So I know that I posted Chappy 2 kind of late in relation to Chappy 1, but I have been really really really busy…BUT TO ANYONE COMING BACK AGAIN! So much lurv coming out to you! More cyber cookies! (::) (::) YAY! Anyways…I had the story all planned out and everything…but then I reread the summary that I had posted for this story so I had to make a few changes…I hope no one will mind this early in the story! And by changes I mean changes to the plot line in ma head. If anyone noticed…I kind of changed the rating to 'T', because of well…it's a teensy tiny bit obvious. (Chappy 2). And if anyone was wondering, the story will only be in Annabeth's POV, Percy's POV, and Third Person POV. But the last option will be very rare. Also, I am not planning on starting any other stories until I am well into this one...Hmm…oh yeah! This entire week I am pretty much free so I shall write + post as much as possible. BECAUSE, in exactly one week, I'll be in sleep-away camp which means…= no electronics ! . Poop. SO yeah. And I'm rambling. Well, here it is….*CROWD SCREAMS* "GIVE US PERCABETH!" *says in fear* "Alrighty here it comes!". I tried to make this chapter major Percabeth, cause you know…they're my OTP. But don't worry, it will still follow the story line….okay, I've put it off long enough: DRUM ROLL PLEASE! *silence*….OKAY THEN! CHAPPY 3!
Chapter 3:
Percy's POV
When I saw Rachel holding a knife to Annabeth's throat, I'm pretty sure my whole world collapsed. I haven't even known her long, here in New York…. but it feels like forever…
Now pacing anxiously in the waiting room of the New York Hospital (I just made that up, don't look it up.), I'm thinking of worst-case scenarios.
1) Annabeth dies. Bam, I said it. Or well, thought it. 2) She is mutated forever and can't talk. (The knife went it really deep!) 3) She is totally fine but hates me for getting her dragged into this mess. (Hey, she was in this mess ever since she met me…it's unavoidable now.) 4) She….
STOP. Nothing bad will happen…she'll be fine…nothing bad will happen…she'll be fine…nothing at all like what happened to Calypso will happen…Shocked I simply sit down on the floor.
An old woman and her granddaughter stare at me as if I'm crazy. Well, perhaps I am.
Calypso…It hurt to think about her. Her and her beautiful long hair and her amber eyes and her incredibly nice personality and her tinkling laughter…and then all the blood…and her last words…
"Forget about me, Percy. It's what's best."
Doesn't she understand that I can't? Calypso, you were my world, my everything…I can't. It's simply impossible for me to forget about you.
I will never forgive Rachel. She had to let her gang rivalry get the best of her, and she…she...murdered Calypso. Rachel is a murderer.
Though I can't say that I'm any better. I don't know how many times I've seen men and women look down the barrel of a gun, and then close their eyes forever when I push the trigger.
The only difference is…they weren't innocent.
Keep telling yourself that, Percy.
"Umm…" Someone cleared his or her throat. "A mister Percy? A missus Annabeth would like to see you." I shot up, relieved.
"Yes!" I shout. The doctor raises an eyebrow. "Uh…I mean…yes." I say, giving the appearance of calmness.
I follow him down the long, narrow, twisting hallways, and the only thing I can think about is Annabeth.
And if she remembers me from San Francisco.
*flashback*
"Percy come on!" Annabeth giggles as she runs towards the gym at our school, Goode Middle School. "We're going to be late!"
"Annabeth, I physically can't go any faster! If I do, then I will explode into a pile of dust!" I yell after her. Of course, I could run more swiftly then Annabeth ever could, but I always let her win.
"And Annabeth, do you want to ruin your dress?" I said stopping.
"Your right!" She exclaims and abruptly halts.
I laugh. "First time I've ever heard those words from you!"
She chuckles and punches me in the shoulder.
"Ow Anniebeth! I have a boo-boo!"
She just stares at me. "Percy?" I nod at her to continue. "Will it be okay? What if I don't know how to dance and Jeremy hates me or I trip into the punch bowl and Drew Tanaka makes fun of me for the rest of my life or I eat too much food and get cramps and end up in the nurse's office and the night ends up being horrible or-"
I put a finger on her lips. "Annabeth," I say softly. "Everything will be fine. You and Jeremy will be the cutest couple there is at the dance, and you do know how to dance. Plus, it will most likely be me that trips into the punch bowl-with all my skills!" I wiggle my eyebrows.
She smiles. Nothing like cheering up your best friend. We've known each other for six years, ever since kindergarten. Best friend. The word pounds a steady rythym in my head. Best friend.
Could it be more?
I scold myself. Annabeth has Jeremy, and I have…well…my friends.
"Let's go." She said, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the hallways.
We stop in front of the gym doors and observe everyone inside.
"So…are we just going to stand here like stalkers, or are we going to go dance?" I asked.
"Dance, you dummy." She said, punching me softly.
"Then may I have this dance?" She turned around.
"Jeremy!" She hugged her boyfriend.
"J, my man!" We fist-bumped.
"So, my question?" Jeremy grinned at Ananbeth.
"Of course!" She said before he whisked her onto the dance floor.
As I watched them dance together, a twinging feeling in my stomach caused a bit of rage to boil over.
Calm down, Percy. Calm down.
I walked over to the punch bowl and poured myself a glass.
"HEY PERCY!" A voice screamed and I winced inwardly.
"Hey…. Drew…." I replied as I turned to see the school's number one cheerleader and mean girl standing behind me.
Over her shoulder I could see Annabeth and Jeremy slow-dancing, and a burning feeling came inside me.
*end of flashback*
We stopped in front of a small, white door.
"The cut was small, but it went in very deep." The doctor started, and I sucked in my breath.
"But no damage was done to any important arteries." I let out the breath I was holding.
"However, she lost a lot of blood and needs bed rest for the next week or two. I don't recommend doing any activities that require a lot of movement, and she needs a lot of tea." As the doctor stepped out of the room, he said, "I'll leave you two alone now."
The door closed.
I walked over slowly to the hospital bed where Annabeth lay.
"Percy?" A weak voice asked and I sighed in relief. It was nothing like the last time where I saw her in a hospital…she remembered me.
*second flashback*
"Percy?" My mom asked me.
"What, Mom?" I was busy working on my 8th grade science project. Okay, I was busy doodling Annabeth's name on the paper where my 8th grade science project analysis should go.
"I just got a call. From Mrs. Chase."
"Mhmm."
"It's Annabeth. She's in the hospital."
I stare at her in shock.
Please, please, please tell me you're lying! I ask her with my eyes. Though I know it's true.
In all my life, Sally Jackson has not lied to me, not a single time.
"I'll drive you." She said, and I nodded.
The car ride was filled with memories of Annabeth. Annabeth's laugh, her smile, her Know-It-All voice, and her eyes.
"Percy." Her mother greeted me curtly with a nod of her head. "She's in there." Athena pointed to a door to the left of her.
Without bothering to answer, I rushed into the room.
"She was skateboarding, sir. I was showing her how to skateboard." Jeremy's voice floated into my ears.
"I see. Well, she has some permanent memory loss due to the heavy knocking around her head got."
The doctor left and my whole world turned upside down.
Permanent memory loss?
"Annabeth? Do you know who I am?" Jeremy asked, leaning over her.
"Jeremy." She smiled at him. "My wonderful boyfriend and best friend."
Her gaze turned to me. "Who are you?" My heart burst.
"Hey…man…I'm so sorry." Jeremy said.
"I-I-…I'm moving to New York." I barely managed to whisper.
Jeremy's sympathetic gaze turned into a cold one.
"Well, then. It'll be me and Annabeth against the world." He smiled shrewdly.
"And maybe the pretty cheerleader? Drew?"
I sucked in a breath. He was talking about cheating on Annabeth.
"Don't you even think about hurting her.", I said.
"Well, there's not much you can do about it, can you? You'll be off in New York. Oh! And she doesn't even remember you." He spat out.
I narrowed my eyes at him. How could I have ever thought that Jeremy was good for Annabeth?
*end of flashback*
"Hey Annabeth, you alright?" I said, gently brushing her cheek with my hand.
"I am now." She said.
"Just rest." I said, sitting down on the bed next to her. "Everything will be fine."
Because, you know, people get stabbed a lot in this area, so the doctors know what to do!
I shushed myself.
I stood up to go, but she grabbed my hand.
"Don't leave me…" She whispered, beginning to cry.
"Shh, I won't." I sat back down and brushed her curls out of her face. "Go to sleep, Annabeth. Go to sleep."
"Call….Thalia…" She managed to say before falling asleep. I smiled at her still form, before pulling out my phone. I sighed.
"Siri, call Thalia."
"Calling…Thalia…"
I waited patiently for her to pick up; I knew she would. I never called unless it was important.
"Percy." She spat out. "If this is about the family business. I already told you! I AM NOT BECOMING A PART OF A CRIMINAL GANG!" I held the phone away from my ear until she calmed down.
"I know that you, Dad, Uncle P, Uncle H, and Nico are all conspiring to get me into it too, but IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!"
"Wait-" I tried to say.
"'THE THEIVING ONES'?" She screamed. "That's what the news is calling my family." She said softer. "My family. How good do you think that feels, huh? But wait, of course you wouldn't know because you are. In. A. Criminal. Gang."
"Thalia, this isn't about that…" I said.
"Then what is it? What was so important that you had to call me?"
"It's Annabeth. She's in the hospital. Rachel stabbed her."
Silence. Then, "Rachel? That *beep* is going to get it one day. I'm on my way."
She hung up the phone.
I put my phone in my pocket and faced Annabeth.
She looks extremely cute in her sleep! Just like I remember….
I planted a small kiss on her forehead.
Guess like I'll be here for a long while….
I curled up on the bed at Annabeth's feet, before falling asleep…
"Percy." I groan, before hugging the pillow I'm holding even tighter. Mmm, what a soft, amazing-smelling pillow.
"Percy. If you don't let go of me, I will never get out of this hospital."
I opened my eyes and found myself staring directly into Annabeth's stormy gray ones.
Thalia started laughing in the corner.
"When…when…" She laughed more. "When I got here," She managed to compose herself. "I found you and Princess here cuddling. Bet you had a fine time, huh?" She chuckled, but I found the veiled threat in her eyes.
Don't even think about it, Perce.
"I fell asleep at the foot of her bed, I swear!" Annabeth and Thalia both started giggling. I don't think I've ever heard Thalia giggle. Ever.
I slowly untangled my arms from Annabeth and tried to keep my cheeks from bursting into flame. I did not succeed.
Ring. Ring. Ring. I looked down at the Caller ID.
"I'm sorry, I have to take this. I'll catch up with you later, okay Annabeth?"
"Okay, Percy!" She said a little too brightly. I ginned at her and she blushed.
Thalia rolled her eyes before glaring at me; she knew what the call was about.
I walked out of the hospital, before going to sit in my car before I took the call.
"Hello?" I asked carefully.
"Perrrcccyyy." A voice purred.
"Rachel." I said through clenched teeth.
"Telllll meee, how is Annnnabetthhh? I hoppeee that I did nooottt huuurrtt herrr soooo badddly?"
"She is fine. Now, what do you want?"
"What do Iiiii wannnnttt? There are maaannnnyy answers to thiiisss queestttion. But, howevvverrr, the grroouuupp woullddd liiiikkkeee Annnabetthhh."
Her lilted voice was incredibly annoying. Wait, what?
"Annabeth? Why does the group want Annabeth? And the last time I checked, I am the leader, hmm?"
"The request was iniiitttiiaatteeedd by a Miiiissttteerrr P." Dad.
"And what would Mr. P want with Annabeth?"
"Aaaaa recrruiiitttmeennntt. She will be the diiiisstrrracction."
"Absolutely not. Request denied. Why couldn't Mr. P just use you?"
"Wellllll, Peeerrrrcccyyy. The poooolllliiiceee already know who Iiiii aammmm. But a freeeesssshhh face like Annnaabetthh's. Nowww that would be maaarrrvelloouuuss! And this request cannnnnnot be deniiiieeeed."
I grimaced. "Alright, I will begin the disappearance process immediately. But on one condition: Annabeth cannot know our real identities."
"Alllrrriiiggghhhttty. I will teeell Miiiisssstterrr P. And Perrccyyy," she paused, "I look fooorrrwaarrddd to meeetttinggg you, more…fooorrrmmmalllly." I hung up on her. I stared at the hospital, before putting my car into drive and heading to the safe house. Gone was Percy, only the leader of " The Thieving Ones" remained. Cold, heartless, and most definitely not in love with Annabeth.
A few days passed, and Annabeth attempted contact daily. I ignored every text, call, and requested FaceTime. For this to work properly, it had to seem as if I had disappeared into thin air. Forever.
Unfortunately, I could not see Annabeth until a minimum one month had passed…the pain was unimaginable.
Weeks of loneliness passed, before the day came when we could initiate Operation Annabeth. Clever, huh?
"Control Room to Alpha Team. Ready?" I heard my dad's voice echo in the earpiece I was wearing.
"Alpha Team to Control Room. Copy that." I whispered, careful not to give anything away to innocents milling around the mall. Control Room had hacked into her text messages with Thalia, and they had found out that they would be at the mall today. A perfect time and place to kidnap Annabeth.
"Control Room to Beta Team. Ready?" I stayed silent.
"Beta Team to Control Room. Copy that." Nico's soft Italian voice filtered into my earpiece.
"Control Room to Red Team. Ready?"
"Reeeddd Teeammm to Contrrooll Room. Copppyy thattt." Rachel's calico words filled up the space in my head.
"Control Room to Alpha Team. Initiate Operation Annabeth."
"Alpha Team to Control Room. Initiating." I said.
I motioned for my group to follow me. Control had told us that Annabeth and Thalia had stopped their shopping spree to grab some Fro-Yo. And Thalia had just gone to the bathroom, perfection.
Slowly my team surrounded the food court. It was nearly empty.
I sent out two men to stay near the bathroom, in case Thalia came out before we were done.
I slipped my mask over my head and practiced my accent.
Annabeth would (hopefully) never recognize me.
I slipped behind her and quickly wrapped a rag onto her nose. She passed out. I gestured for some people to carry her to the van. Phase 1 was complete.
"Alpha Team to Control Room. Phase 1 of Operation Annabeth is complete."
"Control Room to Alpha Team. Copy that."
"Control Room to Beta Team and Red Team. Retreat. Phase is complete."
I heard two 'copy that's' but I didn't pay attention. All I could see was Annabeth, limply slumped over in the back seat. I carefully buckled her in before putting the van into drive.
Operation Annabeth could take up to years to complete…years that I would have with Annabeth. But Annabeth would have them with a stranger she didn't recognize.
"Tie her up." I ordered gruffly, before sitting in a chair in front of Annabeth, waiting for her to wake up.
It took 48 hours before she finally did. I was watching the news.
"It has been two full days since Annabeth (no last name was given) has disappeared from the local mall. It has also appeared that the group "The Thieving Ones" has kidnapped her. A reward of three million dollars for the rescue of the teenager is being offered by the police. More on this breaking story later at seven."
"Wha…where am I?" A voice mumbled.
I quickly slipped on my mask before replying. "We are "The Thieving Ones"…perhaps you've heard of us?"
I turned around.
"You're. You're. You're that group that has been harming and robbing innocents in New York!" She spat out.
Oh great, now she hates me.
"Did you ever think, that the people we attacked were…perhaps…not innocent?" I let that bomb drop. Annabeth was silent.
"Well, Annabeth. We need something from you. Actually a few somethings. Let's call them…favors, shall we?"
She glared at me. "Why don't you take off your mask, you coward?"
I was shocked. Coward, coward, coward… The word floated around in my head.
Seeming satisfied with the response I had, or well, hadn't given her, Annabeth smiled smugly. "Let. Me. Go." She said fiercely.
"We will." This time it was Annabeth's turn to be surprised.
"What?"
"For those few favors, of course." I walked over to a computer and started a presentation. "You have been knocked out for 48 hours. By us, of course. You probably already know that we take money from the rich, powerful, and definitely not innocent. But we are nothing like Robin Hood, my dear. Our job isn't to help the poor; it's to make the lives of the evil…miserable. It teaches them a lesson, and gives us money. Win-win." I smiled.
"So it's a get-rick-quick scheme that you just make it sound like it's for a good cause."
"Just stop talking, please, so I can get along with my presentation." I said annoyed.
Annabeth grinned. "Nope, I refuse. I will not stop. Lalalalllalalaa I am talking, talking talki-". She shut up.
I had simply walked across the small space in the room and kissed her. Bam, no more talking.
I let go of her face and walked back to the computer.
"Let's see…where was I?" I mumbled and tried to find the right slide. Even though I was giving the appearance of being nonchalant, inside I was jumping with joy.
I just kissed Annabeth. Annabeth. Annabeth.
"Ah, yes." I pointed to the slide. "In exchange for your freedom, you will be our distraction when we commit crimes. Our faces are all wanted, yours is not."
"How are you going to keep me doing what you want? What do you have against me that will keep me from going to the police?" Annabeth said, recovering.
"Well, dear. We have guns. You don't. Also, I could just do this again." I reached over and kissed her again.
She slapped me.
I guffawed as I walked out of the room. "You have three hours to decide. I suggest you help us…. because it will not be pretty if you don't."
I felt her gaze creating a hole in my back.
The door slammed shut behind me, trapping Annabeth with her choices.
"Hey cousin!" I took off my mask and wiped the sweat off my face, it sure was hot under there.
The mask was all black, and it covered my entire head, except for my eyes, nose, and mouth.
"Hey Nico!" I said and we man-hugged.
"How are things going…. inside there?" He nudged me towards the door. Suddenly everyone was silent and the joyous bustling in the game room stopped.
"Yeah Perce…" Connor Stoll started.
"What's up with her?" Travis Stoll finished.
Instantly everyone's attention shifted to me.
"Uh…I showed her the presentation that Control prepared. And she's thinking about it."
Nico and the Stoll twins started making kissy noises.
"Percy and Annabeth sitting in a tree," Connor started.
"Guys," I warned.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Travis shouted and everyone burst out laughing.
"Not funny." I said, chuckling.
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"Okay," I agreed. "It's kind of funny. The second time I tried to kiss her, she slapped me!" I said, pretending to be hurt.
It did hurt. Emotionally and physically.
"Oi Percy," Nico shook his head, "When are you going to learn? You and girls just don't mix."
"PEEERRRCYYY!" Rachel screamed before flinging herself at me and choking-I mean hugging me.
"What did you say, Nico?"
Nico just shook his head.
"You, Percy, are impossible."
I smirked at him.
"Percy?" I turned my head and saw a large, muscular man walking my way. At once, everyone stood up and saluted him. His black hair and sea-green eyes were identical to mine.
"Hi Dad." We fist-bumped.
"Perseus." I looked past my father and saw another man with stormy blue eyes standing near the door.
"Uncle Z!" I said as he slapped me on the back.
"Looks like you're doing a great job leading the place…" He said.
"I told you my son would be perfect for the job!" My dad said proudly, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Unlike that daughter of mine." Uncle Z muttered.
"Anyway," He said changing the topic, "I'd like you all to meet: Jason. My son and Thalia's twin brother."
We all stared at him as if he was crazy, before turning to give the same stare to the blond-haired, blue-eyed wonder that walked through the door.
"Hi…my name is Jason Grace…. and this is my girlfriend, Piper McLean."
A girl with brown, choppy hair and kaleidoscope colored eyes peered over Jason's shoulder.
"Once Annabeth agrees to the plan, I'll pose as her best friend." Piper said.
"Soo…like a..." Connor began.
"Double distraction!" Travis said.
"And I…." Jason said. "Will be your best friend!" Jason poked me in the shoulder.
"We've decided to send out 'Double Duos' and you, Jason, Piper, and Annabeth—once she agrees—have been chosen." Uncle Z patted my head.
"Uh…" I said, blinking. "Uh…"
"Excuse my son…he has trouble processing lots of information at the same time." Dad elbowed me.
"HEY!" I said, "I understood what Uncle Z said! Completely…yeah…" I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head.
"So Percy, I'll leave you and the gang alone. We're going back to Control." I nodded.
"Bye Dad! Uncle Z."
"So, Jason…" I said awkwardly.
"Hey cuz!" Nico broke the cumbersome silence by hugging Jason. "Welcome to the family. You too Piper." He hugged her as well.
Man, I wish I were that good with people…
"Guys, I'm going to check on Annabeth, okay? You know, start a friendship." Piper started walking towards the door, behind which Annabeth was tied to a chair.
"Alright Pipes, but be careful." Jason kissed her cheek.
"I will Sparky!" She waved before vanishing into the room.
"Pipes?" Nico asked.
"Sparky?" I said astonished.
"Umm, yeah…" Jason said.
"Hey, wanna play some video games Sparky?" Nico asked.
"Sure, Death Breath!"
"OOohhhh!" The Stolls commented before returning to their game of pool.
"While you do those childish things, I will be prepping for the mission." Holding my head up high in mock snootiness, I walked carefully to my desk and pulled out some papers.
Before beginning to draw on them with colored pencils.
So manly, Percy.
Before long, my thoughts began to drift to one thing, or one person, really.
Annabeth. I sincerely hoped that she would agree to the proposition that we had given her, because I didn't like to think about what I would be forced to do to her if she refused.
I wondered if her attitude towards me would change when, or if, she found out who I really was. Would she hate me?
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Instead of wasting my time with all of these 'If or when or what' questions, I decided to actually prep for the mission.
Our target was a woman in her early twenties names Silena Beauregard. She may be pretty, and she may look like a goody-two-shoes, but she was a spy.
How ironic. The criminals robbing from the spy robbing from the innocents. Ironic. I'm pretty sure I misused that word…Annabeth could tell me if I did or didn't.
Focus on the mission.
Piper and Annabeth would be the distractions, by either posing as fan girls or reporters. Then, Jason and I would sneak into her top-notch apartment and somehow find the passcode to her bank account, and if that didn't work, we would steal her computer and hack into it.
Simple. Super easy. Everything would be fine.
I expected that this wouldn't be Piper and Jason's first mission, since they had to be the cream of the crop in another state or country to make it into our group. The only person I was worried about was Annabeth. She was inexperienced, smart, and liked doing things the right way.
The smartness was a plus.
"Percy! Jason!" Piper practically screamed as she burst through the door.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Annabeth said yes. She's going to do it!" As we all celebrated our success and good luck, I felt a slight twinge of regret deep in my belly.
I tried to ignore it, but something within me told me that I would regret it later.
Oh, whatever. I'll just deal with it when the time comes.
Percy, listen to yourself. You can't just deal with it when the time comes, you're in love with Annabeth. Deal with that!.
I sat down on the floor and put my head into my heads. I could tell that I was getting a lot of weird looks, but for once I didn't care.
I was in love with Annabeth.
The Annabeth who was my best friend. The Annabeth who didn't remember me. The Annabeth I met in New York. The Annabeth who was being held prisoner in the other room.
Oh gods, Perce…what have you gotten yourself into? I cursed the voice inside my head.