Breathing Next To You (Percy Jackson)

Chapter Eleven

Percy 

"What are you doing?" Zach asked me as I put one arm out for Ryan to join our hug because gods know he needed. 

"Is hugging a crime now?" I asked him. 

"You don't hug people." 

"Don't mistaken me with Nico," I told the teenage boy," he's the one that doesn't like human contact. I fully enjoy hugs. I just don't give them out that often."

Nico came out of his bedroom, dried and in clothing to our group hug, and he joined it, sensing it was needed. 

We all hung out a little while longer before the three of us headed out. Nico had work in the morning so it wasn't a good idea to stay late. And they just ended up coming over to my house. 

A place they have never been. They have yet to meet my parents. Well they know Paul, but I don't think they ever connected that we're actually related by marriage to my mother. 

By the time we got there, Elizabeth had been asleep, but both of my parents were asleep. Or at least Mom was laying Elizabeth down. 

"Boys!" Paul was doing dinner's dishes," hi!"

They were so confused but went with it. 

"Hi..." Ryan was first to speak as they take off their shoes, having their bags with them already. We planned this a long time ago and Paul finishes up, going to do something not in the kitchen or living room and I showed them where my room was and they threw their crap in there before coming out and each of us stealing another cookie. Blue, of course. 

"Mmm," Zach remarked," oh, I remember cookies like these... Who made them?"

"Sally did," Ryan answered," his mom."

They had yet to call me Percy. The younger, old me, at least. 

It was like He Who Shall Not Be Named. That's what it was. 

"Percy, are you home?" My mom's voice rang through the apartment as I heard her walk down the small hallway, towards the kitchen. 

"I'm home," I assured my mother as she entered the kitchen and I gave her a hug," for once these two managed to show up."

They had this look like they knew my mom but couldn't exactly pin where they knew her from. 

"Hi!" My mom is always excited when new people come around from me because I never had friends before aside those two," what are you guys' names?"

" I'm Zach," Zach introduced himself," this is Ryan. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Jackson."

"Please, call me Sally."

They had to stop for a second. 

"Call you what?"

"Sorry, I should formally introduce myself," my mother insisted," I'm Sally, Sally Blofis-Jackson. Percy's mom, but you can just call me Sally. I haven't seen you two in years..."

And a flip switched and they connected it. 

We looked alike. We had the same name. The same mom. The same DNA.

We were the same damn kid. Just years apart. 

They gave my mom the biggest hug and said her baking was still the best baking there was and Mom thanked them for that and said it was nice to have them back, it's been hectic the past couple years, so... 

She retreated to her own bedroom and they looked at me and once again, I felt horrible. 

I opened my mouth but Zach beat me to it.