Chapter 2 Annabeth

After Nico arrived to take Annabeth to California you could say that she was panicking about having to leave Percy again. Although deep down she knew that this would most likely be the last she'd really see of her father and step brothers. It was only for that reason that she agreed to move back in though. Because even though my father claimed he loved her, it was more that he was amused that he could claim her accomplishments. The look he tended to give her was less loving and more admirable, almost prideful though she didn't think he cared enough to take pride in her work.

While over the last few years she had tried to better their relationship with each other, they had only become little more than friendly with each other. Though she'd be lying if she said that feeling faded over time when she found her true family, the group of soldiers that lay waiting at Camp Half Blood.

After Percy kissed her goodbye and promised to IM her every night, she had to leave with Nico in order to get settled into her room before school started. Therefore now she can't help but feel the chills on her spine remembering the horrors of the spiders from her childhood as she stands ready to knock on the front door of her father's house. So after grabbing her duffle bag, her lone companion, she knocked confidently on the door trying to hold her head high.

As the door swung open it revealed the face of Bobby and Mathew, her two step brothers who looked ready to tackle her to the floor in a hug. With their messy blonde hair and young, innocent faces. "ANNABETH YOU CAME BACK" Bobby screamed as he tackled her head on in a hug. "OH ANNIE PLEASE STAY HERE WITH US!" Mathew finished the sentence, screaming it loud enough that the whole San Francisco population must know she had returned.

Annabeth couldn't help but flash a wide smile back. "Boys, of course I came back. You wouldn't think that I would just forget about you all of a sudden now did you?"

"Annabeth?" Her father whispered from behind her. She turned around and faced him with her head held high, the way a Savior of Olympus's should be. "Hello Dad. Long time no see I guess.." He surprised her with her next actions, he came over to the entryway and hugged her. The way she had wished to be hugged by her parents her whole life. Frederick Chase was a man of few words, but his face seemed full of emotions. He was glad she came back, maybe because he felt the same way she did about this last year. This was the last big chance to spend time with one another, and they were hoping to not waste it.

"I'm guessing it's the same room on the left that I'll be staying in? I still had some pictures hung up when I had to leave if that's not the case." Last year when Percy was taken by 'Highest Majesty of Cheating Husbands'™, she left to search for him in such a hurry that the pictures she hung up were still on display when she left. Though now she had quite a few pictures of The Seven to add to the wall of memories she kept inside her room. Dedicated to her friends as well as the fallen heroes of the past wars.

Frederick nodded his head to her question and she went upstairs to put away my few things she stowed away in her duffle bag. Helen (her stepmom) hadn't shown her face yet. Though as long as Annabeth was concerned that may be for the best, Ever since her heritage of being a Daughter of Athena was revealed, Helen had made Annabeth the fault of every monster trying to kill her. Blamed her for every mistake and fault in the world, used Annabeth's name as a curve the same way the demigods swore with Hade's name.

Annabeth's sea green colored walls in her room, with gray accents scattered all throughout the room made her smile as she usually did when she thought of Percy. Though the longest wall in her room was cluttered with dozens of photos of her friends, fallen foes, and sacrificed heroes. Though when adding Leo's photo to the wall of her fallen friends, she could barely restrain from letting her tears drop. She added more pictures of her and Percy that were taken this summer, as well as many photos of the seven. Looking at this wall made her feel proud, proud that the seven year old runaway who showed up to Camp a decade ago could grow to a war leader that can retrieve the Athena Parthenos, and come back from Tartarus alive.

As she was finishing hanging up her last 2 photos, Matthew ran upstairs with the house phone in his hand gesturing for Annabeth to answer it.

"Matthew wha-"

He put his hand against the part of the phone that picks up the conversation, weirdly reminding Annabeth of an English Teacher.

"It's your High School friends" Matthew whisper yelled to her. Annbeth couldn't help but feel disappointed that it wasn't someone from either camp. Regardless, this was what she was here to do right? Spend the last year trying to live a normal life. Therefore she waved the phone to her with her hand, and with that her brother dropped the phone in her hand and raced downstairs.

"Hello? Annabeth Chase speaking."

"Annabeth?! You're back? Oh god I missed you so much! I've been calling nearly every day since you disappeared." Her friend Christy was on the other end of the line, and sounded to be jumping up and down right about now. It took all of Annabeth's restraint to now start giggling at her friend's antics.

"Hey Christy! I missed you too, I just got back in town today actually."

"Wait.. you're staying right?" Her friend's hopeful tone made Annabeth feel guilty for not wholeheartedly taking the call.

"That's the plan I guess." Annabeth felt herself answer still not entirely believing it herself.

"Oh my god I have so many questions! First where-"

"Woah woah! How about you just call everyone and tell them to come over to my place so I only have to participate in the interrogation once." That seemed to Annabeth to be the safest option. Otherwise she would have to retraumatize herself for her 4 friends over and over again. And honestly she didn't think she would be able to fully recover from that without Percy at her side.

"Sure, I'll bring the group to your house in 15 minutes. This'll be great having the gang together again!" Christy gushed on the other end of the line.

And with that the meeting with Annabeth's mortal friends was settled.

Christy

Ever since Annabeth left last December, none of our friends knew where she disappeared to. The theories ranged from her being a runaway, to being murdered in bad blood. The latter was what Christy deemed to be stupid. 'Not Annabeth!' She would protest seeing her friend as the sweet, smart, innocent facade that Annabeth had convinced her friends of being her true identity. The Annabeth that always wore Long sleeved shirts and never wore shorts no matter the heat outside.

Therefore when Christy called today to the Chase Family home phone that was always answered, but never gave her a clear answer on where her new friend was. She was very surprised when Matthew had told her that Annabeth was in her room. Then when she was told that the whole friend group was invited to Annabeth's house, she was shocked. No one was even allowed to step foot into any place past the entry, therefore Christy felt herself feeling more excited than she had been in a long time.

Her group of friends consisted of James, Alex, Elise, Annabeth, and herself. They were a small group but that seemed to make them even better friends. Which also meant that Annabeth's absence had taken a heavy toll on the group knowing that a fifth of their group was now gone without a trace to remember her by.

"Hey guys… GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?! ANNABETH CHASE IS BACK AND INVITED US TO HER HOUSE! EVERYONE BE THERE IN 15!" Is what Christy found sending to the group chat that everyone except Annabeth was on for the reason of her not even owning a phone. Quickly a chorus of confirmation of the event followed from the friend group. And with that Christy left her house to pay a visit to the one and only Annabeth Chase.

Their best friend had finally returned home.