Again: A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 4: The first night home

All main characters in this story belong to Rick Riordan, unless mentioned otherwise. A few minor characters to get the story flowing will be created by me.

I took Riptide from her quickly. The pen felt familiar in my hand. My breath quickened. I was afraid to click it, in the fear nothing would happen. If nothing happened, then all hope would be lost.

I uncapped it.

The pen revealed a small black tip for writing. It was ordinary. Was I ordinary?

"Thanks" I said quietly. I started to my room.

"Oh no you don't Percy" My mom said, grabbing my arm.

"What?" I said harshly.

I lowered my tone. "Sorry". I pulled away and continued to walk.

"Pizza is in the oven" She told me. I was really hungry, but I just wanted to be alone.

"Can you please bring me a slice? I just want to be alone right now."

"I don't know how a silly pen can keep a teenage boy off eating, but okay. This must be a lot to cope with."

I nodded thankfully, and walked to my room. I shut the door and lay on the perfectly made bed. It would have never been like this if I had been living here consistently. I never make my bed.

The mattress was too small. My mom had bought a new one last year. She had gone shopping with Paul and she bought new sheets and blankets as well. I guess that never happened.

I twirled Riptide around in my fingers. I tossed it across the room, hoping to land my pen - sword in the empty clothes hamper. Before it reached the hamper, a see through hand swiped it out of the air.

"Annabeth" I said.

"Seaweed Brain" She answered.

I wondered how she was able to grab my pen if she looked like a ghost. Part of me worried if she was a ghost, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen in Greek mythology. Pretty sure.

"Are you dead?" I asked Annabeth.

She laughed. "No Percy, I'm an apparation created by your subconscious."

"What is an apparation? What is a subconscious?"

"It means I'm not real, Seaweed Brain" Annabeth told me. "You're going crazy"

"You're kidding, right? Did you ever exist at all?"

Annabeth smiled sadly.

"I did exist at one point. When I ceased to exist, is for me to know and you to never find out. I was sent here to make you go crazy, so you can keep me forever"

"Keep you?! Do you know how much I want you back? You aren't real!" I yelled desperately, tears stinging my eyes.

Annabeth walked toward me, and sat next to me on the bed. She lay her head on my shoulder, but I didn't feel it. She pressed Riptide into my open hand.

"Keep this, you'll need it"

"But it doesn't even work!"

Annabeth vanished. I was alone again, wishing the real Annabeth was here, with her head on my shoulder. I continued to sit like this when the door opened a crack, and my mom slid a few pizza slices and a coke on the dresser. She opened the door a little bit wider, and looked at me with sad eyes.

"I love you Percy, just so you know. Anything you need, I'll help you"

She closed the door. I walked over to the dresser, and ate the first pizza slice. I was hungry, my mom was right. I ate all four pizza slices in 5 minutes. I drank the coke more slowly, but I still finished it all. I returned the garbage to the dresser.