Forever and Always [A Percabeth AU]

.II.

♫          ♫         ♫

-Annabeth-

By the age of sixteen, I had made my own life. In a general sense. Sure, I still missed my best friend Percy from when we were kids, but that too was my dad's fault. What had he been thinking? Making me pack my bags at two am and catching a flight for Helen?

Of course, he didn't even care that I was a world famous singer. Theana, I called myself. No one knew who I really was. I liked it that way. One of my classmates had found out and I had gone from being silent nerd to Miss Popular in seconds. So I changed schools. All the time. I was seventeen, and I was done with all the schools in the area.

And that's when I got the craziest idea she'd had in a long time, just lying there on my bed.

I'd move back to New York!

Our apartment was still there, my dad hadn't even put it up for sale. And the odds of me ever stumbling into Percy were very very low. He'd probably moved to another apartment or something? And the chance of getting into the same school as him? Pfft. That's like that one chance to defeat Thanos is Infinity War. Yes, I am obsessed with Marvel. Currently friendless, obsessed with Marvel and Harry Potter, yeah, if not for my secret singing career, I was a total nerd.

I walked down the stairs bravely in order to confront Helen and my dad. Well, almost walked. My annoying step brothers Bobby and Matthew had attached a trip wire. Of course. Simple, yet effective. And effectively painful.

I fell with a loud 'thud'.

She heard her dad call, "What was that?" To which I grunted, wiped my bleeding nose and limped in.

"Helen, dad..." I began.

"Mom darling, after all this time, you can call me mum." Helen said smiling.

I scowled at her. "Anyways, dad, Helen..."

"Is this about that silly song business you started?" her dad interrupted.

"No." I took a few breaths before continuing. I would definitely not be allowed to study in New York if I judo flipped either of them.

"I'm going to finish high school in New York." I said.

My dad raised an eyebrow. "Why? California not good enough for you?"

"No, it's just that, you see—."

And then Helen interrupted.

"Let her go, Fredrick."

My eyes might as well have popped out of my skull. Helen agreeing with me? And just when I thought I had rotten luck.

Helen gave my dad some knowing looks and he sighed.

"Fine. Where will you stay?"

"Our old apartment. It's still there. I checked."

"Okay then. And I expect you to be responsible."

"Sure." Not that he'd care once I left. There would not be a single call from anyone from home. Because they didn't care.

I left at once to pack. I'd honestly earned a living already, at least way more than the average seventeen year old. I booked the next flight and then noticed a small cardboard box in the corner. It had a faded, 'Open when you turn 12.'on it.

Pfft. I was seventeen. What could it be? I pulled it out. Inside was a small blue bag with a note.

'Dear Wise Girl,

You are the best friend ever. I found this when we were playing at the beach. My mum inserted the leather thing in. Hope you like it.

Love, your Seaweed Brain.'