Unstable Lives

Questions Are Asked

A/N okay, can we just focus on how PJO_forever_gk is like the nicest person ever please?

Also, when I try to reply to comments, it gives me a message that says "Invalid parameters - end must be bigger than start"....what? I've literally put pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis at the end of a comment just trying to send it and it still didn't work. Help!

OoOoOhHhH two Percy chapters in a row, look at me being a little rebel! *pins a mockingjay pin on my shirt* This chapter is super short though.

Percy

By the time we got to the hotel-a Sheraton not far from the Kentucky Horse Park-I had snuck in two good hours of on-and-off sleep, Annabeth had futilely screamed at eight other drivers, and we were probably an hour and a half ahead of Marisa and the rest.

"Wake up," Annabeth said, lightly smacking my arm, because I wanted more sleep and my eyes were still closed.

"Urghgghfff" I replied, to which she laughed and poked my shoulder. I opened my eyes with annoyance and finally said something intelligible: "Do I have to get up?"

"Yes," she answered, "Because we have to check into the rooms and make sure the stall is ready for Lady."

"But I'm tired," I groaned. She tossed me a Red Bull.

"These are horrible for you, but here."

I chugged the thing and, when done, said, "Thanks."

She laughed and got out of the car. An annoyed-looking bellhop came over and said something in a thick Spanish accent. She mumbled something back and pointed to the trunk, smiling. The guy pulled out bags two at a time and set them all on the curb, scowling.

When Annabeth and the bellhop, now pushing one of those gilded cart-things, started walking into the building, she turned around and tossed me the keys through the open door. "Park the car!" She called, then disappeared through a door with a fading sign on it.

It took a surprisingly long time to find a parking spot. The hotel wasn't that big, but they didn't charge for parking, either, and I was guessing that half the cars weren't hotel guests. By the time I found a parking spot-all the way at the back of the parking lot, no less-and walked back to the front of the hotel, Annabeth was already standing on the curb, waiting.

"Here you go," she chirped, obviously glad to be done with checking in.

"Uugh," I grumbled, at the prospect of having to go get the car again when I'd just found a spot.

"We can just walk," Annabeth said cheerfully, "We're only about half a mile away."

I couldn't decide if getting the car or walking to the stables sounded worse, so I agreed. "All right," I said, turning around and starting to walk.

Annabeth walked next to me. Her hair was a mess and she was grimy and smelly, and I was much the same. My legs ached, but it felt good to stretch them out. And, I got to walk around a bit of Kentucky with a girl I-I have to admit it-really, really liked.

~

Everything was ready for Lady, so Annabeth and I walked back to the hotel. I wanted nothing more than to shower and get some sleep, which was exactly what I was planning on doing. I felt all sweaty from the eleven and a half hour car ride I'm confined quarters. My polo shirt wasn't even tucked into my breeches anymore. If been up since two in the morning and I could feel it.

But before doing any of this, I stopped outside the hotel and grabbed Annabeth's left hand.

"Go out with me? Sometime while we're here?"

She blushed and laughed. "Ask me again, Seaweed Brain," she said, "When you don't smell like the inside of your car."

And I planned on doing just that.