Troubled

39

chapter thirty-nine
percy

It was nearly graduation.

The temperatures had quickly spiked nearing the end of the school year. Kids had started going insane, especially the seniors who were graduating.

Now that there was less than a week left of school, the teachers had stopped giving out homework and all my afternoons were spent with Annabeth.

One afternoon, one of the last afternoons I'd ever spend at the school, Annabeth and I were alone in my nearly all packed up dorm.

"I can't believe I'm leaving this place," I admitted. "When I came here in the fall, all I wanted to do was leave. But now, I wanna stay."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you're so sappy. And I somewhat get what you mean, though. Even though I've been at this school for four years, I'll miss it. I can't believe I'm actually going to New York City, though."

As expected, Annabeth had been accepted to Columbus. I had also been accepted to Stony Brook, meaning we would both be going to school in the city together.

"I can't believe I'm doing it..." she whispered as she sat down on my bed. "New York is huge, though. And with my schedule we might never see each other—"

My phone ringing interrupted Annabeth's existential crisis. I read the caller name and instantly picked up the phone.

"Hey mom!" I said with a grin.

"Hey, Perce. I just wanted to let you know I'm so excited to see you graduate tomorrow," she said, and I could tell she was smiling. "I'm at the hotel right now, and I brought Paul with me."

My mother had now begun to see Paul Blofis, a teacher from New York who I'd met a few times. He seemed fairly nice, and if my mom was happy, I was happy, too.

"I can't wait to see you graduate tomorrow," my mom said. "I can't believe it, my little boy is all grown up now."

I could feel my face turning red. "Mom, don't embarrass me tomorrow, okay? Please tell me you left the baby pictures at home."

My mom cackled evilly. "But you were so cute as a baby. Especially on your first birthday when you had all the blue cake on your face—"

"Mom!"

"Alright, alright, I'll quit it. I left the pictures at home. I have to go now, Paul's calling me, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" she asked. "I love you, Percy."

"I love you, too, mom."

After hanging up the phone I turned back to see Annabeth, who looked as if she had curled herself into a ball on the floor.

I laughed as I sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her for comfort. "You're gonna be okay, Annabeth."

She shook her head. "Percy, I'm....I'm terrified. What if the city is too scary, and what if we can't make it in New York? I mean, everyone goes to New York to make it. We should've gone to, oh, I dunno, Idaho or something. No one goes to Idaho to make it!"

"They do if they're a potato farmer," I replied with a smile. "Now, come on, where's the Annabeth Chase I know?"

"How am I gonna pay for college?" she whispered. "Sure, my family agreed to pay for the tuition and stuff, but living in New York is expensive."

Suddenly a worry settled over me as well. I had decided against emailing Poseidon Olympus. Despite the promise of paying for college, I couldn't bring myself to do so.

That left me with no way to pay for college. I was going to get loans, and my mom assured me that she would help out. But would it be enough?

"Annabeth, you're freaking me out," I whispered, suddenly going red. "How am I gonna pay for college? I don't even wanna go to college! I need to work the whole summer, and I certainly can't graduate tomorrow. I need to start working, saving up."

"I got in a fight with my dad," she admitted. "That's why I'm so worried to graduate. He told me that I....that I shouldn't see you anymore, and that if he was gonna pay for my college education, I couldn't be with you."

"So we're breaking up?"

Annabeth turned to me, her eyes widened. "No. No way are we breaking up. It's just...I don't think I can face him in that crowd tomorrow. I don't think I can face him ever again....he said he was going to take me home after graduation, away from you. Away from everyone."

"We need to skip graduation," I said instantly. She stared at me as if I was crazy. "It's a real thing. People do it all the time. They, like, mail your diploma to you. Then, we'll have the credentials and can start working. You won't have to go home."

"Where would we go?" she whispered.

"New York City."