Seaweed and Wise - Never letting go

A bit of the past

A story from the time Percy was gone - napped by Hera... It's from my other book but I love it too much and thought I'd put it here too :)

The moment they returned, Katie rushed to find Annabeth, leaving her Hermes boys behind. Why was it so often a group of two boys and one girl headed out? It happened that only boys or only girls were sent out but this seemed the most favorite combination. Now she wondered how easy and fast a quest with Annabeth and Clarisse would be, if those two could stop competing for a bit.
"Hey-" she was finally there, opening the doors of Athena's cabin. If Annabeth wasn't there, she'd check Percy's...
"Katie!" Annabeth stuck a bookmark in her book and let it fall on her bed in her quick getting up. "I'm glad you're back."
"Me to, but we didn't find any-"
"It's alright Katie, I'm not giving up but I know he's okay, I just do."
"How?"
How did Annabeth know? How could Percy have known...
"It's like he's frozen in time and calling out to me... I just know we'll be fine."
Katie looked at Annabeth, measuring her up and comparing that to all she had to carry on her shoulders. The prophecy wasn't about her after all but Annabeth was part of it again, it has been decided... Once Argo was ready to sail and the time was right, they'd go with Piper and Leo, and that other kid, Jason. They talked about Christmas then, stringing a more happy conversation after complaining about their fathers shortly. Katie didn't even realize that he didn't bother contacting her in any way. Maybe he sent a present, at least. She told Annabeth about it all, about seeing Thalia and spending the time with Connor and Travis's family, how she didn't even realize such spirit could be felt from anything else but a cheesy Christmas movie. Annabeth spoke in a more careful tone, telling her of staying at Sally's. So Travis was right...
"She even got me presents, Katie. This book and that other, and a cardigan, a candle- Paul got me some drawing supplies and a Taylor Swift CD, and-" Annabeth laughed. It was the first genuine sign of pure happiness Katie's seen in a while and she planned to cherish that moment.
"A CD, you say?"
"Wanna listen to it?"
Katie looked at her as if she were crazy. "Hell yeah I do."

"She wears high heels
I wear sneakers
She's Cheer Captain, and I'm on the bleachers"
Annabeth and Katie screamed the songs, reading lyrics in the tiny pamphlet that was added to the plastic case.
The door opened and Malcolm slowly took the situation in, closing it after a good hunch that his sister was very alive and not exactly suffering at the moment. He was slightly intimidated and scared he'd be forced to sing too. Annabeth was about to push the play button on their CD player when the door cracked open again. It was Rachel. The girls snickered at each other and beckoned the redhead in.
"What's up? I could swear my paintbrushes rattled from all the noise you two are making."
"Annabeth got a Taylor Swift CD for Christmas."
Rachel smiled, probably at the fact that Annabeth got Christmas presents too.
"We're screaming our emotions out," Annabeth gave her her most angelic smile. "Get in girl. And put something heavy against that door. Three, two, one-"
"Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one
Who understands you
Been here all along
So, why can't you see?
You belong with me!!!"
There was a short moment the other girls thought singing this wasn't such a good idea after all but Annabeth seemed fine. "You belong with me..."
"Soo- I will not cry, you two. I'm all run out. Stop looking at me like that." Annabeth smiled. "Really... Or i won't put in this." She opened her drawer and waved another CD. "They got me this Avril too."
"No way." Rachel grabbed the thing and opened it with such enthusiasm even the god of boredom would consider it entertaining and join.
"I'm glad you got spoiled this Christmas. And that you're sharing with us." Katie smiled. "So where were you during the jolly holly, beloved speaker of Delphi?"
"Eh- well with my parents of course but not once did I manage to force a prophecy out, just for the fun of it..."
They giggled like the teenagers they were. And even though sadness was evident in Annabeth's voice as they followed the lyrics and chatted, they enjoyed themselves, especially Annabeth and Rachel when the 'girlfriend' song started. They made a little reenactment of their former catty relationship. It was almost as if everything would be fine from then on. No missing boyfriends, no war, no prophecies, no darkness bothering your dreams...
"I'm going to pack it up guys." Katie grinned at the unexpected duo sitting on the bed. "Still tired from our travels."
"Oh, alright... Goodnight," Annabeth waved at her, a little tired herself.
"Night, Katie."
"Goodnight. And I'm forcing you to watch Hannah Montana tomorrow."
"Hannah who?"
"That's another singer, it's a movie about her alias." Rachel filled in Annabeth's gaps in current pop culture.
"Okay... If you say so... Thank you- Katie tell that to Travis and Connor too, thank you for trying."
She smiled upon leaving, happy she was home again. Katie was sure she heard a bit of their conversation then. Something about "Yes they're totally into each other." and "No Rachel, I don't think. Shut up-" She laughed at that and thanked her lucky star she had all this. It was truly worth fighting for.

(So this should be happening in like 2011 I think... Went a little strong into that era... Just kidding I never left those songs behind 🤣)
*The fact that Paul and Sally would totally invite Annabeth over and get her presents makes me so happy... And someone would totally blast those icons of that era in camp, you can't tell me otherwise XD
*Paul and Sally going through stores, thinking up presents for Annabeth... That just... Ugggghhhh 💙