded the entire building?" I asked.
Percy groaned.
"PERCY JACKSON! WE DEMAND THAT YOU COME OUT OF THE BUILDING WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD! WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALONE; NO ONE CAN OR WILL HELP YOU! THIS BUILDING IS SURROUNDED!" A scratchy voice being amplified by a bullhorn blasted into their ears.
I stared in shock at Percy…what could he have done?
Percy looked at me then gestured for me to follow. He slowly backed into the storage room in the back, and moved a few boxes. I curiously wondered about what he was doing.
"WE ARE GIVING YOU FIVE MINUTES!" The same voice screeched.
Percy began moving the boxed faster, more desperate. Finally he unlocked a latch and pulled up a trapdoor. My breath hitched in my throat as I gazed down into the darkness.
"Trust me." Percy whispered.
The problem was…I didn't know if I did, and I was certain that I was (possibly) putting my life in his hands. Acting on impulse, and terrified of what would happen if I was caught and sent back to San Francisco, I began climbing down the ladder that had appeared attached to the wall after inspection.
I was beginning to think that I was living in a clichéd story, and everything would end up being perfect….even through all the danger and horrible things thrown my way, it would all turn out all right….and then something like this had to happen.
"Annabeth," Percy whispered. "If they ask you, you don't know who I am. Alright?" His voice hardened and I gulped.
"Alright." The single word that I had spoken sounded so small, vulnerable, and lonely…I wondered what Percy would have done if I had not consented.
"Percy? Why are the police after you?" I breathed out.
"Trust me, Annabeth, it's best if you don't know." I jumped off the ladder and stared at my surroundings. We were in the sewer. The sewer. The sewer. My nose scrunched up at the smell, and my eyes began to water.
"Follow me." Percy gestured, and so began our long walk to freedom. By the easy way that he viewed the place, it gave the impression that he knew this escape route very well.
Click.
"Freeze. Put your hands on your head. A gun is aimed at you, and if you turn around, well….let's say you won't have a face anymore!" The foreign voice chuckled.
Percy slowly raised his arms to his head, and I followed suit.
"Alrighty then, turn around very slowly."
We turned.
Percy dropped his hands and began to laugh. I stared at him as if he was crazy.
The other man lowered his weapon and also began to chortle. He ripped his mask off his face and I blinked at the sight of his pale white skin and black hair, hair that was even blacker then Percy's.
"Hey Nico! You scared the jeebies out of me!" Percy said slapping 'Nico' on the back.
"Percy! Now who is this fine lady you've brought?" He said motioning to me.
My hands found their way onto my hips. "Excuse me?! 'Fine lady'? I am not a 'fine lady' to be marveled over." I spat out, narrowing my eyes.
"Feisty, eh?" Nico said, grinning.
"And you." I jabbed a finger into Percy's chest. "Jeebies?" I asked, smiling broadly.
Percy blushed sheepishly, "Well…Annabeth, this is Nico, my….friend. Nico, this is Annabeth."
I rolled my eyes. Suddenly, my situation didn't seem as grim anymore, and the way back to the apartment was filled with laughs.
"Hey, Perce, Annabeth," we nodded at Nico to continue. "I know a shortcut to the apartment, just right along here and bam, we're there."
The "shortcut" was an alleyway filled with abandoned crates, dark shadows, stinky smells, and (possible) rats. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be a person hiding, waiting, watching.
Arms pulled me back and tilted my head up. I felt cold metal resting at the base of my throat.
"Percy…Nico…" A woman's voice purred. "Look who we have here…." I stared down at the knife that could end my life in three seconds flat. Then I stared at Percy, searching for an answer in his eyes.
"Rachel." He replied curtly. "What do you want?"
"I want in." She said. "I heard about your….expertise these days, and about the…business deals you have made lately…so I want in."
Percy visibly clenched at her words…
What expertise? What business deals?
"Let her go and we'll see." He said pleadingly.
"Aww…does the big bag wolfy care for someone?" Rachel purred once again.
"Well. Look at that. Oops!" She said teasingly as I felt something drip down my shirt. She had cut me.
I felt the thin blade begin to slowly tear its way into my skin.
"Percy." I whispered.
He stared at me.
"Percy…" I tried again.
"Fine." He said, and I felt myself being let go. I dimly perceived my body slam onto the ground, before arms picked me up again.
"Percy." I smiled, before closing my eyes.
"No…no…no! Annabeth! I can't let this happen again! Not after Cal-" He broke down sobbing as he carried me hopefully back to Thalia's apartment.
I wondered who Rachel was, who "Cal" was…and…and…my mind shut itself down.