His Lifeline

Chapter 22: My Lemon-Scented Pillow

"Hey, Percy, wake up. You gotta let go of me. Percy. Blue, Ky, Rusticitas!"

I heard someone whisper shouting at me, and I sleepily groaned. Realizing my back was all cramped, I reluctantly took my face from its warm placement and cracked it. I heard a sigh in relief, but I wasn't sure why. My brain isn't catching up with what was happening. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep.

Since I didn't have a good reason not to, I laid down, pulling my warm pillow-like thing with me. Oddly enough, my pillow groaned as I pulled it closer and snuggled my face back where it was before, breathing in the refreshing smell of lemons.

"Percy, let me go! I need to get to bed, too!" my pillow was talking. I groaned and pulled it closer if that was possible.

"No, it's comfy," I slurred as I started drifting off again. I heard a snort and a giggle but didn't have the energy to place where they came from. I was being woken up as my pillow was leaving my embrace. Quickly, not wanting the warmth and safety to leave me, I grabbed it and pulled it back down into me. I felt soft breaths on my chest as I hugged my pillow tighter, snuggling my face back into my pillow.

I closed my eyes and slowly fell back asleep, making sure my pillow wouldn't leave me.

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I woke up the next day to see the sun hitting my face. Groaning, I shifted away and sat up.

"Sleeping beauty has awoken!" I heard a soft giggle, and lazily opened my eyes to see Rachel laughing at me. I could've sworn I had a pillow last night, I guess not.

"Hey, what time is it?" I asked with a yawn. Not that it mattered, but if it was late, then I probably shouldn't continue to intrude. Plus, I had a party to go to sometime tonight.

"Noon. Hey! Annabeth, bring in the leftover pancakes!" I groaned as I laid back down on the floor. Then after hearing my back protest, I stood up and stretched, hearing my back crack. I heard soft footsteps and turned around to see Annabeth come into the room.

She still had my hoodie on, and it made my heart flutter as she looked at me.

"You drool in your sleep," she said bluntly as she handed me a plate of pancakes.

"Um, thanks?" I sat down and started eating. Rachel's eyes flickered from Annabeth and me as if expecting something to happen. Confused, I swallowed. "Um, Rachel, is there something wrong?"

Her gaze stopped on my face and stayed there. I immediately thought there was pancake on my chin and went to wipe my mouth.

"You don't remember," she stated. I looked at her, confused, and cocked my head to the side.

"I don't remember what?" I was looking from Rachel to Annabeth. Rachel looked disappointed, and Annabeth looked torn between being relieved and distraught.

"What happened? What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?" I stumbled over my words as I grew steadily more scared that I did something. I tried to rack my brain. What did I do? All I remembered was falling asleep during the movie and then waking up.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm just surprised," Rachel said softly. I felt guilty, it seemed to be important, and I felt terrible that I couldn't remember.

"So, what time do you normally go to that guy's party?" Annabeth changed the subject after a few minutes of awkward silence, which I was grateful for.