The Lightning Thief (Argo/hbh's Version)

The following is something I never want to experience again.

Percy's POV

I got out of the cab and walked to mom's apartment. A word about my mother, before you meet her. 

Her name is Sally Jackson and she's the best person in the world, which just proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck. Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five, and she was raised by an uncle who didn't care much about her. She wanted to be a novelist, so she spent high school working to save enough money for a college with a good creative-writing program. Then her uncle got cancer, and she had to quit school her senior year to take care of him. After he died, she was left with no money, no family, and no diploma.

Now that that's clear, back to the story. So I was leading my friends to mom's apartment and opened the door. "Mom..? I'm home." I said quietly, not wanting to disturb Smelly Gabe. 

"Your mom isn't home, kid." Smelly Gabe answered. He was playing poker again with his buddies. I looked at Anathea and Heja and gestured for them to go to my room.

Now, my room is when I'm not home Gabe's office, although I wonder why he even needs an office. As far as I know he doesn't work. So when we got to my room the girls could finally know why I said sorry in advance for the smell of my room. Alcohol, stink, the usual stuff. I quickly opened my window to let some fresh air in and threw empty beer cans into the trash can. I tried cleaning my bed as good as I could and gestured for them to sit there. 

We waited for mom to come back by playing chess with Anathea's little set. It was pretty much just Heja against Anathea while I was watching and laughing at Heja raging if she lost again, and laughed even more over Heja's happiness if she won from Anathea. Anathea tried showing me how chess works and wanted me to play a game against Heja but I didn't know any strategies or stuff so I lost miserably. When mom finally got home we walked out of my room. 

I ran towards my mom and hugged her tight. "Oh, Percy, I've missed you. You've grown since Christmas!" She said. "Mom.." I say a little awkward. I gesture towards Anathea and Heja. My mom smiled wide. "You two must be Heja and Anathea." She said. The girls nodded. 

Even though mom has never met my friends in real life she immediately joined us sitting on the bed and we talked about the past six months and played chess. She told us that she was planning on going to our lovely cottage at the beach. Now that Heja and Anathea were here as well she invited them to come as well, since they still had their clothes and stuff from Yancy's with them. "With the agreement of your parents of course." 

Heja and Anathea shared a look together and I immediately knew that they'd come up with something. I didn't ask what, I trust them enough to not get in trouble. 

"When are we leaving?" I asked. "Tomorrow, if that's okay." My mom answered. That sounded lovely. I smile. "Of course that is." 

Then my mom looked at Heja and Anathea. "Do you guys need to use our telephone real quick to call your parents?" She asked. Anathea nodded. "Do I need to show you guys?" Heja and Anathea shared a look again. I had a slight feeling that I knew what was going on when the two said no. "Oh okay. Well, it's in the living room, on the drawer next to the television." My mom said. "Okay, thanks." Heja said. Then the two girls walked out of my room. I knew it. They wanted to give us some time. We talked a little about personal stuff. 

Anathea's POV:

Gods, how was I supposed to do this? I let Heja call her dad first. She had a genuine conversation with him, asking him if she could go, apologizing for not immediately coming home. All of that stuff. I couldn't help but be jealous..