Come Back to Me[Sequel to YME and Crossing Paths]

Chapter Twenty One: Three Things

Chapter Twenty One: Three Things

Annabeth

Three things happened to me on April Eighteenth. 1. I woke up in the morning feeling awful. Percy had his arms wrapped around me, and my stomach was gurgling loudly. I figured I was just hungry, but a feeling of nausea washed over me. I slowly got up, then ran to the bathroom and hunched over the toilet, knowing I would vomit soon. After a few minutes, it never came, so I leaned up against the bathroom wall, waiting for something to happen.

I could hardly open my eyes without feeling like lightning was shooting through my head, and I couldn't stand without feeling faint, so I just sat there. About half an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

"Annabeth? Are you alright?" Percy asked. Concern lined his voice.

I couldn't speak, so I moaned in response.

He opened the door and stuck his head in. When he saw me, he got a cool towel and placed it on my forehead. "You are burning up, Wise Girl."

"I'm fine, I just need to lay down for a few minutes..." I mumbled.

"No. You are staying home today."

"But I–" that's when I hunched over the toilet and let it all out. Percy held my hair back and rubbed tight circles in my back. When I was done, he handed me a tissue to wipe my mouth.

"You are staying home."

•••

The second thing that happened was almost worse. Percy was called into work, so I was home alone and unable to get out of bed due to my weakness.

When there was a knock at my door, I assumed it was Piper, since she said she was bringing over alphabet soup.

"Come in," I said horsley. The door slowly creaked open, then I felt the bed sink as someone sat down. I rolled over to see who it was, and nearly screamed.

Ken Lore was sitting on my bed, smiling at me sympathetically. "I'm sorry you're feeling this way...you could have called and asked me to come."

I coughed, "Are you delusional? How do you even know where I live?"

"It's pretty easy, you know. It's in your file at work."

"I...I never hired you."

"I quit my tv show to work for your mother, since she didn't know who I was, then I got transferred here."

"No. Get out of my apartment, I don't want you near me. Don't you remember when I broke up with you?"

"Sweetheart, you left me in a hotel room alone and hungover."

"I will ask you once...get out, or I'm calling the PD and getting a restraining order."

"Go right ahead. I just want what's best for you, and Jackson certainly isn't the best for you."

"Get. Out." I croaked.

Ken put his hands up in surrender and smiled, backing towards the door. "As you wish."

•••

The last thing wasn't great either, but it was better. When Percy got home with Annie, he brought me a bowl of alphabet soup to cheer me up.

"I brought you a big bowl of alphabet soup, scalding hot, just the way you like it."

"Thank you." I gladly accepted the soup and took a sip, then glared up at him. "It's cold."

"But it's steaming..." Percy said. "I can heat it up more if you want." he added quickly.

"Please?"

He took the bowl back to the kitchen. I decided to scroll through my phone and check our email since I hadn't all day. A new one popped up in the email I shared with Percy, from Doctor Jarred Langley. Confused, I clicked on it.

To: chaseNjackson93.gmail.com

Subject: MRI and CT scan payments and additional info.

Perseus Jackson,

I hope this email finds you in good health. Your payments for the MRI and CT scans as well as the appointment are 90% covered by insurance, leaving you with a payment of $225.87. Additional appointments will cost $186.42.

A reminder that your next appointment is on April Twenty-First.

Doctor Jarred Langley, Neurologist MD

I frowned, confused. When Percy walked back in with the even hotter soup, I handed him my phone.

"Why were you at the neurologist?"

He sighed, then shook his head. "It's nothing to worry about, I'm fine. I'm just helping out a friend at work who doesn't have insurance yet."

"Oh, okay. Sorry."

"It's fine. If I got an email like that I'd be concerned too." he smiled. "Eat the soup, and text if you need help. I'm going to make Annie dinner."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you more."

"Not possible," I grinned.

•••

I updated...I also wrote this chapter in exactly an hour from 8:54 PM to 9:54 PM on a very hot Tuesday night...

Be honest, did anyone think Annabeth was pregnant at the beginning? I feel like there will always be a few people, but it is just the stomach flu.

Love y'all