All characters belong to Mr. Rick Troll Riordan.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late chapter guys, I've been busy.
Chapter 16
Ok. That's it. We definitely need to talk about what happened on the beach. -Will
Agreed. -Jason
Way to go Percy, you destroyed everything. -Leo
Shut up Leo. -Percy
Stop it all of u -Calypso
I agree with Will and Calypso -Annabeth
Ok, great we've agreed we need to talk. When and where? -Piper
How about same spot same time in two days. Everyone has to be there -Nico
Yup -Jason
Great -Percy
Sure -Annabeth
. . .
Two days later
Annabeth walked on the sand with difficulty, only managing because she was clinging to Percy, who'd been staying by her side for the last couple weeks until Annabeth got off her crutches in six more days. She loved him even more for it.
Will and Nico were already there, sitting on the sand facing the ocean. They seemed to have heard Annabeth approaching, because they turned and faced them as Percy helped her sit.
They waited in uncomfortable silence, unlike anything they were used. Everyone was usually really friendly, but today was going to be serious and... well, if she was being honest, awkward.
Slowly, the others started to come. They sat in silence, watching the waves crash on the shore over and over.
When everyone got there, Nico broke the silence.
"Ok, are we going to sort this out or what?" He asked.
Everyone looked at each other, waiting for someone to start.
"Um... I really don't know what to say. I guess I'm sorry for dropping that bomb on you guys, but," Percy said. "There's a silver lining to it. We all learned something personal about each other, and I'm not sorry for asking everyone to share. I didn't force anyone either." He crossed his arms, looking very defiant.
Annabeth decided she should back him up. "Percy's right, guys. This could bring us closer if we sort it out right. He didn't force you to share, so you didn't have to say anything if you didn't want to. I don't regret sharing my story with you. You all deserved to know."
Jason had an angry look on his face, growing by the second. "We all dropped bombs on each other." He turned to Percy. "But, man, how could you not tell us you lost nine years of your life to some stupid hotel?"
Now Percy was starting to get mad. Annabeth senses a fight in the near future. She put a hand on Percy's arm to remind him to stay calm. He took a deep breath. "Look, Jason, I'm not the only one who lost so many years of my life. Nico did, Hazel, you. So you really can't be talking here."
Piper put her hands up in exasperation. "That's what I told him, too. Jason, you really didn't hear what I said, did you?" Piper looked angry, too. Annabeth was getting worried that this might get out of hand. She had to figure out a way to cool everyone down.
Unfortunately, Leo was not helping. "Yeah, Jason. Who are you to talk? I mean, you all knew my mom died. But really, everyone dropped bombs on everyone. So you really can't be blaming all of us."
Annabeth figured it was time to take control. "Okay guys, that's enough. Leo's right. We all surprised each other. But the point of that was to learn more about each other. We did. It's better to have gotten it out now instead of later on when we are closer together." She took a deep breath. Everyone was facing her now, so she knew she'd gotten their attention. It was working. Annabeth forged on. "Stop yelling at each other for a minute and be civilized people. You have to understand why we all kept our secrets." Annabeth looked everyone right in the eye. "You kept yours, so there's no reason we shouldn't have." Annabeth sat back, arms crossed, and huffed out a breath. Finally, this was getting somewhere.
. . .
Percy slowly started clapping, and everyone else followed suit. Annabeth blushed. Percy smiled back at her and hugged her tightly. He whispered in her ear. "Now that is what I call a speech."
He turned to address the group. "All in favor of Annabeth taking the lead on this raise your hand and say aye." A chorus of "aye's" rang around the circle, and every hand went up. "Those not in favor, say nay and raise your hand." No one moved or made a sound.
Percy turned back to Annabeth. "Take it away, Your Honor."
. . .
Annabeth banged her crutch on the sand. "Order in the beach. We are going to do this in a somewhat courtly fashion. But it means we have to take sides. Are you all ok with that?"
Everyone had mixed emotions of intrigue, confusion, or slight fear on their faces. But they all nodded. Annabeth nodded back.
"Great. There'll be two sides. A leader of one side and a leader of another. The people on each side won't be even, though. So you'll have to deal with that. If you don't want to take sides, you can observe or receive a subpoena to be a witness that will testify. This may seem very official, but it's needed.
"Here are your two sides. It was okay that we all shared like that, or it's not. Come stand by me if you aren't choosing sides, go to my left if you think it was okay, right if you don't."
Jason and Leo moved to the right, Percy, Piper, and Will to the left, while everyone else moved to Annabeth's side.
Annabeth looked around. This just might work. "Everyone took their side? No one wishes to move?" No one moved. "Good. Let the trial begin!"