Chapter 13

3.2K 65 12
                                    

   Perci's POV

   The following days were weird and quite unnerving.
   Apparently, the word that the spell is presumably permanent spread quickly. It is incredible how many people felt sad for me. I do NOT plan on giving up though. There must be a way to reverse this, right?
   I tried my best to act the same and live normally, for now. It is, however, a lot more difficult than I thought, and there are many reasons for that.

   On the very next day of our visit to Olympus, something happened that really shattered me, if it was possible for me to be any more shattered.
   I noticed that Annabeth had been acting weird since I woke up as a girl. I'm not dumb. But until yesterday, it was just tiny little things like getting out of a hug or avoiding kisses in the cheek (or any kisses to be honest). But since we came back from Olympus, I got the feeling that she was kind of avoiding me, and the time we passed together was getting more awkward by the minute. She wouldn't look me in the eyes or talk straight to me. What annoyed me the most was that she wouldn't tell me what was bugging her. It's clear that our relationship is the problem, but after all we've been through together I expected her to come and talk to me about it.
   But later that afternoon, I'd wish she'd never came.
   I was at my cabin after lunch organizing my clothes into the dresser when Annabeth opened the door hesitantly.
   "Hey Percy" She said uneasily, which made me think. Her manners were all so wrong! Annabeth was always so confident and resolute. Now, however, she seemed afraid of what she was about to do. It worried me quite a lot.
"Hi" I answered slowly.
"We-we need to talk." She started. It felt like the temperature in the room dropped about fifty degrees.
"Yeah?" I asked, worry written all over my face.
"I-I can't stand it anymore, Percy. I don't-" she stopped and looked down. "I don't think we can continue. We-we have to face the fact that things changed." She stuttered, sad.
"What do you mean?"
She looked like she was about to cry.
"We can't be boyfriend and girlfriend anymore, Percy, I-" I cut her out.
"You're- you're breaking up with me?" I asked, my voice shaking more than I would like it to. Of all the possible endings to this conversation, this was not what I expected.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried out. "I don't think I can take this anymore!"
Can words slap you in the face? Because that's how it felt. My eyes were tearing up again (it's been happening a lot lately).
"But- but after all we've been through? You're giving up on us?" I asked sorrowful.
"Please don't say that!" She said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I love you! But you're- you're a girl... I don't feel comfortable, Percy! I wish there was another way!"
"There is!" I said painfully. "We can still reverse this!" I tried to reassure both of us. I was crying as well.
"You heard Hecate!"
"So you'll stop fighting for us?!" Another feeling invaded my body: anger. "I jumped in Tartarus for you! And now you can't even stay with me during a tough time! I thought our love was stronger than this!" I yelled at her. My face was wet with tears and red from anger. It was like my body couldn't decide whether to be sad or angry.
"Percy, I-" She was stopped by her own sobs.
I turned my back to her, opened the door and ran away from my cabin. I couldn't face her. She called my name but I continued running. I didn't stop until I reached the stables. I entered and leaned against the wall, sobbing. In a matter of seconds I heard a voice in my head:
Who is this girl?
And another: What is she doing here? And other: She seems sad. Why is she crying?
Of course. The pegasi didn't know it was me. Soon, all of them were talking at the same time, confused. My head was about to explode.
"Hey, Hey, hey!" I said aloud. "You can stop talking about me, now. I can hear you!"
They all stopped and looked at me bewildered. Blackjack took a step forward.
You can hear us? How? He asked. Are you another child of Poseidon?
"No, no" I said and looked at all then one by one until I stopped and stared at Blackjack. "You seriously don't recognize me, Blackjack?" I asked.
He looked me up and down and shook his head.
"I guess I'm not bringing you any more donuts then..." I said.
His eyes widened. Boss?!
I nodded and laughed at his expression. If you've never seen a confused horse before, you don't know how funny it is.
Wow. Uhm- You look different, boss. Changed your hair?
I rolled my eyes. "I'm a girl, Blackjack!" I chuckled. "And for the millionth time, don't call me boss!"
You got it boss! I sighed. And, uh-, were you serious about not bringing more donuts? He asked worried.
"Nah. I'll always bring you donuts."
Thank goodness!
I laughed.
But boss, why were you crying?
"Complicated relationship, Blackjack. Annabeth and I broke up because of this, uh-, little change."
Oh. I'm sorry boss.
"It's ok." As soon as I said that I realized that I didn't look ok at all.
If you would like, I could take you for a ride. We could see the Atlantic. It would be awesome! Let's go! It's good to chill out.
His idea was really good. I definitely needed to do something to forget about everything that was going on.
"Fine. Let's go!"
I got up on his back and promised to give him donuts and sugar cups when we get back.
He took off and a few minutes later, all I could see was the sky above us and the sea below. The wind was messing my hair and I felt relaxed. This kinda made my day better.

Percy Jackson is a girl?!Where stories live. Discover now