Troubled

73

chapter seventy-three
percy

"I..."

Rachel peered at me with wide eyes and an evil smile pressed on her face. "Come on, tell me! That's the least you can do after rejecting me on Thanksgiving."

I sighed as I uncomfortably itched the back of my neck. "Well, uh, it's complicated."

She rolled her eyes as she leaned back. "God, that word again. So, when was the last time you spoke to her?"

"You're really not gonna let this go, huh?" I asked.

Rachel shook her head and cackled evilly. "No, of course not. Now talk!"

"Fine. The last time we talked in person was early July. Then I wrote her a letter a few months ago with no reply," I admitted. "You happy?"

"No," Rachel responded. "How long were you two together?"

I bit my lip. "We've known each other for what, a year and two months now? Something like that...and we didn't even date a year."

Rachel frowned. "And you know she's the love of your life who you just can't get over?"

"Hey, I know you're mocking me, but you haven't met Annabeth!" I snapped, my face turning red. "She...she was beautiful, smart, like Columbia smart, and funny. The way she'd smirk at me like she knew everything, which she honestly probably did, and the way her gray eyes would look at me...."

"Gross," Rachel said as she stuck out her tongue. "You really like this girl. And her name is Annabeth, huh?"

I nodded. "Uh, yeah. I haven't told you that before?"

She shook her head. Then she jumped up and walked over to her desk where she grabbed a laptop and brought it over to me.

She opened it up and started typing some things into Google and sighed.

"Annabeth....Chase?" she asked.

I frowned as I tried to grab her computer, but she moved it out of my grasp. "Hey, how'd you do that?"

Rachel shrugged as she continued typing and scrolling on her computer. "Basic Google search. I searched for someone going to Columbia, since you mentioned that's where she went to school. And there are several Annabeth's at Columbia, but only a few freshman Annabeth's. And this one had a weird last name I can't pronounce, this one's name is actually Annabelle, so that leaves us with Miss Chase!"

"You're insane," I said. "And also correct. Is her picture on the Columbia website?"

Rachel shook her head. "Nope, but she had an easy to pronounce last name, putting her ahead of Annabeth....god, I still can't pronounce it! Wait, is this her?"

Rachel turned the screen around to show a picture of Annabeth which looked to be a few years old. It was a school photo where she had the nerdiest glasses I'd ever seen, and I made a mental note to tease her about that if I ever saw her again.

I nodded as I grabbed the computer from Rachel, who reluctantly handed it over to me. "This photo is old. Here we go, there she is now..."

I clicked on another photo of her. It was her school picture from senior year, the year we'd been together.

Rachel stared at the screen and nodded. "Yeah, she's gorgeous. I can see why you're hung up on her."

I shook my head. "You barely know the half of it. She's smart, too. And really funny. You'd probably love her."

Rachel rolled her eyes as she snatched the computer back. "I'm sure I would. Anyways, you're clearly still obsessed with her. Let's see if I can find her phone number...."

"I have her phone number, dumbie," I replied.

Rachel blinked. "Then why don't you just text her?"

I rolled my eyes as I placed a hand on my temple. "Oh my god, Rachel, why didn't I think of that? Because her phone was taken away. At least I think so as she hasn't replied to any of my texts."

"Well, you can't give up on her," Rachel assured me. "You're clearly head over heels for this girl, and I don't blame you."

"How can I contact her?" I asked.

Rachel shrugged. "She won't be under her parent's control forever. You just have to hope."

I wish it were that easy.