All Her Life

Chapter 26 - SLEEPING PILLS

Hand in hand with Percy, Annabeth rushed to her bedroom. Percy immediately grabbed her back pack off the bedroom floor, standing behind her as she tried to grab something from her closet. "I can't reach it." She frowned.

"I got it." Percy whispered and grabbed a small black duffel bag from the shelf in her closet. Annabeth sighed in relief. She took the bag and started packing her things into it. He tried to help, but she moved too quickly for him to keep up.

When she went into the bathroom, she took a few minutes. Percy didn't know if he should follow her or not, but after a few minutes, he did. She was stood in front of the open medicine cabinet, holding an ordinary bottle of sleeping pills in one hand, and a bottle of sleeping pills with a weird cap on it. "Wise Girl?"

She jumped, the bottle falling into the sink, her eyes wide and scared. "Percy, I-"

"You don't have to explain, Annabeth." He moved forward, putting her bag on the floor. He kissed her forehead. "Sleeping pills, I get it. One to sleep for a night... 30 to sleep forever." She met his eyes.

"You do? How do you...?"

"I wasn't always the happy go lucky guy I am now, Annabeth." He smiled teasingly.

"You're happy-go-lucky? I've missed more than I thought around you, haven't I?" She giggled playfully. Percy rolled his eyes jokingly and kissed her lovingly.

"What I mean, is that I get the feeling, Annabeth. I had the same feelings when I was 10." She met his eyes, a frown etching on her beautiful faced. He held her tight to his chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Annabeth sighed, before turning to the sink, putting the bottles of pills back into the medicine cabinet. "I didn't need them when we were with Piper and her dad, when we were together... I doubt I'll need them at your house." Percy smiled.

"No promises that we'll be able to sleep in the same room..." He rubbed her back. The light in Annabeth's eyes faded, and he saw it through the mirror's reflection. "It'll be okay." He promised her.

"I know." She sighed. Percy nuzzled her neck, and she closed her eyes, sighing softly. He hugged her tightly from behind, pressing his face into her neck, kissing her skin softly. Annabeth's body relaxed against his chest, and Percy pulled away slightly, turning her to face him.

"Ready to go?"

She nodded. "Definitely." He took her hand and picked up her back pack and the small plastic bag on the counter. She led the way out of the bathroom, into the bedroom, and froze. Percy nearly ran into her. He looked over her head and felt sick. A woman stood there, with short red hair, a spindly frame, dark eyes and dark colored clothes. She reminded Percy a little of a black widow spider. No wonder Annabeth didn't like her. Her step mother was terrifying.

"Annabeth...?" She looked confused, her voice soft - something that did not go well with her sharp and bony features. Her facial structure looked a bit like that of Petunia Dursley from the Harry Potter movies. Annabeth had made him watch all 8 movies. "What are you doing?"

Annabeth shrunk into Percy, and he held her tightly to his side. "After what happened earlier, I... I'm gonna stay with Percy until my mom gets to New York..."

The woman sighed, looking disappointed. "That's a smart choice." She nodded. "I overheard your fight... I'm so sorry, Annabeth. I... I shouldn't have treated you the way your father did." She sighed. "Go ahead. I won't tell him."

She grabbed the duffel bag off the mattress and handed it to Annabeth, who took it shyly. She swallowed uneasily, watching as her step-mother left the room, a solemn expression on her face. The moment the red head had left the room, Percy turned to Annabeth, pressing his forehead to hers. "You okay?"