ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ʙɪᴛᴇꜱ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴀʙᴇᴛʜ/ꜱᴏʟᴀɴɢᴇʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴊᴇᴄᴛ

xxxɪɪ ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ | ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏʀ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ

Percy uses his cell phone camera as a mirror to help him get ready. It doesn't work all that well, but it is just Frank's glow-in-the-dark minigolf party. It's not like the others will be dressed any better than he is.

Woah. Glow in the dark. Glowing in the dark. Just like the prophecy. Maybe that isn't referring to Will. Still, it might be better to let Annabeth believe it is so that she stays on board with the plan. Whether or not she's crazy, Percy needs her help.

But gods, is she okay? Today was weird, and she was so completely unlike the Annabeth he fell in love with, and then she was kind of like the Annabeth he fell in love with.

She's so compelling. And completely gorgeous, even totally covered in whatever gross stuff came out of the gorgons.

After brunch, Nico had told Percy that all the monsters they've been killing aren't going back to Tartarus. He and Will had talked about it the other night; it started with Drew Tanaka's Stymphalian bird feather earrings, and then Annabeth killing the Minotaur. More recently, Annabeth and Reyna had killed an amphisbaena outside an Olive Garden, and just yesterday, two gorgons attacked Annabeth in the bathroom. It seems to Percy like the monsters have it out for Annabeth.

And he can't even offer her some extra protection; she won't want it. She'll just tell him to fuck off or something. Gods, why does she have to swear so much? That's not like her.

Yet, somehow, it draws him in even more. He's completely captivated by this woman who claims to be Annabeth Chase.

Of course, she is Annabeth. But it's hard to imagine that someone Percy was once so in love has turned into a near stranger.

Percy untucks his Hawaiian shirt and unbuttons the top three buttons. Then he decides to unbutton the rest of them. There. It's a little less tacky layered over a plain black t-shirt. He puts his phone and his hotel key into the pocket of his cargo shorts and he's ready to go.

Except for one thing.

He raps his knuckles against the door to the joining room. "Mom?" he calls.

A faint voice replies, "Come in!"

Percy opens the door. His mother smiles upon seeing him. "Hello, Percy."

"Is now a bad time? I just wanted to check in before I go to Frank's party," he says.

"You're fine. I was just about to lay down for a nap," she says. "We have a big day coming up."

"Listen, Mom," Percy says. "I'm starting to think going to this wedding isn't such a good idea. You know anything can happen. We're demigods."

"You're not the one who's supposed to be getting cold feet."

Percy takes his mother's hand in his. "I know, but I think something really bad could happen. I was talking to Annabeth and-"

"Oh, how is Annabeth?" Sally asks. "She hasn't come for dinner in so long. Are things okay between you two?"

No, things aren't okay. Annabeth hasn't been over for dinner in ten years. They broke up so long ago, and Percy hasn't been the same since. Forget having his heart broken; she had ripped it out of his chest and ran off to L.A. with it.

But it's been a rough day. Percy doesn't have the energy to retell the story of the day his heart was shattered into a million pieces. He's been trying extra hard not to think about it lately, especially now that Annabeth is... so... not Annabeth.

"Things are fine, Mom. She's good." It's okay to pretend in moderation. She'll probably remember the Annabeth she hugged in the lobby by tomorrow morning.

"Have fun at Frank's party. What are you doing again? Laser tag?" She comes close to remembering.

Percy forces a smile. "Minigolf. I can't wait to tell you all about it," he says.

"Tell Annabeth I say hello," says Sally.

Percy interjects. "Oh, it's the bachelor party. She won't be there."

"She'll be there. One way or another."

Percy swears he's going to figure Annabeth out, one way or another.

The smoke alarm begins to beep. He panics. Now there's a fire? How could this day get any worse?

"Okay, Mom, wrap your arms around my neck, and I'll carry you out. It's gonna be okay. It's gonna-"

"My pizza!"

Percy stops tugging on his mom. "What?"

"Oh, I left my frozen pizza in the oven. I must not have set a timer. I'm sorry, Percy, I'm just not remembering things like I used to." A tear falls down Sally's face.

"No, it's fine. It's completely fine." Percy rushes to the toaster oven and takes out the pizza. It smells bad, and it's blackened with char. What used to be a piece of pepperoni hits the floor. Yuck. It's not edible, even for someone like Percy.

He tosses it in a trash bag and ties it shut tight. He'll take it with him when he leaves for the party.

Sally begins to cough. The smoke is too strong, even Percy's eyes are watering.

"Hang on, Mom," Percy says. He opens the windows, hoping that some fresh air will help. "Come sit closer to the window."

Sally shakily rises to her feet. Percy grips her arm and eases her to a seat closer to the window.

"You don't need to fuss over me. I'm-" she's interrupted by another coughing fit.

"Take it easy. Just catch your breath. I'll get you a glass of water," Percy says.

He opens the minifridge and retrieves a plastic water bottle. Percy doesn't normally support plastic waste, but he doesn't really have a choice here. He pours some water into a flowery Dixie cup and brings it to his mother.

He gets on his knees and helps her hold the cup. Her hands are getting shakier by the day, and it worries him.

Sally puts her hand on his head, a silent 'thank you.'

Percy smiles. "I'll come back and turn off the lights when the party's over. I might be out later tonight. The party's going to be very long, and I'm supposed to be taking care of everyone when they have too much to drink."

"I always admired you for not drinking."

"I know, Mom," he says. "We're okay now. Sit here by the window. Don't try to get up until you know you can, okay?"

"I love you, Perc-" she begins to cough again.

Percy brings another sip of water to her lips.

Then he's surprised, and slightly traumatized by what happens next.

Sally's eyes widen, and she lets out a small gasp. "You came back!" she cries.

"I- I'm here. I'm still here," Percy says, once again panicking.

She reaches to hug him. "Oh, you'd be so proud of Percy; our son is a hero!"