The Runaway Princess

16. Bye-Bye Miss Piggy!

I sigh loudly as I sit back on my knees. So far I've gotten at least three quarters of my chores done. I just finished scrubbing the floors when my phone rings. I sigh again before bringing myself to my feet, and walking over to grab it.

"Hello?" I say, trying to sound as though I'm not totally ready to collapse. "Um hi," a familiar voice says. I feel my breath catch. "Is this Annabeth?" they ask almost carefully. "Wha-ugh yes...yes this is Annabeth," I reply, and hold the phone to my ear with my shoulder. I pick up the mop bucket and sponge and start up the stairs. "Oh thank god," the person on the other end mutters in relief. "This is Percy," Percy says. 'As if I wouldn't know that' I think and a laugh escapes me. "So um can I ask why you called?" I ask, trying not to sound rude. "Oh, um, right! Yeah of course," Percy rambles but doesn't answer my question. As I wait for an answer I open the supply closet to put away the bucket and sponge. Percy clears his throat. "I called to tell you that you forgot your school bag at my house," he says, his voice steadier now. I gasp as a bunch of cleaning supplies comes crumbling down towards me. A yelp escapes me as I bring my arms up to protect my head.
When the avalanche is over I hear Percy voice speaking and realized I dropped my phone. "-abeth? Are you alright?" Percy asks. "I'm fine, just a bit of a klutz that's all," I reply with a laugh. Percy laughs. "Oh good. Wouldn't want the brains of or projects to have a broken brain." It's such a stupid comment that I have to laugh. And I do. I laugh and laugh and laugh. Then the most awful thing happens. I snort.
"Did you just snort?" Percy asks. "Um no," I lie. Even to me I'm not very convincing. "You did. You snorted!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did t-"
"Shut up!"
Percy laughs. "Okay, okay you didn't snort," he says sarcastically. I roll my eyes. "Ok so I'll drop your bag off at 6:30?" He asks.
"Sounds great," I reply with a smile.
"Alright just text me the address.....bye bye Miss Piggy!" He says and hangs up. I huff and try to wipe the smile off my face, however no such luck. Then I remember the list of chores. Oh well, at least now I've got a new sense of motivation. 'And a new deadline," A part of my scolds but I shrug it off and start to clean up the mess the "avalanche" made when it came tumbling out of the closet.....
~
I've just started scrubbing the bathroom when the door bell rings. I whip out my phone and check the time. 6:30. I curse under my breath and take a look in the mirror. My hair is up in a very very messy bun, my jeans are dusty from cleaning, and my hands are red from washing so many dishes and floors. Oh god.
Despite all this, I still race down stairs to open the door. I open the door to find Percy leaning casually against the doorway, one hand behind his back. "Hello Miss Piggy," he says with mocking bow. "You better watch you tone or else you'll be writing a historic play by your self," I scold jokingly. Percy eyes widen in fear and I laugh.
"So, what's behind your back?" I ask curiously. Percy smiles, and pulls out my books from behind him. I clap my hands overly cheerily and laugh when Percy rolls his eyes. We stand there for a moment, neither knowing what to say next. I look at his eyes which are so beautifully green. What wait? Did I just call Percy Jackson's eyes beautiful? Nope. No I did not. Or at least I really hope I didn't. Alrightly then....moving on.......
"Do you want to come in for coffee?" I ask, adjusting my books in my arms. "If your not too busy, sure," he replied with a shrug. I smile and two out of the way to allow him in.
I notice as Percy looks around my house, that he's frowning. "Is something wrong?" I ask, wringing my wrists. "No...no of course not," Percy says like a child who's been caught stealing an extra cookie. "It's just....your house is so....clean," he says, his eyes on my jeans which just happen to be covered in dust. I nod, and play with a loose curl that must've fallen out of my bun. "Did you clean it?" He asks. I nod again and lead Percy into the kitchen not wanting to talk about it anymore.

Once we're in the kitchen Percy takes a seat at the island as I start the coffee. "Did I offend you? If I did I'm really sorry, I didn't mean anything bad," Percy says. I turn to face him and can tell from his expression that he's worried. "It's okay, I'm not offended," I practically whisper. He nods as I take a seat next to him.
"So...tell me a little bit about your family," Percy offers. I bite my lip as I decide what to say. If I'm not careful enough he'll figure out that I was the girl he danced with at the dance. "Well I live with my step mom and two stepbrothers," I say with a shrug. Percy nods. "Do you like your stepmom?" I shrug again. "Meh, she's alright I guess...." I say sugar coating the situation. Susan is awful.
"What your family like?" I ask, not wanting to get to far into detail about my own. Percy smiles. "I live with my mom, as you know, and my step dad," Percy says. "It's not much but it's good enough for me." He smiles so genuinely, that I feel I touch of envy. Oh, how I wish I could talk about my family like that. Between my mother leaving when I was a baby, my father dying, and my horrid stepmother I've never really known a loving family. I guess after my dad died I develop a fear of love of sorts. Having my heart broken once hurt so much I can't imagine having to feel like that again.

I feel Percy's hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You okay?" He asks, concern flooding his expression. I nod, realizing that I'd zoned out. "Sorry about that," I say, trying to hide my embarrassment. "It's okay," he replied with a small smile. I just nod, blushing redder than a tomato. We finish the rest of our coffee in a comfortable silence.

"Thank you, that was wonderful," Percy says. "Anytime," I reply with a quick smile. Percy raises his eyebrows for a moment then smiles and says "I'll remember that." I smile and wave goodbye as he gets into his car. Once Percy's gone, I shut the door and then lean against it, sliding down so that I'm sitting on the floor with my head in my hands. Butterflies fly around inside my stomach and a chill runs down my spine. Ever since I was a little girl, I've had a plan for life. Sure, there's been a few changes in the plan along the way, but there's always been a plan. So why do I have the feeling that Percy Jackson will be the one to completely demolish that plan....for better or worse????