𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 - 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐔

Annabeth

I woke up, slightly shivering under my thin blanket. It was one of those chilly mornings, where despite it being July, it was freezing cold. I regret wearing a tank top and shorts now.

I got up, sliding my bare feet onto the floor, looking for my fuzzy slippers. Again, I was hit with a blast of cold wind, and wished I was back in my cocoon of a warm blanket.

I pulled up enough energy, and walked to the curtains at my bedroom window. I prepared myself for the harsh sunlight, and drew them aside.

Yup, my eyes burned, so I shut them, hissing slightly.

The sunlight could wait.

I opened my eyes slowly, rubbing the left one, because it felt slightly itchy. I stumbled over to the bathroom, before-

"ANNABETH!" a child's voice bellowed, and some bundle jumped onto my back. I yelped, startled, and fell over, sprawling on the cold floor. Another weight sprang on our pile of three people, and I gave another muffled yelp.

Well, that improves the morning.

"Good morning, Annabeth!" Matthew and Bobby's euphoric voices filled my ears, but did nothing to cheer me up. They both got off me.

I exhaled slowly, blowing my tumble of hair out of my face, and twisted around, glaring at them both. Their grins didn't falter, adding to my irritation.

"It's not a 'good' morning yet." I said, rubbing my back. I got up. "But it might improve when I beat you up!"

I grabbed Bobby, and my hands flitted to his sides, tickling mercilessly. His hands pushed at me, but I continued relentlessly. His bright guffaws brought a grin to my face.

I let him go, and searched my room for Matthew, while Bobby gasped for breath, giggling still.

I got up, stepping around slowly, with a smile on my face. "Come on out, Matthew." I heard a surreptitious giggle from my closet, and whipped around. I snuck towards it, then grabbed the handles, and threw the closet doors open, revealing my red faced, smiling brother.

"Gotcha!" I yelled, launching at him and tickling non-stop. He also doubled over, but I went behind his back, wrapping my arms around his waist, and lifting him up. He laughed heartily, kicking his legs, and I threw him on my bed.

I smirked at my twin brothers, hands on my hips. "Now, it's a good morning." I blew them both a kiss, and they chortled. Then, I pointed to the door.

"I got to change. Out." They both scrambled out the door, and I chuckled to myself. I picked some comfy joggers, and a thigh length shirt with the Deathly Hallows symbol on it. I chuckled again, remembering how much I had pestered my dad and Helen for this shirt. It was worth it though, I adored it.

I changed, and got out of my room. I passed by a picture of my brothers and me at the Golden Gate bridge, and smiled. I was kneeling down, both my hands on my brother's shoulders, all of us grinning at the camera.

I loved my brothers, though I'd never admit it to their faces. Tell them I said this, and I'll kill you, whoever you are.

I went to the stairs, and ran down, jumping the last four stairs. I came to the kitchen to see Helen amusedly sipping from a mug and watching Bobby and Matthew argue for a chair.

I simply rolled my eyes, and walked over. I shoved them both, and sat in the chair, glaring at my brothers with a dare to contradict. They said nothing, walking dejectedly over and sitting in the chairs on the other end of the table.

Helen put her mug down on a purple coaster, fairly entertained. "Where's Dad?" I asked.

"Upstairs." She said, vaguely waving her hand up the stairs. "His morning routine takes a while." She cocked an eyebrow, rolling her eyes in fake annoyance, and I snorted.

"Boys." I said jokingly.

"Hey!" Bobby and Matthew protested in sync, while me and Helen laughed. Then, my dad came down.

"Hey, what's so funny?" He asked, smiling. I guess laughter is contagious.

"Oh, you know." Helen said, still grinning. "We were just talking about how you get ready in such a short time."

"Oh, yeah", I agreed. "Lightning fast, Dad."

"Oh, come on", he said, chuckling. "I only take, like, 10 minutes."

"Define 10 minutes", Helen deadpanned. Dad raised his hands in surrender, still chuckling.

"Alright, alright", he said. "But hey, I've got to keep you around. High maintenance is a bit of a necessity."

Helen nodded thoughtfully. "That I'll take." She kissed him on the cheek and went to keep her mug inside the sink.

"So, what's for breakfast?" He asked, sitting at the table with us. 

"Maybe we could go out?" Helen's voice came from the kitchen. "I don't really feel like cooking today, I'm tired."

"You okay?" Dad asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, Frederick", Helen said, and I could almost hear her eyes rolling. "Don't worry, I was just asking if we could eat outside."

"How about I cook?" Dad asked. "What?" he asked, looking at all of our scared faces.

"Dad", I said, "I love you, I really do, but you do not belong in the kitchen."

"Wait, come on", Dad insisted, turning to me. "I cook just fine."

I gave him a sympathetic look. "You really don't."

He turned to Bobby and Matthew incredulously, who gave him simultaneous looks of agreement, and went back to arguing about something.

He looked at Helen, who was leaning against the kitchen doorway, and asked, "I'm not that bad, right?"

Helen shrugged. "You cooked fine that one time before we got married."

I stifled a laugh, as Dad blushed. "Dad, tell her", I insisted, as he proceeded to stare at the table.

Helen looked at us both, confused. "Am I missing something here?"

"Uh, no, not really", Dad started, looking at me. I raised my eyebrow, smiling.

"Okay, I'm curious now", Helen said, raising an eyebrow at Dad. "What is it?"

"I, uh, I didn't cook that night." Dad admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. He still didn't meet Helen's eyes. "I ordered take out."

Her reaction was priceless. She looked at Dad, looked at me, and looked back at Dad. She rolled her eyes, smiling.

"So, it's decided." Dad looked up at her. She gestured to the next room. "We're going out." 

"WAFFLES!" Bobby and Matthew both yelled, running upstairs to get their coats. 

I followed them both, grinning at Dad and Helen.