I swear.
You know, sometimes I really hate Percy. Sometimes I think about Luke then. Then Luke turned into Kronos and died. I still thought about him. I was convinced that we could be something.
And when he came to visit me, before the entirety of the labyrinth phase, it actually made me happy. And angry. But I was usually always angry. I lowkey probably needed (and still need) a therapist. Yeah, in the demigod world, that’s a bit difficult, especially considering all demigods need therapy.
Where was I?
Oh yeah. When Luke visited, it wasn’t the best meeting. There were threats, begs, and rejections. But unfortunately, that’s just what happens with Luke nowadays.
The day after his visit was only worse.
I felt kind of guilty for rejecting Luke. For rejecting his request of running away again, revisiting the old days.
But on another level, I felt free. Satisfied. For years I had wondered what it would be like to go back to the good days on the road with Luke and Thalia. Now I had closure. I would never go back there. It was over.
But regret haunts us all, and if I could change anything about that day, I know what I would’ve done.
But where was I again?
The day AFTER the visit from Luke. I was planning on having the time of my life that day. I had the best day ever planned.
I was supposed to go to the movies with Percy.
The movies!
Oh, if I could squeal I would.
I rarely have girly blonde moments like that. Going on “dates” with boys, going on girl trips with girls, sleepovers, and things like that, they were never my style. And as much as they aren’t my style, I’m still a girl. Things like those are in my blood. And whenever I get the chance, I’ll do things like that. You know, when the monsters stop coming back.
OH WAIT.
I decided to come early to pick Percy up. He had orientation at his school, but I figured what an hour early wouldn’t do.
He was early too! : (
“Hey, you’re out early!” I said, laughing and grabbing Percy’s shoulders. He looked startled and rushed running into the alley. “Watch where you’re going, Seaweed Brain.”
Sometimes I’m slow. This is one of those times. I’m not proud, I can assure you.
Then she came into the story.
Well, every story needs a good old antagonist.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare came charging into the alley, covered in dust, yelling, “Percy, wait up!”
My smile melted and my heart sunk into the ground, probably going as low as Hades, by the way I felt. I saw the black smoke and the alarms.
And that was when the moment of my slowness ended, thank gods.
I frowned at Percy, who had an apologetic smile plastered on his face.
Oh, how handy fists are in some cases.
“What did you do this time?” I demanded, trying to keep the brokenness out of my voice. “And who is this?”
“Oh, Rachel—annabeth. Annabeth—Rachel,” he looked uncomfortable. “Um, she’s a friend. I guess.”
I don’t know which one of us he was talking about. That hurt.
“Hi,” Rachel said quickly, glancing at me, before turning to Percy. “You are in so much trouble! And you still owe me an explanation!”
“Percy,” I said bitterly, trying to act like I liked Rachel and like my whole world hadn’t just collapsed, “we should go.”
"Percy" Annabeth said coldly. "We should go."
"I want to know more about half-bloods" Rachel is. sisted. "And monsters. And this stuff about the gods. She grabbed Percys arm, whipped out a permanent marker, and wrote a phone number on his hand.
I watched her hands write the number on his and my whole body heated up. This wasn’t normal.
"You're going to call me and explain, okay? You owe me that. Now get going."
Remember earlier? When I was talking about girly things that I never really got to experience? Yeah, well there’s one more thing I need to add to that list of girly things that I did get to experience.
Being jealous.
But I was the worst at naming the emotions I was feeling. Still am. So in my mind, I was just mad at Percy for blowing off our evening.
When I opened my eyes to my surroundings, Rachel was gone. Now it was just me and Percy.
The temptation to punch him was almost overwhelming. Every cell in my body screamed at me to give my fist a visit to his face.
But I held back.
I stared at Percy for a second, thinking about how much my fist would be dry much like to meet his face.
Then I turned and walked away.
“Hey!” Percy said, taking off after me. “There were these two empou-sai," he tried to explain. "They were cheerleaders, see, and they said camp was going to burn, and —“
"You told a mortal girl about half-bloods?"
"She can see through the Mist. She saw the monsters before I did."
"So you told her the truth."
"She recognized me from Hoover Dam, so—"
"You've met her before?" My brain practically burned away with anger. Who was this girl?
"Um, last winter. But seriously, I barely know her"
"She's kind of cute." The words felt like acid in my mouth.
"-I never thought about it.”
Sure he didn’t.
First Luke, now this?
