You're Not Getting Away From Me

Halloween Special!! Part 1

I hate Halloween. First of all, it's high time for monster attacks. It's their time to shine, after all. Protective borders always seem to be weakest around Halloween, too. Probably because of all of the "evil" spirits. Second of all, spiders! Why do people enjoy putting the hairy demons everywhere? Beats me, but I absolutely despise it. Third of all, it reminds me too much of ... Tartarus. All the eeriness and traveling around in the dark is just too similar. So all in all, Halloween is not my holiday.

Percy doesn't like it either. Obviously, the spiders don't bother him as much as me, but whenever we pass one, he grimaces. I asked him about it one time.

"Perce, why do you always frown at the spiders?"

"Because I know you hate them. So I hate them."

He's so sweet. I remember one time in New Rome, our first year of college, Percy and I were walking to the library. Which, I might add, was a very big feat (getting Percy to go to the library). Camp Halfblood doesn't put out the spider decorations because the Athena kids hate it. But there isn't any children of Minerva, so Camp Jupiter puts up tons of plastic spiders.  Hanging in sticky webs, laying half in the shadows, pretty much in places that remind me of one of the worst days of my life. So anyway, Percy and I were entering the library. And walked straight into a fake spider web. Now at the time, I didn't know it was fake, and of course screamed. The scream was very undignified and I'm ashamed that it even came out of my mouth. It was even more embarrassing when everyone in the warm silence of the library whipped their heads around to stare at me. But right then I didn't care. I flailed around, trying to untangle myself, but Percy caught my arms and gently pulled the white, sticky cotton from my hair. Then he showed me the spider was fake and it was just a decoration. I was still shaking, but I took a deep breath and composed myself. I'm a daughter of Athena, not a squeally, prissy girl.

I kept myself together the whole time we were in the library. It was a fairly long time, too. But when Percy and I got back to our apartment, he knew what I was feeling. He dropped the books on the table and held out his arms. I gratefully crawled into them and hugged him tight. We stood that way for a long time.

Now, we're even more careful than usual where we walk around this time of year. You never know what's waiting for you to get caught up in its trap. 

"Annabeth, I need help!" I heard a very agitated Percy call from the "bedroom" in our New Rome apartment. More like the "section of minuscule apartment that holds the bed and dresser." But it's fine for the two of us.

"What's wrong?" I yelled back.

"It won't fit in my suitcase!"

I walked over to him, sighing. "It's not that hard, Seaweed Brain."

"Yes it is!"

I emptied out his suitcase, refolded all of his clothes, and stacked them neatly back into the suitcase. It zipped up easily. Percy stared at me, mouth hanging open slightly.

"How?"

"Like I said, it's not that hard. Also, did you never learn how to fold your shirts?"

"Does it matter if they're folded? I'm just gonna put them on later anyway!"

"They'll get wrinkled if they sit unfolded in a suitcase all the way across the country!" I responded, rolling my eyes.

"Whatever. Is everything else ready?"

"I think so. Just let me check to make sure." I walked around the place, making sure we packed everything we needed. We would only be gone for a few weeks, so we were leaving most of our stuff.

"I think we're good."

"Alright, let's get this show on the road."

Percy and I lugged the leftover luggage to the already crowded car. We were going back to New York for a little bit. First, we were surprise visiting Percy's mom and Paul. Then, we would head to to Camp Halfblood. We got a letter inviting us to Camp's first annual Halloween Haunted House. While I had absolutely no intentions of visiting the haunted house, Percy and I decided we should go. We really missed it there. Plus, it sounded like this was kind of a big deal. Some legionaries and New Rome residents were invited. College was on a fall break so everyone could leave. It's perfect timing, really. We are leaving a little bit before Frank and Hazel and the rest of them so we could visit Percy's family. I think I'm more excited to see them then go to camp.

"Ready Wise Girl?" Percy asked me as we plopped into the car to drive for about forty-some hours.

"Always."

We made it about eighteen hours before we decided to pull over to sleep. We thought about getting a hotel room, but that was expensive and out-of-the-way. So we found a nearly deserted rest stop and parked. I snuggled into Percy the best I could in the little car and we both fell asleep.

Six hours later we were back on the road. This went on repeatedly until we finally reached Sally and Paul's. It was about ten o'clock, so Percy and I crept to their apartment as quietly as we could.

Percy assured me they wouldn't be asleep yet, so he knocked on the door. It was a surprise we were coming and we figured just walking in unannounced at night might freak them out a little. We heard some shuffling on the other side of the door, and soon it was opened. None other than Sally Jackson herself was there with her hand on the knob.

"Hey Mom," Percy said nonchalantly, like he saw her yesterday instead of a few months ago. Sally immediately pulled him into a hug. Then she turned to me and gave me a hug just as big. I hugged her back, enjoying the motherly affection I never had until I met Sally.

"Come in, I've missed you two so much!" We shuffled in, receiving more hugs.

"Sally, who was at the - Percy! Annabeth!" Paul exclaimed. He embraced us both, too. Then the four of us sat around the living room, talking about anything. I really missed this about Highschool. Living with Percy and his parents, being part of the little family.

Author's Note: Part two of this will be put up soon! Also, the last paragraph of this makes sense in my head a lot more than yours because I have the plot of the prequel to this planned but not published (obviously). It will fit after you read that, but you can't read it yet because I haven't written it. Sorry. It'll make sense after that, trust me. One more thing: I know at this point Percy's sister is born. I'll include her next part.