Chapter 7

Percy hated how loud his step-dad was while he was watching the football game. Percy was laying in his bedroom, trying to sleep, but Gabe was being loud and yelling loudly out of frustration at the TV. Percy didn't know where his mother was, and he was worried that Gabe may try to-

Percy sat up as his door slowly opened. Percy looked over and saw his mother looking in."Oh, did I wake you up?" Sally asked softly as she entered and quietly shut the door behind her."Mom, I haven't gotten an ounce of sleep because of Smelly Gabe." Percy smiled, reassuring his mother that she didn't wake him up.Sally managed to smile back at Percy as she made her way over and sat down next to her son on his bed.

Percy rested his head on Sally's shoulder and Sally wrapped her arm around Percy's shoulder, rubbing it and kissing his forehead."You may have to go to school sleep deprived tomorrow too." Sally said softly. "I don't know how long he'll be up.""Eugh, I've survived worst." Percy grumbled.

Percy and Sally stayed silent and they heard the muffling sounds of Gabe's yelling. Percy flinched when he heard some sort of glass smash and Sally took a deep breath."Drinking?" Percy mumbled."Mmhm..." Sally simply hummed in response.

"Asshole-" Percy began.Sally gave Percy a gentle slap on his shoulder."Hey, watch your language, Percy." Sally softly scowled.Percy looked up at his mom and Sally shot a glare at him. Percy smiled, he knew his mom could never get too angry at him.

"Hey mom?" Percy asked. "Mmhmm?" Sally titled her head at Percy as Percy lifted his head from her shoulder. Percy fiddled with his hands. "... The whole thing about soulmates... do you know..." Percy trailed off, feeling embarrassed to ask this. "...D-do you know how someone knows who their soulmate is?"

Sally blinked as Percy asked this. Percy always didn't like it when she spoke of soulmates because he believed they weren't a thing. Sally smiled, having a feeling she knew who Percy was thinking of.

Percy was thinking of Annabeth. Of course he was. I mean, he couldn't get that moment they shared out of his mind. How he met her gaze and all he could do was stare into her eyes, how her grey eyes seemed so... bright and beautiful, how time slowed down. How Percy felt a tug at his heart, a special connection, as if a string or something connected them together.

"Well, I'm not sure, honey." Sally answered. "But, it's a feeling that you've never felt before when you meet someone for the first time. A feeling that is... indescribable. You just know that you share a connection." Percy looked up at his mother and he met her gaze. Sally smiled at Percy. "... You'll know when you meet them, Percy." Sally said softly.

"You mentioned your new friend, Annabeth, how she talked to you about Greek mythology, yes?" Sally questioned, still rubbing Percy's shoulder. "Mmhm..." Percy nodded as he hummed. "Well, there's this myth about soulmates. I don't think I've told you about it before, have I?" Sally asked. Percy shook his head, keeping his gaze on his mom and listening intently.

"Well, it was once believed that humans were whole. That we had two heads, four legs, four arms, that two people were fused as one." Sally began. "And these two people fused were soulmates. One day, the Gods feared the power of humans. How they had this courage, hope and strength as they were with their other half." Percy tilted his head.

"The Gods feared humans? Really?" Percy questioned. "Well, think of it like this. When we see a spider, we can get freaked out. But they're still smaller than us. We may be more powerful than a small spider, but we're still afraid." Sally smiled. "It's the same with the Gods and humans. They were afraid of the power that humans held. That these humans could have these emotions."Percy blinked and he hummed.

"So, what did they do?" Percy asked."Well, Zeus, the King of the Gods, decided to split humans in half. Apart from their soulmate." Sally answered. "Which caused a lot of negative emotions, such as despair and a longing feeling. These humans who were separated from their soulmates went for days without eating, without moving, doing nothing because they missed feeling whole with their soulmate."

Sally then shrugged, "But us humans then began to learn to live with it. And we are forever forced to wander the Earth, searching for our other half."

A silence overcame them. Even Gabe seemed to stop shouting for a moment.

Sally let out a soft sigh and she smiled at Percy. "When you meet your other half, when you spend time with them, you will feel whole here." Sally said, taking Percy's hand and placing his hand over his chest, over where his heart would be. "So, keep that in mind, Percy." Percy stared at his mother and he glanced down at where his hand was being held. Sally gently took her hand away and Percy did so too.

"So-" Percy began. "Sally! Where the hell are you?! Get over here and make me a goddamn sandwich!" Gabe had interrupted by yelling loudly for Sally. Sally sighed and Percy frowned as his mother got up. "Goodnight, my dear." Sally smiled at Percy. "... Goodnight, mom." Percy said quietly as his mother held his gaze.

Sally made her way towards the door of Percy's room. "Sally?!" "Yes! Yes, I heard you!" "Hurry up then!!" Percy frowned as his mother quickly left his room and shut his door behind her. He could hear her running towards the kitchen.

Percy looked down at his chest and he pressed his hand over his heart again. Percy tightened his grip on his t-shirt.

Feel whole again? That sounded silly, but... did Percy feel whole when he was with Annabeth earlier?

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Word count: 1006