The Daughter

chapter 9 - the boyfriend

"but darling when you smile it's like the rain dries out" - cool people, chloe x halle

Annabeth Chase

The next week was amazing. Katelyn and I were completely inseparable and hung out almost every day. I let myself be more like myself around her, and it really paid off. This may have all started as a way to protect her, but now I just liked being around her.

 "You just cheated," Katelyn said. We were in my room, playing Phase Ten.

"I did not!" I exclaimed.

"You totally did!" She said, "No way that was legal. I don't believe it."

"You know what, fine, get the rules." Katelyn grabbed the rules and started reading over them in her head, "So?" I asked after a little while.

"..It was legal." She said quietly.

"Ha! I win!" I said triumphantly.

"Whatever," Katelyn said while rolling her eyes.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Katelyn and I made eye contact, confused. After another knock, I opened the door to a grinning Percy. 

"Percy!" I gave him a giant hug. It had been forever since I had seen him.

"Hey!" Gods, it had been a while since I had heard that. When we finally pulled away from each other, Percy waved to Katelyn, "Hey." Katelyn saluted him back.

"You're Percy? The new transfer that everyone's drooling over?" She asked.

"Yup, that's me," He replied.

"Nice to meet you," Katelyn said, "If you guys need some privacy I can go. I should probably start my homework anyways." She started to walk out the door.

"I'll see you later!" I called after her. She waved back in response.

"Is that...?" Percy asked.

"I think so," I said, "She has dyslexia and ADHD, and only her mom at home."

"Got it. Any idea who her dad is?"

"No, but that'll be figured out when we get her to camp."

"Yeah speaking of camp," Percy started, "How are we getting her there exactly?

"Not sure." I paused, "I mean we could always just tell her the truth."

"You mean just straight up tell her that all of Greek mythology is real and that she's a demigod."

"I mean it's better than waiting for a monster to attack to tell her," I said defensively.

"Okay yeah," Percy sighed, "But she's gonna think we're crazy."

"Well, then we show her," I said matter-of-factly, "We just need to get her out of here before her life is in danger."

"Fine," Percy said after a long pause, "We'll tell her the truth, and then I'll show her riptide or something."

"Next week Tuesday."

"Next week?" Percy asked incredulously.

"Next week," I said, definitive.

"Okay."

And that's the end! Kind of a lazy chapter. If I'm completely honest writing Percy and Annabeth interactions is a struggle.

Next chapter should be longer (spoiler: lots of angst and pining) so stay tuned for that

- Temi