Chapter 13

"You didn't have to get involved." Sally said as she gently took off some of the bandaids from Percy's face."I couldn't let Smelly Gabe hurt you." Percy said softly, slightly wincing as his mother took off the bandaids."Do you think I want you to get hurt instead?" Sally slightly scolded, throwing out the bloodied plasters.

Percy stayed quiet as he stared at his mother who was getting some disinfectant and put some of it onto a q-tip. Sally brought the q-tip to one of Percy's scratches and Percy grimaced and winced even more. Percy gritted his teeth together, trying to stay still as his mother disinfected his wounds.

"Where is the idiot anyway?" Percy grumbled as his mother finally finished disinfecting his wounds and threw out the q-tip before getting some new bandaids. "He had to take a night away from 'my troublesome and aggressive child'." Sally scoffed. "He said he'd be at one of his friends' places, drinking and gambling no doubt..."

Percy stayed quiet, watching as his mother opened up one of the new bandaids and placing it towards one of Percy's cuts on his face. "... You don't think I'm troublesome, do you, mom?" Percy asked quietly as his mom pressed the bandaid against his cheek. Sally felt her heart crack in her chest as she met Percy's gaze and saw that he looked guilty, he looked... upset.

"Oh, honey." Sally whispered, holding Percy's chin and leaning in to place a gentle peck on his forehead. "I don't think you're troublesome, no. And neither are you aggressive. Gabe is... Gabe is a fool, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Percy felt his eyes well up and Sally hated to see her son like this.

She had to figure out a way out of this mess. She couldn't let her son get hurt even more. She couldn't let Percy feel so little and as though he wasn't one of the most perfect people on the earth.

"Percy, how about sometime next weekend, once your wounds have healed, you invite someone over? I'll make blue cookies and I'll make sure Gabe will be out of the house long enough for you to have a fun time." "... Someone? You want me to bring Annabeth over, don't you?""I want you to bring either Annabeth or Grover. Even both! Whatever you want, Percy." "... Okay..."

Percy's mood seemed to be lifted up a little by that but Sally could tell Percy still wasn't feeling well. She'd make him some sort of blue treat later on, right now, she had to bandage up his wounds again.

*****

Percy was in his room. His mom had given him a platter of different blue sweets. Some blue bonbons, blue gummies, blueberries (not a sweet, but Sally had to give Percy something healthy!) and many other things.

Percy was biting his lower lip as his thumb hovered over the call button on Annabeth's contact.

Percy took a deep breath and he pressed it, putting his phone up to his ear. Percy heard his phone ring and his knee bounced up and down, waiting for an answer.

Another moment passed and someone picked up. "Hello?" Percy's heart fluttered at the sound of Annabeth's voice. "Hey, Annie." Percy said, feeling himself smile. "Percy, is everything okay?" Annabeth asked, her voice filled with worry. Percy cleared his throat.

"Yeah, uhm... I was just wondering if sometime next week you'd be down to coming over to my place to hang out for a bit. I still need to figure out details with my mom, but I figured I should ask if you're down with it first..." Percy said, feeling his heart beat race, nervous for Annabeth's answer.

Annabeth seemed to stay silent for a few moments. That made Percy even more nervous.

"Sure. Sounds good." Annabeth sounded as though she was smiling. "Really?" Percy said, letting out a sigh of relief. "I was so nervous you'd say no."

"Pfft, haha! I was trying to come up with an excuse not to go but my brain isn't working." Annabeth said with a giggle.

Percy smiled, knowing that Annabeth was joking. "Awh, sucks that now you agreed to hang out with me. You're gonna hate it so much." Percy said, leaning back on his bed and resting on his back. "Yeah, I am." Annabeth continued on with this joking tone.

"Is that all you wanted to say, Percy? You could've messaged me that." "I just wanted to hear your voice too.""...Stop it, Percy. You're being all dorky again." "Haha, you're blushing, aren't you?" "No!!" "Pfft, hahaha!!"

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Word count: 772