Forbidden Quests

Chapter 42

Annabeth

Gods, I was happy.

I stared at Percy's sea green eyes as he sent a small wave at me, Piper and Thalia before turning and trotting after the group of Questers. I know I had a small smile stuck on my mouth, but I didn't care.

He came. He seems like he still cares for me. In a friendly way. But there were some moments where it seemed like there was something more than friendship between us.

The kiss was never brought up, so things hadn't become too awkward. I wanted to talk about it, though. I wanted to know if it was just a one time deal or... I don't know. I can see why we didn't talk about it now, for we hadn't seen each other in a while and I think it would be jumping into things too quickly. But I still found myself staring at Percy's lips sometimes when he was talking to someone, or remembering the feel of his gentle lips on mine, moving softly in delicate motion.

I shook the thoughts of that out of my mind. I didn't even know if he liked me in that way. I would have to draw up the tiny ounce of patience I have and attempt to use it to wait.

I realized I had been staring at the place where I had last seen Percy, and reluctantly yanked my gaze away. My gray orbs searched for my two best friends who were standing beside me. Thalia was eyeing a nymph walking by. More like she was eyeing the tray of food the nymph was carrying. Piper, however, was staring at the spot where the group had disappeared, a slightly dreamy look in her kaleidoscope eyes. I had noticed her and Jason frequently talking, and I suspected that Piper McLean, the daughter of Aphrodite who has never fallen for someone, has fallen hard. I smiled. Jason was a nice guy, and I believed he would be good for Piper. But I would still have to give him the "if you hurt my best friend, I will track you down and bring you your doom" lecture.

"Come on! Let's go get lunch, guys! I'm starving." Thalia's desperate and demanding plea jerked me out of my musing, and I remembered that we had met over lunchtime. I hadn't noticed, because before the meeting, I was too nervous to feel any of my physical needs, and during the meeting, I was too happy and giddy to even feel anything. Now that everything was over, though, I could hear my stomach begging for food.

I nodded, poking Piper's shoulder to get her attention, snapping her out of her daze. I smirked at her startled expression, then started following Thalia back to my room. We had thought ahead and asked the kitchen nymphs to bring food to my rooms so we could eat there. We wouldn't be dining with my mother or Drew today for the meeting had taken place during our usual mealtime with them.

Yes, I know. We had to eat lunch with Miss Snobby Drew as well as my uptight mother. My mom has invited her to lunch everyday, and everyday, Drew accepts the invitation. Athena is convinced that we are all the best of friends. She obviously doesn't see all the glares, pained looks, and scowls that went on between me and my best friends and Drew. I hated every minute of it, and I couldn't wait until the end of the Game, which would mean Drew's time at the temple would be over. Done. She'd be gone. Hopefully never to be seen again. It sounded like paradise.

But I didn't know what that meant for Percy. Was he just staying for the week? What was he doing after the Game? I shuddered inwardly at the thought of him leaving. Again.

Thinking of Percy made me think of the news that he had brought about this Luke character placing threats on me, the "Siren" (I had no idea why they called me that). It had also somehow transported me back into "life." I had spent most of my days saddened and groveling over the law that I had forgotten why we had the council in the first place. It was easy to forget, seeing as there has been nothing bad happening to me since the council. Well, that's if you don't count as being split from Percy bad. I certainly did. But the way I'm using "bad" means no more attempted assassinations on my life, or any other life threatening ordeals.