Cabin 13

28| Returning Home

Percy swung open the apartment door, stopping for a moment just to take in the comfortable and familiar sight of home. 

"Mom?" he casually let the word echo from his mouth, but silently he was bubbling with the need to see his mother, so at least one thing hadn't changed.

Sally threw open the kitchen door, "Percy?!"

Percy smiled, happy to be called by his own name again because for some reason his friends seemed to call him anything to him feel like an outsider, and it was working. 

Sally wrapped her son in a warm, tight, and long  hug.

"Mom? I. Can't. Breathe."

Sally took a step back, staring at her son, trying to take in every feature for when he'd have to leave again, her lips pursed, "I heard about Annabeth."

Percy rolled his eyes, did everyone know about that?

"Yeah, It was a border raid."

"I heard you were on guard duty with her when it happened," Sally said softly, leading her son inside.

Percy frowned, "Was I?" he tried to think back but the memory was foggy, he shrugged, "Maybe, but I'm fine."

Sally frowned, she had not been expecting that, "Fine? "

"Hey, where's Paul?"

Sally stared at her son, "He's teaching at summer school this year. Percy, why are you here? Not that I want you to leave."

Percy sighed, "I think I'm gonna take a break from camp, at least till the whole 'Annabeth thing' dies down."

"Annabeth thing? Percy, are you feeling all right?" She sat down with her son on the couch, putting her arm around him, thinking maybe Percy was still in shock.

"No! In fact, I want to rip his head off and feed it to some sharks!" Percy growled, throwing his fist down on the coffee table, making a loud bang.

Sally froze, usually, Percy wasn't a very violent person, "Who?" She asked as she carefully grabbed Percy's balled hand.

"Freaking Jason," Percy said hatefully.

"The Roman boy?'' 

Percy nodded.

"Well, what happened?"

Percy shrugged, "I blew up a car wash."

"What?! "

"He and I got in a fight. He knocked me out and threw me in a van to go on a quest! A quest I didn't wanna go on!" Percy growled, his tone filled with resentment.

"A quest? What for?"

Percy shrugged again, "Um, I don't know. To go to the Underworld or something, I was unconscious the whole time."

"Well, that doesn't sound like Jason, from what you've told me at least," Sally said gently.

Percy scowled, "I was wrong. Ever fiber in me just wants to strangle him!"

"That, Percy, sounds like the ancient rivalry in your blood. Ignore it, you boys can't let it control you. Because if you do, blowing up a car wash is only the beginning." 

Percy stayed silent so Sally continued, "I think you should go on the quest. It might help you feel better and get control over that rivalry."

Percy shook his head, "I can't. Nobody wants me to go now anyway, they think I'm some time bomb that's gonna go off any second."

"Are you? Percy, have you cried since Annabeth died?"

Percy's eyes widened, "What? No! Why would I?"

"Percy you've been her boyfriend since you were 13. It's okay to feel sad."

Percy jerked, "You too?!" he groaned, "Why does everybody think she was my girlfriend? I didn't even know her!'' 

Sally was now genuinely scared, "Percy, are you sure you're okay?"

Percy shrugged, "I feel  fine."

Sally stood, "I'm gonna call Chiron." 

Sally left the room, and Percy went up to his bedroom. He plopped down on his old bed and stared at the ceiling thinking to himself, I dated the dead girl for 4 years? How come I'm the only one who doesn't seem to remember that?

"Percy! We have visitors!" Sally hollered from the living room.

Percy scowled, he was pretty sure he knew who the 'visitors' were. He uncapped Riptide and came down to meet the demigods in his living room.