Ch9
"I told you Wise Girl I didn't steal your damn hat," Clarisse snarled meeting her in the gaze.
Annabeth glared back at the daughter of Ares, her blood boiling as she glared at her. "Oh yeah then why did I hear some of your siblings laugh about me not having it."
"I don't know! Why don't you mind your own business," Clarisse snapped. "You've been hounding every camper in every cabin why don't you just face the facts."
"Excuse me?" She yelled as her siblings begged her to calm down. She and the daughter of Ares were a few feet apart, deep down she knew it wasn't the best idea to get in her face but Clarisse was really pissing her off.
Clarisse snorted, "You probably lost it! For such a smart girl to lose something like that isn't the smartest thing."
"What was that!" She yelled as her siblings held her back.
"Hey what's going on here," Luke said as he stepped between them. She calmed herself down at the sight of Luke, she didn't want him to see her this angry.
"Tell Annabeth to stop harassing my cabin we don't have her damn baseball cap," Clarisse said folding her arms. "If she hounds us again she'll regret it."
She glared at the daughter of Ares her blood was boiling as her siblings held her down. "Alright everyone just calm down," Luke said placing an arm on her shoulder to calm her down. "Clarisse why don't you and your siblings can go, I'll talk to Annabeth."
"Fine," Clarisse said as she turned around and left with her siblings.
"I'll handle her," Luke said to Malcolm. Her brother nodded and left with her other siblings. "Come on Annabeth lets go somewhere quiet."
She nodded, cleaning her face with a tissue Luke gave her. Her body shook angrily as they made their way to a quiet spot in the forest and sat down on a log. "What happened this time?" Luke asked sitting next to her.
"Her siblings were laughing about me not having it," she muttered. "I figured they were implying that they took it."
Luke sighed and patted her on the shoulder, "Come on even if they did you don't have to provoke them."
Her face turned slightly redder but she was still furious. "I'm just sick of all of this," she said as Luke gave her another tissue. "I try not to listen to the rumors but everyone just treats me differently."
"What do you mean?" Luke asked calmly. "What are they saying?"
She took a deep breath as she gripped her fists tightly, "I just can't stand their mocking gazes. I can hear them mocking me when my back is turned for not going on this quest." Her body shook, it wasn't fair that she was still stuck here at camp and now her baseball hat was gone.
"Don't listen to silly rumors," Luke said softly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Her heart raced as she rested against his chest. "You are an amazing girl even if others can't see it."
"I just can't believe that it's gone," she croaked. "First not going on the quest now this." She shook her head resting it against Luke. Thinking of the sons of Poseidon made her blood boil. "Not that I care, if those stupid Seaweedbrained sons of Poseidon don't want me then fine! I don't need them," she said bitterly. "I don't need them or their quest."
Deep down though she had wanted more than anything to go on probably the most important quest in the century. This was something she trained her life for and studied her but off but in the end, she didn't make it. The memory of her getting rejected by Percy still stung even more than the bruises Chris gave her.
"What was your quest like?" she asked softly. She felt Luke tense up against her, she knew it was a touchy subject but she always wanted to know what about it made him change.
"It was hell," Luke admitted. "I trained and studied for it but despite all my abilities, all I got was a scar. I failed plain and simple it was a repeat of an old quest but I still failed."
She detected bitterness and resentment in his voice, "I was so happy when you got your quest. I wished I could've gone with you."
Luke looked down at her and smiled though his eyes were dark, "I know I could've used your wisdom. Who knows if you came with me you would've helped me out and I would've been successful. I know if you had gone on this quest you would've excelled."
She smiled at him her face turning red. "Thanks. I still can't believe I lost to a new camper, I guess the children of the big three are something else." I was always decent at hand to hand combat but I didn't know he would be that good. Well I should've expected it from the guy who beat Luke and Clarisse with ease.
In the end all she got was a bunch of bruises and in a way became the laughingstock of the camp. No one said it directly but she wasn't blind to the rumor mill. She looked up at Luke, "When are you going for your job?"
"At the end of summer," Luke said softly his body tensing up against hers. "Who knows I may come back and visit next year."
"I'll miss you," She said softly ignoring the pain in her heart. Luke was the closest thing to family that she had here and the idea of him leaving made her even more distraught.
"Who knows maybe you can come with me for a bit," Luke said with a warm smile, "We can travel a bit just like the old days." She detected a bit of reservation in his voice, it was soft almost as if he were telling her a secret.
Just like the old days. She fought back tears as she remembered the time she was with Thalia and Luke. Soon it will just be me. Luke gave her another tissue. "Why do you have to go?"
"I have greater things to do than be here," Luke said softly. For a second she noticed he glanced around quickly. "My destiny is somewhere else. I know it is sad but we can be together still if you want, it won't be easy but if you want to come I'll protect you with everything."
Her heart nearly skipped a beat at Luke's words. "What about camp?" She whispered. "I can't just leave it."
She felt Luke's grip around her tighten, "If that's your choice I'll respect it. But I will have to go soon Annabeth. I will be facing various trials and while I could use your help I won't force you."
"What kind of things?" she asked. Luke's face appeared older, more tired than before.
Luke frowned, his expression becoming guarded as he carefully scanned the area. "Personal things. We all have our destiny and mine is outside this camp."
She frowned at him, "But this camp is for us demigods. Where would we be without it?"
"There is a whole world out there," Luke said looking at the sky. "There will be many more opportunities outside for me than here. Annabeth can I ask you something?"
"What?" She asked as a cold breeze passed by them.
Luke paused and looked at the trees, "Do you still think about Thalia?"
She paused and slowly nodded, "Yeah sometimes I do."
"I sometimes think her fate was cruel," Luke said bitterly. "Being a daughter Zeus she barely had a chance and now her fate is to live like a tree."
She frowned at Luke, detecting the resentment. "But at least she is protecting the camp."
Luke sighed, "Yeah but it isn't fair that her life was cut short like that. Sometimes I wonder if the gods even care."
"Luke it's dangerous to say things like that," she said feeling Luke's body tense up against her.
For a second fear spread across Luke's face followed by anger before going back to neutral. "I'm sorry it's just all the stress lately, I've been thinking about the important things." She stared at him in shock, it was obvious he was trying to steer the conversation away from what he said. Luke had been acting weird these past few days, mumbling to himself and looking distressed in general. Only when they were together did he seem calm and happy.
She slowly nodded, "Yeah I get that."
Then to her surprise, Luke pulled him in for a hug, and her heart nearly skipped a beat as she returned it. "Annabeth we are family despite everything. I'll always look after you but I want to know, will you look after me?"
"Of course I would," she said right away. "Luke what is this about? You've been acting weird lately."
Luke avoided her gaze, his body tensed up. "It's just times are changing Annabeth and I've been thinking of the important things." He then got up and smiled at her, his face was weary. "Anyway I really would like for you to come with me, it could be our little secret no no one would have to know."
She shifted in her seat, her face turning red. "I'll think about it."
"Great. Just remember don't tell anyone about my plans for the future ok? I want to leave as quietly as possible. " Luke said with a small smile causing her face to turn a shade redder.
"N-No problem," she said her face turning red. "I won't tell anyone I swear."
"Good I'll keep an eye out for your hat," Luke said as he turned around and walked away.
She sighed as she sat down and rubbed her head. Run away with him? The idea was crazy, the camp needed her, this was her home. Yet despite that, a part of her wanted to follow Luke, maybe I can visit him one day when he is gone, like for a few months or something.
The idea was attractive to her, she would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted by the offer. I suppose I could just return in the summer? It was a small thought, a piece of her heart wanted to leave with Luke and travel with him just like in the old days. We can travel together and
She sighed as she headed back to her cabin and headed to bed. That night when she fell asleep she dreamt about Luke and Thalia. They were running from the monsters sent to kill them, "Luke you and Annabeth go it's me they want," Thalia said as the sound of the monsters got closer.
"No we won't leave you," Luke said tears falling down his face.
"Yeah we will fight with you," she said her body shaking uncontrollably.
"It's alright I'll be back," Thalia said smiling at her. "We are a family don't forget that."
Luke nodded, "Alright lets go." His voice sounded like he was holding back emotions as he grabbed and ran.
"Thalia!" She screamed as she was pulled into Camp Half Blood. "Thalia!" She screamed her friend's name as the monster fell on her. Tears fell down her eyes as a burst of light spread throughout the area.
"It's ok Annabeth," Luke said hugging her. "We are safe now." Despite his reassuring words Luke was crying as well.
"Why did this have to happen?" She sobbed. "She didn't do anything wrong."
Luke shook his head, "It's alright I'm here for you even if the gods abandon us."
She cried herself in Luke's arms, Thalia was her family and now she was gone Luke was all she had left.
"It's alright I'm here for you," Luke said softly hugging her tightly as various campers came to them. "I always will be."
She woke up the next morning with tears on her face. It's been so long but I still remember that day. Taking a deep breath she cleaned her face with her hands. Luke I know something is going on with you, maybe you are just afraid of being alone when you leave?
Resting on her bed she thought of her friend.If I could I would wish you could stay with me here forever. We would watch over Thalia's tree and guide the camp. She took a deep breath, Luke was the closest thing she had to a family with him leaving it was as if a part of her were leaving with him.
Well hopefully I can prepare for when he leaves. Though traveling with him might not be so bad. She took a deep breath and got up and ready for the morning. Her siblings said nothing to her as they made their way to breakfast. She saw Luke who smiled and waved at her from the Hermes table, she smiled back her heart nearly skipped a beat.
"Annabeth may I speak to you when you are done eating?" Chiron asked just as she was finishing her food.
"Sure no problem," she said as she quickly finished her food. As she followed him she noticed Luke stare at her with a cautious look on his face.
After breakfast she found the centaur at the Big House. "What did you need Chiron? Have you found my hat by any chance?" She followed him into the Big House and into his office where she sat across from him.
Chiron shook his head, "Sorry dear I have not. Don't worry I'm sure it will show up somewhere. Anways How are you feeling?"
"Alright. I still feel sore from that beating Chris gave me," she muttered clenching her fists tightly. "I didn't expect him to be so strong." She avoided the centaur's gaze, it was her pride that insisted she fight and she ended up losing spectacularly.
"Well my dear we can only learn from our defeats," Chiron said looking at her with a knowing gaze. "Personally I feel like Chris also was meant for this quest, he has his own problems to deal with right now."
She frowned at him and gripped her fists. "I know that Lord Hades thinks one of them stole the thunderbolt but was it wise sending them both out? They'll both attract a lot of monsters, they needed Athena's wisdom more than anything. Won't they attract a lot of monsters?"
"They'll do fine. Both Chris and Grover will make up for Percy's inexperience," Chiron said avoiding her gaze.
She could tell Chiron was hiding something which made her crazy since they always had a good relationship. What could it be about? Is it about Chris?
"Who is Chris exactly? He is so strong and skilled," she said. "He made me, Luke, and Clarisse look like a bunch of high school punks."
Chiron averted his gaze, "Chris has his own problems it's best we don't dwell on them."
She did her best to not frown. Chiron was obviously hiding something about Chris. You almost never hid anything from me. Who is Chris really?
"Anyway Annabeth I just wanted to tell you that I know you are disappointed with this quest but don't worry I'm sure another quest will come for you," Chiron said with a knowing looking his in the eyes. "Right now we can't afford to fight one another, we must work together."
"If it's about Clarisse she deserved it," she said through gritted teeth.
"I'm not saying its about anyone," Chiron said raising his hands. "Just be careful, I've had to separate three fights already. Gods if I wanted to act as a hall monitor I'd be back in a mortal school."
"I'll do my best," she muttered avoiding the centaur's gaze.
"I know you will. Don't listen to rumors dear they will only do you harm," Chiron said. "With everything going on we need to work together."
"I just still can't believe I couldn't have gone on that quest," she said clenching her fists. "I would've done so well on it I know I would've been succeeded."
"I have no doubt you would've done well but the Fates have other things in store for you," Chiron said. "Just be patient and focus on the now."
"Fine," she said getting up. Chiron nodded before she left the Big House.
Later that day she was practicing archery with the Hermes Cabin. Luke seemed to avoid looking at her for a bit, his gaze seemed more troubled than before. t to her However, he eventually moved next to her to practice.
"Hey what did Chiron want?" Luke asked as he let an arrow fly through the sky
"We just talked about the quest and other things," she said as she fired an arrow at the target. Luke looked her up and down as if analyzing some complex problem.
"Ah ok. do you want to go for another walk?" Luke asked as he set his bow down. His expression relaxed a little but his face still seemed guarded.
She sighed, "Sure why not." She often walked with Luke, he was the only one to give her any kind of solace these days. As they walked their usual path they stopped at Thalia's tree. Luke put his hand on it, a dark look spreading across his face.
"It's a shame what happened to her," Luke muttered. "I wish I could save her, then we could be a family again."
"Me too. I wish she were with us again," she said looking at the tree. She caught Luke glaring at the ground his face contorted in anger. "Luke is something wrong?"
"Oh its um nothing," Luke said turning to her with a small smile. "Annabeth can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" She asked.
Luke looked her in the eyes, "These are uncertain times. I know people want to hurt each other, I need to know would you defend me against those that tried to harm me?" She was taken aback by his tone, it was soft and there was a hint of urgency in them.
"Of course I would," she said right away. "Who is trying to harm you?"
Luke smiled at her and for a second it was like the old days, "No one at the moment but we have to be careful and watch out for each other ok?" His gaze softened and for a second she felt like they were back on the road together, "I only feel happy and alive when you are around. Thanks for always giving me company."
She smiled at him, "We are a family, we'll always have each other and I will always protect you." Her face reddened as she said it and turned redder as Luke hugged her. Luke I don't know what's going on with you but I will always love and protect you.
