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“Drew you’re so annoying.” Annabeth said as she tried to climb the tree.
“Yeah, so are you.” Drew retorted after sitting on the tree opposite Annabeth’s.
“I told you we could both sit on the same tree, but no, miss Annabeth Chase wants her own tree.” Drew said dramatically, which made Annabeth roll her eyes.
“Because I don’t want you to overhear anything I talk about and vice versa. Do you want me to hear what you say to your mortal family too?”
That made Drew shut up.
Here’s the thing. Demigods don’t use cellphones, because they attract monsters but some of us still use them. Like Annabeth and apparently Drew.
Annabeth was trying to contact her father. She hadn’t told him about the war and all but now that it was over, she wanted to inform him. And since she plans everything, she also figured out there were chances she might break down or at least her voice might, and she didn’t want anyone near her to witness that. So, she needed privacy. And about climbing the tree, well lately the signal wasn’t properly available at camp, so yeah, they had to climb a tree in order to make a call.
“Well miss Chase, enjoy your own tree and spider if there’s any.” Drew smirked, which made Annabeth’s mind go blank. She looked down at Connor Stoll, who was waiting for them.
“Connor, you checked the tree for spiders, right?” She slightly yelled, looking down at him.
“Yeah, I did.” Connor replied half-heartedly. Annabeth and Drew had dragged him to help them because of the prank he pulled last summer. He owed them that. Or else the girls threatened to poison his food.
“You really believe him Annabeth?” Drew asked, making Connor roll his eyes.
“Oh, shut up Drew. I did check. There's nothing.”
“Well, you’re the same person who threw spiders inside Athena cabin so...”
“And you were recording Malcolm screaming with your phone, why are you acting innocent now?” Connor retorted.
“Okay that’s enough.” Annabeth was growing tired of these two bickering.
“Just look out if anyone is coming our way. And after we finish talking help us down.”
He nodded in response, sending a thumbs up.
Annabeth sighed and then got comfortable on the tree. Truth is, Annabeth was scared to make the call. She never expected anything from her father or her mother, Athena. Annabeth had made peace with the fact that her parents would never show her unconditional love. She knows they don’t really care about how she is. But she wanted to tell him that there was a war and that she survived. Barely.
He hadn’t called Annabeth ever since she came to camp that summer. She had been on her own, training for the war.
The sound of the phone ringing only made Annabeth anxious. She was ready for all kinds of scenarios actually. The one where the phone goes unanswered. The one where her stepmom picks it up. The one where Bobby and Mathew argue over the phone about who should hand it to dad. And the one where her dad picks it up gives her no chance to answer and just say, ‘I’m at work, I’ll call you back later’ and never call her back. Annabeth waited and no one picked up the phone.
So, it’s the first one. She thought.
However, what Annabeth didn’t expect was her phone buzzing soon after. She looked at the caller id surprised. It was her dad. This has never happened. Annabeth quickly accepted the call.
“Hello dad?”
“Oh, hello Annabeth. Are you okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t hear it through all the noise.”
“It’s okay. I’m good. Are you outside?”
“Yeah, actually it’s Helen’s cousin. He's getting married. So, we came here.”
“Oh” That was all Annabeth could say. She was never close to her stepmom, let alone her family. Annabeth didn’t know what to feel. Every time she was at home when she looked at her dad, his wife and their children, they looked like a perfect family. She always felt like an outsider. She wondered if her dad felt the same.
“Yeah. Are you okay? Is there anything you need Annabeth?”
Her dad’s voice was always the same. He talks to Annabeth very carefully, like she’s some machine and if he somehow presses the wrong button she might explode.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to tell you that—” she hesitated. She wanted to tell him that, she fought a war, that she was close to dying, that she thought she’d never see his face or hear his voice again.
Annabeth felt her throat tighten. Now now. She scolded herself.
“I was going to say that I’ll be staying at camp. Mother gave me some work for which she needs me here. So, I’d be staying here going to school here.”
“Oh, your mother. That's good. Is she fine?”
Annabeth wanted to laugh. Asking a goddess if she’s fine? Well then again, she knew how much her dad admired Athena.
“She’s good.” Annabeth said.
She could faintly hear the music in the background, the chatters of people, the sound of giggling and laughing. She felt embarrassed calling her dad. He was living his life, while Annabeth was wondering if he’d think about her.
“I’ll go now. You carry on with the ceremony. Bye dad.”
“Yeah? But you’ll let me know if you need Anything? I can come outside where there's less noise—”
“Dad’s it’s okay. I just called to inform you about this. So, bye.”
“Bye. Take care.”
Annabeth hung up. And by now her eyes were teary.
Will you never learn Annabeth? That your parents don’t care about you? Why are you always expecting anything from them only to get disappointed? Annabeth scolded herself.
Now she was just more hurt knowing that her dad has a family and life outside, and she was just nothing but a constant reminder that his life is not all perfect. She was a hindrance. She sniffed and quickly wiped her tears.
“Why would you do that?”
“I slipped”
Connor and Drew’s bickering brought her back to reality.
“What happened?”
Annabeth looked down to see Connor holding his back and Drew simply standing next to him.
“She jumped on me and broke my back, that’s what happened.”
“I didn’t. I told you I slipped. You'll be okay.”
“Yeah? How do you know?” Connor retorted.
“Okay, that’s enough. Connor, let’s go to Will and ask him to take a look. Now can you help me get down?”
“No Annabeth, I can’t. I don’t even know if I can walk.”
“Oh, don’t be dramatic. It wasn’t that bad.”
And they continued to argue again. Annabeth even thought about climbing down by herself, but she had a history of slipping from the trees. It wasn’t easy getting down, and her ankle wasn’t in a good shape. She didn’t mention it to anyone, because the Apollo kids were already working a lot, healing campers. Sometimes, Annabeth, Katie, and Malcolm would help them. So, she didn’t want to cause more damage to her poor ankle and bother anyone else by being reckless. She was good at hiding her pain; she wasn’t necessarily limping, but she did hobble and stagger a bit. Thankfully, no one noticed. If Will Solace ever knew that Annabeth was climbing trees with the current shape of her ankle, she’d get an earful.
“Oh, hey Percy.” Drew said making Ananbeth shoot her head in his direction. She saw Percy standing down next to them and looking up at her with an amused expression. The one he has when she does something cool. But what’s cool about this?
“Help your girlfriend get down. I have to take this idiot to the infirmary before he starts blaming all his illness on me.” Drew told Percy and then left with Connor.
“So, is this some kind of Athena kid thing? Trying to live on trees like an owl?”
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
“Haha very funny. Now help me seaweed brain.”
“Alright. Jump.” Percy spread his arms wide. And Annabeth did, because she had no doubt. She knew he’d catch her. She trusted him more than anyone. And he did.
She fell on top of him, and he held her by her waist, while her hands clutched onto his shoulders. He didn’t even flinch, nor move an inch. Of course he’s strong, he literally bathed in Styx, that’s why he feels like a rock. Annabeth’s thoughts grumbled, but her cheeks were burning.
He was still holding her, so, she gave him a small peck.
“Thankyou.”
That made him smile, and he gently placed her down, but his hands still stayed on her waist.
“Welcome. So, what were you doing up there?”
“Phone call.” Annabeth said and stepped away from him and brushed the dust off her shirt and pants.
“Phone call?”
“Yeah. I called my dad. There's no signal. So, I had to get to the top of the tree.”
Percy nodded. His expression grim.
“What’d he say? Your dad?”
Annabeth knew that Percy was not a big fan of her dad.
“He’s out with his family. My stepmother’s cousin’s marriage it seems. So, nothing much.”
They were walking now side by side, hand in hand.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Percy, why would he? You know I am not close with my stepmother’s family, and I’m here at camp. How can I go there.”
“Well, that’s more reason to ask.” Percy looked at her still holding her hand, “You are here just recovered from war, from a fatal injury.” His eyes roamed across her arm, where she was stabbed.
“He shouldn’t be just going without informing you, because you're his family too.”
Annabeth would’ve snorted under different circumstances, if it were someone else. But this was Percy. Serious Percy, and she knows better. She was walking by his side, looking down and he suddenly stopped walking which made Annabeth stop walking and look up at him.
She loves their height difference some times, she gets annoyed at it other times. This was the latter.
“Does he even know that you’re injured?” Percy’s blue eyes bored into her.
Annabeth just shook her head.
“Why?”
“He doesn’t know about anything Percy. I didn’t tell him about the war. Or that we were preparing.”
Percy knitted his eyebrows. His jaws were clenched, that she so badly wanted to cup his cheek and tell him to relax.
“So, he doesn’t know. Not his fault. I kept it from him.”
Percy gave her a look of disapproval.
“Which means he didn’t try to contact you once, since you came to camp. Which is around months, because you’ve been training and he didn’t bother to ask when you’d come back. Forget the signal, your dad can see through the mist, and he can most definitely save some drachmas to iris message you.”
When Percy finished, Annabeth didn’t know how to answer. Because all he said was right.
“Well, you know about him. He’s like that always has been. I’m used to it, Percy.”
“You shouldn’t be used to it Annabeth, if he really wants you with him, he should act like that.”
Annabeth just remained silent holding his hands standing opposite to him, playing with the hem of his hoodie. Percy was right, and she couldn’t help but feel warmth settle in her chest when he got angry at her dad on her behalf. She liked it when he was protective of her.
He lifter her chin, making her look up at him.
“Are you okay?” Percy’s voice was so gentle.
“Yeah”
“You’re lying.”
His eyes kept scanning her face, making Annabeth wonder if he could see traces of her tears.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. “If you know I’m lying, why did you ask?”
“Because I don’t want you to lie to me about how you feel. I don’t want you to hide when you’re hurt. I want to be there with you. For you.”
Annabeth just stared at him, and Percy held her gaze.
“Don’t” she said softly.
“Don’t what?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Don’t say things like this. Don’t give me this much love and attention.”
“Why?” Percy’s eyes searched for answers in hers.
“Then I’ll get used to it, and then I’ll want more.”
“That’s the plan.” Percy came even closer to her as if it was even possible and gently cupped Annabeth's face.
“You want me to want more?”
“I want to give you more.”
Annabeth smiled softly.
“You already are giving me more. More than I ever got.”
“And that’s not enough.”
“Yeah?”
“Hmm.” Percy’s hand reached her waist and pulled Annabeth closer, while hers stayed on his chest.
“How so?”
“Because you deserve all the love in the world Annabeth, so no matter how much I give it’ll always fall short.”
Annabeth looked at him. Just looked at him. Percy was like this. He was honest about how he felt. He had always assured her. She remembered once when he said that he’d burn Olympus down for her. As if there was no negotiation when it came to her. At that time Annabeth was stunned to hear that, since she never had anyone stay with her or choose her. But Percy kept telling her how special she was, and that scared her so much.
Because everything he brought to her life was new, something she never experienced — and it terrified her. What’s even more scary was that she was craving for his attention for his assurance so badly. Because a voice in her head used to tell her that he was like a giant wave who could knock over her sandcastle, she spent years perfecting.
“Your always say things like this.”
“Like what?”
“You know.” Ananbeth hugged him. Her head fell on his broad chest, and he placed his chin on top of her head.
“I don’t, actually you need to be more specific, wise girl.”
Annabeth can feel his smug smile. He knows, he knows exactly what his words do to her, doesn’t he?
“Thank you” She looked up at him, “For finding me. You know after that phone call, I really.... I’m glad you’re here.”
Percy gave a gentle kiss on her forehead,
“Always.”
Then when Annabeth pulled away from him and tried to walk, he stopped her by holding her wrist.
“What?”
But Percy didn’t answer, instead he scooped her up in his arms, making Annabeth eyes go wide and yelp in response.
“What? Percy... What are you doing? Put me down.” Annabeth gave him one of her scariest stares, but he just gave her a smile. Annabeth groaned and kept looking around if anyone was watching. Thankfully, there weren’t many campers.
“Seaweed brain I—”
“You’re hurt.” Percy cut her off.
How did he know? Because apart from Will, she also hoped Percy wouldn’t find out. Then how did he?
“I saw you fight back a wince when I dropped you down, and when you stand still, I could tell you were trying to shift all your weight on your right leg.”
Annabeth just stared at him. What is with him reading her like an open book? Did he pay that much attention to her, so much that he could sense even her slightest discomfort? Annabeth finally understood the feeling of butterflies in the stomach. Until today she thought people were making it up.
“I....It wasn’t bad so...” Why was she stuttering? His blue eyes narrowed at her, as if he was waiting for her to give him a proper answer.
“It’s not bad, put me down.”
“Not happening.” Percy continued to walk with her in his arms.
“Percy! You think I’m not strong?”
“Of course not. You’re one of the strongest people I know Annabeth. I just don’t want you to suffer pain to prove your strength. Not to me.”
Annabeth fell silent.
“If you are uncomfortable, I can give you piggyback.”
She just shook her head.
She wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, she had never been so comfortable, and there wouldn’t be a better place she could ever think of.
Shut up. Annabeth scolded her shameless mind.
Annabeth glanced up to see Percy bite back a smile. Can he read her mind too? Annabeth felt her cheeks heat up. Nevertheless, she still had her hands around his neck while he effortlessly carried her to his cabin.
He kicked the door close and gently placed Annabeth on his bed. Annabeth quickly started inspecting her ankle. While Percy rummaged through his dresser.
“Tyson always kept a first aid box for emergencies. Ah there it is.”
He walked back to Annabeth and lifted her left leg gently and placed it on his lap. He was holding an ice gel in one hand while inspecting her foot with another.
“It’s not bad.”
“Told you.”
“There is still swelling.” Percy looked at her pointedly.
“Slight swelling.” Annabeth retorted, making him poke his tongue inside his cheek.
He slowly applied the gel on her ankle which made Annabeth slightly wince.
Percy gave her a quick glance.
“Is it hurting?”
“No, just slightly. It's fine now.”
“Hmm.”
Soon, Percy finished applying the gel, so he lifted her foot from his lap, and kept a pillow underneath.
I prefer your lap, though. Annabeth’s shameful thoughts again made a special appearance.
She shook her thoughts away. Thank Gods Percy went to wash his hands, because her mind was going out of control.
He came back and sat next to her on the bed and handed her a water bottle. Annabeth thanked him and gulped down the water he gave her.
“So”
“So?” Percy turned towards Annabeth.
“What do we do now?”
He arched an eyebrow suggestively at her, making Annabeth laugh and punch his arm.
“You know what I meant seaweed brain.”
He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.
“You can sleep if you want, it’s still early for breakfast.”
“I don’t want to sleep.”
“Okay then.”
She laid her head on his shoulder.
“You’re angry.”
“I am?”
Annabeth looked up at him and nodded.
“You’re not the only person who can read emotions seaweed brain, I can tell too.”
Percy sighed.
“I am angry because you climbed a tree with a broken ankle just to make a call to your dad and he acts as if you don’t exist.” Percy’s jaw clenched, “People who claim to care about you aren’t supposed to treat you that way Annabeth.”
“I know. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything. I wasn’t going to go there anyways you know, right? The whole architecture of the Olympus thing and all. I just wanted to inform.”
And look for any sign of worry in his voice when she talked about the war, to make sure if he still cares. Annabeth thought to herself. She remembered the warm hug Sally and Paul gave her and Percy, after they survived.
“Hmm... I understand.” Percy said.
Annabeth nodded.
“By the way you shouldn’t tell about my ankle to Will Solace.”
Percy narrowed his eyes at her, “And why’s that?”
“Because I lied to him about my ankle being fine.”
“You see I can’t take your side on this.”
Annabeth pulled him closer by his collar.
“You know you should take your girlfriend’s side.”
Percy licked his lips and smiled at her. “Not when my girlfriend keeps hurting herself.”
Annabeth glared at him and Percy leaned down and gave her a kiss. A proper kiss that made Annabeth’s mind stutter.
Can minds stutter?
“I won’t tell him, if you agree to tell me whenever you’re hurt. No more hiding. Deal?”
“Deal.”
They just sat like that and spoke for a while. She stole candies from him, and he stole kisses from her. They stayed there for a couple hours sharing stories and enjoying each other’s warmth.
Percy kissed her forehead before heading out to get them breakfast. And Annabeth didn’t even try to hide her happy smile as she watched him go. She was hopelessly in love with him and
there was no denying it. Annabeth was also convinced by now that the safest place in the world was Percy’s arms.