Elysium(second book in Ambrosia)

(Percy POV) Phone Calls

"I saw you. Saw the way you looked at her."

My mouth went dry at his words and I found myself staring at the ground.

"What do you mean Thomas?" I asked, trying to smirk.

"Don't bullshit me Percy. I'm not blind," Thomas snapped.

"What are you even talking about? You're not making any sense dude," I replied, staring up at him.

His eyes were angry and hateful unlike hers.

"You think just cause you're the schools bad boy and the flirt you can just take her away? That she'll swoon at your feet just cause you got a leather jacket, jeans that are too tight and a motorcycle? Think again hotshot," he snapped, grabbing the front of my shirt.

"Hands off Golden boy," I snarled, pushing him back.

He looked at me in surprise, both of us shocked by my actions.

"You need to relax dude. There's nothing going on between us and there never has been," I replied coolly, smoothing out my shirt.

He glared at me. "Are you lying to me?"

My eyes widened in anger. "No. I'm telling the trut-"

"Did you sleep with her?!"

Thomas' accusation took me back and I stared at him, speechless.

"I'd never defile Ambrosia in that way," I snapped.

"Don't avoid the question! Did you or did you not sleep with her?!" He growled, grabbing the front of my shirt again.

"Shove off man. You're beginning to sound paranoid," I replied, prying his hands away.

His eyes widened again, this time with fury. "So you are sleeping with her!"

"What? No! Who's telling you this? Zak? Alex?" I asked.

And suddenly defeat shone in his eyes as the fight seemed to drain out of him.

"No ones telling me anything...it's just she's so distant lately. And she's always finding excuses not to be around me. Always making plans with other people. The other night she didn't come home til the next morning and when I asked her where she'd been she just said 'a friend.' But I know she was lying. She was wearing the same clothes from the previous night and she looked shaken up," he sighed, sitting on the steps.

I felt a lump of guilt form in my throat as I remembered our drinking game on top of the roof, one that had ended in a kiss and us sleeping next to each other, tightly snuggling. I remembered staring at her blissful expression, her red lips pulling up at the corners as she slept, and being eternally jealous of Thomas. Jealous that he always got to see her this way whereas I only saw it because she accidentally got drunk.

"I'm sure it's nothing Thomas. Just a phase she's going through. You know how girls are," I said, sitting next to him.

Thomas laughed at this, but I sensed a small edge to it. "That's the problem Percy. I'm not too sure I do."

"Girls aren't that confusing," a familiar female voice said.

Thomas and I turned, looking up at Ambrosia. She was holding books to her chest and smiling down at us knowingly. I blushed as I realized I could almost see up her skirt and looked away from her tanned legs.

"We just like to keep you guys on your toes," she giggled.

Thomas laughed and stood up, hugging Ambrosia.

She shied away slightly, but still hugged him. The slight movement was not lost on Thomas and his eyes flared with anger.

"Hey Percy," she smiled, waving.

Thomas watched us carefully, his doubts not really gone.

"What's up Princess?" I smirked, looking back up at her.

"You aren't going to stand up and say hello?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

I smirked then stood up, my hands tucked in my jean pockets.

"Sorry Princess. But I gotta go. And I'm not really the type to say hello," I smirked, walking away.

Ambrosia watched me go, a look of surprise on her face.

I listened as the phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Thre-

"Hello?"

I held my breathe, the voice so familiar and warming.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

"Hey..." I said, mentally kicking myself at how pathetic that sounded.

"Percy? Is that you?"

"Yeah...I mean yes," I replied, sucking in a breathe as I ran my hand through my hair.

"You're not supposed to call me."

"I know...it's just- I love you so much. You don't understand how much I love you. Like so much and it's never gonna change and now you're with that blond jockie- ha! Jockie...that's funny. It's like a jock just dumber you se-"

"I'm putting the phone down. You're drunk."

"Wait! Please don't hang up!"

There was a pause at the other line and I held my breathe again.

"Don't call me again Percy," Ambrosia whispered,"Goodbye. And stop drinking. You know it's not good for you."

And with that she put the phone down, leaving me listening to a deadline.

I stared at the far wall, my eyes still wide as I held the phone to my ear.

It made an annoying clicking sound and I laughed once, a madman's laugh as I threw it across the room.

It smashed against the wall, taking another picture down.

I didn't bother to check which one as I stumbled up, heading into the kitchen for another bottle of vodka.

I found one under the kitchen sink, tightly tucked away at the back and yanked the lid off, throwing my head back.

I drank the liquor as if it were water and knew I'd regret it in the morning.

But for now, I couldn't care less.

As I drank, thoughts dimmed and for a moment- just a moment- the pain of Ambrosia not loving me anymore slipped away, replaced by an aching headache I was grateful for.