Empty Closets

Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Frenemies (Percy's POV)

I haven’t left my cabin since yesterday. Actually, no one has, and Dionysus isn’t giving a shit at the slightest. You see, it’s kind of hard to do anything outside when the new big thing can be done inside.

There’s this new game everyone, including me, is obsessed with. You choose to be a boy or girl (kind of gender binary if you ask me), and this really annoying woman mentors you into doing photoshoots in Vegas or Beverly Hills or wherever else.

It has controlled the entire camp, and even Dionysus has been caught playing it sometimes! Everyone in the dining hall talks about it since no electronics are allowed into the building. Some describe their virtual boyfriends or girlfriends (I’m dating Nico’s character XD). Others trash talk about that other annoying bitch whose name I think is named after a flower.

Anyway, I was playing it but then I heard a knock on my door. So now I have to talk to people. Hopefully it’s Nico. I open the door and Annabeth is on the other side. What does she want?

“Look, I know we aren’t on the best of terms right now, but can we just talk? Please?”

I sigh. “Why? You wanna fill me in on one of your lovey-dovey moments with ‘not-your-boyfriend?’”

“No need to be sassy, Seaweed Brain. I just –

“Don’t call me that!”

“Why not?” Annabeth asks. “I used to all the time.”

“When I was your boyfriend.” I say the phrase like it’s venom in my mouth.

Annabeth pushes me out of the way and closes the door, almost like I invited her in. She points a finger in my direction as a nasty look covers her face.

“I can’t believe you!” she says to me. “I actually get the nerve to come over here and try to make a peace offering, and you decide to be all Persassy like I’m not even a human being! What the actual fuck is wrong with you?”

“What the actual fuck is wrong with ME?” It’s my turn to get angry. “YOU’RE the one who cheated, NOT ME! You ripped my heart into a million, hell, BILLION PIECES. YET ALL YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WAS WHICH SWIMSUIT LOOKS SKIMPY ENOUGH TO WEAR AROUND ‘NOT-YOUR-BOYFRIEND!’”

“WELL AT LEAST I DIDN’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY EMOTIONS AND GO OUT TO GET SOME GAY LITTLE BOY TOY!”

I close my mouth and clench my fists. Annabitch took it too far. Way too far.

“What did you just say?”

“I said,” she slowly repeats, “unlike you, I didn’t go out and find a boy to play with while my heart was still broken.”

“Well exCUSE YOU!” I’m back to yelling. “I’VE HAD FEELINGS FOR HIM SINCE HIS BIRTHDAY, AND IF YOU THINK FOR ONE SECOND IT WAS SO I COULD GET OVER YOU, YOU ARE CLEARLY MISTAKEN!”

“Wait a sec. You had a crush on him back when we were on the ship?”

I close my half open mouth and widen my eyes in realization of what I just said.

“So we would’ve been done anyway,” Annabeth says. It almost sounds like she’s going to cry.

I feel terrible. I actually feel terrible. “I’m sorry. I –

“Do NOT try to apologize to me, Percy.”

We’re silent. Then the obvious comes out of my mouth. “I don’t think we can be friends after all of this, can we?”

Annabeth slowly shakes her head. “Such a shame too,” she adds, still sounding like she might cry. “We’ve known each other since we were 12. I know I must’ve been aggravating at first, but I actually thought you were a great person. And I know you still are.” A tear rolls down her face. “I just don’t know if we can still be friends after… everything.”

I don’t know why I feel bad or her, but I do. And I guess I know where she’s coming from. We’ve known each other for such a long time. And during that time, she became my best friend. Then, a year after the incident at Mt. Saint Helens, she was my girlfriend. One more year, after Tartarus and Gaea, we broke up. Each of us on either side of the country. Pure hatred ran through our veins because of our split. Once we reunite, we get into a huge fight. I insult her and her ex-boyfriend and she insults my boyfriend and me. We’ve been literally through Hell and there are some things I may not be able to forgive her for. But there are also mistakes I’ve made. And if I let Annabeth go after everything we’ve been through, no matter what may have happened, it would be the biggest mistake I’d ever make.

“If you want to,” I begin, “we can try and become really good friends again. But I’m not going to date you again.”

“You don’t have to worry,” Annabeth replies. “My sights are already set on someone else.”

“May I ask who?”

“No you may not.” She grins. Then it returns to a straight face. “I should go. I’m supposed to meet my manager. I’m due for a photoshoot in Vegas.”

“Not you too!”

She bursts into laughter as I head over to the door. Suddenly, I feel something under my foot and the next thing I know, I collapse onto the floor. I look down and Annabeth is under me. This looks bad.

We quickly stand up and look at each other with pale faces. That’s when I hear the snap of a camera.

Oh no. This is not going to be good.