Percy and Annabeth-Their future

Two-Wheeler Taylor

"C'mon, Taylor. Everyone else knows how but you," Rion peddled his two-wheeled bike around the driveway like a champ. It was Labor Day Weekend, and the kids were going to school in just a few days.

"I don't care. I don't even want to learn. I can just walk or drive. Biking is stupid." Taylor pouted, pushing her bike over. She was nine years old, and was the latest biker in the family. Luke had ridden a two-wheeled bike at 5, and Rion at 3 1/2. Lena and Sophia were both at 5 1/2. But Taylor was nine. NINE.

"Pick that bike up, Taylor." Percy looked at her sternly, having no pity on her tantrums. She picked it up, but was clearly not happy about it.

"Taylor, it's not scary. Ok, at first it is a little bit, but once you learn, it's so fun." Sophia was now 14, and was entering high school. Crazy.

Taylor just sat on her bike, unmoving. "I'm not going to learn, whether you like it or not." I nodded at her sadly and just walked inside, Alpha at my heels. He barked, then turned around and nudged Taylor, almost as if he wanted her to bike as much as the rest of us. Nothing happened.

It was almost 100 degrees outside, but my kids didn't care. They loved being outside. Always have.

"Mom, I'm hungry." Luke wandered inside, pulling up a barstool to the island.

"What would you like, sweetie?" Luke just stared at the fridge like it was magical. "Luke?"

"Oh, sorry. Can I have grilled cheese?" I sighed, then nodded, pulling out the bread and cheese.

"Why don't you go ask the other kids what they want, okay?" Luke nodded, then screamed,

"WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT FOR LUNCH?!" I gave him a look and he giggled. 

"i could've done that, honey. But seriously, can you please go outside and ask your brother and sisters what they'd like?" Luke sighed.

"Ugh, fine." As he left the room, I saw Taylor walk up to the garage door and look outside. She smiled faintly, as if she desperately wanted to be able to do what they were doing. But she resisted the urge. It was like an interal battle. 

By 1:30, Sophia and Lena had eaten 2 grilled cheeses, Rion and Luke had eaten 4, and Taylor had eaten 1. I'd eaten two myself... and Percy'd had 3. 

"Mom, can I bike over to Karrie's house? I told her I would, and you said it was okay." She looked at me with pleading eyes. 

"Sure. Just be back by dinner. Oh, and why don't you offer Karrie a sleepover at our house? We only have that rental movie for another 24 hours." Sophia grinned, and she darted out the door.

"Thanks Mom!" She was gone in an instant. 

Rion and Luke left on their bikes seconds later to ride up and down the street with some friends. Lena and Percy decided to bike to the Art Store. Taylor just sat alone at the counter. I could tell she wanted to go with them, but doubted herself too much.

"Okay, sweetie, I have some chores to do, so why don't you go outside and play? I'm sure someone in the neighborhood would love to play with you," 

To be honest, I hated chores. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing... Sure, I like clean, but I don't like to do the cleaning. Anyway, I was upstairs in the boys' room putting their folded clean clothes away when I saw Taylor on her bike. She was trying to bike!!! I stood there and watched her slowly put her feet on the pedels and she began to ride. She gained speed and went faster and faster and faster and then- 

"MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Taylor screamed. I ran downstairs, knowing that she wouldn't stop screaming until Mommy came to the rescue. 

Taylor was pretty banged up. She had two bloody knees, a long gash on her left hand, and a bloody elbow. 

"Mommy- I- I don't want- to bike- anymore!" She managed between sobs. I bandaged her up, and let her watch TV, but I knew I had to get her back on that bike. Her confidence would be gone if I didn't.

"Hey Taylor, do you want to go get ice cream?" Taylor's eyes glazed over at the thought of cold goodness. 

"Yeah! Let's go! Right now!" She dashed outside and buckled her seatbelt in the car.

"Honey, we're going to bike there." Taylor pondered that for a moment, then shook her head.

"No thanks, I'll stay here."

Later that afternoon, Percy offered to take her to the pool. But Taylor wasn't biking, so Taylor wasn't going. Then, Sophia and Lena offered to take her on a bike ride to the Candy Shoppe. No such luck. Luke tried to force her on the bike. That just resulted in both of them being sent to their rooms. It was Rion who had the breakthrough.

"Hey Taylor, I heard that my friend's older sister has some Taylor Swift tickets that she's giving away. I told him to hold them for you. They're really great seats. But we have to bike to get there." Taylor looked longingly at her bike, then at Rion, then back at the bike. 

"How about you ride and get them?"

"Nope."

"Can I walk?" 

"No siree."

"Can I-"

"Taylor, you get the tickets if you bike. That's it. If you don't go, I'm sure that Sophia, Lena, Mom, and I can go, if you'd perfer that option?" Taylor's eyes widened. Rion was serious. I bit my lip, praying that she'd get back on.

"Oh, fine."

"TWO-WHEELER TAYLOR!" Luke screamed, giving Percy a high five. Lena and Sophia watched carefully as my baby girl got back and her bike and took off. She could  do it!

"TWO-WHEEL TAYLOR! TWO-WHEEL TAYLOR!" Luke just kept shouting, and for a moment, I saw Luke Castellan in his eyes.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! I can't believe it's already almost the end of summer. I go back to school on September 2nd. When do you all go back?

Anyway, as some of you know, I've posted my new story, Demigod Daughters in High School, and I am so excited about it! So far, I've gotten a great response, so thank you all so much! It really means a lot to me, and every comment makes me smile. I love you all so much for everything you've done for me, please never change :)

Also, thank you so much for 627,971 reads! That's ridiculous, and crazy, I never thought I'd have that many reads. I can only thank you. Every read means more than you know to me, and I'm starting to tear up writing this. I don't know what else to say but you've made me a better person, and the Wattpad community has been so good to me. If you're just starting out and you don't think you'll get any reads, you will. I promise you. I will be one of those readers, just like you guys are for me. I hope that I can somehow bring a smile to a day where you feel down, bring ome light to your darkness, bring some warmth to your icy cold days, or some coolness to some boiling over days. I hope that when you read my story, or maybe even my author's note, you feel welcome, and I hope you know that you're appreciated greatly, and that you as individual have changed my life forever in a very good way. You guys are my heart, soul, and mind, and I will always be there for you, no matter what :)

Question of the Chapter: What are some scenarios you want played out in DDHS?

XOXO

~PercyAnnabeth20owl