Dreams (A PERCABETH AU)

Chapter 7- It All Comes In Waves

Annabeth POV

"One morning she woke up different. Done with trying to figure out who was with her, against her, or walking down the middle because they didn't have the guts to pick a side. She was done with anything that didn't bring her peace. She realised that opinions were a dime a dozen, validation was for parking, and loyalty wasn't a word, but a lifestyle. It was this day that her life changed. And not because of a man, or a job, but because she realised that life is way too short to leave the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket."

Saturday 23rd October

Waking up to warm sunlight on my face and the satisfaction of knowing I could sleep in as long as I wanted was overwhelming. No more 5:30 alarms. No more café shifts. No more following orders. This was ultimate freedom.

Last night had been the best night's sleep I'd had in my 16 years of existence. I suppose my body had never welcomed sleep more than it had after going days without it. I felt completely replenished—more myself. Every single trace of the Adderall side effects was long gone and now I could put it all behind me.

It was just turning 8:30 as I looked at my phone. There was a long list of texts and missed calls on the screen but I didn't look to see who they were from. I shuddered a little, throwing my phone back onto the bed, I didn't want to look at any of that right now. I slid out from the covers and over to my closet. The staff had unpacked my suitcase for me and loaded all my clothes into the draws. There wasn't much to fill them with yet, but I had what I needed. I borrowed a white silk robe hanging from the door, wrapping it over my pyjama shorts and tank top and quietly left to go downstairs.

My mother was sat at the large breakfast table in the dining room, in a dark blue silk nightgown and robe. She was reading a newspaper as she sipped a steaming hot cup of coffee with a bowl of fruit and yoghurt sitting in front of her. Amara came over and poured some more into her cup, which she thanked her dearly for before going back to her paper.

"Good morning." I smiled brightly, gliding into the room.

It was weird; being here, being happy, it just made me change instantly. My voice was more tuneful, my walk was more dancey because I had a purpose now. I just felt better.

"Good morning, darling." She smiled. "Will you join me?"

"Of course." I smiled sitting perpendicular to her at the table as the waiters came over asking what I would like. The table was so large that we used less than half of it bunched together at the end, but it was nice to sit so close to her.

"Oh...um..." I wracked my brains trying to think of something to ask for. I just wasn't used to being able to pick what I ate for breakfast, I usually had to make do with what we had in the fridge.

"Pick anything you like. Daniel is the best chef in town." My mother smiled.

"Pancakes?" I asked as my eyes lit up, remembering how my mother used to make them for me when I was younger.

"Pancakes for the lovely lady." The gentleman said. "Any requests for a topping?"

"Um...strawberries and Nutella?" I asked nervously, not wanting to be difficult but he just smiled at me warmly.

"Excellent choice." He winked before asking my mother if she wanted anything else and disappearing from the dining room, into the kitchen.

"You have wonderful posture, darling." My mother smiled at me and I couldn't help blushing. "And your bone structure is quite lovely. It really shows off your complexion."