The Runaway Princess

8. That Little Faker!

Ok, before you read this chapter I just want everyone to know that I've edited Thalia out of the book, for reasons that you'll discover later in the book. It's nothing dramatic, just Thalia's not in the book anymore. Ok so that's it! Enjoy!😄
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Um hi?" I reply, shocked that this was even happening. "It's Percy" he says as if it wasn't obvious. "I knew that" I reply dumbly. 'Wow, Annabeth that was really smart' I think and mentally face-palm. "Sorry if this is a little random, but Piper have me your number and I was just seeing if it worked" he rambles on. There's a tone to his voice that makes him sound almost as if he's nervous. To make matters worse I then proceeded to say something stupid like, "Oh cool."
For a few minutes we just kinda sit in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. "So um I guess I'll see you at school then?" He asks, breaking the awkward silence. I nod but then remember that this is a phone call, so he can't see me. "Um yeah, see you" I reply softly. There's a click as he hangs up the phone, leaving me feeling very
dumb and embarrassed.

                     ~
When Susan enters my bedroom in sitting on my bed with my head in my hands. "Annabeth?" She asks. "What?" I groan, not bothering to look up. "I need you to go to work" she orders, with an unpleasant scowl. See, Susan runs a small café near Central Park. I work there (unfortunately), because I need to save money for university. Pros; I get paid pretty well. Cons; Susan is my boss.

"You mean like this weekend you need me to work?" I ask, praying that I'm right. "No, I mean NOW," she says, emphasizing the word now as if I'm a two year old. "I plans tonight" I complain. It's risky but I'll take my chances. "Cancel," Susan commands, her arms planted firmly on her hips. "No," I argue, now we're both standing. "Fine," Susan says, and pulls a silver key out of her pocket. Suddenly, I'm not so sure about keeping my plans. The last time Susan pulled out that key it was torturous. I remember her words exactly, she said "I'm going to give you a list, you have three days to complete the list. If by the end of the third day it's not completed, then there will be consequences."
Over the years the consequences have changed, it used to be that if I didn't finish the list then I'd get locked in my room for as many hours as Susan felt needed but now that I'm older my punishment is work. Susan will make me work hours on end, both at the café and at home, without pay. By now I've realized one thing, I'm not Susan's daughter and I never will be. I'm her maid.
"I'll make you a deal," Susan starts, "you either work tonight and babysit the boys tomorrow or you can clean the whole house top to bottom and work the next two months without pay. Your choice." Susan smirks. She knows what I'll choose. Once again, she's won. "Okay, I'll work tonight and babysit tomorrow," I say, giving in. "Great!" Susan exclaims, clapping her hands together.

I sigh, and run the many stairs from my bedroom, down to the main floor and grab my coat.
As I walk through the snow, I text Thalia. 'So much for happily ever after' I think as I start my car.

When I arrive at the café I'm greeted by several people. Then there's Julie. You see, my mom left when I was just a toddler. According to what my dad used to say, she went off to live with the "man of her dreams." In other words, she didn't care about us. Julie isn't my actual mom, but she might as well be. I've known her for as long as I can remember. She was my dad's best friend. She loves me like a daughter, and at the moment she's the closest thing I've got to family.

"Hey Annabeth," Julie says embracing me in a warm hug. "Hi," I reply, soothed by her warm embrace and head towards the back to change into my uniform.
Within my pocket my phone vibrates, but I decide to ignore it. 'Probably just Susan,' I think as I change out of my normal clothes. The café uniform is pretty simple. Just a white blouse, black skirt, and dark blue apron.

"So how's school?" Julie asks when I re-enter. I shrug. "Not bad, I suppose it could be worse," I reply, and grab a note pad and pen. "Any, say, boys I should know about?" She asks, one eyebrow raised in question. I smile and shake my head slightly. Julie is certainly one of the only people who can make me smile. "So there is a boy? What's he like?" Julie asks, eyebrows raised. I swear the woman shows all emotion through her eyebrows.
Surprisingly, I find myself describing Percy to Julie, whom doesn't interrupt once.

"Well, he sounds like quite a boy," Julie comments when I'm finished talking. I nod.
"Hey, Annabeth dear, cover the cash register for me for me?" Tracy, another waitress, asks as she walks by with four different trays. "Sure," I reply, but regret it the minute I see who's next in line. 'Not her. Anyone but her' I think as I go to stand behind the cash. "I'll have a triple chocolate  mocha with no whip," Stephanie orders without looking up from her phone. "Okay, is that it?" I ask. Apparently she recognizes my voice, as the minute I speak her head shoots up. She looks at me for a moment, a sneer on her face, before looking back down at her phone. "Oh and make that a soy triple chocolate mocha" she re-orders and I punch it in. "That all?" I ask and Stephanie nods, still sneering.

When Stephanie's drink is finished I bring it over to her at the serving counter. She lifts it up, and then does something really dumb. I mean even for her. I watch utterly confused, as Stephanie pours her coffee all down her shirt. "Ow!" She yells. People turn their heads to see what's going on.  Just then Julie comes running over. "What happened?" Julie asks, her dark brown eyebrows raised.  "Sh-she dumped my coffee on me!" Stephanie tattles, fake sniffling as she speaks. Julie pauses for a moment before looking at me, an eyebrow raised in question.

That little faker........