You know how sometimes, you suddenly feel like everything's going to be fine. That's how me and Annabeth felt seeing Grover again. He had grown even taller (surprising I know) and he seemed older too.
We picked him up in Missouri of all places on the way to Cali. The usual followed hugs, laughter, reminiscing, and a taxi ride that cost more than my lifetime's allowance. I wasn't really in the mood for a quest again even though I really needed to be. I just wanted to be normal, for the god's sake. I was sixteen and had been through so many life threatening experiences it made me sick thinking of them.
Well we decided to stop in Utah on our way there. There was this cute little restaurant that seemed to just scream safety so I said we should eat there. Immediately, Annabeth disagreed (of course), saying that it was probably exactly where monsters looked for food. All me and Grover had to do is hear the grumbling in our bellies to override her concerns.
When we got inside, this gorgeous waitress sat us down at a table and smiled at me, smiled at me. Grover just sat there going gaga and drooling out of his mouth while I (coolly) asked for drinks. She nodded and smiled again and went off to get us drinks which Grover had made sure were in cans. Annabeth was scowling and for some reason that made me happier. As we looked at our menu's, Grover realized there were no enchiladas and immediately was with the restaurant. None of us noticed that the customers were leaving and we were the only one's still there.
The waitress came back with our drinks and we ordered our meals and she brought those out too. The food was delicious and me and Grover ate ours up like there was no tomorrow (which in our world might actually be a possibility). But Annabeth just sat there and looked at hers like it was a pile of dirt.
"Come on Annabeth," I said with my mouth full, "Eat, its good." She made a face at me.
"It doesn't taste right," she complained as the waitress came back.
"Everything tasting good here?" she asked me. Annabeth was about to respond when I kicked her in the shin and smilingly answered, "Everything is delicious."
"Good," she said. "Just wave me over if anything's wrong." I nodded and sighed. Then I rounded on Annabeth.
"What were you thinking trying to insult their restaurant?" I said in a dangerous tone under my breath.
"Well I'm sorry I'm telling the truth instead of sucking up to Miss Gorgeous over there," Annabeth replied scathingly.
"You're just jealous that someone likes me," I said triumphantly. Annabeth gasped and reddened.
"How could someone possibly like you?" she retorted. "That isn't true."
That had hurt my pride a little. "Why don't you eat the food then?" I said.
"Fine I will," she said and started shoveling food into her mouth. "See," she said with her mouth full. I scowled. We sat there in awkward silence.
After a bit Annabeth asked to be excused from the table. I asked why as I got up to let her out of the booth.
"I feel kind of funny after eating that," she said.
"Oh come on Annabeth," I said exasperated. "Give it up, it's not like your food is poisoned." Then she fainted. "Haha Annabeth, very funny," I said and turned back to my food.
"Uh Percy," Grover said. "Because I'm an animal, I have animal instincts, and I sense enough to tell you that Annabeth isn't kidding." I glanced at him in alarm.
"Oh my gods," I said jumping up. "Help someone," I yelled as a felt for Annabeth's slowly dying pulse. I pulled her head into my lap and pinched her cheek, hoping for a response. Nothing. "Help," I yelled again my voice breaking. "Please." No one was in the room. "Help," I yelled louder. Grover was yelling with me now.
Our waitress appeared around the corner. "Something's happened," I said dumbly.
"This is what you get for trying to search out The Abyss," she said in a rasping voice. "Run away from here Percy Jackson and never come back. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you don't scurry back to Camp Half-Blood immediately." I sat there looking dumb until Grover pulled me up and thrust Annabeth into my arms.
"Run," he said. I did run, fast too after I saw the fire leap up in our waitresses eyes. I couldn't believe she was a monster. When we got to the street, our cab was gone so we just kept running. When we found a park, we hid behind some trees while we caught our breath.
"Percy, Annabeth isn't going to make it much longer," he said, tears starting to trickle down his face. I sat there in despair for a few minutes before it suddenly clicked. I got down on my knees…and prayed to the only goddess who I knew would help me, Aphrodite.
