Chapter 9

Percy stared at Annabeth's contact on his phone screen.

He was nervous. I mean, would Annabeth think he was a weirdo for having her number?? What if this was a bad time to message her? I mean, Percy would rather message her now, since Gabe was out of the house (something that rarely happens) and that meant he wouldn't burst in Percy's room at any point, and Percy's mom was just relaxing for once in her life.

Percy took a deep breath and he decided to type out a message to Annabeth. It'd be fine!! It would be totally okay!

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"Seriously Frederick! Your daughter is just trying to get attention! It is frustrating when I have my own children to take care of!!" "Sweetheart, look, Annabeth wouldn't lie-" "Really? When she is crying and yelling that there are spiders all around her room and I run in to check on her, what do I find? Your child just being a huge baby in an empty room!!"

Annabeth hated her step-mom. She disliked how her father tried to stand up for her but never seemed to succeed at it. Annabeth wished she wasn't such a burden.

The arguing happens at least once or twice a week between her dad and step-mom.

So, that means that Annabeth is stuck trying to blast music in her ears through her headphones, trying her best to not eavesdrop, yet she cannot help it. The music isn't loud enough to deafen the shouts and wails of her step-mom.

Annabeth laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Annabeth never lies. Well, of course, there are those white lies, but she would never lie to get attention. She has seen a horde of spiders in her room, crawling out of every crevice of her bedroom. Whether that was a nightmare or real, Annabeth didn't know. All she knew was that it felt real. And she could feel those spiders crawling on her body.

Annabeth felt the tears prickle at the edge of her eyes and she scoffed, hiding her face in her hands. This was hell. Nothing ever helped Annabeth relax when her step-mom would start berating her father.

Annabeth took her hands away from her face when her phone vibrated next to her on her bed. Annabeth raised her eyebrows, wondering who it could be. Luke and Thalia were busy this evening, Annabeth knew they wouldn't message her. Annabeth sat up and she grabbed her phone, looking at the notification.

An unknown number?

Annabeth clicked on the message and read it.

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Unknown:Hey! Soo, it's Percy Jackson, yk, the guy who you gave a chocolate bar and apple to earlier. Please don't think I'm weird, Luke gave me your number earlier and well...he thought this would help us talk to each other more!

Unknown:Please tell me this is actually Annabeth and not a random fake number Luke gave to me to mess with me?

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Annabeth blinked at the messages.Luke had given Percy her number?! Seriously?! Why would he-?

"I don't understand why you-!!" Annabeth heard her step-mom begin to yell again. Annabeth decided to try and block out what her step-mom was going to say next.

Annabeth looked back at the messages and she felt a small smile on her face as she saved Percy's number and began to message him back.

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Annabeth:Haha, hi Percy. Dw, Luke wouldn't do that, it's my number, I swear :)

Annabeth:Glad you said that Luke gave you my number otherwise I would've thought you were a stalker of some sort!

Percy:That's exactly why I mentioned Luke, I swear I am not a weird stalker.

Percy:But hi! you up to anything rn??

Annabeth:Not really, just listening to some music, just relaxing in my room. Trying to distract myself.

Percy:Distract yourself from what??

Annabeth:Nothing for you to worry about :)

Annabeth:What about you? What are you up to?

Percy:Nothing really! I'm just chilling out in my room, messaging ya :D

Percy:If you want some sort of distraction, maybe we could call? Facetime?

Annabeth:Is this also to make sure that Luke didn't deceive you?

Percy:Sort of

Percy:but I also wanna see your pretty face :)

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Annabeth felt her cheeks warm up as she read that message. Her eyes were glued to that message and her heart skipped a beat.

God, why was a boy making her feel like this?! Especially since she just met him a couple of days ago!!

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Percy:Ajjfnajfjs sorry, was that weird??

Percy:I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I just wanted to compliment you!

Percy:That sounds like I didn't mean the compliment, I do mean it! I mean, you're quite pretty. Your grey eyes are really pretty, especially the way that they were filled with passion when you talked about Greek mythology to me

Percy:I'm being weird, hahaha, sorry

Percy:block me if I am weirding you out, I honestly would understand!!!

Annabeth:you're a dork, just call me already :) Read

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Annabeth bit her lower lip as Percy read her message. She waited patiently for Percy to call and she had turned off her music, lowering her volume too.

The call appeared on screen, and Percy wanted to facetime her. Annabeth took a look at herself first, fixing her hair and making sure she didn't look like she had nearly been crying or that it looked like she was upset. Annabeth then answered the call and the image of Percy appeared.

A silence overcame them and Percy smiled nervously, leaning back against the wall. "Hey." Percy said. Annabeth saw how her cheeks were still a little red and she smiled back at Percy. "Hi." Annabeth said, holding her phone in her hands and resting her phone on top of her knees as she brought her legs up.

Annabeth studied Percy. His hair was slightly tousled, he looked slightly tired, but he seemed genuinely happy to see Annabeth, she could tell by the shine in his eyes.

"Erm, so, did I weird you out by calling your face pretty?" Percy asked, feeling awkward in this silence. Annabeth blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and she smiled, shaking her head at Percy. "Pfft, haha! No, no... I appreciate it. Not many people compliment me for my looks." Annabeth said, shrugging slightly as she looked away from Percy.

"I've... I've been complimented for my smarts, but even then, a lot of people only became my friend because I could help them with homework or give them good notes to pass tests..." Percy frowned slightly as Annabeth seemed to sigh out. "... Sorry." Percy said softly. "You did nothing, Percy." Annabeth smiled at Percy. "I just decided to mention that depressing fact for some reason, so don't feel bad!"

"Well, hey, if you got any good notes for biology-" Percy began. "Not happening, Perseus." Annabeth said, raising an eyebrow at Percy. "... Dam, okay." Percy said. "Oh well, I'll stick around for your wits and beauty." Annabeth's cheeks warmed up and Percy seemed to internally scold himself.

"Sorry, sometimes I just-" Percy began. "Speak without thinking?" Annabeth smiled at Percy, slightly tilting her head to the side. Percy met Annabeth's gaze and he smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Exactly." Percy said.

Annabeth cleared her throat and she smiled at Percy. "How has it been? Being at this school?" Annabeth asked. "Oh, well, there are some pros, some cons." Percy shrugged. "For example...?" Annabeth urged Percy to go on. "Cons; the schedule is difficult to read, the food is disgusting, I have no classes with Grover!" Percy exclaimed. "Pros; Grover and I are still in the same school, I may have met-" Percy stopped himself and he smiled nervously. "... I met you, and you're really... awesome, Annie. And we share a biology class together!"

Annabeth raised her eyebrows at Percy."You flatter me too much." Annabeth said."You deserve to be flattered." Percy shrugged."... Are you typically this smooth with girls?" Annabeth smiled, meeting Percy's gaze."... I've never really talked to many girls before." Percy said. "A lot of people tend to avoid me. I'm a 'weirdo', that's how Grover and I became friends because he was also classed as a weirdo."

Annabeth hummed."So, why did you and Grover transfer schools?" Annabeth asked. "Oh, we got expelled." Percy said. "A lot of my school years end with me being expelled! You can tell I'm a top student!" Annabeth grimaced.

"... Do you get a lot of bad grades or...?" Annabeth questioned. "I somehow manage to get the blame for anything that explodes or causes destruction, whether I do it accidentally, or I don't do it at all!" Percy smiled. "Grover took the fall with me at our previous school. He's really a good friend..." Annabeth smiled, "Grover sounds like a good friend." "Yeah, he really-" Percy began.

"Annabeth!" Both Percy and Annabeth tensed up as Annabeth heard her step-mom call for her. "... Your mom?" Percy questioned. "Step-mom." Annabeth said, shrugging slightly at Percy. Percy studied Annabeth's gaze. He didn't see any sort of positive emotion in her eyes when she said that it was her step-mom.

"Are you o-?" Percy began. "Annabeth, I swear to god, if you don't get over here-!" Annabeth's step-mom yelled again. "I'm coming! God!" Annabeth yelled back, looking over towards her door.

Annabeth looked back at Percy and she gave him a weak smile. "Sorry... I need to go." Annabeth said. Percy noticed a look of anxiousness in Annabeth's eyes. "... Message me soon, let me know if you're okay." Percy said, feeling anxious for Annabeth now. "Mmh... bye." Annabeth said, hanging up on Percy.

Percy stared at his screen once Annabeth hung up and he furrowed his eyebrows as he leaned his head back and looked up at his ceiling as he held his phone over his chest. Was Annabeth afraid of her step-mom? Why did she seem so nervous? Why did Annabeth have to distract herself? Was her step-mom abusive, like Gabe was?

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Word count: 1685